Piezoelectric Actuator Transition Piece Positioning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The positioning of the piezoelectric actuator relative to the actuator base in fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines causes stress on copper wires, leading to unreliable electrical contact and potential tearing of the outer electrode over the service life.

Innovation Solution

A metallic transition piece with an injection-molded plastic frame encapsulates the electrical supply lines, providing a reliable positioning mechanism and preventing relative movements between components, ensuring stable electrical contact and preventing wear on the actuator body by isolating the active and passive areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the piezoelectric actuator is positioned relative to the actuator base using a plastic-coated copper wire, then electrical contact is established, but relative movements cause stress on the wire leading to unreliable contact and potential tearing over service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical contact reliabilityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transition piece with a metallic base body and plastic overmolding as an intermediary component between the piezoelectric actuator and actuator base. This mediator provides a stable mounting structure with an edge web that positively positions the actuator, eliminating wire stress and ensuring reliable electrical contact throughout the service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transition piece is segmented into a metallic base body for structural support and electrical conductivity, and a plastic overmolding for positioning and insulation. This segmentation allows each material to perform its optimal function while working together to solve the reliability issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the actuator body is directly mounted on the actuator base, then assembly is simple, but positioning accuracy deteriorates leading to assembly inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The transition piece serves as a mediator between the actuator body and actuator base, providing precise positioning features through its edge web while maintaining assembly simplicity. The intermediary component integrates positioning, mounting, and electrical functions in a single element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the edge web encloses the actuator body actively, then positioning is improved, but friction and wear occur leading to electrical flashovers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidfriction and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The edge web is designed to enclose only the passive area of the actuator body, applying the enclosing function locally where it is needed for positioning, while deliberately avoiding contact with the active area to prevent friction and wear that could lead to electrical flashovers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures reliable positioning and electrical contact over the service life, preventing breakage of the electrical supply line and assembly inaccuracies, while allowing for effective heat dissipation and preventing electrical flashovers.

Implementation Method 1

The piezoelectric actuator module (2) has an actuator body (3) and a transition piece (4)... reliable positioning of the actuator body relative to the transition piece is achieved and at the same time reliable electrical contact is made possible over the service life

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2649295B1Piezoelectric actuator module and fuel injection valve
Publication Date: 2015.09.16 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2649295B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2649295B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a piezo-electrical actuator module (2) in particular for fuel injection valves of fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines, comprising an actuator body (3) and at least one transition piece (4). The transition piece (4) has a contact surface (25). According to the invention, the actuator body (3) contacts the contact surface (25) of the transition piece (4) with an end face (26) on one end (28) of the actuator body (3). The transition piece (4) has a frame (6) which surrounds the contact surface (25). The frame (6) positions the actuator body (3) at the end (28) thereof on all sides on the contact surface (25). A reliable electrical contacting of outside electrodes (16) of the actuator body (3) is thus possible, since a relative movement between the actuator body (3) and the transition piece (4) is prevented. The invention additionally relates to a fuel injection valve (1) having such a piezo-electrical actuator module (2).