Silicon flexure suspension for single degree or freedom floated gyroscope

• US 20030019295A1
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, Richard, Dorai-Raj, Devadas
• Granted Patent: US 6,575,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/504.04
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/16 Suspensions; Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values

Abstract

A suspension for a gyroscopic float assembly in a floating gyroscope system comprises a pair of flexures that each have an outer rim and a plurality of flexure beams extending from the outer rim. A plurality of flexure tabs extend outward from outer perimeter portions of the rims for mounting the flexure assembly to a pair of end caps. A plurality of strain relief passages formed in the rims is arranged to provide relief from thermally induced stresses. A plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the rims is arranged to constrain the flexure against rotation about a selected axis.

Claims

1. A flexure suspension for a gyroscopic float assembly for an accelerometer, comprising:

an outer rim; and

a plurality of flexure beams connected to the outer rim.

2. The flexure suspension of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of flexure tabs extending outward from outer perimeter portions of the rim.

3. The flexure suspension of claim 1, further comprising a hub, each of the plurality of flexure beams having a first end connected to the outer rim and a second end connected to the hub.

4. The flexure suspension of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the rim and arranged to constrain the flexure against rotation about a selected axis.

5. The flexure suspension of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of strain relief passages formed in the rim and arranged to provide relief from thermally induced stresses.

6. The flexure suspension of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the rim and arranged to constrain the flexure against rotation about a selected axis.

7. A floating gyroscope system, comprising:

a float assembly having a first end and a second end;

a first end cap;

a second end cap;

a first flexure connected between the first end cap and the float assembly, the first flexure comprising;

a first outer rim;

a first plurality of flexure beams connected to the first outer rim;

a second flexure connected between the second end cap and the float assembly, the second flexure comprising;

a second outer rim;

a second plurality of flexure beams connected to the second outer rim.

8. The floating gyroscope system of claim 7, comprising:

a first hub connected between the first outer rim and the first plurality of flexure beams; and

a second hub connected between the second outer rim and the second plurality of flexure beams.

9. The floating gyroscope system of claim 7, comprising:

a first plurality of flexure tabs extending outward from outer perimeter portions of the first rim and arranged for connection to the first end cap;

a second plurality of flexure tabs extending outward from outer perimeter portions of the second rim and arranged for connection to the second end cap.

10. The floating gyroscope of claim 7, further comprising:

a first plurality of strain relief passages formed in the first rim and arranged to provide relief from thermally induced stresses; and

a second plurality of strain relief passages formed in the second rim and arranged to provide relief from thermally induced stresses.

11. The floating gyroscope of claim 10, further comprising:

a first plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the first rim and arranged to constrain the first flexure against rotation about a selected axis; and

a second plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the second rim and arranged to constrain the second flexure against rotation about a selected axis.

12. The floating gyroscope of claim 7, further comprising:

a first plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the first rim and arranged to constrain the first flexure against rotation about a selected axis; and

a second plurality of angular stops formed in inner perimeter portions of the second rim and arranged to constrain the second flexure against rotation about a selected axis.