Cartwright Straight-line Mechanism
- Title:
- Cartwright Straight-line Mechanism
- Title (German):
- Lenker von Cartwright
- Collection:
- Reuleaux Kinematic Mechanisms Collection
- Set:
- S. Straight-line Mechanisms
- Designer:
- Reuleaux, F. (Franz), 1829-1905
- Manufacturer:
- Gustav Voigt Werkstatt
- Date:
- 1882
- Country:
- Germany
- Voigt Catalog Model:
- S34
- File Name:
- S34.jpg
- Work Type:
- Mechanical model
- Materials/Techniques:
- cast iron and brass on wood pedestal
- Subject:
- Kinematics of Machinery
- Measurement:
- 201 x 90 (millimeters, width x depth)
201 x 121 x 306 (millimeters, width x depth x height) - Description:
- This mechanism is a twin gear driving a common slider crank. The symmetry keeps the center link moving in a straight-line motion. This linkage is shown in Thurston's 'A History of the Growth of the Steam Engine' (1904). Cartwright was a clergyman and distinguished inventor. He sought to improve upon Watt's steam engine by using two concentric cylinders on of which was to be used as a condenser. The engine was described in the Philosophic Magazine, June 1798. His engine was supposed to improve the problems of friction and imperfect vacuum. A modern version of the Cartwright mechanism is used in Stirling engines. [Francis Moon 2003-05-29]
The 220 models in Cornell University’s Reuleaux Collection were built in the late 19th century to demonstrate the elements of machine motion, as theorized by the German engineer Franz Reuleaux. The University acquired the models in 1882 for use in teaching and research. The Reuleaux models are classified according to the alphanumeric schema employed in the catalog of the manufacturer, Gustav Voigt. The letter in a model's ID (e.g., B14 or S35) refers to a class of mechanism; the number is a specific instance of the class. This classification scheme is a simplified version of the taxonomy of machine elements elaborated in Reuleaux's work. - Repository:
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- Photography credit: Jon Reis (www.jonreis.com). Jon Reis Photography grants Cornell University Libraries and the Cornell College of Engineering the rights to display copyrighted images of the Reuleux collection of kinetic machines on the Cornell University and National Science Digital Library web sites and for unlimited use in Cornell University Library publications for education purposes only. Rights for all other uses, including but not limited to, editorial, commercial, advertising, web use and display by third parties not affiliated with Cornell University are reserved by the photographer. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. For questions about this item or other items please contact the Physical Sciences Librarians at pslref@cornell.edu.