Improvements in the Propulsion of Clocks and Kindred Light Machinery.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 29th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Propulsion of Clocks and Kindred Light
Machinery.
DAVID SHERLOCK, Rohan Lodge Tullamore, Barrister at law JOHN ESHELBY 5 Eden
Quay Dublin Chronometer Maker Electrician &c. do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
For the rewinding of clocks or other light kindred machinery usually propelled by
weights or springs we propose to apply a light weight, this weight being in itself
an electric motor, and connect it with the escapement end of the train, where
its weight would be sufficient, and would more quickly run down, but it would
at a certain point put itself in motion, and raise itself again to the top, without
relinquishing its functions as a weight, being connected by an endless cord to the
machinery. This may be applied to existing machinery with only the addition of one
pulley or barrel.
On the 3rd 4th or any suitable arbour of a clock we mount a barrel or roller, the
surface may be ruffed, discarding the train wheels, barrels &c. beyond the centre
wheel over the roller we pass a few turns of an endless cord preferably long enough to
extend to each side and down the back of the case, a pully or roller guiding at each
corner or angle; on one of the sides the cord is passed over a turn or two of a similar
roller to the one on the arbour when this is done the line should be taught, this roller
is fitted on a spindle connected by speed reducing gear to a multipolar electric motor,
preferably having an odd number of coils on rotating armature and even fixed ones,
arranged to start on any point and run with very low E.M.F. or an ordinary electric
trembling bell armature and coils, propelling a five ratchet wheel, locked by a
permanent click, from dropping backwards, as in a pedometer, the armature would be
instead of the pendulum. In either case the motor would be suspended from its barrel
by the vertical section of the endless cord and guided by two vertical brass rods, one
running through an insulated contact piece, the other in contact with the frame; on
the insulated one of these would be mounted a lever representing a section of a start-
wheel, with single point projecting beyond the side of motor, which would, on the
motor ascending to the top, engage a pin fixed for that purpose and jump the double
end a tooth, breaking the contact; on the machinery working it down, a corresponding
pin in the lower part would act the reverse again restoring the current, not gradually
but perfectly on start piece jumping. The striking of a clock could have the weight
or endless cord barrel fixed on one of the train wheels near the fly, strike in the usual
manner, but if electrical striking is used from the going train we use the usual shaped
bell, inside which is permanently fixed to the top an armature, which may be wound as
a core or not, this would be fixed to the bell by a pillar or support coming down, to
above the centre of gravity, of the bell, and terminate in two inverted V bearings, that
would rest on pivots, projecting from an electro magnet forming the stand, aud on
which the clapper would be a fixture; the bell would move on the bearings, instead of
being suspended from above, and if used with trembling contacts, the method of
suspention near the centre of gravity would cause the vibrations to be made rapidly
and not synchronising with pendulous character of large electric bell hammers
suspended from the armature. For a musical box the motor may be used fixed and
with endless cord from rotary armature to the fly doing away with mainspring. For
large turret dials we prefer to use a small movement with a contact piece on minute
hand and 60 similar ones insulated separately on the small dial corresponding with
60 electro magnets on the outside rim or in a contracted ring at the back of the dial,
in the latter case a balance piece on minute axis would take place of minute hand.
The minute hand or balance piece would be in itself an extended electro magnet

page_text: furnished with a bolt at extremity arranged to withdraw while current lasted and
otherwise lock in a slot in corresponding electro magnet or rim. The line between
small contact dial would finally be closed by a seconds hand contact for a second or
two only by which current would be passed through large hand & the succeeding
minute coil, unlocking detent or bolt and the current in the armature and polarity of
electro magnet on rim being opposite the hand would be attracted forward one minute,
for instance supposing the hand showed 15 when the current through normal clock
contact closed this would excite current in the 16th minute rim electro magnet and
minute hand armature & they would be drawn together, at the same time a bolt
armature arranged on the electro magnet would by the current project forward
two prongs at the outside limits of 16th & 16th minutes on the rim preventing
any sudden pressure of wind carrying the hand out of the limit of magnetic field
when the first bolt was withdrawn, practically banking the minute hand between the
two minutes.
Dated this 95th day of T... 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Propulsion of Clocks and Kindred Light
Machinery.
We DAVID SHERLOCK Barrister at law, Rohan Lodge Tullamore and JOHN
ESHELBY Chronometer Watchmaker & Electrician 5 Eden Quay Dublin 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:—
Fig. 1. represents our method for rewinding clocks by electric motor, looking from
the front; D' is a small drum or bobbin on the arbour of 3rd 4th or other suitable
wheel P P P³ are 3 pulleys fixed in a plane, and arranged to allow an endless cord
to pass round each and the drum; P' on the same level as the drum at the side of
clock case P & P³ at the bottom underneath D₁ and P¹ in vertical line; D' is a
similar drum to D₁ mounted on an arbour and connected by a train of reducing wheels
(shown in detail at Figs. 4 and 5) to the axis of a multipolar motor, on which it is
fixed; the endless cord takes a turn or two round D1 and D2 but only over the pulleys
to guide and keep it taut.
It is obvious that when the motor would be at the top of the case it acting as a
weight would descend, a ratchet on the arbour, preventing wheel work moving
backwards; the descent is steadied by 2 metalic guide rods G₁ and G Fig. 1. which
pass through two vertical tubes on the motor T and T2 Figs. 1 and 2; one of these
tubes T is insulated from the frame of motor by an ebonite or other non-conducting
base a light spring is fixed to each tube, to slightly press each guiding rod, preferably
with a small roller, to avoid friction and yet insure good metalic contact; as the line
to battery is made through the rods either as shown in Fig. 1, where a detent E on a
spring-tight joint is fixed to the insulated tube T¹ and extends across underneath
beyond the other guide rod, so that when the motor has nearly reached the bottom of
the case, the projecting point of this detent engages a point fixed on the case H¹ Fig. 1,
and the downward motion raises the point of the detent, which in turn engages a
spring contact fixed to insulated block F Fig. 1 forming the terminal of insulated
coils &(Fig. 2) which are connected to each other and to F; makes good the
circuit, starting the motor into action, which winds it up until the detent point
engages H2 Fig. 1. projection in upper part of the case: the detent is lowered until
contact is broken, when action stops. Or as in Fig. 3. where a little mechanism is
used to effect this purpose efficiently, always insuring a good contact; F and T are
permanently joined for this; the break being on the outside, not on the motor.
A small electro magnet K Fig. 3 with a pawl at the outer extremity of armature is

page_text: fixed to the upper wooden cross bar, which holds the guiding rods, and fixing together
a small ratchet R of eight teeth and start wheel S of the same number, pivot them
where the pawl will be able to engage ratchet; from the same axis also is extended
a 4 pointed star or cross M Fig. 3 coincident with every alternate tooth of start wheel,
or four pins projecting in concentric radius, parallel to axis, from the back of the
start wheel, but for convenience of illustration shown in Fig. 3. as first described.
J is the start wheel jumper so constructed that when the pawl lifts forward the wheels
a half tooth the jumper completes the remainder instantaneously.
In contact with one of the guiding rods and in position to be engaged by the 4 pins
or points is mounted a spring contact piece L' and an insulated piece L³ the former
spring is engaged by points M. M. M. each alternate movement of start wheel, breaking
contact with L one time and making the next; when contact is made L' and L
completes the line from one conducting rod to the battery terminal A, the other is
joined direct N. Z; one terminal of electro magnet (K Fig. 3) is joined to, L' Fig. 3
the other is fixed to contact spring R2 and through rod insulated, terminates in a
contact piece on lower cross head R, above which is a spring contact R³, fixed to
lower part of rod N, which when brought into contact by descent of motor, completes
circuit A. L' K. R' R' N and Z exciting electro magnet K moves the start wheel one
tooth, and disengaging pin M from spring contact L' it completes the line A. L¹
through motor to N and Z starting the motor into action it winds itself up until the
top of the motor frame pressing together spring contact R³ and R' Fig. 3, puts electro
magnet K into action, revolving the start wheel one tooth forward, engages the contact
spring L with pin M breaking the circuit and stopping the motor. Or we may use a
similar start wheel action mechanically, attached to the insulated block F Fig. 1 & 2
the fixed projection in this case would be a pawl H' & H2 would engage the points
of start wheel, the back spring, allowing the motor to go forward from the lower, or
back from the upper one, without again reversing the start wheel and the line between
insulated block F. and insulated tube would be made and broken by action of start
wheel on contact spring, all of which would be on the motor.
When therefore contact is made between F and T Fig. 2 the current would pass
from the battery through T' & F, which is joined to the same terminal of each of the
coils CCCC, the other terminal of each is joined to the respective brushes, the
three smaller coils on armature, are joined one terminal to the metal frame, and
the other respectively to insulated pins, X X X through one end of the armature, in
equal spaces and concentric; which lifts each brush, the end selected must be that
giving opposite poles to the outer coils with same current; it will be seen that the
current entering by insulated tube T passing through break to F, would be passed
through any of the brushes, (after exciting coil,) that would be in contact with a pin,
and passing through the coil of the armature (exciting it favourably for attraction) to
the outside coil first mentioned, and in advance of it, would pass to the frame, and then
the opposite pole to the battery by the tube T being in metalic contact with frame,
this would cause the revolving armature to move forward, and when attracted fully
opposite the large coil would break contact, the position of pins and brushes show that
in diagram 3 one contact C B & C has been completed, the coils being abreast and
pin leaving brush; the next C B & C is in full contact and coils approaching each
other, while C3 B3 and C is about commencing; the other brush B2 is quite out of
contact, therefore, no more than 2 pairs can ever be in contact together, one pair must
always be in attraction and no dead point exist: the armature will always revolve with
rapidity when current is passed through.
We prefer to construct the coils with double cheeks, as in Fig. 6 the soft. iron cheek
being brought slightly over the edge to increase surface, without adding much weight.
We may also use as a motor, coils and reciprocating armature, working round a fine
ratchet wheel kept from dropping backwards by a click, and revolving the drum. The
same arrangement may be used on the striking side of a clock. The endless cord
acting on a pully on one of striking train wheels near the fly, in the same manner
as on the 4th going train exactly, doing away with mainspring. Any sized tower
clock may be treated in similar manner, that is by a motor as described working an

page_text: endless cord of suitable size, or by a small clock so actuated. driving by minute
currents any sized dial and hands and arranged as follows; the small governing
clock having a dial with 30 insulated contact pins in respective minute mark
between 0 & 30 minutes Fig. 7 and a double minute hand in one line E. E Fig. 7
from same centre points in diametrically opposite directions, and a contact spring W
(insulated from dial) with corresponding point W² a projecting nib or pin, Y Fig. 7
is arranged over the seconds pivot, so as to complete current when the pin falls into a
notch made in periphery of a disc on the seconds pivot of small clock. The turret or
large dial would be furnished at the back with 30 or 60 electro magnets at minute
divisions 0, 0, 0, 0, &c. and armature A A Fig. 7 the diameter of this circle would
depend on the size required for each electro magnet: the armature may be of brass or
metal connecting together 2 electro magnets as at Fig. 8 which would fit nicely into
the circle of electro magnets, the point of the revolving armature would be a little
broader than one of the inner faces of minute electro magnets, as seen Fig. 9 Q and
the sides are applied as at A Fig. 8 to the back of minute electro magnet; this would
carry on the top a fork the prongs (ff Figs. 7 8 & 9) of which, would be outside the
centre of the magnet it is fixed to, and the preceeding one, and projecting beyond the
face so as to engage the stud when drawn forward and would act as follows;
the large armature being set to correspond with the small dial would be firmly secured
from moving by the bolts Figs. 7. 8. & 9; on the small dial making contact at the
succeeding minute bolts would be withdrawn, and fork ff projected, and the
armature simultaneously advanced one minute by the preceding electro magnet
becoming excited; when the contact ceased the bolt B would be projected by its spring
and engage the sides of the magnet it had been drawn to and the banking fork ff
recede at the same time, its use being to prevent any pressure of wind carrying the
armature out of its place.
The line would be as follows. One battery terminal would be connected to insulated
spring W and W2 would be connected to the minute hand by metalic dial, each
minute insulated contact piece with wire to its respective electro magnet 0.0.0.0. &c.
in large dial and from it to the opposite one say 0 to 30 1 to 31, which would be
connected to a general wire after passing through the coil a spring contact to
insulated collar on the axis and from there through each coil of armature thence to
metalic armature the frame of which would be connected to the other battery pole,
when only 30 magnets would be used the line would proceed from 1st magnet directly
to the insulated armature contact. The minute hand would be on the same axis as
the large armature only on the front of the dial and from it by motion wheels the
hour hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is―
1. The combination of electric motor, with drums and endless cord substantially as
described for self winding clocks.
2. The make and brake arrangement of start wheel mechanism in combination with
electric motor substantially as described.
3. The combination of minute contacts with the large turret armature and electro
magnets substantially as described.
4. The electro magnet bolts and banking fork in combination with armature and
minute coils substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of April 1890.
DAVID SHERLOCK.
JOHN ESHELBY.