Article
Article
Mechanism
Article By:
Freudenstein, Ferdinand Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Last reviewed:December 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.412400
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Classically, a mechanical means for the conversion of motion, the transmission of power, or the control of these. Mechanisms are at the core of the workings of many machines and mechanical devices. In modern usage, mechanisms are not always limited to mechanical means. In addition to mechanical elements, they may include pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, and electronic elements. In this article, the discussion of mechanism is limited to its classical meaning. See also: Machine
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