Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook [Hardcover]

Nicholas P. Chironis (Author, Editor), Neil Sclater (Author, Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070113564 | ISBN-13: 978-0070113565 | Publication Date: July 1, 1996 | Edition: 2nd

This heavily illustrated reference is revised and expanded to offer machine designers and engineers practical guidance on the operation of a wide range of mechanisms and devices. The update features a collection of stimulating, easy-to-read articles-24 new to this edition-most of which were previously published in engineering magazines. The Second Edition now contains over 1,200 drawings of a broad selection of mechanical components and assemblies found in home appliances, office machines, vehicles, aircraft, ships, construction and factory equipment, and machine tools. The illustrations will help raders understand how universal mechanisms and devices work.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This sourcebook contains more than 2300 drawings in descriptive articles and extensive pictorial directories. This ready reference explains how clutches, devices, drives, linkages, and other mechanical assemblies work in machine tools; production and process plants; aircraft, automotive, and construction equipment; instruments; and consumer goods. It also includes data, tables, and formulas for the design of various mechanisms. The topics covered include: reciprocating and general-purpose mechanisms; cam, toggle, chain, and belt mechanisms; geared systems and variable-speed mechanisms; spring, bellows, flexure, screw, and ball devices; coupling, clutching, and breaking devices; torque-limiting, tensioning, and governing devices; fastening, latching, clamping, and chucking devices; new directions in machine design. This second edition contains many new articles and drawings illustrating the ongoing merger of mechanical technology, electronics, and computer science. A complex index helps you find the information you want on any device in an instant.

About the Author

Neil Sclater began his career as an engineer in the military--aerospace industry and a Boston engineering consulting firm before changing his career path to writing and editing on electronics and electromechanical subjects. He was a staff editor for engineering publications in electronic design, instrumentation, and product engineering, including McGraw-Hill's PRODUCT ENGINEERING mgazine, before starting his own business as a consultant and contributing editor in technical communication.

For the next 25 years, Mr. Sclater served a diversified list of industrial clients by writing marketing studies, technical articles, brochures, and new product releases. During this period, he also directly served a wide list of publishers by writing hundreds of by-lined articles for many different magazines and newspapers on various topics in engineering and industrial marketing.

Mr. Sclater holds degrees from Brown University and Northeastern University, and he has completed gradute courses in industrial management. He is the author or co-author of seven books on engineering subjects: six of these were published by McGraw-Hill's Professional Book Group. He previously revised and edited the Second Edition of MECHANISMS AND MECHANICAL DEVICES SOURCEBOOK after the death of Mr. Chironis.

The late Nicholas P. Chironis developed the concept for MECHANISMS AND MECHANICAL DEVICES SOURCEBOOK, and was the author/editor of the First Edition. He was a mechanical engineer and consultant in industry before joining the staff of Product Engineering magazine, as its mechanical design editor. Later in his career, he was an editor for other McGraw-Hill engineering publications. He had previously been a mechanical engineer for International Business Machines and Mergenthaler Linotype Corporation, and he was an instructor in product design at the Cooper Union School of Engineering in New York City. Mr. Chironis earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, NY. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 463 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill (Tx); 2nd edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070113564
• ISBN-13: 978-0070113565
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,048,839 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sclater's v. Parmley's books, July 24, 2005

By 

eab (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook (Hardcover)

I bought the largely similar books on mechanical components by Sclater and Parmley. Both have drawings of similar quality, to the point of having identical drawings in a number of cases (presumably because both authors used the same third-party source for the particular topic). A very few drawings were disappointing, but most were very good indeed -- and even the disappointing drawings probably would be fine for most engineers (I am not one).

There are differences. The Parmley book presents more examples of certain devices (for example, more types of linkages). But that is not true for all devices, and I'm not sure it matters in the end since both books offer quite a variety of most. For me, not being an engineer but being a fairly quick study if I'm presented with something to study, the Sclater book was preferable because it included, in most cases, more detailed introductory essays about the variouse sections: gears, screws, linkages, solenoids, etc. In some cases, though rarely, Parmley's explanations were skimpy.

I'm trying here to draw some helpful distinctions, and hope I have, but I'll close by saying that I think both are great. If I had to choose, Sclater's would win, but if you can do without the more detailed explanations and would prefer marginally more devices presented, Parmley's may suit you better.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars *Excellent* reference source book for brainstorming, April 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook (Hardcover)

I used this book frequently in an undergraduate mechanical engineering design curriculum. Many of the images are self explanitory, and often provide a solution to a mechanism problem at hand. A must for every mechanical design engineer!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and fun, November 16, 2002

By 

Paul Maher (Burlington, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook (Hardcover)

this book is for the person who likes to fool around in the workshop inventing things. I like to do that as often as I can and this book has really boosted my productivity in the shop. Before I start on a new project I like to scan the book again and see if I can use any of the ideas. I never fail to find something I can use. The drawings are a big help in understanding the devices. There is no other book like this. It is a gathering of all the neat gadgets all in one book.