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Introduction To Mechanisms

This document provides an introduction to mechanisms and simple machines. It defines a mechanism as a combination of rigid bodies that transmit forces and motion in a predetermined manner. A machine is similar but also transforms energy to do work. Simple machines are basic mechanisms that include the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, and screw. Examples of mechanisms discussed include a diesel engine and screw jack. The inclined plane and its use in screw jacks are explained in detail. It is noted that an inclined plane allows a smaller force over a greater distance to do the same amount of work as a larger force over a shorter distance.

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Sumit Shrivastava
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232 views4 pages

Introduction To Mechanisms

This document provides an introduction to mechanisms and simple machines. It defines a mechanism as a combination of rigid bodies that transmit forces and motion in a predetermined manner. A machine is similar but also transforms energy to do work. Simple machines are basic mechanisms that include the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, and screw. Examples of mechanisms discussed include a diesel engine and screw jack. The inclined plane and its use in screw jacks are explained in detail. It is noted that an inclined plane allows a smaller force over a greater distance to do the same amount of work as a larger force over a shorter distance.

Uploaded by

Sumit Shrivastava
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction to Mechanisms

Yi Zhang
with 
Susan Finger
Stephannie Behrens

Table of Contents

2 Mechanisms and Simple Machines


Mechanism: the fundamental physical or chemical processes involved in or responsible for an
action, reaction or other natural phenomenon.

Machine: an assemblage of parts that transmit forces, motion and energy in a predetermined
manner.

Simple Machine: any of various elementary mechanisms having the elements of which all
machines are composed.  Included in this category are the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined
plane, wedge and the screw.

The word mechanism has many meanings. In kinematics, a mechanism is a means of


transmitting, controlling, or constraining relative movement (Hunt 78). Movements which are
electrically, magnetically, pneumatically operated are excluded from the concept of mechanism.
The central theme for mechanisms is rigid bodies connected together by joints.

A machine is a combination of rigid or resistant bodies, formed and connected do that they move
with definite relative motions and transmit force from the source of power to the resistance to be
overcome. A machine has two functions: transmitting definite relative motion and transmitting
force.  These functions require strength and rigidity to transmit the forces.

The term mechanism is applied to the combination of geometrical bodies which constitute a


machine or part of a machine. Amechanism may therefore be defined as a combination of rigid
or resistant bodies, formed and connected so that they move with definite relative motions with
respect to one another (Ham et al. 58).

Although a truly rigid body does not exist, many engineering components are rigid because their
deformations and distortions are negligible in comparison with their relative movements.

The similarity between machines  and mechanisms is that

 they are both combinations of rigid bodies


 the relative motion among the rigid bodies are definite.
The difference between machine and mechanism is that machines transform energy to do work,
while mechanisms so not necessarily perform this function. The term machinery generally
means machines and mechanisms. Figure 2-1 shows a picture of the main part of a diesel engine.
The mechanism of its cylinder-link-crank parts is a slider-crank mechanism, as shown in Figure
2-2.

Figure 2-1 Cross section of a power cylinder in a diesel engine

Figure 2-2 Skeleton outline

2.1 The Inclined Plane

Figure 2-3a shows an inclined plane, AB is the base, BC is the height and AC the inclined plane.
With the use of the inclined plane a given resistance can be overcome with a smaller force than if
the plane is not used. For example, in Figure 2-3b, suppose we wish to raise a weight of 1000 lb.
through the vertical distance BC = 2 ft. If this weight were raised vertically and without the use
of the inclined plane the force 1000 lb. would have to be exerted through the distance BC. If,
however, the inclined plane is used and the weight is moved over its inclined plane AC, a force
of only 2/3 of 1000 lb. or 667 lb. is necessary, although this force is exerted through a distance
AC which is greater than distance BC.
Figure 2-3 Inclined plane

Using an inclined plane requires a smaller force exerted through a greater distance to do a certain
amount of work.

Letting F represent the force required to raise a given weight on the inclined plane, and W the
weight to be raised, we have the proportion:

(2-1)

2.1.1 Screw Jack

One of the most common application of the principle of the inclined plane is in the screw
jack which is used to overcome a heavy pressure or raise a heavy weight of W by a much smaller
force F applied at the handle. R represents the length of the handle and Pthe pitch of the screw,
or the distance advances in one complete turn.

Figure 2-4 The screw jack

Neglecting the friction the following rule is used: The force F multiplied by the distance through
which it moves in one complete turn is equal to the weight lifted times the distance through
which it is lifted in the same time. In one complete turn the end of the handle describes a circle
of circumference 2 R. This is the distance through which the force F is exerted.

Therefore from the rule above

(2-2)
and

(2-3)
Suppose R equals 18 in., P equals 1/8 in. and the weight to be lifted equals 100,000 lb., then the
force required at F is then 110 lb. This means that, neglecting friction, 110 lb. at F will raise
100,000 lb. at W, but the weight lifted moves much slower than the force applied at F.

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