An Improved Watchman's Time Recorder.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 2.st June, 1890
Complete Specification Left. 21st Mar., 1891-Accepted. 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Watchman's Time Recorder.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, (a communication to me from abroad by Herbert
Bennett of Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., Gentleman,) do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the improvement of watchmen's time recording devices,
and has particular relation to the construction of a device whereby the visits of a
watchman are recorded by air pressure.
The construction of this invention consists of two parts, vis. the sending
mechanism, and the recording mechanism.
The sending mechanism comprises a suitable case preferably constructed of metal,
is cup-shaped, and has its open end suitably secured to a suitable base block. The
inner face of this base block is provided with a concave depression which forms a
seat for the rear side of an ordinary hollow rubber ball, which is enclosed within
the outer case.
Formed in the centre of the forward end of the outer case is an
outwardly projecting keyway-neck which communicates with the interior of the
case. This key-hole is partially closed near its outer end by a transverse plate
which extends across the centre of the hole or keyway and is of such width as to
leave on each side thereof narrow openings. A button rests upon the top of the
flexible ball aforesaid, and is provided at the top with a short forwardly projecting
A tube is secured in the flexible
tongue which projects into the neck of the case.
ball, and passing through the base plate of the case communicates with the recording
mechanism hereinafter described.
The recording mechanism comprises a vertical frame-plate, to which is attached
the frame of an ordinary clockwork mechanism, the latter being supported within
its frame in the usual manner. The hand-post of the mechanism projects outwardly
from the front of the frame. A thin paper disc is secured upon the outer portion
of the hand-post, and has its face divided by twelve printed lines. Each space
between two of said lines represents the distance which said dial will be forced to
travel owing to its connection with the hand-post during one hours time. If desired
the spaces between said hour-lines may be so printed as to represent the desired
fractions of an hour. The hour represented by each line is indicated by a printed
figure upon the dial opposite said line. An arm extends outwardly to a point
vertically beneath the lower edge and centre of the dial, at which point it is bent
upwardly, said upwardly bent portion being divided to form two upwardly-extending
parallel arms which loosely embrace the lower portion of the dial. Extending
upwardly from the horizontal portion of the arm aforesaid, near the centre of the
length thereof, is an arm which terminates at a point horizontally opposite the
vertically-divided portion of the arm. Supported by the upper portion of the arm
and passing therethrough is a short horizontal tube, the rear end of which extends
into a hole formed in the frame-plate aforesaid and communicates with the tube of
the flexible ball contained within the case of the sending mechanism. The forward
end of the horizontal tube aforesaid communicates with the interior of a flattened
disc-shaped air chamber, the faces or diaphragms of which are preferably formed of
thin metal. Secured to the centre of the front face of this air chamber is the rear
end of a needle, the forward end of which extends within a transverse needle-hole,
which passes through the guide-arms. Said forward end of the needle is pointed
and normally terminates in the rear of the dial. Surrounding said needle, and
having its ends bearing between the rear face of the rear arm and the front face of
the air chamber is a coiled spring.

page_text: A key is provided by means of which the flexible bulb is depressed. This key
consists of a head and a cylindrical stem, the greater part of which is divided by a
vertical slit to form two parallel prongs of such form as to admit of their insertion
through the opening of the keyway.
It will be readily, understood, that when the bulb of the sending mechanism is
depressed by the watchman on his rounds, and who carries a key, that the disc-
shaped air-chamber is expanded, and its diaphragm carrying the needle causes said
needle to perforate the thin paper dial, and thus make a record of the time at which
the air bulb was last depressed by the watchman.
Dated this 21st day of June 1890
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Watchman's Time Recorder.
1, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Herbert D. Bennett, of Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A.
Gentleman,) to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the improvement of watchinen's time recording devices,
and has particular relation to the construction of a device wherein the visits of a
watchman are recorded by air-pressure.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this
class by means of which an accurate and reliable record of the time at which a
watchman visits a given station may be produced, to so construct the same as to
obviate the use of electricity in producing the desired record, and to provide air-
forcing mechanism at the sending-station, by means of which the necessary power may
be easily imparted to the recording mechanism at the recording-station. These
objects we accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which―
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved sending-station box.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, showing the inclosed air bulb or ball in
elevation, and showing in dotted lines the position of said bulb or ball when the same
is compressed.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of said sending-station box.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the key by which the ball is compressed.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on lineæ æ of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a face view of the recording-station.
Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of the same, showing the clock-work in
elevation and
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same with the clockwork incased.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A represents a case, which, as shown, incloses the sending-station mechanism.
This case, which is preferably formed of metal, has its rear open end secured to a
similar base-block a. The inner face of this base-block a is provided with a
concave depression, which forms, as shown, a seat for the rear side of an ordinary
hollow rubber ball, which is encased within said case A. Formed in the centre
of the forward end of the case A is an outwardly-projecting keyway-neck a¹,
through which is formed a key-hole, which communicates with the interior of the
case. This key-hole is partially closed near its outer end by a transverse plate c,
extending across the centre of the hole or keyway and of such width as to leave on
each side thereof narrow openings.
d represents a button, which bears between the outer end of the case A and the
air-ball, said button slightly depressing the said ball to form a seat therein. The
forward side of the button d'is provided with a short forwardly projecting tongue'd',

page_text: wnica projects within the neck d of the case a and is of a circumference somewhat
less than the hollow of said neck.
represents a metallic tube, which, passing through a pipe or tube hole formed
in the base-block a has its end passing through and projecting slightly within the
rear side of the ball This end of the tube e is preferably secured in its
connection with the ball by means of washers ele closely surrounding the
tube e and bearing, respectively, against the outer end inner surface of said ball.
The tube e is further secured in its position by means of a nut f, which is
screwed thereon and made to bear against the rear side of the block a. The
tube e is connected at its remaining end, as hereinafter described, with the recording
mechanism.
Referring to the drawings in Figs. 67 and 8, y represents a vertical frame-
plate, which may form the back of a suitable case, if desired. Secured to the
face of this frame-plate in any desired manner is the frame of an ordinary
clock-work mechanism H, the latter being supported within its frame in the usual
manner. Of this clock-work mechanism, represents the outwardly-projecting
hand-post, and h¹ the winding or spring-post. Supported centrally upon the outer
portion of the hand-post is a thin paper disci, which is clamped between the cap k,
screwed upon the outer end of the hand-post, and a washer k¹ surrounding said
hand-post and abutting against a collar k, formed thereon. This paper disc or
dial has its face divided by twelve printed lines. Each space between two of said
lines represents the distance which said dial will be forced to travel, owing to its
connection to the hand post, during one hour's time. If desired, the spaces
between said hour-lines may be so printed or lined as to represent the desired
fractions of an hour. The hour represented by each line is indicated by a printed
figure upon the dial opposite said line. Secured to the frame-plate g at a point
beneath the clock-work mechanism is the rear end of a guide arm m.
This arm
extends outwardly to a point vertically beneath the lower edge and centre of the
dial, at which point it is bent upwardly, said upwardly bent portion being divided
to form two upwardly extending parallel arms m', which loosely embrace the lower
portion of the dial. Extending upwardly from the horizontal portion of the arm m,
near the centre of the length thereof, is an arin n, which terminates at a point
horizontally opposite the vertically-divided portion of the arm m. Supported by
the upper portion of said arm and passing therethrough is a short horizonta
tube P, the rear end of which extends into a hole formed in the frame-plate g and
communicates, as shown, with the remaining end of the tube e. The forward end of
the tube is connected with the rear side of and made to communicate with the
interior of a flattened disc-shaped air-chamber 7, the faces or diaphragms of which
are preferably formed of thin metal. Secured to the centre of the front face of
this air-chamber is the rear end of a needle r, the forward end of which extends
within a transverse needle-hole y, which passes through the guide-armis m'. Said
forward end of the needle is pointed and normally terminates in the rear of the
dial. Surrounding said needle and having its ends bearing between the rear face
of the rear arm m² and the front face of the air-chambery is a coiled spring s.
2'
represents the key, by means of which the bulb is compressed, as hereinafter
described. This key consists as shown of a head t, and a cylindrical stem the
greater part of which is provided by a vertical slit to form two parallel prongs of such
form as to admit of their insertion through the opening of the key-way.
The operation of my device is as follows: The herein described recording-station
mechanism (shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings) may be located at the office
of the factory or other building where it is to be used, or at any other convenient
point which is not accessible to the watchman, and said mechanism may, if desired,
be provided with a suitable case having a lock. The sending-station (shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings) may be located at the point in the building to be
visited by the watchman. The dial is so set that the line which represents the time
corresponding with the actual time of the day is immediately opposite the needle-
hole of the guide-arm m³, and the clock-work mechanism in rear is so adjusted as

page_text: to cause said dial to make a complete revolution every twelve hours. The watchman
visiting the sending-station inserts the key into the key-hole of the neck a', the
prongs of the said key entering the openings e and coming in contact with the
button on opposite sides of the tongue d'. He then presses upon said key, which
pressure, through the consequent inward movement of the button d, will operate to
compress the ball or bulb b, as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 2 of the drawings.
The compression of said ball will result in forcing the air contained therein out
through the tubes e and p into the air chamber 7 at the recording-station. Owing
to the faces of the latter being of thin material, the increased volume of air thus
forced therein will cause an expansion or outward movement of the air-chamber
face, which, through its connection with the needle, will operate to drive the latter
sufficiently forward to cause its point to penetrate the paper disc or dial. The key
being withdrawn from the sending-box, the bulb or ball will be allowed to return to
its normal position the air forced therefrom returning to fill the same. The
return of the air, together with the tension of the spring, which is necessarily
slightly compressed when the face of the air-chamber is expended, will cause the
said air-chamber to resume its usual form, and will draw the needle from
the dial.
By the herein described construction it will be seen that the needle-hole formed,
as above described, in the dial will be in line with the figure or mark on said
dial representing the hour of the day, thus indicating to an observer the hours at
which the watchman visited said station.
The herein described recording device, although simple of construction, is at once
accurate and reliable and can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :
1. In a watchman's pneumatic time-recorder, the combination, with an ordinary
clock-work mechanism H, a paper clock-dial carried, as described, by the hand-
post, and the divided guide arm m, having needle-hole y and loosely embracing the
lower portion of said dial, of the thin faced air-chamber 7, having projecting
needle, adapted to enter the needle-hole y, the inlet-tube p, communicating with
said chamber, substantially as set forth.
2. In a watchman's time-recorder, the combination, with the sending-station
mechanism consisting of the case A, having a key-way therein, elastic hollow ball b
inclosed within said case, pressure button d, supported against said ball and
key-way, the outlet tube e, of the recording-mechanism consisting of the clock-
works H, dial, supported upon the hand-post, guide-arm m, having needle-hole y
and loosely embracing the lower portion of said dial, the thin-faced air-chamber 9:
having projecting needle r, adapted to enter the needle-hole 3, and inlet-tube p
communicating with the interior of said air-chamber, and a tube e, connecting the
interior of said ball and tube substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 21st day of March 1891.
J. I. BAY,
Applicant.