page_title: Riefler escapement
hierarchical_section_title: Riefler escapement
caption_attribution_description: English: Drawing of Riefler escapement, invented by Sigmund Riefler in 1889, from the catalog of the Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. It was used in the precision astronomical regulator clocks produced by the German firm Clemens Riefler from 1890 to 1965. The escapement's advantage was that it applied impulses to keep the pendulum swinging by flexing the suspension spring (i) that supported the pendulum, rather than applying force directly to the pendulum. The spring is attached to a metal support (A) that rocks back and forth on knife edges (c) resting on agate plates (P). Riefler clocks achieved an accuracy of 10 milliseconds per day, possibly the most accurate all-mechanical clocks ever made. Alterations to image: rotated image 90° CW, rotated R drawing a few degrees to justify, moved R drawing closer to L and aligned drawings vertically, converted to 32 color PNG.
context_page_description: The Riefler escapement is a mechanical escapement for precision pendulum clocks invented and patented by German instrument maker Sigmund Riefler in 1889. It was used in the astronomical regulator clocks made by his German firm Clemens Riefler from 1890 to 1965, which were perhaps the most accurate all-mechanical pendulum clocks made.
  An escapement is the mechanism in a mechanical clock that gives the pendulum precise impulses to keep it swinging, and allows the gear train to advance a set amount with each pendulum swing, moving the clock hands forward at a steady rate. The Riefler escapement was an improvement of the deadbeat escapement, the standard used in precision clocks. In the deadbeat, the force to keep the pendulum swinging is applied by the teeth of the escape wheel sliding alternately against two angled pallets on arms attached to the pendulum. Therefore, slight variations in the friction of the pallets and in the torque from the escape wheel are passed on to the pendulum, disturbing its motion.
context_section_description: The Riefler escapement is a mechanical escapement for precision pendulum clocks invented and patented by German instrument maker Sigmund Riefler in 1889.  It was used in the astronomical regulator clocks made by his German firm Clemens Riefler from 1890 to 1965, which were perhaps the most accurate all-mechanical pendulum clocks made.
  An escapement is the mechanism in a mechanical clock that gives the pendulum precise impulses to keep it swinging, and allows the gear train to advance a set amount with each pendulum swing, moving the clock hands forward at a steady rate.  The Riefler escapement was an improvement of the deadbeat escapement, the standard used in precision clocks. In the deadbeat, the force to keep the pendulum swinging is applied by the teeth of the escape wheel sliding alternately against two angled pallets on arms attached to the pendulum.  Therefore, slight variations in the friction of the pallets and in the torque from the escape wheel are passed on to the pendulum, disturbing its motion.
caption: Riefler escapement used in the Clemens Riefler regulator clock, 1893.  Shows the bearer (A'), knife edges (c), agate support surfaces (P), suspension spring (i), locking escape wheel (h), impulse escape wheel (H), and pallets (S,S').
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