Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 23rd June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 9th Aug., 1887.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved pneumatic clock.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein figure 1
represents an elevation of the clock and mechanism for controlling any suitable
number of secondary clocks or receivers. Figure 2 is a plan of same.
letters of reference serve for like parts in both the figures.
The same
A represents the main clock, and B B the receivers or secondary clocks. C is a
relay connected in such manner to the main pipe that the compressed air will act
with certainty upon the receivers. The compressed air is supplied from a suitable
compressor by the pipe a, and is distributed to the receiver B by the action of
a cock b which is automatically controlled by the clock A by means of the mechanism
hereinafter described. y is a lever which is oscillated every minute or fraction
of a minute by the clock A so as to act on cock band establish communication between
the air compressor and cylinder d whose piston controls one of the receivers. The
compressed air acting on the piston of cylinder d oscillates lever a', and by means
of pawls b and anchors c¹ moves the wheel a fraction of a turn corresponding
to that made by the clock A. When the cock b has, by the movement of lever y,
been turned sufficiently to place pipe c in communication with the atmosphere,
the compressed air escapes and the piston of cylinder d is returned to its original
position by weight d¹. s is a roller which rolls on lever y and operates the disengaging
mechanism, said roller is mounted on fork e¹ jointed at to an arm r formed in one
with a pinion t which gears with a toothed quadrant q mounted on the winding
up lover p. This lever is provided at one end with a quadrant hand is jointed

page_text: at its other end to the rod g¹ of a piston working in a cylinder o under the action
of compressed air and of a counterbalance weight v. The clock A is thus wound
automatically.
The foregoing description of the mode of operating the wheel fis equally applicable
to the wheel m which is controlled by a cock i which is controlled by the piston
of cylinder said piston being worked by the compressed air supplied by pipe g. The
said cock i distribute the air entering at j to pipe k and cylinder for working
the secondary clock or receiver B.
It will be seen that any number of secondary clocks may be branched on to a main
supply pipe for compressed air, said secondary clocks being respectively controlled one
by the other by means of relays C.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pneumatic Clock.
1, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me from
abroad by Victor Alfred Pilloud of Paris France, 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 mechanism for controlling the operation of one or more
secondary clocks actuated by compressed air from a central or primary clock.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification wherein Figure 1 represents an elevation of the primary clock and
mechanism for controlling the secondary clock or clocks. Figure 2 is a plan of same.
The same letters of reference serve for like parts in both the figures. Figures 3 and 4
shew an elevation and plan of a modification. Referring to figures 1 and 2,
A represents the primary clock and B B the secondary clocks. Cis a relay, connected
in such manner to the main pipe that the compressed air will actuate with certainty,
the secondary clocks. The compressed air is supplied from a compressor by the pipe a
and is distributed to the secondary clock B by a cock which is actuated automatically

page_text: by the priming clock A through the mechanism hereinafter described. y is a lever
which is oscillated every minute or fraction of a minute by the clock A so as to open
cock b, thus establishing communication between the air compressor and the cylinder d.
The compressed air acting on the piston of cylinder d, oscillates lever a¹ and by means
of pawls and anchors moves the wheel a fraction of a revolution corresponding
to that made by the primary clock A. When the cock has, by the movement
of lever y, been so turned as to open pipe to the atmosphere, the compressed air
escapes and the piston of cylinder d is returned to its original position by the
weight d¹. s is a roller which rolls on lever y and by its change of position thereon
operates the disengaging mechanism. This roller is mounted in a fork el jointed
at to an arm fixed on a shaft geared by a pinion with a toothed quadrant
mounted on the winding up lever p. This lever p has at one end a toothed quadrant 13
and is jointed at its other end to the rod g' of a piston working in a cylinder o under
the action of compressed air and of a counter-balance weight. v. The clock A is thus
wound automatically.
The previous description of the mode of operating the wheel applies also to the
wheel m, the compressed air to work which, is controlled by a cock which is
actuated by the piston of cylinder (worked by compressed air supplied through
pipe g branched on to pipe c) and which distributes the air entering through pipe j
to pipe and cylinder for working the other secondary clock B in the same way
as the one first described.
In this way any number of secondary clocks actuated through a main supply pipe
for compressed air, may be controlled one by the other, by means of relays C."
In the arrangement represented in figures 3 and 4, the compressed air enters
by pipe A, and is distributed by cock B to the apparatus situated at M and to
the cylinder C whose piston, by its to and fro movement, sets the several parts of the
clock in motion and keeps the clock wound. By means of rod D it imparts rotary
motion in opposite directions to the wheels G G geared together by pinion H. The
wheel G winds up the spring of barrel J which actuates the escapement, whilst the
wheel G' raises the weight K which returns the rod D to the position shewn in the
plan, immediately after the disengagement. The spring of barrel J is sufficiently
coiled to keep the escapement in operation. The distribution of compressed air in the
apparatus is éffected by means of two principal parts L L' N consisting of a 10-tooth
ratchet wheel L mounted on the rotating arbor moving from right to left, and a
weighted lever L' N. Owing to the curved form of the teeth of ratchet L, the
lever I N whose arm N carries a friction roller, receives at each beat of the
escapement, an ascensional movement, and when the ratchet has moved one tooth,
rock lever O becomes disengaged and opens and shuts the three-way cock B,
whereby the air is discharged from or admitted to the cylinder to produce the
intermittent movements necessary for working the clock. The ratchet serves not
only to distribute the air in the apparatus, but is also arranged to produce an interval
of one minute at each disengagement.
I will describe the working of the apparatus during two successive disengagements.
In the position indicated in the drawing, the compressed air enters the cylinder C
whose piston actuates rod F through rod D and wheels G G as above described.
The piston of cylinder C also operates a small rock lever T, T by means of connecting
rod R which causes the weight P to bear upon a stud on the rock lever O and brings
the stud 1 at the end of said lever down upon the stud on, lever L' N and there holds
it. The ratchet wheel slightly oscillates lever L' N on its axis at each beat of the
escapement, so that the stud of lever L F passes over the stud 2 on the rock lever O,
and the air escapes from the cylinder, the piston being returned to the position shown
by means of the weight K. At the same time the weight P is raised and the weight P¹
bears on the rock lever O, oscillates it, and the upper side of the stud No. 1 meets
the stud of lever L' N. By the continued notion of the ratchet the movement above
explained is repeated and the stud of the lever passes successively from stud No. 1 to
stud No. 3 of the rock lever, and the second disengagement takes place, the compressed
air again enters the cylinder and the movements are repeated.

page_text: A minute elapses at each disengagement and a corresponding movement is
transmitted to the hands by the levers and connecting rod U, V, Y, actuating the
propelment, the lever U being connected to the arbor S which receives its motion
from the parts above described operated by the cylinder.
Means are provided for shutting off the air supply if the pressure becomes excessive,
consisting of a rock lever T operated by the connecting rod R and which abuts
against the arm X of the lever Z and closes the cock B through the lever a and
connecting rod b which are actuated in the opposite direction by the weight c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
1. In a pneumatic clock the combination with any clock movement A of a winding up
lever pactuated by the piston of a compressed air cylinder and which actuates a
disengaging mechanism consisting of a lever y on which rolls a roller s, so as to close
at certain intervals the cock 6 which controls the admission and exhaust of compressed
air to and from a secondary clock B all substantially as specified.
2. The system of rock lever and weight disengaging mechanism described with
reference to figures 3 and 4.