Improvements in Electric Clocks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 10th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Clocks.
I ARTHUR BOOTHE WEBBER of 1, Kirkdale Terrace, High Road, Leytonstone,
in the County of Essex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements in magnetic clocks. The clock is
set in motion, in the first instance, by a swing of the balance wheel, and thence-
forth is driven by the balance wheel by means of a spring which engages the teeth
of the escape wheel at every complete vibration. An electro-magnet, which may
be of any convenient form, is fixed on the movements of the clock, and is connected
with the battery, and contact springs hereinafter mentioned. The contacts are
preferably platinum, but may be of any suitable unoxidisable metal. The contact
springs are fixed on the movements of the clock, and being set at an angle and not
parallel to each other, touch each other obliquely. Attached to the balance wheel,
which must be of non-magnetic material, a piece of iron is placed diametrically,
the ends of which are imbedded in recesses in the periphery of the said wheel. A
banking is provided to prevent the vibration from becoming excessive. A flap
delicately sprung is pivoted and attached to the arbor of the balance wheel. The
springs being set at an angle to each other consequently work in different
directions; the contact is therefore frictional and clean, instead of what is termed
શ "dead touch."
Dated this 10th day of June 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Clocks.
I ARTHUR BOOTHE WEBBER of 1 Kirkdale Terrace, High Road, Leytonstone,
Essex, Clock-maker 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:-
In order that these
My invention relates to improvements in electric clocks.
improvements may be easily understood I refer to the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 is a back view of the 'scape wheel of the movement of a clock and
also shows the especial devices of which my invention consists.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
The electro-magnet, a, Figs. 1 & 2 of any convenient form is fixed on the
movement of the clock, and is connected with the springs d, d', Figs. 1 & 2. These
springs are of any suitable metal, and are set at an angle to each other as delineated,
they consequently touch each other obliquely when the clock is going. They are
furnished at their respective points of contact with a piece of platinum, or other
suitable metal to prevent oxidization. The spring d', is also furnished with a saw-
piece, . Both springs being set not parallel, but at an angle to each other, and
therefore working in opposite directions, will, when they are forced into contact as
hereinafter described, make a frictional and consequently clean contact instead of
what is termed a "dead touch." The springs are severally connected with the
opposite poles of a battery, or other generator, or conductor of electricity, and,
when in contact, excite the electro-magnet. The balance wheel f, Figures 1 & 2
has its arbor, k, Figs. 1 & 2, to which arbor the balance spring is attached at one
20

page_text: of its ends, the other end being fastened by the button, f%, Figure 2, or other
suitable means, in a convenient position, to the movement of the clock. To the
arbor, k, of the balance wheel, f, is also attached a wedge shaped piece of metal,
hereinafter called a flap, i, Figure 1, working on a pivot, and maintained in position
by means of a delicate spring, i, Figure 1. The balance wheel must be of a non-
magnetic material. To it is attached a bar of iron, h, Figs. 1 & 2, in such a
position, that when the electro-magnet is excited by the contact of the springs d, d²,
it will present the greatest possible attraction to the ends of the said bar, and
cause the balance wheel, f, to vibrate with the greatest possible force. The lever, e',
Figures 1 & 2 is moved by the partial revolution of the balance wheel, f, which is
furnished with a pin, f Fig. 1 against which the forked end, ƒof the lever, e', is
pushed by the action of the balance wheel f, and to said lever is attached a
spring, e, Figs. 1 & 2 which engages the 'scape-wheel, g, Figs. 1 & 2 at every
partial revolution of the balance-wheel f. The 'scape-wheel works the movement
controlling the hands of the clock, which is-made in the ordinary way.
Having described the parts which compose my invention, I proceed to show the
manner in which these parts perform their functions severally. The clock is set
going in the first instance by a swing given by the finger to the balance wheel, and
this impulse, setting the balance-wheel in action, moves the lever, e', which by
means of the pin moves to and fro at cach complete vibration of the balance-
wheel and by these means the spring, e, is pushed against the escape-wheel, g, the
teeth of which said spring engages in succession at each complete vibration of the
balance-wheel, f. The same result will occur if the saw-piece, d, be attached to,
or made part of the arbor, k, of the balance-wheel, f, and the flap, i, attached to the
spring, d, instead of to the arbor of the balance-wheel. So long as the balance
wheel, f, is in active motion, the flap, i, simply brushes past the saw-piece, but as
the motion slackens, the flap engages one of the teeth of the saw piece, and forces
the spring d¹, on to the spring, d, which contact completing the electric circuit,
with the batteries, excites the electro-magnet, and thus gives an immediate impulse
to the bar, h, causing the parts of the bar on the balance-wheel, f, to move swiftly
towards the electro-magnet, but before each end of the bar reaches the electro-
magnet, the springs d, d', released by the progress of the balance wheel, f, and the
resultant pressure of the flap, i, have recoiled, and the electro-magnet no longer
acting, allow the bar to travel past the magnet, and the pin, f, attached to the
balance wheel, f, forces the lever, e', to impinge, by means of the spring, e, on the
'scape-wheel, g, and push it one tooth forward. The balance spring, x, acting upon
the balance wheel, f, then forces it back again in such a manner that said spring
and wheel working against each other will have sufficient power to continue the
movement of the lever, e¹, and consequently the 'scape wheel, g, for several seconds.
So soon however, as the value of the magnetic contact is lessened, the flap, i, which
has hitherto simply brushed past the saw-piece of the spring, d, now engages the
teeth of the saw-piece, and the electro-magnet again gives fresh impulse to the
clock. In order that the power of the battery or electric apparatus may not
overcome the power of the balance spring, a, to an extent which would retard its
return motion too long, I may provide a bank or pin in any convenient position on
the movement of the clock. I find however that with ordinary care the clock will
keep time, without this precaution. I wish to direct attention to the fact that by
my invention the ordinary method by which the lever drives the clock is reversed.
By the invention herein specified the balance wheel, f, by the intermittent attraction
of the electro-magnet and the counter action of the spring, x, operates the lever, el,
which by means of the spring, e, pushes the 'scape-wheel, g, tooth by tooth, which
in its turn drives the clock.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is.
1-In balance wheel electric clocks the application of an electro-macnet the

page_text: contact springs d, d¹ these springs being set at an angle to each other, the spring, e
the lever ethe piece or bar of iron, h, and the flap, i, attached to the delicate
spring,, all substantially as set forth.
2 In balance wheel electric clocks the combination and arrangement of the
5 mechanism herein described, substantially as set forth.
Dated this Ninth day of March 1893.
ARTHUR BOOTHE WEBBER.