Viking Technologies, L.c.

Parker-hannifin Corporation

John A Bugel

Jeff Moler

Mark Oudshoorn

Keith A Thornhill

Aaron Dickey

Mark Woozley

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

Folded back arm actuator with enlarged central anvil

Integral actuator with hollowed out force transfer member

Folded back arm actuator

Integral actuator with folded back arms and hollowed out force transfer member

A pizoelectric actuator assembly for actuating industrial control valves or clamps provides a compact actuator including a single piece main structure with integrated hinge, mechanical lever, and spring in a shape such that in response to electrical activation, the piezoelectric device transfers mechanical energy from a predetermined axis into the force transfer member operably positioned for driving at least one pivotable arm portion in rotational movement with a loss of motion of less than 40%.

Growing community of inventors

Largo, FL, United States of America

John A Bugel