

More formally, triangles BAD and BCD are congruent because side BD is congruent to itself, side BA is congruent to side BC, and side AD is congruent to side CD. This may be easily seen by observing that the linkage is mirror-symmetric about line OD, so point B must fall on that line. It is an Exact Straight line Mechanism Image Source First, it must be proven that points O, B, D are collinear.

Image source (OA/OE) = (OA'/OE') which uses at the top of the train Straight line mechanisms were developed by continuous effort in trail and error process with making intelligent variations in linkage mechanisms. The straight line mechanisms were mostly developed in industrial revolution days when many machines required straight line paths in their operations, whether it was guiding the piston of engines or for operating valves. There are two classes of straight line mechanisms: Perfect straight lines can also be generated using linkage mechanisms but those are relatively complex mechanisms. These mechanisms were used extensively in classical machines such as steam engines. These approximate straight line mechanisms has important applications in machine design. Although exact straight line cannot be generated using simple mechanisms though some simple mechanisms are designed such that they can produce approximate straight lines for short range of motion. Straight Line Mechanisms Generation of straight line motion using linkage mechanisms has always been a common requirement in machine design Practice. Automotive steering mechanisms and suspension mechanisms.Transfer of torque and motion between non-coaxial shafts with changing relative alignment.Reproduction of a path traced by one point at another tracing point with a change in scale.

