US 5,267,589 AGranted

Piezoelectric pressure control valve

AssigneeFord Motor Company

InventorShunso F. Watanabe

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Abstract

A piezoelectric pressure control valve (10) comprising a bimorph (48) with a characteristic that as a potential difference is applied thereto, one surface expands and the other contracts, thereby deflecting the bimorph. The valve includes a supply port (14) for introducing fluid and a chamber (16) defined within the valve body. An outlet port (18) is in communication with the chamber. A top valve plate (22) and a contiguous bottom valve plate (24) are supported within the chamber, each valve plate having an anchored end (26, 28) affixed to a wall of the chamber, the anchored end of the top valve plate being provided with an inlet channel (30) in communication with the supply port, and a metering orifice (40, 42) disposed within each valve plate. A double poppet valve head (44) is seatable within the associated metering orifice, the poppet valve head being continuously displaceable between an open position and a normally closed position. The bimorph (48) cooperates with a spring (54) affixed to each valve plate, the spring (54) reverting the poppet valve head to the normally closed, seated position against fluid pressure and registering the poppet valve head within the metering orifice. An electrical circuit (56) is connected to the bimorph, the circuit providing the potential difference to the bimorph, which is regulated in accordance with an input signal delivered to the circuit. An input signal generator (58) operates in response to a sensed condition, the fluid flow in the outlet port being continuously modulated in response to the sensed condition.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A piezoelectric pressure control valve comprising:

a valve body having
a supply port for introducing hydraulic fluid into the valve;
a chamber defined within the valve body;
and
an outlet port in communication with the chamber, the outlet port being capable of delivering the hydraulic fluid to a controlled device which is operable in response thereto;
a top valve plate and a contiguous bottom valve plate supported within the chamber,
each valve plate having
an anchored end affixed to a wall of the chamber adjacent to the supply port, the anchored end of the top valve plate being provided with an inlet channel in communication with the supply port;
and
a metering orifice disposed within each valve plate,
a double poppet valve head which is seatable within the associated metering orifice, the poppet valve head being continuously displaceable between an open position and a normally closed position, the double poppet valve head having sharp metering edges that cooperate with the associated metering orifice, the edges blocking fluid flow when the poppet valve head is seated;
a bimorph having a characteristic that as a potential difference is applied thereto, one surface expands and the other contracts, thereby deflecting the bimorph,
means for biasing affixed to each valve plate, the biassing means reverting the poppet valve head to the normally closed seated position against fluid pressure and registering the poppet valve head within the metering orifice;
an electrical circuit connected to the bimorph, the circuit providing the potential difference to the bimorph, which is regulated in accordance with an input signal delivered to the circuit;
and
means for generating the input signal in response to a sensed condition,
the fluid flow in the outlet port being continuously modulated in response to the sensed condition.

14 more elements

A piezoelectric pressure control valve comprising:

a valve body having
a supply port for introducing hydraulic fluid into the valve;
a chamber defined within the valve body;
and
an outlet port in communication with the chamber, the outlet port being capable of delivering the hydraulic fluid to a controlled device which is operable in response thereto;
a first pair of valve plates comprising a top valve plate and a contiguous bottom valve plate supported within the chamber,
a second pair of valve plates comprising a top valve plate and a contiguous bottom valve plate supported within the chamber;
each valve plate having
an anchored end affixed to a wall of the chamber adjacent to the supply port, the anchored end of the top valve plate of the first pair and the anchored end of the bottom plate of the second pair being provided respectively with an inlet and an outlet flow channel;
a metering orifice defined within each valve plate;
a pair of double poppet valve heads which are seatable within the associated metering orifice, the poppet valve head being continuously displaceable between an open position and a normally closed position, each double poppet valve head having sharp metering edges that cooperate with the associated metering orifice, the edges blocking fluid flow when the poppet valve head is seated;
a bimorph positioned between and in operative communication with the first and second pair of valve plates, the bimorph having a characteristic that as a potential difference is applied thereto, one surface expands and the other contracts, thereby deflecting the bimorph, in proportion to the potential difference;
means for biasing affixed to each valve plate, the biassing means reverting the poppet valve head to the normally closed seated position against fluid pressure and registering the poppet valve head within the associated metering orifice;
an electrical circuit connected to the bimorph, the circuit providing the potential difference to the bimorph, which is regulated in accordance with an input signal delivered to the circuit;
and
means for generating the input signal in response to a sensed condition,
the fluid flow in the outlet and relief ports being continuously modulated in response to the sensed condition.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.