pawl
/pɔ:l/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A pawl is a hinged or pivoted mechanical component, typically a bar or lever, designed to engage with the teeth of a ratchet wheel or gear. Its primary function is to allow motion in one direction while preventing motion in the opposite direction. It acts as a one-way catch or detent.
Usage and Examples
The word pawl is used to describe this specific mechanical part in contexts involving machinery, tools, and mechanisms.
- The pawl in the winch prevents the handle from spinning backward under load.
- When the ratchet wrench clicks, it's the sound of the pawl moving over the teeth of the gear.
- A broken pawl can cause a hoist to slip, creating a safety hazard.
Advanced Usage
- Technical Descriptions: In engineering and technical manuals, pawl is used precisely to denote this component within a pawl and ratchet system.
- The design incorporates a spring-loaded pawl for reliable one-way locking.
- Verb Form (Less Common): The word can be used as a transitive verb meaning "to stop or secure with a pawl."
- After raising the load, the operator pawled the drum to lock it in place.
Variants and Related Words
- Ratchet and Pawl: This is the standard term for the complete mechanism consisting of the toothed wheel (ratchet) and the catch (pawl).
- Detent: A more general term for a catch or lever that locks a mechanism into a specific position. A pawl is a type of detent.
- Click Stop: A descriptive term for a mechanism, often involving a pawl, that produces an audible click as it engages.
Synonyms
- Catch
- Latch
- Detent
- Stop
Related Phrases and Compound Terms
- Pawl and Ratchet: The fundamental mechanical system.
- Pawl Spring: The small spring that returns or holds the pawl in its engaged position.
- Release Pawl: A specific pawl designed to disengage the mechanism.
Noun
- a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward