IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates exclusively to clocks which are provided with striking
mechanism, and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as
hereinafter more fully set forth, by which more desirable and effective mechanism
of this character is produced than has heretofore been in ordinary use.
As usually constructed clocks having a train of striking mechanism are provided
with but one bell and one striking hammer and when furnished with a chime of
several bells, to produce a combination of musical tones, each bell is provided with
an independent hammer.
In clocks having but one bell on which the hours and fractional parts of the
hours are struck, unless the dial is in full view, it is necessary for the listener to
wait until the entire number of strokes have been given by the hammer, or until
the clock has finished striking, before the hour can be ascertained. This frequently
occasions much inconvenience and annoyance as the strokes are liable to be
incorrectly counted, but more especially in the night-time, when one is awakened
by the striking of the clock and is uncertain as to whether the full number of
strokes have been heard or not, for instance; if but three strokes of the clock
should be heard by a person just waking from a sound sleep, he would be uncertain
whether they were the last three strokes for the hour of five or whether but three
had been struck in all, or in other words whether it was three or five o'clock in the
morning.
This invention is designed to obviate these and other objections and to that end
I make use of a series consisting of two or more bells, one or more for each hour if
desired, in combination with suitable striking mechanism, each bell being different
in pitch or tone from either of the others in the same set, so that on hearing but a
single stroke of the clock, either by night or by day, a person may know what

page_text: time it is without the necessity for examining the dial, as will be seen by the
following explanation:
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the counting wheel detached.
Figure 2 is an edge view of the same;
Figure 3 is a sectional front elevation, showing the counting wheel, striking
hammer, lever and bells in position for use.
Figure 4 is an isometric view showing a section of the counting wheel, lever,
and the method of attaching the hammer-wire to the rocker-shaft; and
Figure 5 is an elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3 looking from the left,
the arrangement of the bells being modified.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of
the drawing.
A indicates the face-plate, B the counting wheel, and J the rocker shaft, the
section of the wheel in Figure 4 being drawn to an enlarged scale.
The counting wheel is mounted upon an arbor x, and provided with the hour
notches
b, d, intermediate teeth t and a counting wire or pawl C, in the usual
inanner.
u,
The rocker shaft J is journalled horizontally in the plates of the clock, and
provided with the ordinary striking wire or arm H and retracting spring ? which
is coiled about the body of the shaft, and has one of its enda secured to the pin v
and the other in the plate A, as shown at y in figure 4.
A hammer-wire E, provided at its lower end with the striker or hammer G,
passes through a vertical elongated slot z formed in the rocker-shaft, and has its
upper end jointed or pivotted at a to a stud f which projects from the upper side of
the said shaft.
A pendent bracket K, provided with an inwardly projecting arm m is secured to
the plate A, and centrally pivotted thereon at w is a horizontally arranged lever D,
one end of which presses on the inner face of the wheel B, and the other against
the inner side of the bammer-wire E, the said wire being provided with a coiled
spring L attached to the rear plate of the clock or any other suitable support, and
acting contractively to keep it in forcible contact with the said lever.
The wheel B is provided on its inner face with a series of lifts or segmental
flanges arranged in three groups M, N, P, each group containing three lifts of
enequal lengths, and each lift in any particular group varying in height from the
other lifts in the same group.
The length of the lifts and the spaces between the groups of lifts correspond
respectively with the number of strokes to be given to the bell by the hammer,
while the height of each lift corresponds respectively with the bell to be struck.
This arrangement of the lifts divides the counting wheel into three sections of
four hours each, each section consisting of a single group of lifts and the space
between the same and the preceding group; for instance :-the firet section consists
of the group M and the space between it and the group P, which space is
marked "1"; the second section consists of the group N and the space between it
and the group M, which space is marked "5" and the third section consists of the
group P and the space marked "9," each space and each lift (see Figure 1) being
marked with a figure or figures corresponding with the hour to which it relates.
The end of each lift is inclined at an angle of about 45° as best seen at i in
figure 4, but its body is level on the top, being of uniform height throughout its
eutire length, the object of the inclined end i being to permit the end of the
lever D to easily pass from one lift to another as the wheel revolves.
In Figure 3 the wheel B is represented as being in the position it assumes
immediately after the clock has struck twelve, and in readiness at the proper time
to strike one, the counting wire or pawl C being in the notch a, corresponding
with the hour "12," the wheel end of the lever D resting in the space marked "1
on the wheel B, between the groups P and M, and the hammer G being in a
position to strike the bell Q.

page_text: In operation, these parts being in the position last described and the clock
running the stop wire or catch (not shown) which holds the striking mechanisın
at rest, will in due time be withdrawn, thereby permitting the counting wire C
to be raised, and the striking mechanism to act. At or about the same time
the ordinary striking pin or cam (not shown) will be brought into contact with
the striking wire or arm H causing the shaft J to be partially rotated and the
hammer G raised, and as the pin escapes over the end of the wire in the ordinary
way and the wire is released, the torsional action of the spring / will cause the.
bell Q to receive one stroke of the hammer.
The wheel B continuing to be rotated in the usual manner the counting wire C
will fall into the next succeeding hour notch b, thereby bringing the stop wire or
catch into the proper position to stop again or lock the striking mechanism.
44
When the wheel B commences its movements preparatory to the clock striking
one," as described the wheel end of the lever D is resting on the inner face of the
said wheel in the space marked 1" and against the lift 12; but as the wheel
rotates the lever is brought to the foot of the incline i of lift 2, the length of the
said space corresponding with the distance the wheel moves when the clock
strikes one.
When the clock strikes the next time, or "two" the lever D being against the
incline of lift 2, as the wheel B rotates the end of the said lever will ride
upwardly over the incline onto the top or face of the lift and thereby swing the
lever on its pivot w and cause it to force the hammer-wire E outwardly, bringing
the hammer G into position to strike the bell R, or the second one in the series, the
hammer being held in that position by the lift 2 until both strokes have been
struck.
When it is time for the clock to strike three, the parts are operated in
substantially the same manner as described for two the end of the lever D riding
up the incline i onto the lift 3, and swinging the hammer G into position to strike
the corresponding bell S.
From the lift 3, the lever D next passes up the incline i onto the lift 4 bringing
the hammer into position to strike the bell T, or the last in the series, and after
four strokes have been given, the lever falls over the end of the lift onto space 5,
thereby permitting the spring L to cause the hammer to return to its normal
position over the bell Q preparatory to striking five.
It will be obvious that the wheel B may be provided if desired with twelve or
more lifts arranged in regular succession according to height and length, the wheel B
being properly constructed to correspond therewith and a sufficiency of bells
employed; also that as many groups of lifts may be used, as desired within
reasonable limits but for all practical purposes four bells and nine lifts arranged as
shown are deemed to be sufficient.
"
"
The wheel B, when constructed as represented and described, will cause the
hours " one ""five" and "nine to be struck on the bell Q; the hours "two,"
"six" and "ten on the bell R; the hours "three" "seven" and "eleven" on the
bell So, and the hours "four"".
"eight" and "twelve" on the bell T; but I do not
confine myself to this form of construction, as each lift in any given section may,
if desired, be of uniform height with all of the other lifts in the same section,
thereby causing all of the hours pertaining to that section to be struck on one bell;
for instance; if the lifts Numbers 2, 3 and 4 were of uniform height with N° 2,
the bours corresponding therewith would all be struck on bell R and so on through
the series.
Neither do I confine myself to the special devices shewn and described for
bringing the striking hammer into proper position and causing it to strike different
bells at different hours as these may be varied as desired without departing from
the spirit of my improvement.
The spaces Numbers 1, 5 and 9 may also, if desired, be united, or the spaces 5
and 9 dispensed with and the space numbered 1 enlarged to such an extent as to
cause the clock to strike the hours one, two, three, and four on the bell Q, lifte

page_text: being provided on the wheel B and arranged in regular succession as to height and
length in such a manner as to cause the other hours to be struck on as many
different bells as expedient.
It will be understood that each of the bells Q, R, S, T differs in tone or pitch
from either of the others in the set-for instance representing one, R three,
S five, and T eight of the musical scale, or any other variations desired. A
modification of the form of the bells is shewn in Figure 5; but bells of any suitable
kind or style may be used, providing they differ sufficiently in tone.
It will be evident that as small a number as two bells of different tones and but
one lift may be employed if desired; also that instead of placing the lifts on the
counting wheel, an independent or special wheel may be used to perform
substantially the same functions the lifts being placed either on its side or
periphery as preferred, and the wheel connected by a suitable lever or system of
levers, with the hammer wire in such a manner as to shift the hammer from bell
to bell substantially as described.
Instead of either of the bells Q, R, S, T two or more bells tuned to produce
musical chords may be substituted, being so arranged as to be struck simultaneously
by the hammer, for instance when two bells are used, instead of the bell Q they
may have tones one and three of the musical scale, and when three are employed
tones one, three and five or any other combination desired thereby making the
clock very attractive, interesting and instructive especially for the young, as it
trains them to discriminate between sounds of a different pitch or tone, and also
between different combinations of musical sounds, thereby aiding materially in
cultivating a musical taste.
The rear plate of the clock, and also all of the time mechanism and some of the
striking mechanism have been omitted in the drawings and description, as they are
not deemed essential in order to show the invention.
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. In a clock, two or more bells of different tones, and a striking hammer
adapted to be moved into position to strike either of the bells, in combination
with operative mechanism for the hammer whereby two or more of the hours may
be respectively struck on different bells, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a clock, two or more bells of different tones, and a wheel provided
with one or more cams or lifts in combination with a hammer adapted to be
moved into position to strike either of the bells, a lever or other connecting device
acted upon by the said cams or lifts to move the haminer from bell to bell, and
operative mechanism for the wheel and hammer, substantially as specified.
Thind. In a clock, the counting wheel B provided with a cam or lift adapted to
operate on a lever or other device connecting the said wheel with the hammer,
and thereby move the hammer from one bell to another as the wheel revolves,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a clock, the wheel B provided with two or more cams or lifts varying
in length and height, and adapted to operate on a lever or other device connecting
the said wheel with the hammer, and thereby move the hammer from bell to bell
and regulate its strokes in accordance with the hour being struck, substantially as
specified.
Fifth. In a clock, the wheel B provided with a series of cams or lifts arranged
in groups, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. In a clock, a rocker-shaft provided with a striking wire or arm, and with
a hammer-wire carrying a hammer, the said hammer-wire being adapted to be
moved or swung longitudinally of the rocker-shaft to bring the hammer into proper
position to strike different bells, substantially as specified.
Seventh. In a clock, the rocker-shaft J provided with the wire or arm H, the
slots, the stud f, the hammer wire E, and the springs Ll combined and arranged
to operate substantially as set forth.

page_text: Eighth. In a clock, the rocker-shaft J provided with the striking wire H, the
hammer wire E and the springs Ll; the wheel B provided with the lifts 2, 3, 4;
the wire C, the pivotted lever D, and the bells Q, R, S, T combined and arranged
to operate substantially as specified.
Ninth. In a clock, the lever D, in combination with the wheel B for moving or
swinging the wire E, longitudinally of the rocker-shaft and holding it in position
while the hammer strikes the hour, on the bell, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In a clock, the combination of a rocker-shaft provided with a striking
wire; a bammer wire adapted to swing longitudinally of the said shaft and also
partially rotate with it; a wheel provided with one or more cams or lifts; a lever
or device for operatively connecting the wheel with the hammer-wire; two or
more bells of different tones, and mechanism for operating the wheel and rocker-
shaft and causing the hammer to strike the different hours respectively upon
different bells substantially as specified.
30th 1
HASELTINE, LAKE, & Co.,
For the Applicant.