US 12,255,514 B2
Systems and methods for flexure-based bearing mounting
John Lawler, Portland, OR (US); Neil Watters, Redwood City, CA (US); Samuel Sherman, San Francisco, CA (US); Matthew Svrcek, Redwood City, CA (US); and David DeGraaff, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Mainspring Energy, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Mainspring Energy, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/876,992.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/227,780, filed on Jul. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0034504 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H02K 5/167 (2006.01); F16C 32/06 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 5/167 (2013.01) [F16C 32/0614 (2013.01); H02K 7/1884 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing assembly for a linear electromagnetic machine (LEM), the bearing assembly comprising:
a sleeve comprising a surface configured to provide a bearing between the surface and a translator;
a front plate coupled to the sleeve;
a support block; and
a plurality of flexures coupled to the support block, wherein each flexure of the plurality of flexures is coupled between the support block and one of the front plate or a stator, and wherein a load path extends from:
the stator to the support block via a first set of flexures of the plurality of flexures;
the support block to the front plate via a second set of flexures of the plurality of flexures; and
the front plate to the sleeve.