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:
Jan. 14, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 21, 1995
George R Steber, Mequon, WI (US);
Dale A Knutson, Nashotah, WI (US);
Applied Power Inc., Butler, WI (US);
Abstract
A piezo-electrically actuated fluid control valve has a nozzle type seat, a magnet opposite from the seat, and a piezoelectric actuator in sheet form between the seat and magnet. The actuator includes a piezo-ceramic layer laminated to an electrode sheet, so that the composite is parallel to the seat and a surface of the magnet. The electrode sheet has opposite edges which extend beyond the piezo-ceramic layer and are clamped by the housing of the valve so that the center of the actuator is positioned between the seat and magnet. When an electric field is applied to the piezo-ceramic layer, the actuator bows or dishes so as to displace from the seat toward the magnet, and the magnetic field of the magnet draws the actuator further away from the seat, to increase the valve opening between the actuator and the seat. The actuator may be operated by a pulse width modulated or a proportional analog electrical signal, which may be applied in combination with the magnetic field to move the actuator, or if the magnetic field is induced by an electromagnet, electrical and magnetic control modes may be used alternatively.