Learning About the Types of Mechanical Clocks
Clocks have long been a part of culture. However, with the advent of electrical mechanisms, this time keeping device no longer had to rely on natural phenomenon (e.g. the sun) to display the hours accurately. This article intends to list and discuss some of the major types of mechanical clocks.
Known as the original mechanised timepiece, the tower clock is a derivative of the much earlier versions that were made in monasteries. They are often quite large and constructed from iron. Falling weights are the primary driving mechanism of this type. They are attached to a long cord or rope that was coiled around a drum or the main shaft, which was then regulated by a large wheel known as the verge.
The coiled spring clock, on the other hand, was first introduced during the early 15th century. This variety was known to be smaller and more portable because it no longer requiresd large weights. A lot of people began using this timekeeper in their homes. Its primary mechanism consisted of a coiled spring inside the watch that had to be wound so the wheels can turn and the hands of the clock can be regulated.
In the late 16th century, Galileo started the use of the pendulum to regulate the time of mechanical clock. With a function similar to the weight mechanism, the pendulum’s arc would swing back and forth, gaining momentum and energy upon each swing. The arc corresponds to the second hand of the clock and, depending on its arc, relates to about one second at a time.
Although a handful of mechanical clocks are still in existence today, majority of them have been replaced with electrical, quartz, and atomic clocks to maintain more accurate time.
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