The present disclosure generally relates to flexural pivots for supporting mechanisms and allowing them to be limitedly rotated or pivoted about an axis.
A variety of designs of flexural pivots have been proposed for mounting a movable structure, such as an oscillating mirror, to a fixed support. Generally, flexural pivots utilize two mounts, for example in the form of two axially aligned, cylindrical housings, and typically a plurality of flexure members or blades. In some configurations, each of the flexure members in known flexural pivots are separately and mechanically attached, for example via brazing or clamping, to both of the mounts, but are not directly attached to each other. In other configurations, the flexure members are formed integrally with one another and with the mounts. The flexure members or blades allow a limited degree of rotation or pivoting of one mount relative to the other while providing a degree of “torsional-like” resistance to such movements. An example of an integral flexural pivot is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,169, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The mounts of the flexural pivot interconnect the two desired structures, such as a fixed support and an oscillating mirror. One type of mount which has been utilized for flexural pivots is a pair of substantially cylindrical and axially aligned housings. Generally, each of these housings have a cylindrical end structure with an arcuately-shaped tab (e.g., less than 180 degrees) projecting from an end of the cylindrical end structure. The cylindrical end structures of the two housings are on opposite ends of the flexural pivot and the projecting tabs of the housings extend within the interior of the cylindrical end structure of the other housing. The housings are interconnected by the flexure members or blades, which are themselves interconnected to one another along a central axis, and which permit the housings to rotate relative to one another about the central axis, while preventing relative movement in other dimensions.
Many applications of flexural pivots require that the flexural pivot enable rotation about the primary axis of the flexural pivot, while providing the ability to support a moveable element of a given mass. Moreover, it is often important to ensure that the rotation occurs without any “decentering” of the mounts during relative movement between the mounts. Rotation or a pivoting of one mount relative to another mount is achieved by a bending of the flexure members. Therefore, simply providing stiffer flexure members and/or an increased number of flexure members to increase the strength of a given flexural pivot can result in a flexural pivot that requires an unacceptably large amount of power to rotate.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for providing a flexural pivot having shaped blade sections. More particularly, the thickness of the blades varies with distance from the blade centerline, in order to provide desired load, flexibility, and fatigue life characteristics. A flexural pivot as disclosed herein can be formed as a unitary structure from a single piece of material.
A flexural pivot in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure includes first and second housings that are connected to one another by a plurality of blades. More particularly, a first end of each blade is interconnected to the first housing, and a second end of each blade is interconnected to the second housing. The blades intersect one another along a center or rotational axis of the flexural pivot. In addition, each of the blades is shaped.
In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shaping of the blades includes providing blades having a first thickness at a first distance from the center axis and second thickness at a second distance from the center axis. The shaping of the blades can further include blades featuring one or more thinned sections. In accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure, the shaping of the blades provides blades having a thickness that varies with distance from the center axis to the first or second end of the respective blade. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, each blade is symmetric about the center axis.
In accordance embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexural pivot is provided as part of an assembly that includes a pivoted assembly or member that is connected to a base assembly or member by the flexural pivot. More particularly, the flexural pivot allows the pivoted assembly or member to pivot or rotate relative to the base, while restricting or prohibiting movement of the pivoted assembly relative to the base in other directions. Moreover, embodiments of the present disclosure incorporate a flexural pivot that features shaped blades, which enable such pivoting at a lower power input and/or an increased fatigue life as compared to a similar assembly having the same or a similar load capacity or strength.
Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the following description, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings.
A pivot assembly 100 incorporating a flexural pivot 104 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated in
The first end section 208a includes a substantially cylindrical inner surface 216a with a recessed portion 220a formed therein that receives a tab 224b that extends from the second end section 208b. Likewise, the second end section 208b includes a substantially cylindrical inner surface 216b with a recessed portion 220b formed therein that receives a tab 224a that extends from the first end section 208a into an interior volume of the second end section 208b. An outer surface 228a and 228b of each of the tabs 224a and 224b adjacent the respective recessed portions 220a and 220b is arcuately-shaped, to follow the curve of the respective recessed portion 220, forming a space therebetween. Moreover, each of the tabs 224 continues the interior surface 216 of the respective end section 208.
The end sections 208a and 208b are joined to one another by a set of resilient blades 232 that are centered on the center axis 124. More particularly, each blade 232 includes a first blade half 236 that extends between an interior surface 216a of the first end section 208a to the center axis 124, and a second blade half 240 that extends between an interior surface 216b of the second end section 208b and the center axis 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexural pivot 104 includes four blades 232, each including a first blade half 236a-d and a second blade half 240a-d respectively. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the blades 236 are symmetrical about the center axis 124. Moreover, the blades 232 extend along the center axis 124 such that they are adjacent at least a portion of the first end section 208a and a portion of the second end section 208b. For example, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in
The length of the arc described by each of the tabs 224 is less than 180 degrees, and is less than the length of the arc described by the recessed portions 220. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the tabs 224 are centered in their respective recessed portions 220 when the flexural pivot 104 is in an unflexed condition. Accordingly, rotation by some amount that is no greater than the arcuate length of the gap 244 between an end of the recessed portion 220 and an edge of a tab 224 received by the recessed portion is possible in either direction around the center axis 124. Alternatively, the gap 244 can be asymmetrical. For example, a gap 244 can exist between an edge of a tab 224 on one side of the flexural pivot 104, to allow rotation in a direction that would close or make that gap narrower, while the gap 244 along the opposite side of the flexural pivot can be small or non-existent while the flexural pivot 104 is in a relaxed state, such that rotation in the opposite direction is more limited than the other direction or is inhibited entirely.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, each blade 232 has a first dimension or thickness T that varies with distance D from the center axis 124.
In accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure, the contour of the surfaces 604 and 608 of a blade 232 can be contoured in various ways. For example, at a vertex of a triangle formed in part by two adjacent blade 232 have 236 or 240, the blade 232 surfaces 604 and 608 can feature an inner diameter fillet radius 604. As a further example, a straight taper section 608 can extend between the inner diameter fillet radius 604 and a first radiused portion 612. The first radiused portion 612 can extend to a thinnest portion 616, at which the thickness of the blade 232 is equal to T2. Between the thinnest portion 616 and an outer diameter portion, the blade 232 surfaces 604 and 608 can feature a second radiused portion 620. An outside diameter radiused portion 624 can be formed at the outer diameter of the blade 232.
In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the thinnest portion 616 is between 60% and 70% of the distance between the center axis 124 and the inner surface 216 of an end section 208. In accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure, the first 612 and second 620 radiused portions can have the same or different curvatures. Moreover, the curvatures may have a constant radius, or can follow some other curves, such as a parabolic curve. Other variations are possible. For instance, either or both of the radiused portions 612 and 620 can be omitted. As another example, the straight taper section 608 can be omitted. In addition, to selected thicknesses, each blade 232 may feature selected contouring. Accordingly, the thickness of a blade 232 can be varied to form contours that follow straight lines, constant radius lines, varying radius lines, such as but not limited to parabolic lines, or combinations of lines of different configurations.
With reference now to
In
Embodiments of the present disclosure, in which the thickness of a blade 232 varies with distance from the central axis 124 can increase the life of the flexural pivot 104. Moreover, fatigue life can be improved, while avoiding undesired increases in rotational stiffness. In accordance with further embodiments, the rotational stiffness of the flexural pivot 104 may be decreased as compared to designs having blades 232 with a constant thickness. Moreover, such advantages can be achieved while maintaining a desired strength or load carrying capacity. In addition, the shaping of the blades 232 does not affect the cost, manufacturing process, or installation of the flexural pivot 104.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the various components of the flexural pivot 104, including the end sections 208 and the blades 232, are all formed from a single piece of material. This monolithic or integral structure is advantageous in that it avoids the need for joints, and for the need to weld, braze, bond or otherwise connect individual pieces at such joints.
Although embodiments featuring four blades 232 have been illustrated and described, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. In particular, any number of blades 232 can be provided. Moreover, the links of the blades 232 can be varied, for instance in combination with variations in the thickness of the blades 232, to achieve desired load carrying capacities, fatigue life, and flexibility. In accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure, the thinnest portion of the blades 232 is about two thirds of the length of the blade from the center axis 124 typically corresponds to an area of lowest stress. This provides greater flexibility, without decreasing the load carrying capacity or the fatigue life of the blades 232 and the flexural pivot 104 incorporating the blades 232. In addition, the blades 232 need not be rectangular and flat when viewed in a plane encompassing the center axis 124. Examples of alternate blade 232 geometries include, but are not limited to, hourglass and barrel shapes. In accordance with still further embodiments of the present disclosure, the blades 232 can have apertures or notches. As can be appreciated by one of skill in the art after consideration of the present disclosure, aspects of the blade 232 shaping can be varied and balanced to achieve desired load capacity, fatigue life, and bending resistance properties.
Although various examples of a flexural pivot 104 used in combination with a pivoted member or assembly 120 in the form of a mirror, such as a fast steering mirror, have been described, embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited. For example, a flexural pivot 104 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure can be used as a support for any object, structure or component in which it is desirable to provide rotation about an axis, while inhibiting movement in other directions or dimensions. In addition, a flexural pivot 104 as disclosed herein can provide an increased fatigue life. Moreover, a flexural pivot 104 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in applications where a relatively high frequency of oscillation or change in angle is required or desirable. The flexural pivot 104 can also provide a self-centering force, that tends to bring the supported structure back to a neutral position relative to the base mounting structure.
The foregoing discussion of embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such or in other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application or use of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
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