11.5 Crank-Rocker Mechanisms with Optimum Transmission Angle 335 @ 6) Figure 11.3 Synthesis of a four-bar linkage to generate the rocker angle @, If yy > 180° in Fig. 11.2, then = y — 180°, where a can be obtained from the equa- tion for the time ratio (see Section 1.7) 180° + @ 180° —@ of the forward and backward motions of the rocker. The first problem that arises in the synthesis of crank-and-rocker linkages is how to obtain the dimensions or geometry that will cause the mechanism to generate a specified output angle @ when the time ratio is specified.” To synthesize a crank-and-rocker mechanism for specified values of @ and a, locate point O, in Fig. 11.3a and choose any desired rocker length rj. Then draw the two positions (04B, and O4B2 of link 4 separated by the angle ¢ as given. Through By construct any line X Then through B> construct the line ¥ at the given angle a to the line X. The intersection of the these two lines defines the location of the crank pivot Q2. Because line X was originally chosen arbitrarily, there are an infinite number of solutions to this problem. Next, as shown in Figs. 11.2 and 11.3a, the distance ByC is 2ro, or twice the crank length. So, we bisect this distance to find r2. Then the coupler length is r3 = 02B) — r2. The completed linkage is shown in Fig. 11.36. @ dp 11.5 CRANK-ROCKER MECHANISMS WITH OPTIMUM TRANSMISSION ANGLE Brodell and Soni? developed an analytic method of synthesizing the crank-rocker linkage in which the time ratio Q equals unity. The design also satisfies the condition Yexin = 180° — Yona @ where y is the transmission angle (see Section 1.10). To develop the method, we use Fig. 11.2 and the law of cosines to write the two equations, P47} - (3-1)? cos(, +) = wy ris )