ELASTIC POTENTIAL SYNTHESIS - A GENERALIZED PROCEDURE FOR DYNAMIC SYNTHESIS OF MACHINE AND MECHANISM SYSTEMS

By synthesizing a mechanism to govern the deflection of a linear spring, this paper presents a method to generate a specified elastic potential energy function. This synthesis approach, termed Elastic Potential Synthesis, can be employed to modify machine dynamics and therefore reduce actuator force/torque requirements. The design method presented is based on a system energy model. The maximum number of synthesis precision points are identified for both tension/compression and torsional springs. Examples are presented which demonstrate the power of this methodology.