Non-linear torsion spring assembly
AssigneeAdicep Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMatthew R. Carvey, Andrew W. Carvey, Philip P. Carvey, John A. Rokosz, Nicholas S. Howard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed and claimed herein are spiral torsion springs, non-linear torsion springs, and non-linear torsion spring assemblies. These devices are useful in damping applications, orthotic joint applications and servo control applications.
Claims20
A non-linear spiral torsion spring assembly comprising:
- a. A spiral torsion spring comprising:
- an elastic material;
- an inner surface;
- an outer surface;
- an inner connection point;
- an outer connection point;
- and a cross-section
- b. a central support structure coupled to the inner connection point of the spiral torsion spring;
- and
- c. an outer support structure concentric to the central support structure coupled to the outer connection point of the spiral torsion spring;
- wherein said non-linear spiral torsion spring assembly is configured so that, in operation:
- i. the inner surface of the spiral torsion spring contacts a point on the central support structure forming a point-to-point contact that shifts with increasing angular displacement between the central support structure and the outer support structure on their concentric axis such that the effective spring length of the spiral torsion spring changes as a function of the angular displacement between the central support structure and the outer support structure;
- or
- ii. the outer surface of the spiral torsion spring contacts a point on the interior of the outer support structure forming a point to point contact that shifts with increasing angular displacement between the central support structure and the outer support structure on their concentric axis such that the effective spring length of the spiral torsion spring changes as a function of the angular displacement between the central support structure and the outer support structure,
- wherein, the point of contact between the central support structure and the torsion spring and the point of contact between the outer support structure and the torsion spring may be either coplanar or out of plane.
A non-linear torsion spring assembly comprising:
- a. a torsion spring comprising:
- an elastic material;
- an inner surface;
- an outer surface;
- an inner connection point;
- an outer connection point;
- and a cross-section;
- b. a central support structure coupled to the inner connection point of the torsion spring;
- and
- c. an outer support structure concentric to the central support structure coupled to the outer connection point of the torsion spring;
- wherein the torsion spring, the central support structure, the outer support structure, or combinations thereof are configured so that in operation the effective spring length of the torsion spring changes as a function of the angular displacement between the central support structure and the outer support structure, and wherein the torsion spring, the central support structure, the outer support structure, or combinations thereof are configured so that in operation a predefined non-linear relationship exists between torque and angular momentum between the central support structure and the outer support structure.
The non-linear torsion spring assembly of claim 6, wherein the non-linear relationship between torque, and angular displacement between the central support structure and the outer support structure, mimics the relationship that exists between knee angle and knee torque in an ambulating human.
A spiral torsion spring comprising:
- an elastic bar coiled in a spiral around a center axis, the elastic bar having, an outer surface, an inner surface and a cross section;
- wherein a first portion of the spiral is defined by a first spiral function, a second portion of the spiral is defined by a second spiral function and the first and second portions of the spiral are joined by a transitional portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.