Highfield lever Highfield lever A Highfield lever is a lever device which allows tension to be rapidly set up in a wire and equally rapidly released to the required extent. It is frequently used in sailing boats where tension in some part of the rigging needs to be adjusted to a pre-set amount as the wind impinges on one side of the sails or the other. It is typically used in running backstays (runners). To make it work, the backstay is led through a block or fairlead along the deck to a two-legged, second order lever mounted with its fulcrum above deck
Lever escapement symmetrically on the lever, making beat adjustment simpler. Watches that used these escapements were called "pin lever watches", and have been superseded by cheap quartz watches. One recent trend in escapement design is the use of new materials, many borrowed from the semiconductor fabrication industry. A problem with the lever escapement is friction. The escape wheel tooth slides along the face of the pallet, causing friction, so the pallets and teeth must be lubricated. The oil eventually thickens, causing inaccuracy, and requiring cleaning and reoiling of the movement about every 4 years. A solution is to make the escape wheel