Improvements in and relating to Clocks.
Year: 1899

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by ADOLFO BOSATELLI, of Galleria Umberto, 1° N. 27,
Naples, in the Kingdom of Italy, Watch Maker.]
Improvements in and relating to Clocks.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT 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:―
It is well known that in clocks striking hours, quarters, chimes, and repetitions,
the striking mechanism is very complicated and comprises an extraordinary
number of mechanical parts, thus rendering such a clock exceedingly complicated
and consequently high in price.
By this invention the striking of the hours, quarters, chimes, and repetitions
in clocks is effected in a very simple manner and with a small number of parts.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I
have shown the invention as applied by way of example, to what are known as
American-alarm clocks:"
66
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the clock-mechanism.
Figure 2 is a rear view.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a plan of the mechanism.
Figures 5 and 6 show an elevation and a plan respectively of parts of the
repeating mechanism, and,
Figures 7 and 8 show the two faces of the disc controlling the striking as will
be hereinafter described.
As will be seen from. Figure 1, upon the arbor carrying the minute-hand there
is mounted at the front à disc or wheel a provided near its periphery with four
studs 1, 2, 3, 4, arranged in two diametrical lines at right angles to one another.
These studs are designed to gear with the teeth of a wheel b which is rigidly
fixed to and revolves with a spindle mounted in the front plate of the frame of
the clock.
The wheel b is formed with 48 teeth of equal size, and as the disc a accomplishes
one revolution per hour, it is evident that at every quarter of an hour there will
be one of the studs 1, 2, 3, or 4 in contact with the teeth of the wheel b, which
is thus caused to perform a corresponding rotary movement every quarter of an
hour. As the wheel has 48 teeth it must in 12 hours make one revolution.
With the spindle of the wheel b rotates a snail wheel or cam c fast thereon, _
the-periphery-or-edge-surface of which cam is determined in the following manner.
The circumference of a circle with its centre at b¹ is divided into 48 equal parts,
and from the centre are drawn radii to the points of division on the circumference,
thus dividing the circle into 48 equal parts. Starting from the point c² near the
077

page_text: centre on one of the radii an Archimedian spiral is described, terminating upon
the initial radius passing through the point c¹.
The continuous line of the Archimedian spiral is substituted by a toothed line
obtained by drawing a portion of a circle having its centre at ¹ between each
two successive radii; the length of the radius of the circular line being the mean
length between these two successive radii.
J
It should be mentioned that the snail wheel is mounted, with reference to the
wheel b, in such a manner that the 48 radii of the former lie in respectively the
same axial planes as the 48 central axes of the teeth of the said wheel.
A lever pivotted at is formed at its free end with a stud d', and is kept
in contact with the teeth of the wheel b by the tension of a helical spring d
which forms an elastic link between the lever d and a' fixed point on the clock-
frame. By this means the wheel b and disc c are prevented at each movement from
rotating for more than an angle corresponding to one tooth i.e. the 48th part of
its circumference.
A second levere is mounted upon the spindle e¹ which traverses the clock
frame, and is furnished with a cylindrical stude of a diameter just sufficient to
enable it to mount from one tooth of the snail wheel c to the next, when the latter
is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. The said stud
rests against the spirally formed edge of the snail wheel or cam c.
A helical spring Fig. 4, suitably disposed, tends to rotate the spindle e in
such a manner as to cause the stude² to be kept in contact with the said snail
wheel c.
Obviously during the rotation of the wheel and snail wheel & the stud e²
is caused to slide along the edge of this latter, and so pass successively from one
tooth to another and at the same time incline more and more upwardly as the
cam e rotates in the direction of the arrow, (Fig. 1.).
From the rear of the clock-mechanism it will be noticed that upon the spindle c¹
of the levere there is keyed the hub of a forked piece f¹ upon which are
pivoted (see Figure 4) two levers ff, the extremities of which reach the
points gg, respectively, and which are curved inwardly one towards the other
in the common plane of oscillation of the said two levers.
The rear arms or ends g g of the said levers f2 f3 are in contact with the
arms h h¹ fast on the two vertical spindles which carry at their lower end the
two hammers i adapted to strike against the bells 132.
Two springs 2, 3, fixed in the bracket h2 press against the rear ends of the
arms h, h, and so cause the said ends to converge: thereby the fore ends of the
arms act upon the ends g, g of the two levers f, f, and force the ends g², g³,
thereof towards each other. The two points 92 press against the two faces
respectively of a circular disc rigidly mounted vertically upon an arbor 12
controlled by the spring of the striking mechanism when the latter is freed in the
manner hereinafter described.
From Figures 7 and 8, showing respectively the two faces of the said disc, it
will be seen that the same is provided with projections of different lengths and
disposed according to a special rule as will be clear from the following.
These projections are distributed over both faces of the disc and have for their
object to actuate the hammers i, i¹, respectively.
If we suppose the striking mechanism to be set free, then the arbor 12 and the
disc with it start rotating. It then follows that if a projection passes beneath
the point this latter will be caused to retire and give way to the moving pro-
jection, thus the lever inclines by moving away from the disc and with its
rear end moves back the arm h against the tension of the spring ; this causes
the rotation of the spindle k and the hammer i to recede from the bell B.
Thus each time a projection passes beneath the point g a stroke of the bell
is produced and similarly the other face of the disc produces a stroke of the
bell by a projection ¹ passing beneath the point of the lever f³.

page_text: The lever is designed to strike the hours and the quarters while the lever f³
only acts upon the bell at the quarter hours to produce the double sound which
characterizes the chime.
To this end the lever f is slightly shorter than the lever f, and consequently
it acts a little after the lever, and thereby allows the necessary interval between
the sounds of the two bells.
We will now enquire into the rule according to which the projections are
placed upon the two faces of the disc.
It has already been stated that the disc begins to rotate as soon as the striking
mechanism is disengaged, and each time it thus starts moving it makes a com-
plete révolution.
During this rotation it is clear that the points 92 g of the two levers fƒ³
describe circles upon the two faces of the disc having very nearly the same radii,
but the length of which depends upon the position of the two points 92 g³ in
regard to the centre of the disc, ie. the inclination of the lever e keyed upon
the arbor e, upon which are mounted the levers ff.
Consequently if the stud of the said lever is resting against the starting
point c of the spiral cam or snail wheel c, the two points g2 g will be in the
proximity of the centre of the disc, and they then describe circles having small
radi; while when the said stud is at the outer end of the same radius the
points gg will also be at the peripheries of the disc 7 and describe circles with
the maximum radius, and the lengths of the radii of the circles traced by the
two points increase gradually in a uniform manner by following the motion
of the stud 2 upon the spiral edge of the snail wheel as indicated.
It will thus be easy to distribute the projections over the faces of the disc /
according to a rule in such a manner that the gradual motion of the points g² g³
produces all the sounds required for the chime.
To this end the disc is divided into 48 circular zones, as is clearly shown in
Figures and 8; the width of said zones being perfectly constant.
To each of the 48 different positions of the stud upon the spiral edge of the
snail wheel e corresponds the position of the points in one of the said circular
zones, in such manner that when the stud passes successively from the 1st to
the 48th radius of the spiral or snail wheel c, the points g² g³ in turn pass
successively from the zone having the smallest radius to that having the maximum
radius.
In like manner the disc is divided into 18 equal sectors and the projections /i
are disposed along the radii of these 18 sectors, or if preferred, according to
straight lines inclined at a constant angle with regard to the said radii. By this
disposition the strokes of the bells are caused to follow at regular equal intervals
as will be seen hereinafter.
In the zone having the smallest radius is disposed a single projection 1
(Figure 7), from which it follows that when the striking mechanism is disengaged
the rotary motion of the disc will produce only a single stroke corresponding to
the hour, owing to the point meeting with but a single projection. In this
zone there is no corresponding projections upon the other face of the disc
(Figure 8), and thus the other point remains inactive. After a quarter of an
hour the stud will have passed upon the next segment of the spirale and the
points are in the second zone. Therefore when the striking mechanism is
again disengaged and the disc rotates, the point g² meets the projections 1 and 3
(Figure 7), and delivers two strokes by the bell (with sufficient interval) corre-
sponding to the hour and a quarter (quarter past the hour).
It will be noticed that upon the other side of the disc (Figure_S), there-is-
provided a projection in the second-zone-corresponding to the line 3, and conse-
quently, as soon as the bell operated by the point g2 has sounded the second stroke,
it will be followed by the stroke of the bell controlled by the point 3, thus
producing by the difference of sound in the bells the characteristic effect of the
chime.

page_text: In the same manner the points g² g³ enter the 3rd zone and another quarter of
an hour afterwards the disc starts again to rotate.
During this movement the point g meets the projections 1, 3, 5, (Figure 7),
and thus produces three strokes. corresponding to an hour and a half, while
the point meets, only two projections upon the lines 3 and 5 (Figure 8), and
gives the combined sound of two quarters of an hour,
It is thus obvious that the point must remain inactive for the full hours and
only sound in correspondence with the quarter hours and this always in the
manner hereinbefore described.
At the last zone, placed in the periphery corresponding to 12 hours and three
quarters, the point g2 while in that zone meets successively the projections 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 which produce the striking of the hour and then, with
double the interval to the preceding ones, meets the projections 14, 16 18 for
indicating the three quarters of the hour the latter being combined with three
corresponding projections on the other side of the disc so as to obtain the
characteristic effect before mentioned.
After the 48th zone the points are immediately conducted to the first zone
because the stud through the action of the spring e³, is taken from the 48th
segment of the spiral to the first one, this occurring immediately afterwards,
owing to the continued rotation of the disc c in the direction indicated by the
arrow, (Figure 1).
It is owing to the application of the rule above mentioned that the distribution
of the projections upon the two faces of the disc is such as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
I will now consider the means which serve in operating the striking-train.
The spring m of the striking-train is wound upon the arbor m¹ in the ordinary
manner, and is fixed. by its other end to the pillar m². By means of a ratchet
wheel m keyed to the same arbor m', and a suitable stop-pawl, the gear-wheel m³
which is loose on the shaft m¹, is rotated by the spring. m, and the gear wheel in
its turn rotates the pinion n keyed to the arbor n', upon which latter is keyed
another gear wheel n² which transmits the rotary motion to the spindle carrying
the disc 7.
Again the spindle. 2, through the intervention of the wheel 3 rotates a small
pinion m fast upon a third spindle mo. This latter, through the intervention of
the wheel m' and pinion ³ rotates a fourth spindle by which finally the
movement is transmitted through another spur, wheel n³ and pinion to the
spindle of the fly with wings o¹ (see Figures 3 and 5).
The stopping of the striking-train is effected upon the arbor 12 in the following
manner;
The said arbor 12 in addition to the pinion driven by the wheel n² carries a small
disc provided at a certain point of its periphery with a recess 2 of approxi-
mately semi-circular shape, Figures 3 and 5. In this recess a rod p Fig. 5
enters, carried by a lever p² which is pivoted at 23 upon the side of the clock-
frame, the said lever being forced towards the disc p by the action of a spring p
Fig. 3.
The lever extends beyond the rod p¹ in an arm p³, which, during the.
position of rest of the lever 3, that is to say, when the rod p¹ engages the recess
in the dise p, is in the path of the wings o¹ of the fly, so preventing this latter
from rotating.
Thus the striking-train is kept inactive both by the rod p₁ engaging in the
recess of the disc p and thereby acting upon the arbor 12, and also by the arm p
in contact with the wings of the fly.
If however the said lever is pulled rearward so as to move the rod p out of
engagement with the recess in the disc p, while at the same time the arm pis
moved away from the wings of the striking-train is enabled to move freely.
This rearward motion of the lever 2 is effected automatically at each quarter
hour, and it may moreover be effected at will in order to repeat the hour as will
be described hereinafter,

page_text: The striking mechanism is disengaged automatically every quarter hour by
the same toothed wheel b.
Below this wheel there is disposed the lever q pivoted at 2 and provided at the.
extremity of one arm with a stop q¹ Fig. 1 of triangular form but having blunt
edges, and engaging in the space comprised between two teeth.
A helical spring 73 acts to keep the stop q¹ in engagement with the teeth of the
wheel.
The other branch of the lever q is bent at right angles towards the interior
of the clock, and then upwards in the form clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5.
At the extremity of the said branch of the lever there is mounted upon a
pivot the pawl the free end of which is formed with a tooth ¹.
The pawl r bears against the rod pl of the lever 22 and is kept in contact there-
with by the action of a spring, which may be arranged as indicated by dotted
lines in Figure 5, the said spring being fixed at r³ to the branch of the lever g,
and bearing with its free end upon the pawl r.
It has been stated that the wheel b turns by one tooth at each quarter hour,
and it follows that at each quarter hour the stop g¹ pushed by the tooth of the
wheel should lower itself and give passage thereto and thus it becomes depressed
until it arrives at the point of the tooth, and then afterwards, owing to the
tension of the spring q³ it falls quickly into the space comprised between the tooth
just passed by and the next one.
During the first phase of this motion the lever inclines and the branch turns
upon the pivot q2 and in this manner a displacement of this branch takes place
in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5.
The pawl participates in this movement, and its end slides backwards over
the rod pl of the lever 2 into the position shown in Fig. 5. But as soon as the
stop q under the action of the spring falls back between the teeth of the
wheel b, the lever 9 returns at once into the position which it occupied during the
last striking operation: thereupon the rod 1 which has until now engaged the
recess of the disc p is pushed bacwards by the pawl and is obliged to leave the
said recess. These are the relative positions which the parts assume at the moment
when the striking is just about to commence, and as these positions may readily
be understood from Figure 5, which illustrates the parts during the periods when
the striking arrangement is not in action, it is not necessary to separately
illustrate the said relative positions assumed by the parts during striking.
The lever ² of course is pushed backwards with the rod pl and disengages the
striking mechanism by releasing the fly o¹ from the tooth 75, and also by releasing
the disc p, and thereupon the parts constituting this mechanism begin to move.
The arbor begins at once to revolve under the influence of the train, and the
rod is maintained for the time being in contact with the tooth or shoulder of
the pawl r, by the action of the spring pt. A pin s, provided upon the disc p,
however, during the rotation of the latter. lifts the pawl and thereby enables the
rod and lever 72 to move under the action of the spring p inwards so that the
said rod bears against the periphery of the disc and thus allows the rod p',
on the arrival of the recess in the disc 7 opposite to the rod p³, to re-engage there-
with without interference by the pawl rand so stop the motion of the striking
mechanism.
7"
Consequently each time the striking mechanism is started the arbor accom-
plishes a single complete revolution as before stated.
If it is desired to obtain the repitition of the hour the lever t at the upper part
of the clock is operated by depressing it.
This lever is formed as shown in the Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, it is
mounted-upon-the-pivot-and-with-its-lower-arm--pressing directly against the
lever p².
By depressing the said levert the lever på is forced rearward and the clockwork
is disengaged in the manner before stated and the striking is obtained.

page_text: - Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said. inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:—
1. A novel system of striking mechanism for clocks striking hours, quarter-
hours, chimes, and repetitions, characterized by the wheel b having 48 teeth and
which is moved by a disc a on the arbor of the minute hand in such a manner
that it revolves one tooth at each. quarter of an hour; by a snail wheel or cam c in
the form of a spiral rigidly connected with the said wheel b:-by.a lever e keyed
upon the spindle e¹ and kept in constant contact with the edge of the snail wheel c;
also by the system of the two levers ff supported by the spindle el and turning
with the lever e; by the special disc fast upon the arbor 12 of the striking-
train and provided upon its two faces with projections for actuating the levers f
at every quarter of an hour in such a manner as to operate the hammers i. of.
the two bells, and thus notify the time-by the lever q which, by its stop q¹
engages the teeth of the wheel 6, and which, through the intervention of the
pawl serves to start, the striking-train-and lastly by the lever t for obtaining
the repitition of the hours and quarter-hours, the whole operating in the manner
described and indicated in the, drawings.
2. In the striking mechanism claimed in Claim 1, the, particular construction
of the spirally formed disc or cam c and of the disc with its projections, and the.
combination of these latter in, such a manner as to obtain a progressive displace-
ment of the points g², g3, of the levers f³, f³, from the centre of the disc toward
the periphery for the purpose of effecting the chiming, in connection with the.
striking of the hours, quarter hours and repititions with a very limited number
of mechanical parts.
בד
1
i
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.