Peaucellier–Lipkin linkage

The Inversor of Peaucellier is a coupling mechanism for converting a circular motion in a straight line motion and vice versa. It is named after Charles -Nicolas Peaucellier, who invented it in 1864. Until the invention of this mechanism we knew no planar method to produce straight movements, without using linear guides such as rail guides. Application found, for example, the Inverter the construction of reciprocating steam engines.

The geometrical basis of Inversors

Operation

The Inversor of Peaucellier is based on the inversion of the circle which has the property to convert circles through the inversion center in straight lines. Because of this property of the Inverter Peaucellier can also be used for the construction of a pixel of the inversion.

Inverter consists of (green each having the length a ) of two long rods and four shorter (red, each with the length b) that are associated with the joints. Here, it is the joint where the two long green bars coincide with O, where the blue is connected to the two red and B where only the two are interconnected short red designated D. Due to its construction, the joints B and D are inverse to one another, wherein the inversion circuit has its center O in a radius of. Thus moves B on a circle through O ( in the animation, this is the blue bar available), then the point D is a straight line.

In practice, the hinge B can move only on a part of the circuit, since it can not come to the point O is arbitrarily close by the mechanism. Another problem in practice represent the many joints