Conception of Balanced Spring Mechanisms

Abstract Statically balanced mechanisms are well known in various appearances of counterweighed beams, and systems where undesired mass is balanced by means of compensation springs. Similarly, springs can be designed to balance other springs. Besides the application of spring force compensation, many other kinds of mechanisms can benefit from the concept of balanced spring mechanisms. This paper introduces a lucid and logical methodology for the conception of statically balanced spring mechanisms. Based on constancy of system potential energy, a set of elementary rules is derived for the modification of a standard configuration with idealized springs. A number of examples are included to illustrate the versatility of the methodology, and to demonstrate the application potential of balanced spring mechanisms in general mechanical engineering.