Scissor Mechanisms

Scissor mechanisms are very common for lifting and stabilizing platforms. A variety of manlifts, service platforms and cargo lifts utilize this visually simple but structurally complex mechanism.

Figure 1 Torero Cabin Service Truck Scissor Mechanism was chassis mounted and lifted the cabin to service aircraft

My introduction to scissor mechanisms came in 1979, with my employment at the then CochranWestern Corporation. A pair of scissor lift mechanisms was used on the aircraft cargo loaders. The aft scissor stabilized the 15,000 Lb cargo from a low height of 20 to the maximum height of 144. The forward scissor lifted and stabilized the forward platform with the operator and the 15,000 Lb load; the lift range was 70 to 218. The typical scissor is comprised of an inner and outer section. The inner scissor is comprised of a pair of longitudinal arms and one or more lateral beams. One end of the longitudinal arms is pinned to either the chassis or platform, while the other end of the arms pushes against the platform or chassis with a roller or slider mechanism. The mid-point of the longitudinal arms is the location of the pivot between the inner and outer sections. The outer section is comprised of a pair of longitudinal arms, which are similar to the inner section, but the outer arms are typically not structurally connected. The outer arms pin to either the platform or chassis, which the inners are not pinned and push against the opposite frame. If the scissors just stabilize the platform, then the platform is lifted by an external mechanism. When the scissors lift and stabilize the platform, then a means within the scissor mechanism causes the scissors to rotate and, thus, lift/lower the platform. The scissor mechanism does not analyze readily with hand calculations because it often has multiple load paths; further, certain loads are dependent upon deflection and constraints. The following cursory analysis is directed towards the inner scissor section.

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

In Figure 2, a typical inner scissor is shown. For purposes of this study, the scissor arms are 160 long and the width is 50. The cross section of the arms and the cross tube is a 6 x 6 x 0.25 wall square tube. Position 1 along the scissor arm is the pinned connection. For this analysis, the connection supports forces in the three orthogonal directions but moment loads are not supported. Position 9 of the scissor is the mid-point of the arm and, thus, considered the center pivot location. Position 17 of the scissor arm is the roller end of the arm. For this analysis, only a vertical (Z axis) reaction force is supported by one of the longitudinal arms. The roller end of the second arm is free to move; this second arm roller is where deflection (Z= -1.00) or force (Fz = -317.846 Lb) loads are applied.

Figure 2 Basic Inner Scissor Section Lateral Beam in Location 9 (Center Pivot) The global X-Y-Z axis orientation is shown in Figure 2. The X axis is lateral to the scissor arm. For the first analyses, the scissors are rotated about the pinned end (location 1) and the X axis through an angle of 60 degrees. For geometry considerations, scissors dont often attain even 60 degree of rotation. For modeling purposes, the Z axis is up.

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

Rotation of the Inner Scissor Arm With the Lateral Beam Located at the Center Pivot
The first sequence of analyses is of the basic inner scissor arm with the lateral beam located at the center pivot. As the inner scissor arm is rotated up in 5 degree increments, a deflection of Z = -1.0 is applied to the free end of the scissor arm.

Load Ratio Relative to the Load at 0 Degree Scissor Arm Rotation

Scissor Arm Relative Loads Constant Deflection of 1" 6" x 6" x 0.25" Wall Square Tube
4.50 4.00 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 Scissor Arm Rotation from Horizontal

Reaction Force Ratio Lateral Beam Torsion Ratio Scissor Arm Bending Moment Ratio

Figure 3 Rotation of Basic Inner Scissor Arm Z = -1.0 Constant Deflection Figure 3 shows the results of the analyses. 1. The Reaction Force is the force required to provide the vertical deflection of 1.00 2. The Reaction Force is 317.846 Lb, when the scissors are at the 0 degree rotation position. 3. The Ratio (Reaction Force, Lateral Beam Torsion and Scissor Arm Bending Moment) is determined relative to the value when the scissor is in the down (0 degree) position. As anticipated, the scissors become increasingly stiff, as the arm is rotated. This is because the load is increasingly directed along the axis of the scissor arm. Figure 4 shows the results of the analyses but for constant load, instead of constant deflection.

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

Load Ratio Relative to the Load at 0 Degree Scissor Arm Rotation

Scissor Arm Relative Loads Constant Load 6" x 6" x 0.25" Wall Square Tube
1.20 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 Scissor Arm Rotation from Horizontal Lateral Beam Torsion Ratio Scissor Arm Bending Moment Ratio Reaction Force Ratio

Figure 4 Rotation of Basic Inner Scissor Arm FZ = -317.846 Lb Constant Load

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

Basic Inner Scissor Arm With a Single Lateral Beam at Various Positions
The next series of analyses is for a basic inner scissor arm but the single lateral beam was located at various positions along the length of the scissor arm.

Figure 5 Basic Inner Scissor Arm Lateral Beam in Location 1 Figure 6 shows the analyses results for the scissor arm in the 0 degree (down) position. For a single lateral beam at various positions, 1. As the lateral beam was shifted away from Position 9 (center pivot) with constant load, the deflection increased. 2. With the lateral beam shifted to Positions 1 or 17 (ends of the scissor arms), the deflection increased by 71% relative to the Position 9 deflection. 3. As the lateral beam was shifted away from the Position 9 (center pivot), the scissor arm bending moment increased. 4. With the lateral beam shifted to Positions 1 or 17 (ends of the scissor arms), the scissor arm bending moment increased by 100% relative to the Position 9 bending moment. 5. With constant deflection, the scissor arm bending moment maximum is located between Positions 4 and 5 and Positions 13 and 14.

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

Ratios Based Upon Lateral Beam in Position 9

Effect of Scissor Lateral Beam Location Constant Deflection and Constant Force 6" x 6" x 0.25" Wall Square Tube
2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Lateral Beam Location Reaction Force Ratio for 1" Constant Deflection Scissor Arm Bending Moment Ratio for Constant Deflection Scissor Arm Bending Moment for 317.846 Lb Constant Load Deflection for 317.846 Lb Constant Load

Figure 6 Basic Inner Scissor Arm Lateral Beam in Locations 1-17 Constant Deflection and Constant Force

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

Inner Scissor Arm with Two Lateral Beams Lateral Beams at Position 9 and Other Locations
The next analyses set is for an inner scissor with lateral cross tubes located at Position 9 (center pivot) and a second lateral beam located at various other locations. The scissor was loaded with a vertical force.

Figure 7 Inner Scissor Shown with Lateral Tubes at Positions 1 and 9 Figure 8 shows the analyses results for the scissor arm in the 0 degree (down) position. To provide a reference to previous analyses, I included the analysis for a single lateral beam, which was located at Position 9; further, the data from this analysis was used as the basis for the Ratio calculations. For this set of scissors with a lateral beam at Position 9 and a second lateral beam at various positions, 1. The maximum bending moment of the scissor arm is not affected by the location of the lateral beams. 2. The deflection Ratio is significantly less than for a single lateral beam. 3. As the second lateral beam is moved from Position 1 to Position 8 (Position 17 to Position 10), the deflection Ratio increased from 0.32 to 0.54. 4. The torsion of the lateral beam, at Position 9, is less than half that of the single lateral beam. 5. As the second lateral beam is moved from Position 1 to Position 8 (Position 17 to Position 10), the torsion of the second beam approaches the torsion of the lateral beam, which was at Position 9.

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

1.20 Ratio Relative to Lateral Beam Position 09

1.00 Lateral Beam Position 9 Torsion Ratio Lateral Beam Various Positions Torsion Ratio Scissor Arm Bending Moment Ratio Myy Deflection Ratio

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00 LBP09

LBP 10

Lateral Beam Position

Figure 8 Inner Scissor with Lateral Tubes at Positions 9 and Various Other Positions Constant Force

Scott Moore

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LBP 17

LBP 01

LBP 02

LBP 03

LBP 04

LBP 05

LBP 06

LBP 07

LBP 08

LBP 11

LBP 12

LBP 13

LBP 14

LBP 15

LBP 16

March 10, 2011

Inner Scissor Arm with Two Lateral Beams Lateral Beams Symmetrically Located
The final analyses set is for an inner scissor with a pair of lateral cross tubes located symmetrically relatively to Position 9 (center pivot). The scissor was loaded with a vertical force.

Figure 9 Inner Scissor Shown with Lateral Tubes at Positions 1 and 17 As in the previous analyses, I included the configuration with a single lateral beam, which was located at Position 9; this provides the reference for the Ratio calculation and relationship to the previous analyses. A vertical force of FZ = -317.846 Lb was applied to the scissor for a constant load. Figure 10 shows an overview of the results of the analyses. As the lateral beams are moved towards the center pivot, then, 1. The deflection ratio increases from 0.11 to 0.46. 2. The scissor arm bending moment initially decreases from 0.17 to 0.11, then increases to 1.00. 3. The torsion ratio of the lateral beams increases from 0.09 to 0.39. 4. The scissor arm torsion ratio increases from 0.13 to 0.26.

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

Scissor Arm Force and Moment Ratios Pair of Lateral Beams Located Symmetrically about the Scissor Center Pivot 6" x 6" x 0.25" Wall Square Tube
1.20 Ratio Based Upon Lateral Beam Position 9 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 LBP 01 LBP 02 LBP 03 LBP 04 LBP 05 LBP 06 LBP 07 LBP 08 Scissor Lateral Beam Location Lateral Beam Torsion Ratio Scissor Arm Torsion Ratio Scissor Arm Bending Moment Ratio Myy Deflection Ratio

Figure 10 Inner Scissor with Symmetrically Located Lateral Tubes Constant Force

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011

Conclusion
The location and the quantity of the lateral beam(s) are very important to the function of a scissor mechanism. As shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, these two factors have significant impact upon the structural deflection and stress.

Inner Scissor Arm Concept Comparison Deflection Ratio

Ratio of Deflection Relative to Position 9 1.80 1.60 1.40 1.20 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Single Lateral Beam - Various Positions Two Lateral Beams - Position 9 and Various Other Positions Two Lateral Beams Symmetrical About Position 9

Scissor Arm Position

Figure 11 Inner Scissor Arm Concept Deflection Comparison

Scott Moore

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Ratio of Scissor Arm Bending Moment Relative to Position 9

Inner Scissor Arm Concept Comparison Scissor Arm Bending Moment Ratio
2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Single Lateral Beam - Various Positions

Two Lateral Beams - Position 9 and Various Other Positions Two Lateral Beams Symmetrical About Position 9

Scissor Arm Position

Figure 12 Inner Scissor Arm Concept Scissor Arm Bending Moment Comparison

Inner Scissor Arm Concept Comparison Lateral Beam Torsion Ratio

Ratio of Lateral Beam Torsion Relative to Position 9 1.20 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Single Lateral Beam - Various Positions Two Lateral Beams - Position 9 and Various Other Positions Two Lateral Beams Symmetrical About Position 9

Scissor Arm Position

Figure 13 Inner Scissor Arm Concept Lateral Beam Torsion Comparison

Scott Moore

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March 10, 2011