Serpentine Spring Angle Adjustment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing angle adjustment systems for optical and other components fail to prevent undesired translational movements during shipment or use, which can alter the angular position and affect the functionality of devices.
Innovation Solution
A spring arrangement comprising multiple serpentine-shaped spring elements that allows rotational movement while preventing translational movement, ensuring the component's angular position is maintained by applying counterforces to any movement, thus stabilizing the component's position relative to the axis of rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a component is allowed to rotate around an axis to adjust angular position, then the component can be positioned at desired angles, but the component may experience undesired translational movements that alter its angular position
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangement provides a dynamic solution by allowing controlled rotational movement while automatically resisting translational movements through elastic forces. The system transitions from a static constraint to a dynamic balance between rotational freedom and translational restraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the support system by introducing spring elements with specific stiffness characteristics. This allows the system to exhibit different resistance characteristics for rotational versus translational movements, enabling angular adjustment while maintaining positional stability.
2Reliability
If rigid constraints are used to prevent translational movement, then positional stability is improved, but rotational adjustment becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangement transforms rigid constraints into dynamic elastic constraints that adapt to operational needs. The springs provide sufficient stiffness to prevent translational movement while remaining compliant enough to allow rotational adjustment, resolving the contradiction between stability and adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
By carefully selecting spring stiffness parameters and geometric configuration, the system achieves different effective stiffness values for rotational and translational degrees of freedom. This parameter optimization allows simultaneous achievement of positional stability and rotational adjustability.
3Reliability
If multiple spring elements are used to prevent translational movement in all directions, then positional stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each spring element in the arrangement serves multiple functions: providing restoring forces for translational movements, enabling rotational adjustment through controlled compliance, and maintaining pre-load on the component. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple springs into a coordinated arrangement where the springs work together as an integrated system. This combining approach provides comprehensive translational restraint while maintaining rotational freedom, achieving high positional stability without proportionally increasing 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 spring arrangement effectively maintains the angular position of components by allowing controlled rotational adjustments while preventing translational movements, reducing the risk of positional changes due to external factors like turbulence or loosening, thereby enhancing the stability and functionality of optical and other devices.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arrangement comprising multiple serpentine-shaped spring elements that allows rotational movement while preventing translational movement, ensuring the component's angular position is maintained by applying counterforces to any movement
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide to angle adjustment systems using one or more spring arrangements. In certain aspects, an angle adjustment system comprises a component and a first spring arrangement coupled to the component, wherein the first spring arrangement comprises at least three spring elements. Further, the first spring arrangement is configured to allow the component to rotate around a first axis of rotation and prevent a first translational movement of the component with respect to the first axis of rotation.