Student ID Number: 901471236

Analysis of a Vise-Grip

Kyle Collins
AME 40423
Mechanisms and Machines

September 22, 2010

Abstract
The purpose of this project was to analyze a vise-grip clamping device and determine
the relationship between the input force and the output (clamping) force. A skeleton
diagram was created for the mechanism, which is a coupler-driven four-bar mechanism.
Equilibrium equations were derived from free body diagrams, and the system of equations
was solved for the mathematical relation between input and output. It was found that
maximum, in fact infinite, mechanical advantage is gained when the coupler is in-line with
the ground link. This configuration forms the basis of the mechanism’s clamping ability:
when the mechanism is “over center,” in this configuration, only a minimal amount of force
is needed to maintain clamping pressure. Finally, it was determined that the adjustable
sliding joint is useful in obtaining a wide range of clamping angles.

1 Engineering Analysis
A vise-grip clamping tool was analyzed in this project. A vise-grip is an example of a coupler-
driven four-bar mechanism. In order to analyze the relationship between the input force and the
clamping force, a skeleton diagram was first constructed to study the kinematics of the
mechanism. Second, a force-balance analysis was conducted on the links of the vise-grip in
order to derive a mathematical equation relating input force and clamping force.

1.1 Skeleton Diagram

A skeleton diagram of a vise-grip is shown on the following page in Figure 1. The joint between
links 1 and 2 is an adjustable sliding joint. The dimension r1 can be varied by changing the
location of the “grounded” joint 1-2 along the indicated axis x. For the purposes of later force-
balance analysis, this sliding joint will be modeled as a conventional pin-joint. The force Fd is
the driving (input) force, and the force Fl is the clamping (output) force.
 Figure 1: Skeleton diagram for a vise-grip

1.2 Force-balance Analysis

In order to analyze the relationship between the input force and the clamping force, free body
diagrams were constructed for each of the non-ground links of the mechanisms. These diagrams
are shown in Figure 2 on the following page. Because link 2 experiences no external torques, it
was identified as a two-force member.

Assuming static equilibrium, and taking advantage of trigonometric co-function identities, link 3
gives:

∑M B = Fd L − F4 y r3 = 0 , (1)

∑F y = −Fd + F2 sin φ − F4 y = 0 , (2)

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and ∑F x = −F2 cos φ − F4 x = 0 . (3)
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 Figure 2: Free body diagrams for the links of a vise-grip

The static-equilibrium conditions for link 4 give:

∑M D = Fl M − r4 (F4 x sin µ) + r4 (F4 y cos µ) = 0 . (4)

Equations (1) through (4) are four equations in five unknowns: F2 , F4x , F4y , Fd , and Fl . To
solve the system for the desired input-output relationship, the expression Fl M can be taken as a
€ (4) becomes:
known value. Equation

Fl M = r4 (F4 x sin µ) − r4 (F4 y cos µ) (4.1)

The system of equations (1), (2), (3), and (4.1) can be solved by using matrix form and applying
Cramer’s rule. Writing the system on matrix form gives:
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  0 0 −r3 L  F2   0 
    
 sin φ 0 −1 −1 F4 x   0 
=
−cos φ −1 0 0 F 4 y   0  . (5)
    
 0 r4 sin µ −r4 cos µ 0  Fd  Fl M 

Applying Cramer’s rule to equation (5) to solve for Fd gives:

€ r3 sin φ
Fd = Fl M
−r4 [r3 cos φ sin µ + L sin(φ + µ)] . (6)

Full hand calculations for the computation of the equilibrium equations and the application of
Cramer’s rule can be found in Appendix 1.
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2 Results
Equation (6) gives a relationship between the input force Fd and the output torque of link 4, Fl M;
however, in order to best explain the vise-grip’s ability to function as a clamp, the mechanical
advantage of the mechanism was calculated. The adjustable nature of the joint linking bodies 1
and 2 was also found to increase the versatility of the tool.

2.1 Clamping Ability

Defining the mechanical advantage of the vise-grip offers insight into the tool’s clamping ability.
In a standard four-bar mechanism, the mechanical advantage is defined as the ratio of the output
torque to the input torque. Because the vise-grip is a coupler-driven four-bar mechanism, the
mechanical advantage Ma can be defined as the ratio of the output (clamping) torque to the input
force. By rearranging equation (6),

torqueoutput Fl M −r4 [r3 cos φ sin µ + L sin(φ + µ)]

Ma = = = . (7)
forceinput Fd r3 sin φ

The mechanical advantage is the amount by which the input force Fd is amplified into the
clamping torque. When links 2 and 3 are in overlapping or in line, φ = 0º or 180º. In these two
€ as the limit positions of the mechanism, sin φ = 0. With its denominator equal
scenarios, known
to zero, Ma is infinite, and the mechanism is said to have infinite mechanical advantage. For the
vise-grip, infinite mechanical advantage corresponds to when links 2 and 3 are inline; in this
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position, the mechanism is said to be “over center” and only the smallest possible force applied
€ torque. In practice, links 2 and 3 of the
to link 3 is required to resist an infinitely high clamping
vise-grip continue to rotate slightly past the limit position and are prevented from further rotation
by a metal stopper on link 2. This lends stability to the fully clamped position. A small lever
applies a minimal force between links 2 and 3 to disengage the mechanism from the clamped and
“locked” position.

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2.2 Adjustability

The lateral adjustability of the virtual-pin joint linking bodies 1 and 2 provides an important
feature to the vise-grip. As shown below in Figure 3, changing the location of this pin joint also
changes the position of link 4 when the mechanism is in the limit position. The different
clamping angles θ , θ ’, and θ ” shown in Figure 3 correspond to the pin locations x, x’, and x”.
The adjustable joint allows the vise-grip to clamp a wide range of objects with various
thicknesses or diameters while maintaining maximum mechanical advantage.
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Figure 3: Various pin-joint locations and corresponding clamping angles

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 Appendix 1
Hand Calculations for the Force Balance Analysis