| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 251129060 | Having element dimensionally responsive to field | 27 |
| 20080245985 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW - The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080251746 | Electronically actuated valve system - An electronically actuated valve assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed, wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve stem, and a plurality of shape memory alloy segments in operative communication with the valve stem, wherein each shape memory alloy segment is individually actuatable, and wherein actuation of different shape memory alloy segments is configured to cause different valve lifts. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080296523 | LOW-POWER PIEZOELECTRIC MICRO-MACHINED VALVE - A piezoelectric microvalve employs a valve element formed of hermetically sealed and opposed plates flexed together by a cross axis piezoelectric element. Large flow modulation with small piezoelectric actuator displacement is obtained by perimeter augmentation of the valve seat which dramatically increases the change in valve flow area for small deflections. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090065721 | ACTUATOR AND VALVE ASSEMBLY - An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts when heated. One portion of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body, and another portion of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. The actuator further includes a magnetic field for generating a magnetic force on the second body. The magnetic force acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts, and further decouples the second body from the shape memory wire when applying the magnetic force to the second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090200501 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW - The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20100025604 | Slide Valve Control Device and a Drive Device for Use With It - A valve control device, in particular for control pods or similar equipment used in the mining and/or production of mineral oil/natural gas, comprises a valve housing in which hole or boring sections are arranged, and a valve slide movable relative to the hole sections, with at least a first and a second flow hole for the alternative connection of a feed line from a fluid pressure hose with at least one actuator or of the actuator to return line for leading the fluid away, wherein in each case one of the connections is made and the other is interrupted. To improve such a valve control device in that with only slight and economical constructional modifications with retention of all the advantages of known valve control devices, a substantial reduction in the leakage flow is facilitated or even almost completely suppressed, at least first and second valve elements which in the closed position can be pressed onto a valve seat formed especially at a hole section are laterally assigned to the flow holes, wherein in the connection position of the first flow hole the second valve element is in the closed position and in the connecting position of the second flow hole the first valve element is in the closed position each pressed onto the respective assigned valve seat in its closed position. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100044605 | PIEZOELECTRIC BENDING ELEMENT ACTUATOR FOR SERVO VALVE - A valve assembly includes a valve housing. A valve body is movable within the housing. The valve body has a land to selectively block or communicate a supply port to an outlet. A piezoelectric bending element actuator moves the valve body to selectively communicate the supply port to the outlet port. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100117015 | PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE - A piezoelectric valve having a housing is provided with an inner chamber, in which ends at least one nozzle communicating with an associated port for a medium and provided with a sealing seat having a seat face, a deformable piezoelectric bending element being received in the inner chamber of the housing in such a way that the nozzle can be closed by a portion of the bending element movable relative to the nozzle in response to deformation of the bending element, and the bending element being provided with padding of an elastically resilient material, at least in its region opposite the nozzle. This sealing seat is disposed at the end face of a nozzle insert, which is disposed to be displaceable substantially perpendicular to the seat face in a receptacle fixed to the housing, a thermally expandable compensating member acting between the receptacle and the associated nozzle insert. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100127196 | PIEZOELECTRIC DRIVEN CONTROL VALVE - Stable flow control is made possible even under high-temperature environments by relieving tensional force applied to a piezoelectric element when a piezoelectric actuator is retracted. Thus, a piezoelectric driven control valve includes: a body having a valve seat; a metal diaphragm to contact with and separate from the valve seat; an actuator box supported ascendably and descendably on the body; a split base fixed to the body; a disc spring pressing and urging the actuator box downward to bring the metal diaphragm into contact with the valve seat; and a piezoelectric actuator housed inside the actuator box and that extends upward with application of voltage to press the actuator box upward against the elastic force of the disc spring, and a precompression mechanism, for applying a compression force constantly to piezoelectric elements in the piezoelectric actuator, provided between the split base and the piezoelectric actuator. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100176321 | Hydraulic Valve Actuated by Piezoelectric Effect - A valve-actuator includes a chamber, a spool that opens and closes connections between ports in the chamber, an actuator including a housing containing a piezoelectric stack having a bore, and a spring contacting the spool through the bore and forcing the stack toward the chamber, the stack expanding and contracting in response to a voltage, the spool moving in the chamber in response to said expansion and contraction. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100176322 | ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER DEVICES FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW - The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100230622 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A piezoelectric actuator for a fuel injection valve has an actuator body with a multiplicity of ceramic layers and a multiplicity of electrode layers which are arranged between the ceramic layers. In this case, an external electrode is provided which is connected to some of the electrode layers. The external electrode has a plurality of longitudinal wires, which run in the longitudinal direction of the actuator body, and a plurality of weft wires, wherein a weft wire is passed through the longitudinal wires in such a way that some of the longitudinal wires run above the weft wire and other longitudinal wires run beneath the weft wire. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100230623 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - A piezoelectric actuator for a fuel injection valve has an actuator body with a plurality of ceramic layers and a plurality of electrode layers between the ceramic layers. There is a connection area between an electrode layer and a ceramic layer adjacent to the electrode layer, where the adhesive strength between the electrode layer and the ceramic layer is reduced in parts of the connection area to provide for a predetermined breaking point within the actuator body. This allows for a controlled rupture of layers within the actuator body with high forces, in particular high shear forces such as those that occur with stress due to shock. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20110042595 | PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT DRIVEN METAL DIAPHRAGM CONTROL VALVE - A control valve has a body that forms a valve chamber and a valve seat, a metal diaphragm installed inside the valve chamber and making contact with and departing from the valve seat, an actuator box fixed to the side of the body, a piezoelectric element installed inside the actuator box to thrust the metal diaphragm through mediation of a metal diaphragm presser by elongating downward when voltage is applied, a conical spring mechanism that absorbs elongation of the piezoelectric element at the time when the metal diaphragm makes contact with the valve seat and a prescribed thrust is applied to the valve seat and the like, and a preload mechanism that applies upward compressive force to the piezoelectric element all the time wherein the compressive force applied to the piezoelectric element is externally adjustable. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20120193560 | VALVE DEVICE - A valve device includes an oil path that is formed such that a hydraulic fluid flows therethrough, a ball valve that opens and closes the oil path, and a contraction-type PVC gel actuator including a plurality of planar cathode plates, a plurality of mesh-like anode plates, and PVC gel layers. The cathode plates and the anode plates are alternately stacked one on top of the other with the PVC gel layers sandwiched therebetween. With expansion or contraction deformation of the contraction-type PVC gel actuator, the ball valve is driven so as to close or open the oil path. The cathode plates and the anode plates included in the contraction-type PVC gel actuator are interconnected using the belt-like wiring portions. Thus, an integrated unit of the plurality of cathode plates and an integrated unit of the plurality of anode plates are formed. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20130037732 | VALVE OPERATED BY ITS OWN MEDIUM - The invention relates to a valve comprising a valve housing having a valve inlet and outlet, a valve seat arranged in the direction or flow of the fluid between the valve inlet and outlet, a closure means which is movably arranged in the valve housing and has a first side and a second side, wherein the closure means closes off the valve seat tightly when the valve is in the closed state, a balancing opening for producing a pressure compensation between the first side and the second side of the closure means, and at least one control actuator, wherein the control actuator closes off the balancing opening of the closure means in a closed position and frees the balancing opening of the closure means in an open position so that the closure means frees the valve seat as a result of a pressure compensation via the balancing opening | 02-14-2013 |
| 20140312252 | Valve for Metering a Fluid Medium - A valve for metering a fluid (liquid or gaseous medium), in particular, a fuel injector for internal combustion engines, having a valve housing, an actuator accommodated in the valve housing and acting on a valve member, an electrical connector accessible on the outside of the valve housing, and an electrical supply lead that produces an electrical connection from the connector to the actuator and has two lead strands, each having a flexible strand section. To optimize the electrical supply lead to lower production costs, simplified valve assembly and anti-twist protection for the actuator, each lead strand is made of an electrical conductor provided with a plastic sheathing and having a front and rear, in each case elongated conductor section and a middle conductor section in between that has at least one meander-shaped curvature for realizing the flexible strand section, and a plastic bridge member, in one piece with the plastic sheathings in the area of the middle conductor sections of both electrical conductors, connects the two lead strands to form a torsionally stiff supply-lead module. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140367596 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAS FLOW CONTROL - A method and apparatus for self-calibrating control of gas flow. The gas flow rate is initially set by controlling, to a high degree of precision, the amount of opening of a flow restriction, where the design of the apparatus containing the flow restriction lends itself to achieving high precision. The gas flow rate is then measured by a pressure rate-of-drop upstream of the flow restriction, and the amount of flow restriction opening is adjusted, if need be, to obtain exactly the desired flow. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140374633 | Microvalve Having Improved Resistance to Contamination - A microvalve includes a base plate including a surface, a recessed area provided within the surface, a first fluid port provided within the recessed area, and a first sealing structure extending about the first fluid port. The microvalve also includes a cover plate including a surface, a recessed area provided within the surface, a second fluid port provided within the recessed area, and a second sealing structure extending about the second fluid port. An intermediate plate is disposed between the base plate and the cover plate and includes a displaceable member that is movable between a closed position, wherein the displaceable member cooperates with the sealing structures to prevent fluid communication between the fluid ports, and an opened position, wherein the displaceable member does not cooperate with at least a portion of the sealing structures to prevent fluid communication between the fluid ports. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20140374634 | FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - A flow control apparatus and a program are disclosed herein. A flow control apparatus includes a piezoelectric element coupled to a valve element configuring a flow regulating valve and that works the valve element to regulate a flow, a driving circuit that applies a voltage to the piezoelectric element to drive the piezoelectric element, an accepting means for accepting a target flow, and an output means for outputting a signal corresponding to the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element to the driving circuit, to change the flow so as to coincide with the target flow. When the target flow is changed, the output means transiently outputs a signal corresponding to a voltage value different from a target voltage value corresponding to the target flow after the change, and then the output means outputs a signal corresponding to a voltage change converging at the target voltage value. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150028238 | Valve Assembly for Switching and/or Regulating a Medium Flow of an Aerospace Engine and Aerospace Engine - A valve assembly for switching and/or regulating a medium flow of an aerospace engine includes a drive, a valve and a flexible separator element. The drive includes one or more electrically actuatable actuators, which change their length in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the valve assembly when a control voltage is applied to the actuators. The valve includes a valve piston, which can be moved back and forth along the longitudinal axis by the drive and which has a valve member. The flexible separator element delimits a working space of the valve from the drive, as a result of which the medium, which flows through the valve or is present in the working space, is hermetically separated from the drive. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150102241 | VALVE FOR METERING IN A FLOWING MEDIUM - A valve for metering a flowing medium, in particular a fluid, having a metering opening situated in the fluid flow and surrounded by a valve seat, a valve needle that controls the metering opening and that has a closing head that works together with the valve seat to close and release the metering opening, a piezoelectric actuator that acts on the valve needle to release the metering opening, and an elastic resetting element that acts on the valve needle to close the metering opening. To minimize the required stroke of the piezoelectric actuator for a required stroke of the closing head of the valve needle, the point of action of the resetting element on the valve needle is situated on or close to the end of the valve needle that bears the closing head. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20160053910 | MODULAR ACTUATOR UNIT FOR A FUEL INJECTION VALVE - An actuator unit for a fuel injection valve of a vehicle internal combustion engine. The actuator unit includes an electronic component formed as a stack. The component includes a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of material layers which are arranged alternately and react to the application of an electric field. The component also has two outer electrodes electrically connected to respective electrode layers on at least one circumferential side of the component. Additionally, the actuator unit has a piezoelectric sensor coupled to the component in a force-fitting manner, in the stroke direction of the component. When the component is in operation, the sensor detects a force generated by the component, as a voltage or charge between two electrodes arranged on opposing end faces, of a sensor element. The electrodes are deposited from an electrically conductive material directly onto at least the end faces of the sensor element. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160118573 | Piezoelectric Actuating Device and Valve Equipped Therewith - A piezoelectric actuator device, with at least one piezoelectric transducer which has at least one piezoelectric body and an electrode unit assigned to this piezoelectric body, with overall capacitance and including two electrodes lying opposite one another. At least one of the two electrodes of the electrode unit is divided into several individual sub-electrodes, spaced apart from one another and forming with the electrode lying opposite several sub-electrode pairs defining in each case a partial capacitance of the overall capacitance. A separate current-limiting resistor active during charge flow is connected in series to each sub-electrode pair. A valve, for controlling a fluid, is equipped with such an actuator device. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160126444 | PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR - The invention relates to a piezoelectric actuator ( | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160131275 | SEAT VALVE - A diaphragm actuator has a first frame part and a second frame part, between which at least two diaphragm layers are disposed in a stacked manner and formed as electro-active polymer layers. Furthermore, a method for producing a diaphragm actuator is described. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160138733 | MICROVALVE HAVING IMPROVED ACTUATOR - A microvalve includes a first plate having a surface defining an actuator cavity. A second plate has a surface that abuts the surface of the first plate and includes a displaceable member that is disposed within the actuator cavity for movement between a closed position, wherein the displaceable member prevents fluid communication through the microvalve, and an opened position, wherein the displaceable member does not prevent fluid communication through the microvalve. An actuator is connected to the displaceable member and has only one or two pairs of actuator ribs. | 05-19-2016 |
