Viking Technologies, L.c.

Parker-hannifin Corporation

Viking Technologies, Inc.

Jeff Moler

John A Bugel

Mark Oudshoorn

Mark Woozley

R Glenn Akhavein

Michael Alexy

Keith A Thornhill

Aaron Dickey

Mike Alexy

John Blatt

John Anthony Bugel

An apparatus and process for preloading an electrically stimulated smart material actuator product to obtain maximum work from the actuator. When a smart material actuator is optimally preloaded certain desirable characteristics become apparent, such as work, operational frequency, hysteresis, repeatability, and overall accuracy. When used in conjunction with a mechanically leveraged actuator structure the smart material actuator can be used to its greatest potential. Since the mechanically leveraged actuator can be based on the maximum work provided by the smart material actuator, certain attributes such as the force, and displacement of total system can be adjusted without loss to system efficiency. Preloading methods and a determination of the optimal preload force are disclosed. Each smart material actuator type has a unique work curve. In the design of an actuator assembly, the process of optimizing uses the unique work curve to optimize the design for the requirements of the particular application. The unique work curve is used by finding the place where the smart material actuator is capable of providing the most work in order to set the optimum preload point accordingly. Different mechanical preload techniques are provided.

Apparatus and process for optimizing work from a smart material actuator product

An apparatus and process for pre-loading an electrically stimulated smart material actuator product to obtain maximum work from the actuator. When a smart material actuator is optimally pre-loaded certain desirable characteristics become apparent, such as work, operational frequency, hysteresis, repeatability, and overall accuracy. When used in conjunction with a mechanically leveraged actuator structure the smart material actuator can be used to its greatest potential. Since the mechanically leveraged actuator can be based on the maximum work provided by the smart material actuator, certain attributes such as the force, and displacement of total system can be adjusted without loss to system efficiency. Pre-loading methods and a determination of the optimal pre-load force are disclosed. Each smart material actuator type has a unique work curve. In the design of an actuator assembly, the process of optimizing uses the unique work curve to optimize the design for the requirements of the particular application. The unique work curve is used by finding the place where the smart material actuator is capable of providing the most work in order to set the optimum pre-load point accordingly. Different mechanical pre-load techniques are provided.

A position control system is used for controlling a fluid operated cylinder having at least one fluid chamber defined by a piston located within a housing for movement between first and second end limits of travel. The system includes at least two electrically actuated proportional flow control valves connected to each port of the cylinder for selectively and proportionally controlling fluid flow into and out of the at least one chamber. At least one pressure sensor is provided for measuring fluid pressure with respect to each chamber. At least one discreet position sensor is located adjacent a midpoint of the cylinder for sensing a discreet centered position of the piston. A controller includes a program and is operably connected for controlling actuation of the at least two valves in response to pressure measured by the at least one pressure sensor and location measured by the at least one position sensor.

Multi-valve fluid operated cylinder positioning system

An apparatus having a smart material actuator, a support structure and at least one temperature compensating material insert, either externally mounted to the support structure, integrally formed with the support structure, or any combination thereof. The apparatus includes a mechanically leveraged electrically stimulated smart material. The support structure and actuator are susceptible to the effects of differences in thermal coefficients of expansion of the materials used in the construction. The smart material typically displaces less than 0.001 inches and is leveraged up to fifty times to obtain useful movement. The temperature effect on the smart material is therefore leveraged and amplified producing undesirable motion in the apparatus with ambient and/or operating temperature changes. A method for dimensioning and placement of a compensating insert with respect to the support structure provides an accurate and cost effective compensating insert.

Temperature compensating insert for a mechanically leveraged smart material actuator

An apparatus controls flow of a fluid from at least one inlet port to at least one outlet port. A support has a rigid, non-flexible portion, at least one pivotable relatively rigid, non-flexible, folded-back arm portion extending from the rigid portion, at least one surface connected to folded-back arm portion for movement relative to the support, and a rigid, non-flexible force transfer member operably positioned for driving the pivotable folded-back arm portion with a loss of motion of less than 40%. An electrically operated actuator operably engages between the rigid portion and the force transfer member to pivot the folded-back arm portion in response to an electrical activation of the actuator. A manifold includes a fluid passage communicating with at least one valve seat and operably engageable with respect to at least one corresponding valve body for movement between a closed position and an opened position.

Piezo-electric actuated multi-valve manifold

A position control system is used for controlling a fluid operated cylinder having at least one fluid chamber defined by a piston located within a housing for movement between first and second end limits of travel. The system includes at least two electrically actuated proportional flow control valves connected to each port of the cylinder for selectively and proportionally controlling fluid flow into and out of the at least one chamber. At least one pressure sensor is provided for measuring fluid pressure with respect to each chamber. At least one discrete position sensor is located adjacent a midpoint of the cylinder for sensing a discrete centered position of the piston. A controller includes a program and is operably connected for controlling actuation of the at least two valves in response to pressure measured by the at least one pressure sensor and location measured by the at least one position sensor.

Accurate fluid operated cylinder positioning system

An apparatus for moving a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation having a support including a rigid non-flexing portion, at least one pivotable arm portion extending from the rigid non-flexing portion, a pair of opposing surfaces with one opposing surface on the at least one pivotable arm portion for movement relative to one another, and a force transfer member operably positioned for driving the at least one pivotable arm portion in rotational movement. An actuator is operably engaged between the rigid portion and the force transfer member to drive the force transfer member in movement relative to the rigid portion to pivot the at least one pivotable arm portion with a loss of motion of less than 40% in response to an electrical activation of the actuator.

Apparatus for moving a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation

Folded back arm actuator with enlarged central anvil

An apparatus according to the present invention includes a support structure having a primary portion with first and second arm portions formed thereon for movement relative to one another, and a secondary portion with either a clamp portion or valve portion integrally formed on an outer end of each arm portion for movement therewith. A primary actuator is operably associated with the primary support structure for driving the arm portions relative to one another in response to an electrical activation of the primary actuator. Secondary actuators are operably associated with the secondary portions for independently driving the secondary portions between an opened position and a closed position in response to an electrical activation of each secondary actuator. Each of the actuators is operable independently of one another. The apparatus is operable to provide a bi-directional motor, a bi-directional pump, or a bi-directional compressor depending on the selected configuration and sequential mode of triggering the primary and secondary actuators.

Uni-body piezoelectric motor

The present invention provides an apparatus for moving a member including a first clamp assembled to a fixed surface for selectively clamping the member and a second clamp moveable with respect to the first clamp for selectively clamping the member. A piezo actuator is disposed between the first and second clamps for moving the member in response to expansion of the actuator. Resilient means bias the second clamp toward the first clamp.

Growing community of inventors

Sarasota, FL, United States of America

Jeff Moler