DIFFERENT KINDS

OF MECHANISMS
CRANK
 n a mechanical linkage or mechanism, a link that can
turn about a center of rotation. The crank's center of
rotation is in the pivot, usually the axis of a crankshaft,
that connects the crank to an adjacent link. A crank is
arranged for complete rotation (360°) about its center;
however, it may only oscillate or have intermittent
motion. A bell crank is frequently used to change
direction of motion in a linkage (see illustration)
Cranks (a) for changing radius of rotation, and (b) for changing
direction of translation.
BELL CRANK
 A bell crank is a type of crank that changes motion
through an angle. The angle can be any angle from 0 to
360 degrees, although 90 degrees and 180 degrees are
common. The name comes from its first use, changing
the vertical pull on a rope to a horizontal pull on the
striker of a bell used for calling staff in large houses or
commercial establishments.
 A typical 90 degree bell crank consists of an "L" shaped
crank pivoted where the two arms of the L meet. Moving
rods (or cables or ropes) are attached to the ends of the
L arms. When one is pulled, the L rotates around the
pivot point, pulling on the other arm.
 A typical 180 degree bell crank consists of a straight bar pivoted in
the center. When one arm is pulled or pushed, the bar rotates
around the pivot point, pulling or pushing on the other arm.
 Changing the length of the arms changes the mechanical advantage
of the system. Many applications do not change the direction of
motion, but instead to amplify a force "in line", which a bell cranks,
can do in a limited space. There is a tradeoff between range of
motion, linearity of motion, and size. The greater the angle traversed
by the crank, the more non-linear the motion becomes (the more the
motion ratio changes).
 Bell cranks are often used in aircraft control systems to connect the
pilot's controls to the control surfaces. For example: on light aircraft,
the rudder often has a bell crank whose pivot point in the rudder
hinge. A cable connects the pilot's rudder pedal to one side of the
bell crank. When the pilot pushes on the rudder pedal, the rudder
rotates on it's hinge. The opposite rudder pedal is connected to the
other end of the bell crank to rotate the rudder in the opposite
direction.
 Bell cranks are also seen in automotive applications, as part of the
linkage connecting the throttle pedal to the carburetor, and
connecting the brake pedal to the master brake cylinder.
Slider-crank mechanism
 A four-bar linkage with output crank and ground member
of infinite length. A slider crank is most widely used to
convert reciprocating to rotary motion (as in an engine)
or to convert rotary to reciprocating motion (as in
pumps), but it has numerous other applications.
Positions at which slider motion reverses are called dead
centers. When crank and connecting rod are extended in
a straight line and the slider is at its maximum distance
from the axis of the crankshaft, the position is top dead
center (TDC); when the slider is at its minimum distance
from the axis of the crankshaft, the position is bottom
dead center (BDC).
Principal parts of slider-crank mechanism
Bevel Gear
 Bevel gears are gears where
the axes of the two shafts
intersect and the tooth-bearing
faces of the gears themselves
are conically shaped. Bevel
gears are most often mounted on
shafts that are 90 degrees apart,
but can be designed to work at
other angles as well. The pitch
surface of bevel gears is a cone.
 The bevel gear is used to
change the axis of rotational
motion. By using gears of
differing numbers of teeth the
speed of rotation can also be
changed.
Spur gear

 Spur gears are the most

common type of gears.
They have straight teeth,
and are mounted on
parallel shafts.
Sometimes, many spur
gears are used at once to
create very large gear
reductions.
 CAM
 A cam is a rotating or sliding
piece in a mechanical linkage
used especially in transforming
rotary motion into linear motion
or vice versa. It is often a part
of a rotating wheel (e.g. an
eccentric wheel) or shaft (e.g.
a cylinder with an irregular
shape) that strikes a lever at
one or more points on its
circular path. The cam can be
a simple tooth, as is used to
deliver pulses of power to a
steam hammer, for example,
or an eccentric disc or other
shape that produces a smooth
reciprocating (back and forth)
motion in the follower which is
a lever making contact with the
cam. Gear ratios out of this
gear set.
Classification of cams. (a) Translating. (b) Disk. (c) Positive motion. (d)
Cylindrical. (e) With yoke follower. (f) With flat-face follower
 Universal joint
 A universal joint, U
joint, Cardan joint,
Hardy-Spicer joint, or
Hooke's joint is a joint in
a rigid rod that allows the
rod to 'bend' in any
direction, and is
commonly used in shafts
that transmit rotary
motion. It consists of a
pair of hinges located
close together, oriented
at 90° to each other,
connected by a cross
shaft.
 Roller chain
 Roller chain or bush
roller chain is the type of
chain most commonly
used for transmission of
mechanical power on
bicycles, motorcycles,
and in industrial and
agricultural machinery. It
is a simple, reliable, and
efficient means of power
transmission.
GENEVA DRIVE
The Geneva drive or Maltese cross is a
mechanism that translates a continuous rotation
into an intermittent rotary motion. It is an
intermittent gear where the drive wheel has a pin
that reaches into a slot of the driven wheel and
thereby advances it by one step. The drive wheel
also has a raised circular blocking disc that locks
the driven wheel in position between steps.
In the most common arrangement, the driven wheel has four slots and thus
advances for each rotation of the drive wheel by one step of 90°. If the
driven wheel has n slots, it advances by 360°/n per full rotation of the drive
wheel.
INTERNAL GENEVA DRIVE
 Besides the external Geneva drive, there is also
an internal Geneva drive. The external form is
the more common, as it can be built smaller and
can withstand higher mechanical stresses. The
axis of the drive wheel of the internal Geneva
drive can have a bearing only on one side. The
angle by which the drive wheel has to rotate to
effect one step rotation of the driven wheel is
always smaller than 180° in an external Geneva
drive and always greater than 180° in an internal
one, where the switch time is therefore greater
than the time the driven wheel stands still.
 PISTON
 This mechanism is used
to convert between rotary
motion and reciprocating
motion, it works either
way. Notice how the
speed of the piston
changes. The piston
starts from one end, and
increases its speed. It
reaches maximum speed
in the middle of its travel
then gradually slows
down until it reaches the
end of its travel.
 LINKAGE
 A mechanical linkage is a series of rigid links
connected with joints to form a closed chain, or a series
of closed chains. Each link has two or more joints, and
the joints have various degrees of freedom to allow
motion between the links. A linkage is called a
mechanism if two or more links are movable with respect
to a fixed link. Mechanical linkages are usually designed
to take an input and produce a different output, altering
the motion, velocity, acceleration, and applying
mechanical advantage.
 FOUR BAR LINKAGE
 A typical four bar
mechanism, as the name
denotes, is formed of a
kinematic chain of four
members connected by
revolute joints. This
mechanism can have four
possible configurations
with a different link fixed
as frame each time.
Types of four-bar linkages, s = shortest link, l = longest link
 The plane four-bar linkage (Fig. 1) consists of four pin-
connected links forming a closed loop, in which all pin
axes are parallel. The spherical four-bar linkage consists
of four pin-connected links forming a closed loop, in
which all pin axes intersect at one point. The skew four-
bar linkage (Fig. 2) consists of four jointed links forming
a closed loop, in which crank 2 and link 4 are pin-
connected to ground 1 and the axes of the pins are
generally nonparallel and nonintersecting; coupler 3 is
connected to crank 2 and link 4 by ball joints.
Fig. 1 Plane four-bar linkage with joints at A, B, C, and D. φ, ψ, and μ
are angles defining orientations of joints.
Fig. 2 perpendicular between axes of pin joints at A and D; φ, ψ, and ξ are
angles defining orientations of joints.">
Skew four-bar linkage with joints at A, B, C, and D. OA = f; ED = g; OE =
common perpendicular between axes of pin joints at A and D; φ, ψ, and ξ are
angles defining orientations of joints.
 Four-bar linkages are most frequently used to convert a uniform continuous
rotation (the motion of crank 2) into a no uniform rotation or oscillation (the
motion of link 4). In instrument applications the primary function of the linkage is
the conversion of motion, while in power applications both motion conversion
and power transmission are fundamental.
 Each of the above linkages can be proportioned for three types of motion, or
linkage types: crank-and-rocker, drag, and double-rocker.
 Crank-and-rocker linkages have a motion in which the crank (link 2) is capable of
unlimited rotation, while the output link (link 4) oscillates or rocks through a
fraction of one turn (usually less than 90°). This is the most common form of the
plane and the skew four-bar linkage, and is used in machinery and appliances of
all types.
 In drag linkages the motions of cranks 2 and 4 are both capable of unlimited
rotations. The plane drag linkage has been used for quick-return motions. The
most common drag linkage is the spherical drag linkage. One such linkage is the
Hooke-type universal joint, or hooke joint. See also Universal joint.
 In double-rocker linkages, neither crank 2 nor 4 is capable of complete rotations.
Such motions occur in hand tools and mechanical equipment in which only
limited rotations are required.
 RACK AND PINION
 The rack and pinion is
used to convert between
rotary and linear motion.
The rack is the flat,
toothed part, the pinion is
the gear. Rack and pinion
can convert from rotary to
linear of from linear to
rotary.
 RECIPROCATOR
 This mechanism
converts rotary
motion to
reciprocating motion
in two axis.
QUICK RETURN MECHANISM
 A quick return mechanism
such as the one seen below is
used where there is a need to
convert rotary motion into
reciprocating motion. As the
disc rotates the black slide
moves forwards and
backwards. Many machines
have this type of mechanism
and in the school workshop the
best example is the shaping
machine.