The ratchet mechanism is a fascinating energy-conversion system that converts disorderly or random motion into orderly, directed movement through a process known as spontaneous rectification.

Gearing up: a ratchet comprising a gear wheel and a spring-loaded pawl. (Courtesy: iStock/PeteMuller) A thought experiment proposed more than 50 years ago by Richard Feynman has finally been realized ...

The ratcheting wrench is an invaluable tool in any toolbox. Here's who invented the first one with interchangeable sockets ...

The secret to Xtrac IGS is the integration of a ratchet and pawl mechanism between each gear hub and the main shaft so that two consecutive gear ratios can be selected and engaged simultaneously ...

Thanks to a integration of a ratchet and pawl mechanism between each gear hub and the main shaft, two consecutive gears are selected at the same time while only one set of gears is driving.

The proposed ratchet mechanism utilizes the asymmetry in surface wettability between the smooth and rough faces of the teeth of a geometrically symmetric gear to achieve ratcheting motion.

typically consisting of a gear and a pawl, which restricts the movement of the gear in one direction. In biological systems, the concept of a Brownian ratchet has been proposed to help understand the ...