Flexural pivot with diaphragm means

Claim 2

A flexural pivot device comprising: first and second housing means arranged on a common axis and axially spaced from each other; said first housing means having an inwardly-projecting arcuate structure, said arcuate structure extending axially into said second housing means and being radially-spaced therefrom; said second housing means having inwardly-projecting arcuate structure diametrical of said arcuate structure of said first housing means, said arcuate structure of said second housing means extending axially into said first housing means and being radially-spaced therefrom; said arcuate structures having axially-extending edges equally spaced from each other; crossed flat spring means connecting said arcuate structures so that said first and second housing means are rotatable relative to each other on said common axes; and first flexible diaphragm means fixedly secured to the outer periphery of said first housing means and to an adjoining structure thereby permitting simultaneous relative axial and rotary movement between said first and second housing means.

Claim 3

The combination as claimed in claim 1 including in addition second flexible diaphragm means fixedly secured to the outer periphery of said second housing means and to an adjoining structure.

Claim 4

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible diaphragm means is formed integral with said first housing means.

Claim 5

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible diaphragm means includes at least one annular diaphragm element, said diaphragm element having a circumferential flange and inwardly thereof a contoured section having radially-outwardly-decreasing thickness such that substantially uniform bending and torsional stress results.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first housing means includes two end support members, said arcuate structure of said first housing means connecting said two end support members; and said second housing means include a center support member positioned between said two end support members and adapted to be a rotatable mounting, said arcuate structure of said second housing means being a first section extending beyond one end of said center support member and a second section extending beyond the other end of said center support member.

Claim 7

The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said flexible diaphragm means is fixedly secured to at least one of said end support members.

Claim 8

The combination as claimed in claim 5 including in addition second flexible diaphragm means fixedly secured to said center support member and to an adjoining structure.

Claim 9

In combination with a flexural pivot device of the type having a pair of flat crossed springs, each of the crossed springs having at least one side projection at each end, each side projection extending perpendicularly from the side end of its spring and being the same thickness as said spring to provide connecting segments, two arcuate quadrant elements and two arcuate divided-quadrant elements positioned alternately between the connecting segments and joined thereto to provide a tubular assemblY having two semi-circular-like members interconnected by crossed flat springs and spaced at the lengthwise edges thereof, first outer sleeve means connected to one of the semi-circular-like members and radially spaced from the other member, second outer sleeve means connected to the other of the semi-circular members and radially spaced from the first sleeve member, wherein the improvement comprises: first flexible diaphragm means fixedly secured to said first outer sleeve means whereby said second outer sleeve means and to an adjoining structure can be fixed and said first outer sleeve means can be rotated with flexing of said crossed springs while simultaneously permitting axial deflections to be absorbed by said flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 10

In combination with a flexural pivot device of the type having a pair of flat crossed springs, each of the crossed springs having at least one side projection at each end, each side projection extending perpendicularly from the side end of its spring and being the same thickness as said spring to provide connecting segments, two arcuate quadrant elements and two arcuate divided-quadrant elements positioned alternately between the connecting segments and joined thereto to provide a tubular assemblY having two semi-circular-like members interconnected by crossed flat springs and spaced at the lengthwise edges thereof, first outer sleeve means connected to one of the semi-circular-like members and radially spaced from the other member, second outer sleeve means connected to the other of the semi-circular members and radially spaced from the first sleeve member, wherein the improvement comprises: first flexible diaphragm means fixedly secured to said first outer sleeve means whereby said second outer sleeve means and to an adjoining structure can be fixed and said first outer sleeve means can be rotated with flexing of said crossed springs while simultaneously permitting axial deflections to be absorbed by said flexible diaphragm means.

Claim 11

The combination as claimed in claim 8 including in addition second flexible diaphragm means fixedly secured to said second outer sleeve means and to an adjoining structure.