Electromechanical transducer

An electro-mechanical transducer including a substantially cylindrical main body disposed about a longitudinal central axis, said main body including:

• two end portions, each of said end portions having a longitudinal axial bore extending at least part way therethrough,
• a flexure element disposed in a plane normal to said central axis, said flexure element having a pair of mutually parallel surfaces connected by a rim,
• at least two pairs of strain gauges, a first strain gauge of each pair being mounted on one of said parallel surfaces of said flexure element, the second strain gauge of each of said pairs being mounted on the other of said parallel surfaces of said flexure element, each of said second strain gauges being opposite said first strain gauge of its pair,
• a pair of diametrically opposed first pillars extending from one surface of the flexure element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the main body and connecting said flexure element with one of said end portions,
• a pair of diametrically opposed second pillars extending from the other surface of the flexure element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the main body and connecting said flexure element with the other of said end portions, said second pillars being disposed orthogonally of said first pillars, and
• a rod located in said bore to reduce bending of the transducer.

An electro-mechanical transducer comprising a main body disposed about a longitudinal central axis, said main body including:

• two end portions,
• a flexure element disposed in a plane normal to said central axis, said flexure element having a pair of mutually parallel surfaces connected by a rim,
• a pair of diametrically opposed first pillars extending from one surface of said flexure element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the main body and connecting said flexure element with one of said end portions,
• a pair of diametrically opposed second pillars extending from the other surface of said flexure element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal central axis of said main body and connecting said flexure element with the other of said end portions, said second pillars being disposed orthogonally of said first pillars,
• at least four pairs of strain gauges, the first strain gauge of each pair being mounted on one of said parallel surfaces of said flexure element, the second strain gauge of each pair being mounted on the other of said parallel surfaces of said flexure element with each of said second strain gauges opposite said first strain gauge of its pair, said flexure element comprising four guided cantilevers with said strain gauges mounted at a point midway between the root and the point of inflection of each of said guided cantilevers, the electro-mechanical transducer additionally having a longitudinal axial bore,
• a rod retained in said bore and journalled in a ball bushing,
• an end cap,
• said end cap engaging said ball bushing,
• screw threads towards either end of said axial bore and screw threaded plugs engaging said screw threads,
• a screw means protruding from said main body,
• an aperture in said main body, said aperture being threaded to receive the external threads of an externally threaded socket,
• a shroud, said shroud having an aperture and a slot, said slot engaging said screw means in said main body to permit rotational movement of said shroud with respect to said main body and to bring said aperture in said shroud into coincidence with said aperture in said main body,
• said main body being of monel nickel.