Mechanism and Engineering Kinetic Powered Mechanical toys:
Trigger → Wound a Spring → Store Energy → Power the Toy Step 1: Trigger
Step 2: Wound a Spring / Store Energy
Mechanisms for converting motion:
Hand powered toys usually uses spring or elastic bands to store energy.
Hank Crank - ususally connect to gears, springs, and cams. A lever attached to a rotating shaft, a simple wheel and axel machine. Wind Up Key - Similar to a hand crank, except the trigger is directly connected to the rotating shaft. Pulling String - a pullback windup type spring drive unit. After pulling the string, a driving spiral spring is charged Various motions of the toy are thereafter actuated by the energy charged in the driving spiral spring.
A spring is an energy storing device, since a spring has the ability to do work. Springs can store elastic energy, so if we push or jump on it, it will return to its original state. Types of Springs: Compression Springs - springs that keep things open/can be pressed down Example: retractable pens Spiral Spring (Constant force spring) spring that constantly want to return to their rolled up state, and will provide a consistent pull force in that direction. Example: tape measures. Spring’s Stiffness - force it takes to to squish a spring Stiffness (k) = force (f) / Squish distance (x) Energy (E) = 1/2 x stiffness (k) x distance
54