IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS FOR MARINE OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS FOR MARINE
OR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Henry Horatio Ham,
the younger, Watchmaker, and Elbridge Gerry Pierce, the younger, Merchant,
both of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States of America.
Sealed the 21st October 1879, and dated the 29th April 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th April 1879.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CLOCKS FOR MARINE OR OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Henry Horatio Ham, the younger, Watchmaker, and Elbridge Gerry
Pierce, the younger, Merchant, both of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
of America.
The object of this Invention is to improve that class of marine clocks usually
called ships' watch clocks, causing them to strike the bells indicating the hours
and half hours of each watch, with pauses between the blows, in the same manner
as when struck by hand; and the Invention consists in the novel construction and
arrangement of the mechanism by which this is accomplished, as will be hereinafter
described. In the Drawings Figure one is a rear view of the mechanism by which
the clock is operated, showing the relative position of the parts; Figure two is a
front view of the same; Figure three presents a side view of the works, showing
their relative positions in a direction opposite to that shown in Figures one and
two; Figure four presents a side view of the striking wheel with the studs to
which the lock plate is attached; Figure five shows the striking wheel and lock
plate attached; Figure six represents my improved lock plate with sections
increasing or decreasing irregularly; Figure seven shows the plate double or with
two sets of sections on its periphery; Figure eight shows a modification of the lock
plate. This clock besides indicating the hours and minutes of time as an ordinary
clock does also denotes by its striking mechanism the sounds and pauses usually
made in striking what navigators term "bells." Each half hour of time is on board
of a vessel represented by the striking of one blow on the bell, and an additional
blow for every half hour during the watch, the twenty four hours being divided
into six equal periods of time of four hours each, called watches, each of these
periods being indicated by eight of such strokes. In striking the hours or half
hours of each period or watch it is customary at the termination of the first half
hour to strike one bell," at that of the next "two bells," at that of the next two

page_text: bells, and to pause and strike "one bell;" at that of the next "two bells" and a
pause, and then "two bells," there being a pause between every "two bells," thus
indicating the hour and halves, as seamen well understand. Heretofore these
clocks have struck the bells or indicated them in their order without denoting the
pauses as given by a seaman while striking a ship's bell in the way commonly
practised. My improvement in the clock gives the stroke with all the necessary
pauses. In the Drawing A denotes the frame which supports the clock gear, and
A' the main striking gear or wheel, it being the first of the train instead of the
second as in other clocks, there being fixed in or to one side of it so as to project
therefrom a series of pins or studs, arranged as follows:-The circumference
of the circle of these pins is to be divided into forty-eight equal arcs, and to
contain thirty six pins and twelve spaces, arranged as shown in Figure four. Upon
the shaft d of the wheel A¹ is placed the circular lock plate B, which is fixed to the
wheel A and held in position by the studs e so that it revolves with it. This lock
plate may be supposed to have its circumference divided into forty eight equal
parts, arranged with one notch at the first, one at the second, one at the fourth, one.
at the eighth, one at the thirteenth, one at the twentieth, one at the twenty eighth,
and one at the thirty eighth of the said division. The main striking wheel A and
lock plato B are to revolve together once every four hours. Between the lock
plate B and the stop wheel C the stop lever D is arranged, as shown in Figure one.
The connection of the time train with the striking gear is maintained in the usual
manner. The hammer is shown at E, its arbore being provided with a pin or
stud a working against the pins of the wheel A', by which it is caused to strike
the bell. A stop or check arm b is also attached to the shaft c catching under the
front plate of the frame A. A modification of the locking plate is shown in
Figure eight, having the form of a snail wheel or cam with serrated edge, which
may be employed, if desired, producing substantially the same results us the locking
plate heretofore described. The remaining part of the striking gear is similar to
that of a common striking clock. The wheels A and B being duly constructed and
arranged the clock when in operation will give from time to time as may be required
the number of strokes and pauses that are needed to indicate the time during each
watch as produced by a seaman on a ship's bell. Having thus described my Inven-
tion I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:-First.
The striking wheel A' having pins arranged as shown for striking ships' bells in
combination with the locking plate B attached to and revolving with the same shaft
as wheel A, and having irregularly increasing or decreasing sections. Second. In
a marine clock striking the half hour in the manner of ships' bells above described a
lock plate provided with sections increasing or decreasing irregularly, substantially
as described. Third. The combination of the striking wheel A¹, having pins
arranged as shown and described, studs e and locking plate B connected for joint
and simultaneous action, as specified. Fourth. The stop wheel C, constructed and
operating as described, in combination with the stop lever D, locking plate B, and
attached striking wheel A', substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Fifth.
In a marine clock indicating the hours and half hours, as heretofore described, the
combination with the ordinary mechanism of a clock of the following elements,
viz.A striking wheel provided with pins, arranged as shown, a locking plate or
its equivalent attached to and revolving with said wheel, a stop wheel, and a stop
lever, all operating as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set