NfcW WATCH ESCAPEMENT. 181 



spindle d; c is a locking spring nearly similar to a detached 

 one, having no extra spring to pass to and fro with. Above 

 the pallet c, i.s a very small one,/, which is for the purpose 

 of unlocking the wheel, which is better shown in fig. 9; at 

 the lower part of the spindle d, is a hair spring gy so pinned 

 as to bear the pallet f against the locking spring with suf- 

 ficient power, so that of its own accord it frees the wheel 

 and lays the pin h which comes through the plate gently up 

 to the stop, consequently the tooth falls upon the pallet c, 

 but so close home to the centre of the spindle, that it has 

 no power to pass it of its own accord ; the pin h referred to 

 is fixed to the top extremity of the patllet c, and rises perpen- 

 dicularly throi^gh the plate a some way above the surface. 



The balance i is fixed on the centre of its spindle, princi- 

 pally on account of equalizing the weight, beside which it 

 is the most convenient to be so; it is supported between the 

 plate a, and the cock k, precisely over the spindle d, conse- 

 quently the action of each is in the same arch, and the con- 

 nection is between the pin h of the pallet, and the pin /of 

 the balance, (a pin fixed in the balance at the same distance 

 from its centre as the pin h is from the centre of the spindle 

 d, and sufficiently long to touch the pin h sideways), there 

 is therefore no friction whatever between them. 



Having mentioned the different parts of the escapement, Mode of its 

 I shall proceed to explain its action. The immediate course ^cjion. 

 of vibration is from the spring g. The balance spring is so 

 placed, that the pin / of the balance stands near the pin h 

 of the pallet. It is to be remembered, that the tooth of the 

 wheel rests on the pallet during the vibration of the balance, 

 so that, when the balance is put in motion, the pin / comes 

 in contact with the pin h, which stands perpendicularly 

 almost imperceptibly fine, and carries it back ; as soon as 

 moved, the tooth of the wheel gives it an extra assistance of 

 about one fifth of a circle, passes and lays the next tooth 

 on the lock; on the return of the balance, the spring g' ap- 

 plies all its power in urging the balance forward till it comes 

 to the stop, the balance then maintains its motion, and the 

 small pallet y having unlocked the wheel, the tooth falls 

 again on the great pallet c, and waits the return of the ba- 

 lance. 



' The 



