초록 ▼

A spring is formed of a relatively thin sheet of spring material which is constricted and held in place at each end forming a bell curve being located between two substantially planar members. As additional compressive force is applied in the vertical direction, the curve then compresses and starts

A spring is formed of a relatively thin sheet of spring material which is constricted and held in place at each end forming a bell curve being located between two substantially planar members. As additional compressive force is applied in the vertical direction, the curve then compresses and starts to form sine waves. The greater the force, progressively higher the wave frequency with lower amplitude would form. When the force is removed, the flexible material returns to its original shape. The force needed to shift the curve (increase the number of waveform) increases at an exponential rate, as opposed to the linear rate of most normal springs. The maintenance force of new stable state is considerable less than the threshold force. Such a relatively flat spring with an exponential spring rate and self dampening through phase change has a number of useful applications for automotive and industrial use.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a spring assembly comprising at least one sine wave spring, each of the at least one sine wave springs comprising a lower platen having first and second spring stops located at a fixed predetermined distance apart on the face thereof; a flat flexible spring material having a length greater tha

1. In a spring assembly comprising at least one sine wave spring, each of the at least one sine wave springs comprising a lower platen having first and second spring stops located at a fixed predetermined distance apart on the face thereof; a flat flexible spring material having a length greater than the predetermined distance between the first and second spring stops, the flat flexible material placed on the lower platen between the first and second spring stops and fixed only to the first and second spring stops such that the spring material forms at least one bowed portion extending away from the lower platen, when the flat flexible spring material is placed on the first and second spring stops, the at least one bowed portion not fixed to either of the upper or lower platen; and an upper platen, placed atop the flat flexible spring material and in contact with the at least one bowed portion of the flat flexible spring material, a method of storing and releasing energy in the sine wave spring, comprising the steps of:applying a force to the upper platen toward the lower platen, such that the flat flexible spring material forms additional bowed portions in response to the force applied between the upper platen and lower platen, storing energy applied by the force in the sine wave spring, andremoving the force, such that as the force is removed from the upper platen, the flat flexible spring material rebounds, forming fewer bowed portions in response to release of the force applied between the upper platen and the lower platen, releasing energy stored by the sine wave spring. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flat flexible spring material comprises one or more of biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate, spring steel, hardened and tempered aluminum, and epoxy impregnated carbon fiber. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second spring stops are located a distance BFix apart from one another, and the flat flexible spring material has a length BMat substantially equal to one and one-sixteenth BFix. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a force needed to compress the at least one sine wave spring is defined by the formula: F=(E*m*n)/r, where F is the force or load on the spring,r is a factor based on the radius of curvature of the shoulders,n is the total number of “node shoulders” per phase, defined as the number of corners formed in the flat flexible spring material, when the at least one bowed portion is compressed,m is a predetermined factor based on the thickness and width of the material used, andE is Young's modulus of elasticity. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the spring assembly comprises a plurality of sine wave springs stacked together, the spring assembly further comprising: at least one guide member, fixed to a lower platen and extending through at least one upper platen, so as to allow the plurality of sine wave springs stacked together to compress. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one guide member includes an upper stop for retaining the plurality of sine wave springs when not under load. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly is formed as a crash barrier, the first and second platens mounted in a vertical orientation to form a compressible upright barrier. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms a recoil mechanism for a weapon, the spring assembly mounted into a weapon stock. 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms an automotive suspension mounted between a frame and an axle of a vehicle. 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms an energy absorbent bumper assembly, mounted between a frame member and an external bumper cover of a vehicle. 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms a seat support, mounted between a vehicle seat and a vehicle, to provide support for a vehicle seat. 12. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms a pipe support, flexibly mounting a pipe to base. 13. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms a beam support, flexibly mounting a beam to a base. 14. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms a scale, wherein weight applied to the spring assembly is measured by displacement of the spring assembly. 15. The method of claim 6, wherein the spring assembly forms a scale, wherein weight applied to the spring assembly is measured by the number of bow portions formed in the flat flexible spring material. 16. In a sine wave spring comprising a first platen having first and second spring stops located at a fixed predetermined distance apart on the face thereof; a flat flexible spring material having a length greater than the predetermined distance between the first and second spring stops, the flat flexible material placed on the first platen between the first and second spring stops and fixed only to the first and second spring stops such that the spring material forms at least one sine-wave shaped portion extending away from the first platen, when the flat flexible spring material is placed on the first and second spring stops, the at least one bowed portion not fixed to either of the first platen or the second platen; and a second platen, placed atop the flat flexible spring material and in contact with the at least one bowed portion of the flat flexible spring material, a method of storing and releasing energy in the sine wave spring, comprising the steps of:applying a force to the second platen toward the first platen, such that the flat flexible spring material forms an increasing number of sine-wave shaped portions as sine-wave shaped nodes in response to force applied between the first platen and the second platen, and storing energy applied by the force in the sine wave spring, andremoving the force, such that as the force is removed from the second platen, the flat flexible spring material rebounds, forming fewer sine-wave shaped portions in response to release of the force applied between the first platen and the second platen, releasing energy stored by the sine wave spring. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the flat flexible spring material comprises one or more of biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate, spring steel, hardened and tempered aluminum, and epoxy impregnated carbon fiber. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second spring stops are located a distance BFix apart from one another, and the flat flexible spring material has a length BMat substantially equal to one and one-sixteenth BFix. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein a force needed to compress the at least one sine wave spring is defined by the formula: F=(E*m*n)/r, where F is the force or load on the spring,r is a factor based on the radius of curvature of the shoulders,n is the total number of “node shoulders” per phase, defined as the number of corners formed in the flat flexible spring material, when the at least sine wave nodes are compressed,m is a predetermined factor based on the thickness and width of the material used, andE is Young's modulus of elasticity. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the sine wave spring further comprises: at least one guide member, fixed to the first platen and extending through the second platen, so as to allow the flat flexible spring material to compress,wherein the at least one guide member includes an upper stop for retaining the flat flexible spring material when not under load.