Rack And Pinion (Noun)
Meaning
A wheel gear (the pinion) meshes with a toothed rack; converts rotary to reciprocating motion (and vice versa).
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The rack and pinion is a common mechanism used in power steering systems to convert the rotary motion of the steering wheel into linear motion.
- In the 19th century, rack and pinion systems were widely used in clock towers to drive the clock's hands.
- The rack and pinion gear system in the old printing press allowed the operator to easily move the type tray back and forth.
- The linear motion of the rack and pinion system is ideal for applications such as lifting heavy loads or moving large objects.
- The rack and pinion mechanism in the window's opening system made it easy to open and close the large, heavy window with minimal effort.