Branch Identification of Spherical Six-Bar Linkages

Author(s):  
Liangyi Nie ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Kwun-Lon Ting ◽  
Daxing Zhao ◽  
Quan Wang ◽  
...  

Branch (assembly mode or circuit) identification is a way to assure motion continuity among discrete linkage positions. Branch problem is the most fundamental, pivotal, and complex issue among the mobility problems that may also include sub-branch (singularity-free) identification, range of motion, and order of motion. Branch and mobility complexity increases greatly in spherical or spatial linkages. This paper presents the branch identification method suitable for automated motion continuity rectification of a single degree-of-freedom of spherical linkages. Using discriminant method and the concept of joint rotation space (JRS), the branch of a spherical linkage can be easily identified. The proposed method is general and conceptually straightforward. It can be applied for all linkage inversions. Examples are employed to illustrate the proposed method.

Author(s):  
Kwun-Lon Ting ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Changyu Xue ◽  
Kenneth R. Currie

Full rotatability identification is a problem frequently encountered in linkage analysis and synthesis. The full rotatability of a linkage is referred to a linkage in which the input may complete a full revolution without the possibility of encountering a dead center position. In a complex linkage, the input rotatability of each branch may be different. This paper presented a unified and comprehensive treatment for the full rotatability identification of six-bar and geared five-bar linkages disregard the choice of input and output joints or fixed link. A simple way to identify all dead center positions and the associated branches is discussed. Special attention and detail discussion is given to the more difficult condition with the input given through a link or joint not in the four-bar loop or on a gear-link. A branch without a dead center position has full rotatability. Using the concept of joint rotation space, the branch of each dead center position, and hence the branch without a dead center position can be identified easily. The proposed method is simple and conceptually straightforward and the process can be automated easily. It can be extended to any other single-degree-of-freedom complex linkages.


Author(s):  
Kaustubh H. Sonawale ◽  
J. Michael McCarthy

This paper presents a design system for planar and spherical six-bar linkages, which is integrated with a solid modeler. The user specifies a backbone 3R chain in five task configurations in the sketch mode of the solid modeler and executes the design system. Two RR constraints are computed, which constrain the 3R chain to a single degree-of-freedom six-bar linkage. There are six ways that these constraints can be added to the 3R serial chain to yield as many as 63 different linkages in case of planar six-bar linkages and 165 in case of spherical six-bar linkages. The performance of each candidate is analyzed, and those that meet the required task are presented to the designer for selection. The design algorithm is run iteratively with random variations applied to the task configurations within user-specified tolerance zones, to increase the number of candidate designs. The output is a solid model of the six-bar linkage. Examples are presented, which demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy for both planar and spherical linkages.


Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Kwun-Lon Ting

This paper presents the first complete and automated mobility identification method for a group of single-DOF planar eight-bar linkages and thus represents a breakthrough on the recognition and understanding of complex linkage mobility. The mobility identification in this paper refers to the configuration space, the range of motion, and configuration recognition. It is a troublesome problem encountered in any linkage analysis and synthesis. The problem becomes extremely confusing with complex multiloop linkages. The proposed approach is simple and straightforward. It recognizes that the loop equations are the mathematical fundamentals for the formation of branches, sub-branches, and other mobility issues of the entire linkage. The mobility information is then extracted through the discriminant method. The paper presents complete answers to all typical mobility issues, offers the mathematical insight as well as explanation on the effects of multiple loops via joint rotation space, and casts light for treating the mobility problems of other complex linkages. The merits of the discriminant method for mobility identification are clarified and examples are employed to showcase the proposed method. The computer-aided automated mobility analysis of eight-bar linkages is made possible for the first time.


Author(s):  
Kwun-Lon Ting ◽  
J. H. Shyu

Abstract Unlike single degree of freedom linkages, the rotatability at a joint of a five-bar linkage is affected by the rotatability at another joint. Unless the linkage has full rotatability, the allowable inputs of a five-bar linkage are related. This article, by taking the interrelationship between the rotatability of two input angles into consideration, presents the most extensive study on the rotatability of five-bar linkages. The joint rotation space of a five-bar linkage is the region between the singular curves which represent the relationship between the input angular positions of the linkage at singular positions. By distinguishing five-bar linkages into C-C (crank-crank), C-R (crank-rocker), and R-R (rocker-rocker) types, there are totally nine C-C types, four C-R types and four R-R types of joint rotation space in classes I and II five-bar linkages. The results in this paper are essential for understanding the basic mobility and limitation of five-bar linkages. One may also find them useful in manipulators or multi-loop linkages which have a five-bar chain as the major or minor structure. The results are also applicable to spherical five-bar linkages.


2021 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 104258
Author(s):  
Jeonghwan Lee ◽  
Lailu Li ◽  
Sung Yul Shin ◽  
Ashish D. Deshpande ◽  
James Sulzer

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