Ratchet (mechanism)
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Condensed from the proper "ratchet and pawl", a ratchet mechanism is one in which relative rotary motion is restricted or prevented in one or both directions by a member with one or more teeth (the "pawl") which presses against a toothed wheel (the "ratchet").
Use in Transformers
[edit]In Transformers toys, the pawl is generally spring-loaded, keeping the ratchet from turning freely when a small force is applied in either direction of rotation. When this force is increased past a certain threshold, the pawl is forced back, allowing the ratchet to rotate with audible clicks as the pawl strikes one tooth after another. Because of the mechanical locking of the ratchet and pawl, a ratchet joint of a given size can support a larger load than an equivalent joint restricted only by friction.
Ratchets are often used in joints which must support a fairly high load (high in the plastic toy world, that is) while taking multiple stable configurations. Energon Barricade's hip joints, for example, use ratchets.
A ratchet joint's rotary members only allow it to bend along a single axis; it must be combined with other joints to allow the same range of motion as the simpler but friction-dependent ball joint. This, along with the greater number of parts involved, makes a ratchet much more expensive to make and assemble than a ball joint.
Beginning with the 2012-2013 Fall of Cybertron toyline, "plastic ratchets" began to feature in Transformers figures with increased regularity. These "faux" ratchet mechanisms typically consist of no springs or dedicated parts; rather, one "half" of the joint will have the ratcheting "teeth" built into the sculpt, while the other half will have some form of "pawl" likewise integrated into the design. These joints rely on the malleability and elastic properties of the plastic to provide the ratchet action. Examples of these include Generations Alpha Bravo's elbows or the "thumb-heels" of the Combiner Wars "handfoot" weapon accessories. In some cases, the detents created by these mechanisms are obvious in-hand via auditory or tactile feedback, as with "traditional" spring-loaded ratchet joints, other times, the ratchet mechanism merely serves to strengthen what would otherwise be simple pin-and-hinge assemblies.
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