Double Acting Power Escapement with Watt-type Automatic Regulator
- Title:
- Double Acting Power Escapement with Watt-type Automatic Regulator
- Title (German):
- Doppelt wirkendes Schaltwerk mit Watt'scher selbsttätiger Steuerung
- 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:
- N26
- File Name:
- N26.jpg
- Work Type:
- Mechanical model
- Materials/Techniques:
- cast iron and brass on wood pedestal
- Subject:
- ratchet, escapement
Kinematics of Machinery - Measurement:
- 290 x 89 (millimeters, width x depth)
392 x 106 x 302 (millimeters, width x depth x height) - Description:
- Models 20, 22, 24, 25, 26 fall into a category of mechanisms that Reuleaux called power escapements. Escapements in clocks regulate small amounts of energy to keep the pendulum swinging (e.g., see model X-3). Power escapements regulate the motion of larger energy systems. Reuleaux seems to have designed these models as analogs to dynamic regulators, such as the rotating balls of Watt’s speed regulator in steam engines. Reuleaux gave only one description of a power escapement for model N-26 in The Constructor. However, he does not give a direct application of these mechanisms. Neither do they appear in later treatises or more modern model collections. Perhaps one can call them “the mystery mechanisms”. This model is an extremely complex mechanism whose motions are governed by the dynamic laws of Newton. Two cylindrical weights are attached to two pulley wheels. The smaller weight is used to return the lever to its starting position. The other larger weight represents the force or potential energy whose motion is regulated by the escapement. In operation, the larger weight is lowered automatically as the lever and inverted pendula oscillate back and forth and up and down respectively (see video). Part of the motion is also controlled with dry friction slides on the model. The use of a power escapement of the verge and foliet type (model X-1) for speed control of a water pump can be seen in the 17th century machine compendium of Jacob de Strada. [Francis Moon 2004-07-00]
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.