====== Balance wheel ======
{{wst>image_l|Unruh|**Balance wheel**\\ of a wristwatch|230px}}
A **balance wheel** is part of a watch [[movement]].

===== The oscillating system =====
The balance wheel is the heart of the [[oscillating system]] of a compact portable timepiece such as a [[wristwatch|wrist]] or [[pocket watch]]. The vibration of the balance wheel is used to measure time and is one of the main specifications of a [[movement]]. The balance wheel produces a temporally-defined movement, rotating back and forth, which is then transmitted through the [[gear train]] of the watch movement into a movement of the hands. It serves the same function as the [[pendulum]] in a clock, but is much more compact and works largely independent of the position of the watch.

The balance wheel was developed by [[Huygens, Christiaan|Christiaan Huygens]], and he was granted a French patent in [[1675]] for this purpose.

===== Details =====
The balance wheel is a precisely manufactured wheel that has pins for mounting on the shaft ends. Together with the [[balance spring]], the balance wheel forms an oscillating structure. The precision of oscillation of the balance wheel determines the precision of the movement.

One major historic issue with balance wheels is the fact that changes in temperature can affect the accuracy of the movement. For this reason, a major area of research and development throughout the 20th century revolved on improved balance wheel materials and construction. Bi-metallic balance wheels were popular in the prewar era, but the development of [[Nivarox]] and [[Glucydur]] balance wheels in the 1950's has led to the dominance of solid wheels today.

The balance wheel is set in a shaft journal of semi-precious stones to reduce friction and energy usage by the movement.

To maintain its oscillation, the balance wheel escapement is periodically excited by the by the mainspring.

===== Regulation =====
"[[Screwed balance]] wheels" include screws or similar mechanisms to modify the frequency at which the wheel oscillates. These wheels are adjusted from the side of the movement, typically requiring removal from the case. A similar system, [[Gyromax]], uses weights on the spokes inside the balance wheel and can be adjusted from the top while inside the case.

The balance wheel can also be regulated by changing the effective length of the balance spring There is typically a lever that can be rotated to change the frequency of the wheel.

The balance is typically regulated using a sound microphone which "listens" to the balance wheel's rotation and produces a graph of the wheel's frequency.

===== Shock absorber =====
Because the balance wheel is constantly in motion, it can easily be damaged by shocks transmitted through the case. For this reason, most modern movements include a form of [[shock protection]]. The bearing stone is set in a spring which can move in response to a shock, temporarily interrupting the wheel but protecting the journals from damage. See for example [[Kif]] and [[Incabloc]].

===== Tourbillon =====
Because pocket watches were typically kept in a fixed vertical orientation, their balance wheels were especially susceptible to the effects of gravity. For this reason, the [[tourbillon]] ("whirlwind") was invented to rotate the balance wheel continually during use.

Today, tourbillon balance wheels are found in the most exclusive and exotic watch movements.

===== See also =====
  * [[Escapement]]
  * [[Oscillating system]]
  * [[Tourbillon]]
  * [[Gyromax]]
  * [[Screw balance]]
  * [[Cam-poised balance]]


{{tag>Terms}}