CHAPTER 1: MECHANISMS

I. Fill in the blanks with given words

Mechanisms are devices which can be considered to be motion converters in that

they (1) _______ motion from one form to some other required form. They might, for
example, transform linear motion into rotational motion, or motion in one direction into
a motion in a direction at (2) _______ angles, or perhaps a linear (3) _______ motion
into rotary motion, as in the internal combustion engine where the reciprocating motion
of the pistons is converted into rotation of the crank and hence the drive shaft.
Mechanical elements can include the use of linkages, cams, gears, rack-and-pinion,
chain drives, belt drives, etc. For example, the (4) _______ can be used to convert
rotational motion to linear motion. Parallel shaft gears might be used to reduce a shaft
speed. (5) _______ might be used for the transmission of rotary motion through 90º. A
toothed belt or chain drive might be used to transform rotary motion about one axis to
motion about another. Cams and linkages can be used to obtain motions which are
prescribed to vary in a particular manner.
The motion of any rigid body can be considered to be a combination of translational
and rotational motions. By considering the three (6) _______ of space, a translation
motion can be considered to be a movement which can be (7) _______ into components
along one or more of the three axes. A rotational motion can be considered as a rotation
which has components rotating about one or more of the axes. A (8) _______ motion
may be a combination of translational and rotational motions.
An important aspect in the design of mechanical elements is the orientation and
arrangement of the elements and parts. A body that is free in space can move in three,
independent, mutually perpendicular directions and rotate in three ways about those
directions. It is said to have six degrees of freedom (DOF). The number of (9) _______
is the number of (10) _______ of motion that are required in order to generate the
motion.
The problem in design is often to reduce the number of degrees of freedom and this
then requires an appropriate number and orientation of (11) _______. Without any
constraints a body would have six degrees of freedom. A constraint is needed for each
degree of freedom that is to be prevented from occurring.

bevel gears dimensions degrees of freedom right

reciprocating transform rack-and-pinion components
complex constraints resolved
 II. Linking words

(1) Mechanism (a) to stop something from happening or someone from doing something
(2) Motion (b) unnecessary because it is more than needed
(3) Linkage (c) the act or process of moving, or a particular movement
(4) Transmission (d) to need something or make something necessary
(5) Axis (e) a measurement of something in a particular direction, especially its
height, length, or width
(6) Rigid (f) something that limits the range of a person’s actions or freedom
(7) Dimension (g) the art of making plans or drawings for something
(8) Complex (h) a part of a machine, or a set of parts that work together
(9) Constraint (i) a fixed line on a graph used to show the position of a point
(10) Prevent (j) the process of passing something from one person or place to another
(11) Redundant (k) - involving a lot of different but related parts
- difficult to understand or to find an answer to because of having many
different parts
(12) Require (l) the existence or forming of connections between things
(13) Design (m) stiff or fixed; not able to be bent or moved
 ANSWER
I. Fill in the blanks with given words

(1) transform (2) right (3) reciprocating

(4) rack-and-pinion (5) bevel gears (6) dimensions
(7) resolved (8) complex (9) degrees of freedom
(10) components (11) constraints (12) redundant
(13)
II. Linking words

Mechanism: a part of a machine, or a set of parts that work together

Motion: the act or process of moving, or a particular movement
Linkage: the existence or forming of connections between things
Transmission: the process of passing something from one person or place to another
Axis: a fixed line on a graph used to show the position of a point
Rigid: stiff or fixed; not able to be bent or moved
Dimension: a measurement of something in a particular direction, especially its height,
length, or width
Complex: - involving a lot of different but related parts
- difficult to understand or to find an answer to because of having many different parts
Constraint: something that limits the range of a person’s actions or freedom
Prevent: to stop something from happening or someone from doing something
Redundant: unnecessary because it is more than needed
Require: to need something or make something necessary
Design: the art of making plans or drawings for something