Patent · US Expired

Alignment mechanism using flexures

US5802914A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
15References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 30, 1996
Grant dateSep 8, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 30, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/18992
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A mechanical flexure with two legs in a symmetrical structure that provides straight line motion when a force is applied to one leg end, along an axis through both leg ends. Such a force translates leg ends solely along said axis in a straight line, without deviation in an orthogonal axis. Components attached to flexure leg ends will thus travel in a straight line in a single axis over a useful range. The flexure could also provide rotational translation over small angular ranges when used with appropriate hardware configurations. The flexure is capable of integral manufacture with other components and simultaneously provides alignment and translation functions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.