Improvements in Electrio Meohanism for Winding and Synchronizing Clocks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1894 Accepted, 3rd 'Nov., 1894
Improvements in Electrio Meohanism for Winding and
Synchronizing Clocks.
:
I, HENRI FREDERIC MOUQUIN, (Trustee, Wine Merchant,) of No. 20, Ann
Street, in the City of New York, County and State of New York, United States
of America, 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 :-
My present invention relates to that class of clocks which are synchronized
periodically from a central or controlling clock by means of an electric current, and
has for its object to perform the operations of winding and synchronizing the
clocks by the same electric impulse, thus dispensing with individual batteries for
winding each clock.
To this end my invention consists in connecting the synchronizing magnet and the
winding motor of a clock, or a series of clocks, in circuit so that they may
be actuated by the same electric impulse.
My invention further consists in certain improvements in synchronizing devices
for clocks whereby a prolonged impulse may be sent through the synchronizing
magnet without stopping the clock. My invention is equally applicable to
electrically propelled clocks.
Hitherto it has been customary to connect the synchronizing magnets of a series
of clocks in the same circuit, and to wind each clock of the series by means of a
motor in an independent local battery circuit. It bas also been proposed to wind
and synchronize a series of clocks from a controlling clock by means of a single
wire. In this arrangement the synchronizing devices were normally in circuit, and
the winding motors were switched in at predetermined times for a short period, the
synchronizing devices being cut out while the winding was being effected. By my
invention I dispense with these complications and produce an extremely simple
device entirely adequate to perform all the operations of synchronizing and
winding.
I attain the object of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawing which shows my improvements applied to an ordinary form
of self winding clock.
In the drawings A is any suitable electric motor serving through the medium of
the train of gears 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to wind the main spring of the clock
contained within the going barrel B. C is the synchronizing magnet, and a its
armature. The armature a is carried on one end of a lever pivoted at c and
carrying at its other end a pivoted lever d. This pivoted lever is normally held
against the stope by a spring f. The end of the pivoted lever b carrying the
lever d and connected mechanism is normally pressed by the spring g against the
stoph which serves to limit its upward movement. D is the synchronizing wheel
of the clock, and E the synchronizing lever having the toe e' to enter the notch d'
in the wheel D to, synchronize the clock. The lever E is pivoted at i and is
normally held out of engagement with the wheel D by the spring. A back stop
serves to limit the movement of the lever E. The synchronizing lever is provided
with a cam or projection which extends into the path of the pivoted lever d; or
the cam may be omitted and the lever'd be allowed to strike the synchronizing
lever to move it. The circuit connections are as follows; from a controlling
clock G by wire 10 to and through the synchronizing magnet C, thence by wire 11

page_text: to the motor A and by wire 12 to the battery 14, and by wire 15 to the clock G.
This clock G is provided with a circuit closer arranged to send at predetermined
intervals over the circuit an impulse of several seconds duration.
The detailed operation is as follows: The main spring contained in the going
barrel B being first fully wound, the clock is set in motion, and continues to operate.
in the usual manner of clocks. At a predetermined time the controlling clock G
closes the circuit and a current is sent over the line through the synchronizing
magnet C and motor A. Upon the completion of the circuit by the clock G, the
magnet C attracts its armature a and rocks the lever b. As the lever b moves, the
lever d carried thereby will come in contact with the cam / and rock the lever E,
forcing the toe e¹ into the notch d' of the synchronizing wheel D and effecting the
synchronizing. As the lever b continues to move the lever d will pass off the end
of the cam, and the spring will snap the lever E back against its atop & and out
of engagement with the synchronizing wheel D, so that during the prolongation of
the impulse the wheel D will be free to revolve. As long as the current continues
to flow the inagnet C will attract its armature a aud hold the end of the lever b
carrying the lever d depressed and the leverd out of contact with the synchronizing
lever. As the impulse comes over the line it will set the motor A in motion
to wind the clock spring. This impulse is prolonged for several seconds in order
to give the motor time to fully wind the clock for the amount that it has run down.
It will be understood that may use a clock capable of running several days
without rewinding, several of which may be in the same circuit, and synchronize
and rewind the same at intervals of a day or less, so that in case of accident to a
clock or the circuit, the clocks will continue to run for several days until the defect
has been located and remedied.
g
When the current on line has ceased to flow the motor A stops and at the same
time the maguet C is de energized and the spring a rocks the pivoted lever b until
it comes in contact with its stop h. As the lever b is returned to its initial position,
the lever d comes in contact with the cam or projection and is rocked thereby
against the tension of the spring until the lever d snaps past the end of the cam
or projection . The lever d is now returned against its stop e by the spring f
In order to prevent the toe of the synchronizing lever E from being again forced
into the notch d' should said notch be opposite the toe while the lever bis returning
to its initial position, the spring is made stiffer and of greater tension than the
spring f
The described operation is repeated at predetermined times as often as it is
desired to synchronize and wind the clocks in circuit.
I do not limit myself to any particular form or type of motor, synchronizer
or clock, as they may be greatly varied without departing from the spirit of
my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination in a clock, of a synchronizing lever, a synchronizing magnet
for actuating the same, an electric winding mechanism and circuit connections for
the magnet and winding mechanism, all arranged so that the clock may be wound
and synchronized by the same electric impulse, substantially as described.
2. The combination in a clock, of a synchronizing lever, a synchronizing magnet
for actuating the same, an electric winding mechanism, and a main circuit in which
both the synchronizing magnet and the winding mechanism are included, all
arranged so that the clock may be wound and synchronized by the same electric
impulse, substantially as described.
3. In a clock, an electric winding mechanism, a synchronizing electro-magnet in
circuit therewith, a synchronizing lever, and intermediate mechanism between
the magnet and synchronizing lever adapted to actuate and release the said lever
by one movement, substantially นş described.

page_text: 4. The combination with the magnet C, a synchronizing wheel D, of the pivoted
armature lever b, the pivoted levers d and E, and means for restoring the several
levers to their initial positions, substantially as described.
5. A clock having an electric winding mechanism and a synchronizing, electro-
magnet arranged to be actuated by the same electric impulse, with a synchronizing
lever and intermediate mechanism between the magnet and synchronizing lever,
adapted to actuate and release the said lever by one movement, substantially
as described.
6. A clock having an electric winding mechanism and a synchronizing electro-
magnet included in the same electric circuit, with a synchronizing lever and
intermediate mechanism between the magnet and synchronizing lever, adapted to
actuate and release the said lever by one movement, substantially as described.
7. The synchronizing mechanism substantially as described.
8. A clock having an electric winding mechanism and a synchronizing electro-
magnet, substantially as described.
9. A clock having an electric winding mechanism aud a synchronizing electro-
magnet arranged to be actuated by the same electric impulse.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1894.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.