Micro-beam friction liner and method of transferring energy

Abstract

A micro-beam friction liner adapted to increase performance and efficiency and reduce wear in a piezoelectric motor or actuator or other device using a traveling or standing wave to transfer energy in the form of torque and momentum. The micro-beam friction liner comprises a dense array of micro-beam projections having first ends fixed relative to a rotor and second ends projecting substantially toward a plurality of teeth of a stator, wherein the micro-beam projections are compressed and bent during piezoelectric movement of the stator teeth, thereby storing the energy, and then react against the stator teeth to convert the stored energy stored to rotational energy in the rotor.

1 . A friction liner adapted to facilitate a transfer of energy from a driver component to a movable component, the friction liner comprising: 
 a plurality of projections, with each of the projections having a first end fixed to the movable component and a second end oriented substantially toward the driver component, and each of the projections being bendable such that action by the driver against the second ends of some or all of the plurality of projections bends the some or all of the plurality of projections and thereby stores energy which is released to the movable component when the some or all of the plurality of projections react by unbending against the driver component.    
     
     
         2 . The friction liner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the friction liner is incorporated into a piezoelectric device and the driver component is a stator and the movable component is a rotor.  
     
     
         3 . The friction liner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the friction liner is coupled with a surface of the movable component so as to be interposed between the driver component and the movable component.  
     
     
         4 . The friction liner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the friction liner is adapted to facilitate transferring momentum and torque from the driver component to the movable component.  
     
     
         5 . The friction liner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are oriented to project perpendicularly from the movable component toward the driver component.  
     
     
         6 . The friction liner as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are oriented to project non-perpendicularly from the movable component toward the driver component.  
     
     
         7 . A piezoelectric device comprising: 
 a driver component having piezoelectric properties;    a movable component adapted to move relative to the driver component; and    a friction liner interposed between the driver component and the movable component and having a plurality of projections oriented such that a wave moving through the driver component acts against some or all of the plurality of projections to thereby cause the movable component to move.    
     
     
         8 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the driver component is a stator and the movable component is a rotor.  
     
     
         9 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the friction liner is coupled with a surface of the movable component.  
     
     
         10 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the friction liner is adapted to facilitate transferring momentum and torque from the driver component to the movable component.  
     
     
         11 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the some or all of the plurality of projections are adapted to bend in response to the wave in the driver component, thereby storing energy for transfer to the movable component.  
     
     
         12 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of projections are oriented to project perpendicularly from the movable component toward the driver component.  
     
     
         13 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of projections are oriented to project non-perpendicularly from the movable component toward the driver component.  
     
     
         14 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the wave is a traveling wave.  
     
     
         15 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the wave is a standing wave.  
     
     
         16 . A piezoelectric device comprising: 
 a stator having piezoelectric properties;    a rotor adapted to move relative to the first component; and    a friction liner interposed between the stator and the rotor having a plurality of projections oriented such that a wave moving through the stator acts against some or all of the plurality of projections, and wherein the plurality of projections are adapted to receive, store, and release to the rotor an energy associated with the wave, thereby facilitating a transfer of momentum and torque from the stator to the rotor.    
     
     
         17 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the friction liner is coupled with a surface of the rotor.  
     
     
         18 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of projections are oriented to project perpendicularly from the rotor toward the stator.  
     
     
         19 . The piezoelectric device as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of projections are oriented to project non-perpendicularly from the rotor toward the stator.  
     
     
         20 . A method of facilitating a transfer of energy between a driver component and a movable component in a piezoelectric device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 generating a wave in the driver component, wherein the wave has an energy;    receiving the energy at a plurality of projections, wherein each of the projections are bendable;    storing the energy by bending some or all of the plurality of projections; and    releasing and transferring the energy to the movable component by allowing the some or all of the plurality of projections to unbend and react against the driver component.    
     
     
         21 . The method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the piezoelectric device is a piezoelectric motor.  
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the driver component is a stator and the movable component is a rotor.  
     
     
         23 . The method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the wave is a traveling wave.  
     
     
         24 . The method as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the wave is a standing wave.