IMPROVED, MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL BOXES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Browne, of the Firm of Browne and Company,
of 5, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, for
the Invention of "IMPROVED, MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL BOXES." A com-
munication from abroad by Messieurs Aubert and Son, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 27th February 1880, and dated the 16th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Browne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1879.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, of 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. "IMPROVED MECHANISM
FOR MUSICAL BOXES." (A commmunication from abroad by Messieurs Aubert and
Son, of Paris, France).
This Invention relates to mechanism for musical boxes, so as to increase the time
of working and admit of their being placed in a clock case in connection with a
clock, for example, only to be wound every eight days at the same time as the
clock is wound. And in order that this Invention may be better understood
reference is had to the Drawings accompanying this Specification, showing the
different views of a musical box furnished with the improved mechanism. Figure 1
shews a longitudinal elevation of the musical box; Figure 2 shews a similar view at
the cylinder side; Figure 3 shews a view of the barrel side; Figure 4 shews in plan
a modification of the mechanism when applied to musical boxes of large size. In
the first 3 Figures the same letters of reference denote the same parts. The
mechanism represented at Figures 1, 2, and 3 consists of a barrel a carrying a
wheel b with 88 teeth in the example shewn. This barrel gears with a pinion c
with 12 leaves. The pinion c carries on its axis a wheel d with 64 teeth, which is
termed the time wheel; it is the use of this time wheel that constitutes the principle
feature in this Invention. The time wheel & gears with a pinion e with 16 leaves
fixed to a wheel fon the axis of the cylinder g which works the keys. It is on
this wheel that the mechanism acts which causes the musical box to play at the
changing of the hours (or at each hour) when the said musical box is placed in a
clock case and connected with the clock.
According to the numbers indicated above and to the theory of gearing the

page_text: 88X64
12X16 192
produce of the number of teeth of the wheels divided by the produce of the number
of leaves of the pinions gives the product of the number of revolutions of the
cylinder to the number of turns of the barrel, viz.,
6632-29.3. It will be
seen that the cylinder will make 29.3 turns while the barrel only makes one
turn. If the barrel turns 4 times by the entire action of the spring it will be
seen that 117.2 turns of the cylinder will be obtained without rewinding the
apparatus, whereas the maximum number of turns of the cylinder obtained up to
the present time is but 24 without rewinding. This is one instance, but it is very
evident that the inventors reserve the right of varying the number of teeth in the
wheel and leaves of the pinions according to requirements, and consequently the
ratio of the number of turns of the barrel to that of the cylinder.
The above arrangement will not answer for musical boxes of large size, the
power of one barrel being in this case insufficient. For these latter boxes one
or more auxillary barrels are employed. The modified arrangement in this latter
case is represented at Figure 4. The mechanism consists of two barrels m and m³,
gearing with the pinion n of the time wheel o. This latter wheel o gears with the
pinion p which causes as before the movement of the cylinder 1. In this arrange.
ment the wheel which causes the musical box to play at the changing of the hours
when in a clock case and connected with a clock is carried back in 8 to the other
end of the cylinder r, as shewn in the Drawings. The inventors reserve to them-
selves the right of adding to the barrels m and m², coupled barrels already known
which doubles the time of working, and for musical boxes of large size allows 100
turns or more when the spring is completely wound up.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Browne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th March
1880.
ALEXANDER BROWNE, of the Firm of Browne and Company, of 5, Southampton
Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. "IMPROVED MECHANISM
FOR MUSICAL BOXES." (A communication from abroad by Messieurs Aubert and
Son, of Paris, France.)
This Invention relates to mechanisın for musical boxes, so as to increase the time
of working and admitting of their being placed in a clock case in connection with a
clock, for example, only to be wound up every eight days at the same time as the
clock is wound. And in order that this Invention may be better understood
reference is had to the Drawings accompanying this Specification, showing the
different views of a musical box furnished with the improved mechanism. Figure 1
shews a longitudinal elevation of the musical box; Figure 2. shews a similar view
at the cylinder side; Figure 3 shews a view of the barrel side; Figure 4 shews in
plan a modification of the mechanism when applied to musical boxes of large size.
In the first three Figures the same letters of reference denote the same parts. The
mechanism represented at Figures 1, 2, and 3 consists of a barrel a carrying a wheel b
with 88 teeth in the example shewn. This barrel gears with a pinion c with 12
leaves. The pinion c carries on its axis a wheel d with 64 teeth which is termed
the time wheel. It is the use of this time wheel that constitutes the principle
feature in this Invention. The time wheel & gears with a pinion e with 16 leaves
fixed to a wheelf on the axis of the cylinder g which works the keys. It is on
this wheel that the mechanism acts which causes the musical box to play at the
changing of the hours (or at each hour) when the said musical box is placed in a
clock case and connected with the clock. According to the numbers indicated
above and to the theory of gearing the produce of the number of teeth of the wheels
divided by the produce of the number of leaves of the pinions gives the product
of the number of revolutions of the cylinder to the number of turns of the barrel
88X64 5632
viz., 12X16.
=29.3. It will be seen that the cylinder will make 29.3 turns
while the barrel only makes one turn. If the barrel turns four times by the entire
action of the spring it will be seen that 117.2 turns of the cylinder will be obtained
without rewinding the apparatus, whereas the maximum number of turns of the
cylinder obtained up to the present time is but 24 without rewinding. This is one.
instance, but it is very evident that the inventors reserve the right of varying the
number of teeth in the wheels and leaves of the pinions according to requirements,
and consequently the ratio of the number of turns of the barrel to that of the
cylinder. The above arrangement will not answer for musical boxes of large size,
the power of one barrel being in this case insufficient. For these latter boxes one
or more auxillary barrels are employed. The modified arrangement in this latter
case is represented at Figure 4. The mechanism consists of two barrels m and m
gearing with the pinion n of the time wheel o. This latter wheel o gears with the
pinion p which causes as before the movement of the cylinder r.
In this arrange-
iment the wheel which causes the musical box to play at the changing of the hours
when in a clock case and connected with a clock is carried back in s to the other
end of the cylinder r, as shewn in the Drawings.
192
The inventors reserve to themselves the right of adding to the barrels m and m¹
coupled barrels already known which doubles the time of working, and for musical
boxes of large size allows 100 turns or more when the spring is completely wound
up. In Figure 5 is represented a modified arrangement of this Invention, which
from its simplicity can be made at a sufficiently low price to be applied to small
musical boxes. In this arrangement the mechanism consists of a barrel a turning

page_text: on a vertical axis; this barrel carries a crown wheel b gearing direct with the
pinion e of the arbor of the cylinder g. f represents the wheel of the cylinder in
connection with the mechanism of the clock when the musical box is placed in a
clock case. By this mechanism 25 turns of the cylinder are obtained by the entire
action of the spring of the barrel a. The inventors reserve to themselves the right
of varing the number of teeth employed in this arrangement of mechanism
according to the different requirements, also the employment in this mechanism of
the arrangement of barrels known as coupled barrels.
Having thus described the nature and object of this Invention, and the means
for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what
I claim as constituting this Invention is,-
First. An arrangement of mechanism for enabling musical boxes to work for a
longer time than heretofore, consisting of a series of wheels and opinions a, b, and c,
connecting the barrel to a time wheel d which is actuated by a pinion e on the axis
of the cylinder g working the keys, the said axis having a wheelf which causes the
box to play at the changing of the hours when the box is placed in a clock case,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, of the Drawings.
Secondly. The mechanism for enabling musical boxes to work for a longer time
than heretofore, consisting of two barrels m and m' either single or coupled gearing
with the pinion n of the time wheel o, which latter actuates the pinion p of the
cylinder working the keys, the axis of the cylinder carrying a wheel fon which
acts the mechanism of the changing of the hours when the musical box is placed in
a clock case, substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 and for the
purpose specified.
Thirdly. The modified arrangement of mechanism represented at Figure 5 for
enabling musical boxes to work for a longer time than heretofore, consisting of a
barrel a carrying a crown wheel b which gears direct with the pinion e of the arbor
of the cylinder of the musical box, which can carry a wheelf on which acts the
mechanism of the changing of the hours when the musical box is placed in a clock
case, substantially as above described and for the purpose specified.
·
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Browne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ALEX, BROWNE. (L.S.)