Klien's construction procedure

15.5. Klien’s Construction

(a) Klien’s acceleration diagram. (b) Velocity diagram. (c) Acceleration diagram.
Fig. 15.2. Klien’s construction.
Klien’s velocity diagram
First of all, draw OM perpendicular to OP; such that it intersects the line PC produced at M.
The triangle OCM is known as Klien’s velocity diagram. In this triangle OCM,
OM may be regarded as a line perpendicular to PO,
CM may be regarded as a line parallel to PC, and ...(Q It is the same line.)
CO may be regarded as a line parallel to CO.
We have already discussed that the velocity diagram for given configuration is a triangle ocp
 Chapter 15 : Inertia Forces in Reciprocating Parts l 517
as shown in Fig. 15.2 (b). If this triangle is revolved through 90°, it will be a triangle oc1 p1, in which
oc1 represents v CO (i.e. velocity of C with respect to O or velocity of crank pin C) and is paralel to OC,
op1 represents v PO (i.e. velocity of P with respect to O or velocity of cross-head or piston P)
and is perpendicular to OP, and
c1p1 represents v PC (i.e. velocity of P with respect to C) and is parallel to CP.
A little consideration will show, that the triangles oc1p1 and OCM are similar. Therefore,

oc1 op1 c p
= = 1 1 = ω (a constant)
OC OM CM

vCO v v
or = PO = PC = ω
OC OM CM
∴ vCO = ω × OC ; v PO = ω × OM, and v PC = ω × CM
Thus, we see that by drawing the Klien’s velocity diagram, the velocities of various points
may be obtained without drawing a separate velocity diagram.
Klien’s acceleration diagram
The Klien’s acceleration dia-
gram is drawn as discussed below:
1. First of all, draw a circle
with C as centre and CM as radius.
2. Draw another circle with
PC as diameter. Let this circle inter-
sect the previous circle at K and L.
3. Join KL and produce it to
intersect PO at N. Let KL intersect
PC at Q. This forms the quadrilateral
CQNO, which is known as Klien’s
acceleration diagram.
We have already discussed
that the acceleration diagram for the given configuration is as shown in Fig. 15. 2 (c). We know that
r
(i) o'c' represents aCO (i.e. radial component of the acceleration of crank pin C with respect
to O ) and is parallel to CO;
r
(ii) c'x represents aPC (i.e. radial component of the acceleration of crosshead or piston P
with respect to crank pin C) and is parallel to CP or CQ;
t
(iii) xp' represents aPC (i.e. tangential component of the acceleration of P with respect to C )
and is parallel to QN (because QN is perpendicular to CQ); and
(iv) o'p' represents aPO (i.e. acceleration of P with respect to O or the acceleration of piston
P) and is parallel to PO or NO.
A little consideration will show that the quadrilateral o'c'x p' [Fig. 15.2 (c)] is similar to
quadrilateral CQNO [Fig. 15.2 (a)]. Therefore,
o′c ′ c ′x xp ′ o′p′
= = = = ω2 (a constant)
OC CQ QN NO
518 l Theory of Machines
r
aCO ar at a
or = PC = PC = PO = ω2
OC CQ QN NO

∴ r
aCO = ω2 × OC ; aPC
r
= ω2 × CQ
t
aPC = ω2 × QN ; and aPO = ω2 × NO
Thus we see that by drawing the Klien’s acceleration diagram, the acceleration of various
points may be obtained without drawing the separate acceleration diagram.
Notes: 1. The acceleration of piston P with respect to crank pin C (i.e. aPC) may be obtained from:
c′p ′ aPC
= ω2 or = ω2
CN CN
∴ aPC = ω2 × CN
2. To find the velocity of any point D on the connecting rod PC, divide CM at D1 in the same ratio as D
divides CP. In other words,
CD1 CD
=
CM CP
∴ Velocity of D, v D = ω × OD1
3. To find the acceleration of any point D on the connecting rod PC, draw a line from a point D parallel
to PO which intersects CN at D2 .
∴ Acceleration of D, aD = ω2 × OD2
4. If the crank position is such that the point N lies on the right of O instead of to the left as shown in
Fig. 15.2 (a), then the acceleration of the piston is negative. In other words, the piston is under going retardation.
5. The acceleration of the piston P is zero and its velocity is maximum, when N coincides with O.
There is no simple graphical method of finding the corresponding crank position, but it can be shown that for N
and O to coincide, the angle between the crank and the connecting rod must be slightly less than 90°. For most
practical purposes, it is assumed that the acceleration of piston P is zero, when the crank OC and connecting rod
PC are at right angles to each other.