US 6,062,532 AGranted

Electric solid-body actuator having a hydraulic amplitude magnifier

AssigneeFEV Motorentechnik GmbH

InventorsGunter Gurich, Hermann Josef Laumen

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Abstract

An actuator assembly for operating a setting member includes an actuator body undergoing a dimensional change upon applying electrical energy thereto; a preliminary pressure chamber for accommodating liquid; a diaphragm sealing the preliminary pressure chamber and being displaceable by the actuator body; a valve member carried by the diaphragm; a transfer chamber for accommodating liquid; and a displaceable plate body disposed in the preliminary pressure chamber and sealingly bounding the transfer chamber. The diaphragm, as it is moved by the actuator body, displaces the plate body. A displaceable piston body sealingly bounds the transfer chamber and has a surface which is smaller than the surface of the plate body, whereby the plate body--with the intermediary of the liquid--displaces the piston body to a greater extent than the displacement of the plate body. The piston body, as it moves, displaces the setting member. A valve opening provided in the plate body is closed or opened by the valve member carried by the diaphragm. In the open position of the valve member, the valve opening establishes a hydraulic communication between the preliminary pressure chamber and the transfer chamber.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An actuator assembly for operating a setting member, comprising

(a) an actuator body undergoing a dimensional change upon applying electrical energy thereto;
(b) a housing;
(c) a preliminary pressure chamber defined in said housing for accommodating liquid;
(d) a diaphragm sealing said preliminary pressure chamber and being coupled to said actuator body for being displaced by said actuator body;
(e) a valve member carried by said diaphragm;
(f) a transfer chamber defined in said housing for accommodating liquid;
said transfer chamber having opposite first and second sides;
(g) a displaceable plate body disposed in said preliminary pressure chamber and having opposite first and second surfaces;
said plate body facing said diaphragm with said first surface;
said plate body sealingly bounding said transfer chamber at said first side thereof and facing said transfer chamber with said second surface;
said diaphragm being operatively coupled with said plate body for causing displacement of said plate body;
(h) a displaceable piston body sealingly bounding said transfer chamber at said second side thereof;
said piston body being displaceable by means of the liquid in said transfer chamber upon motion of said plate body;
said plate body having a surface being oriented towards said transfer chamber and being smaller than said second surface of said plate body, whereby a displacement of said piston body is greater than a displacement of said plate body;
said piston body being adapted to be coupled to the setting member for displacing the setting member by the piston body;
and
(j) a valve opening provided in said plate body and cooperating with said valve member to be placed into an open and a closed position;
in said open position said valve opening establishing a hydraulic communication between said preliminary pressure chamber and said transfer chamber.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.