US3576136A - Flex band devices - Google Patents
Flex band devices Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3576136A US3576136A US866235A US3576136DA US3576136A US 3576136 A US3576136 A US 3576136A US 866235 A US866235 A US 866235A US 3576136D A US3576136D A US 3576136DA US 3576136 A US3576136 A US 3576136A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- members
- rocker
- shaft
- supporting
- band
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C19/00—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C11/00—Pivots; Pivotal connections
- F16C11/04—Pivotal connections
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C2370/00—Apparatus relating to physics, e.g. instruments
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
- Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
- Y10T74/18568—Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
- Y10T74/18832—Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary including flexible drive connector [e.g., belt, chain, strand, etc.]
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
- Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
- Y10T74/18888—Reciprocating to or from oscillating
Definitions
- Antonis ABSTRACT A mechanical movement which comprises a center shaft, a supporting frame, and mechanism for causing said center shaft or said supporting frame to rotate about a fixed axis wherein said mechanism includes a plurality of conjointly movable rockers interposed between the shaft and frame and thin flexible band means operatively connected to said frame, rockers, and shaft for transmitting motion therebetween.
- FIG. ll
- pivots can eliminate friction and lost motion problems, but they cannot pivot about a fixed axis and are limited to angular movements of approximately 60.
- all components are interconnected with a thin flexible band which constrains motion between the parts, maintains alignment, and transfers the necessary operating forces without slippage.
- rolling friction is very low and the major energy loss is attributed to the internal friction of the flex hand.
- a single bearing device capable of withstanding overhanging shaft loads
- a shaft drive which translates a nonlinear input into a linear output, or which translates a linear input into a nonlinear output
- a shaft drive which can generate various torsional force and angular displacement curves
- a device which is capable of generating different outputs where the output is not a direct ratio of input.
- a compound mechanism such as a differential, with two inputs and one output.
- An important object of this invention is to provide a mechanical movement which includes a shaft, a frame surrounding the shaft and having a plurality of supporting surfaces which are equally spaced from the shaft and from each other, rockers interposed between each of the supporting surfaces and the shaft, and flexible motion-transmitting band means secured under tension to and extending between a pair of the supporting surfaces wherein the band means is arranged to partially encompass the shaft and the rockers interposed between each of said pair of supporting surfaces and the shaft in a generally sinuous fashion.
- Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical movement of the type described which can be utilized in an airspeed indicator.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective partially diagrammatic view of an airspeed indicator incorporating one embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is an end view and FIG. 3 is a side view of the mechanical movement per se shown in FIG. 1 which includes all of the major components thereof;
- FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially along lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of FIG. 3;
- FIG. 7 is a stretchout view of a one-piece construction of the flex band
- FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the airspeed indicator shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing another embodiment of the mechanism shown in FIG 8;
- FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the invention in which the device can function as a compound mechanism such as a differential;
- FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic end view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 10.
- FIGS. 12 and 13 show a sectional end view, respectively, of a still further embodiment of the invention.
- the airspeed indicator includes a fixed axis rotary mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 10, which is driven by a differential pressure diaphragm 12 through a rigid link 14 for controlling movement of the indicator pointer 16. All of the foregoing components are mounted within a housing 18.
- the housing 18 includes end plates 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, to which three supporting frame members 22, 24 and 26 are suitably secured. In this embodiment the frame members are fixed and do not move during the operation of the device.
- Three conjointly movable rocker members 28, 30 and 32 are interposed between a center shaft member 34 and the supporting surfaces of the frame members.
- a flexible band 36 which is of a continuous single-piece construction, interconnects the frame members, rocker members, and center shaft member in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. More specifically, the flexible band is in effect formed of three segments or sections 36a, 36b, 360, as shown in FIG. 7. Each section is secured to its associated frame by a clamp 38 and to the rockers with pins 40. Tautness or tension is maintained in each band through use of springs 42. Each flexible band section serves to align and constrain the motion of two adjacent rockers.
- FIGS. 3 and 7 illustrate how band sections 360 and 36b are divided into two strips which are positioned symmetrically on each side of 360. Such an arrangement is necessary in order to balance the constraining forces on the rockers.
- band section 36a, 36b and 36c are positioned so that band section 36a is secured to frame members 22 and 26 and is arranged to partially encompass the shaft member 34 and the rocker members 28 and 32 in a generally sinuous fashion; band section 36b is secured to frame members 26 and 24 and is arranged to partially encompass the shaft member 34 and the rocker members 32 and 30 in a generally sinuous fashion; and band section 36c is secured to frame members 24 and 22 and is arranged to partially encompass the shaft member 34 and the rocker members 30 and 28 in a generally sinuous fashion.
- the fixed axis rotary device which is disclosed herein is similar to a roller bearing to the extent that the frame serves as an outer shell or race of a bearing, and the rockers function as rolling elements which support the shaft.
- Significant differences are found, however, in the configuration of the components, in the limited rotation of the shaft, and in the use of flex bands instead of a roller retainer.
- the components are configured in such a manner that contact is retained with the shaft as the rockers roll across the frame surfaces, as shown in FIG. 2.
- the flex band sections are pinned, clamped or otherwise secured to the frame, rockers and shaft. In this manner the rockers are aligned between the frame and shaft and the motion of components are constrained to permit rolling without sliding.
- the inherent lateral stiffness of the flex band prevents any axial movement of the shaft and rockers relative to the frame. Because no sliding action occurs, operating clearance is not necessary and lubricants are not required. There are no random surface contacts, and rolling friction from small surface irregularities decreases as mating surfaces conform to these irregularities. Radial clearance is minimized or eliminated by radial adjustment of the frame members 22, 24 and 26. The wide support provided by these frame members enables a singledevice to be used with shafts having overhanging loads. Interconnecting all components with a taut flex band eliminates lost motion.
- Bias torsional spring forces are controlled by the band segment widths 36a, 36b, and 36c. If each bandwidth is constant, there is no bias spring force because the elastic strain energy is balanced. If the width of a band segment is greater at one rocker contact point than at the other rocker contact point, a bias spring force will exist tending to force the device to a state of less internal strain energy.
- FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate contour 36c which will provide a constant bias spring force. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various types of contours can provide positive, negative, or step torquedeflection relationships.
- FIG. 1 and FIG. 8 which is a diagrammatic view of the airspeed indicator shown in FIG. 1, it will be seen that the diaphragm 12 is connected to the rocker 28 through means of a rigid link 14 and pin 50. Movement of the diaphragmis magnified by the linkage and is displayed by the pointer 16 attached to the center shaft 34.
- the characteristic deflection curve of the diaphragm can be modified by the mechanism to suit the design requirements. This is accomplished by changing the rocker profile and, if necessary, the shaft and frame member profiles.
- the rigid link 14 and pin 50 arrangement is replaced by a flex band 52 which is secured at one end to a cam 54 on rocker 28 and at the other end to the diaphragm.
- the flex band 52 is kept taut by loading the diaphragm against a bias spring force generated by the band sections of flex band 36.
- the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 permits maximum amplification of diaphragm movement by minimizing dimension A throughout the operating range of the device.
- the device can be made to function as a compound mechanism such as a differential.
- a compound mechanism such as a differential.
- the center shaft 134 is mounted on suitable bearings 60 and that a unitary frame or housing 118, which includes three supporting surfaces or members 122, I24 and 126 is allowed to rotate. All three of the basic components, that is, the frame 118, the rocker 28, and shaft 134 which are interconnected by flex band sections in the same manner previously described, are provided with input/output means such as gears 62, 64, and linkage 66.
- input/output means such as gears 62, 64, and linkage 66.
- FIGS. 12 and 13 show a further embodiment of the invention wherein like parts are designated by like numerals plus 200.
- circular rockers 228, 230 and 232 are utilized in conjunction with a noncircular shaft 234.
- the device is shown within a unitary frame housing 218 having supporting surfaces 222, 224, and 226 it will be understood that the frame could also be of a nonunitary construction.
- the frame, rockers, and shaft are interconnected by flex band sections in essentially the same manner as was previously described. With this arrangement it will be apparent that the angular movement of the noncircular shaft 234 will be considerably less than in the previous arrangements where a circular shaft is utilized.
- a device of the class described comprising a rotatable shaft member, a plurality of supporting members spaced from said shaft member and from each other, a plurality of conjointly movable rocker members, one of which is interposed between each of said supporting members and said shaft member, and flexible motion-transmitting band means secured under tension to and extending between a pair of supporting members, said band means being arranged to partially encompass said shaft member and the rocker members interposed between each of said pair of supporting members and said shaft member in a generally sinuous fashion.
- each of said rocker members includes a surface which mates with a surface on the supporting member associated therewith.
- each of said rocker members includes two surfaces, one of which mates with a surface on said shaft member and and the other of which mates with a surface on the supporting member associated therewith.
- the structure as defined in claim 8, which includes first, second, and third supporting members and first, second, and third rocker members.
- said band means comprises fist, second, and third band sections, the first of which is secured to said first and second supporting mem bers and is arranged to partially encompass said shaft member and said first and second rocker members in a generally sinuous fashion, the second of which is secured to said second and third supporting members and is arranged to partially encompass said shaft member and said second and third rocker members in a generally sinuous fashion, and the third of which is secured to said third and first supporting members and is ar ranged to partially encompass said shaft member and said third and first rocker members in a generally sinuous fashion.
- said first band section comprises a first strip for aligning and constraining the motion of said first and second rocker members
- said second band section comprises second and third strips which are symmetrically spaced from said first strip for aligning and constraining the motion of said second and third rocker mem bers
- said third band section comprises fourth and fifth strips which are symmetrically spaced from said first strip and from said second and third strips for aligning and constraining the motion of said third and first rocker members.
- a device of the class described comprising shaft means, frame means surrounding said shaft means and having a plurality of supporting surfaces spaced from said shaft means and from each other, rocker means interposed between each of said supporting surfaces and said shaft means, and flexible motion-transmitting band means secured under tension to and extending between a pair of said supporting surfaces, said band means being arranged to partially encompass said shaft means and the rocker means interposed between each of said pair of supporting surfaces and said shaft means in a generally sinuous fashion.
- rocker means includes a plurality of conjointly movable rocker members, one of which is interposed between each of said supporting surfaces and said shaft means.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Retarders (AREA)
- Force Measurement Appropriate To Specific Purposes (AREA)
- Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)
- Transmission Devices (AREA)
- Support Of The Bearing (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US86623569A | 1969-10-14 | 1969-10-14 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3576136A true US3576136A (en) | 1971-04-27 |
Family
ID=25347206
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US866235A Expired - Lifetime US3576136A (en) | 1969-10-14 | 1969-10-14 | Flex band devices |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3576136A (ja) |
JP (1) | JPS4910270B1 (ja) |
CA (1) | CA918212A (ja) |
FR (1) | FR2065930A5 (ja) |
GB (1) | GB1324536A (ja) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3691871A (en) * | 1970-06-25 | 1972-09-19 | Rolamite Inc | Rotary motion transmitting apparatus |
DE2944530A1 (de) * | 1979-02-05 | 1980-08-14 | Sundstrand Corp | Schutzschaltung fuer kupplungsloses paralleles generatorsystem |
US4536042A (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1985-08-20 | Falconer David G | Pivot bearing |
US4577521A (en) * | 1983-06-13 | 1986-03-25 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Carriage drive unit |
US4795002A (en) * | 1988-01-21 | 1989-01-03 | Itt Corporation | Electrically operated actuator for rear parking brake cables including driver and driven members rotatably mounted about same pivot pin |
DE10014978C1 (de) * | 2000-03-25 | 2001-09-20 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Getriebeelement |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US295587A (en) * | 1884-03-25 | sadleb | ||
US2764894A (en) * | 1953-01-26 | 1956-10-02 | Faxen Per Torsten | Apparatus for translating linear motion into rotary motion |
US3122399A (en) * | 1962-04-11 | 1964-02-25 | David U Hunter | Self-balancing bearing construction |
US3204472A (en) * | 1963-01-07 | 1965-09-07 | Dresser Ind | Tape drive for gauges and the like |
US3215479A (en) * | 1963-07-11 | 1965-11-02 | Garrett Corp | Hydrodynamic shaft bearing |
US3504953A (en) * | 1968-08-29 | 1970-04-07 | Gen Electric | Foil bearing |
US3506314A (en) * | 1964-08-07 | 1970-04-14 | Ampex | Fluid bearing |
US3520578A (en) * | 1968-12-05 | 1970-07-14 | Ampex | Journal bearing |
-
1969
- 1969-10-14 US US866235A patent/US3576136A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1970
- 1970-06-16 CA CA085651A patent/CA918212A/en not_active Expired
- 1970-10-09 JP JP45088729A patent/JPS4910270B1/ja active Pending
- 1970-10-14 FR FR7037085A patent/FR2065930A5/fr not_active Expired
- 1970-10-14 GB GB4887870A patent/GB1324536A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US295587A (en) * | 1884-03-25 | sadleb | ||
US2764894A (en) * | 1953-01-26 | 1956-10-02 | Faxen Per Torsten | Apparatus for translating linear motion into rotary motion |
US3122399A (en) * | 1962-04-11 | 1964-02-25 | David U Hunter | Self-balancing bearing construction |
US3204472A (en) * | 1963-01-07 | 1965-09-07 | Dresser Ind | Tape drive for gauges and the like |
US3215479A (en) * | 1963-07-11 | 1965-11-02 | Garrett Corp | Hydrodynamic shaft bearing |
US3506314A (en) * | 1964-08-07 | 1970-04-14 | Ampex | Fluid bearing |
US3504953A (en) * | 1968-08-29 | 1970-04-07 | Gen Electric | Foil bearing |
US3520578A (en) * | 1968-12-05 | 1970-07-14 | Ampex | Journal bearing |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3691871A (en) * | 1970-06-25 | 1972-09-19 | Rolamite Inc | Rotary motion transmitting apparatus |
DE2944530A1 (de) * | 1979-02-05 | 1980-08-14 | Sundstrand Corp | Schutzschaltung fuer kupplungsloses paralleles generatorsystem |
US4536042A (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1985-08-20 | Falconer David G | Pivot bearing |
US4577521A (en) * | 1983-06-13 | 1986-03-25 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Carriage drive unit |
US4795002A (en) * | 1988-01-21 | 1989-01-03 | Itt Corporation | Electrically operated actuator for rear parking brake cables including driver and driven members rotatably mounted about same pivot pin |
DE10014978C1 (de) * | 2000-03-25 | 2001-09-20 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Getriebeelement |
FR2806774A1 (fr) | 2000-03-25 | 2001-09-28 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Element de transmission |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB1324536A (en) | 1973-07-25 |
FR2065930A5 (ja) | 1971-08-06 |
DE2050133A1 (de) | 1971-04-22 |
DE2050133B2 (de) | 1973-01-25 |
JPS4910270B1 (ja) | 1974-03-09 |
CA918212A (en) | 1973-01-02 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: LITTON SYSTEMS, INC., 360 N. CRESCENT DRIVE, BEVER Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:BENDIX CORPORATION THE;REEL/FRAME:004076/0866 Effective date: 19821129 |