ratchet wheel

American  

noun

1. a wheel, with teeth on the edge, into which a pawl drops or catches, as to prevent reversal of motion or convert reciprocating motion into rotatory motion.

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Etymology

Origin of ratchet wheel

First recorded in 1770–80

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ratchet wheel

A spring catch kept the ratchet wheel in place at the end of each forward rotation of the wheel by the pawl.

From The Invention of the Sewing Machine by Grace Rogers Cooper

The first impulse sent out is a long impulse and pulls up both armatures, thereby causing the pawls above and below the small ratchet wheel, shown in Fig.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Samuel McMeen

A tool to hold a drill, having a reversible ratchet wheel.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by James Slough Zerbe

One was used in connection with the propelling lever, which was provided with a pawl to fit into the teeth of the reversed ratchet wheel on its forward movement.

From Edison, His Life and Inventions by Frank Lewis Dyer

Behind local dials are electromagnets which, by means of an armature working a frame and ratchet wheel, move the hands forward every minute or half-minute as the current is sent from the standard clock.

From The Story of Electricity by John Munro

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