Belt and pulley

The transmission of power between shafts by means of a belt connecting pulleys on the shafts.

Bevel gear

One of a pair of gears used to connect two shafts whose axes intersect.

Chain

A connected flexible series of links used for fastening or securing objects and pulling or supporting loads.

Crank and slider

A pivot pin near the outside edge of a wheel or disk that changes rotary motion into reciprocating motion.

Drive gear

The gear which transmits power and motion to the rest of the system. The input gear.

Driven gear

The member of a pair of gears to which motion and power are transmitted by the other. The output gear.

Energy

The ability to do work.

Force

A push or pull on an object.

Gear

A toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relation between the speed of an engine and the speed of the driven parts.

Gear ratio

The ratio of the speed of the driving member of a gear train to that of the driven member.

Idler gear

A gear between the driver and the driven gear used to change rotational direction.

Input

Something put into a system, such as resources, in order to achieve a result.

Inverse

Opposite in position, direction, order, or effect.

Linear motion

Movement in a straight line.

Mechanism

The part of a machine which contains two or more pieces arranged so that the motion of one compels the motion of the others.

Oscillate

A swing back and forth at a regular rate.

Output

The results of the operation of any system.

Pitch

The distance between adjacent threads in a screw.

Rack and pinion

A rotating gear that meshes with a bar that has gear teeth along its length. Changes rotating motion into linear motion.

Ratio

The quantitative relation between two amounts showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other.

Reciprocating

A back and forth movement.

Rotary motion

Circular movement.

Simple gear train

A combination of two or more gears used to transmit motion between two rotating shafts or between a shaft and a slide.

Sprocket

Toothlike projections arranged on a wheel rim to engage the links of a chain.

Torque

A twisting force.

Work

The application of force that moves an object a certain distance.

Worm and wheel

A mechanical arrangement consisting of a toothed wheel driven by a short revolving cylinder bearing a screw thread.