Piezoelectric latching actuator having an impact receiving projectile
First Claim
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1. A piezoelectric actuator comprising:
- a pair of elongated piezoelectric elements, each of said elements being secured at one end to a support and being formed of multilayered ceramics for generating a rapidly varying displacement in a longitudinal direction thereof when an electrical potential is applied thereto;
bistable snap-action means; and
projectile means attached to said snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship for alternately engaging an end which is opposite said one end on each one of said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration responsive to receiving an impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said snap-action means to change state.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a piezoelectric actuator comprising a pair of piezoelectric elements, bistable snap-action means, and projectile means attached to the snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship alternately with the piezoelectric elements. The projectile means has a mass sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon impact from each of the piezoelectric elements to cause the snap-action means to change state. The snap-action means may comprise an elongated bending element squeezed endwise between supports, the projectile means being carried by bending element at a point intermediate its ends.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric actuator comprising:
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a pair of elongated piezoelectric elements, each of said elements being secured at one end to a support and being formed of multilayered ceramics for generating a rapidly varying displacement in a longitudinal direction thereof when an electrical potential is applied thereto; bistable snap-action means; and projectile means attached to said snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship for alternately engaging an end which is opposite said one end on each one of said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration responsive to receiving an impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said snap-action means to change state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A piezoelectric actuator comprising:
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a pair of piezoelectric elements, said piezoelectric elements being located parallel to each other for generating an impact in one direction, further comprising a pair of lever means for altering the direction of impact generated by each of said piezoelectric elements; bistable snap-action means; and projectile means attached to said snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship for altermately engaging said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said snap-action means to change state.
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16. A piezoelectric actuator comprising:
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a pair of piezoelectric elements; bistable snap-action spring means having an elongated bending element squeezed endwise on a support to assume a curve representing a bistable state, a pair of flexible contact arms, wherein said elongated bending element is provided with a pair of limbs extending from one end portion of said elongated bending element, the free ends of said limbs having lateral extensions for urging said flexible contact arms to cooperate with stationary contacts; and projectile means attached to said snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship for altermately engaging said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said snap-action means to change state.
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17. A piezoelectric actuator comprising:
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a pair of piezoelectric elements; bistable snap-action spring means comprising a pair of first and second elongated bending elements, each of said bending elements being squeezed endwise on a support, said elongated bending elements being spaced from each other and located between said piezoelectric elements; and projectile means attached to said snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship for alternately engaging said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said snap-action means to change state, said projectile means further comprising an elongated projectile member attached at opposite ends to said first and second elongated bending elements, and a pair of impact receiving portions respectively attached to said bending elements in an impact receiving relationship with said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means still further comprising a plurality of flexible contact arms extending to right angles to and engaging said elongated projectile member for cooperating with stationary contacts in response to said bending element changing state.
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18. A piezoelectric actuator comprising:
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a pair of piezoelectric elements; bistable snap-action spring means, said spring means comprises an elongated bending element squeezed endwise on a support to assume a curve representing a bistable state; and projectile means attached to said snap-action means in an impact receiving relationship for alternately engaging said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said snap-action means to change state, a pair of flexible contact arm located one on each side of said elongated bending element, each of said flexible contact arms having an impact transfer menas in an impact receiving relationship with an associated one of said piezoelectric elements and in impact transfer relationship with said projectile means.
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19. A relay comprising:
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a pair of piezoelectric elements, each of said elements being secured at one end to a support and being formed of multilayered ceramics for generating a rapidly varying displacement in a longitudinal direction thereof in response to an electrical pulse applied thereto; bistable snap-action means; projectile means attached to said snap-action means for movement therewith and located in an impact receiving relationship for alternately engaging an end opposite said one end of each one of said piezoelectric elements, said projectile means having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon receiving an impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said snap-action means to change state; and a flexible contact arm carrying a moving contact for cooperating with a stationary contact in response to said snap-action device changing state.
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20. A relay comprising:
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a pair of elongated piezoelectric elements, each of said elements being secured at one end to a support and being formed of multilayered ceramics for generating a rapidly varying displacement in a longitudinal direction thereof in response to an electrical pulse applied thereto; a bistable bending element squeezed endwise; an elongated projectile extending perpendicularly to and being attached to said bending element for movement therewith, said projectile having opposite ends located in an impact receiving relationship for alternately engaging an end opposite said one end of each one of said piezoelectric elements, said projectile having a mass which is sufficient to acquire an acceleration upon receiving an impact from each of said piezoelectric elements to cause said bending element to change state; and a plurality of flexible arms carrying moving contacts for cooperating with associated stationary contacts in response to said bending element changing state.
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Specification