Improved Apparatus for Operating Clocks Synchronously.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improved Apparatus for Operating Clocks Synchronously.
A communication from EDGAR AYRES, of Sydney, in the Colony of New South
Wales, Australia, Watchmaker.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 consists, mainly of two parts, first of appliances for alternately
completing and breaking an electric circuit that controls the second part of the
invention, namely, the apparatus for moving other clocks synchronously.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus for making and breaking circuit.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan-view from above.
Figure 4 is a plan from below.
Figure 5 is a front view of the appliances, used for giving motion to the
synchronous clocks.
Figure 6 is a detail end view of the escapement.
Figure 7 is a detail end view of the lever that moves the escapement wheel but
with the part shewn in Figure 6 removed.
A is the disc that is mounted on any suitable spindle or shaft in the primary or
regulating clock, and is provided with two sets of radial vanes or tappets one set a
is secured on one face of the disc at regular intervals, and the other set a¹ is secured
on the outer face of the disc at regular intervals but in advance of the first set a,
the distance between the two sets of tappets being fixed according to the time that
it is desired to keep the operating electric circuit closed. Each set of vanes a a¹
act as tappets to actuate triggers B B' that can be moved independently of one
another. The normal position of the triggers is shewn in Figure 1 and they may
be caused to resume that position after being moved, by any suitable means or
appliance, such, for instance, as the small spring b. Each trigger when in its
normal position will support a pivotted or hinged arm C C'. The arm C carries on
its underside tongue c, which, when the trigger B is moved and the pivotted
arm C is allowed to fall will come in contact with a contact point or screw D and
close a local circuit shewn on the drawings as Y. Included in this local circuit is
an electro-magnet E, the armature of which constitutes a pivotted arm C¹.
The arm C also carries a tongue c¹ on its underside, a contact point or screw D¹
being pivotted as is the case with the other pivotted arm. When the armature C¹
falls, when released by the trigger B₁ the line circuit Z will be closed. The
armature C¹ is pivotted with a plate F that projects sufficiently far to underlie the
pivotted arm C, see Figure 4.
The node in which the above described apparatus operates is as follows:—
The disc A as it rotates will cause each tappet a¹ to successively impinge against
the lower end of the trigger B'. When a tappet moves the trigger it will free the
armature C¹ and allow it to fall and close the line circuit Z as before mentioned.
As the disc A revolves, the following tappet a on the opposite side will move
the trigger B thereby releasing the arm C and allowing it to fall and close the local
circuit Y. The armature C₁ will then be immediately lifted by the electro-
magnet E and by means of the projecting plate F, the arm C will be lifted with the
armature and both circuits Y Z broken.

page_text: Both the armature C¹ and the arm C are lifted sufficiently high to set themselves
again on their respective triggers B B'.
The special object of the disc A and tappet a a¹ device is to minimise the time of
action of the intermittent current of the line circuit, and thus render the adoption
of primary batteries possible for this purpose. The apparatus that gives motion to
each synchronous or recorder clock, consists of a pivotted lever G one end of
which is the armature of an electro-magnet H which is included in the line
circuit.
The other end of the lever projects obliquely upwards and is provided at its
extremity with a pivotted spring finger g. This finger g engages with the teeth of
a ratchet wheel J and every time the lever G is moved the wheel J is moved the
distance of one tooth. When the lever G resumes its normal position the spring
finger 9 will give way and allow it to pass the next succeeding tooth. In order to
prevent the wheel J being pushed round more than one tooth an escapement is
used. This escapement consists of a plate K, that is attached to the lever G, and
is recessed or slotted to receive the ratchet wheel J, see Figure 6.
"
The plate K engages alternately at the top and bottom with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel, every time that the lever G is moved; thus, when the lever is in its
normal position the escapement plate K is in engagement, with an upper tooth
while the bottom is free from the teeth; when the lever is moved the bottom of
the recess in the plate K will engage with a bottom tooth and the top will be free.
By this arrangement it will be seen that the ratchet wheel can only be moved a
fixed distance of one tooth. The spring pawl L is employed to prevent the
wheel J from moving backwards when the lever G falls.
As before described the line circuit Z is closed and open at regular intervals;
each time the circuit is closed the electro-magnet H of each clock will be brought
into action and motion be imparted to each clock in circuit synchronously with
the primary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion as communicated to be by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for operating clocks synchronously a disc that is mounted on a
suitable spindle or shaft in the primary or regulating clock the disc being provided
with radial vanes or tappets at regular distances on both faces the tappets on one
face being slightly in advance of those on the other face in combination with a pair
of triggers one for each set of tappets for the purpose of controlling apparatus for
making and breaking electric circuits as herein specified.
2. In apparatus for operating clocks synchronously a pair of pivotted arms or
levers one of which constitutes the armature of an electro-magnet both being
provided with contact points or means for closing an electric circuit, the armature
lever or arm having a lateral extension which underlies the other arm whereby
when the armature is attracted by the magnet it shall be caused to lift the other
arm and break circuits as herein described.
3. In apparatus for operating clocks synchronously in combination a disc that is
provided with tappets at regular intervals apart on both its faces a pair of triggers
that are controlled by the tappets, a pair of pivotted arms or levers one of which
constitutes the armature of an electro-magnet both arms being provided with means
for closing an electric circuit and with means whereby both arms shall be lifted
simultaneously when the armature is attracted by the electro-magnet as herein set
forth.
4. In recorder clocks that are operated synchronously from a primary in
combination a rocking lever one arm of which constitutes the armature of an
electro-magnet, the circuit in which it is placed being controlled by a primary
clock the other arm of the rocking lever being provided with a spring finger that

page_text: engages with and moves a toothed wheel every time the armature is attracted and
a check or escapement plate secured to that lever whereby the motion of the
toothed wheel is controlled as herein specified.
Dated this 9th day of October 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.