3 ms·
The mainspring provides all the mechanical energy. The small spring is called the escapement, it spins one way, then back the other at a set frequency (typicall
by blacksmith_tb 11y ago
The mainspring provides all the mechanical energy. The small spring is called the escapement, it spins one way, then back the other at a set frequency (typically 4, 6, or 8 times per second), letting the energy of the mainspring 'escape' gradually (instead of unwinding all at once, in a rush).
- beeboop 11y agoSo the small spring is what makes it run accurately? I wonder how hard it is to make the small spring accurate without modern tools (1800s technology).
- rcurry 11y agoThis provides a good description of how the balance wheel works: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_wheel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balance_wheel It is manually tuned, via weights and spring tension, to oscillate at a precise interval.