IMPROVED SELF WORKING ELECTRICAL CLOCK
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE KNIGHT 5 Dargle Road Dumcondra Dublin Chronometer
& Watchmaker do hereby declare the nature of this invention for IMPROVED
SELF WORKING ELECTRICAL CLOCK, to be as follows:-
A method of working clock, by improved and simple application of electrical
power does not require the aid of a governing or driving clock to keep the pendulum
in motion working itself, by an application of electro magnetism hereafter described.
1st I use an ordinary train of clock wheels pivoted in to plates of brass in the
usual manner suitable for driving a seconds pendulum discarding the wheel known
as the great one.
2nd By rivetting or colleting on to the piece known as the scape wheel arbor,
a brass disc having thirty teeth cut therein known as a ratchet I allow the ratchet
to come through the back of the clock plate, keeping it in position by a bar of
brass or cock screwed to the plate.
3rd I then have what is known as a click for allowing the ratchet to turn in one
direction.
4th Above this click and in connexion I have a spring or straight piece of flat
temperate steel wire having platinum contact pieces rivetted therein.
5th Placed in a convenient position on the clock plate, I have a small electro
magnet or coils of insulated wire without its armature.
6th Near the top of the plate I screw in a piece of round steel wire known as a
stud, pinned on or swinging therefrom is a brass rod eight inches long too which
is attached the soft iron armature the end of the rod being bent into position to
make what is known as a crutch for impelling the pendulum.
7th Attached to the armature I have a small brass rod holding a spring click for
propelling the ratchet forward one tooth at a time, holding it secure after the
propulsion.
8th The first vibration of the pendulum carries the crutch from the electro
magnet falling again by its own gravity causes the click to take one tooth of the
ratchet forward, making contact by the action of the click with the aforementioned

page_text: contact springs, causing the attraction of the armature towards the coils or electro
magnet, impelling the pendulum forward at the same instant.
9th On front plate of clock I have a small ebonite plate on which are fixed four
platinum contact plates in connexion with the terminals of batteries I then have
a brass rod holding an insulated plate containing the line wire contacts of batteries.
The rod is actuated every twenty four hours by hour wheel of clock, turning a
snail wheel, causing an instantaneous change of batteries this acthod giving one
uniform strength of electro motive force, using two single Le. Clanche cells one at
a time being only in action.
Dated this fourth day of Santamban 1001

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
JOHN GEORGE KNIGHT 5 Dargle Road Drumcondra Dublin Ireland, Watch-
maker. I do hereby declare tho, nature of my invention for IMPROVED SELF
WORKING ELECTRICAL CLOCK, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
A method of working clock, by improved & simple application of electrical power.
Does not require the aid of a normal or governing clock to supply the electric
current to keep the pendulum in motion. Being independent of any other clock
or machines influence. Working itself by application of electro-magnetism here-
after described.
I use an ordinary train of clock wheels pivoted into brass plates in the usual
manner (Fig 1. 2 No 1) suitable for driving a seconds pendulum discarding the
one known as the great wheel. By rivetting or colleting on to the piece (Fig II
No 20) known as the scape wheel arbor a brass disc having thirty teeth cut
therein, known as a ratchet.
I allow the ratchet to come through the back of the clock plate keeping it in
position by a brass bar or cock screwed to the plate (Fig II No 23) I then have
what is known as a click or pawl (Figs II No 21 & 22) for allowing the ratchet
to turn in one direction.
Above this click and in connexion on a small insulated plate I place a spring
(Fig II No 35) or straight piece of flat tempered steel having platina contact
pieces rivetted therein. (Fig II Nos 33-34) Placed in a convenient position on
the plate I place a small electro magnet without its armature. (Fig II Nos 24-32).
Near the top of the plate I screw in a straight piece of round steel wire known as
a stud. (Fig II No 42) Pushed on or swinging therefrom is a brass rod or gravity
arm (Fig II No 30) eight inches long to which is attached a soft iron armature
(Fig II No 28 No 29 stud and screw for securing armature to rod.
The end of the rod being turned up or bent into position to make what is known
as a crutch for impelling the pendulum.
Attached to the armature I place or screw thereto a brass bar holding a spring
click for propelling or moving the ratchet forward one tooth at a time holding it.
secure after the propulsion. (Fig II Nos 25-26-27).
The first vibration of the pendulum carries the crutch from the electro-magnet,
falling again by its own gravity causes the spring click to take one tooth of the
ratchet forward making contact by the action of the click with the contact
springs, (Nos 33-34) causing the attraction of the armature towards the coils
(No 32) or electro magnet impelling the pendulum forward at the same instant.
The advantage I claim in this method is that the pendulum receives the combined
electric and mechanical impulse immediately before reaching the zero point the
current is always direct and by this method cannot be reversed.
On the front plate of the clock (Fig I No 1) I place a small insulated plate
(Fig I No 16) on which are placed or fastened four platina contact plates in
connexion with the terminals of batteries. (Fig I No 37) I then have screwed to
plate a brass cock (10) into which and working on a pivot or pin (11) a brass

page_text: bar (9) to which is screwed an insulated plate (13) holding the contact or battery
changing springs (14) also is attached the line wire of battery (39).
My method of actuating this rod or brass bar to cause an instantaneous change
of battery is as follows.
By placing an hour wheel (3) of clock two steel pins (18) for turning a brass
circular disc (14) having eight points and having on its surface a semi circle of
brass (17) Two complete revolutions of hour wheel gives an instantaneous change
of battery by instantly raising a friction roller and brass rod (8 & 9) to terminals
of battery (38) which I shall call battery No" 1-2 This method giving me an
uniform strength of electro motive force.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what
I claim is
1st The swinging armature or electro magnetic gravity arm or crutch with
spring click combined and its method of driving pendulum..
2nd The method of changing battery current every twenty four hours from No 1
to No 2 Leclanche cell by clocks own action.
3rd The locating or fixing of batteries in clock case.