As a type of multiconfiguration mechanism that can operate in an under-actuated state,metamorphic mechanisms were proposed more than two decades ago and attracted significant interest.Studies on structural synthesis of metamorphic mechanisms tend to focus more on metamorphic techniques and the structural synthesis of source mechanisms for metamorphic mechanisms.By designing different constraint architectures of metamorphic joints,multistructures can be obtained from the same source metamorphic mechanism.To determine the constraint architectures of metamorphic joints and their different assembly combinations,a kinematic status matrix and a corresponding constraint status matrix are constructed based on the metamorphic cyclogram of a source mechanism.According to the equivalent resistance gradient model and the constraint status matrix,an equivalent resistance matrix for the metamorphic joints is proposed.A structural synthesis matrix of the metamorphic mechanism is then obtained from the equivalent resistance matrix by deducing the constraint form vectors of the metamorphic joints.Furthermore,a kinematic diagram synthesis of the source metamorphic mechanism of a planar single-loop metamorphic mechanism is proposed,which is based on only the 14 one-or zero-degrees-of-freedom linkage groups.The entire structural design method of a metamorphic mechanism is based on the structural synthesis matrix and is presented as a systematic process.Finally,the proposed structural design approach is illustrated by two examples to verify its feasibility and practicality.This study provides an effective method for designing a practical multi-mobility and multiconfiguration planar single-loop metamorphic mechanism with a single actuator.
Qiang YangGuangbo HaoShujun LiHongguang WangHaiyang Li
In order to obtain a simple way for the force analysis of metamorphic mechanisms, the systematic method to unify the force analysis approach of metamorphic mechanisms as that of conventional planar mechanisms is proposed. A force analysis method of metamorphic mechanisms is developed by transforming the augmented Assur groups into Assur groups, so that the force analysis problem of metamorphic mechanisms is converted into the force analysis problems of conventional planar mechanisms. The constraint force change rules and values of metamorphic joints are obtained by the proposed method, and the constraint force analysis equations of revolute metamorphic joints in augmented Assur group RRRR and prismatic metamorphic joints in augmented Assur group RRPR are deduced. The constraint force analysis is illustrated by the constrained spring force design of paper folding metamorphic mechanism, and its metamorphic working process is controlled by the spring force and geometric constraints of metamorphic joints. The results of spring force show that developped design method and approach are feasible and practical. By transforming augmented Assur groups into Assur groups, a new method for the constraint force analysis of metamorphic joints is proposed firstly to provide the basis for dynamic analysis of metamorphic mechanism.
