Linear digital proportional piezoelectric valve
First Claim
1. An electrically controlled valve, comprising:
- a shaft;
a piezoelectric motor affixed to an end of the shaft and drives the shaft in a first linear direction and a second opposite linear direction;
a controller which provides power to the piezoelectric motor to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being faster that the second speed;
a follower which receives the shaft, and slides relative to the shaft in response to the shaft moving with the first speed, and grips and moves with the shaft in response to the moving with the second speed;
a valve member which moves with the follower; and
a valve seat, the valve member is configured to be moved by the follower against the valve seat to restrict fluid flow and to be moved by the follower away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrically controlled valve (10) includes a shaft (36), a piezoelectric motor (34) affixed to an end of the shaft (36), a controller (54), a follower (42), a valve member (40), and a valve seat (28). The piezoelectric motor (34) drives the shaft with a first direction and a second opposite direction. The controller (54) provides power to the piezoelectric motor (34) to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being faster that the second speed. The follower (42) receives the shaft (36), and slides relative to the shaft in response to the shaft moving with the first speed, and grips and moves with the shaft in response to the moving with the second speed and includes a valve member (40). The valve member (40) moves with the follower (42). The valve member (40) is configured to be moved by the follower (42) against the valve seat (28) to restrict fluid flow and to be moved by the follower (42) away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow.
9 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrically controlled valve, comprising:
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a shaft; a piezoelectric motor affixed to an end of the shaft and drives the shaft in a first linear direction and a second opposite linear direction; a controller which provides power to the piezoelectric motor to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being faster that the second speed; a follower which receives the shaft, and slides relative to the shaft in response to the shaft moving with the first speed, and grips and moves with the shaft in response to the moving with the second speed; a valve member which moves with the follower; and a valve seat, the valve member is configured to be moved by the follower against the valve seat to restrict fluid flow and to be moved by the follower away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of fluid control, comprising:
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applying electrical pulses to a piezoelectric motor which moves a shaft affixed to the piezoelectric motor to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the second speed being faster than the first speed; moving the shaft with the first speed such that a follower which receives the shaft slides relative to the shaft; moving the shaft with the second speed such that the follower grips the shaft and moves with the shaft; repeatedly applying pulses to alternately move the shaft toward a valve seat at the second speed and away from the valve seat at the first speed to move a valve member which moves with the follower against the valve seat to restrict fluid flow; and repeatedly applying pulses to alternately move the shaft toward the valve seat at the first speed and away from the valve seat at the second speed to move the valve member which moves with the follower away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electrically controlled valve comprising:
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a shaft; a piezoelectric motor affixed to an end of the shaft and drives the shaft with a first direction and a second opposite direction, wherein the piezoelectric motor further includes piezoelectric material which flexes at a first rate to drive the shaft with the first speed and flattens at a second rate to drive the shaft with the second speed; a controller which provides power to the piezoelectric motor to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being faster that the second speed; a follower which receives the shaft, and slides relative to the shaft in response to the shaft moving with the first speed, and grips and moves with the shaft in response to the moving with the second speed; a valve member which moves with the follower; and a valve seat, the valve member is configured to be moved by the follower against the valve seat to restrict fluid flow and to be moved by the follower away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification