Piezoelectric valve system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsClifford E. Cotton, III, Glen F. Forck, Richard H. Holtman, Ronald D. Shinogle, L. Glenn Waterfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve system having a valve operated by a piezoelectric device to control the flow of fluid through the valve system. Movement of the valve is controlled by a pre-stressed bender actuator that changes its shape by deforming in opposite axial directions in response to a control signal applied by an actuator control system. The valve system may comprise a common rail fuel injector, electrohydraulic actuator system, electronically-controlled fuel injector, gasoline port injector, fluid metering valve, relief valve, reducing valve, direct valve or direct-injection gasoline injector.
Claims11
A fuel injector for initiating and terminating an injection of fuel comprising:
- a prestressed electroactive bender actuator operable to receive a first command signal and operable to move between first and second positions as a function of the command signal;
- an injector actuator having first and second states for respectively initiating and terminating an injection of fuel from the fuel injector;
- and
- an actuator drive coupled with the prestressed electroactive bender actuator and the injection actuator, the actuator drive operable switch the injector actuator between the first and second states as a function of the prestressed electroactive bender actuator moving between the first and second positions.
A method of operating a fuel injector for initiating and terminating an injection of fuel comprising:
- applying a command signal to a prestressed electroactive bender actuator;
- switching the prestressed electroactive bender actuator between first and second operating states as a function of the command signal;
- and
- switching an actuator drive between first and second operating states as a function of the prestressed electroactive bender actuator switching between the first and the second operating states,
- switching an injector actuator as a function of the actuator drive switching between the first and the second operating states, thereby initiating and terminating an injection of fuel from the fuel injector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.