Meander clamping mechanism
AssigneeOptisys, Inc.
InventorsMichael C. Hollenbeck, Robert Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include waveguide switch rotors, stators, waveguide switch housings and meander clamping mechanisms. Embodiments of a meander clamping mechanism may be used to connect arbitrary objects to one another. A meander clamping mechanism is particularly useful for connecting a rotor to a motor shaft and also for securing a bearing between a stator and rotor.
Claims22
A meander clamping mechanism formed into a base member for rotationally attaching a rotational member to the base member such that the rotational member is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation relative to the meander clamping mechanism formed into the base member, the mechanism comprising:
- a hollow cylindrical member having a cylindrical inner wall and a cylindrical outer wall, both of the walls extending coaxially with the axis of rotation;
- the inner wall defining a rotational member receptacle configured to receive the rotational member;
- the inner wall further including radial and longitudinal inner slots extending toward the outer wall;
- the outer wall further including radial and longitudinal outer slots extending toward the inner wall;
- wherein the inner are interdigitated with the outer slots;
- and
- wherein a clamping ring having a final inside diameter slightly less than an outside diameter of the outer wall, pressed axially around the outer wall is configured to flex the mechanism radially inward to grasp the rotational member disposed inside the rotational member receptacle.
A meander clamping mechanism, comprising:
- a toroidal-shaped member extending coaxially from a base member to a top surface, the toroidal-shaped extension member having an axis a cylindrical inner wall with an inside diameter and a cylindrical outer wall with an outside diameter;
- and
- evenly spaced outer slots formed into the outer wall, the outer slots extending toward the inner wall in a direction perpendicular to the axis, the outer slots extending parallel to the axis from the top surface to the base member.
A meander clamping mechanism, comprising:
- a toroidal-shaped member extending coaxially from a base member to a top surface, the toroidal-shaped extension member having an axis a cylindrical inner wall with an inside diameter and a cylindrical outer wall with an outside diameter;
- evenly spaced outer slots formed into the outer wall, the outer slots extending toward the inner wall in a direction perpendicular to the axis, the outer slots extending parallel to the axis from the top surface to the base member;
- evenly spaced inner slots formed into the inner wall, the inner slots extending perpendicularly from the inner wall toward, but not completely to, the outer wall, the inner slots further extending parallel to the axis from the top surface to the base member;
- and
- a clamping ring comprising a shape memory metal alloy, the clamping ring having an initial inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the outer wall and a final inside diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of the outer wall when activated into the clamped position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.