CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLAR TIMEPIECES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLAR TIMEPIECES."
_ A communication from abroad by Theodore Ruggles Timby, of
Saratoga Springs, in the State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 28th March 1865, and dated the 13th December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th December 1864.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLAR TIMEPIECES,"
to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to arrange a terrestrial globe or planisphere
in such relation to a dial plate and index that the culminating time of the
sun, and consequently the true solar time, and also the clock or mean time,
and the difference of time in different localities of the globe, can be observed
simultaneously at any moment. The globe or map is mounted on an axle
carried by bracket arms, and it is surrounded by a ring or dial and revolved
with the same once in 24 hours under a stationary index in such a manner
that the index will point to the local time of any place on the globe or map
for which the dial may be adjusted, and at the same time the difference of

page_text: time in different localities on the globe and the solar time as well as the clock
time can be observed. The globe is held by clamps in the graduated ring or
dial, and it is capable of adjustment therein to bring any required place under
the graduation 12 when the solar time at that place is wanted, or to the
desired position for indicating the mean time. A second dial revolving once
every hour, and provided with 60 marks indicating the minutes, is combined
with a stationary index and with the globe or map and hour dial in such
a manner that while the main dial with its index gives the hours, by the
secondary dial the minutes are indicated, and a clock is obtained which gives
an accurate account of the time.
The Invention may be adapted to any approved arrangement of clock
movement, the rotation of the globe and graduated dials being effected through
ordinary spur gearing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SOLAR TIMEPIECES," being a communication
from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The object of this Invention is to arrange a terrestrial globe or planisphere
in such relation to a dial plate and index that the culminating time of the
sun, and consequently the true solar time, and also the clock or mean time,
and the difference of time in different localities of the globe, can be observed
simultaneously at any moment. The globe or map is surrounded by a ring or
dial and revolved with the same once in twenty-four hours under a stationary
index in such a manner that the index will point to the local time of any
place on the globe or map for which the dial may be adjusted, and at the
same time the difference of time in different localities on the globe, and the
solar time as well as the clock time can be observed. A second dial revolving
once every hour, and provided with sixty marks indicating the minutes, is
combined with a stationary index and with the globe or map and hour dial in
such a manner that while the main dial with its index gives the hours, by the
secondary dial the minutes are indicated, and a clock is obtained which gives
an accurate account of the time.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1
represents the improved solar timepiece in front elevation, and Fig. 2 is a
transverse vertical section of the same. Similar letters of reference indicate.
corresponding parts.
A represents a terrestrial globe or a disc having a polar projection of the
two hemispheres, the axle a of which is in a horizontal position. This axlo
has its bearings in segmental arms & secured to the case B in which the globe
or disc revolves. In the Drawing a globe is represented, and in practice such
will be preferable to a plain disc, though a disc with the two hemispheres, one
on each side, will serve the same purpose for which the globe is intended,
C is an annular dial plate divided off into twenty-four hours of the day, and
each part is subdivided into four or more parts to indicate the fraction of the
hours. In this ring C the globe is secured by means of clamps D, which are
so arranged that the globe can be readily shifted within the ring and brought
into any desired relation to the graduations. If desired, a graduated dial face
be made adjustable on the ring to indicate the difference between solar
& mean time. The edge of the graduated ring C is provided with spur
may

page_text: teeth e which gear into a cog wheel E, to which a rotary motion is imparted
by a clock movement or in any other desirable manner. The motion of the
cog wheel is so regulated that the ring and globe revolve once in twenty-four
hours. F is an index or pointer which is firmly secured to the case B, and
which points to the marks on the dial and to the various meridians marked
on the globe as the same revolves under it. A secondary dial G is arranged
below the main dial C. This dial is marked with sixty lines to indicate the
sixty minutes of an hour, and it revolves once every hour, under a stationary
index H pointing towards the centre of the dial G.
The operation is as follows:-As the globe revolves the several meridians
marked on the same pass under the index F and the time when the sun
culminates on any part of the globe can thus be observed at a glance. At
the same time the dial is adjusted to correspond to the clock time of a certain
location on the globe, for instance, to that of Washington, by bringing the
meridian of Washington in line with one of the figures 12 on the dial. In
this position the ring C is secured to the globe and the globe is adjusted so
that when the sun culminates the index stands exactly opposite to the figure
12 and to the meridian under said figure. If left in this position both the
dial and the globe will indicate the solar time, but in order to obtain the clock
or mean time the relative position of the graduated dial and globe must be
adjusted by shifting one or other either backward or forward, according to the
equation of time on any day of the year, and when this is accomplished the
solar time and mean time can be read off instantaneously. Furthermore,
the observer is enabled to tell instantaneously the difference of time between
certain localities, for instance, when the globe and dial are adjusted for
Washington and the index points at 5 it shews that it is 5 o'clock in
Washington. At the same moment the sun culminates in all localities situated
under the upper half of the meridian, which is opposite to the index at that
moment, and it is midnight in all localities under the lower half of said
meridian, shewing there is a difference of time of 5 or 7 hours between
localities under said meridian and the localities under the meridian of Wash-
ington. At the same time the minutes are shewn by the secondary dial,
and a correct account of the time can be kept; and by the sun and stars
surrounding the main dial day and night are illustrated.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in
Solar Timepieces," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim,-
Mounting a globe or disc, provided with a map of the earth, in a gra-

page_text: duated ring or dial made to revolve with it once in twenty-four hours, in
combination with a stationary index constructed and operating substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Second, the application of the secondary dial and index to the above
described arrangement, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)