IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING OR SETTING CLOCKS OR OTHER TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Land, of the Firm of Lund and Blockley, of
42, Pall Mall, in the City of Westminster, Manufacturers, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING OR SETTING CLOCKS
OR OTHER TIMEKEEPERS."
Sealed the 8th November 1878, and dated the 8th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lund at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th May 1878.
GEORGE LUND, of the Firm of Lund and Blockley, of 42, Pall Mall, in the City
of Westminster, Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING
OR SETTING CLOCKS OR OTHER TIMEKEEPERS."
My Invention has reference to synchronizing or setting clocks or other time-
keepers to mean or true time every hour, or at other given intervals, by means of
apparatus which is in electric connection with a standard or normal clock or time-
keeper; and the Invention consists of certain novel mechanical arrangements by
which the setting or synchronizing is effected when the armature of the electro-
magnet attached to each clock is attracted, and by which some of the parts are
returned to position ready for the next setting or synchronizing operation.
I attach to the face of the minute wheel (or of any wheel or pinion in gear
therewith) of each clock to be synchronized or set two pins, which may conveniently
be diametrically opposite to each other.
In connection with one of these pins, which I will call the setting pin, I
employ two pieces at an inclination to each other, so as to form a sort of inverted
V; the two limbs or halves of this V do not, however, meet at the point, there
being sufficient space between them to allow the setting pin to pass. The V piece
is carried on one end of an arm, which is fixed at its other end to a horizontal
spindle, and on this same spindle is fixed a weighted lever, which in its normal
position is held up by a weighted or spring catch. The V piece is thus conse-
quently also held up, and it is then above and clear of the setting pin.

page_text: The other pin on the minute wheel, which I will call the check pin, is in con-
nection with a notch in an arm which is fixed to the armature of the electro-
magnet. In the normal position the notch is clear of the check pin.
The operation of setting the clock is as follows:-The clock at starting should be
so arranged that the setting pin, if the clock keeps correct time, will be at the
highest point of its revolution on the completion of the first hour when the minute
hand is at zero on the dial. On the completion of this hour (and of every suc-
cessive hour) the current from the normal clock entering the electro-magnet causes
the latter to attract its armature. The movement of the armature effects by any
suitable mechanical connection the withdrawal of the catch from the weighted
lever, which therefore falls, together with the arm which carries the V piece. The
two portions of the V piece thus pass the setting pin, but on opposite sides thereof,
and in so doing set it at its highest or zero point, should it be either short of or beyond
such point, and the minute hand being on the same arbor, or on the arbor of a
wheel or pinion in gear therewith, is therefore simultaneously set to zero.
same time the check pin is held at the corresponding point by the notch before
named, owing to the arm in which such notch is formed rising through the move-
ment of the armature, and any tendency of the minute wheel to return or spring
back to the point from which it has been shifted is thus checked.
At the
As soon as the electric current, after having been only momentarily established,
is again broken the armature is removed clear from the magnet by a spring or
weight, and the notch consequently leaves the check pin. There is, therefore, no
obstruction to the movement of the clock, the V piece having passed quite clear of
- the setting pin.
For the purpose of returning the V picce and weighted lever to their normal
position ready to act at the expiration of the next hour, I adopt the following
arrangement:-From the said lever I suspend a leg which is jointed thereto, and
on the face of the hour wheel, or any other wheel or pinion working in gear with
the clock train, I fix pins to act upon a foot on this leg. As the hour wheel (or
other wheel or pinion) revolves, one of the pins takes under the said foot, and
gradually lifts it together with the weighted lever and the arm carrying the V
piece until the lever is caught and held by the catch; the parts are then ready to
act on the next arrival of the electric current. A spring acting upon the side of
the leg in conjunction with a guide or double "banking" causes the foot to clear
the pins on the hour wheel when the lever falls, whatever their relative position
may be.
Instead of lifting the weighted lever and other parts, as above described, they
may be lifted by a special train of wheels, or in a striking clock by the striking
train.
If preferred the action before described may be reversed, that is to say, the V
piece may be made to act on the setting pin in an upward movement instead of in a
downward one, or it may be made to act horizontally.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Lund in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th November
1878.
GEORGE LUND, of the Firm of Lund and Blockley, of 42, Pall Mall, in the City
of Westminster, Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING
OR SETTING CLOCKS OR OTHER TIMEKEEPERS."
My Invention has reference to synchronizing or setting clocks or other time-
keepers to mean or true time every hour, or at other given intervals, by means of
apparatus which is in electric connection with a standard or normal clock or time-
keeper; and the Invention consists of certain novel mechanical arrangements by
which the setting or synchronizing is effected when the armature of the electro-
magnet attached to each clock is attracted, and by which some of the parts are
returned to position ready for the next setting or synchronizing operation.
I attach to the face of the minute wheel (or of any wheel or pinion in gear
therewith) of each clock to be synchronized or set two pins, which may conveniently "
be diametrically opposite to each other.
In connection with one of these pins, which I will call the setting pin, I employ
two pieces at an inclination to each other, so as to form a sort of inverted V; the
two limbs or halves of this V do not, however, meet at the point, there being
sufficient space between them to allow them to pass the setting pin. The ✓ piece
is carried on one end of an arm, which is fixed at its other end to a horizontal
spindle, and on this same spindle is fixed a weighted lever, which in its normal
position is held up by a weighted or spring catch; the V piece is thus consequently
also held up, and it is then above and clear of the setting pin.
The other pin on the minute wheel, which I will call the check pin, is in con-
nection with a notch in an arm which is acted on by another arm fixed to the
armature of the electro-magnet. In the normal position the notch is clear of the
check pin.
The operation of setting the clock is as follows:-The clock at starting should
be so arranged that the setting pin, if the clock keeps correct time, will be at the
highest point of its revolution on the completion of the first hour when the minute
hand is at zero on the dial. On the completion of this hour (and at successive
given intervals) the current from the normal clock entering the electro-magnet
causes the latter to attract its armature. The movement of the armature effects by
any suitable mechanical connection the withdrawal of the catch from the weighted
lever, which therefore falls, together with the arm which carries the V piece. The
two portions of the V piece thus pass the setting pin, but on opposite sides thereof,
and in so doing set it at its highest or zero point should it be either short of or
beyond such point, and the minute hand being on the same arbor, or on the arbor
of a wheel or pinion in gear therewith, is therefore simultaneously set to zero. At
the same time the check pin is held at the corresponding point by the notch before
named, owing to the arm in which such notch is formed rising through the move-
ment of the armature, and any tendency of the minute wheel to go too far or to
return or spring back to the point from which it has been shifted is thus checked.
As soon as the electric current after having been only momentarily established
is again broken the armature is removed clear from the magnet by a spring or
weight, and the notch consequently leaves the check pin. There is, therefore, no
obstruction to the movement of the clock, the V piece having also passed quite
clear of the setting pin.
For the purpose of returning the V piece and weighted lever to their normal
position ready to act at the expiration of the next given interval I adopt the
following arrangement:-From the said lever I suspend a leg which is jointed
thereto, and on the face of the centre wheel, or on any other wheel or pinion.

page_text: -
working in gear with the clock train, I fix pins to act upon a foot on this leg. As
the centre wheel (or other wheel or pinion) revolves one of the pins takes under
the said foot, and gradually lifts it, together with the weighted lever and the
arm carrying the V piece, until the lever is caught and held by the catch; the
parts are then ready to act on the next arrival of the electric current. A spring
acting upon the side of the leg in conjunction with a guide or double "banking
causes the foot to clear the pins on the centre wheel when the lever falls, whatever
their relative positions may be.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate my Invention.
Figure 1 is a face view of a clock with my improvements applied thereto, only
part of the dial being shewn; Figure 2 is a side view; and Figure 3, a back view
of the same.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the line A, B, of Figure 1.
Figures 5 to 11 represent details.
a is the front plate, and 6 the back plate of the clock; c, the dial; d, the hour
hand; and e, the minute hand; f, the hour wheel; f', the centre wheel; and g, the
'minute wheel, the latter being shewn detached in front and side views in Figures 5
and 6 h and i are two pins on the minute wheel and diametrically opposite each
other. The pin is what I have herein-before called the "setting pin;" and the
pin is the "check pin; "j,j, are the two inclined pieces forming a sort of inverted
V, as before described; they are carried at the end of the arm k.
g
Figure 7 is a back view; Figure 8, a plan; and Figure 9, a section through the
line C, D, of Figure 7 of this V pieco j, j, and its arm k.
It will be seen that there is sufficient space at 7 between the two limbs or halves
of the V piece to allow it to pass the setting pin h.
The other end of the arm k is fixed to a horizontal spindle m, which passes
through the front and back plates a and b, and has fixed to its rear end a weighted
lever n, which in its normal position (represented in dotted lines) is held up by a
catch o fitted with a spring o'. Thus when the lever n is held up the V piece j, J.
is likewise held up, and is then clear of the setting pin h.
The check pin i is in connection with a notch in an arm p centred to the front
plate a.atq; this arm rests upon the end of an arm r, which is fixed to the arma-
tures of the electro-magnet t.
In the normal position the notch in the arm p is clear of the check pin i. The
armature s is fixed by a plate s' to a spindle u, to which the catch o is also fixed;
thus when the armature is attracted by the clectro-magnet the catch o is with-
drawn from and frees the weighted lever n.
From an examination of the parts of the Drawings above described, and from the
explanation already herein-before given, the operation of setting the clock will be
readily understood.
On the completion of every given interval (the parts being in the position repre-
sented in dotted lines) the current from the normal or standard clock enters the
electro-magnet t, and causes it to attract its armature s, the result of which is that
the catch o, which, as before stated, is on the same spindle u as the armature, is
withdrawn from the weighted lever n; this lever therefore falls, together with the
arn l (on the same spindle m) and the V piece j, j, to the position shewn in full
lines. The two limbs of the V piece in falling pass the setting pin h on opposite
sides, and set it at its highest or zero point, should it be either short of or beyond
this point, and the minute hand e being on the same arbor is simultaneously set to
zero. The check pin i is at the same time held at the corresponding point by the
notch in the arm p, owing to this arm being lifted by the rising of the arm r fixed
to the armature. Thus any tendency of the minute wheel g to go too far, or to
return or spring back to the point from which it has been shifted by the V piece is
checked.
When the current, after having been momentarily established, is again broken the
armature s is removed clear of the magnet t, owing to the action of the spring o

page_text: the notch in the arm p consequently clears the check pin i, and the clock is free to
continue its movements, the limbs of the V piece having passed quite clear of the
setting pin h, which can now travel through the opening vabove the said limbs.
I will now proceed to describe those parts of the Drawings which represent the
mechanism, by means of which the V piece j and weighted lever n aro returned to
their normal position ready to act at the expiration of the next given interval.
From the weighted lever n I suspend a leg w (shewn separately in back and
side views in Figures 10 and 11), the leg being jointed to the lever. On the centro
wheel f¹ I fix pins x, x, to act upon a footy on this leg. As the wheel f¹
revolves one or other of the pins takes under the foot y, which is grooved for the
purpose, as shewn, and gradually lifts it. The weighted lever n and arm k with
the V piece jj, are therefore also lifted, the lifting being continued until the
lever n is caught and held by the catch o, the parts being then ready to act on the
next arrival of the electric current. is a spring at the side of the log w; and z',
a guide or double."banking. When the lever n is falling the spring z, by pressing
the foot y against the guide ¹, causes the foot to clear the pins x, x, on the
wheel f
Instead of lifting the weighted lover and other parts, as above described, they
may be lifted by a special train of wheels, or in a striking clock by the striking
train.
If preferred the action of the parts, as before described, may be reversed, that is
to say, the V piece may be made to act on the setting pin in an upward move-
ment instead of in a downward one, or it may be made to act horizontally.
In order to make use for synchronizing or setting clocks by means of my
apparatus of electric lines employed for "speaking" instruments, such, for instance,
as electric lines used on railways, I arrange the connections in such manner that
normally there shall be a "short circuit" for the current through the clock without
going through the electro-magnet, and that at stated times, say once an hour, or
at such other intervals as may be convenient, such short circuit through the
clock shall be broken, and the current will therefore flow through the electro-
magnet, and be then, and then only, available for synchronizing the clock.
The manner in which this may be effected is shewn in Figure 12. Supposing it
be required to break the short circuit once in 12 hours I fit in the hour wheel f
an insulated piece 1, and on an insulated bush I fit an arm 2, which is in contact
with the wheel f, and is provided with an insulated spring 3. One end of the line
wire is connected with the front plate a at 4, and the other to a projection 5
of the arm 2, so that when the arm 2 is not in contact with the insulated part 1 of
the wheel the current flows through the clock.
From the plate a a wire is carried as shewn to the electro-magnet t, and another
wire is carried from the electro-magnet to the projection 5, thus forming a circuit
through the magnet longer than that through the clock. So long as the current
flows direct through the clock or short circuit the line can be employed for ordinary
purposes, but when the insulated part 1 comes in contact with the arm 2 the short
circuit through the clock is broken, and the current then flows through the electro-
magnet; the parts are now ready to effect the synchronizing in the manner already
explained.
In order to re-establish the short circuit immediately after the synchronizing, with-
out waiting until the insulated piece 1 has travelled clear of the arm 2, I fit a pin 6
on the arm k of the V piece, which pin when the arm ke falls forces the arm 2
away from the insulated piece 1. As the arms k rises the arm 2 is lifted by its
spring 3.
"
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improvements in
Apparatus for Synchronizing or Setting Clocks or other Timekeepers,"
First. The combination or combinations of parts forming improved apparatus
for synchronizing or setting clocks or other timekeepers, substantially as herein-
before described, and represented in the annexed Drawings.

page_text: Second. I claim a setting pin (h) in combination with a V shaped piece (,) which
piece is open at the point, so as to pass clear of the setting pin, substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described, and represented in the annexed
Drawings.
Third. I claim a check pin (i) in combination with a notch in an arm or piece (p)
operated by the armature of the electro-magnet, substantially as and for the
purpose herein-before described, and represented in the annexed Drawings.
"
Fourth. I claim the leg (w) with its foot (y) in combination with the pins (c) on
the centre or other wheel, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described,
and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Fifth. I claim the spring (2) and guide or banking (21) for acting on the leg (w),
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and represented
in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lund, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
GEORGE LUND. (L.S.)