Rachet and Pawls

A ratchet is a round gear device that enables continuous linear or rotary motion in one direction. At the same time, ratchets prevent motion from occurring in the opposite direction. Ratchets work on a linear rack with uniform, asymmetrical teeth. The pawl is the other essential component of the assembly. This is a spring-loaded device that engages the teeth. Commonly, although not exclusively, the angle of the teeth on a ratchet and pawl mechanism will be 60°. They are available in various pitch sizes, with hubs or without, and a range of both teeth and bore sizes. The wide variety of specifications available make ratchets and pawls highly versatile mechanisms that are widely used in machinery and tool applications. The number of teeth (which typically range between 50 and 100) and different bore sizes will determine suitability for specific applications.