Device for mechanical plotting of power/speed curves for a D.C. motor

Abstract

The relationships between power, speed, and torque in a direct current motor are often not intuitive to students based on functionality of modern dynamometers. Previous work in a 1998 master's thesis by Peter T. Lee built a device to mechanically demonstrate the torque/speed relationship for engineering students. This thesis expands that work to prototype a modified device to show the power/speed relationship utilizing a mechanical multiplier. Speed and torque output are converted into linear motions along perpendicular axes, and power is output as their product. This thesis summarizes the design and construction of a first prototype of such a mechanical dynamometer device that can be used in teaching demonstrations.