selbsthemmend

Selbsthemmend is an adjective in German describing a process, mechanism, or system that reduces, resists, or prevents its own motion, action, or growth due to internal factors rather than external input. It is formed from selbst (self) and hemmend (inhibiting). In engineering, the term is commonly used for devices or arrangements that lock or hold position against reverse motion under load, without an external brake.

A well-known mechanical example is worm gear drives. If the lead angle is small and the friction high, the wheel cannot drive the worm, making the drive self-locking. This property is exploited in hoists, jacks, and certain clamping or lifting mechanisms to maintain position. Not all worm gears are self-locking; the tendency depends on geometry, material, lubrication, and operating loads. In fastening technology, self-locking behavior can refer to threads or fasteners whose friction helps resist loosening under vibration.

Beyond mechanics, selbsthemmend is used in control and biological contexts to describe systems that regulate themselves via feedback. In control theory, negative feedback can render a system self-damping or self-limiting, reducing oscillations. In biochemistry or physiology, self-inhibitory mechanisms or autoinhibition describe processes where a molecule or pathway inhibits itself to maintain balance or prevent overactivation.

The term is used across technical fields with related concepts such as self-locking, autoinhibition, and negative feedback, always indicating that the limiting effect arises from the system’s own properties rather than external intervention.