Coupler Curves of a Four-Bar Linkage
Coupler Curves of a Four-Bar Linkage
This Demonstration simulates a planar four-bar linkage mechanism and computes the path traced by a point on its coupler bar.
The four bars of the linkage are
• the ground bar (whose length you can vary by dragging the locator),
• the crank,
• the rocker, and
• the coupler bar connecting the crank and rocker.
The linkage is supposed to be a Grashof linkage [1], allowing at least one link (the crank) to make a complete revolution. Rotate the crank to see how the coupler curve is generated. A warning is displayed if the geometry of the linkage does not meet the Grashof condition.