APPARATUS FOR MOVING FOLDED-BACK ARMS HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSING SURFACES IN RESPONSE TO AN ELECTRICAL ACTIVATION

• US 20040124747A1
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Viking Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Moler, Jeff, Bugel, John Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 6,759,790 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/328
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/12 incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/043 Mechanical transmission means, e.g. for stroke amplification

Abstract

A piezoelectric 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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving at least one of a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation comprising:

a support having a rigid non-flexing portion, at least one pivotable folded-back arm portion extending from the rigid portion, a pair of opposing surfaces with one opposing surface on the at least pivotable folded-back arm portion for movement relative to one another, and a force transfer member operably positioned for driving the at least one pivotable folded-back arm portion in rotational movement; and

an actuator operably engaged between the rigid non-flexing portion and the force transfer member to drive the force transfer member relative to the rigid portion to pivot the at least one pivotable folded-back arm portion in response to an electrical activation of the actuator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support is a single monolithic piece.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rigid portion is generally U-shaped and includes a web extending between a pair of rigid arm portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein one of the pivotable folded-back arm portions is pivotably connected to one of the rigid arm portions and the other of the pivotable folded-back arm portions is pivotably connected to the other of the rigid arm portions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rigid portion of the support is interposed between the pivotable folded-back arm portions, such that the force transfer member is adjacent one end of the pivotable folded-back arm portions and the opposing surfaces of the pivotable folded-back arm portions are adjacent to the web of the support.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the rigid arm portions are formed as a single monolithic piece with the web of the support.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the pivotable arm portions are mechanically fastened to the support.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is operated in an mechanically resonant mode producing oscillatory motion.

10. An apparatus for moving at least one of a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation comprising:

a support having a rigid non-flexing portion, first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions extending from the rigid portion such that the rigid portion is positioned interposed between the first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions, a pair of opposing surfaces with one opposing surface on each of the pivotable folded-back arm portions for movement relative to one another, and a force transfer member operably positioned for driving the first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions in rotational movement; and

an actuator operably engaged between the rigid non-flexing portion and the force transfer member to drive the force transfer member relative to the rigid portion to pivot the first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions in response to an electrical activation of the actuator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the support is a single monolithic piece.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the rigid portion is generally U-shaped and includes a web extending between a pair of rigid arm portions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein one of the pivotable folded-back arm portions is pivotably connected to one of the rigid arm portions and the other of the pivotable folded-back arm portions is pivotably connected to the other of the rigid arm portions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the force transfer member is adjacent one end of the pivotable folded-back arm portions and the opposing surfaces of the pivotable folded-back arm portions are adjacent to the web of the rigid portion of the support.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the rigid arm portions are formed as a single monolithic piece with the web.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the pivotable arm portions are mechanically fastened to the support.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the apparatus is operated in an mechanically resonant mode producing oscillatory motion.

19. An apparatus for moving at least one of a pair of opposing surfaces in response to an electrical activation comprising:

a support having a rigid non-flexing portion of generally U-shaped configuration with a web extending between a pair of rigid arm portions, first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions of generally L-shaped configuration extending from the rigid arm portions such that the rigid non-flexing portion is positioned interposed between the first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions, a pair of opposing surfaces with one opposing surface on each of the pivotable folded-back arm portions for movement relative to one another, and a force transfer member operably positioned for driving the first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions in rotational movement, such that the force transfer member is adjacent one end of the pivotable folded-back arm portions and the opposing surfaces of the pivotable folded-back arm portions are adjacent to the web of the rigid non-flexing portion of the support; and

a piezoelectric actuator operably engaged between the rigid non-flexing portion and the force transfer member to drive the force transfer member relative to the rigid non-flexing portion to pivot the first and second pivotable folded-back arm portions in response to an electrical activation of the actuator.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the web and rigid arm portions of the support are a single monolithic piece.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the pivotable arm portions are mechanically fastened to the support.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the apparatus is operated in an mechanically resonant mode producing oscillatory motion.