IMPROVEMENTS IN TIMEKEEPERS, CALLED ATMOSPHERIC CLOCKS OR MERCURIAL TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Dawson Clegg, of 78, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIMEKEEPERS,
CALLED ATMOSPHERIC CLOCKS OR MERCURIAL TIMEKEEPERS."
aled the 30th July 1861, and dated the 31st January 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Dawson Clegg
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st January 1861.
I, ROBERT DAWSON CLEGG, of 73, Fleet Street, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME-
KEEPERS, CALLED ATMOSPHERIC CLOCKS OR MERCURIAL TIMEKEEPERS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in the mode of making glass tubes containing portions
of mercury to allow of the certain and regular descent of such portions of
mercury, so as to indicate periods of time, (spirits of wine or other liquids
colored may be used in place of mercury,) in the material or composition for
filling or stopping the orifices of such tubes, and the mode of affixing such
material or composition in the tubes, in the covering such tubes with one
or more glass tubes, so that they may be all joined or annealed, that they will
not shake together and be liable to breakage, and in movable revolving endless
and elastic dials, indexes, or scales, upon which such periods of time are
marked, printed, or otherwise delineated. First, I make the glass tubes with

page_text: a slight contraction a short distance from the orifice, into which I fix the
material or composition, and below such composition I perforate the tube, so
as to allow of the air to come out at the exterior surface of the tubes, my
object being to allow of the ends of the tubes to be annealed to an outer glass
tube, which is hermetically sealed. The material or composition I use for
stopping or filling the ends of the tubes is silicate of alumina, or other fine
earthy substance, or fine sand compressed by machinery into solid tubes, from
which I cut off the required lengths. Another composition, and which I prefer,
is china clay baked to the required porousness, then fixed in the tubes and
annealed to them; or to avoid annealing I cover the pieces of baked clay with
india-rubber, which will allow of the pieces being firmly fixed in the tubes.
The cases in which I place the tubes are so made that the dials, indexes, or
scales are movable, revolving, endless, or elastic, in order that the clock may
be regulated and adjusted so that the proper time of day may be ascertained.
First, I effect this by making the cases contain several dials, indexes, or scales,
which can be changed as required; secondly, by a roller, round, or polygon,
upon which are fixed several dials, indexes, or scales; thirdly, by an endless
tape upon rollers; and, lastly, (which I prefer) by elastic bands or tapes, upon
which are marked, printed, or delineated the periods of time required to be
indicated; and these are so fixed that they can be stretched or slackened in
such a manner that the clock can be regulated and adjusted to keep correct
time.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Dawson Clegg in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 31st July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
DAWSON CLEGO, of 73, Fleet Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Iler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Dawson Clegg, Her special licence that I, the said Robert
Dawson Clegg, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Robert Dawson Clegg, my 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

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIMEKEEPERS, CALLED ATMOSPHERIC CLOCKS OR MERCURIAL
TIMEKEEPERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert
Dawson Clegg, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, 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 I, the said Robert Dawson Clegg, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention consists in improvements in timekeepers called atmospheric
clocks or mercurial timekeepers.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have illustrated the manner in which
I apply my improvements.
Figure 1 represents a tubo of glass, containing the mercury and stoppers;
Figure 2 represents the tube, Figure 1, enclosed in two outer glass tubes;
Figure 3 represents a section of the clock. E, E, are india-rubber or elastic
bands or tapes, upon which are printed or marked the hours; D, the peg,
upon which the indian-rubber or bands or tapes are fixed, and upon which the
bands are wound, so as to allow of their being tightened or slackened; i is a
brass or metal clip, through which the tube slides, so that the clock can be
set to any required hour.
Figure 4 is also another section of a clock in another form; G is a brass or
metal screw, to the end of which the india-rubber or elastic bands or tapes
are attached, so that by turning a small nut at the end they can also be
tightened or slackened; f are the hangers, by which the clock is suspended
upon a nail. Besides the above modes of making the clocks they can be made
in various forms; but the great points sought to be attained are,-
First, the porous material employed in filling the ends of the tubes, for
which purpose I prefer to employ china or fine baked clay, and making it in
fine sticks covered with india-rubber or gutta percha of various thicknesses
to correspond with the various bores of the glass tubes.
Secondly, the annealment of the inner to the outer tubes.
Thirdly, the adaptation of the india-rubber or elastic bands or tapes to the
true adjustment of the time the mercury takes in descending the tube.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, I declare that
I claim the application and adaptation of india-rubber or other elastic bands
or tapes to the adjustment of the time the mercury takes in descending.
In witness whercof, I, the said Robert Dawson Clegg, have set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-one.
ROBERT DAWSON CLEGG. (L.S.)
ROBERT DAWSON CLEGG. (L.S.)