u/Glittering-Celery557

Here is the original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalEngineering/comments/1t3kp1z/how_do_retractontug_extendontug_ratcheting_coil/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

It looks like the ball takes one spiral path when the spindle is rotated and locked, then takes a different path when it reverses. Clever!