Beam-based nonlinear spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9382960-B2
Application number	US-201514603492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

Nonlinear spring. In one embodiment, the spring includes two opposed curved surfaces curving away from one another. A flexible cantilever member is disposed between the two opposed curved surfaces and a mass is attached to a free end of the cantilever member wherein the flexible cantilever member wraps around one of the curved surfaces as the cantilever member deflects to form a nonlinear spring. Energy harvesting devices and a load cell are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nonlinear load cell comprising:
a first member further including a first symmetrical member with a left and a right curved surface;
a second member displaced parallel to the first member and including a second symmetrical member with a left and a right curved surface, the first and second members having first and second anchor points to receive tensile or compressive forces; and
a total of four cantilevered beams including a left and a right cantilever beam projecting out from center regions of both first and second members respectively; and left and right connection structures connecting left cantilever beam ends to each other and right cantilever beam ends to each other respectively.

2. The nonlinear load cell of claim 1 wherein the connection structures further comprise rotational spring elements connecting the cantilever beam ends.

3. The nonlinear load cell of claim 1 further comprising strain gauges on the cantilever beams to measure strain.

4. The nonlinear load cell of claim 1 further comprising a linear motion sensor between the first and second members.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Kluger Jocelyn Maxine
• Slocum Alexander Henry
• Sapsis Themistoklis Panagiotis

Classifications

• G01L1/00

  Measuring force or stress, in general (measuring force due to impact G01L5/00) · CPC title

• G01L1/044

  of leaf springs · CPC title

• H02K35/02

  with moving magnets and stationary coil systems · CPC title

• H02K7/1876

  with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts · CPC title

• F16F1/22 Primary

  with means for modifying the spring characteristic {(fluid regulation of leaf spring characteristics in vehicle suspensions B60G17/0275)} · CPC title