Patent ID: 6202670
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A piezoelectric valve comprising:a valve body having a first end opposite a second end, a first fluid flow path through said valve body and a second fluid flow path through said valve body, an interior space defined between said first end and said second end;a poppet valve receivable within said interior space in a fluid tight fit and slidable within said interior space, said poppet valve having a first end opposite a second end;a first piezoelectric actuator in contact with said first end of said poppet valve;a second piezoelectric actuator in contact with said second end of said poppet valve;wherein said poppet valve is centered in said interior space when said first piezoelectric actuator and said second piezoelectric actuator are not actuated, thereby permitting fluid flow through said first fluid flow path and said second fluid flow path and when said first piezoelectric actuator is actuated with a first electrical current expanding a piezoelectric element in said first piezoelectric actuator and said second piezoelectric actuator is actuated with a second electrical current compressing a piezoelectric element in said second piezoelectric actuator, said poppet valve is thereby shifted by said first and said second piezoelectric actuators and fluid flow is prevented through one of said first and said second fluid flow paths while increasing fluid flow through an other one of said first and said second fluid flow paths.