Piezoelectric actuatable valve

Abstract

In the case of a piezoelectrically operable valve ( 1 ) with at least one valve channel ( 4, 5 ), which can be closed by means of a sealing element ( 14, 16 ) held on a piezoelectric bending transducer ( 7, 8 ), the bending transducer ( 7, 8 ) is held at both ends in the valve housing ( 2 ) to increase the sealing effect of the closed valve channel or valve channel to be closed ( 4, 5 ). In this case, a first end ( 7 a, 8 a ) of the bending transducer ( 7, 8 ) is fixed in the valve housing ( 2 ), while the second end ( 7 b, 8 b ) is guided movably in the longitudinal direction ( 12 ) of the transducer in a housing groove ( 11 ) on the opposite housing side ( 2 b ).

1 . A piezoelectrically operable valve ( 1 ) with at least one valve channel ( 4 ,  5 ), which can be closed by means of a sealing element ( 14 ,  16 ) held on a piezoelectric bending transducer ( 7 ,  8 ), in which arrangement the bending transducer ( 7 ,  8 ), having a first end ( 7   a ,  8   a ) and a second end ( 7   b ,  8   b ), is fixed by the first end ( 7   a ,  8   a ) in the valve housing ( 2 ), and the second end ( 7   b ,  8   b ) of the bending transducer ( 7 ,  8 ) is guided movably in the longitudinal direction ( 12 ) of the transducer in a housing groove ( 11 ) on the housing side ( 2   b ) lying opposite the first end ( 7   a ,  8   a ).  
     
     
         2 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in    claim 1   , characterized in that the first end ( 7   a ,  8   a ), fixed in the valve housing ( 2 ), is configured as a connecting end of the bending transducer ( 7 ,  8 ) which can be connected to an electric voltage source (U 1,2 ) for valve operation.  
     
     
         3 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in    claim 1    or    2   , characterized in that the bending transducer ( 7 ,  8 ) is concavely bent in the direction of the valve channel ( 4 ,  5 ) in the de-energized state.  
     
     
         4 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in one of    claims 1    to    3   , characterized in that the sealing element ( 14 ,  16 ) is arranged in the central region of the bending transducer ( 7 ,  8 ).  
     
     
         5 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in one of    claims 1    to    4   , characterized in that, in the de-energized state, a first valve channel ( 4 ) is closed by means of a first sealing element ( 14 ), which is held on a first bending transducer concavely bent in the direction of this valve channel ( 4 ), while a second valve channel ( 5 ), lying opposite the first valve channel ( 4 ), is open, said second valve channel having opposite it and at a distance from it a second sealing element ( 16 ), which is held on a second bending transducer ( 8 ) concavely bent in the direction ( 13 ) of this valve channel ( 5 ).  
     
     
         6 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in one of    claims 1    to    5   , characterized by an inlet channel ( 6 ) opening out into the valve housing ( 2 ) transversely with respect to each valve channel ( 4 ,  5 ).  
     
     
         7 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in    claim 1   , characterized in that, when a single bending transducer ( 7 ) is used, in the de-energized state it is concavely bent in the direction of a first valve channel ( 4 ) and convexly bent with respect to a second valve channel, lying opposite it, the second valve channel ( 5 ) extending within the valve housing ( 2 ) to within the effective proximity of the bending transducer ( 7 ).  
     
     
         8 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in    claim 7   , characterized by a sealing element ( 14 ′) that is effective on both sides of the central region of the bending transducer ( 7 ).  
     
     
         9 . The piezoelectrically operable valve as claimed in one of    claims 1    to    8   , characterized in that the sealing element ( 14 ′) has a sealing curvature ( 14   a ,  14   b ) directed toward the respective valve channel ( 4 ,  5 ).