Mounting arrangement for a piezoelectric element
First Claim
1. An arrangement for mounting one end of a piezoelectric element operating in a bending mode for generating essentially linear movement on a part of a moving component operatively attached to the other end of the element, the arrangement having means for engaging a pair of surfaces of the element of the one end at a point of engagement for fixedly mounting the one end of the element so that the element bends about the point during a bending operation, the element comprising a carrier strip having at least one side in contact with a ceramic strip disposed therealong and means including a metallized layer electrode disposed on an outer surface of each of the ceramic strips for applying an electrical current to the ceramic strip to cause bending of the element, the improvement comprising an elastic metal support strip disposed between each of the pair of surfaces of the one end of the element and the engagement means, each metal support strip being prestressed to continually bear against the surface of the element, each support strip having a length extending along the element from the point of engagement to a free end spaced from the point, each support strip having a thickness to partially resist bending of the element thereagainst as the support strip yields to maintain the level of bending stresses applied to the ceramic strip below a level which would cause damage to the ceramic strip with the maximum level of stresses being applied to the ceramic strip at a point removed from the point of engagement and the level of stresses applied to the element decreasing as the distance to the point of engagement decreases.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arrangement for mounting one end of a piezoelectric element operating in a bending mode about the one end to generate essentially linear movement for a part of a moving component operatively attached to the other end characterized by a support strip adjacent a side of the element at the point of mounting and extending parallel along the element to modify the stresses applied to the element during a bending operation to prevent damage thereto. The piezoelectric element comprises a carrier strip having at least one side in contact with a ceramic strip or layer and the support strip is disposed adjacent the one end to modify the stresses applied to the ceramic strip to prevent damage thereto. The support strip is provided with a shape and size so that the maximum stress applied to the element occur at a point removed from the point of mounting.
29 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. An arrangement for mounting one end of a piezoelectric element operating in a bending mode for generating essentially linear movement on a part of a moving component operatively attached to the other end of the element, the arrangement having means for engaging a pair of surfaces of the element of the one end at a point of engagement for fixedly mounting the one end of the element so that the element bends about the point during a bending operation, the element comprising a carrier strip having at least one side in contact with a ceramic strip disposed therealong and means including a metallized layer electrode disposed on an outer surface of each of the ceramic strips for applying an electrical current to the ceramic strip to cause bending of the element, the improvement comprising an elastic metal support strip disposed between each of the pair of surfaces of the one end of the element and the engagement means, each metal support strip being prestressed to continually bear against the surface of the element, each support strip having a length extending along the element from the point of engagement to a free end spaced from the point, each support strip having a thickness to partially resist bending of the element thereagainst as the support strip yields to maintain the level of bending stresses applied to the ceramic strip below a level which would cause damage to the ceramic strip with the maximum level of stresses being applied to the ceramic strip at a point removed from the point of engagement and the level of stresses applied to the element decreasing as the distance to the point of engagement decreases.
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9. An arrangement for mounting one end of a piezoelectric element operating in a bending mode for generating essentially linear movement on a part of a moving component operatively attached to the other end of the element, the arrangement having means for engaging the one end of the element, the arrangement having means for engaging the one end at a point of engagement for fixedly mounting the one end of the element so that the element bends about the point during a bending operation, the element comprising a pair of ceramic strips with a carrier strip disposed therebetween and in contact therewith, a metallized layer electrode disposed on an outer surface of each of the ceramic strips to form means for applying an electrical current to the ceramic strip to cause bending of the element, the improvement comprising means to modify the stresses being applied to the element during a bending operation and comprising a pair of elastic metal support strips, said strips being disposed on opposite surfaces of the element between the one end and the engagement means, each of the metal support strips being prestressed to continually bear against the metallized layer of the element, each support strip having a length extending along the element from the point of engagement to a free end spaced from the point, each support strip having a thickness to partially resist bending of the element thereagainst as the support strip yields to maintain the level of bending stresses applied to the ceramic strip below a level which would cause damage to the ceramic strip with the maximum level of stresses being applied to the ceramic strip at a point removed from the point of engagement and the level of stresses applied to the element decreasing as the distance to the point of engagement decreases.
Specification