Viking AT, LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140109995 | Mass Flow Controller Driven by Smart Material Actuator with Mechanical Amplification - An improved mass flow controller with a body having an inlet and an outlet; a sensor adapted to sense the flow of material out of the outlet; a controller adapted to receive a signal from the sensor; a proportional valve operatively connected between the inlet and the outlet; and a mechanically-amplified smart material actuator electrically connected to the controller and operatively connected to the proportional valve. The mechanically-amplified actuator comprises a smart material device, a compensator, a movable supporting member, at least two mechanical webs, at least two actuating arms, and a second stage assembly. | 04-24-2014 |
20130234562 | Multiple Arm Smart Material Actuator with Second Stage - An actuator apparatus comprising a smart material device, a compensator, a movable supporting member, at least three mechanical webs, at least three actuating arms, and a second stage assembly is disclosed wherein the mechanical webs comprise a first resilient member attached to the compensator and a second resilient member attached to said movable supporting member. A piezoelectric or smart material device is affixed between the first mounting surface and the compensator. The actuating arms comprise a first actuating arm end attached to one mechanical web and a second actuating arm end attached to the second stage assembly. The second stage assembly comprises resilient strips having a first end attached to the actuating arm and a second end attached to a second stage attachment surface. Application of an electrical potential causes the smart material device to expand, thereby urging the movable supporting member away from the compensator and causing the first and second resilient members to flex. This in turn causes the actuating arms to move. The resilient strips urge the second stage attachment surface in a direction substantially parallel to the smart material device. | 09-12-2013 |
20130234561 | High Speed Smart Material Actuator with Second Stage - A smart material actuator apparatus having a smart material device, compensator, movable supporting member, two mechanical webs, two actuating arms, and a second stage assembly. Application of an electrical potential causes the smart material device to expand, thereby moving the actuating arms. That movement causes resilient strips to urge a second stage attachment surface in a direction substantially parallel to the smart material device. Optional dampening assemblies may be added where high speed operation is desired, and an optional valve assembly may be attached where an actuated valve, such as a high speed actuated air valve, is needed. | 09-12-2013 |
20130108475 | Actuator-Driven Pinch Pump | 05-02-2013 |
20120308055 | Smart Material Actuator Capable of Operating in Three Dimensions - A smart material actuator having more than two actuating arms, more than two mechanical webs, and being driven by a piezo or other smart material device within an enclosed compensator, and which may be adapted for use as an actuator, an energy capture device, or a sensor. In certain embodiments, the smart material actuator can also operate as the driver for an audio speaker. | 12-06-2012 |
20120297880 | Smart Material Actuator with Enclosed Compensator - An actuator driven by a smart material device and suitable for use as an actuator, energy capture device, or sensor, having an enclosed compensator, potting material, at least one actuating arm, and two mechanical webs and a movable supporting member adapted such that application of a suitable electric potential causes a change in shape of the smart material device, thereby flexing the mechanical webs and causing movement of the actuating arm. As an energy capture device or sensor, external motion causes the actuating arm to move, thereby causing the smart material device to generate recoverable electrical energy or an electric signal indicating motion. | 11-29-2012 |
20120194037 | Apparatus and Method for Harvesting Electrical Energy from Mechanical Motion - A method and apparatus for harvesting energy comprising determining an electrical impedance of a piezoelectric stack, connecting an electrical load to the piezoelectric stack wherein the piezoelectric stack is housed in a mechanical amplifier comprising a fixed supporting member, a movable supporting member connected to compliant links attached to at least one actuating arm, and connecting the actuator to a source of motion whereby movement of the actuating arm results in compression and expansion of the piezoelectric stack, which generates electrical current into the electrical load. | 08-02-2012 |
20120187802 | Nano Piezoelectric Actuator Energy Conversion Apparatus and Method of Making Same - A nano piezoelectric actuator energy conversion apparatus fabricated from silicon comprising a mechanical amplifier comprising a fixed supporting member, a movable supporting member connected to compliant links attached to at least one actuating arm, and a piezoelectric stack affixed between the fixed supporting member and movable supporting member. Also disclosed is a method for fabricating a nano piezoelectric actuator from silicon and preloading the nano actuator with a piezoelectric stack. | 07-26-2012 |
20120038245 | Smart Material Actuator Adapted for Resonant Operation - A smart material actuator having a fixed supporting member, mechanical web, actuating arm, and piezoelectric or smart material stack is disclosed, together with a sensor adapted to indicate the degree of motion of the actuating arms and controller adapted to allow safe operation of the actuator in resonant conditions. Methods of maintaining resonant operation, avoiding resonant operation, and adjusting resonant frequencies are also disclosed. | 02-16-2012 |
20120001518 | Mountable Arm Smart Material Actuator and Energy Harvesting Apparatus - A smart material actuator comprising a mechanical amplifier with a fixed supporting member, at least one mountable actuating arm, and mechanical web having at least one compliant member attached to the mountable arm and a movable supporting member. A piezoelectric stack is affixed between a first mounting surface on the fixed supporting member and a second mounting surface on the movable supporting member. With the fixed supporting member being substantially rigid, and the piezoelectric stack being affixed between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface, which are substantially parallel, applying an appropriate electric potential to the piezoelectric stack will cause it to expand substantially without angular movement. The expansion urges the second mounting surface away from the first, thereby causing the compliant members of the mechanical web to flex, thereby moving the mountable actuating arm. The configuration of the web and the length of the mountable arm cause the actuating end of the arm to move across a distance greater than the expansion of the piezoelectric stack. In this way, the expansion of the stack is effectively amplified by the mechanical amplifier. Actuators of this type may be used both to create mechanical motion from electrical energy and to harvest electrical energy from mechanical motion, or sense the degree of such motion. A number of arm designs and means of attachment to external components are disclosed, in addition to methods of generating electricity from mechanical motion and generating vibration using such actuators and methods of tuning the resonant frequency and increasing the efficiency of energy harvesting through resonant operation. | 01-05-2012 |
20110309721 | Small Scale Smart Material Actuator and Energy Harvesting Apparatus - A micro-scale, smart material actuator having an overall length smaller than 10 mm comprising a multilayer piezoelectric stack housed in a mechanical amplifier made up of a fixed supporting member, a movable supporting member connected to compliant links attached to one or more actuating arms such that, when a suitable electric current is applied to the piezoelectric stack, the resulting expansion is translated through the movable supporting member, thereby causing movement in the actuating arms A method of generating electricity from motion using such an actuator is also disclosed in which the actuating arms are connected to a source of mechanical motion and the piezoelectric stack is connected to an electrical load, whereby the mechanical motion causes the piezoelectric stack to generate electrical charge that is then discharged into the load. | 12-22-2011 |