idle wheel

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

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of idle wheel¹

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

If, however, it be lowered from the horizontal position, n is brought into gear with o, and m becomes an idle wheel.

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

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

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

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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.

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