Control member for a piezo-valve

Abstract

A control member for a piezo-valve having an elongated flexible element, which at one of its two axial ends has a respective sealing face on oppositely placed longitudinal side faces. The two sealing elements are a common component of a sealing body, which possesses a connecting section extending between the two sealing elements and formed integrally with same, such connecting section having an opening of the flexible element extending through it. The two sealing elements overlap the marginal section, delimiting the opening, of the flexible element and in the peripheral part of the opening engage the respectively associated longitudinal side face of the flexible element.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control member for a piezo-valve, comprising an elongated flexible element, which at one of its two axial ends on opposite longitudinal side faces respectively possesses a sealing element having a sealing face.THE PRIOR ART.[0002] A control member of this type is for example disclosed in the European patent publication 0 170 990 A1. Here it is part of a piezo-valve belonging to a vacuum control device, it having an elongated flexible element termed a flexure transducer held at one axial end in a manner fixed in relation to the housing and at its other axial end is provided on mutually opposite longitudinal side faces with a respective sealing element, which is opposite to the port or end of a fluid duct. By the application of a voltage to the flexible element the latter is deformed so that a sealing face provided on one of the two sealing elements is selectively brought into contact with a valve seat surrounding the duct port or end.[0003] In the ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] One object of the invention is to provide a control member of the type initially mentioned, which renders possible simple but nevertheless more accurate manufacture.

[0006] It is in this manner that the two sealing elements are collected together in a common sealing body, the elements being connected together via the connecting section so that there is a set distance between the two sealing faces, which may be established even during the production of the sealing body. In this respect there is also more especially the possibility of treating the sealing body at its sealing faces, as required, mechanically and / or thermally independently of the flexible element and without the material of the flexible element being impaired. Since in the mounted state (owing to the sealing elements overlapping the edge section delimiting the opening) there is a mechanical anchoring of the sealing body on the flexible element, and simple and accurate assembly and fitting becomes possible, it is possible to ensure that the distance present between the two sealing faces is not changed and inaccuracy due to assembly is small. It will be clear that the flexible element will be designed in accordance with the opening, the position or layout of any electrodes necessary for operation being more particularly a factor which facilitates producing the opening.

Problems solved by technology

This means that inaccuracies in manufacture and assembly will make themselves felt at the two sealing elements and will be cumulative in effect and will mean that the distances between the two sealing faces may vary and this will impair operation of the piezo-valve.

Because the displacement of the flexible element occurring in the course of operation is generally extremely small, even small dimensional errors will have a disastrous effect and will f. i. render necessary a complex resetting of the nozzles in relation to the flexible element.

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