English

Abstract

Spring balancing is a method commonly applied for statically balanced mechanism. Its field covers applications where inertia forces are relative small compared to the weight of the components. Spring balancing is also a lighter alternative to balancing with counterweights. This type of balancing can be often found in mechanical applications, biomechanics and robotics. One of the most acknowledged models of spring balanced mechanisms is the Anglepoise Lamp. This method is well known in the field of mechanisms balancing, but it has not yet been applied for balancing of the slider-crank mechanism. Nevertheless elastic components have previously been considered. In this paper, the dynamic balancing of the slider-crank mechanism by means of springs is proposed. The method aims to balance the shaking forces without the addition of masses to the mechanism. A series of multibody simulations will illustrate the effects of the proposed balancing method. Current applications of reciprocating mechanisms include heat pumps, auxiliary power units (internal combustion engines), pneumatic motors, etc. Those applications mostly use single cylinder designs with low gas pressure force relative to the inertia of the moving components. In these cases the main source of shaking forces and shaking moment comes from the motion of the slider- crank mechanism components. The most common mean to balance these mechanisms is by using counter masses on the crankshaft, by having optimal distribution of the masses along the components of the mechanism or by using counter-rotating masses (1)-(3). In all cases the counter masses only partially balances shaking forces and this happens at the cost of additional mass of the devices on which they operate. The increased mass requires additional power and generates additional wear and stress that can lead to fatigue of the components. Current legislation enforces efficiency labeling for household appliances, internal combustion engines, and other applications (4), (5). These restrictions compel