Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Sept., 1888
I, APOLLON JOACHIM THOMAS of 24 Rue Albouy, Paris, France Clockmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a system of electrical transmission of motion from a primary
self-winding electric clock to any number of secondary or receiving clocks which may
or may not be provided with striking trains. The primary clock which is simple in
construction and certain and regular in action is self-winding by each emission of the
current for actuating the secondary clocks and it is provided with a peculiar form of
contact whereby the isochronal passage of the current is established.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings wherein figure 1 represents a
front elevation and figure 2 a side elevation of the motor. Figures 3 and 4 shew
front and side elevations of the wheel-work of one of the secondary or receiving
clocks. Figures 5 and 6 represent front and side elevations of a receiving clock with
electrically operated striking train, while Figure 7 represents details of the contact
a rangement hereinafter described, drawn on a larger scale. Figure 8 is a
modification thereof. The same letters of reference represent like parts in all
the figures.
In describing the invention it will be assumed that the current is emitted at intervals
of one minute, but it will be understood that any other interval of time may be
adopted. The current thus emitted at minute intervais energises the electro-magnet a
which thereupon attracts the armature 6 (overcoming the retractile spring b³) and
The
operates a spring pawl c engaging in a ratchet d on the minute hand-arbor e.
pawl c is mounted on the free end of a lever fpivoted at f¹ and connected with the
armature by a stud f2 engaging in a slotted bracket g attached to the armature, by
which arrangement a train of motion wheels may be actuated by a comparatively
feeble electro-magnet the mechanism occupying little space. The ratchet & advances
one tooth and rotates the minute hand, one minute for each oscillation of the armature;
and in order to simultaneously effect the continuous winding up of the clock move-
ment there is also mounted upon the minute-hand arbor a small barrel whose spring

page_text: is coiled every minute to a nearly equal extent to that which it unwinds for the purpose
of operating the clock train during this interval.
Contact is established for giving passage to the current at each minute, by means of
a star or pin wheel having five teeth each producing a contact, said wheel being
mounted on an arbor i driven either directly or otherwise by wheel k. The contact
mechanism operated by star wheel 1, is represented in detail in figure 7 and consists
of a spring arm m² m² fixed at one end to the frame and insulated therefrom and
provide at the other end with a metallic contact piece m. The arm is formed, as
shewn, of two spring blades m² m² whose planes are placed at right angles to one
another so as to permit of flexure of the arm both vertically and horizontally, the
central thickened portion uniting the blades being provided with a pin m³ of insulating
material which rests on the teeth of wheel so that every time a tooth passes under
the pin the arm is raised and the circuit closed as will be hereinafter described.
In figure 8, a notched block m³ of insulating material rests on the pins of pin
wheel, the action being otherwise similar but by this means absolute equality in the
duration of the currents is ensured.
In either case the closing of the circuit is effected by means of a fixed contact
piece a mounted on the same plate of the frame as the spring arm and also insulated
therefrom. This contact n is made of the lenticular form in section shewn at A and
is faced with insulating material n on the rear side. The spindle i makes one
revolution every five minutes and as each tooth of the star or pin wheel raises the
pin mat regular intervals of one minute and raises the contact m and causes it to
strike the insulated surface n' which being of the form shewn and placed obliquely
deflects the contact m by bending the spring m¹ and when tooth escapes from the
arm the contact m which is then raised above n will be brought forward by the
spring m' so as to pass downwards in frictional contact with the conducting face of
the contact n. To ensure contact each tooth of ratchet / is notched at which retains
the two parts main contact with each other for an instant before the arm is entirely
released. o is a stop for limiting the descent of arm m¹.
1
Each emission of the current is transmitted to and actuates the clock trains of the
receiving clocks shewn in figures 3 and 4 by uieans of an electro-magneta, armature b,
pawl c, ratchet d, and lever f arranged and operating in a similar manner to that
described with reference to figures 1 and 2, whereby the minute hand is advanced one
minute for each oscillation of the armature which is so connected with the lever fas
to enable the hands of a large clock to be operated with a comparatively weak
current.
Figures 5 and 6 shew a receiving clock, provided with an ordinary striking train
actuated by a spring barrel q which is wound at each minute by a wheel p keyed
on the minute hand arbor gearing with the barrel through an intermediate
wheel.
The barrel is itself mounted on the axis of pin wheels which operates
the bell-haminer.
thi, 17th
A. J. THOMAS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Electric Clocks.
I, APOLLON JOACHIM THOMAS of 24, Rue Albouy, Paris, France, Clockmaker, 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:
My Invention relates to a system of electrical transmission of motion from a
primary self winding electric clock to any number of secondary or receiving clocks
which may or may not be provided with striking trains. The primary clock which is
simple in construction and certain and regular in action, is self-winding by each
emission of the current for actuating the secondary clocks, and it is provided
with a peculiar form of contact whereby the isochronal passage of the current is
established.
Reference is to be had to the drawings left with my provisional specification, wherein
figure 1 represents a front elevation, and figure 2 a side elevation, of the primary
clock or motor. Figures 3 and 4 shew front and side elevations of the wheel-work of
one of the secondary or receiving clocks. Figures 5 and 6 represent front and side
elevations of a receiving clock with electrically operated striking train, while figure 7
represents details of the contact arrangement hereinafter described, drawn on a larger
scale. Figure 8 is a modification thereof. The same letters of reference represent
like parts in all the figures.
In describing the invention, it will be assumed that the current is emitted at
intervals of one minute, but it will be understood that any other interval of time may
be adopted. The current thus emitted at minute intervals energises the electro-
magnet a which thereupon attracts the armature b (overcoming the retractile spring b¹)
and operates a spring pawl e engaging in a ratchet d on the minute-hand arbor e.
The pawl c is mounted on the free end of a lever pivoted at fl and connected with
the armature b by a stud 2 engaging in a slotted bracket g attached to the armature,
by which arrangement, a train of motion wheels may be actuated by a comparatively
feeble electro-magnet, the mechanism occupying little space. The ratchet & advances
one tooth and rotates the minute hand one minute for each oscillation of the armature;
and in order to simultaneously effect the continuous winding up of the clock move-
ment, there is also mounted loose upon the minute-hand arbor a spring barrel h, the
spring being connected to the arbor whilst the barrel gears by a wheel k upon its
periphery either directly or indirectly with the arbor i. Thus the spring is wound up
every minute to a nearly equal extent to that which it unwinds for the purpose of
operating the clock train during this interval.
Contact is established for giving passage to the current, at each minute, by means
of a star or pin wheel 7 having five teeth each producing a contact, said wheel being
mounted on arbor i. The contact mechanism operated by star wheel 7, is represented
in detail in figure 7, and consists of a spring arm m¹ m² fixed at one end to the frame
and insulated therefrom and provided at the other end with a metallic contact piece m.
The arm is formed, as shewn, of two spring blades m² m² whose planes are placed at
right angles to one another so as to permit of flexure of the arm both vertically and
horizontally, the central thickened portion uniting the blades being provided with a

page_text: pin m³ of insulating material which rests on the teeth of wheel so that every time
a tooth passes under the pin the arm is raised and the circuit closed, as will be herein-
after described. In figure 8, a notched block m³ of insulating material rests on the
pins of pin wheel 1, the action being otherwise similar, but by this means absolute
equality in the duration of the currents is ensured.
In either case, the closing of the circuit is effected by means of a fixed contact
piece n mounted on the same plate of the frame as the spring arm and also insulated
therefrom. This contact n is made of the lenticular form in section shewn at A and
is faced with insulating material n' on the rear side. The spindle i makes one
revolution every five minutes and each tooth of the star or pin wheel thus raises the
pin or block m³ at regular intervals of one minute and with it the contact m and
causes it to strike the insulated surface n', which being of the form shewn and placed
obliquely, deflects the contact m by bending the spring m¹ and when tooth escapes
from the arm the contact m, which is then raised above n, will be brought forward by
the spring m¹, so as to pass downwards in frictional contact with the conducting face
of the contact n. To ensure contact, each tooth of ratchet is notched at which
retains the two parts m n in contact with each other for an instant before the arm is
entirely released. o is a stop for limiting the descent of arm m¹.
Each emission of the current is transmitted to and actuates the clock trains of the
receiving clocks, shewn in figures 3 and 4, by means of an electro-magnet a,
armature b, spring b¹, pawl c, ratchet d, and lever f, arranged and operating in a
similar manner to that described with reference to figures 1 and 2, whereby the
minute hand is advanced one minute for each oscillation of the armature, which is
FO connected with the lever fas to enable the hands of a large clock to be operated
with a comparatively weak current.
Figures 5 and 6 shew a receiving clock provided with an ordinary striking train
actuated by a spring barrel 9 which is wound at each minute by a wheel p keyed on
the minute-hand arbor e gearing with the barrel through an intermediate wheel r.
The barrel is itself mounted on the axis of pin wheel s which operates the
bell hammer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1st. In an electric clock in which the current is emitted at regular intervals for
simultaneously advancing the minute hand and winding up the clock movement, as
described, the combination of the electro-magnet a, armature b, spring pawl c, and
lever, connected to said armature by a stud 2, and slotted bracket 9, whereby pawle
is caused to operate a ratchet d on the minute hand arbor e and wind up the spring
barrel h, as hereinbefore described for the purpose specified.
2nd. A contact mechanism for electric clocks, consisting of a spring arm m² m²
carrying a contact piece m at its free end and a pin or block m³ operated by a star
or pin wheel l, as herein before described and for the purpose specified.
3rd. In an electric clock, the combination of a contact piece m of lenticular form
in cross-section carried by a spring arm and a fixed contact n of similar form placed
obliquely with regard to contact m and faced with insulating material n¹ on the one
side for operation, as hereinbefore described for the purpose specified.
Dated this 8th day of August 1888.
A. J. THOMAS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.