Animation of the Scott Russell Linkage: Dimensions: Cyan link = a Yellow link = a + a
Freemantle straight-line linkage from British Patent 2741, November 17, 1803.
A Scott Russell linkage is a linkage which translates linear motion through a right angle.
The linkage is named after John Scott Russell (1808–1882), although watchmaker William Freemantle had already patented it in 1803.[1][2]
A different form of the linkage has been used in a front-wheel-drive vehicle with solid rear axle to control lateral movement, and with a flexing elastomeric connection instead of the rolling or sliding connection.[3]
The linkage does not share the disadvantages of the asymmetric Panhard rod, and although more compact than Watt's linkage, it has all the forces concentrated in one link.[4]
Construction and related linkages
Animation of a Grasshopper Linkage.
Animation of the Scott Russell Linkage attached to a Peaucellier-Lipkin Linkage.
Animation of a Bricard Inversor.
A Scott Russell linkage on the rear axle of a 2002 Nissan Sentra
The linkage is composed of two links. One link is double the size of the other, and is connected to the smaller link by its midpoint.
One of the ends is then connected to something that can generate linear motion, such as a rolling or sliding connection, or another straight line mechanism.
The Evans 'grasshopper' linkage is a variant of a Scott Russell linkage which uses a long link to create a large enough arc to approximate a line.
The Bricard inversor directly incorporates the Scott Russell's links, replacing the previously required straight line connection and allowing for two exact straight line outputs at right angles.
If both ends are turned into sliding connections, it becomes a Trammel of Archimedes.
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