Harnessing elastic energy to overcome singularity issues in four-bar mechanisms with a crank link

Journal Article (2023)
Authors

Gregor J. Van Den Doel

J.L. Herder (TU Delft - Precision and Microsystems Engineering)

Davood MacHekposhti (TU Delft - Mechatronic Systems Design)

Research Group
Mechatronic Systems Design
Copyright
© 2023 Gregor J. van den Doel, J.L. Herder, D. Farhadi Machekposhti
More Info
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Publication Year
2023
Language
English
Copyright
© 2023 Gregor J. van den Doel, J.L. Herder, D. Farhadi Machekposhti
Research Group
Mechatronic Systems Design
Volume number
183
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2023.105274
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Abstract

The ability to convert reciprocating, i.e., alternating, actuation into rotary motion using linkages is hindered fundamentally by their poor torque transmission capability around kinematic singularity configurations. Here, we harness the elastic potential energy of a linear spring attached to the coupler link of four-bar mechanisms to manipulate force transmission around the kinematic singularities. We developed a theoretical model to explore the parameter space for proper force transmission in slider-crank and rocker-crank four-bar kinematics. Finally, we verified the proposed model and methodology by building and testing a macro-scale prototype of a slider-crank mechanism. We expect this approach to enable the development of small-scale rotary engines and robotic devices with closed kinematic chains dealing with serial kinematic singularities, such as linkages and parallel manipulators.