Rotation flexure with temperature controlled modal frequency

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10288121-B2
Application number	US-201715667524-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2017
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A flexure bearing includes an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of substantially planar radially extending blades coupled between the inner and outer race. The blades have a thickness that is thinner than a thickness of the inner and outer races. The inner race, outer race, and blades have substantially the same height. At least one heating element is coupled to the inner race and/or the outer race. The heating element is configured to apply heat to the race that it is coupled to in order to tune the flexure bearing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexure bearing comprising:
a ring-shaped inner race;
a ring-shaped outer race;
a plurality of substantially planar radially extending blades coupled between the inner and outer race, with the blades having a thickness that is thinner than a thickness of the inner and outer races, wherein each blade has a proximal end attached to the inner race and a distal end attached to the outer race; and
a heating or cooling mechanism coupled to at least one of the inner race or the outer race,
wherein the inner race, the outer race, and the blades have substantially the same height.

2. The flexure bearing of claim 1 , wherein the heating or cooling mechanism is configured to apply heat to the race that it is associated with in order to tune the flexure bearing.

3. The flexure bearing of claim 1 , wherein when heat is applied to one of the inner or outer races, a temperature differential develops across the blades in order to change the stiffness or frequency of the blades.

4. The flexure bearing of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is applied to at least part of the inner or outer race via an adhesive.

5. The flexure bearing of claim 1 , wherein the flexure bearing is formed from a single piece of material and is made of titanium or stainless steel.

6. The flexure bearing of claim 1 , wherein the heating or cooling mechanism is a low power resistive heating element.

7. The flexure bearing of claim 1 , wherein the heating or cooling mechanism is applied to an entire outer peripheral surface of the outer race, or to an entire inner peripheral surface of the inner race, or to part of the outer peripheral surface of the outer race, or to part of the inner peripheral surface of the inner race.

Assignees

• Nat Tech & Eng Solutions Sandia Llc

Inventors

• Salas Theodore E
• Barney Patrick S
• Ison Aaron M
• Akau Ronald L
• Weir Nathan

Classifications

• F16F2238/022

  leaf-like, e.g. of thin, planar-like metal · CPC title

• F16C17/243

  related to temperature and heat, e.g. for preventing overheating · CPC title

• F16F1/185

  characterised by shape or design of individual leaves (F16F1/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16C17/22

  with arrangements compensating for thermal expansion · CPC title

• F16C2370/20

  Optical, e.g. movable lenses or mirrors; Spectacles · CPC title