Multi-layered piezoelectric bimorph actuator

Author

Kawakita, Shinichiro ; Isogai, Toshiki ; Ohya, Nobuyuki ; Wahara, Nobuaki KA

Author_Institution

Res. Labs., Denso Corp., Aichi, Japan

fYear

1997

fDate

1997

Firstpage

73

Lastpage

78

Abstract

We have developed a multi-layered bimorph actuator whose power consumption is low and whose displacement is large. Each actuator layer comprises a piezoelectric element and elastic plate. Because volume of the piezoelectric element is constant, the actuator expands in the direction of applied voltage, but contracts in the perpendicular direction. This bends the elastic plate, amplifying displacement. Layer number determines actuator force. We also developed in-pipe locomotive mechanism utilizing the developed actuator and conventional stack type piezoelectric actuator. The power consumption and moving speed of two-actuator mechanism were investigated. The mechanism of the multi-layered actuator moves 2.5 times faster compared with that of the conventional one, and consumes only 1/80 of electric power of the conventional one

Keywords

inspection; maintenance engineering; microactuators; microrobots; mobile robots; piezoelectric actuators; applied voltage direction expansion; elastic plate; in-pipe locomotive mechanism; large displacement; low power consumption; micro inspection machine; moving speed; multilayered bimorph actuator; perpendicular direction contraction; piezoelectric bimorph actuator; small maintenance robots; stack type piezoelectric actuator; two-actuator mechanism; Contracts; Energy consumption; Heat transfer; Inspection; Maintenance; Piezoelectric actuators; Radiation detectors; Robots; Safety devices; Space heating;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Micromechatronics and Human Science, 1997. Proceedings of the 1997 International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Nagoya

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4171-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MHS.1997.768860

Filename

768860