Automatic beat adjustment
(Kieninger Patent)
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
(Kieninger Patent)
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.
Kieninger 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.
Night shut-off
(Kieninger Patent)
When activating the option night shut-off («NIGHT OFF») the
chimes or strike are/is automatically turned off between 10.00
P.M. and 7.15 A.M. (movements with quarter hour chime) or
10.00 P.M. and 7.00 A.M. (movements with half hour strike).
The night shut-off incorporates an additional mechanism and
a special time curve to interrupt the release of the chime
and/or strike mechanism(s).
Pendulum leader
Through the pendulum leader, which is attached to the anchor
and engages into the pendulum extension, the power is
transfered from the movement to the pendulum.
Roller burnishing
The term refers to a special, traditional process for the
surface treatment of the axle journals of pinions and arbors
during clock manufacturing. In doing so the surface of a
turning component is smoothened and compressed with a
rotating ("roller burnishing") hard metal disk. With this process
a very high life expectancy and soft running characteristics of
the bearings are achieved.
Tempus Fugit
Latin for "Time flies". Traditionally these words are often
insribed on a decorative clock dial.
True second
With a "true second" feature the second hand moves in
precise second steps. This is only possible for movements
with a second pendulum, that is, with a pendulum length of
nominal 116 cm. For movements with shorter pendulum
lengths Kieninger uses a special second module (Kieninger
patent) for a correct second indication.
13
A small clock glossary
