Systems and methods for implementing bulk metallic glass-based strain wave gears and strain wave gear components
Bulk metallic glass-based strain wave gears and strain wave gear components. In one embodiment, a strain wave gear includes: a wave generator; a flexspline that itself includes a first set of gear teeth; and a circular spline that itself includes a second set of gear teeth; where at least one of the wave generator, the flexspline, and the circular spline, includes a bulk metallic glass-based material.
1. A strain wave gear comprising:
a wave generator;
a flexspline that itself comprises a first set of gear teeth; and
a circular spline that itself comprises a second set of gear teeth;
wherein at least one of the wave generator, the flexspline, and the circular spline, comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material having an elastic limit of greater than or equal to approximately 1%.
2. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein the wave generator comprises a wave generator plug and a bearing.
3. The strain wave gear of claim 2 , wherein the bearing is a ball bearing.
4. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein each of the wave generator, the flexspline, and the circular spline, comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material.
5. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first set of gear teeth and the second set of gear teeth comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material.
6. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein each of the first set of gear teeth and the second set of gear teeth comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material.
7. The strain wave gear of claim 6 , wherein the wave generator comprises a ball bearing that itself comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material.
8. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein the element of the bulk metallic glass-based material that is present in the most amount is one of: Fe, Zr, Ti, Ni, Hf, and Cu.
9. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material is Ni 40 Zr 28.5 Ti 16.5 Al 10 Cu 5 .
10. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein the flexspline comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material having an elastic limit of greater than or equal to approximately 1%.
11. The strain wave gear of claim 10 , wherein the element of the bulk metallic glass-based material that is present in the most amount is one of: Fe, Zr, Ti, Ni, Hf, and Cu.
12. The strain wave gear of claim 10 , wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material is Ni 40 Zr 28.5 Ti 16.5 Al 10 Cu 5 .
13. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material does not include crystalline phases of material, and is characterized by an entirely amorphous structure.
14. The strain wave gear of claim 1 , wherein the bulk metallic glass-based material is a bulk metallic glass matrix composite.