Spring-to-Spring Balancing as Energy-Free Adjustment Method in Gravity Equilibrators

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogier Barents ◽  
Mark Schenk ◽  
Wouter D. van Dorsser ◽  
Boudewijn M. Wisse ◽  
Just L. Herder
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Adjustment Method ◽  
Free Length ◽  
Regular Extension ◽  
Conceptual Designs ◽  
Constant Potential ◽  
Spring Mechanism

Generally, adjustment of gravity equilibrators to a new payload requires energy, e.g., to increase the preload of the balancing spring. A novel way of energy-free adjustment of gravity equilibrators is possible by introducing the concept of a storage spring. The storage spring supplies or stores the energy necessary to adjust the balancer spring of the gravity equilibrator. In essence, the storage spring mechanism maintains a constant potential energy within the spring mechanism; energy is exchanged between the storage and the balancer spring when needed. Various conceptual designs using both zero-free-length springs and regular extension springs are proposed. Two models were manufactured demonstrating the practical embodiments and functionality.

Spring-to-Spring Balancing as Energy-Free Adjustment Method in Gravity Equilibrators

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogier Barents ◽  
Mark Schenk ◽  
Wouter D. van Dorsser ◽  
Boudewijn M. Wisse ◽  
Just L. Herder
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Adjustment Method ◽  
Free Length ◽  
Regular Extension ◽  
Conceptual Designs ◽  
Constant Potential ◽  
Spring Mechanism

Generally, adjustment of gravity equilibrator to a new payload requires energy, e.g. to increase the pre-load of the balancing spring. A novel way of energy-free adjustment of gravity equilibrators is possible by introducing the concept of a storage spring. The storage spring supplies or stores the energy necessary to adjust the balancer spring of the gravity equilibrator. In essence the storage spring mechanism maintains a constant potential energy within the spring mechanism; energy is exchanged between the storage and balancer spring when needed. Various conceptual designs using both zero-free-length springs and regular extension springs are proposed. Two models were manufactured demonstrating the practical embodiments and functionality.

On zero stiffness

2013 ◽  
Vol 228 (10) ◽  
pp. 1701-1714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Schenk ◽  
Simon D Guest
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Neutral Stability ◽  
External Work ◽  
Elastic Deformations ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Methods Of Analysis ◽  
Constant Potential ◽  
Working Principle

Zero-stiffness structures have the remarkable ability to undergo large elastic deformations without requiring external work. Several equivalent descriptions exist, such as (i) continuous equilibrium, (ii) constant potential energy, (iii) neutral stability and (iv) zero stiffness. Each perspective on zero stiffness provides different methods of analysis and design. This paper reviews the concept of zero stiffness and categorises examples from the literature by the interpretation that best describes their working principle. Lastly, a basic spring-to-spring balancer is analysed to demonstrate the equivalence of the four different interpretations, and illustrate the different insights that each approach brings.

scholarly journals NVUdynamics. I. Geodesic motion on the constant-potential-energy hypersurface

2011 ◽  
Vol 135 (10) ◽  
pp. 104101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trond S. Ingebrigtsen ◽  
Søren Toxvaerd ◽  
Ole J. Heilmann ◽  
Thomas B. Schrøder ◽  
Jeppe C. Dyre
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Geodesic Motion ◽  
Constant Potential ◽  
Energy Hypersurface ◽  
Potential Energy Hypersurface

Gravity Balancing of a Spatial Articulated Manipulator Based on a New Spring Mechanism

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Win-Bin Shieh ◽  
Ben-Shiou Chou
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Gravitational Potential ◽  
Vertical Plane ◽  
Trigonometric Function ◽  
Gravitational Potential Energy ◽  
Mass System ◽  
Compression Spring ◽  
Spring Mechanism ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Motion Generator

Based on the theory of conservation of potential energy, design of a gravity-balancing spatial articulated manipulator by the use of a proposed spring mechanism is presented. Since the gravitational potential energy of the mass system of a spatial articulated manipulator of n links depends only on the orientation of each link within the system, the entire manipulator can then be considered to be equivalent to an array of n degenerated ground-adjacent links in the aspect of the potential energy. Moreover, since the gravitational potential energy of a rotary link moving in a vertical plane is a trigonometric function and the Scotch york mechanism is also a well-known harmonic motion generator, a new spring mechanism composed of a Scotch york, a compression spring, and a gear pair is used to balance the gravitational potential energy of each degenerated link. With a built-in spring mechanism embedded on each joint of the articulated manipulator, the entire spatial articulated manipulator maintains can be in equilibrium at all configurations, which is verified by the simulation of the system modeled in a commercial software Pro-Engineer. The prototyping of a practical system will be implemented in the near future.

scholarly journals NVU dynamics. III. Simulating molecules at constant potential energy

2012 ◽  
Vol 137 (24) ◽  
pp. 244101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trond S. Ingebrigtsen ◽  
Jeppe C. Dyre
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Constant Potential

Spatial Static Gravity Balancing With Ideal Springs

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freek L. S. te Riele ◽  
Just L. Herder ◽  
Edsko E. G. Hekman
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Inverted Pendulum ◽  
Spherical Joint ◽  
Static Balancing ◽  
Energy Expression ◽  
Energy Consideration ◽  
Balancing Conditions ◽  
Spring Mechanism ◽  
Potential Energy Expression

This paper discusses mechanisms that allow for perfect static balancing of rotations about a fixed spherical joint by means of ideal springs. Using a potential energy consideration, balancing conditions of a spatial three-spring balancer will be derived. It will be shown that not satisfying these conditions causes non-constant terms in the potential energy expression of the spring-mechanism, which can be eliminated by coupling the spring-mechanism to an inverted pendulum.

Planar and Spatial Gravity Balancing With Normal Springs

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freek L. S. te Riele ◽  
Edsko E. G. Hekman ◽  
Just L. Herder
Keyword(s):  
Potential Energy ◽  
Inverted Pendulum ◽  
Design Synthesis ◽  
Free Length ◽  
Energy Consideration ◽  
Complex Mechanisms ◽  
Balancing Conditions ◽  
The Ideal

Very often, spring-to-gravity-balancing mechanisms are conceived with ideal (zero-free-length l0=0) springs. However, the use of ideal springs in the conception phase tends to lead to more complex mechanisms because the ideal spring functionality has to be approximated with normal springs. To facilitate construction of (gravity) balancers, employing normal springs (l0≠0) directly mounted between the link attachment points of the mechanism in the conception phase therefore seems beneficiary. This paper discusses spring mechanisms that enable perfect balancing of gravity acting on an inverted pendulum while employing normal springs between the spring-attachment points: The design synthesis of such mechanisms will be explained and balancing conditions will be derived, using a potential energy consideration.

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