Monolithic Flexure Mount for Thermal Stress Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical system mounting techniques face challenges in maintaining precision due to thermal expansion and contraction differences between materials, leading to warping or positional changes of precision surfaces, especially in extreme temperature environments like outer space.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic flexure mount system with radial, goniometric, and main flexures that absorb stress, allowing for expansion and contraction while keeping the center of expansion stationary, using a cylindrical profile with injection tunnels for adhesive bonding and a compact design suitable for precision surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional multi-part apparatuses are used to absorb thermal stresses, then stress absorption capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate stress-absorbing components into a single monolithic flexure mount structure. The flexure mount integrates radial flexures, goniometric flexures, and main flexures into one unified monolithic component, eliminating the need for multiple separate parts while maintaining stress absorption capability. This resolves the contradiction by combining multiple functions into a single structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The monolithic flexure mount is segmented into distinct functional regions: radial flexures for radial movement, goniometric flexures for rotational adjustment, and main flexures for primary stress absorption. These segmented regions work together within a single monolithic structure, providing complex stress absorption capabilities without requiring multiple separate components.
2Reliability
If conventional multi-part apparatuses are used to interface precision surfaces, then stress absorption is improved, but manufacturing cost and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple stress-absorbing functions into a single monolithic flexure mount, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and inventoried. This monolithic structure can be manufactured as one piece using additive manufacturing or other suitable processes, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining robust stress absorption.
3Device complexity
If conventional apparatuses are simplified to reduce size, then device complexity is reduced, but robustness under thermal stress is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The flexure mount utilizes flexible flexure elements (radial flexures, goniometric flexures, and main flexures) that are integrated into a compact monolithic structure. These flexible elements provide the necessary compliance to absorb thermal stresses while maintaining a compact size, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and robustness.
4Device complexity
If monolithic flexure mounts are used to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology to manufacture the monolithic flexure mount, which allows for complex geometries and precise dimensional control that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional machining. This manufacturing approach reduces the practical precision requirements compared to conventional machining methods while enabling the monolithic design.
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 flexure mount system effectively reduces stress and maintains the lateral position of precision surfaces by allowing expansion and contraction, ensuring robustness and precision even under significant thermal variations, while being cost-effective and lightweight for use in space telescopes.
Implementation Method 1
the flexure mounts absorb stress caused by, for example, expansion or contraction of the precision surface
Implementation Method 2
The goniometric flexures allow for a relatively small amount of rotation about the pivot point while preventing tangential displacement
Data Source
AI summary
A flexure mount is described herein. The flexure mount includes three different flexures laterally offset from one another along a length of the flexure mount. The flexured design of the flexure mount allows for compliance in certain directions to reduce stress buildup normally associated with rigid mounting of dissimilar materials under dynamic thermal environments.