MANUFACTURING OF COIL-SHAPED PIEZOELECTRIC ARTICLES

摘要

A recently-invented form of coiled piezoelectric actuator is one wherein a multiple-layer composite of piezoelectric material interleaved with activation electrodes is formed by extrusion in the shape of a ribbon and then curved around to form a heleix which is itself then bent, curved, wound or coiled to produce the desired double-wound object. The present invention relates to a different way of fabricating a coiled-coil device. Rather than starting from a tape of multilayer piezoelectric/electrode material, the invention proposes that there be made - conveniently by extrusion - a tube of piezoelectric/electrode material, and that this tube then be cut through in a helical fashion to produce the first stage of the desired helical article. And by constructing this tube on and around a plastically-flexible mandrel the combination of mandrel-borne thus-cut tube can then wound, or coiled, or otherwise curved/bent into the desired coiled-coil form.