idle wheel

American  

noun

Machinery.

1. a wheel for transmitting power and motion between a driving and a driven part, either by friction or by means of teeth.

2. idle pulley.

---

idle wheel British  

noun

1. Also called: idler.  a gearwheel interposed between two others to transmit torque without changing the direction of rotation to the velocity ratio

---

Etymology

Origin of idle wheel

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

But under equal conditions the larger the diameter of the idle wheel the less the power required to drive it, because the less its friction on its journal bearing.

From Project Gutenberg

You furnish the water-power with your idle wheel, and I furnish the electric installation.

From Project Gutenberg

Instead of a chain, an intermediate or idle wheel has been tried, but this has not been found advantageous.

From Project Gutenberg

Icicles covered the idle wheel, a snow cornice hung over the flagged roof, and water splashed softly in the half-frozen race.

From Project Gutenberg

It looked exanimate enough, with its idle wheel looming above the black stream dashed with yellow-white spume, and its cluster of sheds sagging under their white load.

From Project Gutenberg