A nut cracker is a mechanical device that is used to crack nuts. Generally, they work according to principle of moments as described in Archimedes’ classification of lever.
Taking a look at the invention of nut cracker, it was invented in early 1481.
History of Nut Cracker
In early days, nut crackers are used by the human gatherers and hunters. Anthropologists discovered some nut shells, which were impossible to crush with the help of human teeth, and hence rocks had to be used. Before 8,000 years, special stones were used to crush these nuts, and as the technology progressed, scientists developed the modern nut cracker to make this job easier.
Types of Nut Crackers
Some of the important types of nut crackers are –
• Plier shaped nutcracker,
• Character shaped nutcracker, and
• Screw shaped nutcrackers.
These different nutcrackers have different structures with exclusive features.
Working of Plier Shaped Nutcrackers
Plier Shaped Nutcrackers are used to crush anything harder such as crabs, nuts, as well as lobsters. Coming to its structure, it appears like a couple of pliers put along with a small curve trailed by a larger curve at the top of nutcracker. To hold the nuts rigidly, these curves have some rivets designed in them. After these curves, there is a point pivot, and you can keep the nut either in the 1st curve or 2nd curve. After that, you have to press both the handles towards one another with sufficient force to crush the nut. With the help of this nut cracker, only one nut can crushed at a time.
Character Shaped Nutcrackers
In case of Character Shaped Nutcrackers, you should pull a lever down at the back side of the nutcracker, later the nut jaws will open. The nut has to be placed in the mouth of nutcracker and the lever has to be pushed in the opposite direction. If you maintain this pressure, the nut cracks and opens.
Screw Shaped Nutcrackers
This nutcracker has a dip at the middle bottom where the nut is placed. This nutcracker is made of wooden material. At the top of the nutcracker, it has a screw and it is also made of wood.
You need to place the nut in the mouth of the nut cracker and twist the screw until it touches the nut. Make sure that the nut is placed correctly and firmly gripped. Then, twist the screw continuously to increase pressure on nut. After reaching certain pressure, the nut crushes and opens up.
All the three types of nutcrackers work in similar fashion, though the specifics may vary according to the particular type.
How Nut Cracker Works – Video Clip
Take a look at this cool video clip to see how nut crackers work: