Development of kinematic pair consisting of elastically constrained two curved surfaces which can generate the specified rolling motion

Abstract

Linkage mechanisms with 1 DOF consisting of links and lower pairs cannot completely generate the specified output motion. In order to solve that problem, the novel kinematic pair with 1 DOF is developed. This kinematic pair consists of two surfaces in line contact with each other and can generate relative rolling motion along the specified spatial trajectory. Thus, it is called the spatial rolling contact pair. The relative rolling motion along an arbitrary trajectory is specified so as to satisfy the kinematic condition of the spatial rolling motion. Rolling contact surfaces which can generate the specified motion are designed based on ruled surfaces of the instantaneous screw axis. Some norms to evaluate stability of rolling contact between designed pairing elements are introduced, and the pairing elements are constrained by many linear elastic elements so as to satisfy them. Some examples of the proposed kinematic pair are designed, and one of them is manufactured as a prototype. By some experiments, it is confirmed that the prototype generates the specified rolling motion and keeps rolling contact by designed elastic constraint. Finally, it is revealed that a spatial 4-bar mechanism with the spatial rolling contact pair can completely generate the specified output motion and can be synthesized more easily than the mechanism synthesized by conventional methods.

Keywords

• linkage mechanism
• mechanism synthesis
• kinematic pair
• higher pair
• rolling contact