Improvements in Clock Alarms.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1895-4ccepted, 29th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clock Alarms.
WILLIAM GARDINER GROSSETT 49 Dongola Road Plaistow E. London
Shipwright do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
3 wires one of which is attached from electric battery to bell one from battery to
indicator on clock and one leading from bell to a slide lever in case of clock said
clock case measuring 10" x 7" x 24" or upwards so that by setting indicator on
dial of clock to any time required as an alarm and pushing slide lever downwards
it will complete the circuit of electricity at required time and set the bell ringing
for any time wanted up till two hours unless stopped suitable for either pendulum
or lever clock and all contained within case of clock with exception of bell gong
which is outside.
Dated this 11th day of February 1895.
WILLIAM G. GROSSETT.
I, WILLIAM GARDINER GROSSETT, of 49 Dongola Road, Plaistow, London,
Shipwright, 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved means for actuating the electrical striking
mechanism of alarum clocks, either at any one special hour, (in the day time or at
nightime) or at certain fixed hours, as for instance in factories to call attention
to the breakfast time or dinner time, or for leaving off work, and for like
purposes.
I will now describe the invention in reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which ;-
66
Fig. 1 shows a back elevation of the interior of a cottage "clock fitted with my
striking mechanism.
Fig. 2 shows a front view on a smaller scale of the face of the clock shewn
in Fig. 1 and exhibits the adjustable disc a', which moves simultaneously with the
hour hand, and disc a, being connected therewith by a short hollow arbor. Thus
when the alarm is required to ring at 3 o'clock, the disc a' is turned in the direction
shown by the arrow, till the numeral on same comes into line under the hour hand.
From the fact of the needle c being placed at or near the figure 12 on the disc a',
it will be seen that by the turning movement, described above, the needle c will be
brought into the position shewn by dotted line.
Therefore when the hour hand reaches the numeral 3 on the clock face proper,
the disc a¹ and needle c will have arrived opposite the numeral 12 on the proper
clock face, and the contact will be made and bell caused to ring.

page_text: Fig. 3 shows a back elevation of a larger clock to which my invention is fitted,
and
Fig. 4 shows a horizontal cross section on the line -y of Fig. 3, and exhibits
the electrical contacts and adjacent parts.
Referring to Fig. 1 a, is a central disc, which is placed on and revolves with
the arbor of the hour hand of the clock, and to this disc is connected one of the
wires from the battery . is an ordinary form of battery.
c is a copper needle projecting a short distance beyond the periphery of the disc a
and serving by its periodical contact with the point f' of the small balanced lever f
to make and break the circuit while revolving with the disc a.
d is the bell with the usual magnets striker and terminals d³ d*.
e is a sliding copper rod forming a cut out or contact breaker operated from above
by means of a button or knob e'. A second wire e from the terminal d³ is
connected to the bottom of this rod e. The second wire 2 from the battery is as
usual connected to the terminal d of the magnet.
f is a small cranked lever pivotted on the end of rod e at e³ and provided with a
counterweight to return it to its normal position.
When therefore the needle c of the disc a, comes into contact with the lower
end of the lever the circuit is completed and the bell on alarum rings, and
continues ringing, until the needle c is drawn out of contact by the rotation of the
hour hand, or until the cut out e is drawn up by hand in either of which cases the
circuit is broken.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the general arrangement of the mechanism is the
same as in Fig. 1, with the exceptions that (1) the magnets as shewn are placed
inside the bell.
(2) The cut out e is placed at the side, instead of at the top, and slides
horizontally, and (3) the hour hand disc is provided as shewn with several
contacts or needles thus causing the alarm to ring at certain stated intervals
of time.
(4) No adjustable disc a¹ is required in this larger clock as the arrangement of a
number of fixed needles c will dispense with its presence.
:-
This operation of the larger clock shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 is as follows:-
When one of the needles in its revolution with the hour hand, comes into
contact with the end of the cranked lever f, thus completing the circuit, the bell
rings until the pressure of c on 1, causes to rise and break contact with e; and
when the needle c has passed out of contact with f¹, the lever f falls again upon e
and the alarm remains silent until the next needle completes the circuit by forming
contact with f'.
It will be seen that my invention differs from other alarm clocks in this respect,
that it can be adjusted to start and stop ringing automatically, and will not require
to be stopped by hand unless specially required.
Also it does not continue ringing until the battery is exhausted unless stopped as
some alarm clocks do.
The larger clock shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 is specially intended for use in factories
and the like where employees or operatives have to be signalled when to leave off
or return to their work.
The hours at which the signal is required are indicated by the position of the
needles c on the disc a.
To avoid the alarm ringing at night or when not required the cut out e can be
withdrawn, and the alarm will not act until e is again brought into contact.
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 1
claim is:
1. In an electrical alarm clock the arrangement of the disc a with one or more
contact needles the balanced contact lever with counterweight sliding cut out e
and with or without the adjustable disc a', as herein described and set forth.

page_text: 2. In an electrical alarm clock the combination of the mechanism described in
Claim 1, with a bell or gong, the coiled magnets d d, battery band the necessary
wires and fittings for forming a circuit, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 27th day of May 1895.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Agent for Applicant.