Improvements in and connected with the Winding of Clocks.
Year: 1893

page_text: .COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Winding of Clocks.
I, TOM GROVE HULL of 57 New Bond Street in the County of London Clock
and Watch Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
66
a
The object of my invention is to simplify the winding arrangements of clocks
having striking mechanism and particularly that class of clock known as
carriage clock" and in such manner that the ordinary loose key not required
both the running and striking mechanism being wound up by means of a single
permanent key or turnbutton fixed in or to (say) the bottom plate of the clock and
preferably not detachable therefrom.
My improvements are so designed as to be capable of addition to clocks having
the usual two separate spindles or winding arbors as well as to new clocks made
especially according to my invention and without any additional cost, and I will
proceed to describe my improvements as applied to a carriage clock of the usual
well known type and for the purpose of illustrating my invention and convenience
in describing my improved method of winding I have caused to be attached to
this Specification a sheet of drawings to the figures and letters of reference whereon
I shall hereafter call attention.
"
In carrying out my invention and as applied to a clock of the "carriage
type already constructed, I place upon each of the winding spindles or arbors a
cogged or toothed wheel of convenient diameter and number of teeth.
Referring to Figure which is a view of part of the back plate C with the
base D and foot or stand E of a carriage clock showing the winding spindles
and also my added mechanism (except the bearing plates), A is the arbor or
spindle of the barrel containing the spring for actuating the clock and A¹ is
the winding arbor of the striking mechanism. B and B are the two toothed
wheels secured on to the spindles or arbors A. and A' respectively by any well
known means.
Figures 2 and 3 show details of bearing plates hereafter referred to and
Figure 4 is a sectional view of my added mechanism the wheels B and B' being
omitted.
I provide a steel or like plate F having a circular hole G cut in its centre
and secure this plate centrally to the base plate D of the clock in which and in
the foot E I have previously cut a hole of smaller diameter. Upon a circular boss H
of diameter to fit accurately within the hole G in the plate F I mount a crown
wheel J (or the boss H and wheel J may be formed in one piece), the boss and
crown wheel are centrally bored and firmly attached to a pin, spindle or arbor K
passing through them and through the hole in base D and which is of sufficient
length to receive a key, handle or turnbutton L which is placed thereon (the end
being squared or conveniently formed for this purpose) and screwed or otherwise
keyed thereto. I now form a bearing plate O or block of peculiar construction as
shown by Figure 2 having at each end holes M M' for screws such as N by which
it is secured in position and to the back plate C. The left hand of the bearing
plate O is thickened out to rest against back plate C the remaining portion standing
away therefrom to allow of pinions working between it and said back plate. The
screw N forms also a pivot on which I mount a loose pinion P gearing into the
wheel B¹.
In the centre of the plate O I form a hole or slot Q having semi-circular ends
joined by short parallel sides so as to allow lateral movement of a steel barrel
arbor R one end of which rests thereon the opposite end being turned up and

page_text: resting against the back plate C. Upon this barrel arbor R I mount a pinion or
loose wheel S resting on and gearing into the crown wheel J and over the barrel
arbor R when in position and slot QI screw a cover plate T Fig. 3 which retains
arbor R in position and forms with back plate C a race in which it may travel
backwards and forwards so far as the elongated hole or slot Q will permit.
The action of the improved winding apparatus is as follows: When the thumb-
screw or turnbutton L on which the crown wheel J is mounted is turned say from
right to left, the loose pinion S gearing into the crown wheel J travels to the left
until it engages with the wheel A secured on winding pinion B and the turning
action being continued the clock proper is wound up. In order to wind up the
striking mechanism the handle or key L is turned from left to right when the loose
pinion S will leave the wheel A and engage with pinion or idle wheel P which
in turn gears into the wheel A¹ mounted on the winding arbor of the striking
mechanism.
Modifications of my invention may be applied to other types of clock and it will
be seen that the original winding spindles and loose key may be retained and an
existing clock to which my invention has been applied may be wound up by either
means. A further advantage in the use of my invention apart from the convenience
of a double acting permanent key or turnbutton is that the clock may be perfectly
or hermetically sealed in its casing so that dust or damp may be excluded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In winding mechanism for clocks of the type known as "carriage clocks" the
use of a permanent key or turnbutton placed under the baseplate of the clock
connected with a crown wheel or its equivalent such as J on which or gearing into
which is a loosely supported pinion capable of travelling from side to side and
alternately gearing into or with wheels attached to the spindles or arbors on which
the barrels of the clock actuating and striking mechanisms respectively are mounted
substantially as herein before described.
2. In clock winding mechanism the use of a key or handle such as L having
a horizontal wheel such as J connected therewith in combination with a pinion
mounted on a barrel arbor such as R capable of moving to and fro in a slot such
as Q and so permitting said pinion to engage alternately with wheels fixed on each
side of its travel substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
3. The improved means for winding clocks substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 1st day of May 1802
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agents.