Three-axis accelerometer having flexure bearing with overload protection
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorSidney G. Shutt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A proof mass for an accelerometer is electromagnetically constrained in three orthogonal directions. An array of filaments forms an elastic suspension for the proof mass to constrain it in the remaining degrees of freedom. The resulting instrument has the potential for low cost and high-accuracy operation over a wide temperature range without the use of temperature controls. The array of filaments becomes relatively compliant in all six degrees of freedom when loading exceeds a selected design load. This provides overload protection since the proof mass can be brought to a practical mechanical stop for support before excessive stress can fracture a filament.
Claims6
An instrument, comprising:
- a base member;
- a suspended member;
- elastic suspension means for maintaining the position of said suspended member relative to said base member, wherein said elastic suspension means is relatively compliant in three degrees of freedom and relatively stiff in the remaining three degrees of freedom at loads on said elastic suspension means within a selected design load;
- and
- a mechanical stop disposed on said base sufficiently displaced from the null position of said suspended member to avoid interference between said mechanical stop and said suspended member at loads on said elastic suspension means within the selected design load;
- wherein said elastic suspension means has sufficient compliance in all six degrees of freedom at loads on said elastic suspension means in excess of said selected design load to permit said suspended member to reach said mechanical stop for support without causing structural breakdown or significant bias shift in said elastic suspension means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.