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:
Aug. 23, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2002
Jerome P. Maushard, Mapleton, IL (US);
Larry G. Waterfield, Peoria, IL (US);
Jerome P. Maushard, Mapleton, IL (US);
Larry G. Waterfield, Peoria, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc, Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A piezoelectric actuator includes at least one piezoelectric bender that is deformable between a first arcuate shape and a second arcuate shape that have different curvatures. A resistance device includes a moveable portion in contact with the piezoelectric bender throughout its deformation from the first shape to the second shape. In addition, the resistance device is operable to resist the deformation, preferably by resisting a change in the transverse dimension of the piezoelectric bender through a friction interaction. By resisting transverse dimension changes in the piezoelectric bender, the axial force produced by the actuator can be increased, and the same structure can compensate for wear that could otherwise undermine performance after many deformation cycles. The piezoelectric actuator finds particular application in fast valves, such as those associated with pressure switching in fuel injection systems.