Flexure Spring Portion for Stable Slider Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slider supporting apparatuses have limited spring constant and extension stroke, leading to potential interference and unstable pitch static attitude when supporting sliders, which are not representative of actual suspension conditions.
Innovation Solution
A slider supporting apparatus with a flexure formed of a metal plate, featuring a gimbals portion with flat springs having convex and concave shapes along its surface, allowing for a longer extension stroke and stable support by equalizing stresses across the spring portion, formed by etching for precise and accurate construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If bellows portions are formed by plastic working with limited tops and bottoms, then the structure is simple to manufacture, but the spring constant cannot be lowered and the extension stroke is short
Solution Approach 1:
The spring portion is divided into multiple flat springs, each with multiple convexes and concaves. This segmentation allows the extension stroke to be extended by adding more convex-concave pairs without requiring a single complex plastic working operation, thus resolving the contradiction between extension stroke length and manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring structure transitions from a two-dimensional bellows shape to a three-dimensional structure with convexes and concaves extending in the thickness direction of the flexure. This dimensional change enables greater extension stroke while maintaining manufacturability through standard flexure fabrication processes.
2Length of moving object
If the distance between support portions is increased to avoid slider interference, then the extension stroke must be longer, but the spring constant becomes too low and stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flat springs are designed with non-uniform cross-sections, being thicker at the convexes and concaves and thinner in the intermediate regions. This local quality variation allows different portions of the spring to have different stiffness characteristics, enabling long extension stroke while maintaining adequate spring constant and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring portion uses a composite structure combining multiple flat springs with varying thickness profiles. This composite approach allows optimization of both extension stroke and spring constant by strategically placing material where it provides maximum benefit, resolving the contradiction between length and stability.
3Device complexity
If a single bellows portion is used, then the structure is simple, but the stress distribution is uneven and the spring constant cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The spring portion is segmented into multiple flat springs with multiple convexes and concaves each. This segmentation creates a more uniform stress distribution across the spring structure during compression and extension, preventing stress concentration and improving manufacturing precision while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus achieves a lower spring constant and longer extension stroke, preventing interference and maintaining stable pitch static attitude, allowing sliders to be tested under conditions similar to actual suspensions, reducing the risk of damage and increasing the usability of suspensions.
Implementation Method 1
a flexure formed of a metal plate having spring characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A slider supporting apparatus is provided with a flexure formed of a metal plate having spring characteristics. The flexure comprises a gimbals portion including a tongue, a first support portion which supports one longitudinal end of a slider, a second support portion which supports the other end of the slider, and a spring portion composed of a pair of flat springs. Convexes and concaves of each flat spring are alternately formed along a surface direction of the flexure by etching. The flat springs extend to a length which allows the slider to be inserted between the support portions when subjected to a tensile load, and contract to a length such that the slider can be held between the support portions when subjected to no tensile load.