Patent ID: 8047233

Claim:
An apparatus for generating vortexes in fluid flow generally adjacent to a surface; the apparatus comprising: (a) at least one vortex generating element; and (b) a piezoelectric motor element coupled with said at least one vortex generating element; said piezoelectric motor element responding to a varying voltage signal to move said at least one vortex generating element between a first position extending into said fluid flow an operating distance from said surface and a second position generally flush with said surface; said piezoelectric motor element including a bimorph piezoelectric element coupled for receiving said voltage signal and a buckled beam bias element coupled for biasing said piezoelectric element to either of a first stable position and a second stable position in response to said voltage signal; said at least one vortex generating element being in said first position when said piezoelectric element is in said first stable position; said at least one vortex generating element being in said second position when said piezoelectric element is in said second stable position.