Manuscript Number : IJSRSET2310524

Integrated Optimum Design of a Torsion Spring-Compensated Automotive Engine Hood Linkage Mechanism

Authors(2) :-Onur Denizhan, Meng-Sang Chew

A torsion spring-assisted automotive hood linkage with joint friction is statically balanced for its entire range of motion. The four-bar linkage dimensions are to be synthesized. Coulomb friction at the joints can assist in the balancing. The magnitude of friction at the joints are unknown, and so are the torsion spring characteristics. All the aforementioned unknowns are determined in an integrated procedure such that the linkage dimensions, joint friction as well as the torsion spring are all designed optimally together in one go. The objective is to require the lowest force to close and to open the engine hood, with the entire design procedure to be performed in just one-step. Only three specifications are known: The mass characteristics (weight and center of gravity location) of the hood, the two acceptable regions of the hinge locations either on the engine hood or on the car body, as well as, the closed and opened positions of the engine hood. Thirty different design configurations (scenarios) are investigated and the results are discussed. The optimal results for a torsion spring-assisted hood linkage when compared to a similar tension spring-assisted linkage, show much better load compensation characteristics: The magnitudes and fluctuations of the external lifting force are smaller. Moreover, problem specification for a torsion spring system is also simpler.

Authors and Affiliations

Onur Denizhan
Department of Electronics and Automation, Batman University, Batman, Türkiye
Meng-Sang Chew
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, USA

Four-Bar Mechanism, Kinematic Analysis, Optimization, Static Balancing, Springs

  1. Yao, S., Ceccarelli, M., Carbone, G., Zhan, Q., & Lu, Z. (2011). Analysis and optimal design of an underactuated finger mechanism for LARM hand. Front. Mech. Eng.; 6:332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-011-0229-8
  2. Quaglia, G., Yin, Z., (2015). Static balancing of planar articulated robots. Front. Mech. Eng., 10:326–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-015-0355-9
  3. Takahashi, T., Zehnder, J., Okuno, GH., Sugano, S., Coros, S., & Thomaszewski, B. (2019). Computational design of statically balanced planar spring mechanisms. in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters Oct., 4(4):4438-4444. https://doi.org/0.1109/LRA.2019.2929984
  4. Perreault, S., Cardou, P., & Gosselin, C. (2014). Approximate static balancing of a planar parallel cable-driven mechanism based on four-bar linkages and springs. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 79:64-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2014.04.008
    5. Lessard, S., Bigras, P., Bonev, I., Briot, S., & Arakelian, V. (2007, Jun 17-21). Optimum static balancing of the parallel robot for medical 3D-ultrasound imaging. 12th IFToMM World Congress, Besanc?on, France. hal-00451939.
  6. Lessard, S., Bigras, P., & Bonev, IA. (2007). A new medical parallel robot and its static balancing optimization. J. Med. Devices, 1(4):272-278. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2815329
  7. Russo, A., Sinatra, R., & Xi, F. (2005). Static balancing of parallel robots. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 40(2):191-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2004.06.011
  8. Lamers, AJ., Sanchez, JAG., & Herder, JL. (2015). Design of a statically balanced fully compliant grasper. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 92:230-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2015.05.014
  9. Denizhan, O., Chew, MS. (2023). Optimum synthesis and design of a hood linkage for static balancing in one-step. journal Tehnic?ki vjesnik - Technical Gazette, 30(3): 855-862. https://doi.org/10.17559/TV-20221122144345
  10. Denizhan, O. (2021). Incorporation of kinematic analysis, synthesis and optimization into static balancing (Publication No. 28716054) [Doctoral dissertation, Lehigh University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
  11. Denizhan, O., Chew, MS. (2018). Linkage mechanism optimization and sensitivity analysis of an automotive engine hood. International Journal of Automotive Science and Technology, 2:7–16. https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..364438
  12. Denizhan, O., Chew, MS. (2019). Optimum design of a spring-loaded linkage mechanism in the presence of friction for static balancing. Journal of Engineering Design and Analysis, 2(1):1–7. https://doi.org/10.24321/2582.5607.201901
  13. Denizhan, O. (2015). Three-position four-bar linkage mechanism synthesis, static balancing and optimization of automotive engine hood (Publication No. 1599664) [Master’s thesis, Lehigh University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
  14. Norton, RL. (2019). Design of Machinery: An Introduction to the Synthesis and Analysis of Mechanisms and Machines (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN-10: 1260113310.
  15. Stillwell, J. (2010). The Four Pillars of Geometry, (1st ed.). Springer. ISBN-10: 1441920633.
  16. Venkataraman, P. (2009). Applied Optimization with MATLAB Programming (2nd ed.). Wiley. ISBN: 978-0-470-08488-5.

Publication Details

Published in : Volume 10 | Issue 5 | September-October 2023
Date of Publication : 2023-10-30
License:  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Page(s) : 89-99
Manuscript Number : IJSRSET2310524
Publisher : Technoscience Academy

Print ISSN : 2395-1990, Online ISSN : 2394-4099

Cite This Article :

Onur Denizhan, Meng-Sang Chew, " Integrated Optimum Design of a Torsion Spring-Compensated Automotive Engine Hood Linkage Mechanism , International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology(IJSRSET), Print ISSN : 2395-1990, Online ISSN : 2394-4099, Volume 10, Issue 5, pp.89-99, September-October-2023. Available at doi : https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRSET2310524      Journal URL : https://res.ijsrset.com/IJSRSET2310524

Article Preview