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Theory of mechanisms and machines
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Mech. Mach. Theoo' Vol. 30. No. 1. pp. 167-168, 1995 Elsevier Science Ltd. Printed in Great Britain
Pergamon
BOOK REVIEWS Classical and ModernMechanismsfor Engineersand Inventors. By
P. W. Jensen, 1991, vi + 603 pp. Marcel
Dekker, Inc., New York, New York. This book is a very good reference for practicing engineers and mechanism designers, and for anyone who enjoys seeing interesting mechanisms and their applications. A wide range of mechanism types are covered, and nearly 700 figures are included. A basic knowledge of mechanisms from a first undergraduate course in mechanism design or equivalent is assumed. The contents of the book are as follows: Chap. l--Five Basic Mechanisms; Chap. 2--Motion and Force Transmission in Linkages; Chap. 3--The Slider Crank; Chap. 4--Geneva and Star-Wheel Mechanisms; Chap. 5--Planetary Gear Systems; Chap. 6--Cycloidal Mechanisms; Chap. 7--Chain-Driven Mechanisms; Chap. 8--Screw Mechanisms; Chap. 9--Clamping Mechanisms; Chap. lO--Antibacklash Devices; Chap. l l--lnfinite-Variable-Speed Device; Chap. 12--Snap-Action Switching Mechanisms; Chap. 13--Parallelogram Mechanisms; Chap. 1 4 ~ e a r s , Gearing, and Noncircular Gears; Chap. 15--Detent, Indexing, and Ratchet Mechanisms; Chap. 16~Overload and Overrunning Clutches; Chap. 17--Systematic Mechanism Design. Two bibliographies are included, a general bibliography (232 references, 54% of which are in English, and 50% authored by Jensen), and another for planetary gear systems (509 references, 30% of which are in English). The mechanisms in the book are based on what the author calls the five basic mechanisms, which are the screw mechanism, the sliding-joint mechanism, the turning-joint mechanism, the rolling-joint mechanism, and the roll-side-joint mechanism. Chapter 2 (Motion and Force Transmission in Linkages) is a discussion of the four-bar linkage. The following chapter (The Slider Crank), includes the analysis and design charts for centric and offset slider cranks, as well as a large number of example mechanisms. Each chapter thereafter contains an introduction to the type of mechanism discussed in the chapter and numerous figures of example mechanisms. Each figure is accompanied by a caption describing the mechanism. Several chapters (Geneva and Star-Wheel Mechanisms, Planetary Gear Systems, Cycloidal Mechanisms, and Noncircular Gears) also include more in-depth descriptions of mechanism design and analysis. It is necessary to note that one important type of mechanism, cams, has been omitted from this book because the author has another text covering the topic. In the final chapter (Systematic Mechanism Design), number and type synthesis techniques are used to enumerate kinematic chains and mechanisms with specified characteristics. This book is a valuable reference and can be an important source of inspiration for those practicing mechanisms design. A reader familiar with mechanical design will find it an enjoyable experience to browse through the pages and discover many interesting solutions to mechanical motion problems.
Mechanical Engineering Department Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602, U.S.A.
LARRY L. HOWELL
Elastic Mechanisms Laboratory School of Mechanical Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1288, U.S.A.
ASHOK MIDHA
Theory of Mechanismsand Machines2nd
edn. By A. G h o s h a n d A. K. Mallik, 1988, viii + 586 pp. Affiliated E a s t - W e s t Press Private Limited, New Delhi, India. This is a well organized and well written book that is appropriate for an undergraduate course in mechanisms and machines. The book contains the fundamental concepts common to good texts in the area, and other, more advanced and specialized topics that are usually not found in undergraduate texts are also included. A detailed description of all of the contents of this comprehensive book is not possible here, but an outline of the contents is as follows: Chap. l--Introduction; Chap. 2--Kinematic Analysis of Plane Mechanisms; Chap. 3--Kinematic Synthesis of Linkages; Chap. 4--Dynamic Analysis of Mechanisms and Machines; Chap. 5--Dynamics of Direct-Acting Engine Mechanisms; Chap. &--Governor Mechanisms; Chap. 7--Balancing of Inertia Forces and Moments in Machines; Chap. 8---Cams; Chap. 9---Gears; Chap. 10----Gyroscopic Action in Machines; Chap. 11--Vibrations in Mechanical Systems; and Chap. 12--Dynamics of Rotating Shafts. The discussion of kinematic analysis (Chap. 2) emphasizes graphical approaches, with a brief introduction to analytical methods. A more balanced discussion of analytical and graphical kinematic synthesis methods is given in Chap. 3. An introduction to dynamics of mechanisms, including an introduction to mechanisms with elastic connections and elastic links (Chap. 4), and sections on cams (Chap. 8) and gears (Chap. 9) complete the discussion of the fundamental concepts usually covered in a first semester course. Chapters 5-7 cover the area of dynamics of engine mechanisms, and include a more detailed description of flywheel analysis and governor mechanisms than most texts. The mathematical development which describes the gyroscopic action in machines (Chap. 10) and an introduction to the dynamics of rotating shafts (Chap. 12) 167
168
Book Reviews
are other important topics included which increase the usefulness of the book as a reference. Perhaps one of the most valuable sections of the book is the introduction to vibrations in mechanical systems (Chap. 11). This chapter contains discussions of one-, two-, and multi-degree-of-freedom systems, an introduction to vibrations of continuous systems, approximate methods, and a discussion of vibration measuring instruments. Besides the unique organization and content of this book, it has other strengths that distinguish it from many other texts. A large number of worked out examples are given throughout the text (107 total, including 40 in the vibrations chapter alone), making it a valuable resource for both the student and the instructor. Problems are also given at the end of each chapter, with answers for m a n y included in the back of the book. The text is also self-contained, and includes appendices describing several mathematical concepts that the student m a y need to review. In summary, this book contains descriptions o f fundamental concepts that make it a good textbook, and also includes topics in several other important areas that make it a valuable reference for more advanced work.
Mechanical Engineering Department Brigham Young University Provo, UT84602, U.S.A. Elastic Mechanisms Laboratory School of Mechanical Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1288, U.S.A.
LARRY L. HOWELL
ASHOK MIDHA
Mech. Mach. Theoo' Vol. 30. No. 1. pp. 167-168, 1995 Elsevier Science Ltd. Printed in Great Britain
Pergamon
BOOK REVIEWS Classical and ModernMechanismsfor Engineersand Inventors. By
P. W. Jensen, 1991, vi + 603 pp. Marcel
Dekker, Inc., New York, New York. This book is a very good reference for practicing engineers and mechanism designers, and for anyone who enjoys seeing interesting mechanisms and their applications. A wide range of mechanism types are covered, and nearly 700 figures are included. A basic knowledge of mechanisms from a first undergraduate course in mechanism design or equivalent is assumed. The contents of the book are as follows: Chap. l--Five Basic Mechanisms; Chap. 2--Motion and Force Transmission in Linkages; Chap. 3--The Slider Crank; Chap. 4--Geneva and Star-Wheel Mechanisms; Chap. 5--Planetary Gear Systems; Chap. 6--Cycloidal Mechanisms; Chap. 7--Chain-Driven Mechanisms; Chap. 8--Screw Mechanisms; Chap. 9--Clamping Mechanisms; Chap. lO--Antibacklash Devices; Chap. l l--lnfinite-Variable-Speed Device; Chap. 12--Snap-Action Switching Mechanisms; Chap. 13--Parallelogram Mechanisms; Chap. 1 4 ~ e a r s , Gearing, and Noncircular Gears; Chap. 15--Detent, Indexing, and Ratchet Mechanisms; Chap. 16~Overload and Overrunning Clutches; Chap. 17--Systematic Mechanism Design. Two bibliographies are included, a general bibliography (232 references, 54% of which are in English, and 50% authored by Jensen), and another for planetary gear systems (509 references, 30% of which are in English). The mechanisms in the book are based on what the author calls the five basic mechanisms, which are the screw mechanism, the sliding-joint mechanism, the turning-joint mechanism, the rolling-joint mechanism, and the roll-side-joint mechanism. Chapter 2 (Motion and Force Transmission in Linkages) is a discussion of the four-bar linkage. The following chapter (The Slider Crank), includes the analysis and design charts for centric and offset slider cranks, as well as a large number of example mechanisms. Each chapter thereafter contains an introduction to the type of mechanism discussed in the chapter and numerous figures of example mechanisms. Each figure is accompanied by a caption describing the mechanism. Several chapters (Geneva and Star-Wheel Mechanisms, Planetary Gear Systems, Cycloidal Mechanisms, and Noncircular Gears) also include more in-depth descriptions of mechanism design and analysis. It is necessary to note that one important type of mechanism, cams, has been omitted from this book because the author has another text covering the topic. In the final chapter (Systematic Mechanism Design), number and type synthesis techniques are used to enumerate kinematic chains and mechanisms with specified characteristics. This book is a valuable reference and can be an important source of inspiration for those practicing mechanisms design. A reader familiar with mechanical design will find it an enjoyable experience to browse through the pages and discover many interesting solutions to mechanical motion problems.
Mechanical Engineering Department Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602, U.S.A.
LARRY L. HOWELL
Elastic Mechanisms Laboratory School of Mechanical Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1288, U.S.A.
ASHOK MIDHA
Theory of Mechanismsand Machines2nd
edn. By A. G h o s h a n d A. K. Mallik, 1988, viii + 586 pp. Affiliated E a s t - W e s t Press Private Limited, New Delhi, India. This is a well organized and well written book that is appropriate for an undergraduate course in mechanisms and machines. The book contains the fundamental concepts common to good texts in the area, and other, more advanced and specialized topics that are usually not found in undergraduate texts are also included. A detailed description of all of the contents of this comprehensive book is not possible here, but an outline of the contents is as follows: Chap. l--Introduction; Chap. 2--Kinematic Analysis of Plane Mechanisms; Chap. 3--Kinematic Synthesis of Linkages; Chap. 4--Dynamic Analysis of Mechanisms and Machines; Chap. 5--Dynamics of Direct-Acting Engine Mechanisms; Chap. &--Governor Mechanisms; Chap. 7--Balancing of Inertia Forces and Moments in Machines; Chap. 8---Cams; Chap. 9---Gears; Chap. 10----Gyroscopic Action in Machines; Chap. 11--Vibrations in Mechanical Systems; and Chap. 12--Dynamics of Rotating Shafts. The discussion of kinematic analysis (Chap. 2) emphasizes graphical approaches, with a brief introduction to analytical methods. A more balanced discussion of analytical and graphical kinematic synthesis methods is given in Chap. 3. An introduction to dynamics of mechanisms, including an introduction to mechanisms with elastic connections and elastic links (Chap. 4), and sections on cams (Chap. 8) and gears (Chap. 9) complete the discussion of the fundamental concepts usually covered in a first semester course. Chapters 5-7 cover the area of dynamics of engine mechanisms, and include a more detailed description of flywheel analysis and governor mechanisms than most texts. The mathematical development which describes the gyroscopic action in machines (Chap. 10) and an introduction to the dynamics of rotating shafts (Chap. 12) 167
168
Book Reviews
are other important topics included which increase the usefulness of the book as a reference. Perhaps one of the most valuable sections of the book is the introduction to vibrations in mechanical systems (Chap. 11). This chapter contains discussions of one-, two-, and multi-degree-of-freedom systems, an introduction to vibrations of continuous systems, approximate methods, and a discussion of vibration measuring instruments. Besides the unique organization and content of this book, it has other strengths that distinguish it from many other texts. A large number of worked out examples are given throughout the text (107 total, including 40 in the vibrations chapter alone), making it a valuable resource for both the student and the instructor. Problems are also given at the end of each chapter, with answers for m a n y included in the back of the book. The text is also self-contained, and includes appendices describing several mathematical concepts that the student m a y need to review. In summary, this book contains descriptions o f fundamental concepts that make it a good textbook, and also includes topics in several other important areas that make it a valuable reference for more advanced work.
Mechanical Engineering Department Brigham Young University Provo, UT84602, U.S.A. Elastic Mechanisms Laboratory School of Mechanical Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1288, U.S.A.
LARRY L. HOWELL
ASHOK MIDHA