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. 24, 2012
Filed:
Nov. 30, 2007
Jayaraman Venkataraghavan, Dunlap, IL (US);
Zhenlong Xu, Peoria, IL (US);
Kenneth C. Adams, Bloomington, IL (US);
Stephen Lewis, Chillicothe, IL (US);
Jayaraman Venkataraghavan, Dunlap, IL (US);
Zhenlong Xu, Peoria, IL (US);
Kenneth C. Adams, Bloomington, IL (US);
Stephen Lewis, Chillicothe, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A piezoelectrically actuated device includes a body, a valve disposed within the body and an actuator for the valve, the actuator including a casing coupled with the body and a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing The actuator further includes a multi-function spring applying a preloading force to the piezoelectric element. The multi-function spring includes a first segment having a piston configured to translate a motion of the piezoelectric element during operation of the actuator, a second segment having at least one flexural element and a third segment having a first set of threads. The first set of threads is engaged with a second set of threads of the actuator and maintains the second segment in a tension state which corresponds with the preloading force.