METRICAL STRIKING OR SOUNDING OF CLOCKS
Year: 1884

page_text: I HELY HUTCHINSON AUGUSTUS SMITH of the Vicarage Market Rasen in the
County of Lincoln Clerk in Holy Orders do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for THE METRICAL STRIKING OR SOUNDING OF CLOCKS, IN INDICATING
THE HOUR to be as follows:-
The construction of a striking or sounding apparatus connected with clocks,
watches, or any other time pieces (whether the striking be on Gong, Bell or Coil
or any other sound producing substance, or the notes or sounds be caused or
effected by any wind-instrument or any other sound-producing apparatus or
method whatsoever) whereby the hour shall be indicated by certain stated metrical
intervals between the strokes notes or sounds or by any other irregular intevals
whatsoever.
The novelty claimed is that the hour so struck or sounded would, in consequence
of the intervals or metre, be distinguishable by ear, without involving the necessity
of counting the strokes or sounds.
The Count-wheel is arranged so as to make one revolution in six hours, instead
of in twelve hours as usual, by a second gathering pullet or pin, fitted and fixed in
a proper position upon the boss of the second or stop wheel-The position of the
hammer is altered to suit the new arrangement of the striking pius.
The said striking pins are so arranged as to make or or more .consecutive
strokes, followed by a pause, which again is followed by one or more consecu-
tive strokes, and so on for any number of strokes that may be arranged for,

page_text: i
in Indicating the Hour.
I HELY HUTCHINSON AUGUSTUS SMITH, of the Vicarage, Market Rasen, in the
County of Lincoln, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention for "METRICAL STRIKING OR SOUNDING OF CLOCKS IN INDICATING
THE HOUR," and in what manner the same is to bo performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following.statement :-
The object of this invention is to arrange the striking of time-pieces, by making
the striking apparatus so that the hour may be struck at any different intervals,
instead of striking the whole number, indicating the hour, consecutively and
inonotously.
In carrying out my said invention, I take say a clock of the ordinary construc-
tion, known as an American 30-hour clock, and place the pins (b) which actuate
the hammer (C) upon the count-wheel (B) which regulates the number of con-
tinuous strokes made by the hammer, and make new slots in the rim of the count-
wheel (B) to determine when the striking shall coase, for each hour under the new-
system; also, if necessary, I add a catch or detent D to insure the count-wheel
remaining in its proper position.
The count-wheel is arranged so as to make one revolution in six hours, instead
of in twelve hours as usual, by a second gathering pallet (ƒ) or pin, fitted and
fixed in a proper position upon the boss of the second or stop-wheel (F). The
position of the hammer is altered to suit the new arrangement of the striking
pins. The said striking pins are so arranged as to make one or more consecutivo
strokes, followed by a pause, which again is followed by one or more consecu-
tive strokes, and so on for any number of strokes that may be arranged for-as
thus by way of example. I arrange the pins so that the striking and pausing
may be as follows.
Let a dot (●) represent a stroke, and a × stand for a pause-then for

page_text: In the Drawings, A. represents the frame of the clock. B. the count wheel of
78 teeth-b b. the pins fixed on the count wheel B that actuate the hammer. C.-
The catch or detent is marked D-The locking lever E, and the boss of the second
or stop wheel F-The second pin or gathering pallet in the boss F of the stop
wheel is marked ƒ ƒ.
Or I arrange such a way of striking that the order of strokes and pauses shall
1or 30 CLOCK
"D
"
"
7
"
9
"
● X X
Or using musical notes, five would be 111: six would be ; and nine
would be 1177; and so on.
If it be desired that the time-piece should strike more than 6, say to 12 or any
other number, the count-wheel can be placed outside the clock movement, and the
striking pins fixed in it. In this case the said count-wheel would be driven by a
suitable pinion, fixed on the arbor or axle of that wheel which is found to be most
convenient, but preferably on the main wheel of an 8-day clock; the hammer being
so placed as to suit this arrangement. The consecutive striking, and the pauses
can be made more or less regular to suit different hours, and tunes, alarums, and
the like, in fact there is scarcely any limit to this kind of variation. This invention
is applicable to watches, bells, gongs, coils, or any other sound producing instrument
or apparatus. The striking pins can be arranged so as to cause two or more
hammers to strike one or more bells; but if on more than two bells, the ordinary
chiming-barrel arrangement is preferable.
The motive power used may be obtained either by means of weights, springs,
electricity, or any other suitable means.
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
The method of producing a metrical striking or sounding of any sound-producing
instrument or apparatus, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1885.
HELY H. A. SMITH,
Applicant.