DrD, any idea what kind of apparatus that using this mechanism?

Side note: (you could consider not related to this blog)

Back in college, I have a professor who is really imaginative and often create problems that unlikely to exist in real life.

He taught mechanics of materials back then, and since it was a compulsory subject, everyone gets it.

His exams would often feel like a massacre because the questions were often very different from the textbook or outside of common logic.

Henry, did you read the blog post? Let me quote:

If a tool of some sort is attached to the orange block, it is repeatedly brought down to bear against the work piece located below. This may be a punch to make a hole, a die to form a shape, a welding contact to make a spot weld, our countless other operations that require only momentary contact between the tool and the work.

And again:

Notice the shape of the solid curve. It is rather ‡at-topped, with something like a dwell in the down position. This would be useful for a situation where extended contact time between the tool and the work is required, such
as in a spot welding operation. It would not be preferred in a punching operation where the best operation is to complete the punch and withdraw the tool quickly. The shape of the curve can be modified to some extent by adjusting the link lengths.

Doesn't that suggest some applications?

Ha, I guess I missed that

DrD, here's a cool one

Scan from The Autocar (Ninth edition, circa 1919) Autocar Handbook, London: Iliffe & Sons., pp. p. 49,fig. 35

Been "speed reading" again, Henry?

That is indeed an interesting image you posted. If I recall correctly, this is a variable compression ratio engine mechanism.  It is particularly interesting that you post it here. It is another variant on the four-bar/toggle linkage idea.

The crank, the link, and the radius bar form a four-bar linage. The connecting rod drives the crank through the link, essentially a slider-crank of a strange sort.

This is a type of engine called an L-head engine, referring to the idea that the combustion chamber and the dead volume near the valves form an L-shape. It is interesting that one valve is in the block while the other is directly opposite in the head. I wonder how well that works? In a two-stroke cycle, you would risk pulling most of the mixture right through from inlet to outlet without burning at all! Most likely it is for a four-stroke cycle.

DrD

Guilty as charged, DrD.

DrD, I believe you gonna find two of these books interesting.

Brown Mechanical Movements.pdf

Hiscox_1800_Mechanical_Movements_Devices_and_Appliances.pdf

Wow, Henry!! I freely admit to being older than dirt, but these books are old even for me!

You are correct; they are very interesting. Sadly, many of the figures don't really tell enough to make clear how the things work. But some do, and that makes for fun browsing.

Thanks,

DrD