Torsion Escapement Question

[jschmidling]

For exercise, I am building a torsion type clockwork, not to be confused with something that actually tells time.

It will never tell time because it is mostly wood and hand cut gears.

Aside from those problems I am having trouble understanding just what I need to do to maximize my cycle time.

The clocks on my mantel are both about 12 seconds and the current state of my art is about 6 seconds.

I have experimented with length and width of the torsion bar which is plastic package strapping. I also tried a violin E string and learned why it needs to be flat.

I have experimented with discs of different weights and location of the weight.

Attempts to learn what makes it tick, immediately get me into dissertations on calculus which is not one of my strong points and seem to evade the simple question.

That being, where best to put my money to maximize cycle time.

I am beginning to think that it is mostly in the torsion bar material based on what is used in the mantle clocks.

Comparing my 30" with the 6" of the mantle is certainly food for thought.

The plastic strapping is readily available and can be cut with a scissors so it was my first choice.

Any thoughts on the subject would be appreciated.

Attached is a pic of an earlier configuration.

Thanks,

Jack
Marengo, Il

 

[Schatznut]

The timing magic is indeed in the torsion spring. The stiffer the spring, the faster the torsion movement runs. In the torsion-pendulum clock world, the "strengths" of the various springs are proportional to their thickness, and thicknesses are differentiated by tenths of thousandths of an inch. (0.0001"). Hope this gives you some ideas on how to proceed. That's an interesting devise you've built.

 

[jschmidling]

The timing magic is indeed in the torsion spring. The stiffer the spring, the faster the torsion movement runs. In the torsion-pendulum clock world, the "strengths" of the various springs are proportional to their thickness, and thicknesses are differentiated by tenths of thousandths of an inch. (0.0001"). Hope this gives you some ideas on how to proceed. That's an interesting devise you've built.

Thanks for the thoughts.

I can't seem to find any source for a piece of this material longer than that used in clocks. Looking for a foot or two.

BTW, the top gear in the photo just goes along for the ride. I have yet to get it to drive the escapement reliably due to (I think) the crudeness of the gears. It requires so much weight, things start to bend.

Jack

 

[Schatznut]

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[happycusa]

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I used an old spring from the wrist wach for a similar project. It worked well. Although it never kept the time.

 

[TQ60]

Centripetal force. (spelling?)

The ice scattered spins fast with arms in, slow with arms out.

Having weight at greater distance from center of rotation will allow for more energy to keep rotating longer period.

Now you need to get the energy into the disc.

400 day apply energy to top of suspension.

Atmos apply energy to bottom.

Applying to bottom transfered directly into rotating disk.