Improvements in and connected with Electric Clocks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1896
Complete Specification Lef, 23rd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 24th July, 1897
Improvements in and connected with Electric Clocks.
I, WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, of 43, Derby Street, Moss Side, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with electric clocks and
has for its objects to provide means whereby an electric current can be sent through
a clock to perform work in the same or in an apparatus connected therewith, say a
time stamping or checking apparatus, in such a manner that the electric current is
allowed to flow only during the time actual work is performed, thus saving the
current of the electric source.
To this end I employ in the clock as usually an electro-magnet and armature. To
the said armature is firmly attached an arm under the influence of a weight or spring
and at the free end of which is furnished with an anti-friction bowl the said armature
being mounted between centres and the said anti-friction bowl adapted to operate in
conjunction with a hatchet switch hereinafter described.
In my improved electric clock the drum and spring and wheel in gear with the
drum are dispensed with and the next or third wheel furnished with pins so set as to
represent each a minute; or in lieu of furnishing the said wheel with pins a dise
furnished with pins or teeth may be used. Upon the arbor of the said wheel is
mounted a small rocking lever carrying a pawl under the influence of a light spring
for the purpose of keeping the said pawl always in contact with the said pins, whilst
the said weight or spring on the armature arm furnishes the power to work the
clock.
Inconnection with the said pin wheel or disc is employed a lever carrying a roller in
diameter larger than the distance of two pins and adapted to form a back pull and to
assist the amature lever in pushing off the aforesaid hatchet switch.
The said switch consists of a cain pivoted between centres in a suitable frame and
carrying at its upper end a hatchet like projection and retained at its lower end by a
gravity pawl having a projecting point. When the armature arm has fully descended.
its bowl contacts with the point on the said gravity pawl, carrying it down and thus
releasing the said cam, which latter owing to the weight of the hatchet falls into
contact with au insolated spring, thus closing the circuit energizing the electro-
inagnet aforesaid which instantly breaks the circuit and sets the hatchet switch by
the action of the said bowl to its normal position. The circuit may be closed either
through its own electro-magnet or through any other apparatus. In the latter case
an additional similar switch to the one already in the clock is employed in the
apparatus and the clock switch closes the circuit of the apparatus and vice versa.
When used as a clock only the said switch closes through the magnet in the
clock only.
1000

page_text: I, WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, of 43, Derby Street, Moss Side, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 improvements in and connected with electric clocks and
has for its objects to provide means whereby an electric current can be sent through
n clock to perform work in the same or in an apparatus connected therewith, say a
time stamping or checking apparatus, having revolving type wheels, for instance,
such as described in specification belonging to Letters Patent, No. 8513 of 1894,
granted to me, in such a manner that the electric current is allowed to flow only during
the time actual work is performed, thus saving the current of the electric source.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to be
appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference indicating
like parts in the various figures.
Fig. is an end view, Fig. 2 a sectional side view, and Fig. 3 a plan of my
improvements in electric clocks,
In the clock-work shown in annexed drawings the escapement and intermediate
gearing are not shown.
In carrying out my invention and referring to Figs. 1, 2 & 3, I employ in the clock
as usual an electro-magnet and its armature a & respectively. To the armature
is firmly attached an arm 61 under the influence of a weight or spring, in the present
instance under that of a weight b, and furnished at its free end with an anti-friction
bowl, the said armature being mounted between centres c, e, and the anti-friction
bowl adapted to operate in conjunction with a hatchet switch hereinafter
described.
In my improved electric clock the drum and spring and wheel in gear with the
drum, employed in ordinary clocks, are dispensed with and one of the wheels in the
present instance, preferably the next or third wheel e, furnished with teeth or pins el
so set as to represent each a minute; or in lieu of furnishing the said wheel with
teeth or pins a dise furnished with teeth or pins as hereinafter described may be used.
Upon the arbor of the tooth or pin wheel e is mounted a small rocking lever having
two arns f&, the arm carrying the pawl under the influence of a light
spring which latter serves to keep the said pawl always in contact with the teeth or
pins . To the armature arm b' is pivoted a rod f the lower end of which is jointed
to the arm of the aforesaid rocking lever and thus imparts motion to the pawl 3,
whilst the weight (or spring) on the armature arm 61 furnishes the power to work
the clock.
In connection with the tooth or pin wheel e (or dise) is employed a lever g carrying
a roller in diameter larger than the distance of two teeth or pins e' and adapted to
form a back pawl and assist the armature arm in pushing off the aforesaid latchet
switch.
This switch consists of a cam h pivoted, between centres ', h¹, to a suitable frame i
and carrying at its upper end a hatchet like projection and at its lower end retained
by a gravity pawl k having a projecting point engaging a pin 3 on the lower end
of the cam h. When the armature arm has fully descendeil, its bowl b', or a wire b
attached thereto, contacts with the point on the gravity pawl, depresses it and
releases the pin 3 on the cam h which latter owing to the weight of the hatchet h²
falls into contact with an insulated spring 1, thus closing the circuit, energizing the
electro-magnet aforesaid which instantly breaks the circuit and sets the said hatchet

page_text: switch by the action of the bowl 3 to its normal position, i.e., it attracts the armature
and raises the arm and weight 2 to its top position at which point it lifts the
hatchet out of contact with the insulated spring l, this is the action which takes place
when used simply as a clock, but when used in combination with any other apparatus,
say, a time stamp or time checking apparatus, the switch described does not close the
circuit through the clock magnet but through the magnet in the checking apparatus
operating that instrument, which also has a similar hatchet switch, the latter being
operated by a lever attached to the armature of the said apparatus and thus closing
the circuit through the magnet of the clock, which attracts the armature and raises
the hatchet switch of the clock, thus breaking the circuit which combines the clock
and the apparatus.
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:-
In and connected with electric clocks."
1st. A switch consisting of a cam & suitably pivoted, the upper end of which has a
hatchet like projection adapted to make and break contact with an insulated spring
and the lower end being adapted to be retained and released by a pawl k, k¹, all
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In combination with the switch specified in the preceding claim, an electro-
magnet, the armature of which has an arm under the influence of a weight or
spring the free end of which arin is adapted to operate the aforesaid switch, all
substantially as set forth.
3rd. In combination with a switch and armature arm as specified in the preceding
claims respectively, a tooth or pin wheel or disc in the clock-work, actuated from the
arinature arm by means of a rocking lever f,, and pawl, all substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1897.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.