Tristable mechanisms, or devices with three distinct stable equilibrium positions, have promise for future applications, but the complexities of the tristable behavior have made it difficult to identify configurations that can achieve tristable behavior while meeting practical stress and fabrication constraints. This paper describes a new tristable configuration that employs orthogonally oriented compliant mechanisms that result in tristable mechanics that are readily visualized. The functional principles are described and design models are derived. Feasibility is conclusively demonstrated by the successful operation of four embodiments covering a range of size regimes, materials, and fabrication processes. Tested devices include an in-plane tristable macroscale mechanism, a tristable lamina emergent mechanism, a tristable micromechanism made using a carbon nanotube-based fabrication process, and a polycrystalline silicon micromechanism.
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e-mail: guimin.chen@gmail.com
e-mail: quentinaten@yahoo.com
e-mail: sazirbel@gmail.com
e-mail: bdjensen@byu.edu
e-mail: lhowell@byu.edu
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February 2010
Technical Briefs
A Tristable Mechanism Configuration Employing Orthogonal Compliant Mechanisms
Guimin Chen,
Guimin Chen
School of Mechatronics,
e-mail: guimin.chen@gmail.com
Xidian University
, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710071, China
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Quentin T. Aten,
Quentin T. Aten
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: quentinaten@yahoo.com
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602
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Shannon Zirbel,
Shannon Zirbel
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: sazirbel@gmail.com
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602
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Brian D. Jensen,
Brian D. Jensen
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: bdjensen@byu.edu
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602
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Larry L. Howell
Larry L. Howell
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: lhowell@byu.edu
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602
Search for other works by this author on:
Guimin Chen
School of Mechatronics,
Xidian University
, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710071, Chinae-mail: guimin.chen@gmail.com
Quentin T. Aten
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602e-mail: quentinaten@yahoo.com
Shannon Zirbel
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602e-mail: sazirbel@gmail.com
Brian D. Jensen
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602e-mail: bdjensen@byu.edu
Larry L. Howell
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Brigham Young University
, Provo, UT 84602e-mail: lhowell@byu.edu
J. Mechanisms Robotics. Feb 2010, 2(1): 014501 (6 pages)
Published Online: November 19, 2009
Article history
Received:
July 17, 2009
Revised:
September 26, 2009
Published:
November 19, 2009
Citation
Chen, G., Aten, Q. T., Zirbel, S., Jensen, B. D., and Howell, L. L. (November 19, 2009). "A Tristable Mechanism Configuration Employing Orthogonal Compliant Mechanisms." ASME. J. Mechanisms Robotics. February 2010; 2(1): 014501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000529
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