ME 310 [Mechanics of Machines]

Lecture 4
Transmission Angle

Instructor: Dr. Mir Md Maruf Morshed

Transmission angle:
• It would be useful to have a measure, criterion, or index of how well a mechanisms
might “run”.
• The transmission angle is an important criterion for the design of mechanisms by
means of which the quality of motion transmission in a mechanism, at its design
stage can be judged.
• Transmission angle is the angle between the coupling member and the output
member in a mechanism.
Coupler C
Ø
B Driven or Follower
Driver
A D
• The ideal value is 900 of transmission angle. If we want to maximize the output
torque and minimize the frictional torque, better to keep this angle near 900. The
ideal value can not be maintained in a moving mechanisms but acceptable
transmission angle falls within the range 450 < Ø< 1350.Values outside this range
result in inefficient transmission of motion. The values beyond this limit causes very
small torque on driving link but a very high bearing force at the same point. If the
friction torque exceeds driving torque, the mechanism would jam or bind and could
cause the driven link to buckle, this arrives when transmission angle nears to values
Mechanics of Machines
00 or 1800 .
Finding the maximum and minimum values of Ø:
C
b Ø

B c
k
a q
A d D
The link AB is driving link , the force applied to driven link CD is transmitted
through coupler BC. For a particular value of force in BC, the torque
transmitted to CD is maximum when Ø is 900. If the link BC and CD becomes
coincident or a part, the value of Ø is 00 or 1800, the mechanism would jam
or lock. If Ø deviates from 900, the torque acting on the driven link will
decrease. Therefore, the best position is one where Ø is near to 900.
Applying cosine law of triangle,
Δ ABD
2+ 2
a d -2ad cosƟ= k 2 …….Eq. (1)
Δ BCD,
b2+c2-2bc cos Ø = k2 …….Eq. (2)
From Eqs. (1) and (2), we have
a2+d2-2ad cosƟ -b2 - c2+2bc cos Ø = 0 …….Eq. (3)
Mechanics of Machines
Contd.

The maximum and minimum values of transmission angle Ø can be

determined by taking the derivative of the Eq. (3) with respect to Ɵ and
Equating to zero as follows
d(Ø)/dƟ = 0
ad SinƟ- bc Sin Ø.d Ø/dƟ=0
dØ/dƟ= ad SinƟ/bc SinØ
If dØ/dƟ = 0
ad SinƟ = 0
Ɵ = 0 ˚ or Ɵ = 180 ˚
It can be seen that Ø is maximum when Ɵ is 180 ˚ and minimum when Ɵ is 0 ˚
Example: Determine max.Ø and min.Ø and draw respective positions:
AD=d=3 cm,AB=a=6 cm,BC=b=6 cm and CD=c=7 cm
6 C
B 6
C
Ø 3 D
Ø A B
Ɵ=0 0
6 7
6 7
7 6
Ɵ
Ɵ = 180 0
Ø
B D
A 3 D 6 A 3
C
Mechanics of Machines
Contd.
Exercise: For the given Mechanisms, determine max.Ø and min.Ø and draw
respective positions:
C
6 Ømax.= 137.50
Ø
B Ømin.= 380
Ømax.= 104.50
C 10
Ømin.= 41.40 3
B Ø 7
1 2

A D A D
3 8

Mechanics of Machines