IMPROVEMENTS IN SYNCHRONIZERS FOR CLOCKS
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I CHESTER HENRY POND, a Citizen of the United States, and a resident of
No 14 Spencer place, in the City of Brooklyn and State of New York, U.S.A.
Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SYNCHRONIZERS FOR CLOCKS" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: ·
My invention relates to synchronizing mechanism adapted to be used in
connection with electro mechanical clocks, and especially in that class of clocks
wherein the spring is wound up at predetermined intervals by an electric-motor.
Such a clock is shewn and described in the Specification of Letters Patent,
No 15,500 of 1884 and will therefore not require here more than a brief description.
The object of the present invention is to provide the clock with a synchronizing
mechanism which is electrically controlled through a regulator clock placed in
circuit with one or more clocks to be synchronized. The regulator, when it marks
the hour, closes a synchronizing circuit, which, simultaneously, by vitalizing an
electro-magnet at the clock to be synchronized, closes the winding motor circuit,
sets this motor in operation, and also, simultaneously places certain parts of the
synchronizing mechanism in the proper position to be acted upon by the rotation
of the parts in winding. This effects the synchronizing and when this is effected
closes a shunt circuit that cuts the electro-magnet out from the synchronizing
circuit.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the clock with the
dial and face removed, Figure 2 is a side view of the same, Figure 3 is a vertical
transverse section of a portion of the clock, Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the
same portion of the clock, Figure 5 is a fragmentary front view designed to illustrate
the construction and operation of the synchronizer. Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear
view also designed to illustate the construction and operation of the synchronizer.
In this view the back plate of the clock-frame is removed.
In the drawings the clock is shown as run independently by its own battery W,
and not arranged as one of a series. It will be understood; however, that any
number of such clocks may be arranged in a series and their winding mechanism
run from one battery.
Premising that the clock herein shown is in the main constructed and arranged
to operate the same as that in the former patent which I have already referred to,
I will now briefly describe it in order that the relation of my improved synchronizer
thereto may be the better understood.

page_text: A is the clock frame and E is the electric motor mounted in the base of same.
This motor comprises three electro-magnets, a rotating armature, a commutator H
on the armature axis, and three brushes, one for each magnet. One terminal of
each magnet is connected with one pole of battery W, and the other terminal with
the commutator brush belonging to that magnet. The commutator is connected
with the other pole of the battery W, through conductor 4, contact s¹, on arm,
contact & and the clock-frame. B represents the clock train of gears, and B¹ the
pendulum. C is the spring which drives the clock, O' is the case which encloses
the spring, O¹ is the wheel on said case whereby it is driven when winding, C¹ is
the centre-wheel of the clock, and c is the arbor on which these are mounted.
R is an arm hung loosely on arbor c, and t¹ is a pin on wheel C¹ which engages
arm R and carries it around until the end of R strikes the pendent end of arm r²,
presses it back from under a block or shoulder on arm, and lets the latter arm fall
until 8 contacts with 8 and completes the motor circuit and sets the motor to
revolving rapidly. This imparts rotary motion to the spring-case and wheel O¹,
and when the latter has revolved far enough a pin t on it overtakes arm R, carries
it on rapidly, and the end of said arm takes under and lifts arm r, thus
interrupting the motor circuit and stopping the motor. The arm is now drawn
forward again under the block on by a spring.
The motor thus imparts each hour, one revolution to the spring-case, thus
winding the spring from its outer end, and this will be sufficient to run the clock
'until the next winding. It will be understood that the spring is normally wound
to a certain degree of tension, and the motor merely winds up that portion that
has relaxed in the running of the clock during the interval between windings.
When a number of clocks are to be connected in series the one terminal of each
of the motor-coils will be connected with earth as well as one pole of the battery W.
It is evident, however, that although the several motors are placed in multiple arc,
yet, owing to the resistance of the main line the motor nearest the battery will be
first actuated. The ground connection of this motor being then interrupted the
next motor will be operated, and so on throughout the series.
I will now describe my synchronizer, premising that I utilize the motor, E, also
to effect the synchronizing, it being controlled for this purpose by the synchronizing
circuit but operated by the clock circuit.
I is an electro-magnet, the terminals 1, 2 of which are connected respectively
with the poles of the synchronizer battery which may be located at any point. This
synchronizer circuit has at some point in it a break or circuit controlling device that
is closed at predetermined intervals by a regulator clock. I have assumed that the
synchronizing is to be effected every hour.
is the armature of the electro-magnet I, which is normally upheld by a pin a
in an upright on the armature which takes over and rests on the shorter arm d, of
a lever D fixed on a rock-shaft, f, mounted in the clock-frame A. On the longer
arm, d, of levér D, which projects back of the spring-case, O2, is a lateral projecting
cam-shaped stud d, which under certain conditions, is brought into the track of
one of several pins i, i, on the back of the spring case. The shorter end of the
lever D is normally upheld by a spring e. Normally in the rotation of the spring-
case, the pins i, i pass over the stud d on the lever but when the magnet I is
vitalized and its armature i is drawn down, the pin a engages the arm d of the
lover and depresses it far enough for a pin i to take under the cam-stud d' and
raise it up until the pin passes it, when it falls again. This imparts a rocking
motion to the lever shaft f, on the front end of which is fixed a curved synchronizing
lever J. The rocking of shaft fimparts to this lever a vibratory motion, which
effects the synchronizing through the medium of mechanism which will now be
described.
On the sleeve, k, which bears the minute hand (see Figure 5), is mounted, in
addition to the usual pinion, a disc or plate, m, having two oppositely arranged
'spurs or projections m³ m². On the synchronizing lever J are two corresponding
projections n, n which, when the lever J is thrown up by the mechanism before

page_text: described engage the spurs m¹ m². It will be understood that the sleeve k of the
minute hand is frictionally mounted on its arbor and may be turned thereon, and
that the teeth m¹ m² are so set, with relation to the minute hand, and the
projections n, n on lever J, that when the clock is keeping correct time, and the
synchronizing lever is thrown up, at the end of its upward stroke or movement
both projections n, n will just touch the corresponding spurs m¹ m². But if the
clock should be too slow, or too fast, when the synchronizing lever J is thrown up
one of its projections n will first come in contact with the corresponding spur m²,
and the further upward movement of the lever will rotate the disc m until the
minute hand is set right. This will be effected when the diso is rotated far enough
to bring about the proper contact with both projections n, n, as explained above.
In Figure 5 the full lines show spurs m¹ m¹ as they will stand when the clock is
too slow, and the lever J is about to start on its upward movement. The broken
lines show the correct position of the spurs when lever J has reached the limit of
its upward movement. In Figure 1 the synchronizing has been completed.
In order that when the synchronizing circuit is closed and the magnet I is
vitalized the motor E may be set in motion, it is necessary to provide that the
attraction by the electro-magnet I of its armature I shall close the motor circuit,
which is broken at 8¹ 83 (Figure 3). And in order that the motor circuit may be
again broken as soon as the synchronizing is effected, a shunt is provided whereby
the upward movement of the synchronizing lever is caused to shunt the electro-
magnet I from the synchronizing circuit at the moment said lever reaches the end
of its upstroke and has accomplished its work. The mechanism for effecting these
results will now be described.
From an insulating block on the clock-frame depends an elastic contact piece, K,
which stands in such relation to the end d of lever D, that when the electro-
magnet I is vitalized and said lever is depressed by pin a, the end d will form an
electrical contact with K. This contact K is connected by a conductor 3 with the
conductor 4 that leads from the battery to the arm, and the current flows
from K at the contact through lever D, and the frame A to the commutator.
Thus the motor circuit is closed and the motor set in motion.
The shunt for cutting out the electro-magnet I is composed of a metallic contact-
piece 8, 'mounted on, but insulated from frame A, and a metallic contact-piece, t,
attached to an arm, p, pivotally mounted on the frame A, but insulated therefrom.
The contact-pieces 8 and t are respectively connected to the conductors 1 and 2, by
conductors 5 and 6 and when their tips are brought together, the current is
shunted and the electro-magnet I is cut out. The contact between the pieces 8
and t is made and broken by the means that will now be described.
On
On the rear or inner portion of the disc, m, out of the plane of the teeth m¹, is a
projecting tappet, g, in the path of which is the free end of the pivotally mounted
arm, p, which bears the contact t. Every hour when this tappet y moves around, .
it strikes arm p, moves it downward, and breaks the contact between 8 and t.
the other hand when the synchronizing lever J moves upward it takes under a
pin, u, on contact t, raises the latter and brings it into contact with 8 at the
moment the synchronizing is effected. The arm is usually so mounted that it
will stand wherever placed and will not fall by gravity; and the tappet G is usually
so set with reference to the minute hand, that it will break the contact between s
and t about three minutes before the hour. However, this period is not essential.
I will now describe the operation of the synchronizer. When the hands
approach the hour, the tappet g assures the depression of the arm p and the
breaking of the shunt contact. As the regulating clock in the synchronizing
circuit marks the hour it closes that circuit, the electro magnet I is vitalized 'and
its armature draws down the end d of lever D. This closes the motor circuit by
contact of d with K, and sets the motor in operation, at the same time raising the
stud d' on the lever D into the path of the pins i on the spring case 03. This
position of the parts is shown in Figure 5. As the spring case revolves a pin i passes
under and raises the stud d³, thus throwing up the synchronizing lever J which

page_text: sets the hands as before described. But as the said lever J reaches the termination
of its upward movement, it raises contact piece t and puts it into contact with 8,
the current is instantly shunted from electro-magnet I, spring e retracts the
armature I¹ and breaks the motor circuit, and the movement of the motor ceases.
In retracting the armature and elevating the end d of lever D, spring e also retracts
the synchronizing lever J as will be well understood.
The number of the pins i, i in the spring case is not essential. When the motor
operates to synchronize the clock it will of course, partially wind up the spring.
The remainder of the revolution of the spring-case will be effected in the regular
winding operation.
The object in mounting the arm p so that it will stand wherever placed is this:-
When the lever J rises and closes the shunt contacts, it at once falls back and if
arm p'should fall also the electro magnet I would be a second time vitalized unless
the regulator clock should in the meantime have broken the synchronizing circuit.
In order that when the motor circuit is closed for winding (at 818), the
connection between contact K. and conductor 4 may be interrupted, it is preferable
not to connect conductor 3 directly with conductor 4, but to connect conductor 3
with a contact-spring 9, the end of which rests on arm normally, but when the
motor circuit is closed for winding it will stand free.
I do not limit, myself to the specific construction herein
varied without departing from my invention materially.
to providing each clock with an independent battery W.
employed with a series of clocks as before stated.
shown as this may be
Nor do I limit myself
One battery may be
,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An electrically operated synchronizer for electro-mechanical clocks wherein an
electro-magnet in a circuit controlled by a regulator, acts, when vitalized to close
the motor-circuit of the clock to be synchronized and to so place the synchronizing
mechanism that it will be actuated by the movement of the winding motor of the
clock, substantially as described.
2. An electrically operated synchronizer for electro-mechanical and other clocks,
wherein the operations of the synchronizer are controlled by a regulator but
operated by a rotating motor of the clock to be synchronized, and wherein the
movements of the synchronizing mechanism, are utilized to shunt out the regulating
circuit and to interrupt the motor circuit at the close of the synchronizing
operation, substantially as described.
3. The combination with an electro-mechanical clock wherein the clock mechanism
is worked by a motor, of a synchronizing mechanism substantially as described,
operated by the motor but controlled by a regulator clock through a synchronizing
circuit whereby the closing of the latter circuit is caused to close the motor circuit
and set the synchronizing mechanism in position to be operated by the motor.
4. The combination with an electro-mechanical clock wherein the clock-mechanism
is wound by a motor, of a synchronizing mechanism, substantially as described,
capable of being actuated by the motor, an electro-magnet capable, when vitalized,
of closing the motor circuit and of setting the synchronizing mechanism in position
to be actuated by the motor, and a shunt circuit around said electro-magnet
controlled by the synchronizing mechanism, whereby said electro-magnet is cut out
and the motor stopped as soon as the synchronizing is effected substantially as
described.
5. The mechanism for synchronizing, comprising the pin or pins on the spring-
case, the lever D and its shaft, the synchronizing lever, bearing projections n, n,
and the teeth or projections m, 'm borne by the minute hand, substantially as
described.
6. The means for controlling the synchronizing mechanism comprising the
electro-magnet I, its circuit controlled by a regulator clock, its armature provided

page_text: with a pin or other device for drawing down the end of lever D and closing the
motor circuit, and the contact piece K, substantially as described.
7. The means for controlling the shunt circuit of the synchronizer, comprising
the contact, 8, the swinging contact, t, adapted to be raised and the contact made
by the synchronizing lever J, and a spur or tappet, g, borne by the minute hand
and adapted to interrupt the said shunt circuit, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
8. The combination with a clock and a synchronizing mechanism, of a shunt or
cut off for the purpose of cutting out the regulating circuit after the clock has been
synchronized, substantially as set forth.
J. C. MEWBURN,
169, Fleet Street, London,
Agent.