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·👍 Thanks Al! I really enjoyed how well you explained these details!
Sorry, but the inner workings of the vertical clutch are poorly explained (i.e. missing entirely)... In a car, there is a strong compression spring that presses the discs together, as experienced (in some cars at least) by how hard it is to press the clutch pedal. How is that attained here? Also, in cars, there is a lot of wear and tear on the clutch friction discs, especially when cars are driven by beginners, the badly timed friction shocks grind the disc to a complete shave... And then there is slippage to consider when friction is the main driving principle. How are all these things addressed in the watch vertical clutch -- is it all by gravity? Because this is how it sounds... What if the watch is turned face down, does the chronograph stop working (gravity is being reversed)?
Thank you,
Z.
It was explained farily clearly, even I could understand it.
From the text by @Archer (my empasis added).
Now back to the Cal. 3301 photo, and parts C and D are the parts that swing in and out to engage/disengage the clutch, which is a spring loaded disk. When they swing in, they press on the underside of the flat disk like part on the runner, and this lifts the disk and disengages the chronograph portion of the runner from the train wheel, so the gear portion keeps turning, and the chronograph hand stops. When they swing out, they let the disk go back down, and the whole assembly turns.
"Spring loaded disk" equals three words, out of which "disc" is also the subject of the explanation, leaving two words actually. If two words mean to you "explained fairly clearly", than this must be a terseness contest of some sort -- I suggest we move on to the next level and find only one word that "explains it fairly clearly"... But it cannot be "spring" or "loaded".
"Spring loaded disk" equals three words, out of which "disc" is also the subject of the explanation, leaving two words actually. If two words mean to you "explained fairly clearly", than this must be a terseness contest of some sort -- I suggest we move on to the next level and find only one word that "explains it fairly clearly"... But it cannot be "spring" or "loaded".
Sorry, but the inner workings of the vertical clutch are poorly explained (i.e. missing entirely)... In a car, there is a strong compression spring that presses the discs together, as experienced (in some cars at least) by how hard it is to press the clutch pedal. How is that attained here?
"Spring loaded disk" equals three words, out of which "disc" is also the subject of the explanation, leaving two words actually. If two words mean to you "explained fairly clearly", than this must be a terseness contest of some sort -- I suggest we move on to the next level and find only one word that "explains it fairly clearly"... But it cannot be "spring" or "loaded".
Also, in cars, there is a lot of wear and tear on the clutch friction discs, especially when cars are driven by beginners, the badly timed friction shocks grind the disc to a complete shave... And then there is slippage to consider when friction is the main driving principle. How are all these things addressed in the watch vertical clutch -- is it all by gravity? Because this is how it sounds... What if the watch is turned face down, does the chronograph stop working (gravity is being reversed)?
Thank you,
Z.
Hello Z,
Thank you for the feedback.
Let's look at your highly detailed dissection of the clutch in a car...
"In a car, there is a strong compression spring that presses the discs together"
I'll revise this to explain the chronograph, the way you explained the clutch:
"In a vertical clutch chronograph, there is a strong compression spring that presses the disc to the wheel"
Given that this is the same level of detail you provided, I trust this is adequate.
Using a car, which engages a clutch turning at hundreds of revolutions per minute, with hundreds of HP behind it, to move an object weighing thousands of pounds as an example of issues that come up in a watch movement, where the mechanism is turning at 1 revolution per minute, with a very small torque, to move an incredibly small load, and saying that they share the same problems is such a bizarre comparison it's difficult to know where to start.
To further suggest that gravity is the mechanism of action, when I've already explained that the disk is spring loaded, is even more bizarre. Does the clutch on your car stop working when you drive downhill, as compared to driving on a flat surface? Do you see complaints on forums from people that when they move their vertical clutch chronograph watch around the chronograph hands stops working and flops all over the place? Do you believe that watch companies would design and market a product that was, if it were as you describe, completely useless for it's intended purpose?
The fact that you seem to be the only one who doesn't understand how this works, may tell you that the way it was explained wasn't the problem. I would suggest if you are not satisfied with the information you are getting here, you ask for a refund of your membership and subscription fees.
Cheers, Al
And if this site is for specialists only (I am not a watchmaker, I am just an MSc engineer) and if you all know this stuff inside out (I am new to watches, but I want to learn, which seems to be a problem around here), why do you even bother???
This stupid argument really borders on the imbecilic... don't bring it up again.
>> Using a car, which engages a clutch
>> turning at hundreds of revolutions per minute,
>> with hundreds of HP behind it,
>> to move an object weighing thousands of pounds..."
Well, this is what happens when you use the word "clutch" loosely, in a post that is supposed to explain that exact principle in more than two words -- people go to what they know. Thank you for making the point for me.
>> in a watch movement,
>> where the mechanism is turning at 1 revolution per minute,
>> with a very small torque,
>> to move an incredibly small load
Now you are talking -- this is how you should have started, and you are still behind...
A clutch may be spring pressured, but what is really the way that clutch works? Pure pressure and friction? What kind of spring -- spiral, blades, compression, torsion, tension? Any mechanical intertwining between the parts engaging? Conical, flat, cylindrical? Wet vs dry?
I suggest taking a look here -- the ingenuity and creativity of people over time created an extremely large diversity of clutches (and this article only scratches the surface). You cannot just throw the word around and expect people to understand what you mean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clutch#:~:text=A clutch is a mechanical,drive shafts or line shafts).
>> The fact that you seem to be the only one who doesn't understand how this works
Yes, due to your poor explanation of the core principle.
And the rest of the people are too in awe of your magnificent qualities to think and understand what they are reading, or too coward to express any problems with the subject being explained.
You want to treat something technical? Do it rigorously, and ask yourself every time you write: what is the principle behind it, and am I writing it clear enough that a sixth grader would have no problem understanding? Everything else is self aggrandizing...
And since I smell a bit of a God complex here, remember than even God wrote 783,137 words (??) in the Bible, more or less. If he was humble enough to spend the time and the effort, I think this should not be a problem for you.
And I am exactly the opposite of religious, the comparison just comes in handy.
I sincerely do not care who anyone is -- if they write sloppy, I will point it out. Feel free to do the same to me or to anyone else -- it is one of the basis of the Western Civilization as we know it, even though it is being slaughtered at the present moment...
Don't add to the misery of the world.
And if this site is for specialists only (I am not a watchmaker, I am just an MSc engineer) and if you all know this stuff inside out (I am new to watches, but I want to learn, which seems to be a problem around here), why do you even bother???
This stupid argument really borders on the imbecilic... don't bring it up again.
Hello again...
As one engineer to another, I'll just say that you seem to believe that you are entitled to come here and demand things, when you have contributed almost nothing to this site since joining. Well sorry, but I don't work for you. I come here on my own time to help explain things to people, and most are able to understand them. If you had simply asked for additional details instead of being a dick, I might have explained things for you, but at this point you appear to just be a troll.
I also sense a God complex here...from you mate. I don't believe in any gods by the way...
I wish you well.
Cheers, Al
Hello again...
As one engineer to another, I'll just say that you seem to believe that you are entitled to come here and demand things, when you have contributed almost nothing to this site since joining. Well sorry, but I don't work for you. I come here on my own time to help explain things to people, and most are able to understand them. If you had simply asked for additional details instead of being a dick, I might have explained things for you, but at this point you appear to just be a troll.
I also sense a God complex here...from you mate. I don't believe in any gods by the way...
I wish you well.
Cheers, Al