PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATOR WITH MULTI-FUNCTION SPRING AND DEVICE USING SAME

摘要

A piezoelectrically actuated device (60) includes a body (62), a valve (70) disposed within the body (60) and an actuator (50) for the valve (70), the actuator (50) including a casing (51) coupled with the body (62) and a piezoelectric element (32) disposed within the casing (51). The actuator (50) further includes a multi-function spring (10) applying a preloading force to the piezoelectric element (32). The multi-function spring (10) includes a first segment (12) having a piston (22) configured to translate a motion of the piezoelectric element (32) during operation of the actuator (50), a second segment (14) having at least one flexural element (26) and a third segment (16) having a first set of threads (39). The first set of threads (39) is engaged with a second set of threads (43) of the actuator (50) and maintains the second segment (14) in a tension state which corresponds with the preloading force.