# Relation between links and pairs in Kinematic chain

I came across a equation for kinematic chain (for lower pairs only) :

L = 2P-4

where L: Number of Links; P is the number of pairs

how could this equation be derived ?

EDIT: I tried putting values in the equation.Since for the pairs to be any integer the links can only be an even number(can be verified from the formula).

FOR

$$- L=4 ; P=4$$ $$- L=6 ; P=5$$ $$- L=8 ; P=6$$

Question 1:How to visualize kinematic chain with (6links;5 pairs) or (8L;6P)(with the help of diagram)

Question 2: Why is it the number of pairs not equal to number of links and why is it decreasing gradually from the number of links ?

Question 3: When closely observing the equation i can see that $$2$$pairs are neglected $$(P-2$$) and each pair has$$2$$links attached$$L =2(P-2)$$.But why and which $$2$$pairs are neglected? Is this the correct way to think about this equation?

• Try building small chains and observe the pattern Apr 13 at 11:59
• See this paper starts p.10. site.iugaza.edu.ps/mhaiba/files/2013/09/…
– r13
Apr 22 at 17:37
• There is an example of L=6; P=5 on p.20 of the linked paper.
– r13
Apr 22 at 22:02
• In the example as you said r13 the number of pairs is wrong there are 7 pairs between (L1-4),(L4-3),(L3-2),(L2-1),(L2-6),(L6-5),(L5-1) ;Where L is link ;[(L1-4)~pair between links 1,4] Apr 27 at 18:59

Ok, will answer both of your questions here, you may want to merge them into one question.

The reason you are having problems is that you have heavily overloaded the word pair in your source document. So everything they are talking about is a pair. However, not all instances of word pair means the same thing. So while the chapter previous to this chapter talks about kinematic pairs, this chapter talks about kinematic chains. So the formula,

$$l = 2 p - 4, \tag{1}$$

talks about kinematic chains. It's a definition of sorts stating that: Number of links in a kinematic chain is number of link pairs minus 4. Now, it would be better if we would call link pair something else, in other literature this is often called a dyad. Which is smart because this is less confusing terminology as it underlines that we are NOT talking of kinematic pairs.

Ok so what is a dyad? A dyad is a pair of links connected end to end. Remember we are calculating chains. All non dyadic chains should be broken off for calculating purposes.

Counting the dyads. Count how may lkinks you can jump over form link to link. Either in just one direction or both (but your formula assumes only one direction is counted hence $$2p$$).