AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR INDICATING TIME
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR INDICATING
TIME" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My improvements relate to a new method of and mechanism for indicating time.
Heretofore time has generally been indicated by means of a dial or face plate
with figures representing the hours placed radially thereon, and a hand or lands
for pointing to such figures. Nearly always, when written or printed, the time is
expressed in figures in one line, as seen, for instance, in railroad and steamboat
timetables in the newspaper advertisements &c.
The object of this invention is to provide a time piece to express the hours and
minutes on its dial or face plate so that the time can be read the same way, To
effect this, mechanism is placed in combination with a dial or face plate
containing instead of a circle of figures with hands or pointers as before referred
to, a series of openings in which the hours and minutes are at proper intervals
exposed to view.
The new division of time into hour belts over the country can, by this invention,
be efficiently registered; and the change easily computed when passing from one
belt to another. In case such computation and division of time is made universal,
that is, extended around the world, doing away with the A.M. and P.M. distinction,
my invention would be equally applicable to such system, as it will only be
necessary to continue to expose the hours in one of the dial openings up to 24
instead of stopping at 12. Thus, for illustration, half past ten o'clock P.M. would
be indicated (22. 30) twenty two o'clock and thirty minutes...
I will now proceed to describe a mechanism by which I have worked out the
continuous indication of time by hours and minutes on a dial or face plate without

page_text: the aid of figures permanently attached thereto and hands or pointers in connection
therewith.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a dial or face plate, to be used in connection with the operative
mechanism of a time piece exposing thereon the correct time in hours, and minutes
by figures.
Figure 2 is a front view showing one arrangement of discs for carrying out my
invention, each containing a series of figures thereon; in this particular instance,
for indicating hours from up to 12, and minutes from 1 up to 59 inclusive.
Figure 3 is a view of the interior mechanism of a time-piece employed for
operating these discs constructed.according to my invention; the front pillar plate
and said discs being removed.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of said mechanism taken on the line x-x.of
figure 3.
Figure 5, is a detached view of the ratchet wheel mechanism for the main-
spring.
Figure 6 is a rear view of the whole mechanism of the time piece, a part of the
rear pillar plate being shown broken away to exhibit some of the more novel
elements comprised within my invention; the older and well known elements,
such as the trains of wheels, escapement, &c, are represented by dotted lines.
Figure 7, is a vertical cross section on the line y-y of figure 6.
Figures 8 to 13 inclusive are detached views of some of the novel elements
comprised within my invention.
Old elements, such as mainspring, the train controlled by the escapement &c,
will not be described with unnecessary detail, as such are well known and can be
modified or rearranged without affecting the character or nature of my invention..
1 is the front pillar plate, 2 is, the rear pillar plate; 3 is the arbor, upon which
the mainspring is placed, pivotted in the rear pillar plate, its front end extending
through the front pillar plate and the dial or face plate, for convenience in winding:
4 is a mainspring barrel having the outer end of the spring connected to its
inner periphery; 5 is the great wheel rigidly attached to the end of this barrel but
moving freely en the arbor 3; the other end of the mainspring is connected to this
arbor by the hook 6; another great wheel 7 turns with the arbor 3 in the running
down of the time-piece, but does not turn with it in the winding up by reason of
its pawls acting on a ratchet-wheel which is rigidly connected to such arbor (sec
figure 5). The object of the great wheel 5 is to move the train of, wheels which is
controlled by the escape-wheel, and by means of which the minute let off is
directly and the hour let off indirectly timed. The greater wheel 7 moves a train
of wheels which furnishes the power to move the figure discs at the change of the
minutes and hours as the same are continuously and timely let off through the time
train of wheels and its escapement above referred to.
The time train of wheels controlled by the escapement is constituted as follows:
8 is the first wheel, its pinion 9 gearing with the great wheel 5; 10 is, the second
wheel, its pinion 11 gearing with wheel 8; 12 is the third wheel, its pinion 13 gearing
with wheel 10; 14 is the fourth wheel, its pinion, 15, gearing with wheel 12. The
escape wheel 16 has on its arbor a pinion 17 which gears with the fourth wheel 14.
The kind of escapement here used does not require any description in detail. Its
form and kind can be varied for different styles or sizes of time pieces embodying
my invention.
The train of wheels which furnishes the power to turn the minute and hour
discs is constructed as follows: 18 is the first wheel, its pinion 19 gearing with
the great wheel 7; 20 is the second wheel, its pinion. 21 gearing with wheel 18;
.22, is the third wheel, its pinion 23, gearing with wheel, 20. To the second
wheel 20 is geared a pinion 24 rigidly fixed on a sleeve 25. This sleeve and
pinion work loosely on a shaft 26 such shaft having one end pivotted in the rear
pillar plate and the other extending through the front pillar plate so as to obtain

page_text: its other bearing in the dial or face plate. The sleeve 25 extends through the
front pillar plate and has attached to it between such plate and the dial plate
the disc 27. On the outer edge of its surface facing the dial plate are placed at
equal distances the units of the minutes in the hour, namely 1 to 9 inclusive, with
a zero 0, to aid in indicating the minutes above nine in connection with another
disc hereinafter explained. On the shaft 26, upon which this sleeve 25 and disc 27.
have free motion, and between such disc and the dial plate is rigidly attached.
another but smaller disc 28, placed within a dished portion of the disc 27;
and so
that the exterior surfaces of the two discs shall be flush with each other. Upon
the outer edge of this disc 28, and facing the dial plate are placed at equal
distances the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0 so as to obtain the tens of units of the minutes
up to the even hour. From the last minute of the hour (59) we go for the time
to the hour disc which will be presently described, the discs 27 and 28 then each-
exhibiting zero,' thus 0 0.29 is an opening in the dial plate which brings into view
simply those portions of the surfaces of the two referred to discs containing the
units and tens of units of the minutes indicated by the run of the time-piece.
I will now proceed to explain how these minute discs are operated to properly
determine the fraction of the hour.
To the third wheel 22 is geared a pinion 30. The shaft 31 carrying the
pinion 30 extends through the rear pillar plate. To such end of the shaft is
attached a let off bar 32. The bar makes but half a revolution at the end of
every minute by reason of its being controlled by the time train of wheels. This
periodic semi-rotation of the let off bar is accomplished by means of a mechanism
operating between the time train and the train giving power to operate the figure
discs. There is an opening made in the rear pillar plate above the let off bar and
about midway between it and the rear pivot of the fourth wheel 14, of the time
train. 33 is a small block hinged at 34 on the inner side of the rear pillar plate.
35 is a cock or bridge attached to this hinged block so as to project through the
said opening and to hold pivotted between it and the block an axle 36. This axle
carries an enlargement or spool 37 to which is rigidly attached a bar consisting of
two arms 38 and 39; one (38), extending upwards inside of the pillar plate and
being bifurcated at its end so as to grasp a cam 40 rigidly attached to the arbor
of the fourth wheel 14, between such wheel and the pillar plate; and the other 39
extending downwards on the outside of the pillar plate and having at its end'.
a circular enlargement carrying two short pins 41 and 42 projecting horizontally
outwards and obliquely arranged with reference to each other so that one shall be
a little higher than the other. This bar consisting of two arms 38 and 39, is
shewn in Figures 12 and 13 in the extreme right and left position assumed by
it through the throw of the cam 40 on the arbor of wheel 14. That shewn in
Figure 12 being the throw of the bar by the excentric 40, to the extreme left
having reference to the lower arm 39, and so as to arrest the let off bar 32 after
its complete let off in order to indicate the next minute. The let off bar is now
shewn with one of its ends resting on a pin 41 (Figures 7 and 12) at the com-
mencement of the minute, and as the cam 40 moves in the direction of the arrow
the arm 39 moves off to the right and between the thirtieth and forty fifth second
the ends of the let off bar drop from off the pin 41 onto the pin 42, thus per-
forming the partial let off. The cam 40 has now assumed the position shewn in
Figure 13 and the arm 39 moves to the left during the remainder of the minute
(15 seconds) which causes the pin 42 to move away from the end of the let off bar 32
so that a projecting stud on the end of the let off bar can now pass freely between
the pins 41, 42, allowing the bar to turn so as to bring its other end up to be
arrested by the pin 41, which is now placed in its path thus causing the complete
let off and the turning of the minute dial to the next minute to be indicated.
Thus is the connection made between the time train and the minute and hour disc
train, and the minutes expressed consecutively. The operation of the complete let
off of the arm 32 is as follows: The pinion 30 on the arbor of the let off arm 32
is turned by the third wheel 22 of the train driving the dises; on the arbor of the

page_text: third wheel is the pinion 23, which is turned by the second wheel 20. The second
wheel 20 also turns at same time the pinion 24, as before stated a sufficient
distance to change the unit of the number of minutes.
The pinion 21 on the arbor of the second wheel 20 is turned by the first
wheel 18. The great wheel 7 drives the pinion 19, which latter is situated on
arbor of first wheel 18 as herein before explained.
The tens of minutes are changed as follows:-
The shaft 26 has a small hexagonal sided block 43, rigidly fixed on to it about
midway between the pillar plates. Upon one face thereof are placed six pins at
equal distances from each other, virtually forming a six leaf pinion. Upon the
arbor of the second wheel 20, underneath this pinion are two discs 44 and 45
rigidly connected to each other and to the arbor. The periphery of disc 44 is
immediately underneath the block 43, and has at six equal intervals, depressions 46,
so deep and wide that when a depression coincides with a side of the block 43, the
block can be turned on the periphery of the disc 44, within such depression. On
the disc 45 at equal distances from each other are six projections or teeth for
gearing with the leaves of the block 43, one of each of such teeth 47, being opposite
to one of the depressions 46 so that it will act on one of the leaves of block 43 and
"give the said block one turn, while one of its sides coincides with and is within one
of such depressions 46. This being at the sixth of the hour (every ten minutes)
permits the shaft 26 to be turned sufficiently to exhibit a figure representing the
tens of minutes in the opening 29 of the dial or face plate; the last movement after
the five will be 0, or a space merely because of the exhibition of the full hour at
that interval. As soon as the block 43 is so turned on its edges, the fixed dises 44
and 45 move away and its adjacent hexagonal edge rides on the smooth periphery
left between each two d-pressions 46 of disc 44 (see Figure 8) until another sixth
of the periphery is moved along and it reaches the next depression 46 representing
ten minutes or the sixth of an hour, when the same operation of the partial rotation
of block 43 is repeated.
The hexagonal block 43, is retained in fixed position against such periphery by
the gentle action of a spring, the freed end of which rests against one of its edges,
the other end of the spring being affixed to the upper left hand pillar. As this
shaft 26, makes a whole revolution once an hour I place on it between these fixed
discs 44, 45 and the rear pillar plate, a snail 48 by which will be let off the hour
mechanism at each completion of the hour by the units and tens of units of minute
dials through the shaft 26 and sleeve 45.
The mechanism controlling the hour dial is as follows, At the left end of the
pillar plates is a shaft 49 one end being pivotted in the rear pillar plate and the
other end passing through the front pillar plate and having keyed thereto between
the front pillar plate and the dial or face plate a disc 50 on which is placed the
hours consecutively in a circle from one upwards. An opening 51 is made in the
dial plate so that the hour indicated by the operation of the trains may be observed.
52 is a disc on this shaft 49 containing in its periphery as many notches 53, as
there are hours represented on the hour disc; such number being 12 in the time
.pi-ce herein described. 54 is a shaft pivotted in the pillar plates containing an
arm 55, which has a pin 56, projecting out horizontally from its free end which
drops into one of these notches 53 to keep in a fixed position the hour disc except
while the disc is being moved to exhibit the next succeeding hour when it is
elevated out of such notch in manner as hereinafter explained. A spring 57
impinging upon the top of this arm 55 extends horizontally out from the inner
face of the front. pillar plate and serves to give the required gentle pressure on
the aim 55, so that its pin 56 will always drop promptly into a notch at the
proper instant and remain there until removed therefrom. On the shaft 49
between this notched disc 52, and the rear pillar plate is a hollow arbor 58
carrying a disc 59 which latter abuts close up against the notched disc 52. At 60,
on disc 59, is a short projecting arm carrying a pawl 61 having a spring connected
to such arm and impinging on the back of such pawl in the usual manner; which

page_text: pawl will at the proper interval of time take into one of the notches of disc 52, and
carry forward such disc the distance of one notch, that is until the pin 56, of
arm 55 which has in meantime been withdrawn from the notched wheel again
engages with the next adjoining notch in it. In order to withdraw the pin 56
from out of the notch there is hinged at 62, a loose block 63 carrying a pin 64,
which projects towards and overlaps the pin 56 up to the side of the notched
disc 52, the pin 62 rides on the periphery of disc 59 which periphery is nearly flush
with the bottom portions of the notches of dise 52. At a projection 65, on disc 59
is binged an arm 66 bifurcated at its other end 67 so as to embrace the arbor of the
second wheel 20 between the snail 48, and the rear pillar plate. Contact between
this arm 66 and the periphery of the snail is made by means of the pin 68. At 69
on disc 56, is rivetted an arın 70, carrying a weight 71 serving from its position to
keep the pin 68, in closed contact with the snail and so that as the snail rotates
bringing its greater diameter out in the direction of the hour disc mechanism, the
arm 66, will be moved in the same direction carrying up the weight 71 also the
pin 64 which is bevelled (Figures 10 and 11) so that as it approaches the reduced
end of pin 56, projecting over periphery of disc 59, which is correspondingly
bevelled, it will ride up over and take a position on the other side of such pin 56
and so position itself that its lower or knife edge will at the proper instant of time
raise up pin 56 out of the notch it rests in; and during this movement the pawl 61,
is brought into position in order to be ready to drop into one of the notches of
disc 52 for the purpose of carrying forward the disc 52, and relocking it in position
to show the next succeeding hour.
The operation is as follows:-
:-
The sail 48 having pressed outwards the arm 66, and such arin having rotated
the disc 59, in direction shown by arrow in figure 10 the weight will be gradually
raised and the pin 64 be caused to assume a position on inner side of the pin 56
ready to elevate the latter by passing under it; the pawl 61 will also by this
movement have been withdrawn from its notch and positioned so as to drop into
the next succeeding notch as before stated. As soon as the pin 68 drops off the
largest diameter of snail 48, the weight 71 will be caused to rotate the disc 59 (in
direction of arrow in Figure 11) and the pin 64 will at the same time elevate the
locking pin 56, out of its notch and allow the pawl 61 to drop into the notch on
disc 59, at which is positioned a little in advance of, at that instant, and thereby
rotate the disc 52, the distance of one notch, at which point the locking pin 56 will
arrest and lock it by dropping into the first notch rotated to a position underneath
it; such rotation will bring up to and expose in the opening 51 on the dial or face
plate, the next consecutive hour number of the disc plate which latter is rotated by
the shaft 49 as before stated.
Figure 10 represents the position of the parts last described just before the
pin 64 has passed to the inner side of locking pin 56 and just before the end of
pawl 61 has reached its position opposite the appropriate notch to engage with
when pin 50 is elevated and disengaged from its notch.
Figure 11 shows the pin 64 as having just disengaged the pin 56 from the notch,
while the pawl 61 has dropped into the notch it has been rotated opposite to,
which movements are practically simultaneous to secure the rotation of the disc 52
so that the locking pin 56 (the pin 64 having now passed away from its under side)
shall take into the next succeeding notch; the pawl 61 carrying the disc 52 along
until it is arrested and the hour disc securely locked; the change of the hour being
thereby indicated.
The block 33 is pivotted to the pillar plate 34 so that by depressing its rear
arm 72, it will draw to one side the arm 39, and permit one end of the let off
bar 32 to pass between the pins 41 and 42 so as to change the figures representing
the minutes and hour in the dial openings. The block 33 is, after such movement
returned to its normal position by the flat spring 73 one end of which is attached
at its rear portion and the other end presses against a pin 74 on the inner face of
the rear pillar plate. The tension put on the spring by depressing the arm 72 will

page_text: automatically bring the block 33 into its normal position again on releasing such
arm, a stud 75, acting as a limit to the upward movement of arm 72.
The fractions of a minute or the seconds may be indicated by a second hand 76,
which is placed on the end of the arbor of the fourth wheel 14 of the time train
projecting through to the front of the dial or face plate.
My improvements are equally applicable to a movement in which it is desired to
embody a striking mechanism or chimes mechanism, or both, as such features can
be readily added thereto by means of appropriate trains of wheels in manner well
know to those skilled in the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination of minute and hour indicating mechanism with openings
in a dial plate to exhibit successively the minutes and hours of the day, either
continuously, or simply as A.M. and P.M., substantially as herein shown and
described.
Second. The combination of two discs exhibiting thereon the minutes and a disc
exhibiting the hours, with mechanism for operating the same successively so that
the minutes shall change from 1 up to and including 59 and the hour be indicated
at the termination of each sixtieth minute, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Third. The combination with a mainspring or its equivalent, of two trains of
wheels, one train being controlled by the escapement and the other train driving
the minute and hour discs, with an intermediate minute let off bar and vibrating
cam bar between said trains for letting off the last named train at the proper
intervals to drive around the minute and hour discs.
Fourth. The combination with the mainspring, or its equivalent, of two trains of
wheels, an intermediate minute let off bar and vibrating cam har connecting such
trains, minute let off discs, an hour let off disc, mechanism connected with and
controlling the let off of said discs, and a dial or face plate in which are openings
to expose at the proper interval of time figures indicating each minute of the hour
and the full hour.
Fifth. The method of indicating time by figures exposed at openings on a dial or
face plate, by means of two trains of wheels having an intermediate minute let off
bar, one of such trains operating on independent minute and hour disc mechanisms
so to indicate each minute of the hour and the full hour at the proper interval
of time.
Sixth. The arrangement of the arms 38 and 39 between the art or of the fourth
or last wheel of the time train and the let off bar, the arm 38, being constructed
with a bifurcated end to grasp and be operated by a cam on such arbor, and the
arm 39 constructed with two pins 41 and, 42 on which the let off bar acts to let off
intermittently the train driving the minute discs, and thereby turn the said discs
so as to exhibit the number of minutes during the hour the time piece has run.
Seventh. The arrangement of the arms 38 and 39 between the arbor of the fourth
or last wheel of the time train and the let off bar, the arm 38 being constructed
with a bifurcated end to grasp and be operated by a cam on such arbor, and the
arm 39 constructed with two pins 41 and 42 on which the let off bar acts to let off
intermittently the train driving the minute discs and thereby turn the said discs so
as to exhibit the number of minutes the time piece has run, in combination with a
hinged block supporting the arms 38 and 39 by which the driving train can be let
off and the minute discs rotated at will.
Eighth. The construction and arrangement on the driving train, of two disc; 44
and 45, in combination with a hexagonal sided pinion 43 and a dial indicating the
tens of minutes in the bour.
Ninth. The construction and arrangement on the driving train, of two discs 44
and 45 in combination with a hexagonal pinion 43, and a dial indicating the tens

page_text: of minutes in the hour and a snail operating against a bar 66 which is connected
to the hour disc mechanism.
Tenth. The hour disc mechanism consisting of a disc 52, rigidly connected to the
hour disc shaft, having as many slots in its periphery as there are hours on the
hour disc, an arm 55 and its pin 56 for locking disc 44 in fixed position, and a
disc 59 to which is attached the pawl 61 the hinged block 63 carrying a pin 64 for
releasing arm 55 from disc 44 and the weight 71, which disc is connected to the..
train driving the minute discs by a bar 66 which latter is bifurcated at its end and
caused to impinge against the periphery of the snail by means of a pin 68.
The 10t
1001