Hybrid piezoelectric-magnetostrictive actuator
First Claim
1. Rotary actuator comprising:
- a piezoelectric actuator spaced apart from a magnetostrictive actuator;
a linkage in contact with the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators, the linkage having an end including microgrooves;
a rotatable shaft including microgrooves mating with the microgrooves in the linkage end; and
electronic circuitry driving the piezoelectric actuator and the magnetostrictive actuator resulting in the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators moving 180°
out of phase thereby moving the linkage to rotate the shaft.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Hybrid actuator. The actuator includes a piezoelectric actuator spaced apart from a magnetostrictive actuator. A linkage is in contact with the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuator, the linkage having an end including microgrooves. A rotatable shaft includes microgrooves mating with the microgrooves in the linkage end. Electronic circuitry is provided to drive the piezoelectric actuator and the magnetostrictive actuator resulting in the piezoelectric and the magnetostrictive actuators moving 180° out of phase thereby moving the linkage to rotate the shaft. It is preferred that the actuators be driven at resonance. In one embodiment, the actuator includes three actuators to provide motion about three axes. In another embodiment the actuator is a linear actuator.
5 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. Rotary actuator comprising:
-
a piezoelectric actuator spaced apart from a magnetostrictive actuator; a linkage in contact with the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators, the linkage having an end including microgrooves; a rotatable shaft including microgrooves mating with the microgrooves in the linkage end; and electronic circuitry driving the piezoelectric actuator and the magnetostrictive actuator resulting in the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators moving 180°
out of phase thereby moving the linkage to rotate the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17)
-
-
15. Linear actuator comprising:
-
a piezoelectric actuator in angled relation to a magnetostrictive actuator; a forcer structure in contact with the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators; an output shaft in contact with the forcer structure; and electronic circuitry driving the piezoelectric actuator and the magnetostrictive actuator resulting in the piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators moving 180°
out of phase thereby moving the forcer structure to move the output shaft in a linear fashion. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
Specification