Fabrication of a brazeless cross-blade flexure block

• US 6,479,782 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Blackburn, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Geoffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US09/636,395
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 219/69.17, 359/223, 359/224, 359/290, 359/291, 359/872, 359/874, 294/34, 294/37, 294/38, 831/77
• US Class Current: 219/69.17
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 9/00 Machining specially adapted for treating particular metal objects or for obtaining special effects or results on metal objects heat treatment by cathodic discharge C21D1/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/12 incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts

Abstract

A cross-blade flexure block is prepared by machining a first cross-blade flexure element and a second cross-blade flexure element. Machining is accomplished by a technique such as electrical discharge machining or water jet machining. Each cross-blade flexure element is a single integral piece, with no braze joints therein. The first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element are assembled together to form a flexure block.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a cross-blade flexure block, comprising the steps of:

furnishing a first plate of a flexure material;

machining a first cross-blade flexure element from the first plate as a first single piece of material;

furnishing a second plate of the flexure material;

machining a second cross-blade flexure element from the second plate as a second single piece of material;

wherein each of the cross-blade flexure elements comprises;

an upper blade housing;

a lower blade housing positioned with respect to the upper blade housing such that there is a planar slot between the upper blade housing and the lower blade housing and lying in a slot plane, the upper blade housing and the lower blade housing being shaped to define an external form factor symmetric about a housing axis and a bore therethrough symmetric about the housing axis; and

a blade extending transversely through the bore between the upper housing and the lower housing and intercepting the housing axis, the blade having a blade angle of from more than 0 to less than 90 degrees relative to the slot plane; and

assembling the first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element together to form a flexure block.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assembling includes the step of

positioning locating pins between the first cross-blade flexure element and the second/cross-blade flexure element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the blade angle is about 45 degrees.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element have the same shape, except that the blade angle of the first cross-blade flexure element is +A, and the blade angle of the second cross-blade flexure element is −

A, relative to the slot plane.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexure material is a titanium alloy.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of machining a first cross-blade flexure element includes the step of

machining the first cross-blade flexure element by electrical discharge machining.

7. The method of claim I, wherein the step of machining a first cross-blade flexure element includes the step of

machining the first cross-blade flexure element by waterjet machining.

8. A method of fabricating a cross-blade flexure block, comprising the steps of:

furnishing a first plate of a flexure material;

machining a first cross-blade flexure element from the first plate as a first single piece of material having no braze joints therein;

furnishing a second plate of the flexure material;

machining a second cross-blade flexure element from the second plate as a second single piece of material having no braze joints therein,

the first cross-blade flexure element including a first blade having an angle +A relative to a slot plane between the first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element, and

the second cross-blade flexure including a second blade having an angle −

A relative to the slot plane; and

assembling the first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element together to form a flexure block using locating pins extending between the first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of machining a first cross-blade blade flexure element includes the step of

machining the first cross-blade flexure element by water jet machining.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the cross-blade flexure elements comprises

an upper blade housing,

a lower blade housing positioned with respect to the upper blade housing such that there is a planar slot between the upper blade housing and the lower blade housing and lying in a slot plane, the upper blade housing and the lower blade housing being shaped to define an external form factor symmetric about a housing axis and a bore therethrough symmetric about the housing axis, and

a blade extending through the bore between the upper housing and the lower housing and intercepting the housing-axis, the blade having the blade angle relative to the slot plane.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the blade angle is about 45 degrees.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element have the same shape, except that the blade angle of the first cross-blade flexure element is +A, and the blade angle of the second cross-blade flexure element is −

A, relative to the slot plane.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the flexure material is a titanium alloy.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of machining a first cross-blade flexure element includes the step of

machining the first cross-blade flexure element by electrical discharge machining.