Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 2006

Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

CRANK AND SLOTTED LEVER QUICK RETURN MOTION

EXPERIMENT

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this experiment is to investigate the kinematics motion of a Crank and
Slotted Lever Quick Return mechanism. The investigation is to show that it is indeed a
quick return mechanism and to evaluate the increase in efficiency that this would offer if
applied to a machine tool.

THEORY
Definition of a Mechanism
A mechanism is a simplified model, usually in the form of a line diagram, which is used
to reproduce the motion occurring in a machine. The purpose of this reproduction is to
enable the nature of the machine. The purpose of this reproduction is to enable the nature
of the motion to be investigated without the encumbrance of the various solid bodies
which form the machine elements

The various parts of the mechanism are called links or elements. Where two links are in
contact and a relative motion is possible, then they are known as a pair. An arbitrary set
of a links which form a closed chain that is capable of relative motion, and that can be
made into a rigid structure by the addition of a single link, is known as a kinematics
chain. To form a mechanism from a kinematics chain one of the links must be fixed.
However as any of the links can be fixed, it follows that there are as many mechanism as
there are links in the chain. The technique obtaining different mechanism by fixing the
various links in turn is known as inversion.

Kinematics Pairs
The relative motion between two links of a pair can take different form. Three types of a
pairs are known as lower pairs and these are the frequently occurring ones:
Sliding

: such as occurs between a piston and a cylinder

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Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

Turning

: such as occurs with a wheel on an axle

Screw motion : such as occurs between a nut and a bolt

All other cases are considered to be combinations of sliding and rolling are called higher
pairs. Strictly screw motion is a higher pair as it combines turning and sliding.

Slider Crank Mechanism

The slider- crank mechanism is well known as the basis of a reciprocating engine. As
shown in the diagram below it consists of three turning pairs and one sliding pair

3
4

In the above diagram, the link 1 is fixed. If we now fix link 2, that is consider an
inversion of the mechanism, we obtain the mechanism shown below. This is known as
Whiworths Quick Return Mechanism.
4

Expansion of a Revolute Pairs

Consider the four bar linkage shown below:-

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Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

R3

R2

R1

R4
OB

The revolute pair R3 can be expanded so that it becomes a block, 3. When the crank 2
form a complete revolution the block, 3, only transverses a small are from E1 to E2.

E1
R3

R2

E2
R1

R4
OB

The motion of 3 is still described by means of an angle referred to B. The curved slider is
thus still a revolute form and 3 are described by an angle and not by linear distance.
The curved slider remains a revolute pair as long as its radius of curvature is finite. If the
radius of a curvature of a revolute pair becomes infinite, i.e. its center of rotation is at

Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 2006

Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

infinity. Then the revolute pair becomes prismatic pair variable change from an angular
measurement to a linear distance measurement.
For Bar Chains:R2

R3

2
4

R1
R4
OB
R2

R3
R4

R1

OB

R2

R3

R4
4

R1

OB at

Thus a prismatic pair may be considered as a revolute pair whose center is at infinity in
the direction perpendicular to the generatrix.

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Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

Here we can see that a four bar mechanism when taken to the limit can be shown to
become slider-crank mechanism. This is very useful in the synthesis of a planar
mechanism as the properties of a four bar mechanism become the properties of the slidercrank mechanism.

Now consider the crank and slotted lever quick return motion.

OB at

It is evident that we have a four bar chain with a prismatic pair as a limiting case of a
revolute pair. Superimposed upon this is an inversion of the slider-crank chain.

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Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

The crank radius, OB is 40 mm. The slotted lever length, AC, is 240 mm. It is a matter of
a trigonometry to develop an expression for x in terms of the crank angle, , and the
length of the links. On the apparatus x is 70 mm when is 0 and 180.

Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 2006

Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

APPARATUS
Crank and Slotted Lever Quick Return Mechanism

Universiti Tenaga Nasional, 2006

Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

PROCEDURES
1. Set the crank so that the pointer is at zero on the scale. Note the crosshead
position, x.
2. Rotate the crank by 10 increments and for every increment, note the
corresponding crosshead position, x.

RESULTS
1. Find an expression for theoretical distance (x) in term of .
2. Plot a graph of experimental crosshead position, x, versus crank angle.
3. Plot on the same graph, a graph of theoretical crosshead position versus crank
angle.
4. On both graphs, show the return and cutting stroke.
5. Plot a graph of crosshead velocity versus crank angle. On the graph, show the
return and cutting stroke.

DISCUSSION
1. How well does the experimental result agree with the predictions from the theory?
2. What rotation angle is required for the cutting and return strokes?
3. Discuss the motion of the slider and verify that it is indeed a quick return
mechanism.
4. What is the increase in efficiency (in term of the time required for each stroke in
one revolution of crank) obtainable in the mechanism?

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Mechanical Design and CAD Laboratory

RESULT SHEET
Crank and Slotted Lever Quick Return Motion Experiment

Crank Angles,
(degrees)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
290
300
310
320
330
340
350
360

Experimental Slider
position, x, (mm)

Theoretical Slider
position, x, (mm)