Bistable mechanisms, which have two stable equilibria within their range of motion, are important parts of a wide variety of systems, such as closures, valves, switches, and clasps. Compliant bistable mechanisms present design challenges because the mechanism’s energy storage and motion characteristics are strongly coupled and must be considered simultaneously. This paper studies compliant bistable mechanisms which may be modeled as four-link mechanisms with a torsional spring at one joint. Theory is developed to predict compliant and rigid-body mechanism configurations which guarantee bistable behavior. With this knowledge, designers can largely uncouple the motion and energy storage requirements of a bistable mechanism design problem. Examples demonstrate the power of the theory in bistable mechanism design.
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December 2003
Technical Papers
Identification of Compliant Pseudo-Rigid-Body Four-Link Mechanism Configurations Resulting in Bistable Behavior
Brian D. Jensen,
Brian D. Jensen
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
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Larry L. Howell
Larry L. Howell
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
Search for other works by this author on:
Brian D. Jensen
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Larry L. Howell
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602
Contributed by the Mechanisms Committee for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received May 2000; revised April 2003. Associate Editor: K. Farhang.
J. Mech. Des. Dec 2003, 125(4): 701-708 (8 pages)
Published Online: January 22, 2004
Article history
Received:
May 1, 2000
Revised:
April 1, 2003
Online:
January 22, 2004
Citation
Jensen, B. D., and Howell, L. L. (January 22, 2004). "Identification of Compliant Pseudo-Rigid-Body Four-Link Mechanism Configurations Resulting in Bistable Behavior ." ASME. J. Mech. Des. December 2003; 125(4): 701–708. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1625399
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