Beam-based nonlinear spring

摘要

Nonlinear spring. In one embodiment, the spring includes two opposed curved surfaces curving away from one another. A flexible cantilever member is disposed between the two opposed curved surfaces and a mass is attached to a free end of the cantilever member wherein the flexible cantilever member wraps around one of the curved surfaces as the cantilever member deflects to form a nonlinear spring. Energy harvesting devices and a load cell are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A nonlinear load sensitive structure comprising:
a. a first rigid structure with at least one curved contact surface; b. a second rigid structure with at least one curved contact surface; and c. at least one curved flexible member disposed between said first and second rigid structures, one end of said at least one curved flexible member attached to said first rigid structure and other end of said at least one curved flexible member attached to said second rigid structure, such that when said first rigid structure is displaced toward said second rigid structure, said at least one curved flexible member bends and makes increasing contact with the contact surfaces of the rigid structures to provide an increasing force as a function of displacement of said rigid structures toward each other.