226 to bend or deform into a generally inverted U-shape whereby its sealing pad 232 engages with seat 246 to seal the port 234 of valve assembly 220a.

Conversely, in the valve assembly 220b, contact 258 of connector 256 is engaged with the contact pad 230 of the piezo assembly 226 such that upon application of voltage contraction of the lower piezo element layer causes the piezo assembly 226 to bend or deform into a generally inverted U-shape whereby piezo assembly 226 overcomes the biasing force of spring 244 whereby the sealing pad 232 of valve assembly 220b is moved out of engagement with the seat 246 to open the port 234 of valve assembly 220b.

It should thus be appreciated that valve assemblies 220a, 220b are substantially similar, but with the electrical connectors 256 assembled whereby the respective contacts 258 of each of valve assemblies 220a, 220b engage with contact pads 230 on opposite sides of the respective piezo assemblies 226.

Manifold 260 is mounted to and sealed against each of the housings 222 of valve assemblies 220a, 220b. Manifold 260 enables flow into or out of each valve assembly 220a, 220b under control of their respective piezo assemblies 226 along with another body to which the valve assembly 220 with manifold 260 is attached. For example, fastener 262 passes through manifold 260 and is used to threadingly engage to such a body, such as where valve assembly 220 is in a vertical upright orientation, with seal 266 sealing between manifold 260 and the body to which it is mounted. Manifold 260 includes a T-shaped passage 264 that is in fluid communication with the body at seal 266 and in fluid communication with the ports 234 and associated passages 235 of each valve assembly 220a, 220b. In addition, each body 222 includes an additional passage 237 that are each likewise aligned with one or more passages 265a, 265b of manifold 260.

In the valve assembly 220 of FIG. 3, the piezoelectric assemblies of the assemblies 220a, 220b are configured to oppositely cover or uncover their respective ports upon application of a voltage thereto. For example, the port of assembly 220a is normally opened where application of a voltage operates to seal the port, whereas the port of assembly 220b is normally closed whereby application of a voltage operates to open the port.

FIG. 4 illustrates still another valve assembly 320 that shares numerous features with valve assemblies 20, 120 and 220. Similar components of valve assembly 320 are identified with similar reference numerals as used with valve assemblies 20, 120 and 220, but with 300, 200 and 100 added to the reference numerals relative to valve assemblies 20, 120 and 220, respectively. Due to the similarities not all of the features and functions of valve assembly 320 are discussed herein.

Valve assembly 320 includes a housing comprising a body 322 having an outer surface 323 and a cover 328 defining a cavity 324 within which a piezoelectric assembly is disposed. Valve assembly 320 includes a turret or rotatable manifold 360 having a pair of prongs or barbs 372a, 372b to which tubes may be attached for flow controlled via valve assembly 320. Of particular note, manifold 360 is moveable in that it may be affixed to body 322 as shown or, alternatively, may be reversed 180 degrees whereby barbs 372a, 372b are oriented to point in an opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 discloses another valve assembly 420 that shares numerous features with valve assemblies 20, 120, 220 and 320. Similar components of valve assembly 420 are identified with similar reference numerals as used with valve assemblies 20, 120, 220, and 320 but with 400, 300, 200 and 100 added to the reference numerals relative to valve assemblies 20, 120 and 220, respectively. Due to the similarities not all of the features and functions of valve assembly 420 are discussed herein.

Valve assembly 420 includes a housing 421 within which a piezoelectric assembly is disposed. Valve assembly 420 includes a manifold 460 having a pair of prongs or barbs 472a, 472b to which tubes may be attached for flow controlled via valve assembly 420. Manifold 460 comprises a rotatable turret or a moveable manifold, in similar manner to manifold 360, but is rotatable over 360 degrees relative to housing 421 to provide increased adjustability of the location or orientation of barbs 472a, 472b. Manifold 460 is sealed to housing 421 at outer surface 423 via gaskets, o-rings, such as o-ring 427, or other sealing method to set a fixed position.

With reference to FIG. 6, a valve assembly 520 is shown having a moveable manifold 560 on outer surface 523, where valve assembly 520 is likewise substantially similar to valve assemblies 20, 120, 220, 320 and 420, discussed above, and is marked with similar reference numerals. Due to the similarities not all of the features and functions of valve assembly 520 are discussed herein. Manifold 560 includes a pair of barbs 572, only one of which is shown in FIG. 6, and further includes passages 564, 565, where each of passages 564, 565 are in separate fluid communication with a given one of the barbs 572. As shown, passage 564 is aligned with passage 535 of body 522 and passage 565 is aligned with passage 537 of body 522. Manifold 560 may be reversed, however, whereby passages 564, 565 are instead aligned with passages 537, 535 of body 522, respectively.

FIG. 7 discloses yet another piezoelectric actuated valve assembly 620 in accordance with the present invention that shares numerous features with valve assemblies 20, 120, 220, 320, 420 and 520, discussed above, and is marked with similar reference numerals. Valve assembly 620 is configured as a three-way valve and thus includes a pair of internal piezo assemblies within housing 621, with associated connectors 656 for each of the piezo assemblies being shown at the upper portion of housing 621. Housing 621 includes three extending flow connectors 672a, 672b, 672c that define ports and passages into valve assembly 620, where connectors 672a, 672b, 672c are insertable in a plug in manner into corresponding receptacles on another body whereby valve assembly 620 is able to control the flow, such as of air or a gas, there through. As shown, each of connectors 672a, 672b, 672c include an o-ring 674 for sealing upon insertion therein. Although shown as having extending connectors it should be appreciated that such an alternative valve assembly may be constructed with inwardly oriented receptacles for receiving corresponding connectors.

FIG. 8 discloses another piezoelectric actuated valve assembly 720 in accordance with the present invention that shares numerous features with valve assemblies 20, 120, 220, 320, 420 and 520, discussed above and is marked with similar reference numerals. In particular, valve assembly 720 shares similarities with valve assembly 120 of FIG. 2, with similar components of valve assembly 720 being identified with similar reference numerals as used with valve assembly 120, but with 600 added to the reference numerals relative to valve assembly 120. Due to the similarities not all of the features and functions of valve assembly 720 are discussed herein.

Valve assembly 720 is a two-way valve and includes a housing comprising a body 722 and a cover 728 defining a cavity 724 within which piezoelectric assembly 726 is disposed. Piezo assembly 726 includes a sealing pad 732 configured as an encapsulated end that surrounds the entirety of the end of piezo assembly 726 and may be formed of a resilient material, such as rubber or a rubber like material, for providing a compliant seal to port 734 at seat 746. Valve assembly 720 includes a biasing member configured as a compression spring 744 that presses against one side of sealing pad 732 to provide a biasing force and urge the opposite side of sealing pad 732 into a normally closed position in which sealing pad 732 engages with seat 746 to seal port 734. It should be appreciated that such a piezoelectric assembly may alternatively be configured to be in a normally open position, including such as via a biasing member against which a piezo assembly may act.

Toward the opposite end of piezo assembly 726 from sealing pad 732, cover 728 and body 722 clamp together at a sealing element 752 such that cavity 724 is sealed at the joint formed thereby. Sealing element 752 may comprise a resilient member, such as a gasket, an adhesive seal, or another alternative known sealing configuration or material.

End cap 754 is disposed over the exposed end of piezo assembly 726. As shown, an electrical connector 756 configured as a wire with an external insulation layer passes through end cap 754 to provide electrical voltage to piezo assembly 726. In the illustrated embodiment, circuit or driver board 757 is soldered to the piezo assembly 726, with wire 756 inserted into a push in wire terminal 751 that is mounted to the circuit board 757. Terminal 751 includes an integrated stop 753 against which the wire 756 contacts for limiting its insertion. Circuit board 757 includes a resistor 755 for use in damping the piezo assembly 726. A voltage is thus provided by wire 756 to circuit board 757, which in turn is in electrical connection with piezo assembly 726 by being electrically connected thereto, such as by way of being soldered, welded or by way of another form of electrical contact, so as to provide power to the piezo assembly 726, such as via contact pad 730. In the illustrated embodiment, piezo assembly 726 is configured to have a trimorph piezo construction with just the top layer being selectively actuated to contract and curve into a U-shape to overcome the biasing force of spring 744 and thereby lift the sealing pad 732 from the seat 746 and open port 734. Alternative constructions of the piezo assembly may be employed.

Valve assembly 720 additionally includes a manifold or manifold adapter 760 that is mounted to and sealed against body 722. Manifold 760 enables flow into or out of valve assembly 720 under control of piezo assembly 726 to be exchanged with another body to which valve assembly 720 with manifold 760 is attached. For example, fasteners 762 pass through manifold 760 and are used to threadingly engage to such a body, such as where valve assembly 720 is in a vertical upright orientation. Flow is then able to flow through passage 764 of manifold 760 that is aligned with port 734 and its associated passage 735 in body 722. Likewise, body 722 includes an additional passage 737 within cavity 724 that is aligned with passage 765 in manifold 760. As shown, manifold 760 includes a seal 766, such as a gasket or o-ring for sealing between the manifold 760 and the body to which it is attached. Flow into and out of manifold 760 may thus be controlled by valve assembly 720 via control of the piezo assembly 726.

Manifold 760 is further illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9C and FIGS. 10A-10C. As there shown, manifold 760 comprises a manifold body 780 with through holes 781 for receiving fasteners 762 for mounting. Manifold 760 further includes a front end 782 and a top surface 783 with top surface 783 including sealing rings or ridges, such as a rim or rib or edge, that in the illustrated embodiment are configured as rectangular overlapping ridges 784a, 784b, where ridges 784a, 784b mate with grooves 791 in body 722 for sealing. A sealing material may be used to aid the sealing within grooves 791, such as an adhesive. Manifold body 780 may also include a locating pin 786 for aid in positioning manifold body 780 to valve body 722. Manifold passage 764 opens at both the front end 782 and on the top surface 783 within sealing ridge 784a. Correspondingly, manifold passage 765 opens at both front end 782 and top surface 783 but within sealing ridge 784b. In the illustrated embodiment manifold passage 764 comprises an inlet passage and manifold passage 765 comprises an outlet passage whereby flow in and out of manifold 760 is controlled by valve assembly 720. Manifold body 780 further includes a recess 787 at which seal 766 is positioned, where seal 766 may comprise a single seal with separate openings for each of passages 764, 765 at front end 782, or may comprise separate seals disposed about the openings of passages 764, 765 at front end 782. Manifold 760 further includes a back surface 789 and a back end 790.

Although shown as including sealing ridges 784a, 784b, an alternative manifold need not include such ridges and instead seal by o-rings, adhesives or the like. In such an embodiment, the top surface 783 of the manifold 760 would press against the body 722.

FIG. 11 discloses another piezoelectric actuated valve assembly 820 in accordance with the present invention that shares numerous features with the above discussed valve assemblies and is likewise marked with similar reference numerals. In particular, valve assembly