Forty-four members and their invited guest attended the meeting.

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Wayne Marten displayed his Hipp toggle clock along with videos and explanations about the engineering that went into this very interesting clock design.

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The Hipp toggle is a mechanism invented by German clockmaker and inventor Matthäus Hipp in 1843. Wikipedia

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It is used in electromechanical pendulum clocks to provide impulses to the pendulum only when its amplitude falls below a certain threshold, thereby maintaining its motion with minimal interference.

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How It Works:

• Pendulum Swing Monitoring: As the pendulum oscillates, a small vane or 'toggle' attached to it interacts with a catch mechanism.

• Amplitude Detection: When the pendulum's swing is sufficiently wide, the toggle passes over the catch without engagement. However, if the amplitude decreases below a predetermined level, the toggle engages with the catch.

• Impulse Delivery: Upon engagement, the catch closes an electrical contact, energizing an electromagnet. This electromagnet provides a brief impulse to the pendulum, restoring its amplitude.

• Energy Efficiency: The system ensures that the pendulum receives energy only when necessary, reducing wear and enhancing timekeeping accuracy.

 

Applications:

Hipp toggle mechanisms have been widely used in master clocks, particularly in telephone exchanges and other facilities requiring precise timekeeping. For instance, the General Post Office (GPO) in the UK employed Hipp toggle master clocks, such as the GPO Clock No. 36, to control and synchronize time across their networks. (Hipp Toggle GPO Clock Nos.36 Master Clock Intro)

 

Advantages:

• Reduced Mechanical Wear: By providing impulses only when necessary, the Hipp toggle minimizes mechanical wear compared to systems that deliver constant impulses.

• Improved Accuracy: The selective impulsing helps maintain consistent pendulum amplitude, contributing to precise timekeeping.

• Energy Efficiency: The mechanism conserves energy by activating the electromagnet only when the pendulum's amplitude diminishes below the set threshold.

 

Matthäus Hipp's innovation in developing the Hipp toggle significantly advanced the field of horology, influencing the design of electromechanical clocks and timekeeping devices in the subsequent decades.

 

For a visual demonstration of the Hipp toggle mechanism in action, you might find the following video informative:​​

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