Electrical to mechanical energy converter

• US 7,872,397 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gravatt, Lynn M., Clingman, Dan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSENAU, DEREK JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/679,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 310328-332, 31032301-32321
• US Class Current: 310/328
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/186 Vibration harvesters
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/304 Beam type

Abstract

An energy conversion apparatus having a pair of flexible beams that are supported at first ends thereof from a base. The beams each include at least one piezoelectric material layer. Second ends of each of the beams are operatively coupled to rigid links. The rigid links are in turn operatively coupled to a working element that may form, in one application, a drive member for a motor, or in a second application form a valve element for an electronic fuel injection system, or in a third application form a piston for a fluid pump. The working element is free to move linearly in a path generally parallel to the longitudinal axes of the flexible beams. As electrical signals are applied to and removed from the piezoelectric material layer(s) of each flexible beam, the beams flex repeatedly and uniformly over their full lengths. This causes a linear movement of the working element that can be used to help form a rotational motor output or a linearly moving fluid control element.

Claims

1. An electrical to mechanical energy conversion apparatus, comprising:

a flexible beam that flexes substantially over its full length in response to electrical signals applied thereto;

said flexible beam having a first end fixedly and non-rotationally supported against movement, and a second end able to move to enable flexing of said flexible beam, and an electrically responsive material that flexes in response to said electrical signals, the second end of the flexible beam moving in an arcuate path;

a moment converting subsystem in communication with said second end of said flexible beam for translating a moment generated at said second end of said flexible beam, as a result of movement in said arcuate path, into a linear motion;

a working element operably associated with said moment converting subsystem; and

a component for interacting with the working element to guide and maintain the working element moving along a linear reciprocating path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rotational motion generating subsystem coupled to said working element system for generating a rotational output from linear motion of said working element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second end of said flexible beam oscillates in the arcuate motion along said an arcuate path in response to the application of and removal of electrical signals from said electrically responsive material;

and

wherein said oscillating motion of said second end is converted to reciprocating linear motion of said working element by said moment converting subsystem.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said working element forms a valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said valve comprises a valve for controlling a flow of fuel in an electronic fuel injection system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said working element forms a piston.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flexible beam comprises a flexible substrate for supporting said electrically responsive material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said flexible beam comprises:

a flexible substrate; and

a layer of electrically responsive material disposed on opposing surfaces of said flexible substrate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrically responsive material comprises a piezoelectric material layer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of said flexible beams arranged generally parallel to one another; and

a base for fixedly supporting said first end of each of said flexible beams.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said moment generating subsystem comprises:

a coupling component secured to said second end of said flexible beam;

a first flexure secured to said coupling component; and

a link coupled to said first flexure at a first end thereof; and

a second flexure coupled to a second end of said link.

12. An electrical to mechanical energy conversion apparatus, comprising:

a pair of flexible beams supported adjacent one another,

each said flexible beam having a first end fixedly and non-rotationally supported against movement, and a second end able to move to enable flexing of said each said second end of each said flexible beam along an arcuate path, with a first plane being tangent to the arcuate path, and an electrically responsive material that flexes in response to an application of electrical signals thereto;

a moment converting subsystem in communication with said second ends of said flexible beams for translating a moment generated at each said second end into a linear motion within a second plane non-parallel to said first plane;

a pair of links coupled to the second ends of the flexible beam;

a pair of flexures interfacing the pair of links to the second ends of the flexible beam;

a working element operably associated with said moment converting subsystem and coupled to the links.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said flexible beams are supported generally parallel to one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each said beam comprises a piezoelectric material layer on a surface thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each said beam comprises a pair of piezoelectric material layers on opposing surfaces thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said working element forms a valve.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said working element forms an input linkage assembly for converting linear motion provided by an output end of said moment converting subsystem into a rotational output.

18. An electrical to mechanical energy conversion apparatus, comprising:

a flexible beam that flexes substantially over its full length in response to electrical signals applied thereto;

said flexible beam having a first end fixedly and non-rotationally supported against movement, and a second end able to move to enable flexing of said flexible beam, and an electrically responsive material that flexes in response to said electrical signals, the second end of the flexible beam moving in an arcuate path, and a first plane being tangent to the arcuate path;

a moment converting subsystem in communication with said second end of said flexible beam for translating a moment generated at said second end of said flexible beam into a linear motion, said moment converting subsystem including;

a coupling component secured to said second end of said flexible beam;

a first flexure secured to said coupling component; and

a link coupled to said first flexure at a first end thereof, and

a second flexure coupled to a second end of said link; and

a working element operably associated with said moment converting subsystem.