Kempe’s Linkages and Their Derivations

Abstract

In the paper, three cells are considered, namely, Peaucellier’s cell, Kempe’s cell and a new one which is derived from Kempe’s cell. Each of them gives rise to straight-line mechanisms of the first and the second kind containing eight bars. Further, some of them are combined using reflection principles and the principle of cognation. This may lead to lifting devices producing rectilinear motions of a link that is contained in the mechanism. In the paper, ideas have been brought forward allowing the designer to assemble new linkages which are cognated to the older, historical ones, such as the ones devised by Kempe.