Improvements in Illuminated Clocks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Improvements in Illuminated Clocks.
I, RICHARD TELLER CRANE. Junior, of 10, N. Jefferson Street, Chicago, Illinois,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Broadly stated, the object of my mvention is to provide means for illuminating
the mdex characters of a clock or time piece, particularly such as are used in towers
or upon the fronts of buildings, said means being arranged to illuminate each of the
characters in turn, and the whole being provided with suntable devices actuated by
the mechanism of the time piece to control the illuminating means.
More specifically, the object of my invention is the provision of a clock provided
with suitable means for illuminating the index characters of the same, such
illuminating means being arranged so that they will be controlled by the mechanism
of the clock, and so that as the hour-hand passes before each of the index
characters upon the dial ench index characters will be illuminated, while at the
same time all of the other index characters upon the dial are not illuminated.
In the practice of my invention I employ preferably a dial provided with a
diaphanous portion having index characters thereon, and back of each index
character I arrange an electric lamp combined with suitable circuit closing devices,
whereby said lamp is illuminated during the period when the honr-hand is travelling
past it
As a means for regulating or controlling the lighting of the different lamps in
torn, I provide an arrangement of contacts preferably near the center of the dial,
and acted upon by a brush or brushes carried around by the hour-hand.
A further object of my invention is the provision of an illuminated minute-hand
combined with suitable means for keeping the same in circuit with a source of
electricity.
The above, as well as such other objects as may hereinafter appear, I have
illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 18 a front view of my illuminated clock,
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, partly in section;
Fig. 3 18 a diagrammatic representation showing the wiring and arrangement of
the lamps; and
Fig. 4 represents a modified form of dial which may be used if preferred.
Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that I have
shown & clock dial, 5, having the index characters arranged upon a diaphanous
portion thereof, 6. Back of each index character I arrange an electric lamp, 7,
each connected in circuit between a conductor ring, 8, and a segmental contact
piece, 9, near the center of the dial. Inside of the circle of segmental contact
pieces, 9, I arrange a contact ring, 10, which 18 connected by a wire to a dynamo or
other suitable source of electricity, the other terminal of such source of electricity
being connected to the ring, 8.
Upon the hour-hand, 11, arrange a brush or brushes, 12, constructed to travel
around in contact with the ring, 10, and the segmental contact pieces, 9, for the
ID 017

page_text: purpose of completing the circuit between the ring and each of the contact pieces
in turn. By this arrangement, as is clearly obvious, the contact piece, which is
connected with the lamp behind the index character over which the hour-hand 18
passing, will be in circuit with the source of electricity and kept lighted during the
whole period of time that the hour-hand, is moving past, but as soon as the hour-
hand passes a point midway between two index charactors, the brush, 12, snaps
over or down upon the next segmental contact piece, 9, and throws the next lamp
into circuit.
+
Upon the outer end of the minute-hand, 18, I arrange a lamp, 14, connected by
the wires, 15, the brush, 16, the wire, 17, and the wire, 18, (which is attached to
one of the bearings of the minute-hand spindle) to the source of electricity, the
contact being continuous so that the light upon the minute-band will burn
constantly, and thus indicate clearly at all times the position in front of the
dial.
It is obvious that with clocks embodying my invention it will be much easier to
tell the time at night and at a distance than it would be with clocks of ordinary
construction.
While in Fig. 1 I have shown a dial of ordinary form, this detail, as well as
others, might, of course, be modified in many regards without departing materially
from the spirit of my invention. For example, in Fig. 4 I have illustrated a dial
in which the ordinary index characters are arranged within a transparent ing upon
which the ordinary numerals may be placed, as shown.
If desired, each index character could be formed of a group of lights, arranged
in a manner similar to that used in forming the letters of illuminated sigus. This
arrangement could be conveniently used in applying my invention to clocks already
in use.
In Fig. 2 I have illustrated diagrammatically the location or arrangement of the
different lamps, and the circuit connections thereto which have been already fully
described. This figure shows a source of electricity, 19.
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 :-
1. The combination with a clock dial and an indicating pointer moving over the
same, of means for illuminating the indicating charecters successively and
synchronously with the registration therewith of the pointer.
2. The combination with a clock dial and an indicating pointer moving over the
same, of means for illuminating the indicating characters successively and
synchronously with the registration therewith of the pointer, said means being
controlled by mechanism of the clook.
RICHARD TELLER UKANE, JR.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.