Vibratory motors and methods of making and using same

A piezoelectric apparatus for moving a driven element, comprising:

• a resonator having a longitudinal axis with an opening partially defined by two sidewalls or opposing sides of the longitudinal axis and two opposing end walls on the longitudinal axis, a piezoelectric element held in compression by the opposing end walls, each of the sidewalls being stressed beyond its elastic limit to hold the piezoelectric element in compression, the resonator having a selected contacting portion which moves in a first elliptical motion when the piezoelectric element is excited by a first electrical signal.

A method placing a piezoelectric element in compression in a resonator, the resonator having end walls and sidewalls defining an opening sized to receive and place the piezoelectric element in compression, comprising:

• increasing the distance between opposing end walls enough to allow the piezoelectric element to be forced between the end walls with a force that by itself could not force the piezoelectric element between the end walls in the original state of the opening, and thereby placing the piezoelectric element in compression while also stressing the sidewalls beyond their elastic limit.

A piezoelectric element configured to fit into an opening in a resonator, the opening being defined by sidewalls located on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis through the opening and separated by a first dimension, and opposing end walls located on the longitudinal axis and separated by a second dimension, comprising:

• a piezoelectric element having a first dimension that is smaller than the first dimension of the opening and having a second dimension larger than the second dimension of the opening and selected to stress the sidewalls beyond their elastic limit when the piezoelectric element is inserted into the opening, the piezoelectric element having included edges corresponding in location to edges of the end walls when the piezoelectric element is aligned to be inserted into the opening.

A piezoelectric element configured to fit into an opening in a resonator, the opening being defined by sidewalls located on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis through the opening and separated by a first dimension, and opposing end walls located on the longitudinal axis with a resilient support for the resonator being interposed between one end wall and the piezoelectric element during use, the contacting end wall and the contacting surface of the resilient support being separated by a second dimension, comprising:

• a piezoelectric element having a first dimension smaller than the first dimension of the opening and having a second dimension larger than the second dimension of the opening and selected to stress the sidewalls beyond their elastic limit when the piezoelectric element is inserted into the opening with the resilient support interposed between the piezoelectric element and one end wall, the piezoelectric element having at least one inclined edge corresponding in location to at least the edge of the end wall when the piezoelectric element is aligned to be inserted into the opening.

A vibratory apparatus for moving a driven element, comprising:

• a vibration source that converts electrical energy directly into physical motion;
• a resonator having walls defining an opening defined by at least two opposing sidewalls, the vibration source being held by the walls of the opening, the walls including opposing sidewalls that are stressed beyond their yield point but below their ultimate strength in order to place and hold the vibration source in compression within the opening.

A piezoelectric element configured to fit into an opening in a resonator, the opening being defined by sidewalls located on opposing sides of a longitudinal axis through the opening and separated by a first dimension, and opposing end walls located on the longitudinal axis with a resilient support for the resonator being interposed between one end wall and the piezoelectric element during use, the end walls being separated by a second dimension, wherein the piezoelectric element has edges on surfaces that are located to engage walls defining the opening, with the edges having inclined surfaces on them.

A resonator for use with a piezoelectric actuator, the resonator having a continuous walled, externally accessible opening sized to receive a piezoelectric element and hold the element in compression, the opening being defined in part by opposing sidewalls that are curved, with a piezoelectric element located in the opening, the piezoelectric element being sized relative to the opening to stress the sidewalls past their elastic limit when the piezoelectric element is mounted in the opening.

A vibratory apparatus for moving a driven element, comprising:

• a vibration source that converts electrical energy directly into physical motion;
• a resonator having at least two opposing sidewalls defining an opening, the vibration source being held by the walls of the opening, the walls including opposing sidewalls that are stressed beyond their elastic limit in order to place and hold the vibration source in compression within the opening.

The method of placing a piezoelectric element in compression in a resonator, the resonator having end walls and at least two sidewalls defining an opening sized to receive and place the piezoelectric element in compression, comprising:

• increasing the distance between opposing end walls enough to allow the piezoelectric element to be forced between the end walls with a force that by itself could not force the piezoelectric element between the end walls in the original state of the opening, and thereby placing the piezoelectric element in compression, the sidewalls being stressed beyond their elastic limit by at least one of the increasing distance between opposing end walls and forcing the piezoelectric element between the end walls.