Small piezoelectric air pumps with unobstructed airflow
View Patent ↗A T-shaped blade, or one or more hollow tubes, are vibrationally excited by one or more piezoelectric elements to generate an airflow from a free end of the blade or tube(s). The airflow may be directed to, or drawn away from, an electronic component to cool the electronic component.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a T-shaped blade having a long leg and a cross-bar element mounted at a central region of the cross-bar element to one end of the long leg; and
a pair of piezoelectric elements, each coupled to a respective end of the cross-bar element of the T-shaped blade;
wherein the piezoelectric elements drive the blade to vibrate.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the T-shaped blade is a unitary body.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric elements are linear piezoelectric elements.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric elements are torsional piezoelectric elements.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:
a pair of mounting members, each positioned to support a respective one of the torsional piezoelectric elements.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric elements drive the blade to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency.
7. An apparatus comprising:
a T-shaped blade having a long leg and a cross-bar element mounted at a central region of the cross-bar element to one end of the long leg:
a piezoelectric element coupled to a first end of the cross-bar element; and
a flexible support structure that supports a second end of the cross-bar element.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the flexible support structure includes a pair of springs.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the piezoelectric element drives the blade to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one end of the long leg is free.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric elements drive the blade to vibrate substantially in an up-and-down direction.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the piezoelectric elements supports the respective end of the cross-bar element.
13. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each of the piezoelectric elements is disposed between the respective end of the cross-bar element and a respective one of the mounting members.