DESCRIPTION

A MECHANICAL FORCE GENERATOR AND RELATED KINEMATIC CHAINS

Technical Field

This invention is related to a mechanical force generator (MFG) , the cost, the maintenance cost and the energy consumption of which has been reduced as much as possible; which doesn't include any actuators; which can generate any desirable force variation; and this invention is also related to general purpose mechanisms, which can be obtained from the 3 novel kinematic chains that the MFG has been derived from; which can be used in many different applications, such as hydraulically and pneumatically actuated machines, internal combustion engines and compressors; which possess advantages similar to the MFG; and which may include actuators.

Background Art

In the literature, there are many 1 degree of freedom planar mechanisms, the input and output links of which are translating. For example, in Figure 1, the double slider mechanism, which is a one degree of freedom, planar mechanism, is shown with the input and output parameters being denoted by Sj and s ₀ . In this mechanism, it is possible to generate, approximately, any desired force F(s ₀ ); and any input-output relation, given by equation (El), by properly designing the kinematic dimensions, the free length of the spring used, and the spring constant k. Although the input - output relation given by equation (El) and the desired force, F(so), can be produced only approximately in the double slider mechanism; it is possible to generate, as much as the physical constraints allow, any desired input-output relation and any desired force without making any approximations i.e., exactly in the desired manner, by using mechanisms that include a cam pair and/or a cylinder in slot joint . The double slider mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is connected to the ground by 2 prismatic joints. The reaction forces, reaction moments and frictional forces that occur at these 2 joints constitute the shaking forces and moments exerted on the ground. The aforementioned shaking forces and moments will depend upon the F(so) force that is generated, the inertia forces and moments, due to D'Alembert's principle, that act on the moving links; and the weights of the links. In general, in this type of an application, the shaking forces and moments will, to a large extent, be due to the F(so) force and the inertia forces and moments; and the contribution of the weights of the links to the shaking forces and moments will be relatively smaller.

As is well known , the shaking forces and moments cause undesirable noise and vibrations at the bearings that connect the mechanism to the ground. Due to these reasons , the mechanism works in a disturbingly noisy manner and the bearings wear out quickly. Although the measures taken to prevent the noise and the vibrations cannot provide a fully satisfactory solution, they increase the cost of the system. Furthermore, due to the friction at the 2 joints that connect the mechanism to the ground , extra energy, which adversely affects the energy consumption of the mechanism, is consumed.

Disclosure of the Invention

One of the purposes of this invention is to realize a mechanical force generator, such that, the wear at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground is minimum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

such that, the lives of the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground is maximum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

such that, the maintanence costs of the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground are minimum since the lives of these joints have been maximized as much as possible; such that, the shaking forces and moments transmitted to the ground are minimum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

such that, the noise generated by the mechanism is minimum since the shaking forces and moments transmitted to the ground have been minimized; such that, the vibrations transmitted to the ground is minimum since the shaking forces and moments transmitted to the ground have been minimized; such that, the costs related to preventing noise and vibrations in the mechanism are minimum since the noise and the vibrations transmitted to the ground have been minimized as much as possible;

such that, the energy consumption of the mechanism is minimum since the friction forces at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

which, without using any actuators and by using only springs, can generate any desired force variation.

Another purpose of the invention is to realize a general purpose mechanism, such that, the wear at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground is minimum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

such that, the lives of the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground is maximum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

such that, the maintanence costs of the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground are minimum since the lives of these joints have been maximized as much as possible;

such that, the shaking forces and moments transmitted to the ground are minimum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

such that, the noise generated by the mechanism is minimum since the shaking forces and moments transmitted to the ground have been minimized; such that, the vibrations transmitted to the ground is minimum since the shaking forces and moments transmitted to the ground have been minimized; such that, the costs related to preventing noise and vibrations in the mechanism are minimum since the noise and the vibrations transmitted to the ground have been minimized as much as possible;

such that, the energy consumption of the mechanism is minimum since the friction forces at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links only;

in which, the translational motion of the output link can be obtained as any desired function of the translational motion of the input link;

that can be used in many different areas, such as hydraulically or pneumatically actuated machines , internal combustion engines and compressors.

Another purpose of the invention is to realize a general purpose mechanism,

such that, the wear at the joints that connect the mechanism to link number

1 is minimum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these 4 joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links and due to the external forces, external moments, inertia forces and inertia moments acting, only, on link number 1 ;

such that, the lives of the joints that connect the mechanism to link number

I is maximum since the reaction forces, reaction moments and friction forces at these 4 joints are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links and due to the external forces, external moments, inertia forces and inertia moments acting, only, on link number 1;

such that, the maintanence costs of the joints that connect the mechanism to link number 1 are minimum since the lives of these 4 joints have been maximized as much as possible;

such that, the energy consumption of the mechanism is minimum since the friction forces at the 4 joints that connect the mechanism to link number 1 are, to a great extent, due to the weights of the links and due to the external forces, external moments, inertia forces and inertia moments acting, only, on link number l ;

in which, the relative translational motion at a joint can be obtained as any desired function of the relative translational motion at another joint;

that can be used in many different areas, such as hydraulically or pneumatically actuated machines , internal combustion engines and compressors.

Brief Description of the Invention

A mechanism is a mechanical system which consists of links, connected to each other by joints; and, which is used to transfer motion and/or force from one location to another. High reaction forces and moments, and high frictional forces and moments that occur at the joints of a mechanism not only cause early wearing of the bearings; but, increase the energy consumption of the mechanism as well. Furthermore, mechanisms exert shaking forces and shaking moments to the ground that they are mounted on. The aforementioned shaking forces and moments are due to the reaction forces, reaction moments, frictional forces and frictional moments that occur at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground; causing undesirable vibrations on the ground and noise. The invention mentioned in this description is related to a one degree of freedom ( as far as its practical useage is concerned ), overconstrained ( or, in permanently critical form ), novel planar mechanism, the input and output links of which translate. In this description, the input and output links refer to any two links which are connected to the ground with a joint; and the frequently used assumption, which states that the input link is the link which actuates the mechanism, has not been used. The translational motion of the output link of the aforementioned original mechanism can be obtained as any desired function of the translational motion of the input link. Furthermore , provided that the kinematic dimensions, the inertial parameters of the links and the loading conditions of this novel mechanism satisfy certain conditions; the shaking forces transmitted to the ground, the shaking moments transmitted to the ground and the friction forces at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground will be minimum, since, basically, they will depend on the weights of the links only. Since the frictional forces are minimized, the energy consumption of the mechanism will be minimum. The mechanical force generator , which is the subject of this invention; which can produce any desired force; for which the shaking forces transmitted to the ground, the shaking moments transmitted to the ground, the frictional forces at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground, and hence the energy consumption of the mechanism, are minimum; is obtained by mounting springs between some of the links of the novel mechanism mentioned above.

In this description, the mechanism named as the EqMFGi _&2 mechanism is a mechanism which is obtained by replacing the prismatic joint that connects links 1 and 2 to each other in the MFG mechanism by a cylinder in slot joint; and it is a mechanism which is not in permanently critical form ( or, not overconstrained ) (See Fig.4). In case the kinematic dimensions and input motions of the MFG and EqMFG] _&2 mechanisms are the same, the motions of the two mechanisms will be identical. EqMFGi _&3 mechanism (see Fig.5), on the other hand, is another mechanism which is not in permanently critical form ( or, not overconstrained ); and which is obtained from the MFG mechanism by replacing the prismatic joint that connects links 1 and 3 by a cylinder in slot joint. Similar to the EqMFGi _&2 mechanism, in case the kinematic dimensions and input motions of the MFG and EqMFGi&3 mechanisms are the same, the motions of the two mechanisms will be identical. As was the case in the MFG mechanism, provided that the kinematic dimensions, the inertial parameters of the links and the loading conditions of the EqMFGi&2 and EqMFGi& ₃ mechanisms satisfy certain conditions, the shaking forces transmitted to the ground, the shaking moments transmitted to the ground and the friction forces at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground, and because of this, the energy consumption of the mechanism, are minimum. All of the mechanisms that are obtained by the method of kinematic inversion from the kinematic chains that the MFG, EqMFGi _&2 and EqMFGi _&3 mechanisms are derived from, possess advantages similar to the MFG, EqMFGi _&2 and EqMFGi& ₃ mechanisms . In these mechanisms that are obtained by the kinematic inversion method, the relative translational motion at a joint can be obtained as any desired function of the relative translational motion at another joint. Furthermore, provided that the kinematic dimensions, the inertial parameters of the links and the loading conditions of the aforementioned mechanisms satisfy certain conditions, the reaction forces, the reaction moments and the Coulomb friction forces at each of the 4 joints that connect link 1 to links 2, 3, 4 and 5 of these mechanisms, to a great extent, will arise from the the external forces and external moments acting on link 1 and the inertia forces and inertia moments, due to D'Alembert's principle, acting on link 1 ; and they will be, to a great extent, independent from the external forces and external moments that are acting on links other than link 1 (I) and the accelerations of the links other than link 1. Brief Description of the Drawings and References

"A Mechanical Force Generator and Related Kinematic Chains" that is realized to achieve the purpose of this invention is shown in the attached figures, which are listed below. Figure 1 - Schematic view of a double slider mechanism that exists in the literature.

Figure 2 - Schematic view of the mechanical force generator (1 1) that is the subject of the invention.

Figure 3 - Table showing the joints that are used in the mechanical force generator (1 1) that is the subject of the invention.

Figure 4 - Schematic view of the mechanism named as Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator 1 & 2 (EqMFG _[&2 ) (12), which is obtained by replacing the prismatic joint that connects links 1 and 2 (1 and 2) in the mechanical force generator (1 1) with a cylinder in slot joint.

Figure 5 - Schematic view of the mechanism named as Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator 1 & 3 (EqMFGi& ₃ ) (13), which is obtained by replacing the prismatic joint that connects links 1 and 3 (1 and 3) in the mechanical force generator (1 1) with a cylinder in slot joint.

Figure 6 - Schematic view of the Minimum Friction and Shaking - Translation to any Translation ( MinFaS - TaT ) (14) mechanism which differs from the mechanical force generator (1 1) with respect to the loading conditions only.

Figure 7 - Table showing the conditions that the mechanical force generator (1 1) and the MinFaS - TaT (14) mechanisms must satisfy.

All parts shown in the figures have been numbered; leading to the correspondences that are listed below.

1. Link l

2. Link 2

3. Link 3

4. Link 4

5. Link 5

6. Link 6

7. Link 7

8. Link 8

9. Link 9

10. Spring

1 1. Mechanical Force Generator

12. Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator 162 mechanism

13. Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator 163 mechanism 14. Minimum Friction and Shaking - Translation to any Translation mechanism

Detailed Description of The Invention

A schematic view of the Mechanical Force Generator (1 1 ) is given in Fig. 2. In the MFG (1 1 ), there are totally 9 links, including the ground which is labelled as link 1 . OjXiyi , 0 ₂ x ₂ y ₂ , 0 ₃ x ₃ y ₃ , 0 ₄ x ₄ y ₄ , 0 ₅ x ₅ y ₅ , 0 ₆ X6y ₆ , 0 ₇ x ₇ y ₇ , 0 ₈ x ₈ y ₈ and Ogx^yg coordinate systems are reference frames which are connected to links 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5> 6, 7, 8 and 9 (1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) respectively, such that x _2; x ₃ , x ₄ and x ₅ axes are parallel to the xi axis; y ₂ , y ₃ , y ₄ and y ₅ axes, on the other hand, are parallel to the yi axis. In order not to make the figure more complicated, the x and y axes belonging to links 6, 7, 8 and 9 (6, 7, 8 and 9) have not been shown in Fig. 2. The joints used in the MFG (1 1 ) are shown in Fig. 3. In this table, R, P, and C _S symbolizes a revolute joint, a prismatic joint and a cylinder in slot joint, respectively. By using Fig. 3, it is possible to observe which link is connected to which other link, and with what kind of a joint. For example , when one considers the 4 ^TH row of the 9 x 9 matrix given in Fig. 3, it is observed that link 4 (4) is connected to links 1 , 7 and 8 (1 , 7 and 8) by means of a prismatic joint, revolute joint and revolute joint, respectively.

Roller number 6 (6) used in the MFG (1 1) moves inside a slot on link 3 (3) . The curve that is located exactly in the middle of this slot, labelled as L0 ₃ R (see Fig. 2), is the locus, on link 3 (3), of point A ₆ on link 6 (6). Here, A ₆ symbolyses point A on link 6 (6). In general, on the other hand, Pj defines point P on link i. Point B ₇ , on the other hand, follows the curve L0 ₃ L on link 3 (3). Similarly, points D9 and C ₈ move along the curves L0 ₅ R and L0 ₅ L on link 5 (5) , respectively. The output links of the mechanical force generator (1 1 ) are links 2 and 4 (2 and 4), the positions of which are shown by s ₀ (t) . The forces FR(S ₀ ) and F _L (s ₀ ) in Fig. 2, on the other hand, indicate the forces generated by the mechanical force generator (11) ( i.e., the outputs of the generator ). Since these forces have to be equal to each other ( see equation (E50) ), both forces can be denoted by F(s ₀ ). As can be understood from the symbols that are used, the forces FR(S ₀ ) and F _L (s ₀ ) depend on the position of the output link.

In Fig. 2, there is a spring (10), with a spring constant of k _u , between the fixed chassis (1) and link 3 (3). The spring constant of the spring (10) between the chassis and link 5 (5), on the other hand, is labelled as k _/ .

The mechanical force generator (11) is a planar mechanism, the input and output links of which execute translational motion; the practical degree of freedom which is 1 ; and for which, it is possible to obtain any relation between the input link's position, s;(t), and the output link's position, s ₀ (t) (See Fig.2), that can be expressed as

when the kinematic dimensions of the MFG are designed appropiately. Here, f(Sj) symbolizes any function which depends on Sj , such that the function and its derivatives are continuous.

By using the MFG (11), in addition to generating a desired input-output relationship, it is also possible to generate any desired force F(s ₀ ) by properly designing the kinematic dimensions of the mechanical torque generator (1 1), the free lengths of the springs (10) used and the spring constants k _u and k/ .

In order to find the degree of freedom of the mechanical force generator (1 1), the equati may be used. Here, F, λ , I and j denote the degree of freedom of the mechanism, the degree of freedom of the space in which the mechanism works, the number of links of the mechanism and the number of joints of the mechanism, respectively, f , on the other hand, is the degree of freedom of joint i. Since the MFG (1 1) is a planar mechanism, one has

λ = 3 (E3)

Furthermore, using Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, one obtains

1 = 9 (E4)

7 = 12 (E5) As seen in Fig. 3, in the MFG (I I ), there are four 1 degree of freedom revolute joints; four 1 degree of freedom prismatic joints; and four 2 degree of freedom cylinder in slot joints. Hence, one obtains

If equations (E3) - (E6) are substituted into equation (E2), one obtains

F = 4 (E7) On the other hand, the real degree of freedom of the mechanism should be

F _g = 5 (E8) The reason for the difference between the degree of freedom obtained by using equation (E2) and the real degree of freedom is that, the MFG (1 1 ) is a mechanism which is in permanently critical form. In other words, because of the special kinematic dimensions used in the MFG (1 1) [ See equations (E10) - (E25) ], the constraints due the joints of the MFG (1 1 ) are not independent from each other. Because of these special kinematic dimensions, the coordinates, with respect to the OiXi yi coordinate system fixed to the ground (1), of the points A ₂ , B ₄ , C ₄ and D ₂ (See Fig.2), which are the centers of the disks 6,7,8 and 9 ( 6, 7, 8 and 9 ), are (x _a , y _a ) , (-x _a , y _a ) , (-x _a ,-y _a ) and (x _a , -y _a ), respectively, throughout the totality of the motion. On the other hand, when the usage of the mechanism is considered, it can be said that the practical degree of freedom of the mechanical force generator (1 1) is

since rotations of links 6, 7, 8 and 9 ( 6, 7, 8 and 9 ), around the axes which pass through the points A, B, C and D and which are parallel to the z axis, have no importance in an application.

The special kinematic dimensions that are used in the MFG (1 1), and that have been mentioned above, are listed below.

Z Q ₂ P ₂ A ₂ = Z Q ₂ P ₂ D ₂ = n il (EIO)

Z K4L4B4 = Z K4L4C4— u 11 (EH)

(E12)

( x ₂ axis ) ( xi axis ) (E13)

( x ₄ axis ) = ( X] axis ) (E14)

( y ₃ axis ) => ( yi axis ) (E15)

( y ₅ axis ) <=> ( yi axis ) (E16)

Γ6 = 1 ^* 7 = rg = (E17)

^{= f} ( ) (E18)

(E19)

*«¾ _t T - ^f ( ) (E20)

Ao _3i ⁼ g(P) (E21)

*LO _iR = f(P) (E22) yw _5R ⁼ -g(p) (E23) xto _!L =;- ) (E24) yw _sl = -g(p) (E25)

The symbol " <3> " in equations (E13) - (E16) has been used to mean " coincident "; whereas, in equation (El 7), r ₆ , r ₇ , r ₈ and τ symbolize the radii of the disks 6, 7, 8 and 9 ( 6, 7, 8 and 9 ), respectively. ( x _f0 , y _L0 ) symbolizes the x and y coordinates, with respect to the 0 ₃ x ₃ y ₃ system, of a point on the L0 _3R curve. On the other hand, (x _WiL , y _w ) symbolizes the x and y coordinates, with respect to the 0 ₃ x ₃ y ₃ system, of a point on the L0 _3L curve. In a similar manner, ( x _{Ws >} y _LOiR ) and ( x _LOjL , y _w ) indicate the x and y coordinates, with respect to the 0 ₅ x ₅ y5 system, of a point on the L0 ₅ R and L0 ₅ L curves, respectively. On the other hand, p symbolizes a parameter, the lower and upper bounds of which are p _m j _n and p _max . In other words, there is a constraint on the parameter p that can be expressed in the form

Finally, f and g are two functions which are used to define the curves L0 ₃ R , L0 ₃ L df d^ f d d^

, L0 _5R and L0 _5L . Here, the functions f(p), - - , , g(p), - - and — dp dp dp dp should be continuous.

Provided that the kinematic dimensions of the MFG (11 ) satisfy the conditions given by equations (E10) - (E25), throughout the motion of force generator (11), one will have

O = O (E27)

In Fig. 2, the lengths OA ^a °d O1O3 have been indicated as s ₀ (t) and Sj(t), respectively.

There are conditions that should be satisfied by the inertial parameters of the links of the MFG (11) too. These conditions are listed below.

m ₂ = m ₄

m ₃ = m ₅

m ₆ = m ₇

*<¾ ^{= 0}

x _c , = 0 x _Gi = 0 (E34)

x _Gi = 0 (E35) x _r = 0 (E36)

(E37)

y _Gl = o (E38)

^{= 0} (E39)

(E40)

(E41)

(E42) y _G , = o (E43)

7 ₀ "6 = I _c "7 ^' = I _c "8 = 7 _R °9 (E44)

Here, G, , m, , x _G and y _c symbolize the center of gravity, mass, the x coordinate of the center of gravity, with respect to the OjXjyj system attached to link i, and the y coordinate of the center of gravity, with respect to the OjXj system of link i, of link i, respectively. I _G , on the other hand, is the moment of inertia of link i with respect to an axis which passes from G, and which is parallel to the z _\ axis.

Finally, the conditions that should be satisfied by the external forces and external , moments ( See Fig. 2 ) applied to the FG (1 1 ) are given below.

( k _u spring (10) ) O ( yi axis ) (E45)

( k _/ spring (10) ) <=> ( yi axis ) (E46)

= - (E47)

FR(S _O ) O ( x, axis ) (E48)

F _L (s ₀ ) ( x, axis ) (E49) F _L (s ₀ ) = F _R (S _O ) (E50)

In equality (E47), F _k and F _ki indicate the forces applied to links 3 and 5 ( 3 and 5 ) by the springs ( 10) with spring constants k _u and ki , respectively. In Fig. 4, a planar mechanism which is named as Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator -1 & 2 (12) is shown. In this figure, Cj ₂ curve is an arc on a circle with radius ai and center U2 ₂ . Here , U2 ₂ symbolizes a point on link 2 (2) which lies on the x ₂ axis. If EqMFGi& ₂ (12) and the MFG (1 1) which is shown in Fig. 2 are compared, it is seen that they are the same mechanism except for the type of joint which connects links 1 and 2 (1 and 2 ). In the MFG, there is a prismatic joint between link 2 (2) and the ground (1). On the other hand , in the EqMFGi& ₂ (12) , link 2 (2) and the ground (1) are connected to each other by means of a cylinder in slot joint. This aforementioned cylinder in slot joint causes the path, on link 1 (1), of point U2 ₂ to be coincident with the Xj axis; and it also causes link 2 (2) to rotate, with respect to link 1 (1), around an axis which is parallel to the z _\ axis and which passes through the point U2 ₂ . Furthermore, the kinematic dimensions of the EqMFGi _&2 (12) mechanism satisfy conditions (E10) - (E25). When the degree of freedom of the EqMFGi _&2 mechanism is calculated by using equation (E2) , one obtains

F = 5 (E51 )

The degree of freedom thus obtained is the actual degree of freedom of the EqMFGi _&2 mechanism. Because of this, on the contrary to the MFG (1 1) mechanism, the EqMFGi _&2 (12) mechanism is not a mechanism which is in permanently critical form. In case the kinematic dimensions and the input motions of the EqMFGi& ₂ (12) and MFG (1 1) mechanisms are the same, the motions of the mechanisms will also be the same. In Fig. 5, a planar mechanism named as Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator - 1 & 3 (13) is shown. The C _t3 curves in Fig. 5 lie on a circle with radius bi and center U3 ₃ . Here, U3 ₃ symbolizes a point which lies on link 3 (3) and which is located on the y ₃ axis. If EqMFGi& ₃ (13) and MFG (1 1) shown in Fig. 2 are compared, it will be seen that the mechanisms are the same except for the type of joint that connects links 1 and 3 (1 and 3). In the MFG (11), there is a prismatic joint between link 3 (3) and the ground (1). On the other hand, in the EqMFGi _&3 (13), link 3 (3) and the ground (1) are connected to each other by a cylinder in slot joint. This cylinder in slot joint causes the path, on link 1 (1), of the point U3 ₃ to be coincident with the yj axis; and it also causes link 3 (3) to rotate, relative to link 1 (1), around an axis which is parallel to the z _\ axis and which passes through the point U3 ₃ . Furthermore, the kinematic dimensions of the EqMFGi _&3 (13) mechanism satisfy conditions (E10) - (E25). Similar to the EqMFGi _&2 (12) mechanism, the EqMFGi _&3 mechanism (13) is a 5 degree of freedom mechanism which is not in permanently critical form. Again, as was the case in the EqMFGi& ₂ (12) mechanism, in case the kinematic dimensions and the input motions of the EqMFGi _&3 (13) and MFG (11) mechanisms are the same, the motions of the EqMFGi _&3 (13) and MFG (11) mechanisms will also be the same.

The Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator - 1 & 4 ( EqMFGi _&4 ) mechanism, on the other hand, has been obtained by eliminating the prismatic joint connecting link 4 (4) and the ground (1) in the MFG ( 1 1 ); and by replacing it with a cylinder in slot joint instead. This aforementioned cylinder in slot joint causes the path, on link 1 (1), of the point U4 ₄ to be coincident with the xi axis; and it also causes link 4 to rotate, relative to link 1 (1), around an axis which is parallel to the z _\ axis and which passes through the point U4 . Here, U4 ₄ symbolizes a point which lies on link 4 (4); and which is located on the x ₄ axis. In a similar manner, the Equivalent Mechanical Force Generator - 1 & 5 ( EqMFGi _&5 ) mechanism has been obtained by eliminating the prismatic joint connecting link 5 (5) and the ground (1) in the MFG ( 1 1 ); and by replacing it with a cylinder in slot joint instead. This aforementioned cylinder in slot joint causes the path, on link 1 (1), of the point U5 ₅ to be coincident with the yi axis; and it also causes link 5 (5) to rotate, relative to link 1 (1), around an axis which is parallel to the zi axis and which passes through the point U5s. Here, U5 ₅ symbolizes a point which lies on link 5 (5) and which is located on the y ₅ axis. EqMFGi _& and EqMFGi _&5 mechanisms have the same properties with EqMFGi _&2 (12) and EqMFGi& ₃ (13). Now, related to the EqMFGi _&2 (12) mechanism shown in Fig. 4, let us consider the 6 conditions that are given below.

(CI) The kinematic dimensions of the mechanism satisfy equalities (E10) - (E25).

(C2) The inertial parameters of the mechanism satisfy equalities (E29) - (E44). (C3) The loading conditions of the mechanism satisfy equalities (E45) - (E50). (C4) Gravitational acceleration, g , is zero.

(C5) The friction related properties of the 4 revolute joints in the mechanism are equal to each other.

(C6) The friction related properties of the 4 cylinder in slot joints which connect links 6, 7, 8 and 9 ( 6, 7, 8 and 9 ) to links 3 and 5 ( 3 and 5 ) are equal to each other.

In case the above conditions are satisfied, all of the reaction forces and moments at the joints that connect the mechanism to the ground (1) will always [ i.e., for any given input motion Sj(t); for any given s ₀ = f(sj) relation given by equation (El); and for any time t ] be obtained to be

t) = ₁₃ (t) *, = 0 (E54)

t) = _{] 4} (t) k _x = 0 (E56)

1 ₅ (t) = _{1 5} (t) ^ = 0 (E58)

Here, J^ (t) and M _u (t) [ i = 2, 3, 4, 5 ] symbolize the reaction forces and moments, arising due to a prismatic, or cylinder in slot, joint that are exerted on link i by the ground. Furthermore, , , and k are unit vectors which are parallel to the Xi , yi and z _\ axes. As can be seen from equations (E52) - (E58) clearly, the shaking force and the zi component of the shaking moment transmitted to the ground, by the EqMFGi _&2 mechanism (12), are zero. Furthermore, since the reaction forces and moments at each of the 4 joints that connect the mechanism to the ground are zero, the Coulomb friction forces at each of these joints will also be zero. Here, one should pay attention to the fact that, whatever the force F(s ₀ ) produced by the EqMFGi _&2 (12) and whatever the accelerations of the links of the EqMFGj _&2 (12) are, the shaking force, the shaking moment and the frictional forces are still zero. In case they satisfy the conditions that the EqMFGi _&2 (12) mechanism must satisfy, which are conditions (CI) - (C6) given above, in a similar manner , in the EqMFGi&3 (13) , EqMFGi _&4 and EqMFGi _&5 mechanisms , independent from the generated force F(s ₀ ) and the accelerations of the links, the shaking force transmitted to the ground, the shaking moment transmitted to the ground and the Coulomb frictional forces at each of the 4 joints which connect the mechanism to the ground will be zero.

As mentioned before, the MFG (1 1) that is shown in Fig. 2 is a mechanism which is in permanently critical form. For this reason, the dynamic force analysis of the mechanism is a problem that involves static indeterminacy. In other words, in order to perform a dynamic force analysis of the mechanism; besides the equations obtained from rigid body mechanics, one also needs deformation equations arising from the flexibility of the links. For this reason, when only the equations obtained from rigid body mechanics are used, the dynamic force analysis of the (MFG) (1 1) will yield infinitely many solutions. In case the MFG (1 1) satisfies the 6 conditions related to the EqMFGi _&2 mechanism (12) given before ( i.e., conditions C1-C6 ), these aforementioned solutions will also include the dynamic force analysis solutions of the EqMFGi& ₂ (12), EqMFGi& ₃ (13), EqMFGi&4 and EqMFGi _& mechanisms, i.e., the solutions given by equations (E52) - (E58). For this reason, by designing the link flexibilities of the MFG (11) properly, it is also possible to make the shaking force transmitted to the ground , the shaking moment transmitted to the ground and the Coulomb frictional forces at each of the 4 prismatic joints that connect the mechanism to the ground zero; or, approximately zero. In case condition (C4), which is one of the 6 conditions related to the MFG (1 1), EqMFGi _& (12) , EqMFGi _&3 (13) , EqMFGi& ₄ and EqMFG[ _&5 mechanisms, is not satisfied ( i.e., gravitational acceleration, g , is not zero ), although the shaking force transmitted to the ground, the shaking moment transmitted to the ground and the Coulomb frictional forces at each of the 4 joints that connect the mechanism to the ground will not be zero; basically, they will be due to the weights of the links only and they will be independent from the generated force F(s ₀ ) and the accelerations of the links.

In Fig. 6, a mechanism, which differs from the MFG (1 1 ) only with respect to the loading, is shown. In this mechanism, the 2 springs (10) that exist in the MFG (1 1) have been removed; and the external forces F _u (si) and F _/ (sj) have been substituted instead. The aforementioned 2 external forces should satisfy the conditions given below.

F/(Sj) <s> ( yi axis ) (E60)

F _u (Si) = F _; (Si) (E61)

The mechanism given in Fig. 6 is named as the Minimum Friction and Shaking - Translation to any Translation mechanism (14); and, similar to the MFG (11) mechanism, it is a mechanism which is in permanently critical form. The conditions that should be satisfied by the kinematic dimensions, the inertial parameters and the loading conditions of the MFG (1 1) and the MinFaS-TaT (14) mechanisms are given in the table presented in Fig. 7.

Now, similar to the EqMFGi& ₂ (12) mechanism, let us consider the mechanism named as Equivalent Minimum Friction and Shaking - Translation to any Translation - 1 &2 ( EqMinFaS-TaT _]&2 ) mechanism. Except for the type of joint that connects links 1 and 2 (1 and 2), the EqMinFaS-TaT, _&2 and MinFaS-TaT (14) mechanisms are the same. In the MinFaS-TaT (14), there is a prismatic joint between link 2 (2) and the ground (1). In the EqMinFaS-TaTi _&2 mechanism, on the other hand, link 2 (2) and the ground (1) have been connected by a cylinder in slot joint. The aforementioned cylinder in slot joint causes the path, on link 1 (1), followed by the point U2 ₂ to coincide with the xi axis; and it also causes link 2 (2) to rotate, relative to link 1 (1), around an axis which is parallel to the z _\ axis and which passes through the point U2 ₂ . Here, U2 ₂ symbolizes a point on link 2 (2) that is located on the x ₂ axis. On the contrary to the MinFaS-TaT (14) mechanism, the EqMinFaS-TaTi& ₂ mechanism is not a mechanism which is in permanently critical form. In case the kinematic dimensions and the input motions of the EqMinFaS-TaT]& ₂ and MinFaS-TaT (14) mechanisms are the same, the motions of the mechanisms are also the same. EqMinFaS-TaTi&3, EqMinFaS-TaTi&4 and EqMinFaS-TaTi& ₅ mechanisms are also defined in a similar manner to the EqMinFaS-TaT _{) &} mechanism. All of the claims made previously for the MFG (1 1), EqMFG _{] &2} (12) , EqMFG _]& (13) , EqMFGi&4 and EqMFGi& ₅ mechanisms ( related to the shaking force transmitted to the ground, shaking moment transmitted to the ground and the Coulomb frictional forces at each of the 4 joints that connect the mechanism to the ground ) are also valid for the MinFaS-TaT (14), EqMinFaS-TaT _{) &2} , EqMinFaS-TaTi _&3 , EqMinFaS-TaTi&4 and EqMinFaS-TaTi& ₅ mechanisms. In other words, in the MinFaS-TaT (14), EqMinFaS-TaTi _&2 , EqMinFaS-TaTi _&3 , EqMinFaS-TaTi _&4 and EqMinFaS-TaT] &5 mechanisms, the shaking force transmitted to the ground, the shaking moment transmitted to the ground and the Coulomb frictional forces at each of the 4 joints that connect the mechanism to the ground, will be, basically, due to the weights of the links only.

As mentioned before, if the loading conditions are not considered, the MFG (11) and the MinFaS-TaT (14) mechanisms shown in Figure 2 and Figure 6 have no differences from each other. In other words, from a kinematic point of view, the MFG (1 1) and MinFaS-TaT (14) mechanisms are the same mechanism. Both mechanisms have been obtained from a planar kinematic chain [ which is obtained by connecting 9 links to each other by using 4 revolute joints, 4 prismatic joints and 4 cylinder in slot joints, in accordance with the table in Fig. 3; and the kinematic dimensions of which satisfy conditions (E10) - (E25) ] by making link 1 (1) to be unmoveable ( i.e., by making link 1 (1) to be the ground ). The aforementioned novel kinematic chain has been named as Kinematic Chain with 4 Optimum Prismatic Joints ( KCw40PJ ) in this description. Since KCw40PJ is a mechanism which is in permanently critical form, all of the mechanisms that are obtained from this chain by using the kinematic inversion method will also be mechanisms which are in permanently critical form.

In this description, the kinematic chain that the EqMFGi _&2 (12) and the EqMinFaS-TaTi& ₂ mechanisms, which do not differ from each other except for the loading conditions, are derived from has been named as Equivalent Kinematic Chain with 4 Optimum Prismatic Joints - 1 & 2 ( EqKCw40PJi _&2 ). Since EqKCw40PJi&2, the kinematic dimensions of which satisfy conditions (EIO) - (E25), is a planar kinematic chain which is not in permanently critical form; all of the mechanisms that are obtained from this kinematic chain by using the method of kinematic inversion will also be mechanisms which are not in permanently critical form.

In a similar manner, the kinematic chain that the EqMFGi&3 (13) and EqMinFaS- TaT] &3 mechanisms [ which, if the loading conditions are not considered, do not have any differences from each other at all ] are derived from is named, in this description, as Equivalent Kinematic Chain with 4 Optimum Prismatic Joints - 1 & 3 ( EqKCw40PJi&3 ). Furthermore, the kinematic chain from which the EqMFGi&4 and EqMinFaS-TaTi&4 mechanisms are derived from; and the kinematic chain from which the EqMFGi& and EqMinFaS-TaTi _&5 mechanisms are derived from are named, in this description, as Equivalent Kinematic Chain with 4 Optimum Prismatic Joints - 1 & 4 ( EqKCw40PJ _!&4 ) and Equivalent Kinematic Chain with 4 Optimum Prismatic Joints - 1 & 5 ( EqKCw40PJi _&5 ), respectively. Since EqKCw40PJi _&3 , EqKCw40PJi& ₄ and EqKCw40PJi _&5 planar kinematic chains, the kinematic dimensions of which satisfy conditions (E10) - (E25), are kinematic chains which are not in permanently critical form; the mechanisms that are obtained from these kinematic chains by using the method of kinematic inversion will also be mechanisms which are not in permanently critical form.

In order not to make the notation used more complicated, although they are the same kinematic chain in reality, the kinematic chains EqKCw40PJi _&2 and EqKCw40PJi&4 have different names in this description. By the same reason, although they are not different kinematic chains, the kinematic chains EqKCw40PJi _&3 and EqKCw40PJi _&5 have different names in this description. Provided that all mechanisms which are obtained from the EqKCw40PJ]& ₂ , EqKCw40PJ, _&3 , EqKCw40PJ _1&4 and EqKCw40PJi _&5 kinematic chains by the method of kinematic inversion satisfy conditions (CI) - (C6), the reaction forces and moments and the Coulomb friction forces at each of the 4 joints that connect link 1 (1) to links 2,3,4 and 5 (2,3,4 and 5) will arise from the external forces and external moments acting on link 1 (1) only and the inertial forces and inertial moments , due to D'Alembert's principle, acting on link 1 (1). In other words, in a similar manner to the EqMFG _]&2 (12) , EqMFGi _&3 (13), EqMFGi _&4 and EqMFGi&5 mechanisms, the reaction forces, the reaction moments and the Couloumb friction forces at the aforementioned 4 joints will be independent from the accelerations of the links other than link 1 (1) and F _R (s ₀ ) , F _L (s ₀ ) , and F _ki .

As stated before, the mechanisms which are obtained from the kinematic chain KCw40PJ will be mechanisms which are in permanently critical form. For this reason, the dynamic force analyses of these mechanisms will lead to problems which involve static indeterminacy. On the other hand, if the mechanisms which are obtained from the KCw40PJ kinematic chain with the method of kinematic inversion satisfy conditions (CI) - (C6); and moreover, if, similar to the MFG (11) mechanism, the flexibilities of the links are designed in an appropiate manner; the reaction forces and moments and the Coulomb friction forces at each of the 4 prismatic joints that exist in the mechanism will, to a large extent, arise from the external forces and external moments acting on link 1 (1) only and the inertial forces and inertial moments, due to D'Alembert's principle, acting on link 1 (1). In other words, the reaction forces, the reaction moments and the Couloumb friction forces at the aforementioned 4 joints, will be, to a large extent, independent from the accelerations of the links other than link 1 (1) and F _R (s ₀ ) ,

In case condition (C4) is not satisfied, i.e., the gravitational acceleration is not zero, in the kinematic chains KCw40PJ, EqKCw40Pi _&2 , Eq Cw40PJ 1&3 , EqKCw40PJ i _&4 and EqKCw40PJ _1&5 , the reaction forces and moments and the Coulomb friction forces at each of the 4 joints that connect link 1 to the other links will, moreover, be dependent on the weights of the links as well.

As is known, in a practical application, 2 links that are connected to each other by a prismatic joint are equivalent to a piston - cylinder pair that contains pressurized oil, or gas. For this reason, the mechanisms, that will be obtained using the method of kinematic inversion from the kinematic chain KCw40PJ, which has four prismatic joints; and the kinematic chains EqKCw40PJi _&2 , EqKCw40PJi&3 , Eq Cw40PJi&4 and Eq Cw40PJi _&5 , which have three prismatic joints each, are expected to be useful in many different fields such as hydraulically or pneumatically actuated machines, internal combustion engines and compressors. In the aforementioned mechanisms, any number of actuators may be used. Furthermore, spring(s) and/or damper(s) can be mounted between any two links in the mechanisms.