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US 9,783,877 B2Granted
Systems and methods for implementing bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanisms
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsDouglas C. Hofmann, Gregory Agnes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanisms. In one embodiment, a bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanism includes: a flexible member that is strained during the normal operation of the compliant mechanism; where the flexible member has a thickness of 0.5 mm; where the flexible member comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material; and where the bulk metallic glass-based material can survive a fatigue test that includes 1000 cycles under a bending loading mode at an applied stress to ultimate strength ratio of 0.25.
Claims23
A macroscale compliant mechanism comprising:
- a flexible member that is strained during the operation of the compliant mechanism;
- wherein the flexible member has a thickness of at least approximately 0.5 mm;
- wherein the flexible member comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material;
- and
- wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material can survive a fatigue test that includes 1000 cycles under a bending loading mode at an applied stress to ultimate strength ratio of 0.25;
- and
- wherein the flexible member is configured such that its displacement-response to an applied force is nonlinear;
- wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material is a bulk metallic glass matrix composite;
- wherein the compliant mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a cutting device, a grasping device, a bistable mechanism, and a rotational hexfoil flexure;
- and
- wherein the cutting device comprises:
- a bladed section with a first and second blade;
- and
- a handled section with a first and second handle;
- wherein the cutting device is configured such that the rotation of the handles towards one another causes the rotation of the blades towards one another;
- wherein the grasping device comprises:
- a grasping section with a first and second grasping element;
- and
- a handled section with a first and second handle;
- wherein the grasping device is configured such that the rotation of the handles towards one another causes the rotation of the grasping elements towards one another;
- wherein the bistable mechanism is configured to be stable in two configurations;
- and
- wherein the rotational hexfoil flexure comprises:
- a base cylindrical portion;
- an overlaid cylindrical portion;
- and
- three beams;
- wherein one end of each beam is adjoined to the base cylindrical portion, and the opposite end of each beam is adjoined to the overlaid cylindrical portion;
- wherein the rotational hexfoil flexure is configured such that the base cylindrical portion and the overlaid cylindrical portion can be rotated relative to one another.
26 more elements
A bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanism comprising:
- a flexible member that is strained during the normal operation of the compliant mechanism;
- wherein the flexible member has a thickness of 0.5 mm;
- wherein the flexible member comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material;
- and
- wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material can survive a fatigue test that includes 1000 cycles under a bending loading mode at an applied stress to ultimate strength ratio of 0.25;
- wherein the compliant mechanism is a cutting device comprising:
- a bladed section with a first and second blade;
- and
- a handled section with a first and second handle;
- wherein the cutting device is configured such that the rotation of the handles towards one another causes the rotation of the blades towards one another.
7 more elements
A bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanism comprising:
- a flexible member that is strained during the normal operation of the compliant mechanism;
- wherein the flexible member has a thickness of 0.5 mm;
- wherein the flexible member comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material;
- and
- wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material can survive a fatigue test that includes 1000 cycles under a bending loading mode at an applied stress to ultimate strength ratio of 0.25;
- wherein the compliant mechanism is a grasping device comprising:
- a grasping section with a first and second grasping element;
- and
- a handled section with a first and second handle;
- wherein the grasping device is configured such that the rotation of the handles towards one another causes the rotation of the grasping elements towards one another.
7 more elements
A bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanism comprising:
- a flexible member that is strained during the normal operation of the compliant mechanism;
- wherein the flexible member has a thickness of 0.5 mm;
- wherein the flexible member comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material;
- and
- wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material can survive a fatigue test that includes 1000 cycles under a bending loading mode at an applied stress to ultimate strength ratio of 0.25;
- wherein the compliant mechanism is a rotational hexfoil flexure comprising:
- a base cylindrical portion;
- an overlaid cylindrical portion;
- and
- three beams;
- wherein one end of each beam is adjoined to the base cylindrical portion, and the opposite end of each beam is adjoined to the overlaid cylindrical portion;
- wherein the rotational hexfoil flexure is configured such that the base cylindrical portion and the overlaid cylindrical portion can be rotated relative to one another.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.