Variable pressure valve apparatus

• US 6,684,904 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ito, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): KEASEL, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US10/236,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 251/11, 251/129.06, 251/230, 137/530, 137/531, 604/9, 604/891.1
• US Class Current: 137/530
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/046 by a spring other than a helicoidal spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/52425 with a ball-shaped valve member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7878 With bias adjustment indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7906 Cam means for adjusting and fixing bias

Abstract

A valve can varied in operating pressure and stopped in opening and closing by an efficiently movable actuator due to feeding of electric power without malfunction due to disturbance of magnetism, impact or temperature. A variable pressure valve is provided with a shape memory alloy spring. The shape memory alloy spring is raised in temperature and varied in length by a secondary coil that is electromagnetically given power from a primary coil of a control probe. When the shape memory alloy spring varies in length, a feed ratchet performs linear movement to rotate a cam wheel. The cam wheel has a cam with which an urge spring and a rectifying lever at its one end is engaged. The urge spring and rectifying lever at their other ends engage a ball valve to vary an urge force on the ball valve due to rotation of the cam wheel.

Claims

1. A variable pressure valve apparatus comprising:

a control probe having first electromagnetic means for generating electric power;

a variable pressure valve independent from the control probe and having a fluid inlet port, a fluid discharge port, and a valve element for undergoing movement to close the fluid inlet port;

control means for controlling movement of the valve element to close the fluid inlet port and comprised of a spring member for biasing the valve element to close the fluid inlet port, rotation means for undergoing rotation to deform the spring member and thereby vary a biasing force applied to the valve element by the spring member, movable means for undergoing movement to rotate the rotation means, and an ultrasonic motor having a piezoelectric element for undergoing extension movement to move the movable means to thereby rotate the rotation means to deform the spring member; and

second electromagnetic means supplied with electric power generated by the first electromagnetic means for supplying electric power to the control means to control movement of the valve element to close the fluid inlet port.

2. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 1;

wherein the second electromagnetic means comprises a secondary electromagnetic coil for supplying electric power to the ultrasonic motor to extend the piezoelectric element.

3. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 2;

wherein the first electromagnetic means comprises a primary electromagnetic coil.

4. A variable pressure valve apparatus comprising:

a control probe having first electromagnetic means for generating electric power;

a variable pressure valve independent from the control probe and having a fluid inlet port, a fluid discharge port, and a valve element for undergoing movement to close the fluid inlet port;

control means for controlling movement of the valve element to close the fluid inlet port and comprised of a spring member for biasing the valve element to close the fluid inlet port, rotation means for undergoing rotation to deform the spring member and thereby vary a biasing force applied to the valve element by the spring member, movable means for undergoing movement to rotate the rotation means, and a shape memory alloy spring for undergoing extension movement to move the movable means to thereby rotate the rotation means to deform the spring member; and

second electromagnetic means supplied with electric power generated by the first electromagnetic means for supplying electric power to the control means to control movement of the valve element to close the fluid inlet port.

5. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 4;

wherein the second electromagnetic means comprises a secondary electromagnetic coil for supplying electric power to the shape memory alloy to extend the shape memory alloy.

6. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 5;

wherein the first electromagnetic means comprises a primary electromagnetic coil.

7. A variable pressure valve apparatus comprising:

a case having a fluid inlet port and a fluid discharge port;

a valve element for closing the fluid inlet port;

a spring member disposed in the case and having a first end portion for contacting the valve element to bias the valve element to close the fluid inlet port and a second end portion;

a cam wheel mounted in the case for undergoing rotation, the cam wheel having a first outer circumferential portion for contacting the second end portion of the spring member to deform the spring member to thereby vary a biasing force applied to the valve element by the spring member;

a feed ratchet disposed in the case for undergoing movement to rotate the cam wheel; and

moving means for undergoing extension movement to move the feed ratchet to thereby rotate the cam wheel to deform the spring member.

8. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 7;

wherein the moving means comprises a shape memory alloy.

9. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 7;

wherein the moving means comprises a piezoelectric element.

10. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 7;

further comprising a primary electromagnetic coil for generating electric power and a secondary electromagnetic coil supplied with electric power generated by the primary electromagnetic coil;

wherein the secondary electromagnetic coil supplies electric power to the moving means to extend the moving means.

11. A variable pressure valve apparatus comprising:

a case having a fluid inlet port and a fluid discharge port;

a valve element for closing the fluid inlet port;

a spring member disposed in the case and having a first end portion for contacting the valve element to bias the valve element to close the fluid inlet port and a second end portion;

a cam wheel mounted in the case for undergoing rotation, the cam wheel having a first outer circumferential portion for contacting the second end portion of the spring member to deform the spring member to thereby vary a biasing force applied to the valve element by the spring member; and

a regulating lever disposed in the case, the regulating lever having a first end portion for contacting a second outer circumferential portion of the cam wheel and a second end portion for applying a contact force on the valve element to close the fluid inlet port during rotation of the cam wheel.

12. A variable pressure valve apparatus comprising:

a case having a fluid inlet port and a fluid discharge port;

a valve element for closing the fluid inlet port;

a cam wheel mounted in the case for undergoing rotation, the cam wheel having a first cam portion, a second cam portion and a third cam portion;

movable means disposed in the case for undergoing movement to rotate the cam wheel;

a jumper spring having an end portion for contacting the first cam portion of the cam wheel to regulate rotational movement of the cam wheel;

a regulation lever having a first end portion for contacting the second cam portion of the cam wheel and a second end portion for applying a contact force on the valve element to close the fluid inlet port during rotation of the cam wheel;

a spring member having a first end portion for contacting the third cam portion of the cam wheel and a second end portion for contacting the valve element so that during rotation of the cam wheel the spring element is deformed to bias the valve element to close the fluid inlet port; and

moving means for undergoing extension movement to move the movable means to thereby rotate the cam wheel to deform the spring member.

13. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 12;

wherein the moving means comprises a shape memory alloy.

14. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 12;

wherein the moving means comprises a piezoelectric element.

15. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 12;

wherein the movable means comprises a feed ratchet disposed in the case for undergoing linear movement.

16. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 15;

wherein the moving means comprises a shape memory alloy.

17. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 15;

wherein the moving means comprises a piezoelectric element.

18. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 12;

further comprising a primary electromagnetic coil for generating electric power and a secondary electromagnetic coil supplied with electric power generated by the primary electromagnetic coil;

wherein the secondary electromagnetic coil supplies electric power to the moving means to extend the moving means.

19. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 18;

wherein the moving means comprises a shape memory alloy.

20. A variable pressure valve apparatus according to claim 18;

wherein the moving means comprises a piezoelectric element.