Cross-flexural pivot

• US 8,708,593 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric M. Stratton
• Original Assignee: Eric M. Stratton
• Inventors: Stratton, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Binda, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKROUPA, JOSHUA A
• Application Number:
  US13/011,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 403/57, 403/111, 403/119, 403/220, 403/223, 403/291, 464/51, 464/100, 464/162, 267/133, 267/160
• US Class Current: 403/119
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/12 incorporating flexible connections, e.g. leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32606 Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/45 Flexibly connected rigid members

Abstract

A cross-flexural pivot includes a first structure with a first longitudinal axis; a second structure with a second longitudinal axis; an inner flexure member, and an outer flexure member. The inner flexure member includes a face disposed obliquely to the first and second longitudinal axes and is coupled to the first structure at a first side and the second structure at a second side opposing the first side. The outer flexure member includes a tubular face surrounding the inner flexure member, the tubular face being disposed obliquely to the first and second longitudinal axes. The outer flexure member is coupled to the first structure at the second side and to the second structure at the first side.

Claims

1. A cross-flexural pivot, comprising:

a first structure comprising a first longitudinal axis;

a second structure comprising a second longitudinal axis;

a third structure comprising a third longitudinal axis;

a first inner flexure member comprising a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said first inner flexure member being coupled to said first structure at a first side and coupled to said second structure at a second side opposing said first side;

a first outer flexure member comprising a curved periphery enclosing said first inner flexure member and a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said first outer flexure member being coupled to said first structure at said second side and to said second structure at said first side;

a second inner flexure member comprising a face disposed obliquely to said second and third longitudinal axes, said second inner flexure member being coupled to said second structure at a third side and coupled to said third structure at a fourth side opposing said third side;

a second outer flexure member comprising a curved periphery enclosing said second inner flexure member and a face disposed obliquely to said second and third longitudinal axes, said second outer flexure member being coupled to said second structure at said fourth side and to said third structure at said third side;

in which said first structure is configured to pivot with respect to said second structure along a pivot axis, said pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis.

2. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, wherein said face of said inner flexure member and said face of said outer flexure member are substantially annular.

3. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, wherein said face of said inner flexure member and said face of said outer flexure member are substantially flat.

4. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, wherein each of said first structure and said second structure are substantially cylindrical.

5. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, wherein each of said first structure and said second structure comprises a tubular shape with a substantially polygonal cross-section.

6. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first structure and said second structure is tubular.

7. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, wherein each of said first structure and said second structure comprises a tubular outer body and an inner body disposed concentrically within said outer body.

8. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 7, wherein said inner flexure member couples said inner body of said first structure to said inner body of said second structure;

and said outer flexure member couples said outer body of said first structure to said outer body of said second structure.

9. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, wherein said first structure is configured to pivot with respect to said second structure along a first pivot axis and said second structure is configured to pivot with respect to said third structure along a second pivot axis, said second pivot axis being different from said first pivot axis.

10. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 1, further comprising:

a third structure disposed within and concentric to said first structure;

a fourth structure disposed within and concentric to said second structure;

a second inner flexure member comprising a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said second inner flexure member being coupled to said third structure at a third side and coupled to said fourth structure at a fourth side;

a second outer flexure member comprising a curved periphery enclosing said second inner flexure member and a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said second outer flexure member being coupled to said third structure at said fourth side and to said fourth structure at said third side.

11. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 10, wherein said third side is the same as one of said first side and said second side;

and wherein said fourth side is the same as the other of said first side and said second side.

12. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 10, wherein said third structure and said fourth structure are configured to at least partially slide out of said first structure and said second structure;

such that said second inner flexure member and said second outer flexure member are disposed outside of said first structure and said second structure, and a portion of said fourth structure remains disposed within said first structure.

13. A cross-flexural pivot, comprising:

a first structure comprising a first longitudinal axis;

a second structure comprising a second longitudinal axis;

a third structure disposed within and concentric to said first structure;

a fourth structure disposed within and concentric to said second structure;

a first inner flexure member comprising a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said inner flexure member being coupled to said first structure at a first side and coupled to said second structure at a second side opposing said first side;

a second inner flexure member comprising a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said second inner flexure member being coupled to said third structure at a third side and coupled to said fourth structure at a fourth side;

a first outer flexure member comprising a curved periphery enclosing said inner flexure member and a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said outer flexure member being coupled to said first structure at said second side and to said second structure at said first side; and

a second outer flexure member comprising a curved periphery enclosing said second inner flexure member and a face disposed obliquely to said first and second longitudinal axes, said second outer flexure member being coupled to said third structure at said fourth side and to said fourth structure at said third side;

in which said third structure and said fourth structure are configured to at least partially slide out of said first structure and said second structure;

such that said second inner flexure member and said second outer flexure member are disposed outside of said first structure and said second structure, and a portion of said fourth structure remains disposed within said first structure.

14. The cross-flexural pivot of claim 13, in which:

said first structure is configured to pivot with respect to said second structure along a first pivot axis, said pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis;

said third structure is configured to pivot with respect to said fourth structure along a second pivot axis, said pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis.

15. The cross flexural pivot of claim 14, in which the first pivot axis and second pivot axis are perpendicular.

16. The cross flexural pivot of claim 14, in which the first pivot axis and second pivot axis are collinear.