Abstract: An enhanced escapement mechanism provides improved isolation of energy and torque for an oscillation system, e.g. a pendulum. In an exemplary embodiment, during a first phase, a pendulum releases an impulse arm that is decoupled from a main wheel, which falls and impulses the pendulum, such as at or near the middle of the pendulum swing. In a second phase, the impulse arm continues to fall, becoming totally detached from the pendulum, wherein the falling impulse arm releases the main wheel, which restores the impulse arm to its initial position. The main wheel continues to rotate until it is no longer in contact with the impulse arm, and is captured, such that the process may be repeated. While the enhanced escapement mechanism typically provides an impulse to an oscillation system during each period, alternate embodiments provide an impulse for each of a plurality of periods, e.g. once every ten periods.

Abstract: Enhanced compound pendulums provide thermal compensation and/or barometric compensation, such as for a mechanical clock system. The enhanced compound pendulums are simple to construct, and can be more easily compensated than conventional, single-bob pendulums. The enhanced compound pendulums typically comprise material that is added above the point of rotation. Thermal expansion factors for components of the enhanced compound pendulums may preferably be chosen to provide thermal compensation to the first order. In some embodiments of enhanced compound pendulums, volume is added above the pivot to provide barometric compensation, such as by equalizing the moments above and below the pivot, or by providing geometric symmetry above and below the pivot, with a lower density above the pivot.

Abstract: A bearing system comprises a support member and a rotational element having a generally cylindrical bearing surface, and a plurality of detents defined upon and extending in from the cylindrical bearing surface, and may include means for rotating the rotational element in relation to the support member. The bearing system also comprises at least three bearing assemblies, each comprising a cam member rotatably mounted to the support member. Each of the cam members comprises a cam surface having a profile that contacts the cylindrical bearing surface and rotates away from a home position when the cam is rotatably positioned to meet one of the bearing regions, and does not contact the cylindrical bearing surface when the cam is rotatably positioned to meet one of the detent regions. Each of the cam members are rotationally biased toward their home position.

Abstract: Enhanced compound pendulums provide thermal compensation and/or barometric compensation, such as for a mechanical clock system. The enhanced compound pendulums are simple to construct, and can be more easily compensated than conventional, single-bob pendulums. The enhanced compound pendulums typically comprise material that is added above the point of rotation. Thermal expansion factors for components of the enhanced compound pendulums may preferably be chosen to provide thermal compensation to the first order. In some embodiments of enhanced compound pendulums, volume is added above the pivot to provide barometric compensation, such as by equalizing the moments above and below the pivot, or by providing geometric symmetry above and below the pivot, with a lower density above the pivot.

Abstract: A bearing system comprises a support member and a rotational element having a generally cylindrical bearing surface, and a plurality of detents defined upon and extending in from the cylindrical bearing surface, and may include means for rotating the rotational element in relation to the support member. The bearing system also comprises at least three bearing assemblies, each comprising a cam member rotatably mounted to the support member. Each of the cam members comprises a cam surface having a profile that contacts the cylindrical bearing surface and rotates away from a home position when the cam is rotatably positioned to meet one of the bearing regions, and does not contact the cylindrical bearing surface when the cam is rotatably positioned to meet one of the detent regions. Each of the cam members are rotationally biased toward their home position.

Abstract: A mechanism for determining whether the sun is visible at a diurnal solar event and for mechanically triggering actions based upon the sun being visible during the diurnal solar event is disclosed. The mechanisms of the invention can perform these operations without intervention or supervision for long periods of time. Certain embodiments have been applied to provide a diurnal solar event trigger based upon sidereal noon for a clock providing accurate timing for 10,000 years without intervention or supervision.

Abstract: In the astrolabe herein, both the rete and the plate rotate, although around different centers. The stars are drawn onto the plate, and the coordinate system is represented by the rete. In contrast to the conventional astrolabe, where the stars and the coordinate system are projected onto a plane parallel with the earth's equator, the improved astrolabe projects stars and the coordinate system using a stereographic projection onto a plane parallel with the plane of the ecliptic. This projection puts the celestial pole at the center of the rete, and the line orthogonal to the ecliptic is projected onto the center of the plate, which points about 23.5 degrees off the earth's axis. As with a conventional astrolabe, the rete is rotated to represent the sidereal motion of the stars. In contrast to the conventional astrolabe, the plate may also be rotated to represent the precession of the earth's axis.

Abstract: A mechanical device converts one time base to another without using gears to do so. A mechanical adder adds a constant into an accumulator at regular intervals. The interval is generated by the overflow of the accumulator. In the case where a signal is to be generated once every solar year from a wheel that rotates only once per day, the fractional number 1/365.242198 is added to the accumulator each day by the rotation of a day wheel. Whenever the accumulation overflows, the one-year signal is generated. The fractional portion of the accumulated sum remains in the accumulator, such that round-off errors do not accumulate over time. The preferred adder is digital, such that this computation may be carried out to any desired level of precision. Additionally, the same design, but with a different constant, may be used to generate other intervals (e.g. for lunar months).

Abstract: A weight operated mechanical drive consists of a cylindrical weight that is suspended by a helically threaded drive screw which passes through and engages with complementary threads within a bore defined along a rotational axis thereof. The weight turns the drive screw as it falls due to the force of gravity. The weight is prevented from rotating about the axis of the screw while it is failing by a wheel which is attached thereto and which rolls against a retaining bar that runs alongside the weight along the weight's path of travel. The retaining bar is also used to wind the weight. To do so, the retaining bar is rotated around the rotational axis of the drive screw. This action forces the weight along a path defined by the helical threads of the drive screw. The retaining bar is formed as a helix around a column through which the weight drops.

Abstract: A design is for a Congreve-style clock that keeps time more accurately, i.e. that is insensitive to minor variations in friction on the ball, in which the depth of each groove in the inclined plane varies along its length so that the path of the ball approximates a cycloid on each traversal. The grooves provide alternating paths that overlap such that the distance that the ball travels varies with the speed of the ball. In such system, increased friction causes the ball to move more slowly, but because the slower ball also follows a shorter path, the time required to reach the bottom of the inclined plane remains the same. Similarly, decreased friction causes the ball to travel more quickly, but a faster moving balls takes a longer path.