Improvements in Electrical Clock Arrangements and Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application. 22nd July, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Clock Arrangements and Apparatus.
We, FREDERICK THOMAS HOLLINS, Telegraph Engineer and Superintendent
to the Great Eastern Railway Company, Saltley House, Forest Drive, Leyton-
stone, Essex, and FREDERICK WILLIAM LEAKE, Electrical Engineer, Great
Eastern Railway Telegraph Department, Liverpool Street Station, London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to improve the working of electrically driven
clocks (commonly called electric clocks) and the controlling devices and appara-
tus in connection therewith so that the same may be more effectual and reliable
in their action and indications.
In electrically driven clocks and especially so in large ones where the hands
are not protected by glass or other means from the wind pressure the move-
ments of the hands as each impulse of electricity operates them forward, is
vibratory, unsteady, confusing in its effects to the observer, and generally un-
reliable and unsatisfactory. And again when such electric clocks are moved
through the medium of a mechanical clock periodically transmitting an elec-
trical current or impulse throughout a circuit of which the coils of one or more
electro-magnets of the said electrical clocks are a part of the said circuit; such
electrical clocks are liable to fail from several causes through a local defect in
the mechanical driving clock either in its mechanical parts or in its electrical
connections, contacts, or other devices therein. Such mechanical driving clock
may stop from the usual causes and such stoppage may take place at the very
moment that the electric contact is made to transmit the electric current from
a suitable battery to operate the electric clock or clocks in which case there is
a permanent current on the wire and thus permanently charging the electro-
magnets in circuit. Or the said mechanical clock may stop when contact is not
"
open
made and therefore the circuit would remain
as will be understood.
Or the wires, or contacts, or other dveices in the said mechanical clock may
become broken or disconnected or otherwise defective and the necessary electric
current to drive the said electrical clocks would not be transmitted periodically
when the said mechanical clock joined up the electric contact making device
for the purpose.
Now in order to steady the movement of the hands of such electrical clocks
when operated by the periodical electrical impulses transmitted thereto we
propose to control the movement of the operated armature of the electro-magnet
or magnets of the electric clocks by means of a break or steadying device formed
by attaching to such armatures directly or by means of a suitable lever or
levers a dash pot or valve arrangement which by means of air, glycerine or other
suitable liquid by being allowed to slowly pass the same shall slow or steady
the movement as each impulse of current operates the same. Instead therefore
of the hands moving sharply and instantly forward when operated the move-
ment may be made to extend over the whole or a greater portion of the time
that the electrical current is passing through the coils of the electro-magnet.

page_text: And this time may be extended by prolonging the period of contact made by
the transmitting mechanical clock and by enlarging or decreasing the aperture
through which the air or glycerine. or other suitable liquid shall pass in the said
dash pot or valve arrangement for controlling the movement of the hands. Or
we may utilize a friction saddle suitably weighted or a friction clutch arrange-
ment in connection with the hands or the barrel carrying the hands or on a
friction wheel attached thereto and such friction arrangement of any form for
steadying the movement may be fixed or mechanically adjusted or adjustable
or electrically controlled by the electric clock magnet or a separate and inde-
pendent electro-magnet in the same circuit or a subsidiary of local circuit as
may be desired.
In order to avoid stoppage or other irregularity in connection with the driving
of the said electric clocks from the causes herein before indicated or otherwise
we propose to have a second or reserve mechanical clock so that in case of the
failure of the one the latter may be automatically switched out of circuit and
the reserve clock automatically switched in circuit in order to keep the said
electric clocks going correctly.
The automatic arrangement is composed of two movements one which operates
should the mechanical clock miss joining up the circuit at the customary
intervals and the one which operates should this circuit be joined up by meats
of the mechanical clock for too great a length of time. .
...The first movement (that which operates should the mechanical clock miss
joining up the circuit at the customary intervals) consists of an electro-magnet
operated by means of the same current which operates the electric clock system
and an armature fixed to a lever pivoted at one end to the piston of a fixed
cylinder or other similar arrangement for extending the motion of the lever
over a greater length of time. In the dash pot or cylinder or valve arrangement
referred to the electro-magnet is allowed to pull the armature and lever: quickly
but the return motion is retarded by. means of a valve..on the underside of the
piston which closes the instant the piston tends to return. The circuit of the
system passes. from a pivotted bar to any convenient part of the lever and is
kept in contact until the current has failed to pass for greater than a determined
length of time when the pivoted bar falls on to a second.contact which is con-
nected to the second mechanical clock.
It will be seen that the current passing through the electro-magnet for a very
short length of time is sufficient to pull up the lever but owing to the valve
shutting up on the return stroke the resistance to the motion of the lever by the
air, glycerine or other liquid prevents the piston from falling back otherwise
than very slowly and another momentary contact comes before the lever drops
sufficiently to break the circuit. The second movement (that which. operates
should the circuit be joined up by means. of the mechanical clock for too great
a length of time) is similar to the first movement but the automatic valve is
placed on the top of the piston thereby allowing a slow upward movement but
a quick return motion. In this movement when the pivoted bar drops it does
not join up the second mechanical clock but merely short circuits the first
movement thereby causing that to operate as before explained.
We do not confine ourselves to this precise method or to the exact circuit
arrangements indicated but the object is herein clearly defined and one a
typical method which we find very effectual is herein set forth. We may find
it advisable to vary amplify or extend the use of such automatic electrical
devices to cover other methods of arriving at the same end.
Dated this Twenty-second day of July 1899
FREDERICK THOMAS HOLLINS!
FREDERICK WILLIAM LEAK.

page_text: Improvements in Electrical Clock Arrangements and Apparatus.
We, FREDERICK THOMAS HOLLINS, Telegraph Engineer and Superintendent
to the Great Eastern Railway Company, Saltley House, Forest Drive, Leyton-
stone, Essex, and FREDERICK WILLIAM LEAKE, Electrical. Engineer, Great
Eastern Railway Telegraph Department, Liverpool Street Station, London, 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:-
The object of this invention is to improve the working of electrically driven
clocks (commonly called electric clocks) and the controlling devices and appa-
ratus in connection therewith so that the same may be more effectual and
reliable in their action and indications.
And
In electrically driven clocks and especially so in large ones where the hands
are not protected by glass or other means from the wind pressure the movements
of the hands as each impulse of electricity operates them forward is vibratory,
unsteady, confusing in its effects to the observer and generally unreliable and
unsatisfactory. Now in order to steady the movement of the hands of such
electrical clocks when operated by the periodical electrical impulses transmitted
thereto we control the movement of the operated armature of the electro-magnet
or magnets of the electric clocks by means of a break or steadying device formed
by attaching to such armatures directly or by means of a suitable lever or levers
a dash pot or valve arrangement which by means of air, glycerine, or other
suitable liquid being allowed to slowly pass the same shall slow or steady the
movement as each impulse of current operates the same. Instead therefore of
the hands moving sharply and instantly forward when operated the movement
may be made to extend over the whole or a greater portion of the time that
the electrical current is passing through the coils of the electro magnet.
this time may be extended by prolonging the period of contact made by the
transmitting mechanical clock and by decreasing the aperture through which
the air or glycerine or other suitable liquid shall pass in the said dash pot or
valve arrangement for controlling the motion of the hands. Or where the
return movement of the armature is used to operate the hands the same
device may be employed. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 1. a repre-
sents the armature of the operating magnet b. c is a lever to which is attached
the ratchet or other moving device for operating the hands of the clock. dis
the dash pot before described which is attached to the lever through the medium
of a cord and pulley or other convenient arrangement. The combined weight
of the weight and the piston work the mechanism of the clock the motion
being retarded by the action of the air, glycerine, or other suitable liquid in
the dash pot d. By allowing a screw or other projection to partially prevent the
face of the valve c from coming quite in contact with the under side of the
piston the motion can be correspondingly accelerated and adjusted. to suit any
varied requirements. Or we place a saddle suitably weighted by
the weight (see Fig. 2) over the shaft b which carries the minute hand of the
clock to be operated. Or we use a clutch to grip a circular metal disc in
connection with the minute hand.
In order to avoid stoppage or other irregularity in connection with the
driving of the said electric clocks we have a second or reserve mechanical clock
so that in case of failure of the one it may be automatically switched out of
circuit and the reserve clock automatically switched in circuit in order to keep
the said electric clocks going.

page_text: A
This automatic arrangement is described in Fig. 3. a and represent electro
magnets, is an armature operated by the electro magnet a fixed to and
forming part of a lever c fixed at one end to a support e and pivotted at the
other end to the rod of the piston of a fixed cylinder or dash pot d of a form
similar to that described in Fig. 1. g is a pivotted lever acted upon by a
spring m. h is an adjustable contact screw, s is an armature operated by
electro magnet i fixed to and forming part of a lever n pivotted at the free
end to the piston of a cylinder or dash pot j and fixed at the other end to the
support . The piston of the dash pot is similar to the one described in Fig. 1
with the exception that the valve u is placed on the top of same instead of
underneath as at v. k is a pivotted lever acted upon by spring i. o is an adjus-
table contact screw. The electric current of the system enters at the terminal w
passes through the electro magnet through electro magnet a thence to the
fixed support e to the arm f crossing to the lever g and from there through the
plate p to the terminal by. Lever is connected through plate q to the ter-
minal and the adjustable contact screw o is connected to the support e forming
when joined together a short circuit to the electro magnets i and a.
It is only
necessary to short circuit the electro magnet a but the short circuiting is
rendered more effectual by including both electro magnets a and i. The adjus-
table contact screw his connected to the reserve mechanical regulator clock
by means of the terminal r. Each time the operating current passes, the
electro magnet attracts the armature b as shown in the drawing but the return
motion of the armature b and lever c is retarded by a valve on the underside
of the piston in the dash pot d which closes when the piston tends to return
and another momentary current comes before the arm f drops sufficiently to
allow the lever g to be pulled over by the spring m in contact with the adjustable
contact screw h. Should however the customary momentary current not pass
at its duly appointed period for which is it adjusted the arm f drops sufficiently
to allow the lever g to be pulled over by spring m in contact with the adjustable
contact screw thereby breaking connection with the defective mechanical
regulator clock and joining the circuit to the reserve mechanical regulator clock.
Should the periodical momentary current pass for too great a length of time
the continued action of the electro magnet i upon the armature s is sufficient
to raise the contact point a away from the lever k which is then by the action
of spring drawn into contact with adjustable contact screw o thereby short
circuiting the two electro magnets as before described. When this short cir-
cuiting takes place the armature b drops sufficiently to enable the lever g to
disconnect the defective clock and join up the reserve clock through the fixed
contact screw h and the terminal as before described.
Fig. 4 represents an improved adaptation of the same principle. a and b are
enclosed electro magnets c and d are dash pots e and f are armatures fixed to the
vertical rods g and h to which are connected the pistons and p of the
dash pots c and d. The current enters at the terminal w passes through the
electro magnets a and b to the levers i and thence to lever through adjustable
contact screws and passing through tension spring t leaves the instrument by
the terminal by. The lever k is connected to the terminal w through tension
spring u, and the adjustable contact screw 1 is joined to the pillar of the lever i
thereby forming a short circuit to the electro magnets when the lever k comes
in contact with the adjustable contact screw 1. Each time the operating current
passes the electro magnet pulls up sharply the armature f the return
motion being retarded by the valve at the bottom of the piston p. of the
dash pot d closing, and another momentary current comes before the lever i
drops sufficiently to release the lever j. Should however the customary momen-
tary current fail to pass after the prearranged interval the lever i drops suffi-
ciently to allow the lever j to come in contact with the adjustable contact
screw m thereby disconnecting the defective clock and joining up the reserve
clock through terminal r.

page_text: Should the customary momentary current pass for too great a length of time
the electro magnet a is enabled to pull up the lever sufficient to enable the
lever to come into contact with the adjustable contact screw thereby short
circuiting the electro magnets as before described. When this short circuiting
occurs the armature f drops sufficiently to enable the lever i to fall sufficiently
to allow the lever to come into contact with the adjustable contact screw m
thereby joining up the reserve clock as before described.
We do not confine ourselves to these precise methods or to the exact circuit
arrangement indicated but the object is herein clearly defined and typical
methods which we find very effectual are herein set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
1. A steadying device in connection with the receiver movements of electric
clock systems by which the motion is extended over a certain determined time
by the action of air, glycerine or other suitable liquid on the piston of a dash
pot arrangement substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
2. A steadying device for the receiver movements of electric clock systems
composed of a suitably weighted saddle substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
B. A steadying device for the receiver movements of electric clock systems
composed of a friction clutch acting upon a disc substantially as described and
for the purposes specified.
4. An automatic electrical combination or arrangement for electric clock
systems for inserting a reserve clock in case of the working mechanical regu-
lator or driving clock failing to join up the circuit at the customary intervals
or joining it up for too great a length of time substantially as described and for
the purposes specified.
5. In an improved electrical arrangement for inserting or switching into
circuit a second reserve driving clock in case the first driving clock fails the
combination of two electro magnetic dash pots in the manner and for the
purpose substantially as set forth.
Th
1
1000
FREDERICK THOMAS HOLLINS,.
FREDERICK WILLIAM LEAKE.