ABSTRACT
A new geared linkage mechanism with two length-variable links is proposed for planar path generation in this paper. This proposed mechanism consists of a five-bar linkage, a simple gear train, two elementary planetary gear trains and two slider-crank mechanisms. Two combinations, each one including an elementary planetary gear train, a slider-crank mechanism and a link adjacent to fixed link, serve as two length-variable driving links driven by a simple gear train. The proposed mechanism can be regarded as a geared five-bar linkage mechanism with two length-variable driving links. An optimal dimensional synthesis procedure is introduced to determine design variables for generating different type planar prescribed path trajectories. The formation, structure and kinematic analysis of the proposed mechanism are discussed in detail also. Two examples are provided to illustrate the proposed design method.
