Pendulum arm flexure and method of construction

摘要

A pendulum arm flexure which supports a pendulum bob for oscillation has predictable and reproducible characteristics. Holders retain a specific predetermined length of uniform diameter elongated fiber at ends of the fiber and permit flexing only along a defined length of the fiber between the holders during oscillation. Energy conserving material of the fiber temporarily stores and releases energy when flexing.

主权项

1. A pendulum arm flexure for supporting a pendulum bob for oscillation from a support structure, comprising:
an elongated fiber having opposite ends; and a holder located at each opposite end of the elongated fiber; andwherein:
the holder at one end of the elongated fiber is adapted to rigidly connect the pendulum arm flexure to one of the pendulum bob or the support structure and the holder at the other end of the elongated fiber is adapted to rigidly connect the pendulum arm flexure to the other one of the pendulum bob or the support structure; each holder includes an inner end adjacent to the fiber; the fiber extends continuously between the inner ends of the holders; the inner end of each holder has a relatively larger cross-sectional size than a relatively smaller cross-sectional size of the fiber at a position adjacent to the inner end of each holder; each holder transitions abruptly from the relatively larger cross-sectional size of the inner end relative to the relatively smaller cross-sectional size of the fiber at the position adjacent to the connection of the fiber to the holder; the fiber has a predetermined length measured between the abrupt transitions of the inner ends of the opposite holders; the fiber has resiliency characteristics which permit flexing along the length of the fiber between the inner ends of the holders during oscillation; each holder has rigidity characteristics which prevent flexing of the holder during oscillatory movement of the pendulum bob; and the fiber is formed of energy conserving material which temporarily stores energy expended in flexing the fiber in one direction as intermolecular force and which releases the stored energy upon flexing the fiber in the opposite direction.