The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 07, 1993
Filed:
Apr. 05, 1993
Shunso F Watanabe, Livonia, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A piezoelectric pressure control valve (10) comprising a bimorph (48) with a characteristic that as a potential difference is applied thereto, one surface expands and the other contracts, thereby deflecting the bimorph. The valve includes a supply port (14) for introducing fluid and a chamber (16) defined within the valve body. An outlet port (18) is in communication with the chamber. A top valve plate (22) and a contiguous bottom valve plate (24) are supported within the chamber, each valve plate having an anchored end (26, 28) affixed to a wall of the chamber, the anchored end of the top valve plate being provided with an inlet channel (30) in communication with the supply port, and a metering orifice (40, 42) disposed within each valve plate. A double poppet valve head (44) is seatable within the associated metering orifice, the poppet valve head being continuously displaceable between an open position and a normally closed position. The bimorph (48) cooperates with a spring (54) affixed to each valve plate, the spring (54) reverting the poppet valve head to the normally closed, seated position against fluid pressure and registering the poppet valve head within the metering orifice. An electrical circuit (56) is connected to the bimorph, the circuit providing the potential difference to the bimorph, which is regulated in accordance with an input signal delivered to the circuit. An input signal generator (58) operates in response to a sensed condition, the fluid flow in the outlet port being continuously modulated in response to the sensed condition.