HIGH TEMPERATURE BIMORPH ACTUATOR

• US 20080211353A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Delgado, Eladio Clemente, Seeley, Charles Erklin, Bellamy, Dirk, Kunzmann, Jan
• Application Number:
  US11/681,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211353A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/359
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/2042 Cantilevers, i.e. having one fixed end

Abstract

A bimorph actuator has been found that uses commonly available piezoelectric material and is operational up to about 150° C. or one half of Curie temperature, in that it does not exhibit depolarization due to negative electric fields and/or elevated temperature. This result is accomplished by driving both piezoelectric materials with a positive electric field along the polarization direction.

Claims

1. A bimorph actuator that is operational up to temperatures of about 150°

C., comprising;

a top active layer;

a substrate; and

a bottom active layer.

2. The bimorph actuator of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom active layers are comprised of piezoelectric materials.

3. The bimorph actuator of claim 1 wherein the top active layer and the bottom active layer are subjected to positive electric fields.

4. The bimorph actuator of claim 3 wherein the top active layer is polarized along the plane of the material, parallel to the substrate.

5. The bimorph actuator of claim 3 wherein the bottom active layer is polarized through the thickness of the active material, perpendicular to the substrate.

6. The bimorph actuator of claim 1 that is comprised of macro fiber composites.

7. The bimorph actuator of claim 1 that further comprises a power source.

8. The power source of claim 7 that is comprised of a 3 volt battery.

9. The power source of claim 7, wherein the 3 volt batter is connected to a circuit comprising two channels, each of which provides 750 volts, for a total of 1500 volts.

10. A bimorph actuator that is operational up to temperatures of about 150°

C., comprising;

a top active layer that is polarized along the plane of the material, parallel to the substrate; and

a bottom active layer that is polarized through the thickness of the layer, perpendicular to the substrate.

11. The bimorph actuator of claim 10 wherein the top active layer and the bottom active layer are comprised of piezoelectric materials.

12. The bimorph actuator of claim 10 wherein the top active layer and the bottom active layer are subject to positive electric fields.

13. The bimorph actuator of claim 10 that further comprises a power source.

14. The power source of claim 13 that is a 3 volt battery.

15. The bimorph actuator of claim 12 wherein the electric fields are not equal.

16. The bimorph actuator of claim 10 that further comprises a substrate.

17. The bimorph actuator of claim 10 that operates in small spaces.

18. A bimorph actuator that is operational up to temperatures of about 150°

C., comprising;

a top active layer; and

a bottom active layer.

19. The bimorph actuator of claim 18, wherein the top active layer is connected to the bottom active layer with an adhesive.

21. The bimorph actuator of claim 19 that is operational in small spaces.

20. A bimorph actuator that is operational up to about 50% of Curie temperature, comprising:

a top active layer; and

a bottom active layer.