Piezoelectric stacking lever type valve

Abstract

The utility model discloses a piezoelectric stacking lever type valve which comprises a valve body, the valve body is provided with an air inlet, an air outlet and a valve cavity, and the valve cavity communicates with the air inlet and the air outlet; the control assembly comprises a control rod, the control rod is installed in the valve cavity in the second direction, an air inlet facing the valve body can be adjusted on one side of the control rod, the control rod comprises a first rod body, a second rod body and a fulcrum part, and the control rod swings with the fulcrum part as the swing center; the driving assembly comprises a piezoelectric driving part and a pre-pressing piece, the pre-pressing piece elastically extends from the piezoelectric driving part to the other side of the control rod, so that the pre-pressing piece elastically abuts against the other side of the control rod in the first direction, and during electrification, the piezoelectric driving part drives the pre-pressing piece and the control rod to move in the first direction, so that the air inlet amount of the air inlet is adjusted; therefore, fine adjustment of the position of the control rod is achieved through accurate displacement control of the piezoelectric driving part, the valve can control the opening degree of the air inlet very accurately, and then adjustment of the air inflow is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of lever valve technology, and more specifically, to a piezoelectric stacked lever valve. Background Technology

[0002] Fluid control valves are devices used to control the flow and velocity of fluids, and are widely used in industrial fields. They operate in diverse environments, ranging from ultra-low temperatures to high temperatures and from low pressure to high pressure. They can handle various fluids such as air, water, steam, and corrosive media, and can operate in complex environments such as humid conditions, corrosive gases, or dust. Internally, fluid control valves typically include key components such as the valve body, valve core and seat, actuator, positioner, and sealing components. The valve core and seat work together to control fluid flow, the actuator provides the driving force, the positioner ensures precise control, and the sealing components prevent media leakage. Regarding operating voltage, different types of control valves vary: control valves generally operate at DC 24V, such as solenoid valves and electric ball valves. However, common control valves have low precision and are difficult to use in applications requiring small flow control.

[0003] Piezoelectric drive is a driving method that uses the inverse piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric materials to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. It is widely used in the field of precision instrument processing, such as in lithography machines, dispensing machines, or piezoelectric drive motors. Piezoelectric drives have high control precision and can meet the requirements of precise control. However, due to their high cost, which increases the manufacturing cost of the equipment, and their relatively high operating voltage (usually 220V or 360V), there are certain safety hazards in the application process, which limits their application in more scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this application is to provide a piezoelectric stacked lever valve, wherein a piezoelectric drive unit is provided on one side of the control lever, so that when the valve is energized, the control lever is driven to move along a first direction by the piezoelectric actuation of the piezoelectric drive unit, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the valve's air intake volume and realizing precise air intake volume adjustment.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: a piezoelectric stacked lever valve, characterized in that the piezoelectric stacked lever valve includes: a valve body, the valve body having an air inlet, an air outlet, and a valve cavity, the valve cavity communicating with the air inlet and the air outlet; a control assembly, the control assembly including a control rod, the control rod being installed in the valve cavity along a second direction, one side of the control rod being adjustablely facing the air inlet of the valve body, the control rod including a first rod body, a second rod body, and a fulcrum portion, and the control rod swinging around the fulcrum portion as the swing center; a drive assembly, the drive assembly including a piezoelectric drive part and a pre-pressure member, the pre-pressure member elastically extending from the piezoelectric drive part to the other side of the control rod, such that the pre-pressure member elastically abuts against the other side of the control rod along a first direction, and when energized, the piezoelectric drive part drives the pre-pressure member and the control rod to move along the first direction, thereby adjusting the air intake of the air inlet.

[0006] As a preferred embodiment, the valve body further includes a first valve section and a second valve section, the air inlet and the air outlet are spaced apart in the first valve section, the drive assembly is adjustablely mounted in the second valve section, the control lever is tiltably driven and mounted in the first valve section and the second valve section, and the fulcrum is located in the first valve section or the second valve section.

[0007] As another preferred embodiment, the control lever has a first rod body, a second rod body, and a fulcrum portion. The first rod body is located on one side of the control lever and faces the air inlet of the first valve portion. The second rod body is located on the other side of the control lever and abuts against the pre-compression member in the second valve portion. The fulcrum portion is connected to the inner wall of the valve body. The distance between the fulcrum portion and the pre-compression member along the second direction is smaller than the distance between the fulcrum portion and the air inlet along the second direction.

[0008] Further preferably, the valve body further includes an elastic element, which is deformably mounted between the inner walls of the first rod and the first valve portion. The elastic element and the air inlet are disposed opposite to each other along a first direction. The elastic element provides a supporting force to the free section of the first rod, while the pre-pressure element provides a pre-pressure to the contact section of the second rod. When the piezoelectric drive unit drives the pre-pressure element to move upward, so that the pre-pressure is greater than the supporting force, the free section of the first rod deviates from the air inlet. When the piezoelectric drive unit drives the pre-pressure element to move downward, so that the pre-pressure is less than the supporting force, the free section of the first rod approaches the air inlet.

[0009] Further preferably, the first valve portion is provided with a first cavity and a sealing groove, the second valve portion is provided with a second cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity form the valve cavity, the first cavity communicates with the air inlet and the air outlet, the sealing groove is disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity, the control component is provided with a sealing element, the sealing element extends from the first rod body along a first direction to the sealing groove, thereby blocking the gas flow between the first cavity and the second cavity.

[0010] Further preferably, the drive assembly further includes a positioning member and a base. The positioning member is provided with a positioning hole. The piezoelectric drive unit can be piezoelectrically actuated and installed in the base along a first direction. The positioning member is fixed above the base. The pre-pressing member can deformably pass through the positioning hole and abut against the contact section of the second rod.

[0011] Further preferably, the pre-compression member has a deformation cavity, a pre-compression section, a pair of elastic inclined sections, and a pair of limiting sections. The elastic inclined section integrally and obliquely connects the pre-compression section and the limiting section. The pre-compression section is arc-shaped and connected to the top end of the elastic inclined section. The deformation cavity is formed between the elastic inclined section and the pre-compression section. The limiting section extends outward from the bottom end of the elastic inclined section. The elastic inclined section is elastically connected to both sides of the opening of the positioning hole, so that the pre-compression member can adaptively deform and engage with the positioning hole.

[0012] Further preferably, the pre-compression member is generally V-shaped, and the pre-compression section is disposed between the pair of elastic inclined sections. The elastic inclined section includes a first elastic inclined section and a second elastic inclined section. One end of the pre-compression section is connected to the first elastic inclined section, and the other end of the pre-compression section is connected to the second elastic inclined section. The first elastic inclined section and the second elastic inclined section are arranged opposite to each other along the second direction. When the piezoelectric drive unit is energized, the piezoelectric drive unit generates an upward first driving force. The first driving force pushes the pre-compression member to move upward, and the elastic inclined sections move closer to each other to generate an upward second driving force. The resultant force of the first driving force and the second driving force drives the control rod to tilt and move.

[0013] Further preferably, the base is provided with a receiving cavity, the piezoelectric driving part is disposed in the receiving cavity, and the piezoelectric driving part includes a plurality of piezoelectric sheets, which are stacked along the first direction.

[0014] Further preferably, the fulcrum is located between the first rod and the second rod; or the fulcrum is located at the end of the second rod away from the first rod; wherein, the piezoelectric sheet includes a ceramic sheet and a metal sheet, the ceramic sheet and the metal sheet are stacked alternately along the first direction, the metal sheet has a tab on its periphery, the tab protrudes along the extension direction of the metal plate and bends along the first direction, and the tabs of adjacent metal sheets are staggered. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the valve structure according to some embodiments of this application;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a top view of a valve according to some embodiments of this application;

[0017] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0018] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of region B in the middle;

[0019] Figure 5 These are partial structural schematic diagrams according to some embodiments of this application;

[0020] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A cross-sectional view along the CC direction;

[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the control component;

[0022] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the second valve section;

[0023] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A cross-sectional view along the DD direction;

[0024] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which the pre-compression component and the positioning component cooperate.

[0025] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the valve structure according to some other embodiments of this application;

[0026] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the piezoelectric drive unit.

[0027] In the diagram: 10. Valve body; 101. Air inlet; 102. Air outlet; 11. First valve section; 111. First cavity; 112. Elastic element; 113. Sealing groove; 12. Second valve section; 121. Second cavity; 20. Control assembly; 21. Control lever; 211. First lever body; 212. Second lever body; 213. Pivot point; 214. Free section; 215. Contact section; 22. Seal; 30. 31. Drive assembly; 32. Piezoelectric drive unit; 33. Metal sheet; 34. Electrode; 35. Pre-compression component; 36. Deformation cavity; 37. Pre-compression section; 38. First elastic inclined section; 39. Second elastic inclined section; 30. Limiting section; 31. Positioning component; 32. Positioning hole; 33. Mounting hole; 34. Base; 35. Receiving cavity; 36. First locking part; 37. Second locking part. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the directional terms such as "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation and positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this application.

[0030] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0031] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification and claims of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or device.

[0032] This application provides a piezoelectric stacked lever valve, as described in this application... Figure 1 As shown, the internal structure of the valve is as follows Figure 3 As shown, where Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction; including: a valve body 10, the valve body 10 having an air inlet 101, an air outlet 102, and a valve cavity, the valve cavity communicating with the air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102; a control assembly 20, the control assembly 20 including a control rod 21, the control rod 21 being mounted in the valve cavity along a second direction, one side of the control rod 21 being adjustablely facing the air inlet 101 of the valve body 10; and a drive assembly 30, the drive assembly 30 including a piezoelectric drive unit 31 and a pre-pressure member 32, the pre-pressure member 32 elastically moving from the piezoelectric drive unit 31 towards the control rod. The other side of the control rod 21 extends so that the pre-compression member 32 elastically abuts against the other side of the control rod 21 along the first direction. When energized, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 drives the pre-compression member 32 and the control rod 21 to move along the first direction, thereby adjusting the air intake of the air inlet 101. By providing the piezoelectric drive unit 31 on one side of the control rod 21, after the valve is energized, the piezoelectric actuation of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 drives the control rod 21 to move along the first direction, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the air intake of the valve and realizing precise air intake adjustment. It can be understood that when the valve is closed, one side of the control rod 21 abuts against the air inlet 101 to seal against each other and prevent gas leakage. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 piezoelectrically actuates the other side of the control rod 21 along the first direction, the distance between the control rod 21 and the air inlet 101 increases, and the valve opens.

[0033] The piezoelectric drive unit 31, through precisely controllable piezoelectric actuation, can accurately adjust the air intake volume of the air inlet 101. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 is made of stacked piezoelectric sheets, which can achieve very precise displacement control. Thus, by adjusting the position of the control rod 21 along the first direction, the air intake volume can be precisely controlled. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 has a very short response time, which can complete the process from energization to driving the control rod 21 to move in a short time. It is suitable for application scenarios that require fast response and avoids the lag of valves. At the same time, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 only requires ±24V voltage to drive, and does not require excessively high voltage to drive. It achieves a large force output through the lever structure of the control rod 21. Therefore, it has low energy consumption and higher safety during operation.

[0034] Furthermore, the valve provided in this application has lower air consumption. When the valve is in a relatively stable control position, the air inlet 101 is closed and the air outlet 102 is also closed, so that the gas volume in the valve body 10 is static for a period of time and there is no air consumption. Compared with traditional valves, when a certain stable value is reached, the air inlet is always supplied with air and the exhaust port is always discharged with air, and the air supply and exhaust volume are equal. It can be seen that the valve provided in this application has lower air consumption.

[0035] In some embodiments, the air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102 are offset and located on opposite sides of the valve body 10. The air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102 are connected through a valve cavity, allowing gas to flow into the valve cavity from the air inlet 101 and then out of the valve cavity through the air outlet 102. Figure 3 As shown.

[0036] In some embodiments, an air inlet 101 and an air outlet 102 are spaced apart on one side of the valve body 10, and the air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102 are connected through a valve cavity, so that gas flows into the valve cavity from the air inlet 101 and then flows out of the valve cavity through the air outlet 102, such as... Figure 11 As shown.

[0037] In some embodiments, the first direction is not only the height direction of the valve body 10, i.e. the Z-axis direction, but also includes a direction that is close to parallel to the Z-axis; the second direction is not only the length direction of the valve body 10, i.e. the X-axis direction, but also includes a direction that is close to parallel to the X-axis; and the Y-axis direction is the width direction of the valve body 10.

[0038] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the valve body 10 further includes a first valve section 11 and a second valve section 12. An air inlet 101 and an air outlet 102 are spaced apart on the first valve section 11. A drive assembly 30 is adjustablely mounted on the second valve section 12. The air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102 are spaced apart on the first valve section 11, and the drive assembly 30 is mounted on the second valve section. Moreover, by reasonably setting the air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102, the positions of the air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102 can be flexibly set on the same side or different sides of the valve body 10 to adapt to the laying requirements of different external pipelines. The control rod 21 can be tilted and driven to be mounted on the first valve section 11 and the second valve section 12. The control rod 21 passes through the first valve section 11 and the second valve section 12. The tilted control rod 21 can be dynamically adjusted according to real-time requirements, so that the valve can quickly respond to changes in the system and maintain stable flow control.

[0039] In some embodiments, the control lever 21 includes a first lever body 211, a second lever body 212, and a fulcrum portion 213. The first lever body 211 is located on one side of the control lever 21 and faces the air inlet 101 of the first valve section 11. The second lever body 212 is located on the other side of the control lever 21 and abuts against the pre-compression member 32 in the second valve section 12. The fulcrum portion 213 is connected to the inner wall of the valve body 10. The distance between the fulcrum portion 213 and the pre-compression member 32 along the second direction is smaller than the distance between the fulcrum portion 213 and the air inlet 101 along the second direction. By designing the fulcrum portion 213, the first lever body 211, and the second lever body 212 of the control lever 21, a lever system is formed. The distance between the fulcrum portion 213 and the pre-compression member 32 along the second direction is smaller than the distance between the fulcrum portion 213 and the air inlet 101 along the second direction. The distance between the first rod 211 and the air inlet 101 along the second direction, that is, the distance from the second rod 212 to the fulcrum 213 is shorter, while the distance from the first rod 211 to the fulcrum 213 is longer. According to the lever principle, this setting can amplify the driving force transmitted from the pre-compression member 32, so that a smaller driving force can achieve a larger control force, thereby making it easier to adjust the opening and closing of the air inlet 101. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 precisely controls the displacement through voltage changes. The application of the lever principle not only amplifies the driving force, but also makes the movement of the control rod 21 more precise. A smaller input displacement can be converted into a larger output displacement. Therefore, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 only needs to provide a smaller driving force and displacement to achieve fine adjustment of the intake volume.

[0040] In some embodiments, piezoelectric sheets are stacked on top of each other, and the internal electrodes of the piezoelectric sheets are connected in parallel. When the size of the piezoelectric sheet is 8mm*8mm and the thickness is 0.08mm, the output force of the piezoelectric sheet is 6N. Each piezoelectric sheet deforms after being energized, producing a displacement of 1μm. Therefore, connecting 40 layers of piezoelectric sheets in parallel can achieve an output force of 240N and a displacement of 40μm. If we calculate based on a driving force of 98N per square centimeter, assuming the diameter of the air inlet 101 is 0.7cm, the radius is 0.35cm, and the area of ​​the air inlet 101 is 0.385cm², this is a reasonable approach. 2 Therefore, the driving force required for the air inlet 101 to open and close is 37.73N, and the displacement required for the valve to open and close is 0.2mm.

[0041] In some embodiments, if it is necessary to further adjust the opening and closing degree of the air inlet 101, the opening and closing degree of the air inlet 101 can be adjusted by adjusting the number of stacked layers of the piezoelectric sheet, the voltage applied to the piezoelectric sheet, the overlapping surface area between the piezoelectric sheets, and the thickness of the piezoelectric sheet.

[0042] In some embodiments, the various parts of the control rod 21 are arranged inside the valve body 10, making the overall valve structure more compact. The first rod 211 faces the air inlet 101, the second rod 212 abuts against the pre-compression member 32, and the fulcrum 213 is connected to the inner wall of the valve body 10. The control rod 21 rotates around the fulcrum 213, causing the free section 214 of the first rod 211 to abut against or move away from the air inlet 101. The fulcrum 213 can be disposed between the free section 214 and the contact section 215 of the control rod 21. For example, the free section 214 and the fulcrum 213 are located at the two ends of the first rod 211, and the contact section 215 is located at the second rod 212. Figure 3 As shown; or, the fulcrum 213 can also be located at the outer end of the second rod 212, and the contact section 215 is located between the free section 214 of the control rod 21 and the fulcrum 213. For example, the free section 214 is located at one end of the first rod 211, and the contact section 215 and the fulcrum 213 are located in the second rod 212. Thus, by flexibly setting the position of the fulcrum 213, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 can drive the control rod 21 in the first direction, making the valve body 10 highly adaptable and with a wider range of applications.

[0043] In other words, different fulcrum positions can adapt to different mechanical requirements and motion patterns. For example, when the fulcrum 213 is located between the first rod 211 and the second rod 212, as shown in Figure 3 (the valve), it is more suitable for scenarios requiring balanced or symmetrical motion; while when the fulcrum 213 is located at the end of the second rod 212 away from the first rod 211, as shown in Figure 3 (the valve), it is more suitable for scenarios requiring balanced or symmetrical motion. Figure 11 The valve shown is more suitable for scenarios that require leverage or unidirectional movement.

[0044] In some embodiments, the valve body 10 further includes an elastic element 112, which is deformably mounted between the first rod 211 and the inner wall of the first valve portion 11. The elastic element 112 can flexibly contact the first rod 211 and the inner wall, reducing hard friction between mechanical parts, lowering the wear rate, and thus extending the service life of the valve. Furthermore, the elastic deformation of the elastic element 112 can automatically compensate for minute displacement changes caused by factors such as temperature changes and mechanical deformation, ensuring the sealing performance and control accuracy of the valve. The elastic element 112 and the air inlet 101 are arranged opposite to each other along a first direction. The elastic element 112 provides support force to the free section 214 of the first rod 211, while... The pre-pressure member 32 provides pre-pressure to the contact section 215 of the second rod 212. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 drives the pre-pressure member 32 to move upward, so that the pre-pressure is greater than the support force, the free section 214 of the first rod 211 deviates from the air inlet 101. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 drives the pre-pressure member 32 to move downward, so that the pre-pressure is less than the support force, the free section 214 of the first rod 211 moves closer to the air inlet 101. The elastic member 112 provides the support force, and the pre-pressure member 32 provides the pre-pressure. The dynamic balance between the pre-pressure and the support force can be achieved through the small displacement of the piezoelectric drive unit 31, thereby precisely controlling the distance between the free section 214 and the air inlet 101 and realizing fine adjustment of the intake volume.

[0045] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the first valve section 11 is provided with a first cavity 111 and a sealing groove 113; as Figure 3 As shown, the second valve section 12 is provided with a second cavity 121; the first cavity 111 and the second cavity 121 form a valve cavity, the first cavity 111 connects the air inlet 101 and the air outlet 102, and a sealing groove 113 is disposed between the first cavity 111 and the second cavity 121, as shown. Figure 7 As shown, the control assembly 20 is provided with a seal 22, which extends from the first rod 211 along the first direction to the sealing groove 113, thereby blocking the gas flow between the first cavity 111 and the second cavity 121. By providing a sealing groove 113 between the first valve part 11 and the second valve part 12, and by providing a seal 22 on the control assembly 20, the seal 22, which extends from the first rod 211 to the sealing groove 113, can effectively block the gas flow between the first cavity 111 and the second cavity 121, ensuring the sealing performance of the valve in the closed state. The flexible contact between the seal 22 and the sealing groove 113 reduces the hard friction between mechanical parts, reduces the wear rate, and thus extends the service life of the valve.

[0046] In some embodiments, a seal 22 is provided between the control rod 21 and the air inlet 101, and the two abut against each other through the seal 22 to achieve opening and closing by abutting or moving away from each other. Compared with a ball valve, which has a ball inside and a channel on the ball, the ball needs to overcome the friction between itself and the air inlet to rotate in order to open the ball valve. This leads to a decrease in the sealing performance of the ball valve due to severe wear of the ball during long-term use. Therefore, the valve provided in this application has a seal 22 between the control rod 21 and the air inlet 101, which increases the sealing performance of the air inlet 101 on the one hand, and reduces the wear between the control rod 21 and the air inlet 101 on the other hand, thereby increasing the service life of the valve and ensuring that the valve maintains a good sealing effect during long-term use.

[0047] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the drive assembly 30 further includes a positioning element 33 and a base 34; as Figure 11 As shown, the positioning member 33 has a positioning hole 331. At least a portion of the pre-compression member 32 passes through the positioning hole 331. The positioning member 33 is fixed above the base 34. The pre-compression member 32 can deformably pass through the positioning hole 331 and abut against the contact section 215 of the second rod 212 to precisely control the position of the pre-compression member 32, ensuring that it can accurately align and abut against the contact section 215 of the second rod 212, and effectively reduce errors in the assembly process, improving the accuracy and reliability of the valve body 10. The pre-compression member 32 can deformably pass through the positioning hole 331, which can buffer external forces to a certain extent, reducing the impact on the piezoelectric drive unit 31 and the second rod 212, thereby improving the stability of the valve body 10. Figure 6 and Figure 9 As shown, where Figure 9 yes Figure 8 In the cross-sectional view along the DD direction, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is piezoelectrically mounted within the base 34. The base 34 provides stable support for the piezoelectric drive unit 31, ensuring that the piezoelectric drive unit 31 can stably generate displacement during operation to drive the control rod 21, avoiding displacement or damage caused by external forces or vibrations, and improving the service life of the piezoelectric drive unit 31. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 can generate displacement after being energized, enabling it to adapt to different working environments and requirements. The displacement amount can be adjusted according to actual needs, improving the flexibility and adaptability of the valve body 10.

[0048] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10As shown, the pre-compression member 32 is provided with a deformation cavity 321, a pre-compression section 322, a pair of elastic inclined sections, and a pair of limiting sections. The elastic inclined sections are integrally inclinedly connected to the pre-compression section 322 and the limiting sections 325. The pre-compression section 322 is arc-shaped and connected to the top of the elastic inclined section. The deformation cavity 321 is formed between the elastic inclined section and the pre-compression section 322. When the pre-compression member 32 is subjected to external force, the deformation cavity 321 can provide additional buffer space, allowing the pre-compression member 32 to better adapt to different working conditions. The limiting sections 321... 5. The elastic inclined section bends outward from the bottom end, which enhances the stability of the pre-compression member 32. The limiting section 325 can prevent the pre-compression member 32 from being excessively deformed or displaced, ensuring its reliability during operation. The elastic inclined section is elastically connected to both sides of the opening of the positioning hole 331, so that the pre-compression member 32 can be adaptively deformed and locked in the positioning hole 331. The pre-compression member 32 can be stably locked in the positioning hole 331. Even under vibration or external force, the pre-compression member 32 is not easy to loosen or fall off.

[0049] In some embodiments, the deformation cavity 321, pre-compression section 322, elastic inclined section and limiting section 325 of the pre-compression member 32 are designed as an integrated unit, which reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, making the assembly process simpler and faster and improving production efficiency.

[0050] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 As shown, the pre-compression member 32 is generally V-shaped. The structural design of the pre-compression member 32 makes the internal structure of the valve body 10 more compact, reducing the space occupied by various components. The pre-compression section 322 is located between a pair of elastic inclined sections, including a first elastic inclined section 323 and a second elastic inclined section 324. One end of the pre-compression section 322 is connected to the first elastic inclined section 323, and the other end is connected to the second elastic inclined section 324. The first elastic inclined section 323 and the second elastic inclined section 324 are arranged opposite each other along a second direction. The elastic deformation of the elastic inclined sections can reduce the stress on the pre-compression member 32 during operation. The impact and wear during the process extend the service life of the preload component 32. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is energized, it generates an upward first driving force, which pushes the preload component 32 upward. The elastic inclined sections approach each other, generating an upward second driving force. The second driving force generated by the two elastic inclined sections approaching each other can further amplify the driving force of the piezoelectric drive unit 31, thereby achieving a larger preload output with a smaller input power. The preload combined by the first driving force and the second driving force is greater than the supporting force of the elastic component 112, making the preload output more efficient.

[0051] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3As shown, the base 34 has a receiving cavity 341, and the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is disposed in the receiving cavity 341. Installing the piezoelectric drive unit 31 in the receiving cavity 341 of the base 34 makes the internal structure of the valve body 10 more compact. This reduces the volume and space occupied by the valve body 10, making it suitable for applications with limited space. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 includes multiple piezoelectric sheets stacked along a first direction. By stacking, the total displacement and driving force output of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 can be significantly increased. Multiple piezoelectric sheets working together can generate greater force and displacement, thereby improving the overall performance of the valve body 10. Furthermore, by increasing or decreasing the number of piezoelectric sheets, the driving force and displacement range of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 can be flexibly adjusted to meet different application requirements. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 can more efficiently convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. By rationally designing the number and stacking method of the piezoelectric sheets, the energy conversion efficiency can be improved and energy loss reduced.

[0052] In some embodiments, the base 34 is further provided with a first locking part 343 and a second locking part 344. The base 34 is threadedly connected to the first valve part 11 through the first locking part 343, and the base 34 is threadedly connected to the second valve body 12 through the second locking part 344, ensuring that the valve body 10 will not loosen or shift during operation, thus ensuring the sealing and stability of the valve. Furthermore, the detachable connection method facilitates the maintenance, replacement, or repair of the valve body 10. When it is necessary to operate the valve body 10, it can be easily disassembled simply by unlocking, which improves the maintainability of the equipment. When it is necessary to significantly adjust the air intake of the valve, the base 34 can be disassembled, and the piezoelectric drive part 31 and the base 34 as a whole can be replaced. Different layers, different surface areas, or different thicknesses of the piezoelectric drive part 31 can be replaced to achieve the purpose of significantly adjusting the air intake.

[0053] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 As shown, the positioning element 33 is also provided with mounting holes 332, which are arranged in pairs, so that the positioning element 33 can be detachably mounted on the base 34, as shown. Figure 9 As shown, the base 34 is provided with a threaded hole that matches the mounting hole 332. The threaded hole and the mounting hole 332 coincide, so that the screw passes through the mounting hole 332 and engages with the thread in the threaded hole, so that the positioning member 33 is fixed on the top of the base 34.

[0054] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the fulcrum 213 is located between the first rod 211 and the second rod 212. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is energized, the piezoelectric sheet bends and deforms, causing the piezoelectric drive unit 31 to generate a displacement in the vertical direction. This pushes the preload 32 to elastically abut against the contact section 215, causing the second rod 212 to move upward and the first rod 211 to move downward. Figure 3As shown, when the first rod 211 moves downward, the air inlet 101 opens; when the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is de-energized, the piezoelectric sheet returns to its shape, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 resets, the pre-pressing member 32 and the contact section 215 move away from each other, the second rod 212 moves downward, the first rod 211 moves upward, and the elastic member 112 pushes the first rod 211 upward to seal the air inlet 101.

[0055] In real-world applications, the price of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is relatively high, mainly because the assembly process of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is more difficult and costly. As a result, many applications can only choose the lower-cost solenoid valve for control. However, the control accuracy of the solenoid valve is not high, the contact surface is prone to wear, and it cannot achieve effective control of small flow rates, resulting in the application effect of the solenoid valve not meeting expectations.

[0056] Furthermore, after assembly, electrodes need to be applied to the piezoelectric sheet. If the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is tilted, the electrodes may stick together when the motor is applied, causing a short circuit in the piezoelectric drive unit 31 when energized. Therefore, this application improves the structure of the piezoelectric sheet, which is mostly made of metal or ceramic. The following uses a metal sheet 311 as an example. Figure 12 As shown, tabs 3111 are provided on the periphery of the metal sheet 311. The number of tabs 3111 is set according to the actual use and is not limited here. After setting the tabs 3111, there is no need to manually install the electrodes, which reduces the processing steps. At the same time, there are gaps between the tabs 3111, which can prevent the piezoelectric drive unit 31 from short-circuiting.

[0057] Specifically, the valve contains a piezoelectric drive unit 31. The piezoelectric sheets are stacked vertically, requiring the piezoelectric drive unit 31 to form a straight line in the vertical direction. That is, the centers of the piezoelectric sheets must be on the same straight line, and this straight line must be perpendicular to the horizontal line. Moreover, since the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is in direct contact with the control rod 21, the flatness of the end face of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is required to be high. If the flatness of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 cannot meet the requirements, the control rod 21 may not be able to make effective contact. Furthermore, during the assembly process, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 may tilt uncontrollably, and the direction and degree of tilt cannot be effectively controlled, resulting in high assembly difficulty. Tiltped piezoelectric drive units 31 cannot be used, leading to a low yield. Therefore, the cost of piezoelectric valves remains high, and piezoelectric drive is only used for control in some special fields, such as dispensing machines and camera modules with piezoelectric motors, thus limiting the application scenarios of piezoelectric valves.

[0058] Therefore, based on the above analysis, this application provides a valve that can meet the requirements of small flow control and is also inexpensive. To reduce the flatness requirements of the valve, a pre-compression member 32 is provided between the piezoelectric drive unit 31 and the control rod 21. To prevent the pre-compression member 32 from shifting during operation, a positioning member 33 is provided to restrict its movement. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 and the control rod 21 transmit driving force through the pre-compression member 32. Compared to a direct surface-to-surface contact structure between the piezoelectric drive unit 31 and the control rod 21, the deformable pre-compression member 32 effectively reduces the flatness requirements of the contact surface of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 on the valve body 10. This prevents the upper surface of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 from failing to contact the control rod 21 when the piezoelectric drive units 31 are stacked to form an inclined surface. This ensures that the piezoelectric drive unit 31 can effectively drive the control rod 21, and also greatly reduces the assembly process difficulty. If the piezoelectric drive unit 31 tilts during assembly, it can also be installed into the receiving cavity 341, greatly improving the assembly error tolerance. With reduced manufacturing costs, the valve provided in this application can be used in more application scenarios.

[0059] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, assuming the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is tilted, if the pre-compression member 32 is not provided, after the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is energized, it will generate a displacement along the tilt direction of the piezoelectric drive unit 31. The upper surface of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 and the control rod 21 cannot make effective contact, that is, they cannot make effective surface-to-surface contact. This results in the inability to accurately adjust the valve opening and closing or the intake air volume. If the pre-compression member 32 is provided, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 will generate a displacement along the tilt direction. Although the upper surface of the piezoelectric drive unit 31 has an angle in the horizontal direction and the pre-compression member 32 will tilt, even if the pre-compression member 32 tilts, the pre-compression section 322 of the pre-compression member 32 will always have a part in contact with the control rod 21. As the piezoelectric drive unit 31 generates a displacement, it will push the pre-compression section 322 and the control rod 21 to abut against each other, thereby increasing the contact area between the pre-compression section 322 and the control rod 21. This ensures that the pre-compression member 32 and the control rod 21 always maintain effective contact, thereby driving the control rod 21 to move.

[0060] In some embodiments, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 includes a piezoelectric sheet, which includes a ceramic sheet and a metal sheet 311. The ceramic sheet and the metal sheet 311 are stacked alternately and bonded to each other to form the piezoelectric drive unit 31. Alternatively, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 can be formed by stacking ceramic sheets together, depending on the specific situation, and is not limited here.

[0061] In some embodiments, such as Figure 12 As shown, Figure 12The piezoelectric drive unit 31 shown is formed by alternating stacks of ceramic sheets and metal sheets 311. The metal sheets 311 have a sheet-like structure, and tabs 3111 are provided on the periphery of the metal sheets 311, eliminating the need for manual electrode placement by assembly personnel. The tabs 3111 of adjacent metal sheets 311 are staggered. That is, when the tabs 3111 of one layer of metal sheet 311 are placed on one side of the metal sheet 311, after stacking a ceramic sheet, and then stacking another layer of metal sheet 311, the tabs 3111 of the first layer of metal sheet 311 can be placed on the same side and staggered from the tabs 3111 of the previous layer of metal sheet 311. Alternatively, the tabs 3111 of the first layer of metal sheet 311 can be placed on the other side of the metal sheet 311 to prevent the tabs 3111 of adjacent metal sheets 311 from contacting each other and preventing short circuits in the piezoelectric drive unit 31. The tabs 3111 can extend relative to the extending direction of the metal sheet 311 and bend along a first direction.

[0062] In some embodiments, this application uses a piezoelectric drive unit 31 as the I / P conversion unit of the valve. The piezoelectric drive unit 31 has a size of 30mm×45mm×63mm, which reduces the internal space occupied by the piezoelectric drive unit 31. Furthermore, since the piezoelectric sheet hardly comes into contact with other components during use, wear of the piezoelectric sheet is avoided. Moreover, the piezoelectric sheet has an operating life of up to billions of cycles. During use, valve failure will not occur due to damage to the piezoelectric sheet, making the valve more reliable during use.

[0063] Example 1

[0064] like Figure 3 As shown, this application provides a valve body 10, with an air inlet 101 and an air outlet 102 staggered on opposite sides of the valve body 10. A control rod 21 passes through the first valve section 11 and the second valve section 12. The control rod 21 includes a first rod body 211, a second rod body 212, and a fulcrum portion 213. The fulcrum portion 213 is located between the first rod body 211 and the second rod body 212. The control rod 21 rotates around the fulcrum portion 213 as the rotation center. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is energized, the piezoelectric sheet bends and deforms, causing the piezoelectric drive unit 31 to generate a displacement in the vertical direction, pushing the contact section 21 of the second rod body 212. 5. Move along the first direction and abut against the pre-compression member 32, so that the control rod 21 rotates around the fulcrum 213 as the rotation center. The free section 214 of the first rod body 211 moves away from the air inlet 101, and the free section 214 squeezes the elastic member 112. At this moment, the pre-pressure is greater than the supporting force of the elastic member 112, and the valve opens. After the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is de-energized, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 resets, the contact section 215 moves downward, the free section 214 moves upward, and the elastic member 112 pushes the free section 214 to abut against the air inlet 101. At this time, the pre-pressure is less than the supporting force to seal the air inlet 101, and the valve closes.

[0065] Example 2

[0066] like Figure 11 As shown, this application also provides another valve body 10, with an air inlet 101 and an air outlet 102 located on the same side of the valve body 10. A first rod 211 is located inside the first valve section 11, and a second rod 212 is located inside the second valve section 12. The first rod 211 and the second rod 212 form a control rod 21. A fulcrum 213 is located at the end of the second rod 212 away from the first rod 211. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is energized, the piezoelectric sheet bends and deforms, and the piezoelectric drive unit 31 generates a displacement in the vertical direction, pushing the preload member 32 to deform, thereby elastically abutting against the second rod 212. 212 moves upward, causing the first rod 211 to move upward. The first rod 211 moves upward, squeezing the elastic element 112, and opening the air inlet 101. When the piezoelectric drive unit 31 is de-energized, the piezoelectric sheet returns to its shape, the piezoelectric drive unit 31 resets, the second rod 212 moves downward, causing the first rod 211 to move downward. The elastic element 112 extends, pushing the first rod 211 downward to seal the air inlet 101. The fulcrum 213 is located at the end of the second rod 212 away from the first rod 211, which can to some extent prevent wear on the control rod 21 and improve the service life of the control rod 21.

[0067] In some embodiments, the valve selects a piezoelectric actuator 31 as the I / P conversion unit. The I / P conversion unit is an electro-pneumatic conversion device whose main function is to convert electrical signals into pneumatic pressure signals, thereby controlling the opening of the pneumatic regulating valve to achieve precise control of fluid flow. The working principle of a traditional force-balanced I / P conversion unit is based on the balance between electromagnetic force and spring reaction force. Air pressure output is controlled through a nozzle-baffle mechanism. A small distance is always maintained between the nozzles and baffles, which is maintained by force balance. When the valve is installed in an environment with significant vibration, the vibration will cause the distance between the nozzles and baffles to change. Because the baffles are prone to swaying left and right, the output air pressure becomes unstable, thus affecting the valve's positioning accuracy and control effect. The valve provided in this application is based on the characteristics of piezoelectric elements. When energized, the piezoelectric elements bend and deform, thereby controlling the flow of fluid. The opening and closing of the valve is achieved by the piezoelectric elements deforming when energized and recovering when de-energized. The degree of deformation of the piezoelectric elements will not change due to vibration. At the same time, it also reduces the number of moving parts inside the valve. The fewer the moving parts, the lower the probability of being affected by vibration, thereby improving the vibration resistance of the valve.

[0068] The basic principles, main features, and advantages of this application have been described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely the principles of this application. Various changes and modifications can be made to this application without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claims. The scope of protection claimed by this application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric stack lever valve characterized by, include: The valve body is provided with an air inlet, an air outlet and a valve cavity, and the valve cavity is connected to the air inlet and the air outlet; A control assembly includes a control rod, which is mounted in the valve cavity along a second direction. One side of the control rod is adjustable to face the air inlet of the valve body. The control rod includes a first rod body, a second rod body, and a fulcrum portion, and the control rod swings around the fulcrum portion as the swing center. A drive assembly includes a piezoelectric drive unit and a pre-pressurization member. The pre-pressurization member extends elastically from the piezoelectric drive unit to the other side of the control rod, such that the pre-pressurization member elastically abuts against the other side of the control rod along a first direction. When energized, the piezoelectric drive unit drives the pre-pressurization member and the control rod to move along the first direction, thereby adjusting the air intake volume of the air inlet.

2. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 1, wherein, The valve body further includes a first valve section and a second valve section, the air inlet and the air outlet are spaced apart in the first valve section, the drive assembly is adjustablely mounted in the second valve section, the control lever is tiltably driven and mounted in the first valve section and the second valve section, and the fulcrum is located in the first valve section or the second valve section.

3. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 2, wherein, The first rod is located on one side of the control rod and faces the air inlet of the first valve section. The second rod is located on the other side of the control rod and abuts against the pre-compression member in the second valve section. The fulcrum is connected to the inner wall of the valve body. The distance between the fulcrum and the pre-compression member along the second direction is smaller than the distance between the fulcrum and the air inlet along the second direction.

4. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 3, wherein, The valve body further includes an elastic element, which is deformably mounted between the inner walls of the first rod and the first valve portion. The elastic element and the air inlet are arranged opposite to each other along a first direction. The elastic element provides a supporting force to the free section of the first rod, while the pre-pressure element provides a pre-pressure to the contact section of the second rod. When the piezoelectric drive unit drives the pre-pressure element to move upward, so that the pre-pressure is greater than the supporting force, the free section of the first rod deviates from the air inlet. When the piezoelectric drive unit drives the pre-pressure element to move downward, so that the pre-pressure is less than the supporting force, the free section of the first rod approaches the air inlet.

5. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 4, wherein, The first valve part is provided with a first cavity and a sealing groove, and the second valve part is provided with a second cavity. The first cavity and the second cavity form the valve cavity. The first cavity is connected to the air inlet and the air outlet. The sealing groove is disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity. The control component is provided with a sealing element. The sealing element extends from the first rod body along a first direction to the sealing groove, thereby blocking the gas flow between the first cavity and the second cavity.

6. The piezoelectric stack lever valve according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein, The drive assembly further includes a positioning member and a base. The positioning member has a positioning hole. The piezoelectric drive unit can be piezoelectrically actuated and installed in the base along a first direction. The positioning member is fixed above the base. The pre-pressing member can deformably pass through the positioning hole and abut against the contact section of the second rod.

7. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 6, wherein, The pre-compression component has a deformation cavity, a pre-compression section, a pair of elastic inclined sections, and a pair of limiting sections. The elastic inclined section integrally and inclinedly connects the pre-compression section and the limiting section. The pre-compression section is arc-shaped and connected to the top of the elastic inclined section. The deformation cavity is formed between the elastic inclined section and the pre-compression section. The limiting section bends outward from the bottom end of the elastic inclined section. The elastic inclined section is elastically connected to both sides of the opening of the positioning hole, so that the pre-compression component can adaptively deform and engage with the positioning hole.

8. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 7, wherein, The pre-compression member has a V-shaped structure. The pre-compression section is located between the pair of elastic inclined sections. The elastic inclined section includes a first elastic inclined section and a second elastic inclined section. One end of the pre-compression section is connected to the first elastic inclined section, and the other end of the pre-compression section is connected to the second elastic inclined section. The first elastic inclined section and the second elastic inclined section are arranged opposite to each other along the second direction. When the piezoelectric drive unit is energized, the piezoelectric drive unit generates an upward first driving force. The first driving force pushes the pre-compression member to move upward. The elastic inclined sections move closer to each other and generate an upward second driving force. The resultant force of the first driving force and the second driving force drives the control rod to tilt and move.

9. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 6, wherein, The base has a receiving cavity, and the piezoelectric driving part is disposed in the receiving cavity. The piezoelectric driving part includes a plurality of piezoelectric sheets, which are stacked along the first direction.

10. The piezoelectric stack lever valve of claim 9, wherein, The fulcrum is located between the first rod and the second rod; or the fulcrum is located at the end of the second rod away from the first rod; wherein the piezoelectric sheet includes a ceramic sheet and a metal sheet, the ceramic sheet and the metal sheet are stacked alternately along the first direction, the metal sheet has a tab on its periphery, the tab extends along the extension direction of the metal sheet and bends along the first direction, and the tabs of adjacent metal sheets are staggered.

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