Improvements in Secondary Electric Clocks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1892-Accented, 7th May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Secondary Electric Clocks.
1, EMIL SCHWEIZER, of 16 Marktplatz, Bale, Switzerland, Watch 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 :-
This invention relates to secondary electric clocks wherein the catches or levers
for actuating the hands of the dial are actuated by means of an oscillating armature
influenced by the poles of an electromagnet. This oscillating armature is applicable
both to secondary electric clocks that are worked by alternate positive and negative
currents as also to such as are actuated by a positive or a negative current
flowing in one and the same direction.
On the accompanying drawings
Figs. 1 to 4 show a secondary electric clock that is actuated by alternate positive
and negative currents, while Figs. 5 to 8 show the apparatus for effecting the
necessary alternation of the current. Figs. 9 to 13 show an electric pendulum
clock that is actuated by a positive or negative current always flowing in the same
direction.
To the plate A, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are fixed the ends C C of the soft iron cores
of an electromagnet B, while on the cross piece D connecting these cores are
fixed the ends of two permanent magnetic bars P P, the free ends of which
are bent round in the shape of a horse shoe. Between these ends and the
poles CC of the electromagnet is arranged a spindle E of the oscillating iron
armature F. The front end of this spindle passes through the plate A and
carries a two armed head piece G fixed adjustably thereto by means of the screw gº,
while the other end is carried in a bearing H fixed to the cross piece D. On
both arms of the head piece G are pivotted catches or pawls I and I both of which
catches take into the teeth of a ratchet wheel L fixed on the boss of the minute
wheel K of the clock. The boss common to both these wheels is fixed on the
minute arbor J carried by the plate A and by the support a fixed thereto. The
minute wheel K gears as usual into the change wheel L', the pinion L of which
gears with the hour wheel M. The catches on the head piece Gare held by
their own weight in contact with the ratchet wheel La spring i however ensures
such gearing. Two pins limit the motion of the catches and prevent an
unintentional removal of the same from the ratchet wheel. On the underside of
the armature F is fixed a double spring in order to prevent a too violent contact
of the armature with the pole ends CC¹.
The commutator, Fig. 5, is carried by a metal plate M fixed on a base of
insulating material such as wood and the like. Over this plate is a bridge piece N,
and between this and the first named plate is a train of wheels that is driven by a
spring contained in the spring barrel 6º, the train having its motion regulated by
means of a fly a' which receives its motion from the spring barrel through the
wheels and pinions d' d³ ³ and ele²ee. The one spindle of the train passes
through the bridge piece N and carries at its upper end a spring finger, the end
of which rests against a pin e fixed to the electro magnet armature Ó. This
armature is connected by a spring o with a carrier n fixed to the bridge piece N
and it rests generally against the point of a regulating screw n Fig. 8 carried in an
arm of the carrier n. The electromagnet Q, Figs. 5, 6 and 8, which actuates
armature is fixed to the plate M and is connected by the screw terminals u and u'
with the electrical circuit of the main clock which drives the secondary clocks, so
that on closing this circuit the armature O is attracted by the poles of the electro-
magnet Q, whereby the pin releases the finger 62. On the spindle is furthermore

page_text: a contact piece g which, during one turn of the rotation of spindle &', slides in contact
with the contact spring fixed in an insulated manner on the bridge piece N.
This contact spring is connected through wire with the screw terminal wo and a
screw terminal is connected by a wire with a contact plate p fixed in an
insulated manner on a part N of the bridge piece N (the terminal screws to and wo
are connected with the poles of an electric battery). On each side of the plate p is
another plate and p² also fixed in an insulated manner on the part N¹ of the
bridge piece N. The two contact pieces pl are connected together by a wire p".
Furthermore the oue plate p² is connected with the one wire end of an electro-
magnet R which is fixed by means of an angle plate to the plate M, while the
other wire end 7 of this coil is connected with the axis. The one end of the iron
armature S of this electromagnet having a pivot j is carried in a rotatable manner
on the one hand by the plate M and on the other hand by the bearer m fixed to
this plate, while at the other end an arm is fixed which carries the pivotted
pawl. The pawl k is kept pressed by a spring ' continuously in the teeth of the
ratchet wheel 3 fixed on the spindle of the spring barrel °, so that at each
closing of the electric circuit which actuates the secondary clocks by means of the
contact of the piece g with the spring h, that is to say every time that the armature S
is attracted by the electromagnet the ratchet wheel will be turned to the extent
of one tooth, whereby the spring will be wound up. On the circuit being broken,
on the other hand, the armature S is moved downwards by a spring fixed to the
plate M, that is to say, is removed from the electromagnet. This downward motion
is limited by a pin 3 on the plate M. A spring locking-ratchet prevents the
backward motion of the ratchet wheel 6 during the downward motion of the
armature.
On the spindle of the pinion e¹ which gears directly with the teeth of the spring
barrel are two elliptic discs or cams q¹², the long axes of which are shifted
relatively to each other to an angle of 90° as shown at Figs. 6 and 7. On the
part N of the bridge piece N are fixed in an insulated manner the pins tou
which are fixed the contact springs T T'. The front end of the contact spring T
rests upon the under surface of the contact plate por p'; the rear end thereof is
provided with an insulating piece to which is held against the periphery of the cam
disc by means of a springs which is fixed on this rear end of the contact spring T
and which presses against a pin so fixed in an insulated manner on the part N'.
The number of teeth of the wheel d' and the pinion e' is so chosen that at every
rotation of the spindle the spindle q only performs a quarter of a revolution,
whereby the rear end of the contact spring is brought from the larger diameter of
the cam g
on to the smallest diameter or vice versa, whereby the front end of the
spring T is made to pass from the plate p on to p² and vice versa.
In the same way
the rear end of the contact spring T, provided with the insulating piece to, is held
by a spring 2 pressing against a pin s' against the periphery of the cam g², so that
by this means the contact spring T' is moved simultaneously with the first one, and
the front end thereof is moved from the contact plate on top or from
to p².
The metal pivot of the spring T is connected by a lead 2 with the pinching
screw, while the metal pivot t' of the spring T is connected by a lead
pinching screw, both of which pinching screws and are connected with the
winding of the electromagnet of the secondary clock or clocks. The above
described secondary electric clock with alternating current mechanism acts in the
following manner.
P
with the
At every closing of the circuit of the main clock, for instance at every minute,
the armature is attracted by the electromagnet Q, so that the finger b² is set free
and the spindle can be rotated by the coiled spring situated in the spring barrel 6º.
During this time, in consequence of the breaking of the circuit of the main clock,
the armature will have moved away again from the electromagnet, so that the
finger will be arrested by the pin e again on completing its revolution. By
means of the above named rotation of the spindle b', the piece g comes in contact
with the contact spring h. By this means the circuit of the secondary clocks will

page_text: also be closed and consequently these clocks will be actuated, and at the same time
the armature S will be attracted by the electromagnet R. The ratchet wheel 63
will be moved somewhat, so that by this means the spring of the spring barrel bº
will be wound up again to some extent.
As soon as the circuit of a secondary clock is closed by the contact device gh,
one of the poles C C of the iron cores, which are magnetised by the pole of the
same sign of the permanent magnet P, becomes demagnetised while the magnetism
is increased in the other pole, so that the armature F will be attracted by this
latter pole, as indicated by the arrow Fig. 3; one of the pawls I l¹, for
instance I, will thus be moved in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1, and the
wheel I will be turned the distance of half a tooth, whereby the clock-work will
be correspondingly actuated. During this motion of the pawl I and rotation of
the wheel L, the other pawl I will be moved half a tooth backwards, that is, in the
direction of arrow y Fig. 1 so that it will enter the next tooth space, as shown in
the position at Fig. 4.
During the rotation of the spindle the spindle q Figs. 6 and 7 will be turned
through a quarter revolution, and consequently the cams 71, 72, will be turned
through 90° so that for example the contact springs T T will move from the
position shewn in full lines at Fig. 6 into the position shewn in dotted lines, as soon
as the piece g releases the spring h.
Consequently the contact spring T, which was previously in contact with the
plate will come in contact with p, and the spring T which was in contact with p,
will come in contact with p², so that at the next contact the terminal screw which
for example was previously connected to terminal screw w, will now be connected
to w, which was previously connected to terminal v¹.
At the next closure of the circuit of the secondary clock the current will flow
through the winding of the electromagnet B thereof in the contrary direction, so
that the other pole of the electromagnet B will be depolarised and the armature F
will be attracted by the previously demagnetised pole, which is now magnetised
again, that is to say, the armature will be brought into the position at Fig. 3.
Consequently the pawls I will move in the contrary direction to the arrows a y
Fig. 1, and the wheel L will again be turned half a tooth, and so on.
Fig. 9 shews a front view, Fig. 10 a longitudinal section, Fig. 11 a plan, and
Fig. 12 a back view of the mechanism of an electric secondary clock with oscillating
armature, that is actuated by a current always flowing in the same direction;
Fig. 13 shews a section on line X, X, Fig. 11. To the plate A, are fixed by
means of screws D, D, the ends of the iron cores B, B1 of a double
electromagnet C, C, while the other ends of the iron cores B, B. are connected
together by the cross piece E. Between the two poles N. S. of the double electro
magnet cores B, B is a moveable armature Go fixed on the spindle F. The
latter passes through the plate A, and rests with its back end in a brass bearing Ho
fixed in the iron piece E. The spindle F, carries at its front end the two-armed
lever K, fixed thereon by a screw I, and to the forked end of the lever is pivotted
the pawl Lo
A spring fixed on this pawl presses with its free end against the sloped
forked end of the lever K, so that the latter will, in its normal condition be held
by the spring L, against the point of the adjustable screw N. carried by the
stud M, of the plate A..
The pawl L. engages with the teeth of the minute wheel O, of an ordinary dial
train at the front side of the plate A., and the motion of this wheel O, is
transmitted to the hour wheel R. by means of the gear wheels P. and Q. A
spring counter-pawl, gearing with the wheel O. and fixed to the plate A,
prevents all backward motion of the dial train O, P, Q, R.. A pin %, fixed to the
plate A, limits the forward motion of the pawl L, so that this can only turn the
wheel O, through one tooth at a time.
The two ends T. To of the winding of the double electro magnet C. Co are
connected to the binding screws U. U., which are fixed in an insulated manner on

page_text: "
the rear side of the plate A., and which are connected by leads Y., Y., to a circuit
that is closed periodically, such as once a minute, by a main clock.
The above described electric secondary clock acts as follows:
If the circuit in which is included the winding of the electromagnet C., C.¹ is
closed periodically by a main clock, for instance every minute, then both ends of
the armature G, which are fixed on the spindle F, obliquely to the poles N. S.
of the electromagnet C. C, will be attracted by the latter, so as to assume the
position shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 13, where it will stop, and the lever K, on the
armature spindle F, will turn the wheel 0, one tooth by means of pawl Lo, as
indicated by the arrow a.
During such motion of the pawl L, the spring L fixed thereto will be somewhat
bent by the forked end of the inclined lever K, so that after the circuit in which
the electro magnet C. C is included is broken, the spring L will force the
lever K, together with the armature G, back into the normal position shewn
at Fig. 9.
With this arrangement of the secondary clockwork the oscillating armature
cannot strike against the poles of the electromagnet, so that the action of the clock
will make comparatively little noise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A. secondary electric clock operating with alternating current mechanism,
wherein an armature Foscillates over the poles C C of an electro magnet B, which
armature is influenced by one or more permanent magnets P P which impart
magnetism of the same sign to both ends thereof, such armature at each closing of
the circuit being alternately attracted by one or other of the poles C C in consequence
of the change of current, and thus made to actuate the ratchet wheel Land
consequently the dial train, by means of the one or other of the two catches or
pawls I carried by the two-armed piece G fixed on the armature spindle,
substantially as described.
2. In the secondary electric clock mechanism referred to in the preceding claim,
the arrangement of the permanent magnets P P which, in combination with the
armature F, impart magnetism of the same sign to the two poles C C of the
electromagnet B, so that on the closing of the electric circuit, the one such pole C
becomes depolarised while the other one has its magnetism increased, substantially
as described.
3. In the secondary electric clock mechanism referred to in the first claim, the
arrangement of the armature F oscillating between the poles CC of the
electromagnet B and the permanent magnets P P and mounted on a spindle E on
whose front end is fixed the two armed head piece G carrying the actuating
pawls 11, which transmit the movements of the armature F to a ratchet wheel L
fixed on the minute arbor, and consequently also to the hands of the clock,
substantially as described.
4. In an electric secondary clock such as is referred to in the preceding claims,
the use of a current changing mechanism wherein an electromagnet Q included
in the circuit of the main clock, on the closing of such circuit attracts a spring
armature so that the pine thereof sets a finger 63 free which is otherwise
held thereby, and thus allows the clockwork to be set in motion, substantially as
described.
5. In the current changing mechanism of electric secondary clocks such as are
referred to in the preceding claims, a train of wheels driven by a spring in the
barrel, the one spindle of which train carries, in addition to a finger b, a
contact piece g, which during a part of the rotation of this spindle passes in contact
with a contact spring k and thereby alternately closes and breaks the circuit of the
secondary clock or clocks, substantially as described.
6. In the current changing mechanism of electric secondary clocks such as are

page_text: referred to in the preceding claims, the use of the contact springs T T¹ carried by
pins tt fixed in an insulated manner on the bridge N N', each of which springs is
connected with one of the binding screws vv, and is held by a springs and with
an insulating piece against the periphery of one of the cams 'q, so that at
cach closure of the circuit of the main clock, that is to say, when the train of
wheels is liberated and the cam spindle 7 is made to perform a quarter revolution,
the front ends of the contact springs TT are shifted and change their contacts
respectively from P to pl and from p² to p, or vice versa, the said plates being fixed
in an insulated manner on the piece N₁ and p being connected with the binding
screw while and 2 are in connection with the binding screw w, so that at each
closing of the circuit the connections between the binding screws' leading to the
circuits of the secondary clocks and the binding screws ww' leading to the poles
of a battery are changed, thus alternating the currents that actuate the secondary
clocks, substantially as described.
7. In the current changing mechanism of electric secondary clocks such as arc
referred to in the preceding claims, the use of an electro magnet R fixed to the
plate M and included in the circuit of the secondary clocks, which electro magnet
at each closing of the circuit attracts an armature S, a pawl on which is thereby
made to turn the ratchet wheel on the spindle of the spring barrel 10 a
distance of one tooth, so as to wind up the spring to a certain extent, substantially
as described.
8. An electric secondary clock driven by a continuous current, wherein the pawl
that actuates the dial train is connected by a lever K, with the axis of an armature
oscillating between the poles of the electro magnet, and is provided with a spring Lo
the free end of which bears against the sloping end of the lever K, and is put in
tension by the motion of the pawl so as to move back the lever K, together with
the pawl into their original position after the completion of the forward motion,
substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of March 1899
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.