US 7,550,880 B1Granted

Folded spring flexure suspension for linearly actuated devices

AssigneeMotran Industries, Inc.

InventorKenneth E. Pusl

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Abstract

A family of flexure suspension systems for reciprocating linear motors, especially voice coil type, wherein basic flexure span elements, each a flat spring or typically a stack thereof, are arranged in a folded flexure configuration to suspend a moving armature from a base in a compliant manner with a precise linear stroke path along a central axis. Typically two tiers of folded flexures suspend the armature, each tier having at least two array members, each a balanced quad or triad side-by-side row of span elements, disposed in a plane about the central axis in a polar/radial or rectangular pattern. Inherent overall balance and cancellation of unwanted forces acting on the system components achieve a consistent operating air gap, eliminate undesired torque imposed on the armature, coil, and entire mechanical assembly, and reduce mass and space requirements.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A flexure system for suspending a mass relative to a base in a compliant manner that allows the mass to be moved by an applied force only in a straight line and within a designated stroke length along a central stroke axis of the mass, comprising:

at least two flexure array members, each array member including a plurality of compliant span elements of designated uniform length arranged in a parallel side-by-side layout, each span element having first and second opposite end regions allocated for rigid attachment, each flexure array member having a first virtual half-flexure-member, including at least one of the compliant span elements having the first end region thereof attached rigidly to the base, and a second virtual half-flexure-member including at least one of the compliant span elements having the first end region thereof rigidly attached to the mass:
and
at least one yoke/idler fastening associated with each flexure array member and attached rigidly to at least two adjacent compliant span elements at the second end thereof, each compliant span element having the second end thereof attached rigidly to an associated yoke/idler fastening;
wherein the span elements are made, arranged and dimensioned such that the two virtual half-flexure-members are thusly made to be substantially equal to each other with regard to spring compliance.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.