Pallet fork

The anchor (synonym hook ) is a part of the anchor escapement, which provides the connection between train wheel and gear knob with gear clocks. The first anchor escapement was invented in 1676 by Robert Hooke in 1680 and further developed by the English clockmaker William Clement for use in clocks.

The anchor is one of the most stressed parts of the wheel clocks, there being in him both sliding friction and impact stress by inhibiting and uplift. Therefore, the contact surfaces to reduce wear at the Swiss pallet escapement or the Glashütte pallet lever escapement (both piston tooth inhibitions ) with pallet stones (synonym anchor claw anchor stone, hoisting stone or uplift stone) are equipped with rubies and other corundum.

The ticking of the clock is caused by the collision interference between the teeth of the escape wheel and the two teeth of the armature ( or its pallets ).

Pictures

Anchor in small clocks with balance

Principle of the lever escapement

Model of the Swiss anchor escapement