Ball barrel watch

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Ball barrel watch in the British Museum in London

The Congreve clock is one of the table clocks and was in the 16th century invented by Margraf and Grollier de Serriere.

technology

In the case of the ball barrel watch, one or more balls run over an inclined channel from top to bottom, which is used as a drive or only serves the optics . Where the pendulum- regulated escapement is found on other table clocks , this type of clock sets a ball in motion for a precisely defined period of time. The ball rolls along a track and, when it reaches the bottom, starts a mechanism that brings it back to its starting point by means of a lifting device. After the ball has been brought back to its starting point, its sequence is repeated in the rhythm of the set time interval .

The troughs of the balls around the clock are designed differently. They can be arranged straight, diagonally or spirally around the housing .

Web links

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