ENGINEERING DYNAMICS LAB

FORCE ANALYSIS OF JACK

LAB PROJECT

SUBMITTED BY:
2019-ME-117 ------ BILAL MAQSOOD
2019-ME-118 ------ TANZEEL UR REHMAN
2019-ME-119 ------- MOIZ BIN AZEEM
2019-ME-120 ------- TOUQEER MOUVIA
SUBMITTED TO:
SIR UMAIR ASHRAF KHOKHAR

a
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.
Page | 1
Contents
Introduction: ................................................................................................. 3
Scissor Jack: ................................................................................................... 4
Design Equations for Scissor Lift: ................................................................. 5
Scissor jack with load applied at center pin: ............................................... 5
Force Analysis: .............................................................................................. 7
Screw-Jack: ..................................................................................................10
Screw threads: ............................................................................................ 12
Relating Effort and the Weight lifted in Screw-Jack:.................................13
Conclusion: ..................................................................................................15
References:..................................................................................................15

Page | 2
Introduction:
Accidents can be happened at any time in anybody’s life. Minor accidents
can be cured by first aid kid. Similarly, in machines some small technical
problems can be occurred at any instant. To make it correct, it is not
possible by human to lift it up. For that purpose, engineers introduced an
emergency kit for machines called jack to lift the machines up with little
effort. Now, we see whenever a vehicle tyre fails while travelling, the driver
must lift the vehicle from the ground level and perform repair or
maintenance of that vehicle by using jack.
A jack is a mechanical device used for lifting heavy loads or to apply
great forces.
A jack is a device used for raising all or part of a vehicle into the air to
facilitate repairs of that vehicle. A mechanical jack has screw threads for
lifting heavy equipment or vehicles. A car jack has mechanical advantage
which allows lifting a vehicle by manual force.
The most common forms of jacks are scissor jack, screw jack, floor jack or
garage jack which lifts vehicles for maintenance or repairs. Jacks are usually
rated for a maximum lifting capacity. In industries, jacks are rated for
carrying tons of load.
Over here, we will discuss the force analysis of jack. But in jack we will
analyze its two cases.
1. Scissor Jack/lift
2. Screw jack
Both cases have very important role in daily life. Human can easily lift up
too much heavy weight. Before we will describe anything let, we see what
is basically the working principle of jack.

Working Principle:
The jack moves the screw/arms upward by rotating the handle with some
external force so that the vehicle lifts from ground. The vehicle is lifted by
using the lifting platform at the top of the screw-jack.

Page | 3
Scissor Jack:
“A powerful lifting jack operated by a screw in horizontal position that
lengthens and shortens the horizontal diagonal of a parallelogram
consisting of linkages of the jack.”

Construction of Scissor Jack:

A scissor jack has four main pieces of metal and two base ends. The four
main pieces are all connected at the corners with a bolt that allows the
corners to swivel. A screw thread runs across this assembly and through the
corners. As the screw thread is turned, the jack arms travel across it and
collapse or come together, forming a straight line when closed. Then,
moving back the other way, they raise and come together. When opened,
the four-metal arms contract together, coming together at the middle,
raising the jack. When closed, the arms spread back apart and the jack
closed or flattens out again.

Types of Scissor Jack:

There are two types of scissor jack:
1. Hydraulic scissor jack
2. Manual scissor jack

Page | 4
Scissor Lift Jack:
“A scissor lift (jack) or mechanism is a device used to extend or position a
platform by mechanical means.”
The term ‘Scissor’ comes from the mechanism utilized which is configured
with linked, folding supports in crisscross ‘X’ pattern. The extension or
displacement motion is achieved applying of force to one of the supports
resulting and an elongation of the crossing pattern.
The force applied to extend the scissor mechanism may be hydraulic,
pneumatic or mechanical (via a lead screw or pinion system or rack).

Design Equations for Scissor Lift:

For a scissor lift that has straight, equal length arms i.e. the distance from
the horizontal-jack-screw attachment point to the scissors-joint is the same
as the distance from that scissor-joint to the top load platform attachment.

Scissor jack with load applied at center pin:

Page | 5
Free Body Diagram:
W

A D

C Ɵ B

Assumptions:
➢ Let the system in static position or at equilibrium.
So,
∑M = 0
∑FX = 0
∑FY = 0
➢ First, we will analyze the forces and moment act on arm AB.
➢ Then we will analyze the forces and moment act on arm CD.

Page | 6
 Force Analysis:

Moment about B:
+ ∑MB = [(W/2) x (2L) x cosƟ] – [(FY) x (L) x cosƟ] – [(FX) x (L) x sinƟ] = 0 …. (1)
+
∑FX = FX – RX1 = 0 ……………… (2)
+ ∑FY = – W/2 +FY +RY1 = 0 ……………. (3)

Moment about C:
+ ∑MC = – [(W/2) x (2L) x cosƟ] – [(FY) x (L) x cosƟ] + [(FX) x (L) x sinƟ] = 0.. (4)
+
∑FX = – FX + RX2 = 0 ……………. (5)
+ ∑FY = – W/2 – FY +RY2 = 0 …………… (6)

Page | 7
There are 6 equations so there are 6 unknown variables.
So,
[(W/2) x (2L) x cosƟ] – [(FY) x (L) x cosƟ] – [(FX) x (L) x sinƟ] = 0
w
− 2 x 2L x cosθ Fx x L x sinθ
FY = +
L x cosθ L x cosθ

FY = – W + FX x tanƟ …………. (7)

– [(W/2) x (2L) x cosƟ] – [(FY) x (L) x cosƟ] + [(FX) x (L) x sinƟ] = 0
w
2
x 2L x cosθ Fy x L x sinθ
FX = −
L x sinθ L x sinθ
W Fy
FX = tanƟ − tanθ
…………… (8)

By substituting eq (7) in eq (8)

W –W
𝑥 𝐹
FX = tanƟ − (tanθ + 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 )
2W
FX = tanƟ − 𝐹𝑥
𝐖
FX = 𝐭𝐚𝐧Ɵ

From eq (2),
FX – RX1 = 0
FX = RX1
And from eq (5),
– FX + RX2 = 0
FX = RX2
Therefore,

𝐖
FX = RX1 = RX2 =
𝐭𝐚𝐧Ɵ

Page | 8
Now,
FY = – W + FX x tanƟ
W Fy
FX = tanƟ − tanθ
W Fy
FY = – W + (tanƟ − ) x tanƟ
tanθ

FY = – FY
FY = 0
Now for calculating upward reactions. From eq (3),
– W/2 +FY +RY1 = 0
Put FY = 0,
RY1 = W/2
Similarly,
From eq (6),
– W/2 – FY +RY2 = 0
Put FY = 0,
RY2 = W/2
So,
RY1 = RY2 = W/2

Reaction forces along vertical direction is equal to half of weight while

vertical force is zero. While the reaction forces in horizontal direction is
equal to force applied in horizontal direction. It is complete force analysis
of scissor jack.

Page | 9
Screw-Jack:
“Screw jack is the mechanical device which is used to raise and lower
heavy objects vertically through the applications of a smaller external
force in a circular path.”

Purpose to Develop Screw-Jack:

Screw-jack were especially developed with the aim of solving the issue of
raising and lowering large and heavy objects over the ground levels easily
through relatively smaller magnitudes of external effort.

Basic construction of Screw-Jack:

Basically, screw-jack consists of heavy bottom metallic base or stand
through which a screw mechanism is allowed to slide up and down through
a circular path over a central axis. The load that is to be lifted is placed over
the top head of screw mechanism. The lifting movement or operation is
made functional by applying an external physical force (using human hands)
through a radial motion.

Types of Screw-Jack:
There are following types of Screw Jack:
1. Simple Screw Jack

Page | 10
 2. Differential Screw Jack

Simple Screw Jack:

“It consists on one spindle externally threaded.”
In a single start thread, when we give one rotation to the lever, the spindle
will move upward equal to one pitch of the thread. In double start, it will
move twice the pitch.
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐏 𝟐𝛑𝐥
𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨 = =
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐖 𝐩
Where,
P = Horizontal force applied
W = Load on screw jack
l = distance from lever end to spindle axis
p = pitch

Figure 1: Simple Screw Jack [3]

Differential Screw Jack:

“It consists of two spindles A and B, B externally threaded and A both
internally and externally threaded.”
The internal threads of spindle A meshes with internal threads of spindle B.
Spindle A is screwed to fixed base. When the lever is rotated such that
spindle A rises, spindle B also rotates and it will come down.

Page | 11
 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟐𝛑𝐥
𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨 = =
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐀 − 𝐩𝐁

Figure 2: Differential Screw Jack

Screw threads:
“A screw thread is a helical structure used to convert between rotational
and linear movement or force. A screw thread is ridge wrapped around a
cylinder in form of helix is called straight thread while wrapped around a
cone in form of helix is called tapered threads.”

Helix Angle:
“A helix angle is the angle between any helix and an axial line on its right,
circular cylinder or cone.”
Formula:
tan-1 P
𝜶=
2π𝒓𝒎

Page | 12
Few common examples are screws, helical gears, worm gears, etc.

Relating Effort and the Weight lifted in Screw-Jack:

Let us try to understand and drive a relation between the two parameters
i.e. weight lifted and effort applied.

P = Pitch of screw
d = Mean diameter of screw
α = Helix angle
A cross-sectional analysis of the produced angular displacement with the
diagram shown alongside and the following expression:
P
tanα =
πd
Now, assume,
P = The effort applied in lifting the load
W = Wight of the body being lifted
μ = Coefficient of friction between the screw threads and the stand threads
As discussed earlier, the calculations involved with a screw-jack is similar
and can be compared to that of an inclined plane, we can consider the
external applied force to be horizontal. Also, the weight is being elevated
generates a friction F acting downwards equal to:

F = μR
Page | 13
R = Normal reaction developed between the interacting surfaces
Now, resolving the forces over the horizontal plane gives:
Pcosα = Wsinα +μR ---------(1)
Similarly, resolving the perpendicular forces gives:
R = Psinα + Wcosα ----------(2)
Substitute the value of “R” in eq (1),
Pcosα = Wsinα +μR = Wsinα + μ (Psinα + Wcosα)
Pcosα = Wsinα + μPsinα + μWcosα
Pcosα – μPsinα = Wsinα + μWcosα
P (cosα – μsinα) = W (sinα + μcosα)
𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛂 + 𝛍𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛂
𝐏 = 𝐖𝐱
𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛂 − 𝛍𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛂
Replace the value μ = tanα
Multiple the denominator and nominator by a common factor, we get:
sinα 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛗 + cosα 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛗
P = Wx
cosα 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛗 − sinα 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛗
sin (α + φ)
P = Wx
cos (α + φ)
Finally, we can write
𝐏 = 𝐖 𝐱 𝐭𝐚𝐧(𝛂 + 𝛗)
Page | 14
The last expression presents a clear relationship between the weight W
which is to be raised and the effort P to be applied externally.

Conclusion:
We discussed bout the jack, scissor jack and screw-jack. Since jack is
mechanical device used to lift up the machines. Common examples include
lifting up of vehicles, airplanes, heavy machinery, etc. We analyzed the
forces act on scissor lift/jack if force is acting at center point. There is huge
mechanical advantage of jack. We can lift up heavy load with little effort.
Since, jack is great invention by engineers. It is simple mechanism and very
useful for both human being and industry. Manual jacks are used at
common level while hydraulic jacks are used in industries.

References:
1. Book: _Applied Mechanics and Strength of Materials, ._Author: Khurmi
R.S. Publisher: S. Chand and Company Ltd.
2. https://www.brighthubengineering.com/machine-design/110446-calculating-
screw-jacks/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackscrew
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw_thread
5. https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/scissor%20jack#:~:text=%3A%20a%20powerful%20lift
ing%20jack%20operated,the%20linkages%20of%20the%20jack
6. https://learnmech.com/design-and-analysis-of-scissor-jack/
7. https://www.engineersedge.com/mechanics_machines/scissor-
lift.htm

Page | 15