A NEW SELF-RENEWING MOVEMENT OR POWER FOR CLOCKS AND WATCHES, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Johann Ernst Friedrich Lüdeke at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1876.
JOHANN ERNST FRIEDRICH LUDEKE, of G, St. Benét Place, Gracechurch Street, in
the City of London. "A NEW SELF-RENEWING MOVEMENT OR POWER FOR CLOCKS
AND WATCHES, AND OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to the construction of a new self-renewing movement or
power, especially applicable to clocks and watches, but which is also applicable to
various other useful purposes whero an alternate circular motion is required, or even
a continuous motion to be derived therefrom.
The movement is constructed as follows:-Assuming the movement to be for a
clock, I set a vertical shaft or axis in a bearing on a foundation plate; the bearing
is made to receive a conical pointed or pivoted extremity of the shaft (so as to
reduco friction to a minimum), and the upper end of the shaft passes through a second
bearing in a cross head or bar, supported at each end by standards from the
foundation. About midway, the axis or shaft is provided with a horizontal shaft
forming a cross, to each extremity of which a fixed horizontal pivot is applied, on
which are held the hollow bearing shafts of two balls or spheres connected to such
hollow shafts by vertical arms cut with screw threads, and passing through the
balls in order that their positions may be adjusted and fixed on such arms by
milled-edged thumb screws. We have thus four balls or spheres, two being
supported above and two below the lovel of the cross shaft on the main vertical
shaft. Now, from one of the upper balls a small horizontal connecting rod is
jointed to a bell crank lever or rocking lever, the fulcrum of which is contained by
a strap or projection from the vertical main axle, the horizontal end of the rocker
passing through a slot cut in the axle, which is formed hollow above this slot for
the reception of a vertical pin or stem, the top of which bears in the under surface
of a horizontal rocking shaft abovo the cross head through which the pin or stem
of course extends. This rocking shaft is then joined to a descending rod, which is
in turn joined to a second shaft running horizontally a little above the foundation
plate, and supported by guides until it approaches or touches, so as ultimately to
gear with a toothed wheel ect on the lower part of the main axle. Finally, a helico-
spiral spring is attached to the foundation plate, ascending and surrounding the
main axle to which it is also fixed. Such being the construction, it will be evident
that if the main shaft is turned against the action of the spring and then released
a corresponding reverse motion will result, and the balls will be rotated under the
[Price 2d1

page_text: influence of centrifugal force; but prior to motion being given it is necessary to
observe that one or both of the two sets of balls must be prevented from assuining
a relatively vertical position by means of a stop on the cross bar (which supports
them) in such manner that the upper ball shall be slightly nearer the centre or main
shaft than the lower ball; and also that such upper ball shall be connected to the
lower ball on the other side of the main shaft by means of a cord or a diagonal rod,
by which means as one ball extends further from the centre the other shall approach,
and vice versa, so as to compensate the movement. Then it follows that the
reciprocating action of the balls will create a movement of the rocking lever or bell
crank, the rise and fall of the upper stem and horizontal rod, and thence will operato
on the lower rod in connection with the toothed wheel, and so to the main shaft
itself, to which the power is consequently restored or renewed, and a further wheel
is arranged as required for indicating time.
Having given this example, it only remains to be stated that the movement on a
smaller scale is equally applicable to watches, it being immaterial in what position
the movement is worked. Whatever modifications might be .necessary could easily
be made without departing from the principles of the action. The movement is of
courso equally applicable to a variety of purposes, where such motion may be
desirable, whether as a mere movement or as a self-renewing power.