Enhanced displacement piezoelectric motor
First Claim
1. A mechanical energy generating apparatus comprising:
- a shape changing flexure beam connected at a first distal end to a first lever arm of a first tilt connector and connected at an opposing second distal end to a first lever arm of a second tilt connector;
a bias beam connected at a first distal end to a second lever arm of the first tilt connector and connected at an opposing second distal end to a second lever arm of the second tilt connector; and
a base pivotally connected to the first and second tilt connectors such that a distance between the first and second tilt connectors is such that the bias beam is flexed to exert a force on the second lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors that is transferred to the first lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors to flex the flexure beam to approximately a critical buckling stress point of the flexure beam;
the flexure beam having a center portion configured to oscillate between a first displacement position beyond the critical buckling stress point in a first direction and a second displacement position beyond the buckling stress point in the an opposing second direction in response to an oscillating energy field applied across the flexure beam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical energy generating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a shape changing flexure beam connected at opposing distal ends to first lever arms of a pair of opposing tilt connectors. The apparatus additionally includes a bias beam connected at opposing ends to second lever of the tilt connectors. The tilt connectors are pivotally connected to an adjustable length base such that a distance between the tilt connectors can be adjusted to flex the bias beam and exert a force on the second lever arms of the tilt connectors. The force exerted by the bias beam is transferred to the first lever arms and flexes the flexure beam to approximately a critical buckling stress point of the flexure beam. The flexure beam has a center portion configured to oscillate between a first displacement position beyond the critical buckling stress point, in a first direction, and a second displacement position beyond the buckling stress point, in the an opposing second direction, in response to an oscillating energy field applied across the flexure beam.
57 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A mechanical energy generating apparatus comprising:
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a shape changing flexure beam connected at a first distal end to a first lever arm of a first tilt connector and connected at an opposing second distal end to a first lever arm of a second tilt connector; a bias beam connected at a first distal end to a second lever arm of the first tilt connector and connected at an opposing second distal end to a second lever arm of the second tilt connector; and a base pivotally connected to the first and second tilt connectors such that a distance between the first and second tilt connectors is such that the bias beam is flexed to exert a force on the second lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors that is transferred to the first lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors to flex the flexure beam to approximately a critical buckling stress point of the flexure beam; the flexure beam having a center portion configured to oscillate between a first displacement position beyond the critical buckling stress point in a first direction and a second displacement position beyond the buckling stress point in the an opposing second direction in response to an oscillating energy field applied across the flexure beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A mechanical energy generating apparatus comprising:
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a first tilt connector including a first lever arm, a second lever arm and a fulcrum arm; a second tilt connector including a first lever arm, a second lever arm and a fulcrum arm; a shape changing flexure beam connected at a first distal end to the first lever arm of the first tilt connector and connected at an opposing second distal end to the first lever arm of the second tilt connector; a bias beam connected at a first distal end to the second lever arm of the first tilt connector and connected at an opposing second distal end to the second lever arm of the second tilt connector; and a base pivotally connected at a first distal end to the first tilt connector fulcrum arm and pivotally connected at an opposing second distal end to the second tilt connector fulcrum arm such that a distance is maintained between the first and second tilt connectors that causes the bias beam to flex and exert a force on the second lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors that is transferred to the first lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors that causes the flexure beam to flex to approximately a critical buckling stress point so that approximately all energy used to apply a voltage across the flexure beam is utilized to produce displacement of a center of the flexure beam beyond the critical buckling stress point; the polarity of the voltage across the flexure beam cyclically alternateable to oscillate the center of the flexure beam between a first displacement position beyond the critical buckling stress point in a first direction and a second displacement position beyond the buckling stress point in an opposing second direction, the oscillation of the center of the flexure beam adapted to generate mechanical energy deliverable to a mechanical device connectable to the flexure beam. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for generating mechanical energy using a piezoelectric motor, said method comprising:
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pivotally connecting a first distal end of a piezoelectric flexure beam to a first lever arm of a first tilt connector and pivotally connecting at an opposing second distal end to a first lever arm of the second tilt connector; pivotally connecting a first distal end of a bias beam to a second lever arm of the first tilt connector and pivotally connecting at an opposing second distal end to a second lever arm of the second tilt connector; pivotally connecting a base to the first and second tilt connectors; adjusting a distance between the first and second tilt connectors to cause the bias beam to flex and exert a force on the second lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors that is transferred to the first lever arms of the first and second tilt connectors that causes the flexure beam to flex to approximately a critical buckling stress point of the flexure beam so that approximately all energy used to apply a voltage across the flexure beam is utilized to produce displacement of a center of the flexure beam beyond the critical buckling stress point; oscillating the voltage across the flexure beam to oscillate a center of the flexure beam between a first displacement position beyond the critical buckling stress point in a first direction and a second displacement position beyond the buckling stress point in the an opposing second direction, the oscillation of the center of the flexure beam generating mechanical energy deliverable to a mechanical device connectable to the flexure beam. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A mechanical energy generating apparatus comprising a shape changing flexure beam cooperatively coupled with a bias device adapted to apply an axial compressive force to opposing distal ends of the flexure beam that is greater than a critical buckling force of the flexure beam to soften the flexure beam such that electrical signals applied to the flexure beam produce enhanced displacement of a center of the flexure beam beyond a critical buckling stress point of the flexure beam and the apparatus can be operated at frequencies below the resonant frequency of the flexure beam.
Specification