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How Do the Chronograph Hands Know Which Direction to Return To?

d3adrock
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Hi, I know this probably sounds like a really stupid question but I couldn't find the answer anywhere.

I noticed that on my Speedmaster when I reset the chronograph, the hands jump back to 12, However it seems to me that depending on what side of 6 they are on they either swing up clockwise or counterclockwise, whichever side has less travel.

My question is how do the hands "know" which side has the least amount of travel to return to 12? This seems really amazing to me and I'd love to understand roughly how that happens. Or is this just an illusion from the speed with which they jump? Thanks!
 
Dan S
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And while we're at it, I've noticed that a thermos will keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold. How does it know?
 
SpeedTar
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It's due to the shape of the "coeur du mobile" (I don't know the english name) :

20210117_222303.jpg


With this pics it's very obvious
 
Archer
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d3adrock d3adrock
Hi, I know this probably sounds like a really stupid question but I couldn't find the answer anywhere.

I noticed that on my Speedmaster when I reset the chronograph, the hands jump back to 12, However it seems to me that depending on what side of 6 they are on they either swing up clockwise or counterclockwise, whichever side has less travel.

My question is how do the hands "know" which side has the least amount of travel to return to 12? This seems really amazing to me and I'd love to understand roughly how that happens. Or is this just an illusion from the speed with which they jump? Thanks!

The hammer drops onto a cam - the cam is heart shaped, so it just depends on what side of the peak of the cam the hammer hits...if it hits on one side, it will go one direction, and if it hits the other, it goes the opposite way.

 
blufinz52
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Dan S Dan S
And while we're at it, I've noticed that a thermos will keep hot foods hot, and cold foods cold. How does it know?

19z748.jpg
 
airansun
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9EF44090-3B26-4FA0-B847-2227616791C3.jpeg

Clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise in the southern.

Right?
 
airansun
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Yeah, the watches have little longitudinal sensors built into them that control the reset mechanism. Going in the wrong direction might snap off a pivot.

An eBay seller once explained this to me. Maybe I saw it on FoxNews.
 
Donn Chambers
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Archer Archer
The hammer drops onto a cam - the cam is heart shaped, so it just depends on what side of the peak of the cam the hammer hits...if it hits on one side, it will go one direction, and if it hits the other, it goes the opposite way.

Exactly. Intelligent design. 😉
 
d3adrock
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Thank you! I knew I'd get a good answer here, (as well as several snarky ones). Thankfully the helpfull people here outweight the negative
 
NGO1
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d3adrock d3adrock
Thank you! I knew I'd get a good answer here, (as well as several snarky ones). Thankfully the helpfull people here outweight the negative

It’s all love. Don’t take them as negatives.
My brother punched me in the sacks ever time that asshole sees me.
I hate that stupid son of a bitch.
Edited:
 
DNX
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It depends, if it senses you are watching it will randomise the return to 12 to confuse you...
 
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