Patent ID: 6189858
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A piezoelectric valve comprising:diaphragm chambers;a diaphragm disposed in the diaphragm chambers and constituting a valve body;an input port configured to supply fluid to the diaphragm;a piezoelectric element provided on one surface of said diaphragm, and configured to displace said diaphragm;a cushioning member opposed to said piezoelectric element, configured to contact the piezoelectric element only when the diaphragm is in a flexed state, and provided on a housing forming said diaphragm chambers; anda valve seat provided as an output port opening in said housing, wherewith a second surface of said diaphragm can be contacted;wherein said diaphragm contacts said valve seat without elastic energy being built up therein for closing up said output port when no drive power is applied to the piezoelectric element, and fluid pressure biases said diaphragm into contact with said valve seat so that a variation in the pressure of the fluid will not cause the diaphragm to become separated from the valve seat when a positive fluid pressure is applied to the diaphragm chambers while no drive power is applied to the piezoelectric element.