Patent US3703831A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3703831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flexure bearing with low rotational restraint
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-02
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1989-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A bearing having flexure members for supporting an instrument and providing for limited rotation thereof. A plurality of spring members are arranged for exerting moments on the instrument the sum of which provides an anti-restraining moment to oppose a restraining moment exerted thereon by the flexure members. Each spring member includes means for adjusting the spring force exerted thereby to make the restraining and anti-restraining moments substantially equal even at zero rotation.
Inventors
- 👤 David J Schauffler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/02; G01C19/04; G01C19/16; G01C19/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/54; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/12; Y10T74/1282; Y10T74/1293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A flexure bearing having low rotational restraint, comprising: means for supporting a member for limited rotation, said means exerting a restraining moment when the member is rotated; means for exerting opposing moments on the member, the sum of the opposing moments providing an anti-restraining moment having a value substantially equal to the restraining moment but of opposite sense, so that the member rotates with little restraint, said means including a plurality of spring members connected between the supporting means and the member to exact spring forces on the member to develop the opposing moments and means for varying the opposing moments so that they exactly cancel each other when there is no rotation of the member and the anti-restraining moment is substantially equal in value to the restraining moment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A flexure bearing having low rotational restraint, comprising: means for supporting a member for limited rotation, said means exerting a restraining moment when the member is rotated; means for exerting opposing moments on the member, the sum of the opposing moments providing an anti-restraining moment having a value substantially equal to the restraining moment but of opposite sense, so that the member rotates with little restraint, said means including a plurality of spring members connected between the supporting means and the member to exact spring forces on the member to develop the opposing moments and means for varying the opposing moments so that they exactly cancel each other when there is no rotation of the member and the anti-restraining moment is substantially equal in value to the restraining moment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A bearing as described in claim 1, additionally comprising means for adjusting the spring force exerted by each spring member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bearing as described in claim 1, in which the supporting means comprises: a fixed member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bearing as described in claim 3, in which the spring means comprises a torsion rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bearing as described in claim 3, in which the spring means comprises a plurality of flexure members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bearing as described in claim 5, in which the flexure members form a flex pivot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A bearing as described in claim 1, in which the member rotates about axes and the spring members are arranged to exert spring forces along lines displaced from the axes the displacement varying with rotation to vary the opposing moments so that the sum of the opposing moments increases with rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A bearing as described in claim 7, additionally including means for adjusting the spring force of each spring member so that the moment provided thereby is variable and the sum of said moments nearly equals zero when the member is not rotated and substantially equals the restraining moment when the member is rotated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A bearing as described in claim 1, in which the member rotates about two axes and the last mentioned means are arranged to develop opposing moments about each axis so that the sum of the opposing moments about each axis provides an anti-restraining moment substantially equal in value to the restraining moment about that axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |