2. Introduction
*Beam Engines and water bucket pumps were introduced in
Wanlockhead in 1745.
*It was used to draw out water from mines, as well as to pump
water into canals.The engine consisted of a large wooden frame
into which a pivoted overhead beam was used to apply force
generated by a pump rod and transfer that movement to a vertical
piston.
*This mechanism was mostly used in steam engines but nowadays
it is used in water pumps, oil rigs , specifically designed sawing
machine etc.
3. What is beam engine?
• It is a type of steam engine where a pivoted overhead
beam is used to apply the force from a vertical piston to a
vertical connecting rod.
• It is basically a 6 link mechanism that converts rotary
motion of crank into linear straight line motion of vertical
sliding link that in practice is used in pumps and other
purposes.
5. Working Principle
When crank rotates about the fixed
centre , lever oscillates about a
fixed point .The end of the middle
link is connected to the piston rod
which reciprocates due to the
rotation of the crank.The purpose
of this mechanism is to convert
rotary motion into the linear
straight line motion.
6. Mobility
Characteristics
• Number of links(n): 6
• Number of joints(j):7
• Mobility characteristic (µ): 3*(n-j-1)+j
• µ= 3*(6-7-1)+7= 1
Since µ=1, hence we require only one input to produce the
desired output.
7. Degree of Freedom
• In mechanics, the degree of freedom (DOF) of a
mechanical system is the number of independent
parameters that define its configuration.
• Our project has 2 degrees of freedom i.e. rotation of link
about axis perpendicular to the plane and vertical motion.