Piezoelectric Valve Assembly with Integrated Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of piezoelectric valve units is inefficient, particularly in multi-valve configurations, due to the need for coupling multiple individual air valves, which prolongs the assembly process and increases complexity.
Innovation Solution
A piezoelectric valve design featuring a valve main body with a gas pressure chamber, a plate with actuators fixed to its surfaces, and a displacement magnification mechanism, allowing for efficient assembly by integrating the actuators and valve elements within the valve main body, and incorporating a lid with a gas discharge path and wiring connector for compressed gas and electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple individual piezoelectric air valves are coupled to construct a multi-valve unit, then the valve can efficiently sort out granular objects, but the assembly work takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple piezoelectric air valves into a single integrated multi-valve unit by providing a common valve body with multiple valve elements, actuators, and a shared compressed gas supply system. This consolidation eliminates the need to couple separate valve units, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining the sorting efficiency of multiple valves
2Productivity
If multiple individual piezoelectric air valves are coupled to construct a multi-valve unit, then the valve can efficiently sort out granular objects, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve functions into a single integrated structure with a common valve body, shared compressed gas chamber, and unified actuator mounting plate. This merging approach reduces assembly complexity by eliminating the need to connect multiple separate valve units, while still providing multiple valve outlets for efficient granular object sorting
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional electromagnetic valve is used, then the assembly is simpler, but the responsiveness at valve opening/closing is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electromagnetic valve mechanisms with a piezoelectric actuation system. The piezoelectric element converts electrical signals directly into mechanical displacement, driving the valve element through a displacement magnification mechanism. This substitution achieves extremely fast response times at valve opening/closing while maintaining assembly simplicity through the integrated multi-valve design
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 design significantly reduces assembly time and allows for miniaturization of multi-valve units by narrowing the spacing between gas outlets, enhancing efficiency and ease of assembly and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element generating, in the form of a displacement, driving force required for operation of the valve element
Implementation Method 2
a displacement magnification mechanism for magnifying a displacement of the piezoelectric element and causing the magnified displacement to act on the valve element
Data Source
AI summary
A piezoelectric valve whose assembly work can be efficiently performed. A piezoelectric valve according to this invention includes a valve main body having a gas pressure chamber which receives compressed gas supplied from the outside, a plate which is disposed inside the valve main body and is fixed to the valve main body, and actuators each of which has a valve element, a piezoelectric element generating, in the form of a displacement, driving force required for operation of the valve element, and a displacement magnification mechanism for magnifying a displacement of the piezoelectric element and causing the magnified displacement to act on the valve element, are fixed to each of two surfaces of the plate, and are disposed inside the valve main body together with the plate.