Revolute joint

About: Revolute joint is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3835 publications have been published within this topic receiving 52995 citations.

Dynamic Analysis for Planar Multibody Mechanical Systems with Lubricated Joints

Abstract: The dynamic analysis of planar multibody systems with revolute clearance joints, including dry contact and lubrication effects is presented here. The clearances are always present in the kinematic joints. They are known to be the sources for impact forces, which ultimately result in wear and tear of the joints. A joint with clearance is included in the multibody system much like a revolute joint. If there is no lubricant in the joint, impacts occur in the system and the corresponding impulsive forces are transmitted throughout the multibody system. These impacts and the eventual continuous contact are described here by a force model that accounts for the geometric and material characteristics of the journal and bearing. In most of the machines and mechanisms, the joints are designed to operate with some lubricant fluid. The high pressures generated in the lubricant fluid act to keep the journal and the bearing surfaces apart. Moreover, the lubricant provides protection against wear and tear. The equations governing the dynamical behavior of the general mechanical systems incorporate the impact force due to the joint clearance without lubricant, as well as the hydrodynamic forces owing to the lubrication effect. A continuous contact model provides the intra-joint impact forces. The friction effects due to the contact in the joints are also represented. In addition, a general methodology for modeling lubricated revolute joints in multibody mechanical systems is also presented. Results for a slider-crank mechanism with a revolute clearance joint between the connecting rod and the slider are presented and used to discuss the assumptions and procedures adopted.

Inverse Kinematics of the General 6R Manipulator and Related Linkages

Abstract: This paper elaborates on a method developed by the authors for solving the inverse kinematics of a general 6R manipulator. The method is shown to be applicable to determining the joint variables associated with all series-chain manipulators and closed-loop linkages constructed in a single loop with revolute, prismatic, or cylindric joints. The method is shown to yield a single polynomial, of minimum degree, in terms of just one of the joint variables. Once the roots of this polynomial are found, the remaining variables are then usually determined from linear sets of equations. It is shown that this method works equally well for general geometries and for special geometries such as those chararcterized by intersecting or parallel joint axes.

Design and experiment of a 3 DOF parallel micro-mechanism utilizing flexure hinges

Abstract: Flexure hinge has been commonly used as a substitute for mechanical joints in the design of micropositioning mechanisms. However, inaccurate modeling of flexure hinges deteriorates the positioning accuracy. In this paper, a planar 3-DOF parallel-type micropositioning mechanism is designed with the intention of accurate flexure hinge modeling. For this, a preliminary kinematic analysis that includes inverse kinematics, internal kinematics, and analytic stiffness modeling referenced to the task coordinate is presented. First, the revolute type of 1-DOF flexure hinge is considered. The simulation result based on the finite element method, however, is not coincident to the analytic result. This is due to the minor axial elongation along the link direction that keeps the mechanism from precise positioning. To cope with this problem, a 2-DOF flexure hinge model that includes this additional motion degree as a prismatic joint is employed in part, and additional actuators are added to compensate for the motion of this new model. On the basis of this model, the positional accuracy is ensured. The effectiveness of this accurate model is shown through both simulation and experimentation. This paper emphasizes that the precise modeling of a flexure hinge is significant to guarantee the positional accuracy of parallel micromechanisms using flexure hinge.

Integrated fabrication of polysilicon mechanisms

Abstract: The integrated fabrication of planar polysilicon mechanisms incorporating lower and higher kinematic pairs (or joints) is described. The two lower kinematic pairs (revolute and prismatic) commonly used in macrorobotic systems are compatible with silicon microfabrication technology. The mechanisms are fabricated by surface micromachining techniques using polysilicon as the structural material and oxide as the sacrificial material. Turbines with gear and blade rotors as small as 125 mu m in diameter and 4.5 mu m in thickness were fabricated on 20- mu m-diameter shafts. A clearance as tight as 1.2 mu m was achieved between the gear and the shaft. Gear trains with two or three sequentially-aligned gears were successfully meshed. A submillimeter pair of tongs with 400- mu m range-of-motion at the jaws was fabricated. This structure incorporates a single prismatic joint and two revolute joints, demonstrating linear-to-rotary motion conversion. >