Static balancing of an inverted pendulum with prestressed torsion bars

This paper presents a method for the design of a statically balanced inverted pendulum. The non-linear moment-rotation characteristic of the pendulum's weight is approximated by a piecewise linear characteristic. Each transition is realized by engaging or disengaging one or more torsion bars, by means of mechanical stops. The whole set of...

Gravity balanced compliant shell mechanisms

The research on compliant shell mechanisms is a new and promising expansion of the well established compliant mechanisms research area. Benefits of compliant shell mechanisms include being spatial and slender, having organic shapes and their high tailorability of the load-displacement response. This work focusses on the design of a shell with...

A monolithic compliant large-range gravity balancer

A new monolithic fully compliant gravity balancer is designed with help of a design approach based on shape optimization. The balancer consists of one single clamped-clamped complex-shaped beam on which a weight is attached. The beam is modeled as a planar isogeometric Bernoulli beam. The goal function of the optimization consists of an...

Shape optimization and sensitivity of compliant beams for prescribed load-displacement response

This paper presents the shape optimization of a compliant beam for prescribed load-displacements response. The analysis of the design is based on the isogeometric analysis framework for an enhanced fidelity between designed and analysed shape. The sensitivities used for an improved optimization procedure are derived analytically, including...

A monolithic compliant large-range gravity balancer

A new monolithic fully compliant gravity balancer is designed with help of a design approach based on shape optimization. The balancer consists of one single complex-shaped beam on which the weight is attached. The beam is modeled as a planar isogeometric Bernoulli beam. The goal function of the optimization consists of an energy based...