An Improved Electrical Apparatus for Driving Clockwork.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Apparatus for Driving Clockwork.
I FREDERICK HERBERT BERRY of 21 Tollington Park Holloway in the
County of Middlesex Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and cheap and yet very
sure and efficient electrical apparatus for driving clockwork of all descriptions.
To carry out this object on preferably the central arbor of the clockwork I
loosely mount a lever which is engaged with a ratchet wheel by a hooked pawl
and one
arm of this lever is so weighted as to be capable of actuating the
clockwork through the ratchet wheel while the other arm is connected to the
armature of an electro-magnet mounted in the proper position in respect of
the clockwork. Near the clockwork is mounted another lever one arm of which
lever also is weighted and on the under side of the other arm which is in the
path of the weighted arm of the actuating lever is a contact point preferably
V shaped and in a proper corresponding position below is a contact post pre-
ferably formed by two parallel springs between which the V shaped point can
enter and near these springs is fitted a permanent magnet. The one terminal
of this apparatus is electrically connected with this latter weighted lever and the
other terminal with the electro-magnet and therethrough with the two springs
or other contact post and with or in connection with these two terminals is fitted
any suitable battery or other source of electricity.
Therefore when and as the weighted arm of the actuating lever descends while
it is driving the clockwork at the arranged for position it comes in contact with
the free arm of the other lever and depresses the same against the weight on
the other arm thereof until the contact point on its under side touches the
contact post being there held by the permanent magnet and the circuit is com-
pleted. The current therefore passes from this lever and through the contact
post to and through the electro-magnet whereby the armature is drawn down and
thus raises the weighted arm of the actuating lever into its uppermost position
in readiness again to actuate the clockwork in and by its descent. When the
weighted arm of the actuating lever is lifted off the free arm of the other lever
this latter arm is by the counterbalancing weight lifted off the contact post
whereby the circuit is broken and thus all parts of this apparatus are in position
to recommence or practically to continue their aforesaid course of action as is
desired.
Suitable adjustments and other usual appliances can be provided by which the
exact times and intervals of the several parts of the action can be regulated and
by which the movements of the levers and other parts can be governed and
controlled.
Dated this 15th day of December 1891.
HART & Co.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Apparatus for Driving Clockwork.
1 FREDERICK HERBERT BERRY of 21 Tollington Park Holloway in the
County of Middlesex Electrician 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:-
-
The object of this my invention is to provide a very simple and cheap and yet

page_text: extremely sure and efficient electrical apparatus for driving clockwork of all
descriptions whatever may be the end and object for which such clockwork is to be
so driven.
•
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein I have
shewn my electrical apparatus as applied and arranged to and for the duty of
driving, the clockwork of an ordinary pendulum clock and Figure 1 is a front
elevation of the clock and my electrical apparatus having the front plate of the
frame of the clockwork and the face of the clock together with the usually
attendant and therewith connected gearing and other devices removed and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the clock and my electrical apparatus.
2.
A suitable frame is constructed in any ordinary or other manner to carry the
clockwork and other parts of the clock which may be of any usual or other
character and style and A is the front plate of this frame and B is the rear plate
of the same while C is a side plate fitted in the proper desired position on and to
the edges of the plates A and B and this frame is erected and supported in any
ordinary or other manner on and by the base plate D.
On one of the arbors of this clockwork most, conveniently and preferably on the
main and central arbor E or it may be in some cases when so desired in any other
suitable position on any stud or other proper appliance secured on the frame is
loosely mounted a rocking lever F and in the proper corresponding position near
thereto on one of the arbors of this clockwork most conveniently and preferably on
the main and central arbor E is secured a ratchet wheel G into the teeth whereof
an hooked pawl 'G' mounted in the proper position on the lever F engages and one,
arm F¹ of the lever F carries such a suitable weight H in such a manner and so
arranged that this weight H can actuate the clockwork through the ratchet wheel G
by the pawl Gin and by its descent. This rocking lever F may be an ordinary
straight or nearly straight lever with the weight H on the one arm F¹ thereof but
I shew in the drawing a very convenient and perhaps even preferable method of
constructing and fitting this rocking lever F according to which a jaw K is formed
in the arm F thereof and in and through the upper and the lower members of this
jaw K are fitted two regulating screws Land for the purposes hereinafter stated
while a prolongation of the upper member of the jaw K passes loosely through and
can work in an eye or socket on the lower end of a vertical rod M which carries
the actuating weight H on its upper end and this, rod M passes loosely through and
can travel or slide upwards, and downwards in suitable guides secured therefor on
the rear plate B.
In a convenient position on the base plate D preferably, as is shewn in the
drawing underneath the front plate A is placed an electro-magnet N made and
fitted in any ordinary or other manner and the armature P of this electro-magnet, N
also made and fitted in any ordinary or other manner is carried and supported just
above, the same by arms Q pivoted on brackets A' depending from the front plate A
and to a prolongation of these arms Q is adjustably connected one end of a rod R
the other end whereof is connected to the free arm F2 of the rocking lever For
that is to say that arm thereof on which the weight H is not.
اذا
+
In a proper corresponding position on the side plate C is mounted in any
ordinary or other manner another rocking lever S the plane whereof is preferably
at right angles to that of the rocking lever F herein before described and one arm
the front arm S of this lever S carries a suitable weight T while the other the free
arm S² thereof is in the path, of the weighted arm of the lever F as it descends
or when, this, lever F is constructed and fitted as is herein before described and
shewn in the drawing the end of this free arm S2 of the lever is so formed as to
enter into and remain in the jaw Kin the arm F of the lever F being between the
ends of the opposing regulating screws L and L which are so arranged as at the
proper desired times or instants in and during the movement of the lever Fito, come 5
in contact with the free arm S2 of the lever S'from above and from below. On the
underside of the. free arm S% of the lever, S is a contact point V preferably. as is

page_text: shewn in the drawing formed of a V shape and in a proper corresponding position
on the side plate C below this lever S is fitted a contact post W preferably as also
is shewn in the drawing formed and created by two parallel springs between the
ends whereof which can be slightly opened the V shaped contact point V can enter
which contact post W is insulated from the side plate C in any convenient and
usual or other manner and it is most conducive to the sure and efficient working of
this apparatus and therefore preferable that near this contact post W should be
fitted on the side plate C a permanent magnet X made in any ordinary or other
manner.
In any convenient positions on the base plate D are placed two terminals Y
nd made and fitted in any ordinary or other manner and from the one
terminal Y which is insulated from the base plate D in any convenient and usual
or other manner is led an insulated wire Z to the electro-magnet N wherefrom
another insulated wire Z is led to the contact post W while the other terminal Y
is in electrical connection with the rocking lever S either by and through a wire
in which case the terminal Y¹ the wire and the lever S would or could similarly
be insulated or as is perhaps preferable and as is indicated by the drawing
through the frame of the apparatus without any wire and with and in connection
with these two terminals Y and Y' is fitted and arranged in any usual or other
convenient manner any suitable battery or other source of electricity.
I may state that I preferably make the frame of this apparatus and the rocking
lever F of brass the rocking lever S of iron the two springs of the contact post W
of German silver or platinum and the permanent magnet X of steel.
The course of action and the cycle of operations of this apparatus and the several
parts thereof hereinbefore described are as follows.
When and as the weighted arm F of the rocking lever F descends while it is
actuating the clockwork through the ratchet wheel G by the pawl G at the
arranged for position or level it comes in contact with the free arm S' of the
rocking lever S from above or when the lever F. is constructed and fitted as is
herein before described and shewn in the drawing the regulating screw Lin the
upper member of the jaw K therein comes in contact with this free arm S² from
above in either case depressing the same against the weight T on the other arm S¹
of the lever S until the contact point V on the underside of the free arm S touches
the contact post W and the perinanent magnet X if fitted would assist in holding
and retaining this free arm $2 steadily there and in such position as aforesaid for a
certain short period of time and when all parts of this apparatus are in this position
the electrical circuit is completed or closed. The current therefore passes from the
terminal to the lever S'thence through the contact post W and the wire Z to
and through the electro-magnet N and therefrom by the wire Z to the terminal Y
the effect and consequence whereof obviously is that the electro-magnet N draws
the armature P down towards itself and thus through the rod R also draws the
free arm F of the lever F down raising the weighted arm F thereof into its
uppermost position in readiness again to actuate the clockwork in manner as
hereinbefore described in and by its descent. When however the weighted arm Fl
of the lever F is thus and in this manner as aforesaid lifted off the free arm Sof
the lever S this free arm S is by the weight T on the other arm S¹ of this lever S
likewise lifted off the contact post W being assisted in such movement when the
lever F is constructed and fitted as is hereinbefore described and shewn in the
drawing by the regulating screw L' in the lower member of the jaw K therein
which comes in contact with this free arm S from below whereby the electrical
circuit is broken or opened and therefore all parts of this apparatus are again free
and are in position to and do recommence or as is practically the case for these
movements aforesaid are so very rapidly executed continue their course of action
and cycle of operations hereinbefore described as is desired and thus and in this
manner the clockwork can be driven by my apparatus so long as the supply of
electricity lasts or is in connection therewith.
It is very evident that any suitable adjustments and other usual appliances can

page_text: be and preferably are provided and properly fitted by which the exact times and
intervals of the several parts and sequences of the action and cycle of operations
-hereinbefore described can be regulated and by which the movements of the levers
and other parts of the apparatus can be governed and controlled and that such
suitable means and other usual devices can be and preferably are employed and
arranged as will prevent or minimize any jar or vibration that perhaps might by
the movements of the levers and other parts of the apparatus be given to the
clockwork to its probable or at least possible detriment. The weights also are
obviously so proportioned and are so placed on or connected with their levers
as surely and regularly to effect and produce the proper and necessary movements
of these levers as are herein before described and the electro-magnet and the
current of electricity that passes therethrough are likewise so arranged and
proportioned as to be capable of performing the duty that is required as is
hereinbefore described.
I have thus described and I have shewn in the accompanying drawing this my
electrical apparatus as most conveniently and suitably applied and arranged to
and for the duty of driving the clockwork of an ordinary pendulum clock and
I would, state that in and for this end and object I consider the shapes and styles
and proportions of the several parts of the apparatus and the method or manner
in which they are constructed and fitted and in which they are arranged in respect
of each other and of the clockwork as so described and shewn to be extremely
appropriate and conducive to the sure and efficient working of the apparatus but
I would have it clearly understood as indeed is sufficiently obvious that I do in
no wise limit myself exactly and precisely thereto for whatever may be the end
and object for which the clockwork is to be driven and whatever may be the
style and character or kind of the clockwork that is to be so driven I can make
each and every part of the electrical apparatus that is to drive such clockwork
of such a shape and style and of such proportions and I can construct and fit
such each and every part and so arrange the same in respect of each other and
of the clockwork as may be desirable and expedient or proper and necessary in
cach particular case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an electrical apparatus for driving clockwork a ratchet wheel & secured on
one arbor of the clockwork and a weighted rocking lever F carrying a pawl G' by
which to actuate the clockwork through the ratchet wheel G in combination with
an electro-magnet N the armature P whereof is connected with the free arm F² of
the rocking lever F to raise the weighted arm F¹ thereof. a weighted rocking
lever S the free arm S2 whereof is in the path of the weighted arm F' of the
rocking lever F to be operated thereby and has a contact point V and a. contact
post W conductors being arranged between the contact post W and the source of
electricity through the electro-magnet N and between the rocking lever S and the
source of electricity substantially as herein before described and set forth.
2. In an electrical apparatus for driving clockwork a ratchet wheel G secured on
one arbor of the clockwork a rocking lever F carrying a pawl Ga jaw K in the
arm of the rocking lever F provided with two regulating screws L and L' and
a weight H on a sliding vertical rod M mounted on a prolongation of the upper
member of the jaw K to actuate the clockwork through the ratchet wheel G by the
pawl G in combination with a weighted rocking lever S the end of the free arm S
whereof enters the jaw K in the rocking lever F being in the paths of the
regulating screws L and L' to be operated thereby a contact point V on the under-
side of the free armi S2 of the rocking lever S a contact post W for the contact
point a permanent magnet X to act on the free arm S2 of the rocking lever S;
and an electro-magnet N the armature P whereof is connected with the free arm F2
of the rocking lever F to raise the weight H when the contact point V has touched

page_text: the contact post W conductors being arranged between the contact post W and the
source of electricity through the electro-magnet N and between the rocking
lever S and the source of electricity substantially as herein before described and set
forth.
3. The electrical apparatus for driving clockwork substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 14th day of September 1892.
HART & Co.,
186, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agents.