CONTENTS

858 l Theory of Machines

Features Balancing of
22
1. Introduction.
2. Primary and Secondary
Unbalanced Forces of
Reciprocating Masses.
Reciprocating
3. Partial Balancing of
Unbalanced Primary Force
in a Reciprocating Engine.
4. Partial Balancing of
Masses
Locomotives.
5. Effect of Partial Balancing of 22.1. Introduction
Reciprocating Parts of Two
Cylinder Locomotives. We have discussed in Chapter 15 (Art. 15.10), the
6. Variation of Tractive Force. various forces acting on the reciprocating parts of an en-
7. Swaying Couple. gine. The resultant of all the forces acting on the body of the
8. Hammer Blow. engine due to inertia forces only is known as unbalanced
9. Balancing of Coupled force or shaking force. Thus if the resultant of all the forces
Locomotives. due to inertia effects is zero, then there will be no unbal-
10. Balancing of Primary Forces anced force, but even then an unbalanced couple or shaking
of Multi-cylinder In-line couple will be present.
Engines. Consider a horizontal reciprocating engine mecha-
11. Balancing of Secondary nism as shown in Fig. 22.1.
Forces of Multi-cylinder In-
line Engines.
12. Balancing of Radial Engines
(Direct and Reverse Crank
Method).
13. Balancing of V-engines.

Fig. 22.1. Reciprocating engine mechanism.

Let F R = Force required to accelerate the
reciprocating parts,
858

CONTENTS
 Chapter 22 : Balancing of Reciprocating Masses l 859
FI = Inertia force due to reciprocating parts,
FN = Force on the sides of the cylinder walls or normal force acting on
the cross-head guides, and
FB = Force acting on the crankshaft bearing or main bearing.
Since FR and FI are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, therefore they balance
each other. The horizontal component of FB (i.e. FBH) acting along the line of reciprocation is also
equal and opposite to FI. This force FBH = FU is an unbalanced force or shaking force and required
to be properly balanced.
The force on the sides of the cylinder walls (FN) and the vertical component of FB
(i.e. FBV) are equal and opposite and thus form a shaking couple of magnitude FN × x or FBV × x.
From above we see that the effect of the reciprocating parts is to produce a shaking force
and a shaking couple. Since the shaking force and a shaking couple vary in magnitude and direc-
tion during the engine cycle, therefore they cause very objectionable vibrations.
Thus the purpose of balancing the reciprocating masses is to eliminate the shaking force
and a shaking couple. In most of the mechanisms, we can reduce the shaking force and a shaking
couple by adding appropriate balancing mass, but it is usually not practical to eliminate them
completely. In other words, the reciprocating masses are only partially balanced.
Note : The masses rotating with the crankshaft are normally balanced and they do not transmit any unbalanced
or shaking force on the body of the engine.

22.2. Primary and Secondary Unbalanced Forces of Reciprocating Masses

Consider a reciprocating engine mechanism as shown in Fig. 22.1.
Let m = Mass of the reciprocating parts,
l = Length of the connecting rod PC,
r = Radius of the crank OC,
θ = Angle of inclination of the crank with the line of stroke PO,
ω = Angular speed of the crank,
n = Ratio of length of the connecting rod to the crank radius = l / r.
We have already discussed in Art. 15.8 that the acceleration of the reciprocating parts is
approximately given by the expression,
 cos 2θ 
aR = ω2 ⋅ r  cos θ + 
 n 
∴ Inertia force due to reciprocating parts or force required to accelerate the reciprocating
parts,
2  cos 2θ 
FI = FR = Mass × acceleration = m ⋅ ω ⋅ r  cos θ + 
 n 
We have discussed in the previous article that the horizontal component of the force exerted
on the crank shaft bearing (i.e. FBH) is equal and opposite to inertia force (FI). This force is an
unbalanced one and is denoted by FU.
∴ Unbalanced force,
 cos 2θ  cos2θ
FU = m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r  cos θ + 2 2
 = m.ω ⋅ r cos θ + m ⋅ ω ⋅ r × = FP + FS
 n  n
The expression ( m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ) is known as primary unbalanced force and
 2 cos 2θ 
 m ⋅ω ⋅r ×  is called secondary unbalanced force.
 n 
860 l Theory of Machines

∴ Primary unbalanced force, FP = m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ

cos2θ
and secondary unbalanced force, FS = m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r ×
n
Notes: 1. The primary unbalanced force is maximum, when θ = 0° or 180°. Thus, the primary force is
maximum twice in one revolution of the crank. The maximum primary unbalanced force is given by

FP( max) = m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r
2. The secondary unbalanced force is maximum, when θ = 0°, 90°,180° and 360°. Thus, the second-
ary force is maximum four times in one revolution of the crank. The maximum secondary unbalanced force is
given by
r
FS( max ) = m ⋅ ω2 ×
n
3. From above we see that secondary unbalanced force is 1/n times the maximum primary
unbalanced force.
4. In case of moderate speeds, the secondary unbalanced force is so small that it may be neglected as
compared to primary unbalanced force.
5. The unbalanced force due to reciprocating masses varies in magnitude but constant in direction
while due to the revolving masses, the unbalanced force is constant in magnitude but varies in direction.

22.3. Partial Balancing of Unbalanced Primary Force in a Reciprocating

Engine
2
The primary unbalanced force ( m ⋅ ω ⋅ r cos θ) may be considered as the component of the
centrifugal force produced by a rotating mass m placed at the crank radius r, as shown in Fig. 22.2.

Fig. 22.2. Partial balancing of unbalanced primary force in a reciprocating engine.

The primary force acts from O to P along the line of stroke. Hence, balancing of primary
force is considered as equivalent to the balancing of mass m rotating at the crank radius r. This is
balanced by having a mass B at a radius b, placed diametrically opposite to the crank pin C.
We know that centrifugal force due to mass B,
= B ⋅ ω2 ⋅ b
and horizontal component of this force acting in opposite direction of primary force
= B ⋅ ω2 ⋅ b cos θ
The primary force is balanced, if
B ⋅ ω2 ⋅ b cos θ = m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ or B.b = m.r
 Chapter 22 : Balancing of Reciprocating Masses l 861
A little consideration will show,
that the primary force is completely
balanced if B.b = m.r, but the centrifugal Operating handle
force produced due to the revolving mass
B, has also a vertical component Cable winder
(perpendicular to the line of stroke) of for stowing
magnitude B ⋅ ω2 ⋅ b sin θ . This force flex Carrying handle
remains unbalanced. The maximum value
of this force is equal to B ⋅ ω2 ⋅ b when θ
is 90° and 270°, which is same as the
maximum value of the primary force
m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r .
From the above discussion, we see
that in the first case, the primary unbalanced Hose for use in
awkward place
force acts along the line of stroke whereas
in the second case, the unbalanced force acts
Bin where larger
along the perpendicular to the line of stroke. dust particles
The maximum value of the force remains accumulate.
same in both the cases. It is thus obvious,
that the effect of the above method of
Cleaner lead
balancing is to change the direction of the Cable winder containing brush
maximum unbalanced force from the line
of stroke to the perpendicular of line of
stroke. As a compromise let a fraction ‘c’
of the reciprocating masses is balanced,
such that
c.m.r = B.b Cyclone cleaner.
∴ Unbalanced force along the line
of stroke
= m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ − B ⋅ ω2 ⋅ b cos θ
= m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ − c ⋅ m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ ... (∵ B.b = c.m.r)

= (1 − c)m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ
and unbalanced force along the perpendicular to the line of stroke

= B ⋅ ω2 ⋅ b sin θ = c ⋅ m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r sin θ
∴ Resultant unbalanced force at any instant
2 2
=  (1 − c )m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r cos θ  +  c ⋅ m ⋅ ω2 ⋅ r sin θ 

= m ⋅ω2 ⋅ r (1 − c)2 cos2 θ + c2 sin2 θ

Note : If the balancing mass is required to balance the revolving masses as well as reciprocating masses, then

B.b = m1 ⋅ r + c ⋅ m ⋅ r = ( m1 + c ⋅ m) r
where m1 = Magnitude of the revolving masses, and
m = magnitude of the reciprocating masses.
862 l Theory of Machines
Example 22.1. A single cylinder reciprocating engine has speed 240 r.p.m., stroke 300
mm, mass of reciprocating parts 50 kg, mass of revolving parts at 150 mm radius 37 kg. If two-
third of the reciprocating parts and all the revolving parts are to be balanced, find : 1. The balance
mass required at a radius of 400 mm, and 2. The residual unbalanced force when the crank has
rotated 60° from top dead centre.
Solution. Given : N = 240 r.p.m. or ω = 2π × 240 / 60 = 25.14 rad/s ; Stroke = 300 mm
= 0.3 m; m = 50 kg ; m1 = 37 kg ; r = 150 mm = 0.15 m ; c = 2/3
1. Balance mass required
Let B = Balance mass required, and
b = Radius of rotation of the balance mass = 400 mm = 0.4 m
. . . (Given)
We know that
B.b = (m1 + c.m) r
 2 
B × 0.4 =  37 + × 50  0.15 = 10.55 or B = 26.38 kg Ans.
 3 
2. Residual unbalanced force
Let θ = Crank angle from top dead centre = 60° . . . (Given)
We know that residual unbalanced force

= m ⋅ω2 ⋅ r (1 − c)2 cos2 θ + c2 sin2 θ

2 2
 2 2
= 50(25.14)2 0.15 1 −  cos 2 60° +   sin 2 60° N
 3  3
= 4740 × 0.601 = 2849 N Ans.

22.4. Partial Balancing of Locomotives

The locomotives, usually, have two cylinders with cranks placed at right angles to each
other in order to have uniformity in turning moment diagram. The two cylinder locomotives may
be classified as :
1. Inside cylinder locomotives ; and 2. Outside cylinder locomotives.
In the inside cylinder locomotives, the two cylinders are placed in between the planes of
two driving wheels as shown in Fig. 22.3 (a) ; whereas in the outside cylinder locomotives, the two
cylinders are placed outside the driving wheels, one on each side of the driving wheel, as shown in
Fig. 22.3 (b). The locomotives may be
(a) Single or uncoupled locomotives ; and (b) Coupled locomotives.

(a) Inside cylinder locomotives. (b) Outside cylinder locomotives.

Fig. 22.3