The Swiss Lever escapement is just fascinating when one goes into its detail. It is not a case of just locking the escapement wheel and then it impulsing and pushing back each pallet on the lever. The angle of the locking surface on the pallet must be such that as the locking occurs, the locking surface on both of the lever pallets must be such that there is a "springy" action which tends to further lock the lever into its final locking position. Thus the locking is not just a simple lock, it is a sliding positive lock. In fact, I would say that if when locked one tries to lift the lever off its stops, the lever would spring back on to the stops. This "springy" locking action can only be obtained by making the exit moment arm holding one pallet, longer than the incoming moment arm holding the other pallet. To think that this hidden LOGICAL PROCESS/OPERATION originated a few hundred years ago is just bewildering. And to think that in our early schools we still only teach the basic symbols of reading and writing with no real natural harmonious logic frightens me. Well, I suppose, if there were no language symbols, I could have never described the hidden logic of the "sliding lock"! Looking at the diverse watch escapements, it would be beneficial for a commentator to learn the accepted standard vocabulary in horology. I must learn all the accepted vocabulary in horology and not only the engineering logic involved.
So far as I am aware, the 'club-toothed-lever', as it is properly known, originated in the North West of England in the 1830s. I have examples of pocket watches containing this escapement, made in the Liverpool area in this period. It is only known as the 'Swiss Lever' because it was widely adopted for use by the Swiss. As I see it, once the energy in the mainspring has expired, the balance spring will return the impulse pin and therefore the fork, to a neutral or 'central' position. However, once the mainspring is rewound, that energy will be immediately transferred to the pallets and to the balance via the impulse pin, restarting the cycle. I think that what you describe as a 'springy' action is known as 'draw'.
I get confused by the details. I think the mainspring powers the escape wheel, and the escape wheel powers the balance wheel, which oscillate predictably in association with a hairspring. So there's a two way relationship between the escape wheel and the balance wheel. But what''s not clear, is what sets the balance spring in motion when the mainspring is wound up. The mainspring's power must provide an initial impulse to the balance wheel to start it in motion?
The teeth on the escape wheel gives the pallets a little push, that push transfers through the lever and gives the balance wheel a little push. When the balance wheel comes back the pin unlocks the escape wheel so it again can give the pallet a little push, this time to the other side.
With no energy in the system, I think the hairspring would be in its central neutral position, where the escapement mechanism is unlocked (teeth are sliding across pallets). Thus, applying energy to the mainspring would kickstart the hairspring and let the oscillations do the rest.
I was just wondering the same thing. The drive is coming from the escape wheel via the gear train so what causes the balance to start moving? Once its moving the thing keeps going but what starts it? I think you guys have answers it. If anyone else wants to add then please do.
In my opinion, when the ossciliation slowly came to a stop when the main spring gone totally unwound, the balance wheel would gradually have a smaller amplitude. Finally it would stop not in a locking face, but in a impulse face. When mainspring later winded, the energy entering the system would hence impulse the balance wheel, causing it to self start. Do you agree?
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The Swiss Lever escapement is just fascinating when one goes into its detail. It is not a case of just locking the escapement wheel and then it impulsing and pushing back each pallet on the lever. The angle of the locking surface on the pallet must be such that as the locking occurs, the locking surface on both of the lever pallets must be such that there is a "springy" action which tends to further lock the lever into its final locking position. Thus the locking is not just a simple lock, it is a sliding positive lock. In fact, I would say that if when locked one tries to lift the lever off its stops, the lever would spring back on to the stops. This "springy" locking action can only be obtained by making the exit moment arm holding one pallet, longer than the incoming moment arm holding the other pallet.
To think that this hidden LOGICAL PROCESS/OPERATION originated a few hundred years ago is just bewildering. And to think that in our early schools we still only teach the basic symbols of reading and writing with no real natural harmonious logic frightens me. Well, I suppose, if there were no language symbols, I could have never described the hidden logic of the "sliding lock"! Looking at the diverse watch escapements, it would be beneficial for a commentator to learn the accepted standard vocabulary in horology. I must learn all the accepted vocabulary in horology and not only the engineering logic involved.
So far as I am aware, the 'club-toothed-lever', as it is properly known, originated in the North West of England in the 1830s. I have examples of pocket watches containing this escapement, made in the Liverpool area in this period. It is only known as the 'Swiss Lever' because it was widely adopted for use by the Swiss. As I see it, once the energy in the mainspring has expired, the balance spring will return the impulse pin and therefore the fork, to a neutral or 'central' position. However, once the mainspring is rewound, that energy will be immediately transferred to the pallets and to the balance via the impulse pin, restarting the cycle. I think that what you describe as a 'springy' action is known as 'draw'.
Can u provide me drawing of this escapement?? Plz
was mir fehlt ist der punkt, wo der federantrieb ansetzt???
Cooles Video, hat mir gut gefallen! Weiter so!😃
ich finds auch sooooo klassssee !!!!!!!!!!
I get confused by the details. I think the mainspring powers the escape wheel, and the escape wheel powers the balance wheel, which oscillate predictably in association with a hairspring. So there's a two way relationship between the escape wheel and the balance wheel. But what''s not clear, is what sets the balance spring in motion when the mainspring is wound up. The mainspring's power must provide an initial impulse to the balance wheel to start it in motion?
First push can be manual like in a pendulum clock.
The teeth on the escape wheel gives the pallets a little push, that push transfers through the lever and gives the balance wheel a little push. When the balance wheel comes back the pin unlocks the escape wheel so it again can give the pallet a little push, this time to the other side.
With no energy in the system, I think the hairspring would be in its central neutral position, where the escapement mechanism is unlocked (teeth are sliding across pallets). Thus, applying energy to the mainspring would kickstart the hairspring and let the oscillations do the rest.
I was just wondering the same thing. The drive is coming from the escape wheel via the gear train so what causes the balance to start moving? Once its moving the thing keeps going but what starts it? I think you guys have answers it. If anyone else wants to add then please do.
In my opinion, when the ossciliation slowly came to a stop when the main spring gone totally unwound, the balance wheel would gradually have a smaller amplitude. Finally it would stop not in a locking face, but in a impulse face. When mainspring later winded, the energy entering the system would hence impulse the balance wheel, causing it to self start.
Do you agree?