KEVOS® MAKEOS · Mechanics
Inclined Plane and Friction
What force pushes, holds or lowers a load on this slope?
Force parallel to an incline needed to raise, hold and lower a load with sliding friction, with efficiency and a self-locking check.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Load mass | kg | Mass of the load including any carrier or pallet. |
| Incline angle | ° | Slope of the plane from horizontal. |
| Coefficient of sliding friction | Sliding (kinetic) friction coefficient for the two surfaces, measured or from a supplier; use static friction for break-away. |
Method and formulas
- Weight W = m g with g = 9.80665 m/s².
- Raise: F = W(sin θ + μ cos θ). Hold: F = W(sin θ − μ cos θ). Lower: F = W(μ cos θ − sin θ).
- Self-locking when μ ≥ tan θ. Efficiency raising = sin θ ÷ (sin θ + μ cos θ).
- Example: 200 kg on a 15° slope with μ = 0.3 needs 1,076 N to push it up.
Limitations
- Force parallel to the plane; rolling resistance and acceleration forces are not included.
- Friction coefficients vary widely with surface condition and lubrication.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Size a pusher, winch or cylinder for a ramp
- Check whether a load slides on a chute
- Estimate efficiency of a sliding lift
Who it is for
- Design engineers
- Maintenance engineers
- Technicians
What you get
- Force to push up the slope
- Force to hold the load
- Force to pull it down
- Efficiency raising
- Self-locking or not
Interpreting the result
- Use the break-away (static) coefficient to size a drive that must start the load.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 165–171. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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