ClockWorks Press ATMOS User manual

ATMOS
ThePerpetualMotionClock
Manufacturer'sInstructionsfortheCare,
OperationandRepairoftheAtmosClock.
RevisedEdition

ATMOS
ThePerpetualMotionClock
Manufacturer'sInstructionsfortheCare,
OperationandRepairoftheAtmosClock.
ClockworksPressInternational, Inc.
ShingleSprings,CaliforniaU.S.A.
MilleniumReprintEdition

Copyright© 2000by
ClockWorksPressInternational,Inc.
AllRightsReserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedor
transmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,
includingphotocopying,recordingorbyanyinformationstorage
andretrievalsystemwithoutwrittenpermissionfromthecopyright
holder,exceptforuseofbriefquotationsforreviewpurposes.
ClockWorksPress
International,Inc.
P.O.Box1699
ShingleSprings,California
USA95682-1699
[phone]
[email protected]
www.clockrepair.com
Thispamphletisa reprintofthebookletHow toRepair
Atmos—The Perpetual Motion Clock, firstpublishedby
VacheronandConstantin- LeCoultreWatchesInc.Minor
editshavebeenmadeandillustrationsrevisedand/or
addedtoimprovetheusefulnessoftheoriginalmaterial.
ISBN0-9678671-9-3
CAREANDOPERATIONOFTHE
ATMOSCLOCK
Never move or shift the Atmos Clock before stopping and
locking the Balance Wheel with the Locking Lever on the
base.
1.HowtoRemovetheGlassCaseFromtheClock.
Pulloutthetwopins(A- Figure2)whichholdtheglass
casetothebase.Lifttheglasscarefully.(Ifthestring,
redtag,andwoodenshippingblockhavenotbeen
removed,removethemfromtheclockmechanism.)
2.HowtoLeveltheClock.
Whiletheclockisuncovered,leveltheATMOSby
turningthetwothumbscrewsonthebase(C- Figure
2)untilthebubbleintheroundspiritlevelisinthe
exactcenteroftheliquid.
3.HowtoSettheClock.
Pushtheminutehandwithyourfingerclockwise.
NEVERPUSHTHEHOURHAND.Neverturnthe
handsforsettingwhiletheimpulsepinengagesthehorns
oftheclock.
4.ReplacetheGlassCase.(F- Figure2)
5.HowtoStartandStoptheClock.
Tostart,pushthelockingleveronthefrontoftheclock
base(B- Figure2)slowlyfromrighttoleft.Thisstarts
thebalancewheeltooscillateslowly.Tostopandlock
balancewheel,pushlockingleveronthebasefromleft
toright.
6.NeverTouchtheBalanceWheel.
3

INSTRUCTIONSONTHEREPAIROF
ATMOSCLOCKS
Tosecurea goodperformancefromtheclock,itisessential
thattheATMOSbeplacedona stablesupportandinan
absolutelyhorizontalposition.Thelattercanbecheckedby
thebuilt-inspiritlevelG (Figure1)locatedinthebaseatthe
frontoftheclockandalsobythebalanceitself.Itsufficesif
thebankingstemM whichisfixedonthebalancestaff,is
Figure1
ShowingFrontofClockwithMovementRemoved.
centeredoverapertureL inthebridgethroughwhichitpasses.
Forrepairwork,followthesesteps:
1.Checkthehorizontalpositionoftheclock.
2.Checkifpowerreachestheescapementbygently
slidingthelockinglevertotheleftandtherebyreleasing
4
balancefromitslockedposition;theoperationofthepallets
canbeobservedthroughthesmallholesmadeforthispuipose.
Theholesarelocatedonthefrontplateofthemovementat
thetopoftheplate.Watchfora kickingactionontheforkas
eachpalletdropsoffanescapewheeltooth.Thisshows
whetherthereispowertotheescapewheel.
3.Checkifhandsmovequitefreely.
4.Checkconditionofthemotor.(Seepage13)
Havingmadethesefourchecks,lockbalancewheelby
depressingandslidingthelockinglever(B- Figure2)from
lefttoright.ThenremovehandsbymeansofTool4 (Figure
5),alsoremovethedialanddialbezel.Intheabsenceofthe
factory-madehandremovingtool,a suitabletoolcanbemade
byconvertinga smallhandremovingtoolforuseonATMOS.
Thekeyrequirementisthattheplungermustbenolarger
than0.6mm(.024").TheATMOSminutehandmustonlybe
removedusinga handremovingtool.Theminutehandshaft
issosmall,thatanyothermethodwilllikelyresultindamage
totheshaft.
Afterremovingthehands,itisworthwhiletocheckthe
handsforbalance.Thehandsmustbeperfectly
counterbalanced.A poorlypoisedminutehandwillstopthe
clock;a similarlyfaultyhourhandwillcausevariationofas
muchasa quarterturnintheamplitudeofthebalance.
Themovementisremovedbyunscrewingthetwo
mountingscrews(oneoneachsideofthemovement)from
themountingstuds(Z- Figure1).
Whenremovingthemovement,caremustbetakennotto
bendthefork,nortoletthegear-trainrununcontrolled.Hold
5

Figure2
thefirstwheel(Thelargewheelthatengagesthebarrelgear.)
soastobeabletocontrolthespeedoftheBarrelasitruns
down.CounttheturnsoftheBarrelwhilereleasingthetrain.
Normallythiswillrequire5 to7 revolutionsorturnsofthe
springbarrel.Lessthanthismayindicatethattheclockwas
notwindingproperlypossiblyindicatinga problemwiththe
bellowsormotor.(Note:RegulatorknobD aboveonlyin
modelspriorto1951.)
6
Aftercompletelyunwindingthemainspring,removethe
motorbyunscrewingthefourmotormountingnuts(I- Figure
1),usingKeyNo.5 (Figure5).Intheabsenceofthefactory-
madetool,an8 mm(5/16inch)spanneroropen-endwrench
canbeused.ForCaliber540models,themotorisremoved
byrotatingthemotorunitina counter-clockwisedirection.It
isona bayonet-typemount.
Whenthemotorandmovementhavebeenremoved,see
ifthebalanceiswellpoised.Ifitis,thesmallrolleratthetop
ofthebalancestaffwillbeconstantlycenteredonthe
regulatingclampasthebalancerevolves;thisistoprevent
therollerfromevertouchingtheclampwhiletheclockis
running,despitetheslight,inevitableto-and-fromovements
whichoccur.Ifthisconditionisnotfulfilled,re-adjustthe
balancetubebybendingitverygentlyaslittleaspossible.
1953Atmos
WithCoverRemoved
7

Next,unscrewthe6 screwsofthestandandbaseplateto
freetheframeworkfromthebase.
Tofreethebalance,unscrewregulatingclampscrewJ
andwiresleevescrewK (Figure3).Gently,pulloutpinN
whileholdingupthebalance;thengentlydisengagethe
balancebyraisinguptheframework.Seethattheregulating
clampdoesnotremainlockedintheregulatingsleeve.(There
mustbenodangerofthewirecomingintocontactwiththe
apertureinthesmallroller,butmustbeprotectedbythe
clamp.)
Figure3
Whenbalancehasbeenremoved,checkwinding
mechanismasfollows:
Towindthemainspring,compressthebackspringH
(Figure4)inthehand.(Stopmovementofgear-trainandallow
Figure4
BackSpring
backspringtoreleaseitselfasmanytimesasnecessary.)When
backspringiscompletelyexpanded,itisequilibratedwith
mainspring.Thelattermustneverbewoundmorethanthe
backspringcanwindit.Ifthemainspringisoverwound,the
movementwillbank.Duringthisoperation,countthenumber
ofrevolutionsofthebarrelrequiredtowindmainspring.When
thespringsareequilibrated,tosecurethebestworking
conditions,themainspringshouldbewoundtoa minimum
of5 revolutionsanda maximumof7 revolutions.Thewinding
ofthemainspringceasesabruptly.Ifitdoesnot,thatistosay,
ifthebackspringcontinuestowindthemainspringwitha
smallmomentum(by2,1,oreven1/2ofa ratchetcogata
time),itsignifiesthatwindingisnotbeingoperatedunder
9

goodconditions.Thecausesforthisarethefollowing:
1.Thebackspringmaybewarped,evenslightly(1or2
spirals).
2.Lengthofthesmallchainmaynottallywith
requirements:itshouldbesufficientlylongtoallowa
maximumexpansionofthebackspringfrom45to48
mm(1.77to1.89inches)fromplate.(Seefigure4).
3.Thechainmustnotbetwisted.
4.Thepulleyfixedtotheplatemustmovefreely.
Next,seewhethertheregulatingmechanismisingood
order.TherotatorymovementofregulatorR (Figures3 and
6)mustfrictionallydriveregulatortubeV andtherebyimpart
averticalmovementtoregulatingsleeveX (Figure3).
Figure6
10
Whentheframeworkhasbeencompletelydismantled,
checkthatpivotholesoftheintermediatewheelandthebarrel
pivotholesarecleanandwellpolished.Thesethreepivot
holesaretheonlypartsoftheclockmechanismwhichshould
beoiledbesidesthelubricationofthemainspring.Thethree
pivotholesmustbeslightlyoiledwitha fine,nottoofluid,
lubricant(ChronaxD orE,orMoebiusNo.3).Alsolightly
lubricatethemainspring.
Whenthegear-trainhasbeenremounted,useChainHook,
ToolNo.2 (Figure5)toreplacebackspring.A smallhook
canbefashionedfroma pieceofstiffwire.
Intheeventoffaultyadjustment,checkonefactorvery
thoroughly,vis.,thesuspensionwireanditsregulating
mechanism.
Tounscrewbalance,useKeyNo.6 (Figure5)tounlock
suspensionwireclampingscrewinsidethebalancetube.
Whenthisscrewhasbeenremoved,thewireshouldappear
inthescrewarborlyingstraightwithoutbendortorsion.It
mustbeheldverytightlyinthescrewtopreventitfrom
slipping.Throughthemediumoftheregulatingmechanism,
theregulatingclampallowsforreadjustmentsbyalteration
oftheworkinglengthofthewire.Theclampmustgripthe
wirelightlybutsufficientlyfirmtocarrytheheavyweightof
thebalancesecurely.Thetwolipsoftheclampmustlie
perfectlyparalleltooneanotherandholdthewireattheir
extremities.
Theinside ofthebalancetube,(M- Figure1)which
passesthesuspensionwire,mustbeabsolutelyclean.
Theimpulsepinmustmoveperfectlyfreeonitsstaff.
11
RegulatorTool

Toreplacethewireinsidethebalancetube,useTool
No.3 (Figure5).Whenthebalancerollerunithasbeen
remounted,suspenditontheframework.Todothis,useTool
No.1 topushthewireinsidetheupperbridgeanduseTool
No.8 (ring)toraisethebalance.Useplierstodrawtheendof
thewireuntilbankingstemM (Figure1)liesunderlower
bridgeP.Insertsuspension-wirepinN (Figure3),pressit
downwhilestretchingthewire,givea lightblowonthepin
inordertomakewireslipandreleasebankingstemfrom
lowerbridge.ThelowerbridgeP (Figure1)mustdividethe
spacebetweenthetwoplanesofbankingstemM equally,the
regulatingclampmustbetightenedandmakesurethatthe
wireissuspendedinthecenterofthetube.Theremustbeno
twistingortorsionofthewirebetweenthepointwhereitis
attachedtothewiresleevebythepinandthepointwhereit
liesinsidethethreadedclamp.
Checkwhetherthebalanceispoisedandengagesthe
escapement.ForpoisingseePage7.Thebalanceengages
whentheimpulsepinliesforwardwhilethebalanceisdead
centre.Ifthisisnotthecase,turnrollerthroughdiskO (Figure
3),afterhavingreleasedthescrewofsaiddiskO.Thencount
oscillationsofbalancefor15minutes.Ifvariationexceeds1
second,moreorless,per15minutes,adjustthebalanceby
addingorlesseningoscillatingandregulatingweights.
1mmofoscillating weight= 8 secondsper15minutes.
1mmofregulating weight= 4 secondsper15minutes.
Thetwosetsofoscillatingandregulatingweightscanbe
comparedona verysensitivepairofscales,sothat,whenset
inplaceonthebalancewheelitself,thelatterwillnotbeput
outofpoise.Assoonassufficientlyaccuratetiminghasbeen
obtainedbyadjustmentofthesesetsofweights,thefinalrating
12
canbeobtainedbyregulatorR (Figures3 and6)whichallows
forexactdeterminationoftherequiredadjustment:
1division= 10secondsper24hours
Ifvariationexceeds50secondsper24hours,adjustfor
50secondswhentheregulatorisinthemiddleofitsrun,by
displacingthelattertoleftorright;thenlockregulatortube
V(Figure6)withappropriateToolNo.10(Figure5)andpull
regulatorinoppositedirection(itwillturnwithoutmodifying
adjustment)andfinishadjustingafterhavingfreedthe
regulatortube.
Thenreplacebaseplateandcheckforgoodoperationof
balancelockingmechanism.
Shouldthemovementrequireoverhauling(useToolNo.
7-MovementHolder)wewishtostressthat,owingtothe
minimumpowerwhichistransmittedandtheslowmovement
mechanism,allwheelsandpinionsmustbecleaned,(not
lubricated)andrunperfectlyfree.Thesurfacesofrestand
impulseofallrunnersmustbeperfectlypolished,thepallets
verycleanandthelocksslightwithonlya smallbacklash.
Carefullyobservepoiseoftheforkwhichissuspended
bythetwopivotsofthepalletstaff(likea watchbalanceon
thepoisingtool);theforkmustbeslightlyheavieronthe
hornside,tosecureonecompleteoscillationperminute.At
rest,theforkmusthavea perfectlyverticalpositiononthe
tool;ifnot,correctbyaddinga counterweightasrequired.
(Thisslightfaultinpoiseisimportantforitmaypreventgood
timing.)
Whenthemovementisremounted, putitbackandalso
checkthegoodoperationoftheescapementandthefork.If
13

theclearancesoftheguardpinsareirregular,turnthepallet
forkslightlyonitsadjustment.Ifforsomereasonorother,
thearchoftheforkhadtobere-adjusted,caremustbetaken
tosecureperfectpoise.Theescapementisregulatedbythe
pinsattachedtothe3/4plate,asthebankingpinsfixedtothe
upperbridgesomeintooperationonlyinthecaseofover-
banking.Allowa spaceof2 to3/100thmmbetweenthehorns
oftheforkandthebankingpinsofthebridge.
Itiseasytocheckimmediatelywhetherthemotorisin
goodworkingcondition.Ata temperatureof18to20C (64.4
to68F)studsT (Figure1)fixedtotheinsidebaseofthe
motor,arevisiblea fewmillimetersbehindthebackplate
(throughthecorrespondingholesinthebackframe).
At25C (77F)theyappeara fewmillimetersaboveT.If
themotor(diaphragm)isinbadcondition,thebaseis
completelycollapsedandtouchesthebottomoftheinside
case;evenat25C (77F),itwillremaininthesameposition,
whereasa motoringoodconditionwill,atthistemperature,
completelycompressitslargeinnerspringandthestudswill
befullyvisible.
Insidethesealeddiaphragmisa gaswhichactsona
flexiblemetalmembrane.Undertheeffectofvariationsof
temperature(andalsoofatmosphericpressure)itcontracts
andexpands,thuscausingdisplacementoftheinnerbase.
Whenthetemperaturerises,themotorcompressestheback
springH (Figure4)oftheclock(invisiblewhenthemotoris
inplace)towhichthechainisfixed.Whenthetemperature
decreases,thebasecontractsandallowsthebackspringto
expand.
14
Themotoroperateswithintemperaturelimitsof8 to30C
(46.4to86F).Beyondtheselimits,themotornolongerwinds
uptheclock,butthemainspringhasa normalminimum
runningreserveofoneyear.
Withinthelimitsspecified,themotorobtainsfromthe
variationsofambienttemperature,a drivingpowerseveral
timesgreaterthanthatrequiredtokeepthebalancegoing.
Thepowerofthebackspringiscalculatedsothatitcannot
windthemainspringbymorethan5 to7 turns.Assoonas
thespringreachesthisamountoftension,themotor"idles"
until,whena smallfractionofpowerhasbeenabsorbed,the
backspringagaincomesintocontactwiththebaseofthe
motor.Thissignifies,practically,a constantdrivingpower.
Itisatthispoint,thatistosay,atthemaximumatwhich
thebackspringisabletowindthebarrelspring,thatthe
amplitudeofthebalancewheelturnsshouldbechecked.It
willhavetobeaboutoneanda halfturns.
In90%ofATMOSrepairwork,thereisnoneedto
dismantlethebalancecompletely.Itisusuallysufficientto
cleanthemovementandcheckwhetherallofthepartsoperate
freely.Iftheclockreallydoesnotgivesatisfaction,thenonly
isitnecessarytodismantlethebalanceandthesuspension
wirecompletely.
15

1.Tubepermittingpassageofwireinsidetheupperbridge.
2.Tooltopullthechaintoinsidefrombehindthespring.
3.Tooltopasswireinsidethebalancestem(tube).
4.Toolforremovingtheminutehand(handpuller).
5.Keyforremovingthemotor(8mmspanner).
6.Keyforremovingthecylinderwhichattachesbalance
tothebalancecanon.
7.Movementholder(seenextpage).
8.Ringtoraisethebalancetoallowsuspension.
9.Toolforcenteringbalancebybendingthetube(poise).
10.Toolforholdingtheregulatingcanonwhilemoving
theregulator,(regulatorspanner).
16
DetailofBalanceTube
PoisingTool
17