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.

---

Etymology

Origin of ratchet wheel

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

The third cause which catches hold, like a ratchet wheel in machinery, from time to time producing a complete standstill, is the greater strength of the defensive form.

From On War — Volume 1 by Graham, J. J., Colonel

The ratchet wheel is stepped around automatically by each impulse of current from an ordinary pole changer such as is employed in ringing biased bells.

From Cyclopedia of Telephony & Telegraphy Vol. 1 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Miller, Kempster

Electrically driven dials usually consist of a ratchet wheel driven by an electrically moved pall.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various

On the side of the clock case was a contact maker, which closed the circuit by the pin on the ratchet wheel, R, once every minute.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 664, September 22,1888 by Various

The ratchet wheel and pawl shown in fig.

From Gas and Oil Engines, Simply Explained An Elementary Instruction Book for Amateurs and Engine Attendants by Runciman, Walter C.