摘要 |
<p>A universal joint for small angle deflections having a driving element which is rotatable about an axis of rotation wherein the driving element is connected to a driven member by a suspension means which comprises at least two gimbal elements, each gimbal element is connected to the driving element and to the driven element by at least two flexure hinges, each of the longitudinal axes of the flexure hinges forming an angle of the same magnitude with the axes of rotation of the driving and driven elements when the universal joint is in a rest position. A method for fabricating such a multigimbal universal joint for small angle deflections in one-piece wherein integral flexure hinges having such longitudinal axes are provided by forming pairs of adjacent bores in a blank and wherein the driving elements, the driven element and at least two gimbal elements therebetween are formed by electrical discharge machine techniques.</p> |