Patent US3902084A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3902084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Piezoelectric electromechanical translation apparatus
Assignee: Burleigh Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-30
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-05-30
Abstract
Abstract The load actuating shaft of an inchworm translating device extends through a housing and is programmably movable over long distances with extremely fine resolution, in extremely small incremental steps by a piezoelectric driver which is referenced to the housing. The driver operates to clamp the shaft, and when a staircase voltage is applied to an element thereof, translates the shaft in a direction and over an incremental distance related to the polarity and amplitude of the steps of the staircase voltage. Staircase voltage cycles may be repeated to move the shaft incrementally over a long distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr William G May
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:39
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/02; H02N2/021; H02N2/023; H02N2/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Electromechanical translation apparatus which comprises: a. a housing, b. a body movable with respect to said housing, c. a piezoelectric driver in said housing and attached thereto, said driver having a plurality of sections disposed in end to end relationship, at least one of said sections being in juxtaposition to said body and another of said sections being spaced from said body, only said other section being referenced to said housing by being attached thereto, and d. means for applying voltage to said one section to bring said one section into engagement with said body and for also applying voltage to said other section for changing the length thereof whereby to apply fOrce to said body for translating said body with respect to said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Electromechanical translation apparatus which comprises: a. a housing, b. a body movable with respect to said housing, c. a piezoelectric driver in said housing and attached thereto, said driver having a plurality of sections disposed in end to end relationship, at least one of said sections being in juxtaposition to said body and another of said sections being spaced from said body, only said other section being referenced to said housing by being attached thereto, and d. means for applying voltage to said one section to bring said one section into engagement with said body and for also applying voltage to said other section for changing the length thereof whereby to apply fOrce to said body for translating said body with respect to said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric driver has three sections, the front and rear ones of said sections being disposed in juxtaposition with said body and the central one of said sections being spaced laterally from said body, and wherein said voltage applying means includes means for alternatively applying voltage to said front and rear sections to bring one of said front and rear sections at a time into engagement with said body and for alternatively applying voltage of opposite polarity to said central section for translating said body selectively in opposite directions with respect to said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said central section is attached to said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3 including means attached to said central section at the center thereof for attaching said central section to said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is a shaft axially disposed in said housing, and wherein said driver is a sleeve around said shaft, said shaft being reciprocally mounted in said sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 wherein the longitudual portion of said shaft which is surrounded by said sleeve and which extends beyond said sleeve at least over the travel of said shaft is of non-conductive material, said sleeve having conductive material on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces thereof to provide electrodes on said sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 including means for applying a constant voltage to said electrodes for changing the inner diameter of said sleeve for adjusting the clearance between said sleeve and said shaft to adjust for wear, thermal dimensional changes, load conditions and the like.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sections of said driver comprise three successive cylindrical elements, the central one of which having its opposite ends attached to an end of the front and rear one of said elements, respectively, said central element having inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of said front and rear elements, said elements each having separate layers of conductive material on the inner and outer surfaces thereof for providing separate pairs of electrodes one on the inner and the other on the outer surface of each of said elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 including switch means operatively associated with said shaft and with said sleeve at the opposite ends thereof for providing switch contact when said shaft reaches the ends of travel thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 including a spindle shaped member attached to one end thereof and extending longitudinally from said shaft one end and out of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 including a longitudial groove in said spindle, and a key member in said housing extending radially into said groove for limiting rotational movement of said spindle and shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said voltage applying means includes means for applying a staircase voltage to said other section for changing its length in incremental steps and for thereby translating said body in incremental motion steps corresponding thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as set forth in claim 12 wherein said staircase voltage applying means comprises a staircase voltage generator, and means for changing the voltage amplitude of the steps of said staircase whereby to change the length of said steps of incremental motion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said voltage applying means includes pulse generator means for applying voltages to said front and rear sections, and staircase voltage generating means for applying voltage to said central section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
The invention as set forth in claim 12 including timing generator means responsive to said staircase voltage for operAting said pulse generator means to provide said pulses in a sequence in which pulses are applied first to one of said front and rear sections, second to both of said front and rear sections simultaneously and third to the other of said front and rear sections, and for operating said staircase generator to provide a staircase voltage to said central section only during said first and third parts of said sequence.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sleeve and shaft portion are of the same material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as set forth in claim 16 wherein said material is ceramic piezoelectric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |