Preloaded piezo actuator and gas valve employing the actuator
AssigneePivotal Systems Corporation
InventorTimothy R. Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve arrangement for controlling gas flow. A gas block includes a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a gas cavity fluidly connecting the gas inlet to the gas outlet. A diaphragm is configured for controlling gas flow between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. An actuator is configured to vary the position of the diaphragm so as to control the gas flow. The actuator comprises a tubular housing; a plunger positioned inside the housing and having an actuating extension extending outside of the housing and coupled to the diaphragm, the plunger configured to be slidable inside the housing; a piezoelectric body positioned inside the plunger; and a pre-loader applying force to the plunger so as to press the plunger against the piezoelectric body.
Claims22
An actuator comprising:
- an elongated tubular housing having a first end configured for accepting a cap and a second end having an actuating opening, the cap configured to securely attach to the first end;
- a plunger situated within the housing and configured to slide within the housing, the plunger having an actuating end comprising a shoulder and an actuating extension, wherein the actuating extension is sized to fit within the actuating opening and extend outside of the housing through the actuating opening;
- at least one piezoelectric element positioned within the plunger and abating an interior wall of the actuating end of the plunger;
- a stopper positioned between the cap and the piezoelectric element, and bellows attached at one end to the plunger and at a second end to the stopper, and inert gas within the plunger and sealed by the bellows;
- electrical leads attached to the at least one piezoelectric element;
- and,
- at least one preloading element positioned inside the housing and compressed between the second end and the shoulder.
(canceled)
An actuator comprising:
- an elongated tubular housing having a first end configured for accepting a cap and a second end having an actuating opening, the cap configured to securely attach to the first end;
- a plunger situated within the housing and configured to slide within the housing, the plunger having an actuating end comprising a shoulder and an actuating extension, wherein the actuating extension is sized to fit within the actuating opening and extend outside of the housing through the actuating opening;
- at least one piezoelectric element positioned within the plunger and abating an interior wall of the actuating end of the plunger;
- a stopper compressed between the cap and the piezoelectric element, wherein the stopper comprises a recess forming a clearance between the stopper and the plunger, whereby the plunger is free to slide into the clearance.
A valve arrangement for controlling gas flow, comprising:
- a gas block having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a gas cavity fluidly connecting the gas inlet to the gas outlet;
- a diaphragm configured for controlling gas flow between the gas inlet and the gas outlet;
- an actuator configured to vary the position of the diaphragm so as to control the gas flow, the actuator comprising:
- a tubular housing;
- a plunger positioned inside the housing and having an actuating extension extending outside of the housing and coupled to the diaphragm, the plunger configured to be slidable inside the housing;
- a piezoelectric body positioned inside the plunger;
- a cap fixedly attached to the housing and a stopper compressed between the cap and the piezoelectric body, wherein the stopper comprises a recess forming a clearance between the stopper and the plunger, whereby the plunger is free to slide into the clearance;
- and,
- a pre-loader applying force to the plunger so as to press the plunger against the piezoelectric body.
The valve actuator arrangement comprising:
- a tubular housing;
- a plunger positioned inside the housing and having an actuating extension extending outside of the housing and coupled to the diaphragm, the plunger configured to be slidable inside the housing;
- a piezoelectric body positioned inside the plunger and preloaded by over 700 N;
- a cap fixedly attached to the tubular housing and a stopper compressed between the cap and the piezoelectric body;
- electrical leads attached to the piezoelectric body, the electrical leads hermetically sealed by glass frit inside hole in the stopper and thence passing through a passage in the cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.