Improvements in Clocks and Clockwork Mechanism.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clocks and Clockwork Mechanism.
I, ANTON STEKER, of Peckelsheim, in the Empire of Germany, Watchmaker,
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:
The present invention has reference to those kinds of clocks and clockwork
mechanisms which are designed to run for a lengthened period of time, for instance
six months, without requiring to be rewound, and has for its object to provide an
improved pendulum therefor and a mechanism for indicating when the clock
requires to be re-wound.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the improvements according to my
invention applied to an ordinary clock, of the type above specified.
In the drawings
Figure 1 illustrates a torsion pendulum according to my invention, and
Figures 14 and 1B are side views of same.
Figure 1 shews a part of the mechanism for indicating whether the clock requires
to be re-wound.
Figure 2 is an underside plan of the clock, and
Figure 2 is a front view of same with the dial removed.
Figure 2B shews part of the frame of the clock carrying the tooth wheel
which actuates the mechanism for indicating whether the clock requires to be
re-wound.
Figure 3 is a back view of the clock with the outer frame plate removed.
Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 38 a plan of the yoke formed upon the
lower end of the anchor escapement rod which energises the pendulum.
Figure 4 is an outside view of the back of the clock and
Figure 5 is a side elevation of same.
The same letters are used to denote like parts throughout the drawings and the
description of them, wherever they occur.
I will now proceed to describe that part of my invention which relates to a
torsion pendulum. Upon reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that the pendulum
consists mainly of the two disc weights CC which are suspended from the bracket L
by the spring A. The spring A is encased by the tube B which is attached at its
lower end to the upper weight C, its upper end being closed by the plate F, upon
which latter is formed the pin G which is pivotted in the hole H formed in the
plate I of the clock frame. Slots are formed in the tube B as shewn to admit the
bracket L and other mechanism, as hereinafter described. The bracket Lis
attached to the plate I by means of the milled headed screw K, and is thus easily
detached whenever it becomes necessary to unship the pendulum. The spring A
consists of a flattened strip of suitable metal and is provided at its upper end with
a pin E which rests in a notch cut in the bracket L, the lower end of the spring
being made fast to the weights C. A pin T is formed upon the tube B where the
slot u is cut in such tube, which engages with the yoke v, s, formed upon the end
of a rod R actuated by the anchor escapement Q of the clock.
In operation, the oscillatory movement of the anchor escapement of the clock is
imparted to the pendulum by the rod R, the yoke v, s of which engages with the
pin T of the tube B, whereby at each oscillation of the rod R the tube B and the
weights C, C, are caused to make a partial rotation in a direction corresponding
with the direction of such oscillation, the recoil action of the pendulum being caused
by the torsion put upon the spring A by such partial rotation of the weights C, C,
as will be understood.

page_text: As a means of regulating the period of time occupied by each partial rotation of
the weights C, C, the adjustable weight N is provided within the tube B, the
adjustment of the distance of such weight from the point of support of the spring A
and the consequent regulation of the action of the pendulum being effected by means
of the nut o working upon the screwed spindle p.
With reference to the mechanism which indicates whether or not the clock requires
to be re-wound, I will now proceed to describe such mechanism with reference to the
figures wherein it is illustrated.
Upon the winding arbor 6 of the clock I provide the pinion c (Figures 2 and 4)
which gears with the toothed rack d. The rack d works upon the back of the flat
spring attached to the frame of the clock, being guided thereon by the pins e.
The connection of the spring f with the rack d is illustrated more particularly in
Figures 1 and 2. The spring has formed upon its inner side an inclined
projection g which engages with the cam i formed upon the pinion-wheel k, a slot h
being cut in the frame of the clock to enable it to do so. The pinion-wheel k
receives motion from the main-spring casing through the lantern wheel m.
In
In operation, as the clock is being wound up the pinion c on the winding arbor
raises the rack d to its fullest extent, the fact of the clock being wound up being
indicated by the pointer a which is attached to the rack d by the pin n.
Figure 3 the pointer a indicates that the clock is wound up, whilst in Figure 4 it
indicates that the clock requires re-winding. As the main spring unwinds itself
the lantern wheel m upon its casing causes the wheel k to revolve, and the cam i
formed upon the wheel k coming in contact with the inclined projection 9 of the
spring, such spring is gradually pressed away from the back of the clock until
the rack d which it carries is put out of gear with the pinion c and consequently
falls to its lower position and indicates through the pointer a that the clock requires
rewinding. Upon the clock being again wound up, the rack d and pointer a are
again raised as previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The torsion pendulum adapted for use in clockwork designed to run for
lengthened periods of time, comprising the spring A, tubular casing B, and disc
weights C, combined and arranged to operate in connection with an anchor or
equivalent clockwork escapement, substantially as herein described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
2. The mechanism for indicating when clockwork requires to be re-wound, com-
prising the indicator a, pinion c, rack d, spring f, projection g, cam i, and wheel k,
combined and arranged to operate substantially as herein described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 28th day of April 1892.