Synthesis of Spring Parameters to Satisfy Specified Energy Levels in Planar Mechanisms

Abstract

The potential energy storage capabilities of linear springs are integrated with the nonlinear motion of mechanisms to provide approximation of desired counter-loading functions. The approximating function is required to be identical to the desired function at a number of precision points. The work is directly analogous to the algebraic form of kinematic synthesis, thus enabling an immediate conceptual grasp by those already familiar with kinematics.