Piezoelectric actuated valve with membrane chamber

Details Piezoelectric actuated valve with membrane chamber Piezoelectric actuated valve with membrane chamber

1999-12-13

2001-05-01

Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)

Valves and valve actuation

Fluid actuated or retarded

Fluid link or column actuator

Reexamination Certificate

active

06224032

ABSTRACT:

PRIOR ART
The invention relates to a valve for controlling fluids EP 0 477 400 has disclosed a valve of this kind. There, the actuation piston of the valve member is disposed so that it can move in a sealed fashion in a smaller diameter part of a stepped bore, whereas a larger diameter piston that is moved with the piezoelectric actuator is disposed in a larger diameter part of the stepped bore. A hydraulic chamber is fixed between the two pistons in such a way that when the actuator moves the larger piston by a particular distance, the actuation piston of the valve member is moved by a distance that is enlarged by the transmission ratio of the stepped bore diameter. The valve member, the actuation piston, the larger diameter piston, and the piezoelectric actuator are disposed in succession on a common axis.
With valves of this kind, there is the problem of compensating for length changes of the piezoelectric actuator, the valve, or the valve housing by means of the hydraulic coupling chamber, which will be referred to below as the pressure chamber for short. Since the piezoelectric actuator produces a pressure in the pressure chamber in order to open the valve, this pressure also leads to a loss of pressure chamber fluid. A refilling is required in order to prevent an evacuation of the pressure chamber. Devices that solve this problem have in fact already been disclosed (EP 0 477 400 A1), but in this instance, a valve is not provided for monitoring the refilling nor is anything said regarding whether the storage means can be refilled.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The valve according to the invention, has the advantage over the prior art that the pressure chamber suffers no fluid loss. A disadvantageous length change of the entire device is thus prevented, even if the piezoelectric actuator, the valve, or the housing changes its length, for example upon heating. Furthermore, the device has a simple design and a secure and reliable seal can be produced.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4491296 (1985-01-01), Frank
patent: 4982758 (1991-01-01), Schlachter
patent: 5758862 (1998-06-01), Sturman
patent: 5772181 (1998-06-01), Robertson, III
patent: 5857661 (1998-06-01), Amada et al.
patent: 6062532 (2000-05-01), Gurich et al.

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