The ticking of a timekeeper is the sound of the escapement stopping a wheel tooth.Ĥ. Without it, the wheels would whiz until the weight hit the floor. Like a turnstile which allows one spectator through at a time, the escapement allows one wheel tooth to pass through (or ‘escape’) at a time. The escapement is connected to the quickly moving end of the train of wheels. Escapement A verge and crownwheel escapement, on top of a longcase clock movement by Ahasuerus Fromanteel, London, c. This is the opposite of a car gearbox, where the engine revs quickly and the wheels on the road rotate more slowly.ģ.
The energy source moves slowly and the wheel at the furthest end of the train moves quickly.
Wheels Two trains of wheels (timekeeping and striking), of a Japanese stand/lantern clock, 17th–18th century.Īn interconnected series of toothed wheels and pinions, known as a train, transmits the energy through the timekeeper. Musical chamber clock by Nicholas Vallin with 3 driving weights and 3 counterweights (needed to stop the rope from slipping), London, 1598.Ģ. This energy is released into the timekeeper as the weight drops or the mainspring unwinds. When it is wound, energy is transferred from our muscles and into the driving weight (as it moves up against the force of gravity) or the mainspring (as it tightens up).
The energy is usually stored in a weight or spring. The timekeeping function of mechanical timekeepers can be explained as just five elements:Īll machines, including timekeepers, need energy to work.
Old clocks and watches are fascinating even without knowing how they work, but just a simple explanation provides a much deeper appreciation.