Improvement in Electric Timepieces or Clocks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Electric Timepieces or Clocks.
We, FREDERIC RICHARD, of 6, Gibbs Court, Charlestown District, Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Clock Maker, and THEODORE LEUTZ,
of 33, South Eden Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America,
Restaurant Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to clocks or time pieces in which the motive power is an
electric current furnished by any suitable contrivance, as a dynamo or battery.
This class of clocks may be used separate or independently, in which case a
battery is commonly the source of power, or it may be used in combination with
a master clock where the power is furnished through a master clock at regular
intervals.
The object of our improvement is-
First: To provide, in separate or independent clocks a contacting device for
using the electric current at intervals as far apart as possible and for the shortest
practicable time, thus increasing the life of the battery.
Secondly: To provide means for applying the force of the electro magnet
or dynamo, either in secondary or separate clocks, directly to the balance wheel,
in a way to insure accurate time keeping qualities.
Thirdly: To provide in independent clocks a convenient place for the battery
and means by which persons without special skill in the art can quickly and
conveniently remove and replace exhausted batteries.
We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical view, showing in a general way one form of the complete
clock with a battery concealed in the base.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 showing regulating arm 3-4,
armature balance wheel and connections.
Fig. 3 is a section on 2-2 showing the balance wheel and connections in a
different position.
Figs. 4, 5 & 6 are details showing different positions of the contacting spring
and palate catch on same.
Fig. 7 is a detailed side view of the bracket by which the battery is clamped to
the base of the clock.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In Fig. 1 the hollow base Z supports the standards Y-Y', upon which are
carried the dial and a suitable train of gears a-a, and the supporting plate H,
which carries the contact spring and a bearing for one end of the balance spindle.
The magnet U-U and spindle supports are also fastened on the base.
Within the hollow base Z the cell of dry battery with terminals X-X' is
fastened by two metal brackets (h-, Figs. 1 and 7,) which are attached to and
insulated from the base, and provided with downward extending slotted arms
into which fit the studs forming the terminals of the battery, so that when the
binding screws X-X' are tightened upon the arms a positive contact is made and
ΓΡ.

page_text: the battery held in position. The battery may be quickly removed by loosening
the thumb screws.
With the battery in position the circuit from post X' is made by conductor X²
through the electro-magnet; the conductor X3 to binding post K which is in
electrical connection with binding post k and contact L, all of which are insulated
from the supporting plate H by the mica strip I. The opposite pole of the
battery X is connected to the binding post R and contacting spring N by con-
ductor X, all of which are insulated from the supporting plate H. The adjust-
ing screw M is also insulated from the spring N, so that in the normal position
of the contacting spring N, shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and 5, the circuit is open,
while in Fig. 6 the circuit is closed.
Referring to Fig. 1, A is a vibrating arm pivoted at f, and connected at its
upper end with a pawl and ratchet wheel, so that when the arm is moved to the
left by the stud C, attached to the revolving arm D, the pawl passes over one
tooth without moving the ratchet wheel, and, when the vibrating arm A is free to
move to the right, the weight d (or a suitable spring) causes the pawl attached
to the arm to revolve the ratchet wheel to the extent of one tooth; the ratchet
wheel being connected to a suitable train of gears a a' operating the hands of
the clock.
Fig. 1, on the lower end of the arm A a hinge B is pivoted to turn loosely as
at B toward the right to allow the stud C to pass freely, but in turning to the
left only as for its normal position in line with the arm.
Fig. 1, 2 and 3. On the spindle E is mounted and rigidly attached; (1) the
arm D with the stud C which engages the hinge or palate 13 moving the arm A
as the spindle and arm C are revolved to the left. (2). The arm F with the
notch Q for engaging the palate O of the contact spring N. (3). The armature T
which forms an integral part of the balance wheel S-S.
Surrounding the spindle E between the arm F and the balance wheel S-S and
attached to the spindle E, is the hair sping J. This spring is fastened at its
outer end to the arm G by the screw j, and its tension can be adjusted by the
regulating arm 3-4. The weights S-S are arranged to balance and regulate the
balance wheel, as in an ordinary chronometer balance. In its normal position
of rest the armature of the balance wheel stands in the position T2, Fig. 3, and
when it is rotated from this position the spring acts to bring it back again.
If the armature be rotated by the hand to the left, opposite to the rotation of
the hands of a watch, far enough to carry the arm F considerably past the
palate O, which is free to move either way, and released, the balance wheel will be
returned towards its original position by the force of the spring J, passing the
palate O, Fig. 4, in its return in the same manner as in its forward movement,
Fig. 5, and will rotate to the right of its original position by its own momentum,
continuing to vibrate with shortening amplitude until the arm I just reaches
the limit of its left hand vibration as the point of the deflected palate is resting
upon its top surface, Fig. 6. Then as the arm F starts backward upon its right
hand turn the end of the palate is caught by the notch in the arm and is forced
into a vertical position, carrying up the contact spring N to which it is attached
off from the insulating pin M. on to the contact pin L, and completing the circuit
through the magnets U-U₁ at the moment when the armature is in the position T",
Fig. 3. The armature T is thus drawn with considerable force for a moment
towards the position directly over the magnets, thus giving it a fresh impulse.
The palate O drops off the arm F and the circuit is broken just before the arma-
ture reaches the position T³, so that the armature keeps on in its right handed
vibration until its momentum is equalized by the spring J, when it returns, the
arm F continuing to pass the palate O each way without disturbing the contact
spring N until the amplitude of the vibration is shortened again so that the arm F
reaches its turning point under the palate O, when the circuit will be made
again and a fresh impulse given to the balance wheel. This operation is
repeated so long as the proper current is supplied, and at each vibration the

page_text: stud C in arm D carries the lever A to the left, and moves the clock driving
mechanism forward by one tooth of the ratchet b.
When the clock is used as a secondary time piece the contacting mechanism
is dispensed with and the balance wheel is so designed as to arrive in approxi-
mately the position T when the electro magnet is energized from the master
clock.
It is not necessary that the exact form of the apparatus described is used. We
have constructed a clock in which none of the parts, as the palates B and O, keep
their position by gravity, but are held in place by springs so that the clock may
be turned in any position without disturbing its operation.
We have also made a clock in which a contact is made at each complete vibra-
tion of the balance wheel, and with the spindle of the balance wheel arranged to
act by a pawl directly on the ratchet wheel driving the clock gears, but up 10
the present time I find the arrangement shown in the drawings appear to work
best.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-
1. In a clock or time piece operated by a balance wheel whose vibration is
accelerated or renewed automatically as needed, the combination of the electro-
magnets U U, armature balance wheel S S, the spindle E, the hair spring G,
the automatic contacting devices consisting of radial notched arm F, palate O
and spring N, the radial actuating arm 1) and pendulous arm A connected for
transmitting the motion of the balance wheel to the clock mechanism, all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a clock or time piece operated by a balance wheel whose vibration is
accelerated or renewed automatically as needed, the combination of the electro-
magnets U U¹, balance wheel S S, with regulating screw weights St S¹ mounted
upon spindle E, the hair spring J surrounding said spindle, the regulating
arm 3-4, adapted to regulate the clock fast or slow, the automatic contacting
devices consisting of notched arm F attached to spindle E, palate 0 and
spring N, the radial actuating arm D attached to spindle E, and pendulous
arm A provided with pivoted catch B and connecting to ratchet wheel b, actuat-
ing clock gears and hands a―a, all substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3. In a clock or time piece operated by a balance wheel whose vibration is
accelerated or renewed automatically as needed, the combination of the electro-
magnets U U, balance wheel S S with regulating screw weights S₁ S¹ mounted
upon spindle E pivoted at both ends, the spring surrounding said spindle, the
automatic contacting devices consisting of notched arm F attached to spindle E,
palate O and spring N, making rubbing contact at L, the radial actuating arm D
attached to spindle E and pendulous arm A provided with pivoted catch B and
connecting to ratchet wheel b, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In an electric time piece or clock operated by a balance wheel whose vibration
is accelerated or renewed automatically as needed, the combination of the electro
magnets U U, balance wheel S S, spindle E, hair spring J, notched arm F,
palate O and spring N, actuating arm D, pendulous arm A connected to ratchet
wheel the hollow base, the dry battery U with terminals X X', adapted to
slip into its forked arm contact brackets H H or their equivalents, all sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
ته
Tix
1
1907
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.