ECCENTRIC FLEXURAL PIVOT

• US 3,813,089 A
• Filed: 09/08/1972
• Issued: 05/28/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Transmission Corporation
• Original Assignee: Henry Troeger
• Inventors: Troeger, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Marbert, James B.
• Application Number:
  US05/287,299
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 267/160
• US Class Current: 267/160
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/12 incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs

Abstract

A flexural pivot device having first and second housing means arranged on a common axis and being axially spaced from each other, the first housing means having an inwardly projecting arcuate structure disposed eccentric to the common axis, the arcuate structure extending axially into the second housing means and being radially spaced therefrom, a second housing means having inwardly projecting arcuate structure disposed eccentric to the common axis and being diametrically disposed relative to the arcuate structure of the first housing means, the arcuate structure of the second housing means extending axially into said first housing means and being radially spaced therefrom, and cross flat spring means connecting said arcuate structures so that said first and second housing means are rotatable relative to each other on the common axis.

Claims

1. A flexural pivot device comprising:

first and second housing means arranged on a common axis and axially spaced from each other;

said first housing means having an inwardly projecting arcuate structure eccentric to said common axis, said arcuate structure extending axially into said second housing means and being radially spaced therefrom;

said second housing means having inwardly projecting arcuate structure eccentric to said common axis and being diametrically disposed relative to said arcuate structure of said first housing means, said arcuate structure of said second housing means extending axially into said first housing means and being radially spaced therefrom; and

crossed flat spring means connecting said arcuate structures sO that said first and second housing means are rotatable relative to each other on said common axis.

2. A flexural pivot comprised of:

a pair of flat crossed springs, each of said crossed springs having at least one side projection at each end, each said side projection extending perpendicularly from the side end of the spring and being the same thickness as said spring to provide connecting segments;

first and second arcuate elements disposed eccentric to the axis formed by the crossed springs, said first and second arcuate elements diagonally opposed and fixedly secured to said connecting segments to provide a tubular assembly having two semi-circular-like members interconnected by crossed flat springs and spaced at the lengthwise edges thereof;

first outer sleeve means connected to one of said semi-circular-like members and radially spaced from the other member; and

second outer sleeve means connected to the other of said semi-circular-like members and radially spaced from the first member, whereby said first outer sleeve means can be fixed and said second outer sleeve means can be rotated with flexing of said crossed springs.

3. A flexural pivot device comprised of first and second arcuate elements arranged eccentric to a common circle with adjacent axial edges equally spaced;

crossed flat springs connecting said arcuate elements and providing an axis of relative rotation for said elements coincident with said common circle;

first means for mounting a rotatable member connected to said first element and being free of any connection to said second element; and

second means for providing a fixed support connected to said second element and being free of any connection to said first element.

4. A cantilever-type flexural pivot device comprised of:

first and second cylindrical means arranged on a common axis and axially spaced from each other;

said first cylindrical means having inwardly thereof arcuate structure, said arcuate structure extending axially into said second cylindrical means and being eccentric to and radially spaced therefrom;

said second cylindrical means having inwardly thereof arcuate structure diametrical of said arcuate structure of said first cylindrical means, said arcuate structure of said second cylindrical means extending axially into said first cylindrical means and being eccentric to and radially spaced therefrom;

crossed flat spring means connecting said arcuate structures so that said first and second cylindrical means are rotatable relative to each other on said common axis, said spring means being so constructed as to limit relative rotation between said cylindrical means;

said first cylindrical means including a first tubular member adapted to provide a fixed end support; and

said second cylindrical means including a second tubular member adapted to provide a rotatable mounting.

5. A flexural pivot device comprised of first and second arcuate inner sleeve elements arranged eccentric to a common circle with axially extending edges being equally spaced and disposed 180* from each other;

first and second outer sleeve means arranged on an axis coincident with said common circle, said first and second outer sleeve means being formed integral with said first and second inner sleeve elements respectively;

said first inner sleeve element being radially spaced from said second outer sleeve means;

said second inner sleeve element being radially spaced from said first outer sleeve means; and

resilient means mounted internally of said inner sleeve elements whereby said first outer sleeve means can be fixed and said second outer sleeve means can be rotated by flexing said resilient means.