Hipp impulse dial

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Hipp impulse dial
Manufacturer	M Hipp
Production years	19th century
Production location	Switzerland

In the middle of the 19th century Matthias Hipp invented a switch for a clock which was impulsed electro-magnetically.

[edit] How it works

In this impulse dial mechanism, introduced by M. Hipp of Neuchâtel about 1860, a pivoted and magnetized armature is made by currents from a master clock to turn through a large angle, swinging alternately from one pole of an electro-magnet to the other. This rocking motion is converted into a rotary motion of the hands by means of a reversed verge escapement. The master clock sends out a current each minute, the current being alternately in opposite directions. The armature, being permanently magnetized, is attracted alternately to one or the other pole or the electro-magnet. The purpose of this design is to ensure that the hands of the dial shall not move through more than one minute for each impulse from the master clock. If the contact of this clock is faulty, each impulse may consist of several small bursts of current, and with a dial of the step-by-step type, each of these would be recorded by the dial as a separate impulse. With a dial of the Hipp type, where successive impulses must be in opposite directions in order to be recorded, this type of error cannot occur.

[edit] Memories

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[edit] In the Science Museum's Records

Inv. No: 1912-228