n.
In mechanics, a wheel that carries a flexible rope , cord, cable, chain, or belt on its rim.
Pulleys are used singly or in combination to transmit energy and motion . In belt drives , pulleys are attached to shafts at their axes, and power is transmitted between the shafts by means of endless belts running over the pulleys. One or more independently rotating pulleys can be used to gain mechanical advantage , especially for lifting weights. The shafts around which the pulleys turn may attach them to frames or blocks, and a combination of pulleys, blocks, and rope is called a block and tackle . The pulley is considered one of the five simple machines .