Congruently melting high purity titanium alloy for optical mounts, flexures, and structural elements requiring compliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11714258-B2
Application number	US-202016942859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2020
Priority date	Jul 30, 2020
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A flexure including a bipod strut pair extending from a base and a titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy, which includes titanium, about 13.5 to about 14.5 wt. % zirconium, and about 18 to about 19 weight % (wt. %) niobium. The titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy has a congruent melting temperature of about 1750 to about 1800° Celsius (° C.).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flexure comprising:
a bipod strut pair extending from a base;
wherein the flexure includes a titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy comprising titanium, about 13.5 to about 14.5 wt. % zirconium, and about 18 to about 19 weight % (wt. %) niobium, the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy having a congruent melting temperature of about 1750 to about 1800° Celsius (° C.).

2. The flexure of claim 1 , wherein the flexure is coupled to a support structure, and the support structure is further coupled to one or more flexures.

3. The flexure of claim 2 , wherein the support base is coupled to a mirror.

4. The flexure of claim 1 , wherein the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy has an elastic modulus of about 7 to about 12 Megapounds per square inch (Msi).

5. The flexure of claim 1 , wherein the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy has an elongation at break of about 8% to about 30%.

6. The flexure of claim 1 , wherein the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy has an ultimate strength of about 115 to about 120 Kilopounds per square inch (Ksi), and an elastic modulus of about 9.6 to about 9.7 Msi.

7. A flexure comprising:
a circular body; and
a plurality of attachment arms arranged on the circular body to couple the flexure to an optical element;
wherein the flexure includes a titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy comprising titanium, about 13.5 to about 14.5 wt. % zirconium, and about 18 to about 19 weight % (wt. %) niobium, the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy having a congruent melting temperature of about 1750 to about 1800° C.

8. The flexure of claim 7 , wherein the circular body of the flexure has a diameter of about 5 to about 8 inches.

9. The flexure of claim 7 , wherein the optical element is a mirror.

10. The flexure of claim 7 , wherein the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy has an elastic modulus of about 7 to about 12 Megapounds per square inch (Msi).

11. The flexure of claim 7 , wherein the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy has an elongation at break of about 8% to about 30%.

12. The flexure of claim 7 , wherein the titanium-zirconium-niobium alloy has an ultimate strength of about 115 to about 120 Kilopounds per square inch (Ksi).

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Rajan Sunder S
• Lovullo Nicholas J
• Carrigan Keith
• Herndon Mary K

Classifications

• Y02P10/25

  Process efficiency · CPC title

• G02B7/182 Primary

  for mirrors · CPC title

• C22C14/00 Primary

  Alloys based on titanium · CPC title

• G02B6/366

  the additional structures allowing for adjustment or alignment in all dimensions, i.e. 3D microoptics arrangements, e.g. free space optics on the microbench, microhinges or spring latches, with associated microactuating elements for fine adjustment or alignment · CPC title

• G02B7/008

  with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation · CPC title