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US 6,548,938 B2Granted
Apparatus having a pair of opposing surfaces driven by a piezoelectric actuator
AssigneeViking Technologies, L.C.
InventorsJeff Moler, Mark Oudshoorn, R. Glenn Akhavein, Mark Woozley, Michael Alexy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus having at least one pair of opposing surfaces formed on a support structure for movement relative to one another and an actuator operably engaging the support structure for driving the at least one pair of opposing surfaces relative to one another in response to an electrical activation of the actuator. Preferably, the actuator is a piezoelectric device. The apparatus can be adapted for clamping and/or valving applications.
Claims39
An apparatus comprising:
- at least one pair of opposing surfaces formed on a first end of first and second arms integrally formed into a support structure for movement relative to one another, the support structure including a first web extending between and integrally formed with the first and second arms at a second end opposite from the first end, and a second web extending at an acute angle with respect to each corresponding arm toward the first web, the second web positioned between and integrally formed with the first and second arms at a position intermediate of the first and second ends;
- and
- an actuator operably engaging the first and second webs of the support structure at opposite ends of the actuator for driving the at least one pair of opposing surfaces relative to one another in response to an electrical activation of the actuator.
An apparatus comprising:
- a unitary, single piece support structure including an end web extending between and integrally formed with sides extending toward an intermediate web extending at an acute angle with respect to each corresponding side toward the end web, the intermediate web positioned between and integrally fanned with the sides at a position spaced from the end web, the unitary, single piece support structure including at least one arm;
- and
- an actuator operably supported between the end web and the intermediate web of the support structure for driving the at least one arm of the support structure in response to an electrical activation of the actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.