Balancing of Single-Cylinder

Engines

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Introduction
A slider crank linkage can be considered as a single-plane device, so static
balancing technique is implemented.
Balancing will have NO effect on gas forces.
Balancing can exactly cancel inertial forces due to rotating masses.
Balancing with rotating weights cannot exactly cancel translating inertial
forces.

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines

To balance the crank, we need a balance mass at some radius, 180 deg.
from the lumped mass at point A,
=

The figure shows the

case where
=

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines

The Shaking force of the unbalanced system is

2
2
= cos + cos + cos 2

+ 2 sin

The Shaking force after balancing the crank is

= 2 cos 2 sin

2
= cos + 2

In a single-cylinder engine, there is no way to completely eliminate the

reciprocating unbalance with a single, rotating counterweight, but we can
reduce the shaking force still further.
Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines

An additional amount of mass is added to the counterweight.

Note that the crank

CG has now moved
away from the fixed
pivot.

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines

The Shaking force after overbalancing the crank is

= 2 cos 2 sin
= 2 cos 2 sin
=

cos + 2 2 cos 2 sin

This is a useful tradeoff as the direction of the shaking force is usually of

less concern than its magnitude.

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines - Example

A slider-crank linkage has the following properties:
= 80 mm, = 320 mm,
2 = 0.4 , 3 = 0.36 ,
2 = 8 kg, 3 = 21 kg,
4 = 2.6 kg, = 1800 rpm
1. Calculate the inertia force as a function of crank angle.
2. Exactly balance the crank and recalculate the inertia force.
3. Overbalance the crank with two-thirds of the mass at the wrist pin placed at
radius on the crank and recalculate the inertia force.
4. Compare the results to those for the unbalance crank at = 30 .
Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines - Example

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

Balancing of Single-Cylinder Engines

To completely eliminate the reciprocating unbalanced shaking force
would require the introduction of another reciprocating mass, which
oscillates 180 deg. out of phase with the piston.
Adding a second piston and cylinder, properly arranged, can accomplish
this.
One of the principle advantages of multi-cylinder engines is their ability
to reduce or eliminate the shaking forces.

Cairo University - MDPN253: Dynamics of Machine Components - Spring 2016

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