IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS AND APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING OR CONTROLLING THE SAME BY ELECTRICITY
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst P.A., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS AND APPARATUS
FOR ACTUATING OR CONTROLLING THE SAME BY ELECTRICITY (a communication
from abroad by Chester H. Pond of Brooklyn in the county of Kings, State of
New York, United States of America Electrician) 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 to the class of electric clocks actuated directly by the
force of a spring or a weight which is wound through the agency of electr.)-
magnetisın.
In organizing electric clocks and clock systems, it has usually been customary
to propel each clock through the agency of a pawl or of an escapement which in turn
is actuated by an electro-magnet. Such an electro-magnet is caused to be periodi-
cally vitalized by the movements of the clock-train, or else by the operation of a
primary regulator which causes electric impulses to be transmitted to the several
secondary clocks connected therewith at predetermined intervals, such for instance
as once each second or once each minute. When the clocks are thus actuated, the
movements of the hands, instead of being constant and regular as in the ordinary
mechanical clock, are periodical. During the greater portion of the time therefore
the hands of the clocks are motionless or "dead."
When a number of secondary clocks are driven or controlled by the movements
of a primary clock, they are liable to be stopped or a portion of them to be thrown
out of synchronisn, by any accident to the primary clock or to the main conductor
of the system. Again, the uniform movements of the hands of such clocks as
are operated by electro-magnets vitalized at frequent intervals, requires that
the battery strength shall at all times be sufficient to drive the pawls and move
the hands, otherwise one or more of the clocks of a system will fall behind the
regulator.

page_text: To provide a clock and a clock system which shall be free from these and other
incidental defects, is the object of this invention.
It has been heretofore proposed to actuate clocks by a wpring or a weight
maintained under tension or wound by means of an electro-magnet and a pawl
actuated by the armature of the same, at frequent intervals. The expenditure of
energy in such organization is considerable and, owing to the frequent movements
of the armatures, the movement of the mechanism is more or less unreliable.
This invention is based upon the employment, in connection with an ordinary
clock movement which is driven by a spring or weight, of an electro-magnetic
motor which periodically winds the spring or weight. Each clock is constructed
in such a manner that it may operate independently of other clocks or may be one
of a series controlled by a central clock. The spring or weight is preferably of
such capacity that it will serve to actuate the clock for several hours, without
rewinding.
At the commencement of each hour or at some other predetermined interval, the
clocks, if there are several clocks in a system, are placed in such condition as to have
their springs or weights successively wound without causing a cessation in the
driving force, which each spring exerts upon its train of wheels. After the springs
or weights are wound to a predetermined tension or limit, the normal conditions of
each clock are re-established.
The motor employed for winding each clock may be any suitable form of rotary
electric motor whether dynamo or magneto-electric.
It will be apparent that during the greater portion of each hour there will be no
occasion for employing the battery force for winding the clocks. During such
time it is designed that the main conductor of the system shall have its circuit
connections through a series of synchronizing magnets which are respectively
applied to the several clock pendulums or to some other suitable portion of the
clock mechanism. Suitable means are provided, in case the magnets are applied
to the pendulums, for sending an impulse from the battery through these magnets
once during each complete or each semi-vibration of the pendulums. These
impulses serve to maintain the several clocks synchronized, in a manner well
understood. It will be understood that the synchronizing magnets may be applied
to the hands of a clock, if it is desired.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, figure 1 is a front
elevation of the mechanism of the clock, the face being removed. Figure 2 is a
side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section of a portion of
the instrument. Figure 4 is a plan section of the same portion of the mechanism.
Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the organization of the clocks in a system.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of the clock and B the train
of wheels commonly employed for actuating the hour, minute and second hands in
the usual manner.
The train B is normally impelled by means of a spring C acting through a center-
wheel C carried upon an arbor c. The spring C is preferably of such length that it
is capable of actuating the clock for several hours. An escapement anchor b serves
to control the movements of the train, and a vibrating pendulum B¹ controls the
movements of the escapement in the usual manner.
The spring C is designed to be wound once each hour or at some other con-
venient predetermined interval, by means of an electric motor E. This motor is
designed to be set in operation, in a manner which will be hereinafter described,
and to wind the spring quickly to a predetermined tension.
These two
The motor consists preferably of a series of armature bars e¹ of soft iron which
are mounted upon suitable non-magnetic discs or rings e² e². These rings are
supp rted from the axis e3 of the motor. Two or more electro-magnets F1 and F
are employed for propelling the armature in the direction of the arrow.
electro-magnets are alternately placed in circuit with a battery W through the
agency of a conductor H and its two brushes ¹ and h². During the revolution of
the shaft of the motor, these brushes are alternately brought into contact with

page_text: The
conducting and non-conducting segments 13 and 4 of the commutator,
battery W has one pole connected with the earth at G by a conductor 3. Its other
pole is connected with the conducting segments of the commutator through a
circuit-controlling device which will be hereinafter described. The two brushes
are respectively connected with one terminal of the coils of each of the two electro-
magnets. The remaining terminals of these coils are connected with each other by
conductors 1 and 2 at a point 4 and this point is connected with the outgoing main
conductor or with the earth.
A ratchet wheel c¹ is carried upon the shaft e³ of the armature of the motor,
and a pawl resting against this wheel prevents the armature from turning back-
ward.
Upon the shaft e³ of the armature there is carried a pinion o which engages
the teeth of a wheel O. The shaft o¹ of the wheel O carries a pinion o² and
this pinion engages the teeth of a gear wheel O¹. The collet or sleeve o³ of
wheel O¹ loosely surrounds the arbor c of the centre wheel C¹ of the train. The
spring C has one end attached to the arbor c and its other end is secured to the
wheel O. When therefore, the motor is set in operation the wheel O¹ is driven in
the direction of the arrow and the spring is wound from its outer end. The spring
is constantly unwound from its inner end by the action of the escapement of the
clock, and it is evident that, during the winding of the spring by the motor, the
clock will continue to be driven, It may here be remarked that a great advantage
over the winding device operated by the to-and-fro movement of an armature, is
derived from the employment of the rotating armature of an electric motor, for the
reason that the momentum acquired by such an armature is availed of in the
winding whereas in the case of a vibrating armature this factor is entirely lost.
The method of setting the motor in operation will now be described.
Loosely mounted upon the arbor c is a balanced arm R which is designed to
operate a circuit closing and opening device once each hour. The arm R carries at
one end a small roller which is designed to be carried against the lower end of a
pendant arm 2 when the clock is to be wound. The pendant arm 72 carries a hook
or catch which normally engages a circuit-closing arm The pendant arm ³
is normally held in the position to engage the arm by a spring ³. When
however the roller 1 at the end of the arm R is forced against the pendant arm 212,
the latter is forced backward against the tension of the spring 5 and the catch 23
is moved out of the path of the shoulder 70 on circuit-closing arm r². The latter is
then pressed downward by the action of a spring
When the circuit-closing
arm is thus released, a contact point s¹ carried thereon is brought against
a corresponding insulated point s² supported from the frame A. These two points
are respectively connected with the main conductor L and with the conductor
leading to the commutator segments. The circuit of the motor will therefore be
completed as soon as the arm R has caused the arm to be released.
For the purpose of thus operating the arm R, a pin t' is caused to project laterally
from the face of the centre wheel C₁ of the clock train. This wheel revolves once an
hour and the pin will therefore, by engaging the arm, cause it to be forced against
the pendant arm once in each hour. The, circuit will be completed thus at a
predetermined moment, but it is evident that the slow movement of the centre
wheel C¹ cannot be relied upon for interrupting the circuit, for it is desirable that
when the spring is wound the circuit through the motor should be interrupted
immediately. For this reason there is placed upon the wheel O¹ a pin t2, which
like the pin t', projects laterally from the face of the wheel toward the arm R. As
already described, the operation of the motor is to turn the wheel 0¹ in the
direction of the arrow. The pin t2 will therefore be caused to overtake the arm R
and cause it to advance rapidly from the pin t' and the arm 72 into engagement
with the circuit-closing arm 4. The latter is lifted causing the contact-points to
be separated, and the catch again passes into engagement with the circuit-closing
arm The arm R then remains at rest until the pin t¹ is caused by the revolution
of the centre wheel C₁ to again overtake and to gradually advance it, thus causing

page_text: the operation to be repeated. The operation of the motor is exceedingly rapid and
it usually requires about seven seconds only to wind the spring sufficiently to
actuate the clock an hour. It will be understood that the spring is intended to be
normally wound sufficiently to actuate the clock for several hours though the motor
is not actuated.
When several clocks are connected in series, it is designed that the conductors 1
and 2 leading from the coils of the electro-magnets of the motors shall be connected
with the earth. At the commencement of each hour the circuit connections of the
main line will therefore be complete from the battery W, one pole of which is
connected with the earth as shown in the diagram figure 5, through the main
conductor L and with the earth through the several motors E and corresponding
conductors . It is evident however that although the several motors are placed
in circuit in multiple arc yet, owing to the resistance of the main line, the motor
nearest the battery will be first actuated. The ground connections of this motor
being then interrupted, the next motor will be operated and so on throughout
the series.
The time required for all the clocks in a system to be thus wound will usually
be considerably less than a quarter of an hour even in very extended systems.
During the remaining three quarters of an hour therefore the battery will not be
required for the purpose of actuating the motors, and during such time it may be
desired to employ the battery and main conductor for synchronizing the clocks.
For this purpose there is placed upon the arbor c of each clock a cam u which
extends over one quarter of the circumference of the arbor. A circuit-closing
arm is applied to this cam. When the cam is resting against the arm u¹ the
main line circuit is completed from the arm, which is connected with the main
line, through the cam which is in electrical connection with the succeeding section
of the main line, that is to say with the section leading to the next clock. The
parts are so adjusted that the several clocks will thus place the main line in
connection with the motor controlling devices simultaneously. During three
quarters of each hour therefore the connections of the main line are through the
synchronizing magnets, but when the cams make contact with the respective arms
the corresponding synchronizing magnets will be shunted. The main line con-
nections are therefore at all times complete either through the synchronizing
magnets or through the shunts of the magnets. The electro-magnets V are
respectively applied to armatures carried upon the respective pendulums of the
clocks These electro-magnets are designed to be vitalized as the armatures pass
above their poles for the purpose of synchronizing the pendulums, in a manner
well understood. The impulses which are required for thus vitalizing the electro-
magnets may be derived from the battery W by the action of a circuit-closing.
device applied to one of the clocks of the series. Thus there may be applied to the
trunion b carrying the escapement-anchor of one of the clocks, a circuit-closing
armi x. This arm is caused by the movement of the anchor in one direction, to
impinge against a contact point ¹ at the limit of its movement.
The arm x is
connected in this clock with the arm u¹, and the point ¹ is connected with the
section of the main line leading to the line of clocks. In this manner synchronizing
impulses will be sent to all the clocks in the series by the action of one of the
clocks which shall be maintained at standard time.
It remains to describe the method of actuating the motors of one or more clocks
in the series, independently of the other motors. This is illustrated in the
diagram, figure 5, in connection with the clock A³. In this instance a small inde-
pendent battery w₁ is employed. The connections of this battery are completed
at the proper intervals through the electric motor in the manner already described,
one pole of the battery being connected with the circuit-closing arm and the
other with the conductors 1 and 2.
A synchronizing electro-magnet VI is applied to the pendulum of this clock, for
the purpose of causing it to maintain uniform time with the other clocks in the
system. This magnet is included in the main line in the usual manner. It is

page_text: desirable however that this magnet should be shunted during the time the other
clocks are being wound. For this reason the section of the main conductor leading
to this clock is connected directly with the contact-arm u, and this arm is also
connected through the coils of the electro-magnet with the succeeding section of
the main line in the usual manner. The cam is also connected directly with the
succeeding section of the main conductor and when the cam makes contact with
the arm, the synchronizing magnet is shunted.
It is evident that this clock A³ may thus be actuated independently of the other
clocks in the system while maintained in synchronism therewith.
The same
organization may be applied to other clocks in the system.
The clocks may it is evident be actuated at any other periods than once an hour,
if it is so desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a mechanical clock
train, a rotary electric motor an intermediate train and means, substantially such
as described, for periodically setting said motor in operation and winding said
mechanical clock.
2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a mechanical clock
mechanism, an electric motor having a rotating armature and an intermediate train
of wheels for causing the movements of said motor to wind the spring of said
clock.
3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clock mechanism
and an electric motor having a rotating armature for winding the spring or weight
of said clock nechanism.
4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clock mechanism.
a rotary electric motor for periodically winding the same and means, substantially
such as described, for preventing a retrograde movement of said motor.
5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clock mechanism,
a rotating electric motor, means substantially such as described, for periodically
actuating said motor and causing it to wind the spring or weight of said clock
mechanism, a synchronizing magnet applied to said clock mechanism and means,
substantially such as described, for vitalizing said magnet from the same source of
electricity as is employed for actuating said motor.
6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a clock mechanism,
a main conductor, a rotating electric motor, a synchronizing electro-magnet and
circuit-controlling devices serving to normally complete the connections of said
main conductor through said synchronizing magnet but at predetermined periods
to connect the same with said motor.
7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a time train
and a spring or weight for actuating the same, of a rotating electric motor for
winding the same, a circuit closing device for completing the connections of an
electric circuit through said motor at predetermined intervals through the action of
said time train, and means for interrupting said circuit through the action of said
motor.
8. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a time train
and a spring or weight for actuating the same, of an electric motor for winding
said spring or weight and a circuit controlling device for periodically completing
and interrupting the connections of an electric circuit through said motor which
device consists of an arm loosely surrounding one of the arbors of said train, a pin
moving with said arbor which pin engages said arm, a lever against which said
arm is caused to impinge at one point in its revolution and to thereby cause said
circuit to be completed and a pin moving with said winding device which pin
engages said arm and advances it from engagement with said lever into engagement
with a second lever or arm thereby causing said circuit to be interrupted.

page_text: 9. In an electric clock winding device, the combination, substantially as herein-
before set forth, of the arm R, the wheel C¹ and O', the pins t¹ and 2 for engaging
said arm, the pendant arm 2 and the circuit-closing arm
10. In an electric winding device for clocks the combination, substantially as
herein before set forth, of the motor E, the wheels C¹ and O¹, arbor c, the arm R
mounted loosely upon said arbor, means, substantially such as described, for
advancing said arm first through the movement of the wheel C₁ and subsequently
through the movement of the wheel O' and the circuit-controlling device which is
operated to close an electric circuit through said motor when said arm has been
advanced by the wheel C', and to interrupt the same when it is advanced by the
wheel 0¹.
11. The combination, substantially as herein before set forth, in a rotating
electrical device for winding clocks, of a motor, a circuit-controlling device and
means, substantially such as described, for causing said device to complete an
electric circuit by the action of the clock and to interrupt the same by the action
of the winding device.
12. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a time train, an
electric motor for winding the same periodically, a battery for actuating said
motor, a circuit-controlling device actuated by said time train, a synchronizing
electro-magnet, a shunt circuit around said magnet the connections of which are
periodically completed by said circuit-controlling device, a circuit-controlling device
for said motor and means for operating the last named device while said
synchronizing magnet is shunted.
13. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the time train,
the synchronizing magnet, the electric motor for winding said time train periodically,
the circuit-controlling device for the same and means, substantially such as described,
for shunting said synchronizing magnet when said motor is actuated.
14. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a series of clocks,
a battery, a conductor leading from said battery to said clocks, a motor in each of
said clocks for winding the same, and means, substantially such as described, for
completing a circuit through all of said motors from said main line and causing said
clocks to be successively wound by the action of the same.
15. The combination, substantially as herein before set forth, of a series of clocks,
a motor in each of said clocks, a battery, a conductor leading from said battery to
said clocks and means for simultaneously placing said motors in connection with
said battery in multiple are at predetermined times.
16. The combination, substantially as herein before set forth, of a battery, a main
conductor, a series of clocks, a motor in each of said clocks for winding the same, a
synchronizing electro-magnet applied to each of said clocks and included in said
conductor, and a shunt circuit around each of said magnets the connections of
which are automatically completed at predetermined times.
17. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a source of
electricity, a series of clocks, a rotating electric motor in each of said clocks for
winding the same and a conductor leading from said source to each of said motors.
Dated this 24th day of November 1884.