IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOSCOPES FOR to be as SHOWING TIME AS INDICATED IN RAILWAY GUIDES OR TIME TABLES follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM GILLETT of the firm of Gillett & Co Clock Factory Whitehorse Road
Croydon in the County of Surrey Clock Manufacturer and Bell Founder do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOSCOPES FOR
to be as
SHOWING TIME AS INDICATED IN RAILWAY GUIDES OR TIME TABLES
follows:-
:-
•
"
My invention relates to improvements in chronoscopes for showing time as
indicated in railway guides or time tables by means of moveable figures on plates
or tablets actuated by clockwork mechanism the ordinary revolving hands or
pointers of the clock being dispensed with.
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to myself and Charles Bland dated
2nd January 1877 N° 29 the figures for showing time by chronoscopes were
arranged upon rotating drums the axes of which were either vertical or horizontal
actuated by clockwork mechanism to bring the figures in succession to the required
position to be exhibited at the proper time.
According to my present improvements the figures are formed by piercing them.
through metal or other flat plates which may or may not be connected together
each successive plate being brought into position (by clockwork mechanism) in
front of a glass or transparent or semi transparent surface (advantageously opal or
semi-opaque glass) in order that the figures may be clearly seen by daylight and be
illuminated by night.
By my improvements very much larger and more distinct figures can be
exhibited in less space than heretofore. A quick action is also obtained with a
small amount of force as the indicating plate which is visible remains stationary
whilst all the other indicating plates of the series are being continuously moved by
the clockwork and successively exposed at the precise time. The sudden action is
limited to two plates the visible one dropping by force of gravity and the next one
dropping into its place without motion in the others of the series.
The concussion of the two dropping plates is prevented by a counterpoise and
spring.
The indicating figures appear flat instead of convex and as there are no spokes
the figures can be conveniently illuminated by placing opal glass so that the plate
slides down in front of it-the figures being formed by a hole or opening in the
plate.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF CLOCKWORK MECHANISM FOR IMPROVED CHRONOSCOPE.
The time is indicated in hours and minutes by figures being successively
presented to view at one opening with a distinguishing mark between them, the
change occurring precisely at every 60th second; and the seconds are shown by an
ordinary hand and seconds dial.
The figures are formed on metallic plates which are hinged together in three
distinct series, or endless chains of plates indicating respectively hours, tens of
minutes, and units of minutes.
Each of these chains is provided with a triangular roller and axle over which the
plates can fold and freely travel-the axle of the roller is attached to the end of a
lever which is slowly raised and then allowed to drop suddenly by means of an
ordinary snail cam, or lifting pin in the clock movement. Two fixed clicks are
also provided which alternately engage with opposite angles of the roller as it
travels up and down, causing it to revolve in one direction only.
The three levers are fixed in a line so that when the rollers are in the lowest
position one of their angles will be against the top of the opening and their axles
will be on the same level; the series or chains of plates are placed over these
rollers so that the three plates indicating the time hang down against the opening
from the angle of the roller at the top; each series of plates with its roller and
lever being independent of the others.
In considering the action of these we will first take the series indicating tens of
minutes; this contains six plates, two of which hang down on each side of the
triangular roller connected by one plate across at the bottom and the other plate
resting on the top of the roller.
The plate at the opening and the front part of the roller on which it hangs are
prevented moving upwards by means of a click, yet they are allowed freedom in
descending; on raising the lever therefore the roller is caused to revolve round the
point held by the click, thus elevating the next plate which is on the top of the
roller until it is vertically over the one at the opening, and at the same time
moving all the other plates in the series except the one at the opening which
remains motionless.
In this way the motion of the figures will occupy ten minutes instead of one
second as in previous methods, the motive power of the clock will thus be
proportionately reduced and the wear and tear due to concussion and sudden action
of such heavy mechanism as would otherwise be necessary for large turret work
will be enormously reduced, especially so in the use of drums when double the
number of figures (vis 12 figures) are required for indicating the tens of minutes.
The roller having reached its highest position with the plate raised vertically above
the one at the opening and the plate below the opening being moved away (as
before explained) another click catches the angle of the roller which is furthest
from the opening and so prevents the return motion of the plates hanging
from it.
At the exact time the lever is allowed to drop by the clock, and as the roller
descends it revolves round the second click (just mentioned) thus causing the plate
at the opening and the one above it to fall with double the velocity of the roller,
and changing the figures with great rapidity.
Concussion is prevented by a counter-weight attached to the lever in such a
position that it comes into action during the descent of the roller and gradually

page_text: checks its motion so as to gently set the plates down on a cushion of leather,
rubber, or other soft material.
The plates connected with the angle of the roller which is held by the second
click of course are not affected by this action but at once resume their slow motion
for another ten minutes.
The two other series of plates for indicating the units of minutes and hours are
actuated in precisely the same manner as the tens of minutes series although they
contain more figures viz: 10 and 12 respectively.
The additional number of plates can be carried over another roller placed either
high up or low down according to where the space is most available or they may be
allowed to hang straight down either with or without an additional roller to remove
the plate next below that which is in the opening so that two plates only drop
together.
Or instead of rollers a pair of guides would be used for each series and the
plates would be provided with pins projecting from each end to slide along the
guides, each successive pair of pins alteruately dropping through and passing over a
notch in the guides as the plates fold together or by making another joint in each
plate the notch in the guide would not be required.
When it is desired to have illuminated figures they should be cut through the
plates instead of being painted on them, and opal glass placed close behind the
plates as already described in the specification of the Patent before referred to. It
is not necessary for the clock movement to be close to the dial as connections can
be made at any distance by means of ordinary cranks and wires.
In some cases it would be preferable to use a continuous band of linen or other
pliable material instead of the series of plates. Rods could be attached to the band
midway between the figures with their ends projecting to serve as guide pins; the
mechanism for moving these being the same as used for the plates.
4

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I WILLIAM GILLETT of the firm of Gillett & Co Clock Factory Whitehorse Road
Croydon in the County of Surrey Clock Manufacturer and Bell Founder do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CHRONOSCOPES FOR
SHEWING TIME AS INDICATED IN RAILWAY GUIDES OR TIME TABLES
" and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My Invention relates to improvements in chronoscopes for showing time as
indicated in railway guides or time tables or astronimical time by means of
movable figures on plates or tablets actuated by clockwork mechanism the
ordinary revolving hands or pointers of the clock being dispensed with.
In the specification of Letters Patent granted to myself and Charles Bland dated
2nd January 1877 N° 29 the figures for showing time by chronoscopes were
arranged upon rotating drums the axes of which were either vertical or horizontal
actuated by clockwork mechanism to bring the figures in succession to the required
position to be exhibited at the proper time.
According to my present improvements the figures are formed by piercing them
through metal or other flat plates which may or may not be connected together
each successive plate being brought into position by clockwork mechanism in front
of a glass or transparent or semi-transparent surface (advantageously opal or semi-
opaque glass) in order that the figures may be clearly seen by daylight and be
illuminated by night.
By my improvements very much larger and more distinct figures can be
exhibited in less space than heretofore. A quick action is also obtained with a
small amount of force as the indicating plate which is visible remains stationary
whilst all the other indicating plates of the series are being continuously moved
by the clockwork and successively exposed at the precise time. The sudden action
is limited to two plates the visible one dropping by force of gravity and the next
one dropping into its place without motion in the others of the series.
The concussion of the two dropping plates is prevented by a counterpoise and
spring or cushion.
The indicating figures appear flat instead of convex and as there are no spokes
the figures can be conveniently illuminated by placing opal glass so that the plate
slides down in front of it-the figures being formed by a hole or opening in the
plate.
This improved arrangement also affords convenience for cleaning and access to
the parts for repair or otherwise.
Complicated click actions coupling of all the drums as in previous arrangements
of mechanism for this purpose are dispensed with.
By means of my improved chronoscope the indicated time can be seen at a far
greater distance than by the ordinary hands and dial plates of clocks at present
used.

page_text: The time is indicated in hours and minutes by figures being successively
presented to view at one opening with a distinguishing mark between them, the
change occurring precisely at every 60th second; and the seconds are shown by
an ordinary hand and seconds dial as shown by Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings
annexed.
The figures are formed on metallic plates A. B. C. which are hinged together in
three distinct series, or endless chains of plates indicating respectively hours, tens
of minutes, and units of minutes as represented by Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the
drawings.
Each of these chains is provided with a triangular roller 6 and axle b¹ over
which the figure plates can fold and freely travel. The axle 6 of the roller is
attached to the end of a lever d which is slowly raised and then allowed to drop
suddenly by means of an ordinary snail cam, or lifting pin in the clock movement.
Two fixed clicks e and fare also provided which alternately engage with opposite
angles of the roller as it travels up and down, causing it to revolve in one direction
only.
The three levers for each chain of figure plates are arranged in a line so that
when the rollers b are in the lowest position one of their angles will be against the
top of the opening # and their axles 61 will be on the same level. The series
or chains of plates A. B. C. are placed over these rollers b so that the three
plates A. B. C. indicating the time hang down against the opening g from the angle
of each roller at the top. Each series of figure plates A. B. C. with its rollers b
and levers d are independent of the others.
In considering the action of these figure plates first take the series indicating
tens of minutes; this contains six plates, two of which hang down on each side of
the triangular roller b connected by one plate across at the bottom and the other
plate resting on the top of the roller b.
The plate at the opening g and the front part of the roller b on which it hangs
are prevented moving upwards by means of the click e yet they are allowed
freedom in descending; on raising the lever d therefore the roller b is caused to
revolve round the point held by the click f thus elevating the next figure plate
which is on the top of the roller b until it is placed vertically over the one at the
opening g and at the same time moving all the other plates in the series except the
one at the opening g which remains motionless.
In this way the motion of the figures will occupy ten minutes instead of one
second as in previous methods, the motive power of the clock will thus be
proportionally reduced and the wear and tear due to concussion and sudden
action of such heavy mechanism as would otherwise be necessary for large turret
work will be enormously reduced, especially so in the use of drums when a larger
number of figures are required for indicating the tens of minutes.
The roller b having reached its highest position with the next figure plate of the
series raised vertically above the one at the opening g and the figure plate below
the opening g being moved away (as before explained) the click f catches the angle
of the roller b which is furthest from the opening g and so prevents the return
motion of the figure plates hanging from it.
At the exact time the lever is allowed to drop by the clockwork and as the
roller 6 descends it revolves round the second click ƒ (just mentioned) thus causing
the figure plate at the opening g and the one above it to fall with double the
velocity of the roller, and thus changing the figures with great rapidity.
Concussion is prevented by a counter-weight h attached to the lever d in such a
position that it comes into action during the descent of the roller b and gradually
checks its motion so as to gently set the figure plates down on a cushion of leather,
rubber, or other soft material i

page_text: The figure plates connected with the angle of the roller b which is held by the
second click of course are not affected by this action but at once resume their
Blow motion for another ten minutes.
The two other series of plates for indicating the units of minutes and hours are
antuated in precisely the same manner as the tens of minutes series although they
contain more figures viz,-10 and 12 respectively or other numbers as the case
may be.
The additional number of figure plates can be carried over another roller placed
either high up or low down according to where the space is most available or they
may be allowed to hang straight down either with or without an additional roller
to remove the plate next below that which is in the opening g so that two figure
plates only drop together.
Or instead of rollers b a pair of guides may be used for each series and the
figure plates would be provided with pins projecting from each end to slide along
the guides, each successive pair of pins alternately dropping through and passing
over a notch in the guides as the figure plates fold together, or by making another
joint in each plate the notch in the guide would not be required.
'When it is desired to have illuminated figures they should be cut through the
plates instead of being painted on them, and opal glass or other semi-transparent
material placed close behind the plates as already described in the specification of
the Patent before referred to. It is not necessary for the clock movement to be
close to the dial as connections can be made at any suitable distance by means of
ordinary cranks and wires.
In some cases it may be advantageous to use a continuous band of linen or other
pliable material instead of the series of figure plates as previously described. Rods
could be attached to the band midway between the figures with their ends
projecting to serve as guide pins; the mechanism for moving these being the same
as used for the plates.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I make
no claim to any of the parts separately which are well known and in common use
but what I claim is
First. The improved arrangement and construction of chronoscopes in which
⚫ one or more series of flat plates perforated with numerals figures or characters are
arranged so that they can be moved successively into position to be exhibited and
illuminated at night by means of a semi-transparent material and artificial light
placed behind substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before
described and represented in the drawings annexed.
I also claim the arrangement of mechanism employed for moving all the plates
for exhibiting figures or numerals slowly and continuously except those on the
plate presented to view at the opening which plate remains motionless until the
exact time for it to be exchanged for exhibiting the figures on the succeeding plate
'substantially as described and shown in the drawings annexed.
Second. I claim the mechanism and means employed for exchanging the figured
plates at the opening suddenly without imparting this sudden action to the other
plates of the series the mechanism being arranged to act substantially as described
and represented in the drawings annexed.