Piezo Actuator Valve with Flexural Stroke Multiplier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mass flow controllers (MFCs) face inefficiencies in valve design, particularly due to multiple contact points that lead to energy loss, friction, and hysteresis, limiting maximum flow and precision control, especially in high flow applications.
Innovation Solution
A novel valve design incorporating a piezo stack with flexural elements and a bi-lateral flexure that eliminates all contact points within the valve, utilizing a rigid clamp and bi-lateral flexure to amplify movement and enable efficient flow control, allowing for both high and low flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional valve design with multiple contact points is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but energy loss and friction increase, reducing valve stroke efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all contact points from the valve system by extracting the traditional valve stem and seat configuration. The piezo actuator directly deflects the diaphragm without mechanical intermediaries, eliminating friction and energy loss associated with contact points while simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based valve control system with a piezoelectric actuation system. The piezo actuator converts electrical signals directly into diaphragm deflection, substituting mechanical contact points with a field-based actuation mechanism that eliminates friction and energy loss.
2Productivity
If piezo actuator with stroke multiplier is used, then valve stroke efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexural element that converts small linear displacements of the piezo actuator into larger diaphragm deflections by utilizing bending mechanics. This dimensional transformation amplifies the effective stroke while maintaining a compact structure, improving valve control efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If contact points are eliminated, then wear is reduced, but shutoff force may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a curved or convex surface on the diaphragm that contacts the valve seat, distributing the shutoff force across a broader area. This curved geometry maintains effective sealing force while eliminating point contacts that would otherwise experience wear, balancing force requirements with wear resistance.
4Length of moving object
If rigid clamp and bi-lateral flexure are used, then movement amplification is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves movement amplification by carefully designing the flexural element's geometric parameters (length, thickness, material properties) to optimize the leverage effect. By adjusting these parameters, the system amplifies piezo actuator displacement without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving the desired movement amplitude.
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
The design enhances valve stroke efficiency, increases shutoff force, reduces wear, and enables precise control by eliminating contact points, resulting in improved flow regulation and reduced leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a piezo stack; a piezo actuator encompassing the piezo stack
Implementation Method 2
the piezo actuator having flexural elements that provide a stroke multiplier that amplifies movement of the piezo stack
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include a valve assembly (300) that includes a piezo stack (308); a piezo actuator (306) encompassing the piezo stack, the piezo actuator having flexural elements (304) that provide a stroke multiplier that amplifies movement of the piezo stack; a valve block (318) having an inlet flow path (320) and an outlet flow path (322); a diaphragm (314) seated atop the valve block, wherein an outer part of the diaphragm is rigid and an inner part of the diaphragm is moveable in a vertical axis; and a bi-lateral flexure (312), wherein a bottom part of the piezo actuator is mechanically attached to the diaphragm via the bi-lateral flexure.