The Georgia Tech clock project

This blog follows an alumni's project to build a legacy pendulum clock as an inspiration for future generations of engineering students. The refrigerator-size transparent clock case is modeled on the form of Georgia Tech's "Tech Tower" administration building. The highly visible clockwork mechanism inside this case will have actions to gong on the hour and to chime the quarter-hour with phrases from the school's "Rambling Wreck" fight song.

The above images show the real Tech Tower and initial 2D and 3D modeling efforts for the top of the clock tower. Note that the pendulum and the full height of the clock case are not shown in these views.

This is a first full height view of the intended clock. Compared to the prior images, the scale of the case is shrunk to 75% so the escape wheel pallets are centered in the arch window behind the TECH lettering. The clock dial is at 64" up from the floor. The peak of the roof is at 108" (9-feet). Note this view shows using the image of the GT seal on the swinging pendulum bob.

Jim and his dad Larry at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England in October 2006

Early 2D work on the regulator gear train (click on image to enlarge view)

Front view of the early regulator gear train and frame development.

The clock's other two weight-driven (chime and gong) gear train actions will be similar, but each will substitute a speed-regulating "fly" for the escape wheel and eliminate the regulator gear train's pendulum action. Each gear train will be turned 90 degrees to be head-on visible from the left and right sides of the clock case.

Early side view of the regulator gear train and frame