Design of Flexture Bearing

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A flexure bearing serves dual functions, acting as both a spring and a load-bearing component, with axial flexing preferred. It's crucial for miniature FPFD Stirling cryocoolers in space and military applications due to its ability to handle gravitational and impact loads on the cooler. The bearing offers infinite radial stiffness compared to axial stiffness. In these cryocoolers, a piston and displacer maintain clearance from the cylinder body with help from the flexure bearing, which prevents excessive radial movement but allows axial displacement for required motion. The components are driven by a 15Hz linear motor. The proposed flexure design meets all requirements and is currently in the improvement phase for long-term reliability.