Miniature solid-state gas compressor

An apparatus for compressing a gas, comprising:

• a pair of blocks of an electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material disposed in an opposing relationship and defining a gap therebetween;
• an elastomer disposed within and at least partially filling said gap;
• means defining a channel having said elastomer as at least one wall thereof;
• means for selectively applying an electric field to said blocks;
• and
• means constraining said block such that application of said electric field of said blocks causes the displacement thereof against said elastomer, extruding said elastomer into a closed relationship with said channel defining means.

An apparatus for compressing a gas, comprising:

• a plurality of cells, each said cell including:
• a pair of blocks of an electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material disposed in an opposing relationship so as to define a gap therebetween,
• an elastomer disposed within and at least partially filling said gap,
• means defining a channel having said elastomer as at least one wall thereof,
• means for applying an electric field to said blocks, and
• means constraining said blocks such that application of said electric field to said blocks causes displacement thereof against said elastomer, extruding said elastomer into a closed relationship with said channel defining means;
• said cells being arranged sequentially, such that each said channel of each said cell communicates with said channel of an immediately succeeding one of said cells;
• and
• means selectively controlling said electric field application means of each said cell for sequential closings of each of said channels.

An apparatus for compressing a gas, comprising:

• a block of an electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material;
• means defining a channel having said block as at least one wall thereof, said channel having a first and second end;
• inlet valve means for selectively introducing a quantity of gas to said channel at said first end;
• outlet valve means for selectively exhausting said gas from said channel at said second end;
• means for selectively applying an electric field to said block which includes a plurality of metallic plates disposed in a substantially parallel, spaced relationship within said block;
• and
• means constraining said block such that application of said electric field to said block causes substantially uniform displacement thereof so as to narrow said channel, thereby compressing said gas.

An apparatus for compressing a gas, comprising:

• a pair of blocks of an electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material disposed in opposing relationship and defining a gap therebetween;
• means defining a channel coincident with said gap;
• inlet valve means for selectively introducing a quantity of gas to said channel;
• outlet valve means for selectively exhausting said gas from said channel;
• means for selectively applying an electric field to said blocks which includes a plurality of metallic plates disposed in a substantially parallel, spaced relationship within each of said blocks;
• and
• means constraining said blocks such that application of said electric field to said blocks causes substantially uniform displacement thereof so as to narrow said channel, thereby compressing said gas.

An apparatus for pumping a fluid comprising:

• a block of an electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material;
• means defining a channel having said block as at least one wall thereof, said channel having a first and second end;
• inlet valve means for selectively introducing a quantity of fluid to said channel at said first end;
• outlet valve means for selectively exhausting said fluid from said channel at said second end;
• means for selectively applying an electric field to said block which includes a plurality of metallic plates disposed in a substantially parallel, spaced relationship within said block;
• and
• means constraining said block such that application of said electric field to said block causes substantially uniform displacement thereof so as to narrow said channel, thereby pumping said fluid.

An apparatus for pumping a fluid comprising:

• a block of an electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material having a first end;
• an elastomer disposed along said first end of said block;
• means defining a channel having said elastomer as at least one wall thereof, said channel having a first and second end;
• inlet valve means for selectively introducing a quantity of fluid to said channel at said first end;
• outlet valve means for selectively exhausting said fluid from said channel at said second end;
• means for selectively applying an electric field to said block;
• and
• means constraining said block such that application of said electric field to said block causes substantially uniform displacement thereof against said elastomer, extruding said elastomer into a closed relationship with said channel defining means, thereby pumping said fluid.