OK To Use Involute Gears for Ratchetting?

[redtricycle]

I want to design a double-sided pawl for a 12-pitch spur gear.

Is it ok to use involute gears for ratcheting? Do you need to specifically design the gear with the pawl?

 

[MikeHalloran]

There may be a clever way to do it, spanning multiple teeth, but a simple pawl engaging one involute tooth could be backdriven, i.e., made to slip, with sufficient torque. That may not be what you want.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[redtricycle]

Thanks Mike. I was thinking of something like Example C on this page.

Are there any common resources for pawl design besides Machinery's Handbook?

 

[MikeHalloran]

If the pawl pivot is far outside the gear's pitch circle, it might work okay, but you need to draw it and/or figure out the pressure angles to be sure.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA