| 主权项 |
1. A piezoelectric valve control module (100, 210) for controlling the flow through a valve body (10,202) about a valve seat (14,208) by controlling the position of a valve stem (16t, 214) relative to said valve seat (14, 208), said control module including:
a) a housing (212, 102) having at least one member or surface (228, 230, 102s) adapted for associating with at least a portion of said valve body (10, 202); b) said housing (212, 102) including at least one piezoelectric linear actuator (104) that is associated with a valve stem (214, 16t) to control the position of said valve stem relative to said valve seat; c) said piezoelectric linear actuator (104) comprising a piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate (104e), with an electrode provided on each of both surfaces of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate; an elastic body (104b), to one surface or each of both surfaces of which the piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate (104e) is attached; a shaft (104s) coupled at an end thereof to the elastic body (104b) or the piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate (104e) attached to the elastic body, the shaft (104s) being operated in conjunction with displacement of the piezoelectric or electrostrictive substrate (104e); and a moveable body (104L, 114, 226) to be moved along the movable shaft; d) wherein the movement of-said moveable body (104L, 114, 226) along the axis of said shaft (104s) is controlled with a control signal (108s) produced by electronic circuitry (108) disposed in said housing, for controlling the power profile provided to said piezoelectric linear actuator (104), therein controlling the position of a valve stem (16t, 214) associated with said moveable body (104L, 114, 226) and the flow rate through said valve body (10,202), characterized in that the flow rate though said valve body is configurable with said control signal (108s) such that said flow rate is proportional with said control signal (108s); e) wherein said moveable body (114) comprises:
i) a central body (114c) comprising a recess (114r) for coupling with a valve stem (214);ii) at least one arm (114e) extending from said central body wherein said arm (114e) has a proximal end (114p) and a distal end (114d) wherein said proximal end extends from said central body and wherein said distal end (114d) associates with said actuator shaft (104s) about a recess (114a) for accepting said actuator shaft (104s); said arm (114e) is characterized by having two substantially parallel extensions including, a base member (114b) and a shaft support member (114s), separated by said recess (114a) defining two opposing luminal surfaces (114f, 114h), wherein recess (114a) has a configurable dimension (‘Y’); said base member (114b) defining at least one actuator shaft contact point about said first luminal surface (114f) within said recess (114a); wherein said base member (114b) has a configurable dimension (‘L’); and said shaft support member (114s) having a shaft receiving portion (114t) about said second luminal surface (114h) defining at least one or more actuator shaft contact points within said recess (114a); wherein said shaft support member (114s) has two configurable dimensions (‘Z’) and (‘X’); andiii) wherein said arm (114e) is configurable about at least one or any combination of parameters selected from the group consisting of material characteristics, material hardness, dimension (‘L’) of base portion (114b), dimension (‘Y’) of said shaft receiving recess (114a), dimension (‘Z’) of said shaft support member (114s), dimension (‘X’) defining the location of said shaft receiving portion (114t). |
