Pseudo-shear mode actuator
First Claim
1. A pseudo-shear mode actuator comprising:
- at least two rigid layers of ceramic material, said layers having a first end, a second end and a thickness that is less than length or width of the layer;
a bond which bonds said first ends of said layers together;
said thickness being thick enough to allow said layers to expand and push against said bond without crumpling; and
a spacer between said layers running from said bond to said second ends of the layers, said spacer being unsecured to said layers such that said layers can slide and expand along said spacer.
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Abstract
The present invention is a new type of high-strain, pseudo-shear mode piezoelectric ceramic actuator. The pseudo-shear mode actuator employs a stack of pre-poled rectangular ceramic sheets. The stacked sheets form a composite structure assembled from thin sheet soft PZT or PLZT which is poled in the usual direction normal to the major face of the sheet and driven by electrodes upon the major faces. The sheets are conductivity bonded at alternate ends and driven in such a way that alternate sheets expand and contract along the length dimension. Examples of uses would include actuators for linear and rotary motors; step and repeat (inchworm) type actuators; flow sensing and flow control; valving and pumping systems; active noise and vibration control; and large thin panel loudspeakers.
9 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A pseudo-shear mode actuator comprising:
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at least two rigid layers of ceramic material, said layers having a first end, a second end and a thickness that is less than length or width of the layer;
a bond which bonds said first ends of said layers together;
said thickness being thick enough to allow said layers to expand and push against said bond without crumpling; and
a spacer between said layers running from said bond to said second ends of the layers, said spacer being unsecured to said layers such that said layers can slide and expand along said spacer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification