EQUI-BIAXIAL MEMBRANE STRETCHER

摘要

A system for and method of stretching a membrane is provided. The system has a top plate and a bottom plate that are in parallel with each other and a plurality of flexible v trusses. The top plate is configured to move vertically. The v trusses are placed in circle and have arms pointing to the center. There is a clamp for each arm for clamping a membrane. When external force is applied to push the top plate towards the bottom plate, the force bends the trusses, which is translated to the horizontal displacement of the trusses with arms. As the trusses move outwards, the clamped membrane is stretched.

主权项

1. A system for stretching a membrane, the system comprising:
a first main plate configured to receive force perpendicular to a surface of the first main plate and move perpendicular to the surface; a second main plate substantially in parallel with the first main plate; a plurality of trusses evenly distributed in circle, each truss comprising at least two legs and an arm, wherein:
the at least two legs and the arm meet at a center of their corresponding truss, wherein the two legs meet at a first angle less than 180 degrees;a first leg of the at least two legs of each truss is coupled to the first main plate;a second leg of the at least two legs of each truss is coupled to the second main plate;the arm of each truss points in a radially inward direction; andthe center of each truss points in a radially outward direction; and a plurality of clamps, each clamp coupled to an end of a corresponding arm of a truss in the plurality of trusses for clamping a membrane; wherein moving the first main plate towards the second main plate causes the plurality of trusses to bend such that the at least two legs of each truss meet at a second angle less than the first angle to stretch the clamped membrane.