IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOMETRIC MOTOR APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY ACTUATING TIME-PIECES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOMETRIC MOTOR APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY
ACTUATING TIME-PIECES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.' ▲ communication
from abroad by Hermann J. Wenzel, Eusebius J. Molera, and John C. Cebrian,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOMETRIC MOTOR
APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY ACTUATING TIME-PIECES IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH" [A communication from abroad by Hermann J. Wenzel, Eusebius
J. Molera, and John C. Cebrian, all of San Francisco, California, United States
of America]
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus employed when transmitting
chronometric motion, and is especially applicable to that class of such apparatus
which comprises a device whereby several time-pieces are actuated synchronously
by means of air conveyed through tubes from a central motor or time-piece.
The present Invention has for its object to improve the said central motor or
time-piece.
In the accompanying Drawing,—
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor or apparatus constructed according to
this Invention.
Figure 2 is a view also in perspective of a portion of the same motor or
apparatus, and illustrates parts of my improvements not clearly seen in Figure 1.
The first part of the said Invention relates to an attachment or stopwork to
the winding apparatus, whereby overwinding and consequent breakage of parts is
prevented, and is carried into practice as follows, that is to say,-I provide a
horizontal disc A which is secured to the frame-work by a central pin about which
it turns. This disc has its periphery cut into teeth or notches B which have equi-
distant spaces between them except at one side where a broad tooth or stop C

page_text: extends over one of the spaces. The winding shaft D which carries the weight
barrel and the main driving wheel has secured to it a disc E, which revolves with
the shaft D at right angles to the notched disc A, and with its edge close to it.
A spur or projection F upon the edge of the disc E passes between the teeth B as
the disc revolves, but will rest on the broad tooth C, and stop the shaft whenever
that tooth is brought in line with its rotation. Upon the edge of the disc E is
also secured or formed a projecting strip G, which is so bent as to stand at an
angle with the edge of the disc. When the disc is turned around, the screw flange
thus provided passes through the space between two of the teeth B at each
revolution, and thus turns the disc A forward one tooth. The action of winding
will thus turn this disc forward one tooth at each revolution of the winding shaft,
until the broad tooth C is brought opposite the disc E when the spur F will striko
it, and thus arrest the shaft; as the weight unwinds the spiral or screw flange
passing between the teeth at each revolution will reverse the movement of the
disc A until the clock has run down, when the disc will have made an entire
revolution backward, and is ready for the operation again.
Another part of this Invention relates to improvements in the mechanism
actuating the oscillating arm and balancing arm, and is carried into practice as
follows, that is to say-The wheel I turns freely upon the shaft J, and is connected
with it by a maintaining power spring and ratchet and pawl L, so that it will
be kept in motion while the clock is being wound up. Upon the arms of the
wheel I are friction rollers M, which when the wheel revolves will impart an
oscillating motion to the arms N, N, of the frame O which turns upon the pivot P.
The oscillating arın H is secured to this frame and is actuated by it. Tho
pneumatic cylinders are supported from the ends of this arm and are operated by
it. Upon the top of the frame O is the segmental rack Q which engages with a
pinion or segment R upon the shaft 8. This shaft has secured to it two arms T, T,
which project from it at right angles with each other, and carry the regulating
weight, as shown. This arrangement enables any unequal number of distant
dials to be connected with the two cylinders, as each arm counterbalances one
cylinder, and if their action is unequal it may be regulated by setting the weight U
further out or in when a larger number of clocks are to be operated. It will
be manifest that a very heavy weight or power will be needed to drive the
machinery.
It is known that the delicacy and accuracy of the escapement is seriously
diminished when it is subjected to a very heavy power. I therefore separate the
escapement from the other portion of the clock, and provide it with a light
independent driving power which is actuated and kept in motion by means of the
heavier machinery acting upon it at stated intervals. The wheel I engages the
pinion V upon the shaft W; on this shaft W is a cam H', and one or more
arms Y, Y', as shown, which are driven by it. The escapement wheel is driven
by a wheel a turning freely upon the shaft b, and connected with it by a maintaining
spring c and the pawl and ratchet wheel d, so that its motion will be continued
during the interval of the power; the wheel d has a number of pins e projecting
from one side, as shown, and a pawlf engages with these pins successively, so as
to drive the wheel d, and by it the escapement wheel. This pawl or click is
actuated by a lever arm g to which it is connected. This arm is secured to a shaft h,
and besides this arm two other arms i and also project from it; the arm i has a
weight p suspended or secured to its end, and this weight acting through the arm
upon the shaft h, arm g, and pawl f, serves to drive the wheel d and escapement.
The arin has a friction roller upon it, and when the cam H is revolved it strikes
the roller and forces the arm k back; this withdraws the pawlf and sets it upon
a new pin e, and at the same time raises the lever i with its weight p for a new
action. A stud projects from the arm 7 at a point where it will catch the end of
the army or y, when the arm g is drawn back by the action of the cam.
action will thus be as follows:-The pinion shaft W is revolved by the action of
the main clock movement through the wheel I; as it rotates it carries the arms y, y',
The

page_text: and the cam H¹. The cam will act to lift the arms & and g carrying the click or
pawl f, and the latter will be raised far enough to catch the next pin e in the
wheel d. The first of the arms y will be stopped by the said stud which will hold
it until the arm g has moved far enough to allow the arms y to oscape from the
said stud. If two arms y, y', are employed, the second one will catch the stud,
and be held by it after the first one has passed for a purpose hereinafter
described.
g
The weight pupon the arm i causes the shaft h to turn and move the arms
and forward, the click or pawl f upon the arm g pressing upon the pin e turns
the wheel d, and through it the escapement wheel is moved. The arm moves
forward in unison with the armi and g, and at the time when the weight bas
reached its lowest point and the click or pawl f has turned the wheel d as far as
intended, the roller upon the arm k will have reached to or near a point where the
cam H' will strike it, when the arm y is released from the said stud and will force
the arm & back, thus raising the click to rest upon a new pin and the weight arm i
for new action.
It will thus be seen that the escapement is actuated by a light power independent
of the main clock movement, but which is periodically wound up or set in motion
by the latter.
This enables me to employ as powerful machinery as may be necessary to actuate
the pneumatic cylinder without injuring the accuracy of the escapement and correct
time keeping.
One arm may be employed to interrupt the movement and make them periodical,
but it has been found that when the air cylinders are lifted at once out of the cup
containing the liquid, the action of the air and of capillary attraction between the
cylinders and the liquid will cause a considerable commotion as the cylinder leaves
the liquid, and thus may cause the liquid to splash over into the conveying tubes.
I therefore prefer to employ two arms y, y, the distance between them being such
that when the first one escapes from the said stud, the movement to the second one
will allow the oscillating arin H to raise the cylinders a short distance, so as to
nearly clear the liquid, when the second arm escapes the movement of the cylinders
is completed without any splash or commotion in the liquid.
By the above described construction of the frame O with its oscillating arms N, N,
and the friction roller upon the wheel I, I produce frequent oscillations of the
bar H and the cylinder with less movement of the machinery. The double
adjustable compensation T, T, enables me to connect an unequal number of clocks
with the two cylinders and still equalize the pressure upon the apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Inte
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th October 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOMETRIC MOTOR
IN CONNECTION
APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY ACTUATING TIME-PIECES
THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by Hermann J. Wenzel, Eusebius
J. Molera, and John C. Cebrian, all of San Francisco, California, United States
of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus employed when trans-
mitting chronometric motion, and is especially applicablo to that class of such
apparatus which comprises a device, whereby several time-pieces are actuated
synchronously by means of air conveyed through tubes from a central motor or
time-piece. The present Invention has for its object to improve the said central
motor or time piece.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor or apparatus constructed according to
this Invention.
Figure 2 is a view also in perspective of a portion of the same motor or apparatus,
and illustrates parts not clearly seen in Figure 1.
Figure 3 shews a plan and elevation of the stop-motion arranged to prevent
overwinding of the spring.
Figure 4 shows a plan and clevation of the mechanism for equalizing the move-
ment of the cylinders (adjustable compensation mechanism) seen in the position
contrary to that illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 5 shows in plan and elevation the mechanism which actuates the oscil-
lating arm, and the rocking arms which operate to produce equilibrium between,
and to equalize the movement of the cylinders.
Figure 6 shows the dial of the clock in elevation, and also the mechanism for
transmitting motion to the hands.
Figure 7 shows certain parts of the mechanism represented in Figure 6.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
According to the said Invention an attachment to or stopwork for the winding
apparatus, whereby overwinding and consequent breakage of parts is prevented,
is constructed as follows, that is to say-I provide a horizontal disc A, which is
secured to the framework by a central pin, about which it turns. This disc has
its periphery cut into teeth or notches B, which have equidistant spaces between
thein, except at one side, where a broad tooth or stop C extends over one of the
spaces. The winding shaft D, which carries the weight-barrel and the main
driving wheel, has secured to it a disc E, which revolves with the shaft D at right
angles to the notched disc A, and with its edge close to it. A spur or projection F
upon the edge of the disc E passes between the teeth B as the disc revolves, but
will rest on the broad tooth C and stop the shaft whenever that tooth is brought
in line with its rotation. Upon the edge of the disc E is also secured or formed a
projecting strip G, which is so bent as to stand at an angle with the edge of the
disc. When the disc is turned around the screw-flange thus provided, passes
through the space between two of the teeth B at each revolution, and thus turns
the disc A forward one tooth. The action of winding will thus turn this dis
forward one tooth at each revolution of the winding shaft until the broad tooth C
is brought opposite the disc E, when the spur F will strike it, and thus arrest the

page_text: shaft. As the weight unwinds the spiral or screw flange passing between the
teeth at each revolution will reverse the movement of the disc A until the clock
has run down, when the disc will have made an entire revolution backward, and is
ready for the operation again.
The mechanism actuating the oscillating arm and balancing arm is constructed
as follows, that is to say:The wheel I turns freely upon the shaft J, and is con-
nected with it by a maintaining power spring and ratchet and pawl L, so that it
will be kept in motion while the clock is being wound up. Upon the arms of the
wheel I are friction rollers M, which, when the wheel revolves, will impart an
oscillating motion to the arms N, N, of the frame O which turns upon the shaft P.
The
The oscillating arm H is secured to this frame, and is actuated by it.
pneumatic cylinders are supported from the ends of this arm, and are operated by
it. Upon the top of the frame O is the segmental rack Q, which engages with a
pinion or segment R upon the shaft S. This shaft has socured to it two arms T, T,
which project from it at right angles with each other, and carry the regulating
weight u, as shewn. This arrangement enables any unequal number of distant
dials to be connected with the two cylinders, as each arm counterbalances one
cylinder, and if their action is unequal it may be regulated by setting the weight u
further out or in, according to the number of clocks to be operated. It will be
manifest that a very heavy weight or power will be needed to drive the
machinery.
It is well known that the delicacy and accuracy of the escapement is seriously
diminished when it is subjected to a very heavy power. I therefore separate the
escapement from the other portion of the clock, and provide it with a light inde-
pendent driving power, which is actuated and kept in motion by means of the
heavier machinery acting upon it at stated intervals. The wheel I engages the
pinion V upon the shaft W. On this shaft W is a cam H and one or more arms
y, y, as shewn, which are driven by it. The escapement wheel is driven by a
wheel a turning freely on the shaft b, and connected with it by a maintaining
spring C and the pawl and ratchet wheel d, so that its motion will be continued
during the interval of the power. The wheel d has a number of pins e projecting
from one side, as shown, and a pawl f engages with these pins successively, so as to
drive the wheel d, and by. it the escapement wheel. This pawl or click is actuated
by a lover arm g, to which it is connected. This arm is secured to a shaft h, and
besides this arm two other arms i and k also project from it. The arm i has u
weight p suspended on or secured to its end, and this weight acting through the
arm upon the shaft h, arm g, and pawlf, serves to drive the wheel & and escape-
ment. The arin k has a friction roller upon it, and when the cam H¹ is revolved
it strikes the roller and forces the arm k back. This withdraws the pawl f, and
sets it upon a new pin e, and at the same time raises the lover i with its weight p
for a new action. A stud projects from the arm g at a point where it will catch
the end of the arm y or y¹ when the arm g is drawn back by the action of the
The action. will thus be as follows:-The pinion shaft W is revolved by the
action of the main clock movement through the wheel I. As it rotates it carries
the arms y, y', and the cain H. The cam will act to lift the arms and g, carrying
the click or pawl f, and the latter will be raised far enough to catch the next pin e
in the wheel d. The first of the arms y will be stopped by the said stud, which
will hold it until the arm g has moved far enough to allow the arms y to escape
from the said stud. If two arms y, y', are employed the second one will catch the
stud, and be held by it after the first one has passed for a purpose hereinafter
described.
cam.
The weight p upon the arm i causes the shaft h to turn and move the arms g
and forward. The click or pawl f upon the arm g pressing upon the pin e turns
the wheel d, and through it the escapement wheel is moved. The arm & moves
forward in unison with the armus i and g, and at the time when the weight has
reached its lowest point, and the click or pawlf has turned the wheel d as far as

page_text: intended, the roller upon the arm k will have reached to or near a point where the
cam H will strike it whon the arm y is released from the said stud, and will
force the arm & back, thus raising the click to rest upon a new pin, and the weight-
arm i for a new action.
It will thus be seen that the escapement is actuated by a light power, inde-
pendent of the main clock movement, but which is periodically wound up or set in
motion by the latter.
This enables me to employ as powerful machinery as may be necessary to
actuate the pneumatic cylinders without impairing the accuracy of the escapement
or of the time keeping.
One arm may be employed to interrupt the movements and make them periodical,
but it has been found that when the air cylinders are lifted at once out of the cup
containing the liquid, the action of the air aud of capillary attraction between tho
cylinders and the liquid will cause a considerable commotion as the cylinder leaves
the liquid, and thus may cause the liquid to splash over into the conveying tubes.
I therefore prefer to employ two arms y, y¹, the distance between them being such
that when the first one escapes from the said stud the movement to the second one
will allow the oscillating arm H¹ to raise the cylinders a short distance, so as to
nearly clear the liquid. When the second arm escapes the movement of the
cylinders is completed without any splash or commotion in the liquid.
By the above described construction of the frame O with its oscillating arms
N, N, and the friction rollers upon the wheel I, I produce frequent oscillations of
the bar H and the cylinders with less movement of the machinery. The doublo
adjustable compensation mechanism T, T, enables me to connect an unequal number
of clocks with the two cylinders, and still equalize the pressure upon the
apparatus.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. The toothed disc A provided with the stop in combination with the disc E
mounted upon the winding shaft, and provided with a projection F and plate G,
which plate stands at an angle to the edge of the said disc, the whole being
arranged to prevent overwinding, substantially as set forth.
Second. The arm i with the weight 2 or an equivalent motor-device, and the
lever g with its pawlf for actuating the escapement, independently of the main
clock work, in combination with a device allowing the winding up or restarting
periodically and automatically of the secondary motor by means of the main-motor,
substantially as above set forth.
Third. The weighted arm i, the lever g with its pawl, and the arm or lever k
with its rollers, the whole carried by the shaft h, and operated simultaneously in
combination with the cam H', which is fixed on an axle actuated by the main-
clockwork in such manner that the arms are carried backwards or lifted, and the
escapement is kept in motion, all substantially as above set forth.
Fourth. The arm y carried by the axle W of the main clockwork in combination
with the projection upon the arm g, the weighted arm i and arm k, and the cam H'
of the axle W, all arranged and operating in such manner that the action of the
Oscillating lever H and the re-starting of the escapement are effected substantially
as above set forth.
Fifth. In combination with the escapement Z the levers or arms i, g, and k, and
a device for periodically re-winding or re-starting the escapement mechanism, the
spring c, and the gear wheel d, so that the motion of the escapement is continuous
during the intermittent action of the pawlf upon the pin, substantially as above
stated.
Sixth. The combination with the pneumatic cylinders (actuated by the oscil-
lating arm H and the clockwork, as illustrated by the Drawing) of the arms y, y¹,
fixed upon the axle w and the projection m of the lever or arm 9 in such manner

page_text: that the periodical action of the cylinders is effected in two movements instead of
in a single movement or stroke, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)