Three way piezoelectric valve

• US 6,220,295 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Grant, Kevin Lee, Ormerod, William W. III, Hurley, Patrick J. F., Hillis, John William, Bouchard, Clement D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnamurthy, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/642,042
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.4, 137/625.44, 137/625.65, 137/82, 137/269, 137/271, 137/884, 251/129.06
• US Class Current: 137/625.44
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/006 having a free end
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86622 Motor-operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86815 Multiple inlet with single outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86847 Pivoted valve unit

Abstract

A simplified three-way piezoelectric-actuated valve is described. The valve has a valve body having an internal valve cavity, a pair of generally opposed positioning members integral to the valve body, and first, second, and common ports. At least one of the ports has a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, the seat and the passageway being integrally formed in the valve body. A piezoelectric actuator has first and second ends. The first end is secured within the valve cavity by the positioning members and has electrical contacts for providing an electric potential to control the position of the second end. The second end is capable of flexing between a first operating position in which the first port is closed and the second port is open, and a second operating position in which the first port is open and the second port is closed.

Claims

1. A valve comprising:

a valve body having;

(i) an internal valve cavity,

(ii) a pair of generally opposed positioning members integral to the valve body,

(iii) first, second, and common ports, the first and second ports each including a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, the seat and the passageway being integrally formed in the valve body, and

(iv) a plurality of external surfaces, one of the external surfaces having a manifold mounting flange structure including openings for the first, second, and common ports; and

a piezoelectric actuator having first and second ends, the first end being secured within the valve cavity by the positioning members and having electrical contacts for providing an electric potential to control the position of the second end, and the second end being capable of flexing between a first operating position in which the first port is closed and the second port is open, and a second operating position in which the first port is open and the second port is closed.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body includes a valve housing having one of the positioning members, and a valve cover having the other positioning member.

3. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the actuator further includes at least one valve seat pad attached to the second end to sealingly engage the second end against a valve seat that is closed.

4. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric actuator lies in a plane substantially parallel to the external surface having the port openings.

5. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric actuator lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the external surface having the port openings.

6. A valve according to claim 1, further including an integrated seal associated with the external surface openings for the first, second, and common ports.

7. A valve according to claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator voltage module integrated into the valve body and electrically connected to the electrical contacts of the piezoelectric actuator, the module generating the electric potential to control the second end of the piezoelectric actuator.

8. A valve according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control processor integrated into the valve body and electrically connected to the electrical contacts of the piezoelectric actuator, the processor controlling fluid flow through the valve by controlling the position of the second end of the piezoelectric actuator.

9. A valve according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure transducer in communication with the valve cavity that monitors fluid pressure within the valve cavity for at least one of controlling fluid flow through the valve and detecting faulty valve operation.

10. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the actuator is held within a potting chamber portion of the valve cavity that is substantially filled with potting material to enhance the securing of the first end of the piezoelectric actuator by the positioning members.

11. A valve according to claim 1, wherein at least one valve seat protrudes into the cavity.

12. A valve according to claim 11, wherein the at least one protruding valve seat has a top that is radially surrounded by a valve seat lip.

13. A valve according to claim 12, wherein the at least one protruding valve seat has a cylindrical shape.

14. A valve according to claim 11, wherein the at least one protruding valve seat has a volcano shape.

15. A valve according to claim 14, wherein the valve seat includes an end tip having a relatively small radius of curvature that gradually increases to a relatively larger radius of curvature so as to form a transition to the port passageway.

16. A valve comprising:

a valve body having;

(i) an internal valve cavity,

(ii) a pair of generally opposed positioning members integral to the valve body, and

(iii) first, second, and common ports, the first and second ports each including a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, the seat and the passageway being integrally formed in the valve body; and

a piezoelectric actuator having first and second ends, the first end being secured within the valve cavity by the positioning members and having electrical contacts for providing an electric potential to control the position of the second end, and the second end being capable of flexing between a first operating position in which the first port is closed and the second port is open, and a second operating position in which the first port is open and the second port is closed;

wherein the portion of the valve cavity containing the first end of the actuator has a volume less than or equal to four times the volume of the first end of the actuator within the portion.

17. A valve comprising:

a valve body having;

(i) an internal valve cavity,

(ii) a pair of generally opposed positioning members integral to the valve body, and

(iii) first, second, and common ports, the first and second ports each including a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, the seat and the passageway being integrally formed in the valve body; and

a piezoelectric actuator having first and second ends, the first end being secured within the valve cavity by the positioning members and having electrical contacts for providing an electric potential to control the position of the second end, and the second end being capable of flexing between a first operating position in which the first port is closed and the second port is open, and a second operating position in which the first port is open and the second port is closed;

wherein the portion of the valve cavity containing the second end of the actuator has a volume less than or equal to four times the volume of the second end of the actuator within the portion.

18. A valve comprising:

a valve body having;

(i) an internal valve cavity,

(ii) a pair of generally opposed positioning members integral to the valve body, and

(iii) first, second, and common ports, the first and second ports each including a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, the seat and the passageway being integrally formed in the valve body; and

a piezoelectric actuator having first and second ends, the first end being secured within the valve cavity by the positioning members and having electrical contacts for providing an electric potential to control the position of the second end, and the second end being capable of flexing between a first operating position in which the first port is closed and the second port is open, and a second operating position in which the first port is open and the second port is closed;

wherein the portion of the valve cavity containing the second end of the actuator is configured so that the second end of the actuator deflects through more than one quarter the volume of the portion when flexing between the closed position and the open position.

19. A method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuated valve, the method comprising:

providing a valve body having;

(i) an internal valve cavity,

(ii) a pair of generally opposed positioning members integral to the valve body,

(iii) first, second, and common ports, the first and second ports each including a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, the seat and the passageway being integrally formed in the valve body,

(iv) a plurality of external surfaces, one of the external surfaces having a manifold mounting flange structure including openings for the first, second, and common ports; and

suspending a piezoelectric actuator having first and second ends, the first end having electrical contacts for providing an electric potential to control the position of the second end, so that the first end contacts one of the positioning members and the second end contacts one of the valve seats without bending or flexing the actuator; and

securing the first end of the piezoelectric actuator to the positioning members.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein, before the suspending, the method further comprises:

attaching a valve seat pad to the second end of the piezoelectric actuator.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the suspending includes supplying a vacuum pressure to a port with a valve seat so that the second end of the piezoelectric actuator is held against that valve seat.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein the suspending utilizes a special positioning fixture to hold and position the piezoelectric actuator.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the suspending utilizes shimming tapes to position the piezoelectric actuator.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein the securing utilizes ultraviolet curable adhesive.

25. A method according to claim 19, wherein the securing substantially fills a potting chamber portion of the valve cavity with adhesive material.

26. A method according to claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

attaching a top cover to a base so as to form the valve body to enclose the valve cavity such that the valve cavity is accessible to fluid only via the valve ports.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein,

the suspending includes electrically connecting the first end of the actuator to an electrical power supply and applying a voltage to the actuator such that the second end of the actuator flexes away from the contacted valve seat, and

the attaching includes measuring a force required to position the top cover in contact with the base, the force being caused by the top cover pressing against the flexed second end of the actuator.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the attaching includes pressing the top cover against the flexed second end of the actuator until the force measured equals a minimum value of force.

29. A valve comprising:

a valve body having an internal cavity, and first, second, and common ports, the first and second ports each including a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, the seat and the passageway being integrally formed in the valve body, the valve body including a plurality of external surfaces, one of the external surfaces having a manifold mounting flange structure including openings for the first and second ports; and

a valve actuator capable of flexing between a first operating position in which the first port is closed and the second port is open, and a second operating position in which the first port is open and the second port is closed,

wherein the valve seats each have a volcano shape including an end tip having a relatively small radius of curvature that gradually increases to a relatively larger radius of curvature so as to form a transition to the port passageway.

30. A valve according to claim 29, wherein the actuator further includes a valve seat pad to sealingly engage the actuator against a valve seat when the actuator is in the closed position.

31. A valve according to claim 29, wherein the valve body further has a plurality of external surfaces, and wherein one of the external surfaces has disposed thereon openings for the first, second, and common ports.

32. A valve according to claim 31, wherein the piezoelectric actuator lies in a plane substantially parallel to the external surface having the port openings.

33. A valve according to claim 31, wherein the piezoelectric actuator lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the external surface having the port openings.

34. A valve according to claim 31, wherein the external surface having the openings includes a manifold mounting flange structure.

35. A valve according to claim 31, further including an integrated seal associated with the external surface openings for the first, second, and common ports.

36. A valve according to claim 29, further comprising:

a control processor integrated into the valve body and electrically connected to the actuator, the processor controlling fluid flow through the valve by controlling the position of the actuator.

37. A valve according to claim 29, further comprising:

a pressure transducer in communication with the valve cavity that monitors fluid pressure within the valve cavity for at least one of controlling fluid flow through the valve and detecting faulty valve operation.

38. A valve according to claim 29, wherein the valve cavity has a volume less than or equal to four times the volume of the actuator within the cavity.

39. A valve comprising:

a valve body having;

(i) an internal valve cavity,

(ii) a pair of generally opposed positioning members integral to the valve body, which divide the cavity into an operating chamber and a potting chamber, wherein the operating chamber is defined in part by first and second chamber walls, and

(iii) first, second, and common ports, the first and second ports each including a valve seat and a passageway in communication with the valve seat, wherein each valve seat is located in a recess in one of the walls;

a piezoelectric actuator having first and second ends, the first end being secured within the valve cavity between the positioning members and having electrical contacts for providing an electric potential to control the position of the second end, and the second end being capable of flexing between a first operating position in which the first port is closed and the second port is open, and a second operating position in which the first port is open and the second port is closed; and

a valve seat pad mounted on the second end of the piezoelectric actuator for sealing a valve seat when the piezoelectric actuator is in the closed position;

wherein the valve seat pad extends into the recess, past a plane defined by the wall of the recess, when the piezoelectric actuator is in a closed position.

40. A valve according to claim 39, wherein one of the valve seats extends into one of the recesses.

41. A valve according to claim 39, wherein the valve body includes a valve housing having one of the positioning members, and a valve cover having the other positioning member.

42. A valve according to claim 39, wherein one of the valve seats has a top that is radially surrounded by a valve seat lip.

43. A valve according to claim 39, wherein one of the valve seats has a cylindrical shape.

44. A valve according to claim 39, wherein one of the valve seats has a volcano shape.

45. A valve according to claim 44, wherein the volcano shaped valve seat includes an end tip having a relatively small radius of curvature that gradually increases to a relatively larger radius of curvature so as to form a transition to the port passageway.

46. A valve according to claim 39, wherein the potting chamber has a volume less than or equal to four times the volume of the actuator within the potting chamber.

47. A valve according to claim 39, wherein the operating chamber has a volume less than or equal to four times the volume of the actuator within the operating chamber.

48. A valve according to claim 39, wherein the operating chamber is configured so that the second end of the actuator deflects through more than one quarter the volume of the operating chamber when flexing between the closed position and the open position.