Fedchenko AchF-3 Astronomical Master Pendulum Regulator Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1970
This astronomical master pendulum regulator is a model AchF-3 designed by Feodosii Mikhailovich Fedchenko and produced in 1970 at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Physicotechnical and Radiotechnical Measurements in the USSR.
Built to operate at constant pressure with an isochronous suspension, it incorporates a 10-kilogram invar pendulum beating two-second periods alongside an electromagnetic impulse device powered by a mercury oxide battery. The assembly features a central steel cylinder sealed with bell glass jars at both ends, mounted on a cast-iron bracket and steel frame alongside a secondary clock with a white dial displaying tapered hands and fifteen-minute Arabic numerals.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Astronomical master pendulum regulator
- Height
- 1.5 meters
- Origin
- All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Physicotechnical and Radiotechnical Measurements, USSR, 1970
- Pendulum Mass
- 10 kilograms
- Place recorded
- USSR
- Maker and Model
- Feodosii Mikhailovich Fedchenko, model AchF-3, No. 25
- Maker / attribution
- Feodosii Mikhailovich Fedchenko
Design
- Visible features
- • A central vertical black cylinder fitted with transparent glass bell jars at the top and bottom • A freestanding metal frame supporting an elevated white dial on an offset upright to the right • A blue auxiliary control box mounted behind the lower cylinder section
- Physical Configuration
- The AchF-3 is a 1.5-meter tall astronomical master pendulum regulator. The central component is a steel cylinder designed for constant pressure, sealed at the top and bottom with bell glass jars. The assembly is supported by a cast-iron bracket mounted to a steel frame. A secondary clock system is integrated into the frame, featuring a white dial with tapered indices, fifteen-minute Arabic markers, and sharp point tapered hands. Ancillary components, including a mercury oxide battery and an electronic control unit, are mounted to a small bracket at the back.
- Operational Specifications
- The regulator is designed to operate with internal pressure maintained between 8 and 10 mm Hg, managed by a solid-state baroscope. It was produced at the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Physicotechnical and Radiotechnical Measurements in the USSR in 1970. The source notes an average accuracy of approximately 0.002 seconds per day. The movement is described as signed on the front at the suspension.
- Pendulum and Timekeeping Mechanism
- The timekeeper utilizes a 10-kilogram invar pendulum with a two-second period. The movement incorporates an isochronous suspension, an electromagnetic impulse delivery device, a pressure-controlling baroscope, and a microscope for amplitude checking. Power is provided by a mercury oxide battery. The electromagnetic system delivers a short, unidirectional impulse of approximately 0.002 amps, lasting 0.02 seconds, by interacting with magnets mounted to the lower portion of the pendulum rod. Users may transition the clock from mean solar time to sidereal time by adjusting a weight on the pendulum.
Identification
- Reference
- AchF-3
- Serial number
- 25
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Internal suspension and baroscope mechanisms are largely enclosed within the cylinder and not directly viewable in detail.