A Small Clock Glossary - F.lli Consonni “Westminster” Bedienungsanleitung

F.lli Consonni
3

A small clock glossary

Automatic beat adjustment
The term automatic beat adjustment refers to a automatic adjustement of the ancor
position relative to the escape wheel through an overswing of the pendulum. This is
achieved with a precisely tolerated friction between ancor and ancor shaft and an
additional disc attached to the escape wheel. Because of the automatic beat adjustment a
perfectly even tic sound will develop after the overswing period of the pendulum is
completed.
Automatic chime sequencing
When activating the option automatic chime sequencing («AUTOM.») the motion of the
hand shaft automatically shifts the melody drum of triple chime movements to the next
melody every hour after the hour count is completed.
Compensation pendulum
Due to temperature fluctuations the different metallic components of normal pendulums
expand at different rates.
Therefore the lenght of the pendulum changes and triggers fluctuations of the running
speed (time keeping). Through a specific arrangement of metals with different expansion
coefficients and a corresponding design of the pendulum these differences of expansion
rates are compensated.
Escapement & Regulator
The term "escapement" refers to the combination of the clock components anchor and
escapement wheel. The anchor is either made in one piece (solid anchor) or consists of an
anchor body with inserted pallets (pallet anchor). The special gearing of the escapement
wheel is matched for the type of escapement and the anchor.
The escapement regulates the otherwise uncontrolled run of the time drive with the help
of the regulator oscillations and at the same time provides the regulator with the
necessary drive impulse. Depending on type of movement the regulator can be either a
pendulum or a balance wheel. The oscillation rate of the regulator determines the rhythm
for the movement of the hands.
Movements use a stationary escapement (Graham) or an escapement (Swiss escapement).
Lyre pendulum
A pendulum style which includes multiple, vertically oriented bars joined by a bridge in
the middle and which has a harp shaped structure above the pendulum bob.
Maintaining Power
The time drive of weight powered clock movements with maintaining power continues to
run during winding. This is achived through a counter locking gear with spring, which
provides a power reserve for the time drive during winding.
Moon phase dial
A dial which tracks the moon's phases through the 29½ day lunar month. As the rotating
moon dial passes behind representations of the eastern and western hemispheres, the
phases of the moon (new moon, full moon, wasing crescent, etc.) are represented as they
appear at each stage of the cycle.