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 c. at least one curved flexible member disposed between said first and second rigid structures, one end of each said flexible structure attached to first said rigid structure and other end of each said flexible structure attached to second said rigid structure, such that when first rigid structure is displaced towards second rigid structure, said flexible member bend and makes increasing contact with the contact surfaces of the rigid structures to provide an increasing three as a function of displacement of rigid structures towards each other.