Patent ID: 8183740
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
1. A piezoelectric motor, comprising: a stator having a stator shaft defining a rotational axis; an annular piezoelement having opposing upper and lower surfaces and inner and outer rims, said annular piezoelement retained on said stator and about said rotational axis, and said annular piezoelement comprising a piezoelectric material; an annular wave shell retained on an outer rim of said annular piezoelement; a rotor rotatably and mechanically coupled to said stator shaft, said rotor having a rotor inner circumferential surface; a plurality of elastic pushers, each of said plurality of pushers having a first end mechanically coupled to said annular wave shell and a second end extending to and contacting said rotor inner circumferential surface; and a power supply coupled to said upper and lower surfaces of said annular piezoelement, said power supply operable to provide an alternating voltage that induces a first order longitudinal vibrational mode across said annular width; wherein: