Improvements in Clock Mechanism and Dials.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clock Mechanism and Dials.
I, CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK DIETZ, residing at 1138, Chartres Street, New
Orleans, a Clock-maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improvement in clock mechanism and dials, having
a series of concentric suitably graduated rings, and adapted to show the time at
any point of longitude.
The said invention consists in the construction and combination of parts sub-
stantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a full view of a dial con-
structed according to my invention; Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section of the
same; Fig. 3 represents a detail view of the outer dial ring which is movable by
hand on knobs H, H.
Fig. 4 represents a similar view of the dial ring G which is driven by clock
mechanism and Fig. 5 represents the additional improvement of clock nicchanism.
In the said drawings, A. designates the annular dial case indicated by a dotted
line in Figure 1 best clearly shown in section in Figure 2.
The fixed main dial E, held within the said dial case, is provided with a central
opening, through which extends the tubular arbor of the rotary dial ring shown in
Figure 2 and in Figure 4, carrying a cross-bar which extends diametrically across
the central part of the face of dial E. The cross bar carries a dial ring G which
is rotated on the face of said dial E by clock mechanism, and carries an outwardly
extending pointer K. The hour hand and the minute hand are mounted in the
usual way on concentric arbors, and driven by ordinary time-piece clockwork.
These arbors extend through the tubular arbor and the said hands travel over
the dial E. Another ring, Figure 3, not operated by clockwork but movable by
hand, is arranged on the face of the dial next to the casing A, in a circular groove
and fastened by an overhanging set-screw I to any fraction to which it may be
turned.
The face of this dial ring F is graduated with the Arabic numerals from 1 to 24,
the word "Noon" being marked opposite 12, the word "Midnight" being marked
opposite 24 and "A.M." and "P.M." being marked respectively on the two-
segments thus formed.
Parallel to this series of graduations another and inner circle of graduations J
on the fixed dial plate E, is divided into 360 degrees, indicated by numerals at
intervals of 15, beginning at the top and extending therefrom in two reverse
series each of 180 degrees, which are shown as meeting opposite the 24 mark of
the outer circle of graduations, and have the marks of 180 in common.
The word "
South" is marked above zero, the word "North" below 180, "W.
Longitude" at the right, and "E. Longitude" at the left facing south.
The rotary ring G has two successive series of hour and minute in reverse to
rotation, said graduations running from right to left, each corresponding to the 12

page_text: hour graduations of an ordinary clock dial, but being contained in half the space.
Concentrically inside of this circle of graduations, is a white band on the said
ring, having the word "Noon inside the character XII in combination with
pointer K, and the word "Midnight" on character XII on the opposite side of
the movable dial ring G; "A.M." to the right midway in the intermediate semi-
circle facing noon or pointer K, and "P.M." to the left facing likewise. That
part of the fixed dial plate E, inward of ring G has the usual clock dial gradua-
tions for hours and minutes of one half the day, the series proceeding from left to
right in the ordinary manner. Outside of this is another circle of graduations
from 1 to 15 in number ending opposite the fixed mark XII of the said dial,
each 4 minutes on the ordinary dial indicates one degree of longitude correspond-
ing with the starting point. All of these concentric circles of graduations make
up one composite dial to the eye.
The ordinary hands are driven by the clock work of an ordinary time piece,
and the dial ring G is driven by the additional train of wheels shown in Fig. 5,
and makes one revolution in 24 hours from the left to the right.
To set the clock for any degree of longitude, for example, 8 o'clock p.m.,
75 degrees west, I proceed as follows:-
I move the dial ring F, the character 12 on the word noon opposite degrees 75
west, tighten it by set screw; I then turn the ordinary minute hand until pointer K
of dial ring G has reached 8 o'clock p.m. on the graduations, viz.-graduation 20
of the dial ring F. The minute hand gives motion to the ring because they are
connected in the interior by gear wheels of the additional clock mechanism.
The additional train of wheels as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the dial ring G
Fig. 4 is driven, consists of 5 wheels, wheel 2 on the same axis and fixed to
wheels of the ordinary clock work, (part of which wheel's is shown behind the
wheel m and makes two revolutions in 24 hours), a wheel m of twice the diameter
of wheel also on the same axle as wheels s and turns loosely and independently
on the sleeve of wheels and is driven through gear wheels r go from the wheel p
so as to make one revolution in 24 hours. Said wheel m is provided with a sleeve
to fit tightly into the arbor of dial ring G. C is the additional T shaped frame to
carry wheel arbors of wheels or and B is a part of the ordinary clock frame.
The universal time indication of the hourly intervals is shown by the 24 pointed
graduations KG upon the scale of degrees J; the minute hand of the ordinary
clock serves with every one of said hour pointers at one and the same time to
all alike. For instance when it is 3 minutes to 10 o'clock in east longitude 150
it is 3 minutes to 9 o'clock in east longitude 165 and so on for all hourly intervals
or equivalents of 15° longitude.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a time piece means adapted to show simultaneously the universal time
and the time of any desired longitude substantially as set forth.
2. In a time piece the movable ring G adapted to and driven by an additional
clock mechanism to turn with the hour hand in setting, and provided with the
pointer K, as well as a series of graduations running from 12 to 1 in reverse order
and duplicated.
F
3. In a time piece the combination of a concentric circular adjustable dial
ring provided with a circular series of graduations with numerals from 1 to 24,
a fixed dial with the usual hour marks and a concentric series of graduations for
longitudes arranged as described and illustrated and the ordinary hour and minute
hands travelling over the face of the dial substantially as set forth.
4. In combination with a fixed clock dial, a circular dial ring F graduated in 24
equal divisions and provided with, means such as a set screw for clamping it on
the face of said fixed dial movable by hand on knobs H H for setting to any
degree of longitude desired.

page_text: 5. The combination with a clock train of an additional clock mechanism con-
sisting of 5 wheels as shown in the accompanying drawing in Fig. 5, and for the
purpose set forth.
6. In a time piece substantially as described a graduation of single longitudes
from 1 to 15 as shown on the main dial near dial ring G substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
1000
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Agents to Applicant.