A piezoelectric direct-drive servo valve with a novel multi-body contacting spool-driving mechanism: Design, modelling and experiment

Stack-type piezoelectric actuators, which usually consist of several ceramic layers connected in series, are widely used in piezoelectric direct-drive servo valves (PDDSV). However, poor pulling force capacity of this kind of actuators affects the performances of the direct-drive servo valves. This article presents a new type of PDDSV, whose spool-driving mechanism is composed of a set of independent parts that are not fixed together but are in contact with each other. This multi-body contacting spool-driving mechanism provides bidirectional movement of the spool by a preloaded stack-type piezoelectric actuator and a driving disc spring. This prevents the stack-type piezoelectric actuator from bearing the pulling force due to the inertia and friction of the spool. Design of the proposed servo valve is illustrated in detail and its characteristics are also predicted. Based on a nonlinear dynamic model of the multi-body contacting spool-driving mechanism, a comprehensive dynamic simulation model of the proposed PDDSV is established. Static and dynamic characteristics of the proposed PDDSV have been studied experimentally and good agreements between experimental and simulation results are observed. The dynamic performances of the proposed PDDSV are compared with the existing piezoelectric servo valves, which demonstrate that the proposed PDDSV has satisfactory dynamic characteristics for high-frequency applications.