Pivotal shaft frictionless support arrangement
US4934860A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/54
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A support arrangement which allows pivoting of a non-rotatable shaft has a flexure structure and a pair of axially-displaced inner and outer hubs respectively connected to, and disposed inwardly and outwardly of, the flexure structure. The flexure structure is composed of a disk-shaped flexural elements disposed in stacked, axially spaced relation to one another and connected peripherally one to the next. The flexural elements together define a frictionless, laterally stiff, fulcrum or pivot point about which the shaft can pivot through a predefined range of angular motion. The inner hub is attached to an inner end one of the flexural elements at an interior peripheral edge thereof, whereas the outer hub is attached to an outer end one of the flexural elements at an exterior peripheral edge thereof. The shaft extends axially through the bores in the hubs and an opening in the flexure structure along a common axis, and is rigidly attached to the inner hub. The outer hub which supports the inner hub and thus the shaft, via the flexure structure, is attached to an external support structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.