Hi, Thanks for visiting my website. My name is Will and if you have questions
or would like to
contribute projects or ideas you can contact me
About Clock Escapements
Clock escapements are one of those little things that have had a tremendous impact on the world yet not a lot of people realize it or even know what they are.
The escapements themselves are after all usually hidden inside a clock!
Here I will give you a summary of what they are, how they work and the history of them.
Will has a youtube channel with over 700 videos on projects you can make. Check it out right here
What is a clock escapement?
In short it is what makes the tick-tock sound in a clock. It is a mechanical device that regulates the swing of a pendulum or the relaxing of a spring. And it does it very accurately so we can measure time with it.
These diagrams will help you visualize what an escapement does and how it works.
There are three critical parts to a mechanical clock. They are the Counterweights, the pendulum and the escapement.
The Counterweight gives the clock it's power. A weight on a string is pulled by gravity. This pulling turns a wheel.
The Pendulum gives the clock its accurate beating. A pendulum swings at a very accurate rate, every swing, every time. This property was discovered by Galileo. He noted that no matter whether a pendulum had a wide swing or a narrow swing it still took the same amount of time to swing! As long as the two pendulum lengths are the same. This property is called "isochronism". And it makes for a great way to measure and regulate time very accurately.
But, you probably know that if you get a pendulum started it will quickly run down, using up it's energy until it comes to a stop.
So how do we keep the pendulum going? We need to continuously give it a little push. And we do this with a weight on a string and with something called an escapement.
The escapement has two functions. It transfers energy in rhythmic pulses to the timekeeping elements of a clock and it pushes on the pendulum to keep it going!
Notes and Timeline Notes:
Galileo: noted the behavior of pendulums in 1637. His son attempted to build a pendulum clock after Galileo died.
Huygens: Make the first working pendulum clock in 1656
The single pin escapement (we use in this clock) was patented by Charles MacDowell in 1851
Now let's take a look at Galileo's escapement. This is how he solved the problem of giving the pendulum a little push with every cycle.
Here is the process that happens with the escapement.
1. The drive wheel has a string and weight on it. So it wants to turn in a clockwise direction.
2. As that wheel turns the pin on it pushes on lever A, this pushes the pendulum in a swing to the right.
3. The pendulum finishes its swing to the right then begins its swing back to the left.
4. As the pendulum swings to the left lever B picks lever C up off the gear, releasing it. Now the gear, because of the string and weight is free again to rotate clockwise.
5. This means that a new pin now pushes lever A. The whole cycle continues.
3. As the pendulum swings to the right lever B releases lever C. Lever C catches the gear tooth on the wheel stopping it from moving forward.
The video here shows you the process in action:
Want to make a simple pendulum clock out of foam board? It is a basic setup but will show you how an escapement and pendulum work
Genius is made, not born. And human beings are gifted with an almost unlimited potential for learning and creativity. Now you can uncover your own hidden abilities, sharpen your senses, and liberate your unique intelligence-by following the example of the greatest genius of all time, Leonardo da Vinci.
Epicyclic trains, oblique rollers, trip hammers, and lazy-tongs are among the ingenious mechanisms defined and illustrated in this intriguing collection. Spanning the first century of the Industrial Revolution, this 1868 compilation features simplified, concise illustrations of the mechanisms used in hydraulics, steam engines, pneumatics, presses, horologes, and scores of other machines.
The movements of each of the 507 mechanisms are depicted in drawings on the left-hand page, and the facing page presents a brief description of the item's use and operation. Ranging from simple to intricately complex, the mechanisms offer a fascinating view of the variety of small components that constitute complex machinery. A detailed index provides easy reference to specific mechanisms.
Inventors, tinkerers, and anyone with an interest in the history of invention and technology will find this volume a treasury of information and inspiration.
Do you like making projects and exploring a variety of hobbies?
Sign up for my free newsletter. I give you regular updates on hobbies and projects you can make. it is totally free and I don't share your email with anybody.
Want to make a simple pendulum clock out of foam board? It is a basic setup but will show you how an escapement and pendulum work
