New or Improved Means for Actuating or Controlling a Series of Clocks, Dials, Indicators and the like; from one Master Clock, Dial, or Indicator.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1897--Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
New or Improved Means for Actuating or Controlling a Series of
Clocks, Dials, Indicators and the like; from one Master Clock,
Dial, or Indicator.
Wė, JOHN EDWIN CALVERT LORD, of Borough Road, Weaste, Salford, in the County
of Lancaster, Contractor, and HENRY ALLAN, of 38, Penn Street, Horwich, near
Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Electrical Instrument Maker, 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 object of our invention is the arrangement for a series of clocks, such as may be
found on a series of station platforms, or in the several rooms of a building, to
indicate exactly the same time, also to so effect such synchronising of the clocks as to
make it only necessary to wind or stop one clock of the series, or in other words
to control all the other clocks from a central or master clock.
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect, we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings, and will now
proceed to describe the same with the figures and letters of reference marked
thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front view (partly in dotted lines and partly broken away) of what we
will term the "master" clock by which all the others are controlled. Fig. 2 is a
front view (partly dotted) of one of the clocks of the series, and under the control of
the "master" clock. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, or. another, clock of the system,
and Figs. 4 and 5 shew details.
In accordance with our invention, and as applied for indicating time, we employ
an ordinary clock (A), with the usual fittings, works, etc., composed within a wooden
or other suitable casing, either to hang on a wall, or stand on a shelf. Upon the
wheel (B) of the "seconds" hand spindle, we form or provide a slight projection (C).
Alongside this wheel, and secured at its opposite end in any suitable manner to the
clock casing is a thin metal plate (D); also formed with a slight projection, which
lies in the path of the projection (C), and, as the wheel (B) rotates, is designed, at each
revolution, to come into frictional contact with such projection, and so complete an
electrical circuit of which the wheel and its projection forms one terminal, and the
projection on the plate (D) forms the other terminal.
The completion of the circuit every time the "seconds" hand or finger of the
clock make a minute's movement, serves to set up an exciting current in the coils of
an electro-magnet (E) in each of the clocks (F), and thereby energise the magnetic
poles (N) and (S*), and cause them to attract the plate or armature (C), moving on
a centre (H) in the brackets (I). In so drawing the plate forward, an extension or
arm (J) of such plate is tilted up to the position shewn in Fig. 4, and by reason of
said extension or arm carrying a hook-like plate (K) at its extremity, normally
engaging with a pin or stud (L) on the disc wheel (M), such disc wheel is caused to
rotate a fraction of a revolution.
Such movement of the disc wheel, as reduced through the train of gearing (N), is
sufficient to traverse the "minute" hand of the clock (F) one degree, or a sixtieth
part of the dial's circumference, or such other space as shall serve to advance the

page_text: finger to the same point at which the corresponding hand of the "master" clock is
pointing, the hour hand also, through the gear wheels (N), being moved forward a
proportionate degree to correspond.
As soon as the circuit is broken, i.e. as soon as the projection on wheel (B) of the
"master" clock has passed out of contact with the plate (D), the plates or armatures (G)
of the clocks (F) fall back (see Fig. 5) and cause the hook-like plate (K) to engage
itself with the next succeeding peg or stud (L) on the disc wheel (M), ready to again
advance such wheel as the circuit is again completed, and so on continuously, the
wheel (M) (and consequently the "minute" hand) being advanced a tooth (or degree)
at a time, in correspondence with the "master" clock, and thus ensuring of the same
time being indicated by all the clocks of the system.
To enable the fingers of the clocks (F) to be "set" to the required time before
starting, we provide supplementary circuits, or provide special contact plates (0) and
push (P), which allow the circuits to be completed by hand and independently of the
wheel (B). For stopping and starting the subordinate clocks, we provide a loose
contact plug (Q) capable of fitting into and completing the terminal plates (R).
To prevent the wheel (M) moving more than its allotted degree at each impulse of
the magnet, we provide a hooked lever (S) fulcrummed at (S¹) and riding on the arm or
extension (J) of plate (G) at one extremity, and so shaped and mounted that when
the arm (J) is in its lowermost position, its (the levers) opposite and hooked
extremity (S) lies clear of the pegs (L).-When, however, the arm (J) is tilted, and
has acted upon the wheel (M) to a sufficient degree to cause the pin (L) (previously
lying underneath the end (S2) of the lever) to pass beyond it, the further raising or
tilting of the arm (J) causes the said extremity of lever (S) to go between the pins
and so arrest the further movement of the wheel.
To further ensure of the wheel not overrunning itself, and to ensure of each
impulse being fully utilised, we employ a star wheel (T) upon the spindle of
wheel (M), and alongside such wheel and pendant from the pin (V) is a swivel
bracket (U) carrying a small runner or wheel (W), which owing to the pendulous
mounting of the bracket (U) and to a small spring plate (W1) acting against the
fixed stud (X), engages with the teeth of said star wheel, and by so doing ensures of
each movement of the wheel (M) being definite and complete, besides locking the
wheel between each impulse. In Fig. 2 we shew the normal position of the wheel (M)
and plate (K), in Fig. 4 the position they assume at the moment the impulse takes
place, and in Fig. the position they assume when the plate (K) is falling, and is
about to engage with the next peg.
In the drawing we have shewn the connections for two clocks which are essentially
the same for any desired number of clocks.
Whilst we have described our invention as applied to clocks, or time pieces, it will
be obvious that it may be applied to dials, signal indicators and to other like
contrivances which require to act in sympathy.
Lastly, the making of the contact in the "master" clock, may be effected by other
moving parts, and by the use of two or more contact pieces.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1: Actuating or controlling the fingers or hands of a series of clocks, from a central
or "master" clock, by utilising the movements of such "master" clock to complete
electric circuits, and so energise a magnet in each of the subordinate clocks, and set
in operation mechanism which will advance the hands of such subordinate clocks to
an extent corresponding to the position of the hands of the "master" clock, substan-
tially as set forth.
2:-A projection on wheel (B), and a projection on plàte (D), in circuit with
magnets (E) when in contact as and for the purposes set forth.
3: A magnet (E), by preference, enclosed in the casing of a clock (F), a plate or
armature (G) with arm (J) and swivel hook-like plate (K), a peg wheel (M) with

page_text: pegs (L), a lever (S) swivel bracket (U) and runner (W), spring (W¹), all mounted
and operating as and for the purposes set forth and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
4: The combination of parts constituting our improved means for giving the same
indication on several dials, or at several places, as set forth.
Dated this 10th d...
SO1007
JOHN EDWIN CALVERT LORD,
HENRY ALLAN,
By J. G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.