An excellent type of the simple spring driving clock is shown in
Fig. 136 as constructed by Zeiss. Here 1 is the winding gear, 2 the
friction governor, and 3 the regulating gear. It will be seen that the
friction studs are carried by the fly balls themselves, somewhat as in
Fraunhofers’ construction a century since, and the regulation is very
easily and quickly made by adjusting the height of the conical friction
surface above the balls.
For heavier work the same makers generally use a powerful weight driven
train with four fly-balls and electric seconds control, sometimes with
the addition of electric motor slow motions to adjust for R. A. in both
directions.
[Illustration: FIG. 135.—Clark Driving Clock.]
Figure 135 is a rather powerful clock of analogous form by the Clarks.
It differs a little in its mechanism and especially in the friction
gear in which the bearing disc is picked up by a delicately set latch
and carried just long enough to effect the regulation. It is really
remarkable that clockworks of so simple character as these should
perform as well as experience shows that they do. In a few instances
clocks have depended on air-fans for their regulating force, something
after the manner of the driving gear of a phonograph, but though rather
successful for light work they have found little favor in the task
of driving equatorials. An excellent type of a second genus is the
pendulum controlled driving clock due to Sir David Gill. This has a
powerful weight-driven train with the usual fly-ball governor. But the
friction gear is controlled by a contact-making seconds pendulum in the
manner shown diagrammatically in Fig. 137. Two light leather tipped
rods each controlled by an electro magnet act upon an auxiliary brake
disc carried by the governor spindle which is set for normal speed with
one brake rod bearing lightly on it. Exciting the corresponding magnet
relieves the pressure and accelerates the clock, while exciting the
other adds braking effect and slows it.
[Illustration: FIG. 136.—Spring Operated Driving Clock.]
In Fig. 137 is shown from the original paper, (M. N. Nov., 1873), the
very ingenious selective control mechanism. At P is suspended the
contact-making seconds-pendulum making momentary contact by the pin Q
with a mercury globule at R. Upon a spindle of the clock which turns
once a second is fixed a vulcanite disc γ, δ, ε, σ. This has a rim of
silver broken at the points γ, δ, ε, σ, by ivory spacers covering 3° of
circumference. On each side of this disc is another, smaller, and with
a complete silver rim. One, ηθ, is shown, connected with the contact
spring V; its mate η′θ′, on the other side contacts with U, while a
third contact K bears on the larger disc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account