Improvements in Apparatus for Winding Clocks by Electricity.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FRANK EDWARD MORGAN, of Now Haven, State of
Connecticut, United States of America.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Winding Clocks by Electricity.
I, Henry HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to a device for automatically winding clocks by electricity,
the object being to employ a light spring as the motive power of the clock, and to
maintain that spring under substantially a constant tension, and the invention con-
sists in combining with the movement of a clock, a spring-drum arranged upon
one of the arbors, a contact revolving with one of the arbors of the clock move-
ment, a stationary contact insulated from the movement, but in the path of the
said revolving contact, and adapted to engage the said revolving contact during
a predetermined portion of each revolution of said revolving contact, a magnet in
circuit with said contacts, a second stationary contact, and a corresponding movable
contact, the said last mentioned contacts being in the same circuit as the said first
mentioned contacts, the armature lever of the said magnet in connection with a pawl
adapted to engage the said drum in one direction of movement of said armature
lever, and so as to impart winding rotation to said drum, but escape therefrom on
the return movement of said armature lever, the said armature lever also in connection
with the said second movable contact, and whereby in said winding movement the said
second movable contact is withdrawn from its stationary contact to break the circuit
at that point while the circuit is closed at the first mentioned contact, and as more
fully hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a rear view of a clock movement embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figure 3 is a detached view showing the revolving contact in engagement with
the stationary contact.
Figure 4 is a face view of the two contacts S and W with the stationary post i.
Figure is a detached view illustrating the return movement of the
contact W.
Figures 6 and 7 show modifications.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A represents the frame of the clock movement, B represents the centre arbor; as
represented, the winding mechanism is applied upon the rear of the clock move-
ment, the centre arbor B therefore projects through the rear plate of the frame.
On the said centro arbor is a spring drum C, this drum is of common construction,
within it is a coiled spring, one end of the spring made fast to the drum, and the
other end of the spring made fast to the arbor, and so that the rotation of the drum
in one direction will wind the spring, and the reaction of the spring will turn the
arbor in the same direction and as usual in this class of spring drums. The spring
and its connection with the drum and arbor, are not shown, the construction being
too well known to require illustration.
The spring being applied to the centre arbor, may be a very light spring, the
drum however may be applied to the second, or another arbor in the same manner,
5 communicating with the central arbor by the usual gearing.
In the illustration the usual train of gearing between the centre arbor and the
escapement wheel is shown, D representing the verge. This mechanism may how-
ever be varied as desired, or any of the known clock movement mechanisms may be
substituted therefor.

page_text: On the drum, or made as a part of it, is a toothed ratchet-wheel E. F represents
a stationary spring-pawl, working into said ratchet wheel E and so as to catch and
hold the drum as it is wound.
G is a vertical slide, supported in suitable bearings, and so as to receive an up and
down reciprocating movement, as indicated in broken lines Figure 1. This slide
carries a spring pawl H which works into the teeth of the ratchet wheel E, and so as
to engage the wheel in one direction, but escape in the opposite direction and so that
as the slide G is depressed, as indicated in broken lines Figure 1. The pawl H will
impart a corresponding rotation to the wheel E and the drum C in connection there-
with, which movement of the wheel and drum will be caught and held by the pawl F.
This movement of the wheel and drum is in the direction to wind the spring, repeated
movements of the slide G will therefore impart corresponding repeated winding
movement to the spring drum. On one of the arbors of the clock movement,
here represented as the centre-arbor B a metal arm I is made fast, and so as to
revolve therewith; the outer end of this arm carries a non-metallic finger J, the
forward side of which is bevelled so as to produce a cam shape. On the back of the
non metallic finger J is a metallic shoulder K this shoulder being a portion of
the arm I. L represents a spring metal contact insulated from the clock-frame,
preferably by securing it to an insulating block M, the block secured to the frame as
shown. The said contact projects inward, so that its free end stands in the path of
the finger J, and so that as the arm I revolves with the shaft to which it is attached,
the non-metallic finger J will strike the free end of the contact L and operate
thereon as a cam, as indicated in broken lines Figure 1, and so as to raise the
contact L, but so soon as the finger has passed beyond the end of the contact, the
contact will spring down and rest upon the metallic shoulder K as represented in
Figure 3, and thus make metallic contact between the contact Land the arm I during
the time that the said contact rests upon the shoulder K, from the contact L a wire N
runs to one member of a battery O. P represents a magnet, from which a wire Q
runs to the other member of the battery O, the other wire from the magnet runs to a
contact S, insulated from the clock movement here represented as attached to an
insulating block T, this contact S is in the form of a flat metal spring see Figure 2.
The magnets are preferably arranged as seen in Figure 2 so that the armature
lever a may extend from front to rear, hung at the front upon a pivot b, and preferably
the pawl carrying slide G is hung to the inner arm of the armature lever, and so that
vibration of the armature lever will be communicated to the slide G, as represented
in broken lines Figure 2. A two armed lever d, e, is hung upon an axis f so that its
one arm d will stand below the free end of the armature lover. To the other arm e
of the said lever a spring V is attached, which extends downward toward the contact S,
and carries at its end a contact W. The lever d, e is provided with a spring g the
tendency of which is to hold the arm d up against the free end of the armature lever,
and to turn the arme downward to hold the contact W in engagement with the
contact S but when the circuit is closed through the magnet, the movement of the
armature lever in thus closing, will impart a vibratory movement to the lever de so
as to raise the contact W from the contact S as represented in broken lines Figure 1.
The circuit is closed only while the shoulder or contact K is in engagement with the
contact L, consequently the circuit is normally open, and while so open, the contact W
normally rests in engagement with the contact S, as represented in Figure 1 it being
understood that the contacts S and W, and the contacts K and L are in the same
circuit.
Supposing the spring of the drum C to be wound sufficient to afford power to
drive the clock movement and the arm I in the position represented in Figure 1, in
due time the arm I will have revolved, so far as to bring the non-metallic finger J
into engagement with the contact L, which operating thereon as a cam, will cause it
to rise, as indicated in broken lines Figure 1, until the non-metallic finger J has
passed the end of the contact L, then the contact I will instantly drop and come into
engagement with the shoulder K, as seen in Figure 3. This closes the circuit, and
brings the armature to its poles, and in such closing the armature lever will impart to

page_text: the pawl H the before described movement, and as indicated in broken lines Figure 1,
and such movement of the armature lever will turn the lever de into the position
indicated in broken lines Figure 1, and take the contact W away from the contact S,
which breaks the circuit at that point, and as represented in broken lines Figure 1.
The arm I revolves slowly, so that metallic contact is made between the contact L
and the shoulder K for a considerable length of time.
As soon as the circuit is broken by the contact W leaving the contact S, the
armature is released from its magnet and rises under the action of a spring Y (which
is adjusted by the usual adjuster %) turning the pawl H for a new engagement of the
ratchet wheel, at the same time permitting the lever d, e, to return by the action of
its spring, and so as to again bring the contact W into engagement with the
contact S, thereby again closing the circuit and causing a second movement of the
armature lever, and of the lever de, to take the contact W from engagement with
the contact S, again breaking the circuit at that point, and so continuing, the
contacts W and S separating and closing under each action of the armature lever,
and so long as the contact shall be maintained between the contact L and the
shoulder K.
Each movement of the armature thus imparted, produces the winding movement of
the spring, but if at any time under such successive operations of the armature lever,
the spring shall have been wound to a power equalling that of the power of the
electric circuit, the said power of the spring-drum will resist the closing of the
circuit, consequently when such power shall have been acquired by the spring-drum,
there will be no further winding action until the movement shall have advanced so
far as to reduce the power of the main spring. The time during which such winding
movement may be performed, depends upon the time which the circuit is closed
through the contact L, and this may be increased or diminished by a correspondingly
increasing or diminishing extent of metallic contact between the arm I and the
contact L.
From this it will be seen that at each time the circuit is closed between the arm I
and the contact L, a succession of winding operations will be performed, until the
maximum power of the spring is attained.
In order that the contacts W and S may not be brought together until the lever de
has substantially made its full return, a stationary insulated post i is arranged near
the face of the contact S, but in a position above the position of the contact W when
in engagement with the contact S, and as seen in Figures 1 and 4. The spring V
tends to bear the contact W upon the contact S when it is in the down position, and
so that as the contact W begins to rise under the action of the armatare lever, it will
pass up between the post i and the contact S, the post i serving to press and hold the
contact W into engagement with the contact S during this upward movement, but so
soon as the contact W has risen above the post i, then the spring V operates to throw
the contact W away from the contact S, and to a position in rear of the post i, and
as represented in broken lines Figure 1, then as the contact W returns, it will
strike the back of the post i, and pass down over that post, as represented in
Figure 5, thus being held away from the contact S until the contact W shall have
passed to a position below the post i, then the contact W under the action of the
spring, will fly toward and into engagement with the contact S, as seen in
Figure 1, the result of this combination of the stationary post i with the contacts W
and S is, that the circuit remains closed until the winding movement has been
completed, and the circuit is not again closed at this point until the winding paw!
has returned to substantially its normal position, and thus a full and complete action
of the winding mechanism is insured.
While I prefer to attach the winding pawl H to the armature lever, it may be
ttached to the same lever which carries the contact W, as represented in Figure 7,
he armature lever acting directly upon the arm d of the lever so carrying the
bawl.
Instead of employing a slide, as G to carry the pawl, the lever carrying the
ontact W may be hung directly to the same shaft on which the winding dram

page_text: is arranged, as represented in Figure 7, and so that the lever thus hung will
swing in a plane at right angles to the axis of the winding drum, the pawl bung
directly to one arm of the the said lever, so as to operate in the teeth of the ratchet
on the spring drum, the same as in the first illustration, in this case the armature
lever operates upon one arm of the said winding lever, and the other arm carries the
contact W, substantially the same as in the first illustration.
Instead of making the metallic contact K as a shoulder upon an arm, and upon
the back of the non-metallic finger J, it may be made as a portion of the periphery
of a wheel on one of the arbors, as represented in Figure 7, and so that contact will
be made with the contact L during the time the metallic portion of the periphery of
the said wheel K is in engagement therewith, this metallic portion of the periphery
extending into the arbor, so as to make metallic connection therefrom with the frame
of the movement,
The winding drum is best applied to the centre arbor as I have represented and
described, but it may be applied to either arbor of the clock.
The non-metallic finger J may be omitted, the metal end of the arm as one contact
directly engaging the stationary contact, but I prefer to employ the non-metallic
finger, as by its use the contact is instantly made, instead of gradually made as it
would be were the non-metal'ic finger omitted.
It will be understood that either of the great variety of known substitutes for a
toothed ratchet and pawl working therein, may be substituted for the spring drum,
pawl and ratchet, and that by the terms pawl and ratchet as used herein, such well
known equivalents are to be understood as included.
In illustrating the invention, I have shown it as working with an open circuit, it
will be understood that if a closed circuit is to be used, the usual reversal in the
operations will be necessary.
From the foregoing it will be understood that I do not limit the invention to the
precise mechanism described for operating the winding pawl, or to specific mechanism
for closing the circuit through the clock movement at a predetermined time, and for
a predetermined length of time, combined with a stationary and movable contact in
the same circuit, which said movable contact is operated through the winding
mechanism to break the circuit as the winding mechanism advances, and to again
close the circuit upon the return of the said winding mechanism, and whereby a
succession of winding operations will be produced during the said predetermined time
in which the circuit is closed through the first mentioned contacts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a self winding clock mechanism, the combination of a spring-drum
arranged upon one of the arbors, a magnet provided with an armature lever, a pawl
adapted to engage said spring drum in one direction of revolution to wind the spring,
but free therefrom in the opposite direction, mechanism between said pawl and said
armature lever, whereby said pawl will receive its winding movement from said lever
an electric circuit through said magnet, a pair of contacts in said circuit, one of said
contacts revolving under the action of the clock movement, the other stationary but
in the path of said revolving contact, whereby said contacts will be engaged during a
predetermined portion of said revolution, a second pair of contacts in the same
circuit, one of said contacts stationary, the other movable, mechanism substantially
such as described between the said armature lever and said second movable contact,
substantially as specified, and whereby in the closing movement of the said armature
lever produced under the closing of the circuit by the first mentioned contacts, said
second contacts will be separated to break the circuit and on such breaking of the
circuit the opening movement of the armature lever brings the said second contacts
again together to close the circuit, such breaking and closing of the circuit by the
said second contacts continuing during the time in which the first mentioned contacts
are engaged.

page_text: Second. In a clock movement, the combination of a spring drum arranged upon one of
the arbors of the said movement, an electric contact revolving with one of the arbors of the
said movement, a stationary contact insulated from the movement, but in the path of
the said revolving contact, and adapted to engage said revolving contact during a
predetermined portion of each revolution thereof, and so as to close the circuit during
such engagement, a magnet in circuit with said contacts, a second stationary contact,
a vibrating lever carrying a movable contact, adapted to engage said second stationary
contact, said second stationary contact being in the same circuit with the magnet and
the first mentioned contacts, the armature lever of the said magnet arranged to impart
swinging movement to said contact lever as the armature lever is drawn to and from
its poles, a vertical slide carrying a pawl adapted to engage the spring drum, the said
slide in connection with said armature lever, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Third. In a self-winding clock mechanism, consisting of a spring drum upon one
of the arbors of the movement, a magnet a pawl adapted to engage said spring drum,
mechanism between the armature lever of said magnet and said pawl, whereby the
movement of the armuture lever imparts winding movement to said pawl, a stationary
contact and a revolving contact which derives its revolution from the clock movement,
and adapted to engage said stationary contact during a predetermined portion of its
revolution, the said contacts in circuit with said magnet, a second stationary contact
and corresponding movable contact also in the same circuit with the said first
mentioned contacts and magnet, mechanism between the said second movable contact
and the armature lever, the said second contacts being normally closed, but adapted
to be opened when the armature lever is drawn to its poles by the engagement of the
first mentioned contacts, the said revolving contact provided with a non-metallic
cam finger J, and constructed with a metallic shoulder K in rear of said non-metallic
finger, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 19th day of October 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.