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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of idle wheel

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.

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