Types of escapements

THE DUPLEX ESCAPEMENT

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Duplex escapement (2 Hz)

Actual operating speed

1. History

Adapted from the pendulum Escapement designed by Jean-Baptiste Dutertre, the Duplex escapement found its functional and definitive design around 1750 thanks to Pierre Leroy.

It takes its name from the double profile of its Escape wheel, made up of two distinct sets of teeth, each fulfilling a specific role (Unlocking (drop angle) and Impulse) in the process of releasing and transmitting energy.

Over the course of a century, the Duplex escapement underwent several developments improving its accuracy and reducing its production cost (the Escape wheels could be manufactured by Stamping). One of the best-known variants of the Duplex escapement was developed by Charles-Edouard Jacot. The Duplex-Jacot escapement operates with 3 lost beats, i.e. one Impulse every four Vibrations. Combined with a Balance oscillating at 14’400A/h (i.e. 4 vibrations per second) it therefore allows a dead second to be displayed without having to dedicate a specific mechanism to it (the seconds hand jumps once per second).

Contemporary with the Cylinder escapement, the Duplex escapement enjoyed great success before it too was supplanted and replaced by the Swiss lever escapement.

2. Description

Figure 1

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The Duplex escapement, as described here, is a single-impulse escapement, since it transmits only one Impulse to the Balance per Oscillation, and a frictional rest escapement, since a resting tooth of the Escape wheel remains constantly in contact with the roller while the Balance performs its supplementary arc. The Balance staff carries a notched cylinder, generally made of Ruby / Jewel, called the roller. This is glued to the Balance staff. Above the roller is the disc pressed onto the Balance staff. This disc is fitted with the Impulse Finger (or Lift Finger) made of Steel or Ruby / Jewel for the highest quality constructions. On the periphery of the Escape wheel there is a row of pointed teeth called resting teeth while in the field, on the felloe (rim base) of this same wheel, there is another row of trapezoidal teeth called impulse teeth. Depending on the construction, the escape wheel may have between 12 and 15 teeth of each type (always an equal number for each type).

3. Operation

The operation of the duplex escapement can be divided into four phases that occur unchangingly according to the same cycle with each oscillation of the regulating organ. These four phases are:

1. Rest
2. Unlocking (drop angle) (small lift)
3. Impulse (large lift)
4. The silent vibration (lost beat)

Let us detail below the action of each component during each of the four phases:

1. Rest

While the Balance performs its supplementary arc, a resting tooth rests against the roller (Figure 2).

Figure 2

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2. Unlocking (drop angle) (small Lift)

When the Balance completes its downward supplementary arc, the resting tooth pressed against the periphery of the roller enters the notch of the roller, thus releasing the Escape wheel (Figure 3).

Figure 3

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3. The Impulse (large Lift)

The Escape wheel catches up with the plate. An impulse tooth of the Escape wheel comes into contact with the impulse Finger carried by the plate (Figure 4).

Figure 4

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Dès que la phase d’impulsion est terminée, la prochaine dent de repos de la roue vient s’appuyer contre la circonférence du rouleau alors que le balancier effectue son arc supplémentaire ascendant (Figure 5).

Figure 5

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4. The silent Vibration (lost beat)

The Balance performs this Vibration without receiving any Impulse. The Finger of the plate passes between two Impulse teeth without any contact between them. The resting tooth remains in contact against the roller. As the notch passes against the resting tooth, the wheel makes a brief jolt (slight forward and backward movement) (Figure 6).

Figure 6

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Note:

For a complete understanding of how the Duplex escapement works, please refer to the two animations at the top of this page.

4. Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

The Duplex escapement has several notable advantages:

• Great regularity of the Balance due to the separation of the impulse and rest phases.
• Reduced friction compared to the Cylinder escapement or verge escapement.
• Relative simplicity of the mechanism, with a small number of interacting moving components.
• Limited manufacturing cost, the escape wheel being able to be manufactured by Stamping.

These qualities make it particularly suited to high-precision pocket watches used before the advent of the Swiss lever escapement.

Drawbacks

Despite its technical merits, the Duplex escapement also has several limitations:

• Mechanical fragility, particularly of the double-profile Escape wheel whose resting teeth are relatively delicate.
• Sensitivity to shocks, making it poorly suited for watches worn under dynamic conditions.
• Unidirectional Impulse, requiring precise adjustments to balance the Oscillations of the Balance.

These flaws contributed to its gradual disappearance in favor of more reliable escapements with fewer frictions (detached escapements)