5.6 THE APPROXIMATE STRAIGHT LINE MOTION 5.6.1. The Watt Mechanism ‘This approximate straight line motion mechanism was used by J. Watt to guide piston rod along straight path in many of his early steam engines. Inthe absence of any means to machine straight flat surfaces, he had 10 rely on approximate straight line motion mechanisma. AAs shown in Fig, 5.8 it is a crossed four-bar mechanism QABQ with cranks OA and OB ‘of unequal lengths and pivoted to frame at O and Q respectively. The coupler (tracing) point is so chosen on link AB that it traces a figure of eight as shown in dotted line. The length of link AB is such that when links QB and OA are parallel, AB is perpendicular to them. ‘We select a position for which the links O and QA are parallel and on opposite sides ofthe link AB. tn this position the instantaneous centre of link AB is at infinity and accordingly if ink QB be given a small rotation the link OA will rotate through 9 such that areBEt = arcAA’ or (QB) = (04)8 Fig.58 Watrmochanism. Such a rotation will shift the instantaneous centre to position Jas shown. Best position for ‘racing point Cis obtained by drawing a horizontal line /C” to meet corresponding position A’2” ‘of Link at C’. being the instantaneous centre (13), point C” will move in vertical direction along 4 siraight line. For the position @B40, all the points in Link AB move up in vertical direction. For small angles ® and 6. on 8 oa 8 Again AC =UC)@ and BC ($22) ac _& Therefore Substituting for @/p from equation (5.22) (A'CIB'C) = QBIOA Thus, the tracing point C divides the link AB in two parts whose lengths vary inversely as the lengths of adjacent links.