Transmission optimization of spatial 4-link mechanisms☆

Abstract The design of plane crank-and-rocker linkages with given rocker swing angle, corresponding crank rotation and optimum force transmission are well known problems in kinematic synthesis. This investigation is concerned with the transmission optimization of the skew crank-and-rocker linkage and the skew slider-crank mechanism. The algebraic loci of the moving joints are used to express the lengths of the moving links as a function of a single parameter, the optimum value of which is obtainable as a constrained minimization problem involving 1-parameter scanning. The results are presented in tables as well as in design charts.