DEVELOPMENT OF MODIFIED CONSTANT-FORCE COMPRESSION SLIDER MECHANISMS

Abstract

The original Constant-Force Compression Slider Mechanisms (CSMs) contain flexure hinges in the form of slender beams which degrades the performance of these CSMs at high values of required transverse stiffness. This work focused on the development of modified constant-force CSMs that will serve as a possible replacement for the original configurations possessing short-length flexural pivots in requiring higher values of transverse stiffness. This class of mechanisms also generate a constant output force over a wide range of slider input displacements. Based on the principle of Static Equivalence, a Generalized Mathematical Static Model (GMSM) was developed for all modified constant-force CSMs. Performance testing of the modified constant-force CSM shows a great improvement in transverse stiffness when compared with the original constant-force CSMs. Comparison between Class 1A-lppm and Class 1A-spp, between Class 1B-plpm and Class 1B-psp, between Class 2A-llpm and Class 2A-ssp, between Class 2B-lplm and Class 2B-sps, and between Class 3A-lllm and Class 3A-sss show an increase of 2291.90%, 2927.36%, 1007.08%, 2559.12%, and 443.97% respectively in the amount of constant-force. This class of modified constant-force CSMs is well-suited for applications requiring higher values of transverse stiffness.