Piezoelectric Pump Valve Film Layout for Lower Flow Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid control devices using piezoelectric materials do not adequately reduce flow path resistance during forward flow.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control device design featuring a first main plate, a second main plate, a driving body, a frame body, support portions, a side wall member, a valve member, and a second hole, where the valve member includes a flexible valve film and a fixing member, allowing the fluid to flow through a larger cross-sectional area during forward flow, thereby reducing resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the valve member is fixed to the vibrating plate as in related art, then the device structure is simple, but the flow path resistance during forward flow is not sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is designed to be movable relative to the pump chamber rather than fixed. During forward flow, the valve member moves to overlap with the second hole, dynamically adjusting the flow path cross-sectional area to reduce resistance. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing structural simplicity while achieving low flow resistance through motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member is positioned to overlap the second hole in the plan view direction, utilizing the horizontal dimension to expand the effective flow path area. This dimensional approach allows the valve to reduce flow resistance by creating an additional flow pathway dimension without complicating the vertical device structure.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the outer end of the valve member overlaps the second hole during forward flow, then the cross-sectional area of the flow path is increased and resistance is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member serves multiple functions: it acts as a closure element during reverse flow and simultaneously functions as a flow path expansion element during forward flow by overlapping the second hole. This multi-functionality allows the same component to reduce resistance without requiring additional dedicated structures, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The functionality of the valve member is merged with the flow path structure. The valve member's movable end is designed to cooperate with the second hole to create an expanded flow path during forward flow, combining the valve function with the flow channel function in a single integrated component rather than requiring separate elements.
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 effectively reduces flow path resistance during forward flow by increasing the cross-sectional area of the flow path and improving fluid transport efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a driving body (30) that is disposed on a second main surface and causes the first main plate (21) to vibrate
Implementation Method 2
the outer end of the valve enters the inside of the second hole. This enables the cross-sectional area of the flow path in the vicinity of the outer end of the valve film to be increased
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid control device includes a first main plate, a second main plate, a driving body, a frame body, a plurality of support bodies, a plurality of gaps, a side wall member, a valve film, and a fixing member. A pump chamber is formed by a flat plate part consisting of the first main plate, the frame body, and the plurality of support bodies, and the second main plate and the side wall member. The valve film is disposed on a main surface of the first main plate on the side where the pump chamber is located. The valve film has an annular shape and fixed to the first main plate by the fixing member so that an outer end thereof is a movable end. The outer end of the valve film overlaps the plurality of gaps located between the plurality of support portions in plan view.