Very generally the whole system of slides is fitted to a graduated circle, to which the fixed horizontal thread is diametral. Then by turning the micrometer until the horizontal threads cut the two objects under comparison, their position angle with reference to a graduated circle can be read off. This angle is conventionally counted from 0° to 360° from north around through east.
Fig. 133.—Filar Position Micrometer.
Figure 133 shows the micrometer constructed by the Clarks for their 24 inch equatorial of the Lowell Observatory. Here A is the head of the main micrometer screw of which the whole turns are reckoned on the counter H in lieu of the comb of Fig. 132. B is the traversing screw for the fixed wire system, C the clamping screw of the position circle, D its setting pinion, E the rack motion for shifting the ocular, F the reading glass for the position circle, and G the little electric lamp for bright wire illumination. The parts correspond quite exactly with the diagram of Fig. 132 but the instrument is far more elegant in design than the earlier forms of micrometer and fortunately rid of the oil lamps that were once in general use. A small electric lamp with reflector throws a little light on the spider lines—just enough to show them distinctly. Or sometimes a faint light is thus diffused in the field against which the spider lines show dark.
Commonly either type of illumination can be used and modified as occasion requires. The filar micrometer is seldom used on small telescopes, since to work easily with it the instrument should be permanently mounted and clock-driven. Good work was done by some of the early observers without these aids, but at the cost of infinite pains and much loss of time.
The clock drive is in fact a most important adjunct of the telescope when used for other purposes than ordinary visual observations, though for simple seeing a smooth working slow motion in R. A. answers well. The driving clock from the horological view-point is rudimentary. It consists essentially of a weight-driven, or sometimes spring-driven, drum, turning by a simple gear connection a worm which engages a carefully cut gear wheel on the polar axis, while prevented from running away by gearing up to a fast running fly-ball governor, which applies friction to hold the clockwork down to its rate if the speed rises by a minute amount. There is no pendulum in the ordinary sense, the regularity depending on the uniformity of the total friction—that due to the drive plus that applied by the governor.
Figure 134 shows a simple and entirely typical driving clock by Warner & Swasey. Here A is the main drum with its winding gear at B, C is the bevel gear, which is driven from another carried by A, and serves to turn the worm shaft D; E marks the fly balls driven by the multiplying gearing plainly visible. The governor acts at a predetermined rotation speed to lift the spinning friction disc F against its fixed mate, which can be adjusted by the screw G.
The fly-balls can be slightly shifted in effective position to complete the regulation. These simple clocks, of which there are many species differing mainly in the details of the friction device, are capable of excellent precision if the work of driving the telescope is kept light.
For large and heavy instruments, particularly if used for photographic work where great precision is required, it is difficult to keep the variations of the driving friction within the range of compensation furnished by the governor friction alone, and in such case recourse is often taken to constructions in which the fly balls act as relay to an electrically controlled brake, or in which the driving power is supplied by an electric motor suitably governed either continuously or periodically. For such work independent hand guiding mechanism is provided to supplement the clockwork. For equatorials of the smallest sizes, say 3 to 4 inches aperture, spring operated driving clocks are occasionally used. The general plan of operation is quite similar to the common weight driven forms, and where the weights to be carried are not excessive such clocks do good work and serve a very useful purpose.
