In this paper, the air film formation behavior of air cushion belt conveyor with stable load is studied. The air cushion field is analyzed by means of theoretical derivation, numerical simulation and experimental research. An intelligent experiment platform is developed. Three dimensional pressure distribution of air film and the air film thickness distribution along the conveyor belt in the width direction are obtained. The experimental result is analyzed by comparing with theoretical calculation and numerical simulation. The numerical and theoretical results are in good agreement with those obtained from experiments. The air film formation behavior pattern of air cushion belt conveyor with stable load is presented. The optimized film thickness and pore distribution are obtained based on the comprehensive energy consumption. This study provides a basis for the optimization design of air cushion belt conveyor.
This paper presents the idea of constructing reconfigurable limbs by integrating metamorphic linkages as subchains.The planar five-bar metamorphic linkages that have three phases resulting from locking of motors are considered.Under the assumption that the constraint exerted by the reconfigurable limb can switch between no constraint,a constraint force,and a constraint couple,the output motions of the metamorphic linkage in its two planar four-bar linkage phases are identified.By adding an appropriate joint to planar four-bar linkages with translational output,four planar five-bar linkages that can be employed in the construction of reconfigurable limbs are enumerated.Serial chains that can provide a constraint couple and a constraint force are synthesized based on screw theory.Reconfigurable limbs that have three configurations associated with the three distinct phases of the metamorphic linkages are assembled with planar five-bar metamorphic linkages and serial chains with four degrees of freedom.A class of reconfigurable parallel mechanisms are constructed by connecting a moving platform and a base with three identical reconfigurable limbs.The degrees of freedom of the reconfigurable parallel mechanism in different configurations with the metamorphic linkages in different phases are given.Finally,the actuation scheme for this kind of mechanisms is addressed.
