PIEZO-ACTUATED PILOT VALVE

摘要

A piezo-actuated pilot valve that takes advantage of the small compact size and low power requirement of piezo technology to control the pilot flow in a pilot-operated valve. Exemplary piezo-actuated valves can be operated using a relatively low voltage power supply, such as a battery or a solar cell. This enables usage of the valve in remote locations that do not have a ready source of utility-supplied electrical power. The piezo-actuated pilot valve also can have a programmable controller and/or can have an antenna that allows the valve to be controlled wirelessly.

主权项

1. A pilot-controlled valve comprising:
a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a main passageway connecting the inlet to the outlet; a main valve seat surrounding the main passageway; a main valve member movable within the valve body between a closed position engaging the valve seat to block flow through the main passageway and an open position permitting flow through the valve seat, the main valve member having a piston that is exposed to pressure in a control chamber in the valve body; a pilot valve for opening and closing a pathway between the control chamber and the outlet, the pilot valve including a pilot valve seat surrounding the pathway and a pilot valve member movable between closed and open positions respectively blocking and permitting flow through the pathway; and a piezo unit operable to effect movement of the pilot valve member for opening and closing the pathway to control pressure imbalances acting on the main valve member for moving the main valve member between closed and opened positions.