A Counter-Rotary Counterweight (CRCW) for Light-Weight Dynamic Balancing

TLDR: In this paper, the authors proposed a light-weight solution to the complete force and moment balancing of linkages based on the combination of a counterweight and a separate counter-rotation into a single element.

Abstract: Shaking forces and moments are often undesired. Complete balancing of these effects usually is associated with considerable additional mass and inertia. This paper proposes a light-weight solution concept to the complete force and moment balancing of linkages based on the combination of a counterweight and a separate counter-rotation into a single element. This element will be called a counter-rotary counterweight (CRCW). It will be shown that for a 1dof rotatable link a reduction of added mass by about 40% and a reduction by about 20% of added inertia have been achieved, as compared to a standard solution, after optimization of both mechanisms for minimal inertia. Generalization of the proposed principle is also discussed.Copyright © 2004 by ASME