pan⋅to⋅graph
[pan-tuh-graf, -grahf] 
təˌgræf
| 1. | Also, pantagraph. an instrument for the mechanical copying of plans, diagrams, etc., on any desired scale. |
| 2. | Electricity. a device usually consisting of two parallel, hinged, double-diamond frames, for transferring current from an overhead wire to a vehicle, as a trolley car or electric locomotive. |
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| pan·to·graph (pān'tə-grāf') n.
[Greek panto-, all; see pantomime + -graph.] pan'to·graph'ic adj. |
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Pantograph
Pan"to*graph\, n. [Panto- + -graph: cf. F. pantographe.] An instrument for copying plans, maps, and other drawings, on the same, or on a reduced or an enlarged, scale. [Written also pantagraph, and incorrectly pentagraph.] Skew pantograph, a kind of pantograph for drawing a copy which is inclined with respect to the original figure; -- also called plagiograph.Cite This Source
Main Entry: pan·to·graph
Pronunciation: 'pant-&-"graf
Function: noun
: an instrument for copying (as from a radiograph) on a predeterminedscale consisting of four light rigid bars jointed in parallelogram form
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pantograph
instrument for duplicating a motion or copying a geometric shape to a reduced or enlarged scale. It consists of an assemblage of rigid bars adjustably joined by pin joints; as the point of one bar is moved over the outline to be duplicated, the motion is translated to a point on another bar, which makes the desired copy according to the predetermined scale. In the the links 2, 3, 4, and 5 are connected by pin joints at O, A, B, and C. Joint O is fixed to a support, while joints A, B, and C are free to move. Link 5 is a solid bar continuing on to Q. Point P is the guided point and is usually fixed on link 4. As P is guided on a specific path, such as the square in the , point Q will follow a similar path on an enlarged scale. Conversely, if point Q is guided, point P will follow a similar path on a reduced scale
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