A NEW ELECTRIC TIME BALL APPARATUS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith and Lancelot John Smith, both
of Saint John's Square, in the Parish of Olerkenwell, in the County
of Middlesex, Turret Clock Manufacturers, for the Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith and
Lancelot John Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 6th June 1873.
WILLIAM SMITH and LANCELOT JOHN SMITH, both of Saint John's
Square, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Turret Clock
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW ELECTRIC TIME BALL APPARATUS," to be as follows:—
The motive power is applied by weight or spring acting upon wheel N
which gears into nut C* and clutch C in connexion with revolving
drum D, which is kept in place by spring E, but is moved at certain
times by lever F riding upon an incline plane or snail G which closes up

page_text: clutch C (as shewn on Drawing No. 2), and consequently drum D is
fixed; lines H and I traverse drum D in opposite directions and in
connection with line H the time ball or other body, and in connection
with line I a counterpoise weight to be lead off by pullies, et cetra, in any
direction or to any length, but not shewn on plans. Shaft K in con-
nection with clockwork to regulate time of movement revolves once
in 24 hours, upon which is snail L which lifts lever M and releases main
wheel N and allows train to run, which acting upon drum D causes it
to revolve and wind up line H with time ball or other bodies attached.
Nut O on driving wheel P and locking plate Q with slot to receive
lever R, which lowers lever and causes part of lever R marked R* to be
locked against piece S; time ball or other body is then fixed at top in
position for discharge. Some time after this first movement lever F
drops off incline plane or snail G, spring T pressing upon lever F forces
shaft U back and disconnects half of clutch C (shaft U is fixed to
drum D but independent of nut C*), and drum D as shewn on Drawing
No. 2 (C open), and also upper part of train from the lower part and
motive power, but is held from running back by piece S coming into
contact with that part of lever R marked R*3 piece S is released by
lever R* being attracted on the passing of current by magnet V which
allows the train to run down and the time ball to drop.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Smith and Lancelot John Smith in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, WILLIAM
SMITH and LANCELOT JOHN SMITH, both of Saint John's Square, in the
Parish of Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Turret Clock
Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of June, in the year of our a
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said William Smith and Lancelot John Smith,
Her special license that we, the said William Smith and Lancelot
John Smith, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such 3

page_text: others as we, the said William Smith and Lancelot John Smith, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"NEW ELECTRIC TIME BALL APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said William Smith and Lancelot John Smith,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Smith and Lancelot
John Smith, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, viz* :-
Motive power is applied by weight or spring acting upon wheel N
which gears into nut C* and clutch C in connexion with revolving
drum D, which is kept in place by spring E, but is moved at certain
times by lever F riding upon an incline plane or snail G which closes up
clutch C (as shown in Drawing No. 2), and consequently drum D is
fixed; lines H & I traverse drum D in opposite directions and in
connexion with line H the time ball or other body, and in connexion
with line I a counterpoise weight to be lead off by pullies et cetera, in
any direction or to any length, but not shewn on plans. Shaft K in
connexion with clockwork to regulate time of movements revolves once
in 24 hours, upon which is snail L which lifts lever M and releases main
wheel N and allows train to run, which acting upon drum D causes it
to revolve and wind up line H with time ball or other bodies attached.
Nut O on driving wheel P and locking plate Q with slot to receive
lever R which lowers lever and causes part of lever R marked R* to be
locked against piece S; time ball or other body is then fixed at top in
position for discharge. Some time after this first movement lever F
drops off incline plane or snail G, spring T pressing upon lever F forces
shaft U back and disconnects half of clutch C (shaft U is fixed to
drum D but independent of nut C*), and drum D as shewn in Drawing

page_text: No. 2 (O* open), and also upper part of train from the lower part and
motive power, but is held from running back by piece S coming into
contact with that part of lever R marked R*; piece S is released by
lever R* being attracted on the passing of current by magnet V which
allows the train to run down and the time ball to drop.
In witness whereof, the said William Smith and Lancelot John
Smith, have hereunto set their hands and seals, this First day of
December in the year of our Lord 1873.