Peaucellier Linkage

For Straight-line Motion

Peaucellier's linkage was one of the first to convert circular motion into mathematically exact linear motion. James Watt had already invented a similar but simpler mechanism for use in his steam engine, however this was only approximate. By 1864, when naval officer Peaucellier developed this linkage, improvements in lubricants provided alternative solutions and limited the commercial viability of this relatively complex mechanism.