| 摘要 |
The joint (18) is located between first and second sections (14, 16) of an articulated structure and accommodates relative lateral pivoting of the sections through elastic flexing of certain of its members without using moving parts. In a first embodiment (Figure 1), it comprises an elongated axial load member (20) and at least three shear and torsion links (21) which lie substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the structure, each link being connected at one of its ends to the first section and at its other end to the second section by respective support members (23, 25). In a second embodiment (Figure 2), four shear and torsion links (22a-d) are joined to form a shear and torsion frame connected to the respective section (14, 16) by respective support members (26, 30, 24, 28) attached, respectively, to the frame at opposite ends of mutually perpendicular diametral lines (X, Y) lying in the plane of the frame. Figure 8 shows an arrangement embodying a redundant shear and torsion frame. <IMAGE> |
