| 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 movable body (104L, 114, 226) to be moved along the shaft; and d) wherein the movement of-said moveable body (104L, 114, 226) along 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 through said valve body is configurable with said control signal (108s) such that said flow rate is proportional with said control signal (108s) and wherein said piezoelectric linear actuator (104) is devoid of a return spring. |
