Dielectric Elastomer Valve Drive Pretension for Precise Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve drives with dielectric elastomer transducers face challenges in precise adjustment to geometrical conditions, leading to inefficiencies in actuation precision and reliability due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A valve drive with an adjusting device featuring a single adjusting screw that provides mechanical pretension to the dielectric elastomer transducer, combined with a sliding guideway for anti-rotation protection and magnetic connection, allowing for precise and reliable actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the dielectric elastomer transducer is rigidly fixed in the housing, then the assembly is simple, but manufacturing and assembly tolerances cannot be compensated, leading to imprecise actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The holding part is made shiftably mountable via a sliding guideway, allowing dynamic adjustment to compensate for tolerances while maintaining structural simplicity through a single adjusting screw
2Manufacturing precision
If the holding part is fixed without adjustment mechanism, then the device is simple, but the dielectric elastomer transducer cannot be precisely adjusted to geometrical conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting screw allows precise adjustment of the holding part position along the active axis by changing the mechanical pretension parameter, enabling exact alignment with geometrical conditions
3Reliability
If the dielectric elastomer transducer is not pretensioned, then the structure is simple, but the valve drive response is slow and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting device applies preliminary mechanical pretension to the dielectric elastomer transducer during assembly, ensuring reliable and fast response without requiring complex active control mechanisms
4Reliability
If the holding part is not guided, then the structure is simpler, but the holding part may wedge or jam, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding guideway acts as an intermediary between the holding part and housing, providing low-friction guidance that prevents wedging and jamming while maintaining structural simplicity
5Manufacturing precision
If the dielectric elastomer transducer can rotate freely, then the mounting is simpler, but twisting occurs leading to imprecise actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding guideway serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides low-friction movement along the active axis and acts as an anti-rotation protection, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation mechanisms
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
Enables fast, precise, and reliable actuation of the valve by compensating for manufacturing tolerances and preventing unwanted twisting, resulting in a durable and high-precision valve operation.
Implementation Method 1
A dielectric elastomer transducer comprises at least two, typically flat electrodes which are arranged on both sides of a dielectric, i.e. electrically non-conductive elastomer foil. In dependence on the voltage applied between the electrodes, the elastomer foil can be compressed in a defined way, whereby it is lengthened correspondingly while maintaining its volume
Implementation Method 2
the adjusting screw cooperates with the housing via a thread. For adjustment, the adjusting screw hence is rotated. Via the thread, the rotary movement also is converted into a translational movement
Implementation Method 3
the holding part can be shiftably mounted with respect to the housing via a sliding guideway. Likewise, a sliding guideway generally operates with low friction
Data Source
AI summary
A valve drive includes a housing in which a valve actuator with a dielectric elastomer transducer is arranged. A first end of the valve actuator is coupled to an actuating part for actuating a valve element and a second end of the valve actuator is coupled to a holding part, which is mounted in the housing via an adjusting device for adjusting a mechanical pretension of the dielectric elastomer transducer. The adjusting device comprises a single adjusting screw.