A research from the University of Bath, UK, describes a new two-stage aerospace servovalve. The purpose of the research is to design a low-weight servovalve with low leakage and more accurate spool positioning. The servovalve uses a Noliac piezoelectric ring bender.
A group of researchers from the Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control at the University of Bath, UK, has cooperated with an aircraft control systems manufacturer to design a new piezoelectric servovalve for aerospace. Servovalves control the flow of hydraulic fluid to actuators on aeroplanes. The research describes a new two-stage servovalve with a titanium body, and a small piezoelectrically actuated spool as its first stage with electrical main stage position feedback. This piezoelectric servovalve prototype is lightweight, reduces leakage, and offers more accurate spool positioning. In addition, it enables increased manufacturing automation thereby reducing cost, increasing repeatability, and generates less waste material.