Spring-loaded hinge

Abstract

The invention relates to mechanical engineering, and more particularly to pivotal connections. The proposed device can be used in robotics, as well as in the subsea and aerospace industries. The technical result is that of eliminating bending forces at points where springs are fastened to structural elements, and also making it possible for the device to be used in very wet environments (in subsea equipment) and in outer-space conditions (in aerospace equipment). The claimed technical result is achieved by means of a structure of a spring-loaded hinge comprising a first and a second Y-shaped double torsion spring, said springs being made of two layers of a composite material with a wire arranged between the layers, wherein the coils of the springs are arranged coaxially, the first spring is fastened by its ends to a first platform, the second spring is attached by its ends to a second platform, and the first and second platforms are connected by links having a common pivot pin that lies along the axis of the coils of the springs.

Description

[0001] SPRING HINGE

[0002] The invention relates to mechanical engineering, namely to articulated joints. The proposed device can be used in robotics, as well as in the underwater and aerospace industries.

[0003] The following solutions are known from the prior art.

[0004] Spring hinges made in the form of two platforms connected by springs are known and used in this field of technology. However, such hinges do not provide angular resistance and rigidity when moving in two directions, and also have relatively large bending stresses, which leads to rapid wear.

[0005] An elastic hinge with a given characteristic of a restoring force is known, comprising a housing with a guide surface and elastic elements, the housing is made with an internal cavity of a given calculated shape, on the surface of which centrally symmetrical guide cam surfaces are made, and is provided with a shaft located inside the cavity of the housing with the possibility of rotation around the central axis of the cavity of the housing, and with at least two radially located elastic elements, symmetrically installed relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft and located with the possibility of interaction with the cam surface of the housing (RU Patent No. 2582629, published on 27.12.2014).

[0006] The known hinge has contacting parts in its design that are subject to rapid wear due to interaction with each other; in addition, such a hinge cannot be used in difficult conditions.

[0007] The closest analogue of the patented device is the flexible hinged unit known from the Russian Federation patent No. 2788221, published on 17.01.2023, containing two main tape springs, spatially spaced and fixed on two elements of the transformable structure. The unit contains two additional tape springs, which, compared to the main springs, have a smaller curvature and a smaller cross-section, which diagonally connect the said elements of the structure.

[0008] The disadvantage of the analogue is the increased loads on the springs in the places where the springs are attached to the elements of the structure during operation. The technical problem solved by the declared design is the need to increase the angular resistance, rigidity and wear resistance in the hinge.

[0009] To solve the problem, two torsion springs and hinges with a common axis were added to the design.

[0010] The technical result is the elimination of bending forces at the points where springs are attached to structural elements, as well as the possibility of using the device in environments with high humidity (in underwater technology) and in space conditions (in aerospace technology).

[0011] The claimed technical result is achieved due to the design of a spring hinge containing first and second double Y-shaped torsion springs made of two layers of composite material and wire located between said layers, and the turns of which are located coaxially, the first spring is secured with its ends on the first platform, the second spring is secured with its ends on the second platform, wherein the first and second platforms are connected by means of loops with a common axis passing along the axis of the spring turns.

[0012] In a particular case, carbon fiber or fiberglass is used as a composite material.

[0013] In a particular case of implementation, nitinol wire with a nichrome thread in silicone insulation is used as a wire.

[0014] In a particular case of implementation, a wire made of copper and aluminum alloy with shape memory in silicone insulation is used as a wire.

[0015] In a particular case of implementation, the platforms are made in the form of plates made of sandwich composite panels with a honeycomb structure.

[0016] In a particular case of implementing the invention, two platforms in the non-working position are oriented parallel to each other.

[0017] In a particular case of implementing the invention, the springs are secured in such a way that two ends of the first spring and one end of the second spring are secured to the opposite edges of the first and second platforms, respectively.

[0018] In a particular case of implementation, the ends of the springs are fixed on the platforms by means of a threaded or riveted or glued connection. The described configuration of the springs provides the possibility of angular movement of the platforms around the axis, with a limitation on movement in one of the directions. The limitation on movement is due to the resistance to deformation of the springs when moving in one of the directions. The use of the spring material - a composite material with a spring - allows the use of the hinge in environments with high humidity (in underwater technology) and in space conditions (in aerospace technology).

[0019] The solution is described below with references to figures that show the following.

[0020] Fig. 1 - general view of the hinge.

[0021] Fig. 2 - disassembled view of the hinge.

[0022] Fig. 3 - view of the hinge from above.

[0023] Fig. 4 - side view of the hinge (view A from Fig. 3).

[0024] Fig. 5 - sectional view B-B from Fig.3.

[0025] Fig. 6 - sectional view B-B from Fig. 3.

[0026] The spring hinge comprises two platforms (1), spatially spaced apart and connected to each other by two loops (2) on both sides of the platforms (1). The loops (2) have a common axis (3). Two Y-shaped torsion springs (4) and (5) are secured between the platforms. The first spring (4) is secured with its ends to the first platform, and the second spring (5) is secured to the second platform. The springs are secured in such a way that two ends of the first are secured to the opposite edges of the first and second platforms, located above the turn of the second spring (5), the turns being coaxial.

[0027] The ends of the springs are secured to the platforms by means of a threaded, riveted or glued connection.

[0028] The platforms are made in the form of plates made of sandwich composite panels with a honeycomb structure.

[0029] The springs are made of composite materials based on carbon fiber or fiberglass in several layers of fabric. Integration of wire between layers of fabric can also be used, for example, braided nitinol wire with nichrome thread in silicone insulation. In another particular case, copper-aluminum alloy wire with shape memory can also be used instead of nitinol wire.

[0030] An example of the spring manufacturing process. To manufacture a hinge, matrices with punches are needed in which the springs are formed.

[0031] Example 1.

[0032] Y-shaped patterns are prepared from carbon fiber fabric and woven nitinol wire with nichrome thread in silicone insulation. Then layers of fiberglass fabric are laid out, then nitinol with nichrome and carbon fiber fabric again. Then the matrix is ​​assembled and after polymerization the part is removed. After the springs are formed, they are fixed on the plates with an adhesive connection and the hinges are mounted.

[0033] Example 2.

[0034] Y-shaped patterns are prepared from carbon fiber fabric and woven copper-aluminum alloy wire with shape memory in silicone insulation. Then layers of carbon fiber fabric are laid out, then copper-aluminum alloy and carbon fiber fabric again. Then the matrix is ​​assembled and after polymerization the part is removed. After the springs are formed, they are fixed to the plates with rivets and the hinges are mounted.

[0035] The hinge works as follows.

[0036] One of the platforms is mounted on the fixed part of the mechanism, and the other on the movable one. When the unfixed platform rotates, the springs begin to deform, which leads to the emergence of resistance. When moving in one direction, the diameter of the outer spring increases, and the inner one decreases. But when moving in the other direction, the diameter of the outer spring decreases, and the inner one increases, which leads to a collision and fixation of the mechanism with the impossibility of continuing movement in this direction.

[0037] The dependence of the angle at which the collision occurs on the spring diameters is given in equation (1): where a is the angle at which the collision occurs, di is the inner diameter of the outer spring, D2 is the outer diameter of the inner spring.

Claims

CLAUSE OF INVENTION 1. A spring hinge comprising first and second double Y-shaped torsion springs made from two layers of composite material and wire located between said layers, and the turns of which are arranged coaxially, the first spring is secured with its ends to the first platform, the second spring is secured with its ends to the second platform, wherein the first and second platforms are connected by means of loops with a common axis passing along the axis of the spring turns.

2. A spring hinge according to item 1, characterized in that the springs are made of carbon fiber or fiberglass.

3. A spring hinge according to item 2, characterized in that the wire used is a nitinol wire with a nichrome thread in silicone insulation.

4. A spring hinge according to I.2, characterized in that the wire used is a copper-aluminum alloy wire with shape memory in silicone insulation.

5. A spring hinge according to item 1, characterized in that the platforms are made in the form of plates made of a sandwich composite panel with a honeycomb structure.

6. A spring hinge according to item 1, characterized in that the two platforms in the non-working position are oriented parallel to each other.

7. A spring hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the springs are secured in such a way that two ends of the first spring and one end of the second spring are secured to opposite edges of the first and second platforms, respectively.

8. A spring hinge according to item 1, characterized in that the ends of the springs are secured to the platforms by means of a threaded or riveted or glued connection.

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