Title: A displacement analysis of complex six-link mechanisms of the Stephenson-type.
Abstract: A new method of displacement analysis of complex six-link mechanisms of the Stephenson-type, which are composed of only revolute pairs or one prismatic and six revolute pairs, is developed for the purpose of automatic calculations of kinematic properties. First, the displacements of links of the mechanisms of twenty three kinds are calculated by the formulas for the displacement analysis of five-link structures of two kinds. Then, the equation of the sixth degree is solved by the Strum theorem and the Ferrari method. Second, the composition loops and the domains of motion of the driving link are discriminated by the domains on four number-lines which are separated on the basis of the limit positions of motion of the driving link and the special positions of component four-and two-link chains. This discrimination algorithm can also be used as the Grashof condition of complex six-link mechanisms.