IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOCKS OR OTHER TIMEKEEPERS, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND SETTING THEM BY THE AID OF ELECTRICITY
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Samuel Harrison, of Commercial Road,
Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Horologist, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOCKS OR OTHER TIMEKEEPERS,
AND IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND SETTING THEM
BY THE AID OF ELECTRICITY."
Sealed the 18th December 1868, and dated the 23rd July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Samuel Harrison
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd July 1868.
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL HARRISON, of Commercial Road, Peckham, in
the County of Surrey, Horologist, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOCKS OR OTHER
TIMEKEEPERS, AND IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND
SETTING THEM BY THE AID OF ELECTRICITY," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to enable a motor or regulator clock
which keeps true or normal time to correct or regulate any convenient
number of other clocks or timekeepers at a distance therefrom by means
of a current of electricity, which is caused to pass during the last few

page_text: seconds of each hour from the "motor" or regulator to the other clocks,
detaching the hands from the going mechanism and unlocking the
fly of a special movement, which sets the minute and second hands
backwards or forwards to the exact hour, holding them in that position
until the moment that the motor or regulator indicates the precise com-
pletion of the hour, when the latter breaks electrical contact, unlocking
all the hands of the other clocks simultaneously and throwing them
instantly into gear with the "going" mechanism, so that the starting
of all the clocks each hour shall be absolutely synchronous, and in
perfect accordance with the time indicated by the motor or regulator
clock.
The arrangement of mechanism which I employ for effecting this
object is as follows:-The motor or regulator clock is provided with a
pin on the minute wheel, which during the last five (or other convenient
number of) seconds in each hour presses on a spring lever, and thus
makes and maintains electrical contact with a battery connected there-
with and with a special "line wire" connected with all the clocks to be
regulated (or with an ordinary "line wire" used at other times for other
purposes), and thereby excites a magnet connected with each clock to be
regulated, causing the magnet to attract its armature. The movement
of the armature raises a lever and releases a fly, allowing the special
Betting mechanism to come into operation. This mechanism or train
firstly disconnects the dial wheels and hands from the driving mechanism
of the clock by throwing a clutch movement out of gear, and then sets the
hands to the exact hour. The setting mechanism may be either actuated
by a separate spring or weight or it may be connected to and driven by
the ordinary main driving spring or weight which keeps the pendulum in
motion. The minute hand is set by means of a pin on its wheel falling
into a slot or notch in a lever which is actuated by the fly, and which
notch corresponds with the proper position of the hand on the completion
of each hour, the said lever pressing on the pin and thus turning the
minute wheel and hand either backwards or forwards until it (the pin)
falls into the notch according as the clock is late or fast. The seconds
hand is set by means of a lever acting on a heart wheel or cam so as to
turn the latter till a small friction wheel on the lever falls into the notch
or lowest point of the wheel or cam, when the second hand will be
arrested at the proper point. The instant that the termination of the
hour is registered on the motor or regulator clock it breaks electrical
contact by its pin passing off the end of the spring lever. At the same

page_text: instant all the armatures fall from their magnets, locking the "fly" of
each clock and throwing the dial wheels into gear with the driving
mechanism of the clock, and thus all the clocks begin the next hour
simultaneously. By having a separate dial always in connection with
the driving mechanism and comparing that from time to time with the
corrected dial the mean or average variation for any length of time may
be readily ascertained and the pendulum be corrected accordingly.
I may here observe that if desired the hour hand may also be set by
the same means, and that the minute and second. hands may both be
set by the same kind of mechanism, that is to say, either by the pin and
notched lever or by the heart wheel or cam. The motor clock or
regulator may also be provided with a cam or other arrangement instead
of the contact pin, made adjustable so that the current may be brought
into operation at any time other than the last few seconds of the hour
if required, and also with an apparatus for reversing the direction of
the current, thus avoiding all danger from residuary magnetism.
I may also remark that as the only office of the electric current is to
release or stop the fly, and as the setting or correction of the hands is
performed by the driving mechanism of the clock itself, a very small
battery power is required and a very feeble current of electricity will
answer all the purpose, and as the electric current is established and
maintained by the rubbing action of a pin or cam against a spring lever
(and not by momentary contact of points) there is no danger of the
current failing owing to oxidation of the contact points or otherwise,
and whatever number of clocks may be regulated at once there will
be but one break in the current on the whole line, and that one is under
the cognizance of the person who attends to the regulator clock and the
battery.
I would further add that if it should be desirable to set the clocks by
means of the ordinary instantaneous current transmitted at the precise
hour it may be done by causing the setting of the hands to be effected
during a certain number of seconds (say five) after the hour, the fly
being so arranged as to allow the train to complete the setting during
that time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Samuel Harrison in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SAMUEL HARRISON, of Commercial Road, Peckham, in the County of
Surrey, Horologist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Samuel Harrison, Her special
licence that I, the said William Samuel Harrison, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Samuel
Harrison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLOCKS OR OTHER TIMEKEEPERS, AND
IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND SETTING THEM BY THE
AID OF ELECTRICITY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Samuel Harrison, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Samuel Harrison, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement in writing, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to enable a motor or regulator clock
which keeps true or normal time to correct or regulate any convenient
number of other clocks or timekeepers (which I term "synchronous'
clocks) at a distance therefrom by means of a current of electricity,
"

page_text: which is caused to pass during the last few seconds of each hour (or at
any convenient time) from the "motor" or regulator to the other clocks,
detaching the motion work of the hands from the "going" mechanism,
and unlocking the fly of a special movement which sets the hour,
minute, and second hands, backwards or forwards to the exact time
required, holding them in that position until the moment that the motor
or regulator indicates the precise completion of the time when the latter
breaks electrical contact, unlocking all the hands of the other clocks
simultaneously, and throwing them instantly into gear with the "going"
mechanism, so that the starting of all the clocks at the time required
shall be synchronous, and in perfect accordance with the time indicated
by the motor or regulator clock.
The arrangement of mechanism which I employ for effecting this
object is as follows:--The motor or regulator clock is provided with a
pin or cam on the minute wheel, which during the last five (or other
convenient number of) seconds in each hour presses on a spring lever,
and thus makes and maintains electrical contact with a battery
connected therewith, and with a special " line wire "connected with
all the clocks to be regulated (or with an ordinary "line wire" used
at other times for other purposes), and thereby excites a magnet
connected with each clock to be regulated, causing the magnet to attract
its armature. The movement of the armature raises a lever and releases
a "fly," allowing the special setting mechanism to come into operation.
This mechanism or train firstly disconnects the dial wheels and hands
from the driving mechanism of the clock by throwing a clutch move-
ment out of gear, and then sets the hands to the exact time required.
The setting mechanism may be either actuated by a separate spring or
weight, or it may be connected to and driven by the ordinary main
driving spring or weight which keeps the pendulum in motion. The
minute hand is set by means of a pin on its wheel falling into a slot
or notch in a lever, which is actuated by the fly, and which notch
corresponds with the proper position of the hand on the completion of
each hour, the said lever pressing on the pin and thus turning the
minute wheel and hand either backwards or forwards until it (the pin)
falls into the notch, according as the clock is late or fast. The
seconds hand is set by means of a lever acting on a heart wheel or
cam, so as to turn the latter till a small friction roller on the lever falls
into the notch of the wheel or cam, when the second hand will be
arrested at the proper point. The instant that the termination of the

page_text: hour is registered on the motor or regulator clock it breaks electrical
contact by its cam passing off the end of the spring lever, at the same
instant all the armatures fall from their magnets, locking the "fly"
of each clock and throwing the dial wheels into gear with the driving
mechanism of the clock, and thus all the clocks indicate the next period
of time simultaneously with the motor clock. By having a separate
dial always in connection with the driving mechanism of the ", syn-
chronous" clock, and comparing that from time to time with the
corrected dial, the mean or average variation for any length of time may
be readily ascertained and the pendulum be corrected accordingly.
I may here observe that if desired the hour hand may also be set by
the same means, and that the hour, minute, and seconds hands may
all be set by the same kind of mechanism, that is to say, either
by the pin and notched lever or by the heart wheel or cam. The
motor clock or regulator may also be provided with a cam or other
arrangement instead of the contact pin, made adjustable so that the
current may be brought into operation at any time other than the
last few seconds of the hour if required, and also with an apparatus for
reversing the direction of the current, thus avoiding all danger from
residuary magnetism.
I may also remark that as the only office of the electric current is
to release and stop the fly, and as the setting or correction of the hands
is performed by the driving mechanism of the clock itself, a very small
battery power is required and a very feeble current of electricity will
answer all the purposes, and as the electric current is established and
maintained by the rubbing action of a pin or cam against a spring lever
(and not by momentary contact of points), there is no danger of the
current failing owing to oxidation of the contact points or otherwise,
and whatever number of clocks may be regulated at once there will be
but one break in the current on the whole line, and that one is under
the cognizance of the person who attends to the regulator clock and the
battery.
I would further add that if it should be desirable to set the clocks
by means of the ordinary instantaneous current transmitted at the
precise hour it may be done by causing the setting of the hands to be
effected during a certain number of seconds (say five) after the hour,
the fly being so arranged as to allow the train to complete the setting
during that time.

page_text: Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in the Construction of Clocks or other Timekeepers,
and in the Method of and Apparatus for Regulating and Setting them
by the Aid of Electricity," I will now proceed to describe more in
detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be
distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illus.
trative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof,
that is to say:-
In Figures 1 to 3 of the annexed Drawings is shewn a regulator clock
fitted with the improved mechanism for effecting the transmission of its
time to the receiving clock or clocks, and Figures 4 to 8 shew one of the
receiving or synchronous clocks.
Figure 1 exhibits a front view, Figure 2 a side elevation, and Figure 3
the back of the regulator clock.
The seconds arbor is seen at M (Figure 3) carrying an electrically
insulated cam C which is pressed lightly upon by the spring lever S,
upon the tail of which bears a detent D presented to it once in every
hour by the action of a pin on the minute wheel, as will be presently
explained. The detent D insulated from the clock by the insulating
material I (Figure 2) forms one terminal of a battery by means of the
wire W. At X is shewn the other terminal in electrical connection
with the spring lever S. The Drawings represent the clocks at the period
when the operation of setting is being performed, which in this case is
at the completion of the hour. The mode of doing this will now be
explained. The arbor g that carries the spring lever S carries also at
its other end a detent N, which for a few seconds before the regulating
period is raised by a pin p (see Figures 1 and 2) on a lever T on the
minute hand arbor Q. This motion at the same time brings the spring
lever S into contact with the cam O and allows the end of the detent D
to rest on the socket of the cam C, thereby completing the electric
circuit of the battery. The detent D has an insulator i to prevent the
electric fluid from passing therefrom to the spring lever S and thence
through the clock to the terminal X until the end of the detent rests
(by reason of the lifting of the detent N) upon the socket of the cam O,
and the cam completes the circuit by frictional contact with the spring
levers S and D.

page_text: Figure 4 is a back elevation, Figure 5 a side elevation, and Figure 6
a plan view of a receiving or synchronous clock constructed in accordance
with the other part of this Invention, the "motion" being shewn
detached at Figure 7, whilst Figure 8 shews separately the action of the
electro-magnet in locking and releasing the setting mechanism. The
principle of these movements is that of "double-action locking," similar
to the operation of warning and striking in an ordinary clock, which
in this case in place of striking the blow for the hour sets the hands
to the time required, such setting being performed between the times
of warning and striking.
In Figures 4 and 8, E shews the magnet charged by the passage of
the electric fluid from the battery through the regulator clock and in
communication therewith. The armature K (seen also in plan view
Figure 6) is raised and has released the fly F by the hooked pin h
clearing the locking piece t on the fly "pinion," whilst another locking
piece e on the "fly pinion" is caught by the pin f on the upper arm n
of the locking detent lever n, m, thus locking the "setting" mechanism
x, y, z, which by its revolutions has brought a notch in the disc wheel B
close to the point of a lever A, the other end G of which bears against
the sloping side of the convex-shaped piece U on the arbor C, which
connects the "going" part of the clock with the "motion" work and
hands by the gearing or locking of the clutch piece H into the crown
wheel C of sixty teeth. When the train of the setting mechanism
x, y, z, is discharged by the action of the magnet, the disc wheel B makes
a revolution to the extent of nearly one turn of the fly, and during
this time the "motion" work or driving mechanism will have set the
hands to the required time.
Referring to the motion work in Figure 7, when the disc wheel B is
released by the fly and setting mechanism it revolves and gives motion
to a crank plate Y on the end of its arbor which by means of a con-
necting rod P actuates the lever L which by the roller R first shifts and
then locks the heart wheel j on the minute arbor and thus sets the
minute hand to the time required. Continuing its revolution the cam k
on the crank plate Y moves a detent lever O, and by the roller » shifts
and locks the heart wheel Z on the seconds arbor. The seconds arbor
should be locked before the roller is withdrawn from the minute arbor.
The hands being set are kept in that position until the discharge from
the motor clock releases the first locking and allows the fly F to make

page_text: nearly another revolution, when the hands will be unlocked and the
clutch H will by the action of the convex piece U be brought into
connection with the hands, the second locking will be made, and the
clock will again move in the ordinary manner.
The second locking is explained by Figure 8 where n, m, is the locking
detent capable of being raised by the pin a attached to the armature K
acting upon the pin 6 on the lower arm m of the locking detent. This
arm has a projection or tooth d which rests upon a rim piece J. The
rim piece has a gap or notch in it, which in revolving allows the
projection or tooth d to drop and brings a pin f into the path of the
locking piece e on the fly "pinion." The locking detent n, m, effects
the first locking by its gravity, and is raised at the second locking by
the fall of the armature K at the cessation of the current. The locking
detent n, m, having been raised, as seen in dotted lines, and the fly
having made nearly another revolution before the pin is brought into
contact with the pin t, the gap or notch in the rim piece J will be carried
a sufficient distance to prevent the return of the detent n, m, by reason
of the inclined plane d keeping it raised sufficiently high to allow the
locking pin f to run clear of the locking piece e while held by the
hooked pin h. The notch or gap in the rim piece J will not return to
the hooked end of the locking detent d by reason of the fly having
carried the notch in the disc wheel B into such a position that the pin t
of the fly will be placed out of the reach of the first locking pin h. (It
may be here mentioned that any ordinary double locking striking train
will answer the purpose.)
At the same time that the operation just detailed is being performed
the seconds hand at the first locking is held in the position on the dial
corresponding to that of the motor clock, or to any local time which it
may be required to adopt, by means of the lever resting on the cam
piece k, when at the moment of discharge of the armature K the crank
plate Y will be carried as in the former case a sufficient distance for the
seconds hand locking lever o to fall and release the hand at the same
moment that the clutch H comes into operation. Thus after the first
locking and immediately upon the cessation of the current the fly which
in the first locking had been locked wanting nearly one turn to complete
a revolution of the pieces J, B, and Y would carry the rim piece J to
such a position as to cause the locking detent n, m, to free the fly pin f
at the second locking, when it will be ready to resume the operation of

page_text: setting at the next regulating period; therefore upon the cessation of
the current and consequent release of the armature K the cam piece y
discharges the setting lever A, G, of the seconds hand and couples the
clutch H with the crown wheel C by the lever V pressing upon the
end of the seconds pivot c, and at the same time locks the driving train
by the hooked pin h. The going barrel P is constructed so that the
going main wheel q is fixed upon the barrel itself, while the main wheel u
which drives the setting mechanism is fixed to a click s actuated by a
ratchet & fixed on a square of the barrel arbor, and thus drives two trains
with one and the same power. The barrel arbor carrying the wheel "
is attached to the inner end of the mainspring, and the wheel q is attached
to the outer end of the same.
I also intend to apply this improvement in going barrels to any
mechanism where two independent trains are required to act in conjunction,
such as clocks with striking movements and watches with independent
seconds.
I may here observe that the driving and setting train and the motion
and dial work may be enclosed in the same frame together with the
mainspring for the purpose of actuating, and this may be added to most
clocks at present in use. The hands should at all times be tightly
sprung on in order to adapt them to indicate whatever time may be
required, whether local or otherwise.
My improved plan as herein-before described requires but one break
in any length of electrical line or number of clocks to be corrected by it,
and that is at the regulator Figures 1, 2, and 3, and any local time may
be indicated by the receiving clock for the mode by which ordinary
timekeepers may be altered and adapted to be used as synchronous or
receiving clocks; and a further advantage, that as the fly of the setting
train is released from a locking the most feeble current of electricity is
sufficient.
Having now described the nature and object of my said improvements
in the construction of clocks or other timekeepers, and in the method
of and apparatus for regulating and setting them by the aid of
electricity, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein described, as they may be varied or
modified without departing from the principle of action thereof; nor do
I confine myself to the strict figure or form shown in the Drawings of

page_text: any apparatus or portions of apparatus herein described; but I claim as
new and of my Invention,-
Firstly. The peculiar mode herein-before described of correcting by the
normal regulator (Figures 1, 2, and 3) any error of hours, minutes, and
seconds within a fraction of a second which may exist in the synchronous
or receiving clock (Figures 5 and 6).
Secondly. The employment of a continuous electric current sustained,
say for five seconds, during which time the operation of setting to time
is performed.
Thirdly. The mode by which the normal clock is provided with
frictional electric contacts, as shewn at Figure 3, D, M, 8, herein-before
described.
Fourthly. The peculiar mode of detaching a train of wheels and
pinions (called the motion or dial work) which carry the hands, and during
the five seconds current causing them to indicate any required time on the
dial by releasing the fly through the armature K, when by the turning
of the main wheel the consequent action of the levers R and O upon
the heart pieces j and Z will keep them locked until the cessation of the
current from the normal clock.
Fifthly. The peculiar mode of driving two trains by one mainspring.
Sixthly. Setting the hands and detaching and attaching of the motion
or dial work by the motive power of the receiving clock.
Seventhly. The mode by which the rate of the pendulum's going
is indicated on a dial in connection with the going train of the receiving
clock.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Samuel Harrison, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nina
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
1, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
W. S. HARRISON. (L.S.)