KINEMATIC BIFURCATION OF SLIDER-CRANK MECHANISMS.

A technique is proposed to investigate the kinematic bifurcation of slider-crank mechanisms at change points. This technique is based on: 1. modeling vector-loop equations, 2. implicit function theorems, and 3. reasonable considerations of dynamical effects. Applying this technique to slider-crank mechanisms yields the following results: 1. the kinematic analysis at change point is possible provided that the intial conditions are given, 2. the period of a change-point mechanism may be quite different from 2 pi while the driving crank can make a full revolution, 3. the kinematic bifurcation may occur at change points due to even infinitesimal deviations of link lengths, and 4. the so-called delta function is observed in kinematic analysis.