Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Kenneth L. Miller · Stephen M. Emo ·
Assignee(s)	None listed in document.  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Larry J. Palguta ·
Primary Examiner	Kevin Shaver ·
Assistant Examiner	Eric Keasel ·
Application Number	US9036185
Filing date	03/06/1998
Issue date	02/01/2000
Predicted expiration date	03/06/2018
U.S. Classifications	251/129.06  · 251/129.03  ·
International Classifications	F16K 3102  ·
Kind Code	A
International Classifications	251129.03;129.06;129.08;331 ·

Patent Family

Abstract

A high response valve (10) has a leaf spring (25) preloaded and positioned over an orifice plate (23). The orifice plate (23) has a plurality of interleaved ridges (62, 64) and grooves (61, 63, 65) with the grooves being in continuous communication with a valve inlet (13, 19). A plurality of slits or openings (49, 51) in the aperture plate (23) are in continuous communication with a valve outlet (21), each opening (49, 51) passing through a corresponding ridge (62, 64). A pair of electromechanical transducers (27, 29), each comprising a generally cylindrical stack of piezo-electric disks having a central axis (71), actuate the valve (10). One end of each stack (27, 29) is adjustably fixed relative to the housing by adjustment screws (41, 43), and a cap (35, 37) at the other end of the stack couples the stack to a corresponding spring (25) end. Each cap (35, 37) includes a notch (39) for engaging and maintaining a corresponding spring end near the corresponding central axis (71). Energization of the piezo-electric stacks (27, 29) applies an additional axial load to the spring (25) and proportionally opens the flow area of the valve (10). The high mechanical forces available from a piezoelectric actuator permits the construction of very stiff systems with high natural response frequencies, and the plurality of openings (49, 51) provide an effectively large total flow area.

Independent Claims | See all claims (20)

1. 1. A valve having a housing with an inlet and an outlet and operable to pass fluid selectively from the inlet to the outlet comprising:an aperture plate having a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves with the grooves being in continuous communication with the inlet;a plurality of openings in the aperture plate in continuous communication with the outlet, each opening passing through a corresponding ridge; andmeans for activating the valve and operable between a closed position where fluid flow from the inlet into the openings is blocked and at least one open position allowing fluid flow from adjacent grooves into the opening of an intervening ridge.
2. 9. A valve having a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and operable to pass fluid selectively from the inlet to the outlet comprising:at least one aperture in continuous communication with the inlet; andmeans for activating the aperture and operable between a closed position where fluid flow from the inlet through the aperture to the outlet is blocked and at least one open position allowing fluid flow from the inlet through the aperture to the outlet;the aperture activating means including a leaf spring having a pair of opposed ends and a surface normally resting against and closing sealingly the aperture when in the closed position, and a pair of elongated electromechanical transducers each engaging one spring end and operable when energized to force the spring ends toward one another to deform the leaf spring thereby moving the leaf spring surface away from the aperture.
3. 17. A rapid response, proportional air valve operable between open and closed positions for high temperature applications comprising:an aperture plate having a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves;a plurality of openings in the aperture plate, each opening passing through an associated ridge;means for activating the aperture plate including a preloaded leaf spring having a pair of opposed ends, and a surface normally resting on the ridges and covering sealingly the openings when in the closed position, anda pair of elongated electromechanical transducers each engaging one spring end and operable when energized to force the spring ends toward one another to deform the leaf spring and thereby move the surface away from the ridge openings and effect air flow proportional to the energization of the transducers.
4. 19. A valve having a housing with an inlet and an outlet and operable to pass fluid proportionally from the inlet to the outlet comprising:an aperture plate having a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves with the grooves being in continuous communication with the inlet;a plurality of openings in the aperture plate in continuous communication with the outlet, each opening passing through a corresponding ridge; andmeans for activating the valve and operable between a closed position where fluid flow from the inlet into the openings is blocked and open positions allowing fluid flow from adjacent grooves into the opening of an intervening ridge, the fluid flow being proportional to energization of the activating means.