This design concept is an 8-bar linkage developed by Minshan Tsai and GimSong Soh for my advanced mechanisms class lifts the top of a recreational vehicle to create a second story, UCI Robotics and Automation Lab. It is on YouTube:
http://mechanicaldesign101.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/rv-overhead.mov
This linkage to lift the lower rack in a dishwasher was developed by Marshall Meek in my advanced mechanisms course (UCI Robotics and Automation Lab) It is accessible on YouTube:
Here is a link to a facebook album showing the racecars and teams at the 2009 Formula SAE California intercollegiate engineering racecar competition that occurred June 17-21, 2009 at the Auto Club Raceway, Fontana CA.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=89098&id=92647534369
2009 Formula SAE CA
Michael Ashby presents materials information in a practical format in his book Materials Selection in Mechanical Design.
Materials Selection in Mechanical Design
This is a link to lecture notes that give an idea of his approach:
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/cme/pdfs/443ashbylectures2006.pdf
This 10-bar linkage is designed to drive a scissors movement in order to actuate a deployable structure. It was presented at the 2009 ReMar Conference in London. (UCI Robotics and Automation Lab)