Power Escapement
- Title:
- Power Escapement
- Title (German):
- Schaltwerk mit Watt'scher Steuerung und Katarakt
- Collection:
- Reuleaux Kinematic Mechanisms Collection
- Set:
- N. Ratchet Mechanisms
- Designer:
- Reuleaux, F. (Franz), 1829-1905
- Manufacturer:
- Gustav Voigt Werkstatt
- Date:
- 1882
- Country:
- Germany
- Voigt Catalog Model:
- N25
- File Name:
- N25.jpg
- Work Type:
- Mechanical model
- Materials/Techniques:
- cast iron and brass on wood pedestal
- Subject:
- ratchet, escapement
Kinematics of Machinery - Measurement:
- 290 x 120 (millimeters, width x depth)
402 x 140 x 329 (millimeters, width x depth x height) - Description:
- This is a ratchet power escapement. Such devices were used to regulate the speed of lifting devices such as pumps or elevators in mines. In this model as one of the weights falls, the middle ratchet pawl lever oscillates back and forth. See discussion of power escapements in the abstract for Model N-22. Reuleaux gave only a short description of these 'mystery mechanisms' in his book The Constructor. They don't seem to be discussed in modern books on mechanisms. [Francis Moon 2003-07-01]
The 220 models in Cornell University’s Reuleaux Collection were built in the late 19th century to demonstrate the elements of machine motion, as theorized by the German engineer Franz Reuleaux. The University acquired the models in 1882 for use in teaching and research. The Reuleaux models are classified according to the alphanumeric schema employed in the catalog of the manufacturer, Gustav Voigt. The letter in a model's ID (e.g., B14 or S35) refers to a class of mechanism; the number is a specific instance of the class. This classification scheme is a simplified version of the taxonomy of machine elements elaborated in Reuleaux's work. - Repository:
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- Photography credit: Jon Reis (www.jonreis.com). Jon Reis Photography grants Cornell University Libraries and the Cornell College of Engineering the rights to display copyrighted images of the Reuleux collection of kinetic machines on the Cornell University and National Science Digital Library web sites and for unlimited use in Cornell University Library publications for education purposes only. Rights for all other uses, including but not limited to, editorial, commercial, advertising, web use and display by third parties not affiliated with Cornell University are reserved by the photographer. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. For questions about this item or other items please contact the Physical Sciences Librarians at pslref@cornell.edu.