Peripheral bolt design

In a piezoelectric transducer, a design that has a set of bolts (typically 4, 6, or 8) that are inserted through peripheral holes in the back driver and are threaded into corresponding holes in the front driver. When these bolts are tightened, the ceramics are compressed between the back driver and front driver, thereby applying the required prestress to the ceramics. For this design, the ceramics are shaped like disks and usually do not have a center hole. Details ...

For some designs, the peripheral bolts may be replaced by a cylindrical shell. For example, see the patent by Jones and Maropis. For this design, the ceramics are shaped like disks and may have a center hole to allow access for the electrode wires.

Also see —
Center bolt design
Center stud design