Patent US6333586B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6333586B1
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Valve for controlling fluids
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1999-03-11
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Granted: 2001-12-25
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Expires: 2019-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A valve for controlling fluids in which the valve is actuatable by a piezoelectric actuator that acts directly on a valve member of the control valve. To compensate for changes in length of different magnitudes resulting from temperature factors, a Peltier element is incorporated into the heat flow from the piezoelectric actuator to a heat-dissipating part of the housing, and the Peltier element is triggered by an electric control unit in such a way that temperature-dictated changes in length of the piezoelectric actuator are at least partly compensated for compared with those of the housing receiving the piezoelectric actuator.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilhelm Polach
- 👤 Friedrich Boecking
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:44
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M63/00; F02M63/0012; F02M63/0014; F02M63/0015; F02M63/0026; F02M47/00; F02M47/02; F02M47/027; F02M61/00; F02M61/16; F02M61/167; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/004; F16K31/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A valve for controlling fluids, comprising a piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ), a valve member ( 40 ) which is actuatable at least indirectly, counter to a restoring force, by said piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) which has a piezoelectric element ( 56 ) that is supported by one face end ( 58 ) in a housing ( 2 ) and that upon a change in a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element undergoes a change of length that can be transmitted by means of another face end ( 57 ) of the piezoelectric actuator to the valve member ( 40 ) in order to adjust the latter, in a heat flow from the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) to a heat-dissipating part of the housing, a Peltier element ( 62 ) is incorporated, which is triggered by an electric control unit ( 36 ) in such a way that temperature-dictated changes in length of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) are at least partly compensated for compared with those changes in the housing ( 2 ) that receives the piezoelectric actuator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A valve for controlling fluids, comprising a piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ), a valve member ( 40 ) which is actuatable at least indirectly, counter to a restoring force, by said piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) which has a piezoelectric element ( 56 ) that is supported by one face end ( 58 ) in a housing ( 2 ) and that upon a change in a voltage applied to the piezoelectric element undergoes a change of length that can be transmitted by means of another face end ( 57 ) of the piezoelectric actuator to the valve member ( 40 ) in order to adjust the latter, in a heat flow from the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) to a heat-dissipating part of the housing, a Peltier element ( 62 ) is incorporated, which is triggered by an electric control unit ( 36 ) in such a way that temperature-dictated changes in length of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) are at least partly compensated for compared with those changes in the housing ( 2 ) that receives the piezoelectric actuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The valve according to claim 1 , in which the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) is retained on the adjacent housing by a retaining means ( 61 ) that absorbs changes in length, and the Peltier element ( 62 ) is inserted between the first face end ( 58 ) of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) and the housing adjacent to the piezoelectric element ( 56 ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve according to claim 2 , in which the retaining means is a resiliently yielding element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The valve according to claim 1 , in which a compensating element ( 68 ), whose material has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, is disposed between the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) and the Peltier element ( 62 ) in a direction of longitudinal expansion of the piezoelectric element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The valve according to claim 2 , in which a compensating element ( 68 ), whose material has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, is disposed between the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) and the Peltier element ( 62 ) in a direction of longitudinal expansion of the piezoelectric element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The valve according to claim 3 , in which a compensating element ( 68 ), whose material has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, is disposed between the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) and the Peltier element ( 62 ) in a direction of longitudinal expansion of the piezoelectric element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The valve according to claim 4 , in which the Peltier element ( 62 ) and the compensating element ( 68 ) coaxially adjoins the piezoelectric element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The valve according to claim 5 , in which the Peltier element ( 62 ) and the compensating element ( 68 ) coaxially adjoins the piezoelectric element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The valve according to claim 6 , in which the Peltier element ( 62 ) and the compensating element ( 68 ) coaxially adjoins the piezoelectric element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The valve according to claim 4 , in which the compensating element ( 68 ′) coaxially adjoins the piezoelectric element ( 56 ), and the Peltier element ( 62 ′) is disposed, surrounding the compensating element ( 68 ′), between the compensating element and a circumferential wall of the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The valve according to claim 5 , in which the compensating element ( 68 ′) coaxially adjoins the piezoelectric element ( 56 ), and the Peltier element ( 62 ′) is disposed, surrounding the compensating elements ( 68 ′), between the compensating element and a circumferential wall of the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The valve according to claim 6 , in which the compensating element ( 68 ′) coaxially adjoins the piezoelectric element ( 56 ), and the Peltier element ( 62 ′) is disposed, surrounding the compensating element ( 68 ′), between the compensating element and a circumferential wall of the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The valve according to claim 4 , in which the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) is supported in a cup-shaped housing part ( 73 ), and the Peltier element ( 62 ″) is inserted into a heat dissipation path between the cup-shaped housing sidewall and the housing, oriented radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ), from the cup-shaped part ( 73 ) to heat sinks ( 75 ) of the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
The valve according to claim 5 , in which the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) is supported in a cup-shaped housing part ( 73 ), and the Peltier element ( 62 ″) is inserted into a heat dissipation path between the cup-shaped housing sidewall and the housing, oriented radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ), from the cup-shaped part ( 73 ) to heat sinks ( 75 ) of the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
The valve according to claim 6 , in which the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) is supported in a cup-shaped housing part ( 73 ), and the Peltier element ( 62 ″) is inserted into a heat dissipation path between the cup-shaped housing sidewall and the housing, oriented radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ), from the cup-shaped part ( 73 ) to heat sinks ( 75 ) of the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The valve according to claim 1 , in which the valve member ( 40 ), in the closing position at a least length of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) resulting from the electric triggering has a prestroke (hv) from a part of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) that effects the adjustment of the valve member ( 40 ).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The valve according to claim 2 , in which the valve member ( 40 ), in the closing position at a least length of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) resulting from the electric triggering has a predetermined spacing (hv) from a part of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) that effects the adjustment of the valve member ( 40 ).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
The valve according to claim 3 , in which the valve member ( 40 ), in the closing position at a least length of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) resulting from the electric triggering has a predetermined spacing (hv) from a part of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) that effects the adjustment of the valve member ( 40 ).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
The valve according to claim 1 , in which the valve member ( 40 ) in the closing position has a prestroke (hv) from a part of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) that affects the adjustment of the valve member ( 40 ), said prestroke (hv) being provided by a least length of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) resulting from the electric triggering.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
The valve according to claim 2 , in which the valve member ( 40 ) in the closing position has a prestroke (hv) from a part of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) that affects the adjustment of the valve member ( 40 ), said prestroke (hv) being provided by the shortest longitudinal extent of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) resulting from the electric triggering.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The valve according to claim 3 , in which the valve member ( 40 ) in the closing position has a prestroke (hv) from a part of the piezoelectric actuator ( 53 ) that affects the adjustment of the valve member ( 40 ), said prestroke (hv) being provided by the shortest longitudinal extend of the piezoelectric element ( 56 ) resulting from the electric triggering.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-12-24 | 2005-06-25 | 2005-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-24 | 2009-06-25 | 2009-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-24 | 2013-06-25 | 2013-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |