Improvements in Automatic Mechanism for Giving Signals at Prede- termined Times, chiefly designed for use in Factories and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1900-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
[Communicated from abroad by KARL PUTTKAMMER and FRIEDRICH ORTIMANN,
both of Charlottenburg, in the Empire of Germany.]
Improvements in Automatic Mechanism for Giving Signals at Prede-
termined Times, chiefly designed for use in Factories and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a signal clock by means of which one or more occur-
rences may be signalled or one or more signs given at predetermined points of
time, in uniform or irregular succession, by means of which both sets of opera-
tions may be carried into effect.
For example a factory owner may desire bells to be rung each morning to
notify the commencement of work, the commencement and termination of a break-
fast dinner or tea interval and also the closing hour in the evening, and at the
same time he may want an apparatus which will indicate the time the workmen
enter the factory and which will be started each morning and mid-day at the same
hour. It is also frequently desired to close an electric circuit, such as illumi-
nating circuit for example, for a certain period of time and then to interrupt the
same at a fixed time, and to effect these operations automatically. Many similar
operations will moreover readily suggest themselves.
By way of example we will assume that signal bells arranged upon a circuit
and a workman controller apparatus arranged upon a second circuit are to be
operated by the clock the controlling apparatus being actuated at definite
periods of time from the actuation of the signals but entirely independently
thereof. It is obvious that many combinations may be effected.
:
In order to obtain the results above set forth, it is necessary that the circuits
upon which are arranged the bells and the controlling apparatus should be adapted
to be closed by the clock at any desired times which are capable of alteration at
will. This is effected by means of adjustable contacts arranged upon a disc on
which divisions are marked. The division disc is constantly caused to rotate the
clock work by means of a train of wheels owing to the gearing of the last wheel
in the toothed circumference of the division disc. This division disc is divided
into 24 parts in order to correspond to the division of the day into hours. Each
hour space is divided into 12 parts so that each of the divisions within the hour
spaces corresponds to five minutes. By means of this disc circuits are closed at
predetermined times, thereby actuating various appliances; these points of time
may be decided upon in either uniform or irregular succession and independently
one of the other. If for example it is desired to actuate the apparatus which
is arranged upon the controller circuit at 11.45 p.m. and at the same time to cause
the bells arranged upon the signal circuit to ring, upon the division disc holes
are provided at intervals one from the other corresponding to five minute inter-
vals of time upon as many concentric circles as there are objects to be effected.

page_text: These holes serve for the reception of pins or plugs, which may be inserted in
the hole corresponding to the desired points of time. Thus for example if it is
desired, as above stated to actuate the appliances arranged upon the controller
and signal cireuifs at 11.45 p.m., plugs are inserted in the two adjacent holes
corresponding to the time 11.45. In the same manner, any other event may be
notified by the insertion of plugs in appropriate holes, of course only at the
shortest intervals of time which are marked upon the division disc.
These plugs effect the actuation of the appliances arranged upon the circuits
in the following inanner:-
-
If the signal circuit is open and it is desired that it shall be closed, it is
necessary that suitable contacts in said circuit should touch. In the position of
repose the said contacts are maintained separated by means of the pair of two
armed levers which are provided with pins at one end, whilst the other ends form
catches or pawls the pawls are acted upon by the teeth of a wheel which is caused
to constantly rotate by means of the clock work; this wheel is provided with
12 teeth and completes a revolution in an hour so that one tooth corresponds to
a period of five minutes. The pawl or rateliet of one of the two armed levers
constantly slides over the teeth or falls into the intervals between the teeth of
the pawl operating wheel, whilst the second ratchet is maintained in a raised
position upon its pivot by means of a weighted lever. Now as the contact pin of
the lever arm is held so long that it depresses the contact spring and conse-
quently when a pin rests upon the weighted lever the two contacts are maintained
apart. The pawls or ratchets of the two armed levers are not situated at the
same distance from the pivot of the lever, the one being nearer so that assuming
the rotation of the wheel in the direction of the clock hands, the other pawl will
fall between two teeth sooner than the pawl of the first. The second pawl falls
between two teeth when the pin on one lever arm looses its bearing upon the
corresponding lever. This takes place when the said lever strikes against a plug
in the division disc. It follows from this that in the case supposed, that is to
say at 11.45 p.m. if a pin strikes against the supporting lever, the latter is caused
to rotate, the pin of the corresponding lever arm loses its support and the ratchet
falls into an interval between two teeth of the wheel whilst the other ratchet
slides upon a tooth; by this means the contact spring springs upwards, then by
causing the contacts to touch and consequently close the circuit. Owing to the
fact that during this time the one pawl slides upon a tooth, the spring is firmly
maintained and cannot bend upwards. The contact continues as long as the pawl
slides upon the tooth, and is interrupted as soon as it falls between two teeth.
Upon the division disc continuing to rotate, the pin is carried under the support-
ing lever and the weight again brings the lever under the pin of the double armed
lever, so that if it is desired that no contact should take place five minutes later,
the supporting lever is able to stop the engagement of the pawl by means of its
pin and no contact can take place.
It will of course be obvious that the duration of the contact is dependent upon
the varying distance of the ratchets from the pivot of the double armed levers and
that the contact therefore continues as long as the pawl slides upon the teeth,
assuming that the supporting lever or a bent lever has released one of the double
armed levers and that the contact is interrupted when the said pawl falls into an
interval between two teeth.
The said operation takes place in the controlling circuit except that in this case
the pawl is nearer to the pivot of the lever than the pawl above referred to because
this latter is made tooth-shaped and the pair of double armed levers is arranged
symmetrically to that of the signal circuit. In addition to this, the contact is
closed in this case when the pin falls into a notch of a bent lever which is acted
upon by the disengaging pin of the division disc.
As already pointed out, the signal clock above described may also be employed
for the purpose of automatically closing a circuit at a given time and maintaining
the same closed for a given period, again interrupting it at a predetermined time.

page_text: For example, at a given time an illuminating circuit is to be closed a knob is
pressed thereby causing the three-armed lever to pass from one position to another
so as to make contact when the arm of a second bent lever is supported upon the
pin of the first bent lever. If it is desired that the circuit should be broken at a
given time, the corresponding disengaging pin upon the division disc presses
against the first bent lever rotates, this latter so that the pin on said lever is no
longer supported and a pin releases the contact which then again springs up-
wards thus interrupting the contact.
Thated this 101.
T1 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Automatic Mechanism for Giving Signals at Prede-
termined Times, chiefly designed for use in Factories and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention 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 a signal clock by means of which one or more
occurrences may be signalled, or one or more signs given, at predetermined in-
stants of time, in uniform or irregular succession, or by means of which both sets
of operations may be carried into effect.
For example a factory owner may desire bells to be rung each morning to
notify the commencement of work, the commencement and termination of a
breakfast, dinner or tea interval, and also the closing hour in the evening, and
at the same time he may want an appratus which will indicate the time the
workmen enter the factory, and which will be started each morning and mid-day
at the same hour. It is also frequently desired to close an electric circuit, such
as an illuminating circuit for example, for a certain period of time, and then to
interrupt the same at a fixed time, and to effect these operations automatically.
Many similar operations will moreover readily suggest themselves.
A signal clock which answers these requirements is represented in the accom-
panying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, illustrating my improved signal clock.
Figure 2 a similar view, the parts being in a different position, and some of
the parts being omitted,
Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2,
Figure 4 is an elevation of a modification for three electric circuits, and,
Figure 5 represents the parts shown in Figure 4, but in a different position.
By way of example we will assume that signal bells arranged upon à circuit L
and a workmen controller apparatus arranged upon a second circuit A are to be
operated by the clock the controlling apparatus being actuated at definite
reriods of time from the actuation of the signals but entirely independently
thereof. It is obvious that many combinations may be effected."
In order to obtain the results above set forth, it is necessary that the circuits
upon which the hells and the controlling apparatus are arranged should be adapted
to be closed by the clock at any desired times which are capable of alteration at
will. This is effected by means of adjustable contacts arranged upon a dise on
which divisions are marked. The division disc T (Figures 1 and 5) is constantly

page_text: caused to rotate by the clock by means of a train of wheels a, b, c, c¹ the last
wheel cl of which gears into the toothed circumference of the division disc T. The
division disc T is divided into 24 parts in order to correspond to the division of
the day into hours. Each hour space is divided into 12 parts so that each of the
divisions within the hour spaces corresponds to five minutes. By means of this
disc circuits are closed at predetermined times, thereby actuating various appli
ances; these points of time may be decided upon in either uniform or irregular
succession, and independently one of the other. If for example it is desired to
actuate the apparatus which is arranged upon the controller circuit A at 11.45
p.m. and at the same time to cause the bells arranged upon the signal circuit L
to ring, upon the division disc, holes are provided, at intervals one from the other,
corresponding to five minutes intervals of time upon as many concentric circles
as there are objects to be effected. These holes serve for the reception of pins
or plugs, which may be inserted in the hole corresponding to the desired points
of time. Thus for example if it is desired, as above stated to actuate the appli-
ances arranged upon the controller and signal circuits A and L at 11.45 p.m.
as is shown in Figure 1, plugs are inserted in the two adjacent holes correspond-
ing to the time 11.45. In the same manner, any other event may be notified by
the insertion of plugs in appropriate holes, of course only at the shortest inter-
vals of time which are marked upon the division disc.
These plugs effect the actuation of the appliances arranged upon the circuits A
and L in the following manner:
If the signal circuit L (position in Figure 2) is open, and it is desired that it
shall be closed, (position in Figure 1), it is necessary that the contacts of
the contact springs, e o in said circuit should touch each other. In the position
of repose the said contacts are maintained separated by means of the pair of
two armed levers f and g the arms f g of which are provided with pins fat
one end, whilst the other arms f2g2 form catches or pawls f* g. The pawls f* g
are acted upon by the teeth of a wheel h which is caused to constantly rotate by
means of the clock work; this wheel is provided with 12 teeth and completes one
revolution in an hour so that one tooth corresponds to a period of five minutes.
The pawl or ratchet of one of the two armed levers constantly slides over the
teeth or falls into the intervals between the teeth of the pawl operating wheel h,
whilst the pawl f is maintained in a raised position upon its pivot f* by means
of a lever with the weight. Now as long as the pawl f is maintained in its
raised position the contact pin f of the lever arm f¹ depresses the contact spring e
and consequently the two contacts are maintained apart, the pin on the
pawl resting upon the end of the weighted lever k. The pawls or ratchets ft g
of the two armed levers ƒ and g lying on the right hand in Figures 1 and 2 are
not situated at the same distance from the pivot of the levers, the one ratchet g
being nearer, so that, assuming the rotation of the wheel in the direction of
the clock hands, the other pawl ft will fall between two teeth sooner than the
pawl g of the first. The second pawl ft falls between two teeth when the pin f
on the lever arm flooses its bearing upon the lever k. This takes place when
the said lever k strikes against a plug in the division disc. It follows from this
that in the case supposed, that is to say at 11.45 p.m. if a pin 7 strikes against
the supporting lever k, the latter is caused to rotate, the pin f of the correspond-
ing lever arm f looses its support and the ratchet f falls into an interval between
two teeth of the wheel whilst the other ratchet slides upon a tooth; by this
means the arm fl of the lever f is raised, and the contact spring el springs up-
wards, causing the contacts in touch and consequently close the circuit.
Owing to the fact that during this time the one pawl o slides upon a tooth, the
springe is firmly maintained and cannot bend upwards. The contact continues
as long as the pawl g' slides upon the tooth, and is interrupted as soon as it falls
between two teeth. Upon the division disc T continuing to rotate, the pin 7 is
carried past and under the supporting lever k, and the weight again brings the
lever under the pin f of the double armed lever f so that if it is desired that no

page_text: contact should take place five minutes later, the supporting lever is able to
stop the engagement of the pawl fby means of its piu, and no contact can take
place.
It will of course be obvious that the duration of the contact is dependent upon
the varying distance of the ratchets f g from the pivot of the double arined
levers and y, and that the contact therefore continues as long as the pawl g*
slides upon the teeth, assuming that the supporting lever or the bent lever m
has released the double armed lever f, and that the contact is interrupted when
the said pawl y falls into an interval between two teeth.
The said operation takes place in the controlling circuit A except that in this
case the pawl f is nearer to the pivot of the lever f than the pawl g above
referred to, because this latter is made tooth-shaped and the pair of the double
armed levers f, g, is arranged symmetrically to that of the signal circuit L. In
addition to this, the contact remains interrupted in this case when the pin f³
lies in the notch m¹ of the bent lever m which is acted upon by a disengaging
pin of the division disc.
As already pointed out, the signal clock above described may also be em-
ployed for the purpose of automatically closing a circuit at a given time and
maintaining the same closed for a given period, again interrupting it at a pre-
determined time. For example (Figures 4 and 5) at a given time an illuminating
circuit S is to be closed; a knob is pressed, thereby causing the three-armed
lever o to pass from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in
Figure 5 so as to make contact, ie, the pin on the arm o presses down the
spring e till it forms a contact with the spring e; the arm of the said lever o
is then supported upon the pin m² of the bent lever m, (see Figure 5). If it is
desired that the circuit should. be broken at a given time, the corresponding dis-
engaging pin upon the division disc presses against the bent lever m, rotates this
latter so that the pin m² on said lever is no longer supported, and the pin o
releases the contact which then again springs upwards, thus interrupting the
contact.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination of a signal clock and a disc T constantly caused to rotate
and provided with holes corresponding to the divisions of the day into hours
for receiving pins which at certain periods close an electrical circuit for
signalling one or more occurrences, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of a signal clock, a disc T constantly caused to rotate and
provided with holes corresponding to the division of the day into hours for re-
ceiving pins t, which at certain periods close an electrical circuit for signalling
one or more occurrences, and ratchet wheels continually caused to rotate,
between the teeth of which contact levers f fall as soon as they are released from
a lever or m operated by said pins, and closes the circuit substantially as set
forth.
3. The combination of a signal clock, a disc T, ratchet wheels h, contact levers f
and and contact springs e e operated by the pins f g of those levers f and
so that the longer pin holds down the spring e as long as the lever is held
upwards by the lever whereas the shorter pin of the lever g, the pawl g' of
which slides on the tooth of the wheel h, serves the spring as a support as soon
as the lever moves upward, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of a signal clock, a disc T, ratchet wheels h, contact levers f
and g with pawls fg which for a certain time hold the contact closed, whereas
it is opened when the pawl gt falls into an interval between two teeth, and is
closed again when the other pawl g, still sliding on the tooth, also falls into an
interval, substantially as set forth.
The combination of a signal clock, a dise T, ratchet wheels h, contact levers f

page_text: and with pawls f g which are differently distant from the pivot of their
levers f and g, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of a signal clock, a disc T, ratchet wheels h, contact levers f
and g, springs e¹e and a bent lever o of which the arms of and pin on said
arm o establish contact and bring the lever m with its pin m² into a position of
rest for interrupting the contact cat a certain period by lifting the lever m
by means of the pin of the dise T, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of March 1900.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.