Given the centuries of effort that've gone into constant-rate escapements, variable-rate escapements may not be too. difficult ? "8) On 10/10/18, Harold Hallikainen wrote: > >> On Thu, 11 Oct 2018 at 10:26, John Ferrell >> wrote: >> >>> https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/clocks-watches/clock2.htm >>> >>> Don't bother with a patent. >>> >>> Patents are "a bit more nuanced than that" - for better or worse. >> >> In the early 1900's there were English homes that used weights in the >> tons >> range that were cranked up by household staff and used to power the new >> fangle electric lighting systems. >> Any patents would be well over 100 years old. >> >> A single energy-input-person can typically deliver ~~=3D 50 Watts >> essentially >> continually and ~~=3D 100 Watts for say an hour and need a sit-down and = a >> nice hot cup of tea or few thereafter. >> To get useful lighting levels even in the drawing room they'd probably >> have >> need a number of people supplying the energy OR precharge the system. >> With say 1 ton/tonne at 3 metres they'd have 3 x 1000 kg x g (~=3D10) = =3D 30 >> kJ ~=3D 8 Watt hours =3D not much for the desired use. >> Wind up time, one person, 100 Watts, 100% efficiency assumed. >> =3D 30,000 J/100W =3D 300 seconds =3D 5 minutes. Say 10 minutes at 50% o= verall >> efficiency. >> >> 100 tons would be more useful ! :-(. >> >> Russell > > How do you suppose they dealt with varying loads? As load power increased= , > the weight would have to fall faster to provide the power. Ideally when > load was removed, the weight would stop falling. Did they do anything lik= e > that? > > Harold > > -- > FCC Rules Updated Daily at http://www.hallikainen.com > Not sent from an iPhone. > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .