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US 10,914,339 B2Granted
Flexural pivot assembly with shaped blade sections
AssigneeBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
InventorRobert M. Warden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flexural pivot structures and methods are provided. A flexural pivot as disclosed allows for rotation of a pivoted member relative to a base member about a central axis, while inhibiting or preventing movement of the pivoted member relative to the base member in any other direction. Base and pivoted sections of the flexural pivot structure are connected to one another by a set of resilient blades or flexural members. A thickness of the blades varies with the distance from the central axis. The components of the flexural pivot can comprise a monolithic structure that is formed from a single piece of material.
Claims20
A flexural pivot, comprising:
- a first housing;
- a second housing;
- and
- a plurality of blades, wherein each of the blades intersect one another along a center axis, wherein a first end of each of the blades is joined to an interior of the first housing, wherein a second end of each of the blades is joined to an interior of the second housing, wherein a first dimension of each of the blades at a first distance from the center axis is greater than the first dimension at a second distance from the center axis, wherein the first dimension at the second distance from the center axis is a minimum blade thickness, wherein for a first blade half of each blade the second distance is between 60-80% of a distance from the center axis to an interior of the first housing, and wherein for a second blade half of each blade the second distance is between 60-80% of a distance from the center axis to an interior of the second housing.
1 more element
A flexural pivot, comprising:
- a first housing;
- a second housing;
- and
- a plurality of blades, wherein each of the blades intersect one another along a center axis, wherein a first end of each of the blades is joined to an interior of the first housing, wherein a second end of each of the blades is joined to an interior of the second housing, wherein a first dimension of each of the blades at a first distance from the center axis is greater than the first dimension at a second distance from the center axis, wherein for a first blade half of each blade included in the plurality of blades the second distance is between 60-70% of a distance from the center axis to an interior of the first housing, and wherein for a second blade half of each blade the second distance is between 60-70% of a distance from the center axis to an interior of the second housing.
1 more element
A pivot assembly, comprising:
- a flexural pivot, the flexural pivot including:
- a first housing;
- a second housing;
- and
- a plurality of blades, wherein each blade is joined to every other blade along a centerline of the blade, wherein the centerline of each of the blades corresponds to a center axis, wherein a first end of each blade is interconnected to the first housing at an interior surface of the first housing, wherein a second end of each blade is interconnected to the second housing at an interior surface of the second housing, wherein each blade has a first thickness at a first distance from the centerline of the blade, wherein each blade has a second thickness at a second distance from the centerline of the blade, wherein the second thickness is a minimum thickness, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance, wherein, for the first end of each blade, the second distance is between 60% and 80% of a distance from the center axis to the interior surface of the first housing, and wherein, for the second end of each blade, the second distance is between 60% and 80% of a distance from the center axis to an interior surface of the second housing;
- a base assembly, wherein the first housing is fixed to the base assembly;
- and
- a pivoted assembly, wherein the second housing is fixed to the pivoted assembly.
5 more elements
A method of for providing a flexural pivot, comprising:
- providing a single block of material;
- machining components from the single block of material, wherein the components include:
- a first housing;
- a second housing;
- and
- a plurality of blades, wherein each of the blades intersect one another along a center axis, wherein a first end of each of the blades is joined to an interior of the first housing, wherein a second end of each of the blades is joined to an interior of the second housing, wherein a first dimension of each of the blades at a first distance from the center axis is greater than the first dimension at a second distance from the center axis, wherein the first dimension at the second distance from the center axis is a minimum blade thickness, wherein for a first blade half of each blade the second distance is between 60-70% of a distance from the center axis to an interior of the first housing, and wherein for a second blade half of each blade the second distance is between 60-70% of a distance from the center axis to an interior of the second housing.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.