Linear actuators
Categories
Self locking MRF actuators for dampers and latches
6 January 2008
MRF actuators are new electromechanical components using Magneto Rheological Fluids (MRF). When submitted to a high enough magnetic field, MRF switch from a liquid to a near solid body. These new developed MRF actuators were developed in order to reach three aims: to offer a blocking force at rest which can be strongly reduced by applying a current, to provide an electrically-controllable resistive force over a stroke of 30 mm, to perform the control of the force in a very short time, typically in a few milliseconds.
Compact, Lightweight, and Efficient Piezo-Actuation Chain for aeronautical applications
19 June 2023
Many past and on-going studies are focusing on the use of piezo-actuators for aeronautical applications. One of the trendiest topics is the use of such devices for active flow control in aircraft, in order to reduce fuel consumption and noise. However, the implementation of such systems in aircraft suffer a lack of maturity with respect to aeronautical constraints, which are: high efficiency, compactness, and lightweight. In general, the actuators are composed of ceramics integrated in a metallic shell, which makes them heavy. For driving the actuators, the power amplifiers employed are usually linear amplifiers, which have a poor efficiency, leading to bulky designs due to large heatsinks. This paper presents recent developments that have been made to cope with these issues in order to obtain a piezo-actuation chain suitable for aeronautical applications.
Valves based on amplified piezoelectric actuators
6 January 2002
Amplified Piezo Actuators have been developed at CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES for several years. Their well – known advantages (rapid response and precise positioning) have been used in valve designs to obtain both rapid or fine proportional valves.
Investigations on a directly coupled piezoactuated tool feed system for micro electro discharge machine
19 June 2023
A directly coupled piezoactuated tool feed mechanism is proposed and a prototype micro-electrodischarge machine (micro-EDM) is developed. The piezoactuator is used to feed the tool and also to sense the tool displacement from a reference position. The hysteresis behavior of the piezoactuator is also incorporated through an electromechanical model for estimating the actual tool displacement. Simulation results for piezoactuator displacement are compared with the experiment and a maximum error of 15% was observed. Further, in order to control the tool feed rate during machining, a tool feed controller based on the gap voltage feedback is developed.
Semi-passive vibration control technique via shunting of Amplified Piezoelectric Actuators
12 January 2016
The objective of this paper is to provide results of an experimental and analytical investigation of Amplified Piezoelectric Actuators (APA) as vibrational isolator in a configuration of a mechanical Single Degree of Freedom system. The investigation is aimed at assessment of the mechanical properties modification ability via shunting techniques. The investigation consist of a phenomenological modelling of the APAs considered as generators and experimental verification of the vibrational energy dissipation ability in frequency domain. The results obtained during this investigation reveal that it is feasible to receive more than 20 dB reduction of the displacement amplification in the resonant range. Moreover, three tested examples of APA reveal up to 9 % of resonant frequency shift due to proper adjustment of the electronic shunting circuit, which is an encouragement for further analyses towards application of the APAs in semi-passive vibration control applications.
Actionneurs piezoélectriques pour positionnement rapide et précis
19 June 2023
Several classes of low voltage piezo actuators have been developed by CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES to cover precise positioning needs and / or fast. This paper discusses the ability of these actuators to cover these needs and illustrates this through
various applications (mechanisms, shock absorbers, valves) in the fields of instrumentation, space, aeronautics and automotive.
