The Development of an Atlas of the Kinematic Structures of Mechanisms

Abstract

Based on the restrictions governing the admissible graphs of the kinematic chains of mechanisms, an atlas or listing of 35 graphs has been developed which defines the kinematic structure of a wide class of plane and three-dimensional mechanisms with up to six links. Such an atlas can serve as the basis for the creation of mechanisms in the conceptual stage of mechanical design and permits the partial automation of this process. The same procedure would also be applicable to the development of a similar atlas for mechanisms with more than six links and a greater variety of joints.