US5057734A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for driving piezoelectric element for closing and opening valve member
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
•
Filing: 1989-11-29
•
Granted: 1991-10-15
•
Expires: 2009-11-29
Abstract
Abstract In an apparatus for driving a piezoelectric element used for closing and opening a valve member, a first-step voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element to move the valve element near to a valve seat, and thereafter, a second-step voltage higher than the first-step voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element to seat the valve element securely on the valve seat.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoyuki Tsuzuki
- 👤 Masaki Mitsuyasu
- 👤 Takeshi Takahashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:38
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M59/00; F02M59/44; F02M59/46; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/20; F02D41/2096; F02D41/30; F02D41/38; F02D41/40; F02M57/00; F02M57/02; F02M59/20; F02M59/36; F02M59/466; F02M59/468; H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/02; H02N2/06; H02N2/065; H02N2/067; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02D2041/2003; F02D2041/202; F02D2041/2037; F02M57/022; F02M57/023; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for driving a piezoelectric element to transmit a displacement of said piezoelectric element via a liquid to a valve member, for closing and opening said valve member, comprising: a high DC voltage generating means; a charging switching means, connected to said high DC voltage generating means and said piezoelectric element, for generating a first voltage and applying said first voltage to said piezoelectric element for a predetermined time so that said valve member reaches a position near to a valve seat, and thereafter, increasing a voltage applied to said piezoelectric element from said first voltage to a second voltage higher than said first voltage so that said valve member is seated on said valve seat, to thereby close said valve; and a discharging switching means, connected to said piezoelectric element, for discharging charges stored in said piezoelectric element to open said valve.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for driving a piezoelectric element to transmit a displacement of said piezoelectric element via a liquid to a valve member, for closing and opening said valve member, comprising: a high DC voltage generating means; a charging switching means, connected to said high DC voltage generating means and said piezoelectric element, for generating a first voltage and applying said first voltage to said piezoelectric element for a predetermined time so that said valve member reaches a position near to a valve seat, and thereafter, increasing a voltage applied to said piezoelectric element from said first voltage to a second voltage higher than said first voltage so that said valve member is seated on said valve seat, to thereby close said valve; and a discharging switching means, connected to said piezoelectric element, for discharging charges stored in said piezoelectric element to open said valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said high DC voltage generating means comprises: a battery; a DC/DC converter, connected to said battery, for generating a DC output; and first and second condensers connected in series, and connected to said DC/DC converter, for accumulating the DC output thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
123 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said charging switching means comprises: a first charging thyristor and a first coil connected in series between said first condenser and said piezoelectric element; and a second charging thyristor and a second coil connected in series between said second condenser and said piezoelectric element, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said first condenser, said first coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said first voltage, when said first charging thyristor is turned ON by a first closing signal, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said second condenser, said second coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said second voltage, when said second charging thyristor is turned ON by a second closing signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first coil serves as said second coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising means, connected to said first or second condenser and to said DC/DC converter, for suppressing the operation thereof when the voltage of said first or second condenser is higher than a predetermined voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said high DC voltage generating means comprises: a battery; a DC/DC converter, connected to said battery, for generating a DC output; first and second condensers connected in parallel and connected in parallel to said DC/DC converter, for accumulating the DC output thereof; and a reverse-current avoiding element connected between said first and second condensers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said charging switching means comprises: a first charging thyristor and a first coil connected in series between said first condenser and said piezoelectric element; and a second charging thyristor and a second coil connected in series between said second condenser and said piezoelectric element, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said first condenser, said first coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said first voltage, when said first charging thyristor is turned ON by a first closing signal, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said second condenser, said second coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said second voltage, when said second charging thyristor is turned ON by a second closing signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first coil serves as said second coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising means, connected to said first or second condenser and to said DC/DC converter, for suppressing the operation thereof when the voltage of said first or second condenser is higher than a predetermined voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said high DC generating means comprises: a battery; first and second DC/DC converter, connected to said battery, for generating DC outputs; and first and second condensers, connected to said first and second DC/DC converters, respectively, for accumulating the DC output thereof.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus as set forth in clam 10, wherein said charging switching means comprises: a first charging thyristor and a first coil connected in series between said first condenser and said piezoelectric element; and a second charging thyristor and a second coil connected in series between said second condenser and said piezoelectric element, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said first condenser, said first coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said first voltage, when said first charging thyristor is turned ON by a first closing signal, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said second condenser, said second coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said second voltage, when said second charging thyristor is turned ON by a second closing signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus as set forth in clam 10, wherein said charging switching means comprises: a first charging thyristor and a first coil connected in series between said first condenser and said piezoelectric element; and a second charging thyristor and a second coil connected in series between said second condenser and said piezoelectric element, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said first condenser, said first coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said first voltage, when said first charging thyristor is turned ON by a first closing signal, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said second condenser, said second coil, and said piezoelectric element, to generate said second voltage, when said second charging thyristor is turned ON by a second closing signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first coil serves as said second coil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, further comprising: means, connected to said first condenser and to said first DC/DC converter, for suppressing the operation thereof when the voltage of said first second condenser is higher than a predetermined voltage; and means, connected to said second condenser and to said second DC/DC converter, for suppressing the operation thereof when the voltage of said second condenser is higher than a predetermined voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said discharging switching means comprises: a discharging thyristor and a coil connected in series and connected in parallel with said piezoelectric element, an LC oscillation circuit being formed by said coil and said piezoelectric element, to discharge the charges stored therein, when said discharging thyristor is turned ON by an opening signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS5958129A
Cited
JPS60237869A
Cited
US4644212A
Cited
US4705003A
Cited
JPS61180581A
Cited
US4732129A
Cited
JPS62142845A
Cited
JPS62240449A
Cited
JPS63230940A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-14 | 1995-04-15 | 1995-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-14 | 1999-04-15 | 1999-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-14 | 2003-04-15 | 2003-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |