IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRIKING MECHANISM OF CLOCKS, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROducing the ALARM IN WHAT ARE KNOWN AS ALARM CLOCKS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur William Lovell Reddie, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRIKING MECHANISM OF CLOCKS,
ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROducing the ALARM IN
WHAT ARE KNOWN AS ALARM CLOCKS." A communication from abroad by
Henry Jackson Davies, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States
of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur William Lovell
Reddio at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th June
18SI.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
STRIKING MECHANISM OF CLOCKS, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PURPOSE
OF PRODUCING THE ALARM IN WHAT ARE KNOWN AS ALARM CLOCKS." [A com-
munication from abroad by Henry Jackson Davies, of Brooklyn, in the State of
New York, United States of America.]
This Invention consists mainly in so combining a musical device for producing a
tune with a clock that in addition to its function as a time-indicator the clock will
impart motion to the said musical device, and that in what is known as an alarm
clock motion will at any predetermined time be imparted to the musical device to
play a tune as an alarm instead of ringing a bell as in ordinary alarm clocks.
The Invention also consists in the combination with a clock movement and a
clock-case constructed with a hollow base of a musical device arranged upon said
base, and mechanism for actuating said musical device deriving motion from the
said clock movement.
The Invention also consists in the combination with a clock comprising a time-
train and an alarm-train of a musical device deriving motion from said aların
train.

page_text: In carrying out the Invention the musical device which it is proposed generally
to employ for the purpose of playing the tune, either at regular intervals or as an
alarm, consists of a series of spring-tongues, such as are commonly used in what
are known as musical boxes, and operated by a studded barrel; but any other
suitable musical device capable of being actuated by a clock-movement may be 5
employed instead of the spring tongues. It is also proposed either to drive the
train for actuating the musical device, which may bo termed the music train, by a
separate and independent spring or weight, or else and preferably to drive it by
the same main spring which actuates the time-train; and in order to effect the
actuation of the music-train and the time train by the same main spring, the 1
Invention consists in so combining a main spring with the time-train and
the music-train that the movement of the time train may be produced by the
uncoiling of the spring from one end, and the movement of the music train be
produced by the uncoiling of the spring from the other end.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th December 1881.
ARTHUR WILLIAM LOVELL REDDIE, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
STRIKING MECHANISM OF CLOCKS, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PURPOSE
OF PRODUCING THE ALARM IN WHAT ARE KNOWN AS ALARM CLOCKS." A com-
munication from abroad by Henry Jackson Davies, of Brooklyn, in the State of
New York, United States of America.
This Invention consists mainly in so combining a musical device for producing a
tune with a clock that in addition to its function as a time indicator the clock will
impart motion to the said musical device, and that in what is known as an alarm
clock motion will at any predetermined time be imparted to the musical device to
cause it to play a tune as an alarm instead of ringing a bell as in an ordinary
alarm clock.
The Invention also consists in the combination with a clock movement and a
clock case constructed with a hollow base of a musical device arranged upon said
base, and mechanism for actuating said musical device deriving motion from said
clock moveinent.
30
The Invention also consists in the combination with a clock comprising a time
train and an alarm train of a musical devico deriving motion from said alarm
train.
In carrying out the Invention the musical device which it is proposed generally
to employ for the purpose of playing the tune, either at regular intervals or as an
alarm, consists of a series of spring tongues, such as are commonly used in what
are known as musical boxes, and operated by a studded barrel; but any other
suitable musical device capable of being actuated by a clock movement may be
employed instead of the spring tongues and studded barrel.
It is also proposed either to drive the train for actuating the musical device,
which may be termed the music train, by a separate and independent spring or
weight, or else and preferably to drive it by the same main spring which actuates
the time train; and in order to effect the actuation of the music train and the time
train by the samne main spring, the Invention consists in so combining the main
spring with the time train and the music train that the movement of the time
train may be produced by the uncoiling of the spring from one end, and tho
movement of the music train be produced by the uncoiling of the spring from the
other end.
The accompanying Drawing represents only such parts of the clock as are
necessary to illustrato the Invention, all superfluous mechanisın being omitted for
the sake of clearness.
In the Drawing Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through a portion of a clock
caso, a side view of a clock movement, and a musical device deriving motion there-
from to operate as an alarm. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section at right angles to
Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line x, x, of Fig. 1, showing a back view of the clock
movement, a portion of one of the plates of the movement being broken away.
Fig. 3 represents a view of the side of the clock opposite to that shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 represents a section of the spring, drum, and appurtenances; and Figures 5
and 6 are detail views illustrating two positions of the stop motion of the music or
alarm train, which controls the duration of the playing of the musical device.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A designates the base of the clock case which is made as here shewn of metal,
and is hollow and closed for a purpose hereinafter mentioned; and B designates
the upright portions of the case, which may be constructed of any suitable material
and in any convenient way.

page_text: C, C¹, designate respectively the front and back plates of the movement; and D
designates the spring barrel, the construction of which will now be described,
together with the manner of securing and the mode of operation of the spring.
D' designates the main spring, and a its winding arbor to which the inner end
of the spring is secured, as seen in Fig. 4, while its other end is attached by a
hook a¹ or otherwise to the main wheel b, which is the primary wheel or driver of
the time train and is loose upon the arbor a, and upon the reverse side of the main
spring D' is the primary wheel or driver c of the music train; said wheel c is also
loose upon the arbor a, but is connected with the latter by or through a pawl c'
and a ratchet wheel a fast on the arbor a, so that while the wheel a' is free to
slip past the pawl c when the arbor a is turned to wind the spring it holds the
inner end of the spring to secure the action of the latter on the time train of the
clock.
This wheel is also
Another ratchet wheel d is arranged loose upon the arbor a.
controlled by a pawl d' pivotted to the plate C₁, so that it is free to slip past the
pawl while the arbor a is being turned to wind the spring, but which pawl d',
serves to hold the wheel d whenever a stud e on the fast ratchet wheel a³ comes
round as the alarm train is liberated, and strikes a stud e' on the ratchet wheel d.
thereby restricting the movement of the music train (which in the example shewn
is an ordinary alarm train), and the unwinding action of the inner end of the
main spring to the distance the stud e bas to travel in coming round from the
driving contact with the stud e' when winding up the spring, as shown in Fig. 5,
to its stopping contact with the stud e¹ on the reverse side of the latter, as shewn
in Fig. 6, after the music train has been actuated.
From the above it will be seen that the wheel b is constantly actuated, and
through it the time train by the uncoiling of the spring D¹ from its outer end and
that whenever the music train is released the wheel c will be turned to operate
the music train by the uncoiling of the spring from its inner end, the power of the
spring in uncoiling being transmitted through the ratchet wheel a and pawl c¹
upon the wheel c, and said wheel c will be turned and the music train operated
until the stud e on the ratchet wheel a strikes against the stud e' on the ratchet
wheel d.
The time train of the clock actuated by the wheel b is or may be the same as
in other clocks, and does not need any minuto description here, E being the
minute pinion, E the minute hand spindle, and E the last wheel of the hour
hand train, which derives its motion from a pinion E³, all as shown in Figs. 1
and 3.
The wheel c, which is actuated by the uncoiling of the main spring D¹ from its
inner end, engages with a pinion f upon the arbor f¹, and thence transinits motion
to the music train of wheel work G.
In the train G is a fly g, and the alarm train is held against movement by a
strip lever g', which obtrudes itself in the way of the said fly. The trip lever g¹
is composed of spring metal, or is acted upon by a spring, so that it has a tendency
to spring outward, but is held against such outward movement by a wheel f
mounted loosely upon the setting spindle g² and rotating in unison with the hour
wheel. The wheel f2 has upon its hub a cam, which engages with a pin g in the
setting spindle g², and at a predetermined hour the wheel f' is released by said
cam, and permits the trip lever g² to move outward to release the fly g.
Below the clock movement, but resting upon and above the case A, is a musical
device for producing a tune, here shewn as consisting of a barrel H' provided with
pins or studs and a series of spring tongues H. The barrel H is connected with
the alarm train by a wheel h upon the arbor of said barrel engaging with a wheel i
upon the arbor foutside the back plate C' of the movement. Hence it will be
seen that whenever the alarm train Ġ is released by the trip lever g' moving out
of the way of the fly g the alarm train moves, and motion is imparted to the
barrel H', producing the playing of a tune.
It will be understood that in the movement shown the alarm is sounded once

page_text: every twelve hours, as the clock cannot be wound without winding up the spring
for the alarm train as well on the timo train, but if it is desired to prevent the
sounding of the musical device I employ a pivotted lever or stop i (shewn in
Fig. 2), which may be turned from the back of the movement, so as to obtrude in
the way of the flyg or one of the wheels of the alarm train.
It will be readily seen that the musical devico needs no winding up whatever,
all that is necessary being to wind up the clock in the usual way.
The musical device might with equal advantage be connected with an alarm
train impelled by a separate spring or weight from the timo train, and the alarm
train might be released by any of the well known devices intended for such a
purpose.
The base of the clock case being hollow forms a resonant chamber, which
augments the sound of the musical device, and preferably has in its top an
opening A', as seen in Fig. 2, in which tho musical device is partly placed, and
which is closed thereby.
If desirable the musical device instead of being released by mechanism, which
may be set to cause the playing of the device at any particular time, may be
released at regular intervals, and thus servo the purpose of a striking device.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in
the Striking Mechanism of Clocks, especially Applicable for the Purpose of
Producing the Alarm in what are known as Alarm Clocks," as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained in what manner the same
may be carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim,—
First. The combination with a clock of a musical device for producing a tune,
and mechanism for actuating said device deriving motion from the clock, sub-
stantially as specified.
Second. The combination with a clock of a musical device for producing a tune,
consisting of a barrel provided with pins and a series of spring tongues, and
mechanism deriving motion from the clock for actuating said barrel, substantially
as specified.
Third. The combination with a clock movement and a clock case constructed
with a closed hollow base of a musical device arranged upon said closed base, and
mechanism for actuating said device deriving motion from the clock movement,
substantially as specified.
Fourth. The combination with a clock, comprising a timo train and an alarm
train of a musical device and mechanism for actuating said device deriving motion
from said alarm train, substantially as specified.
Fifth. So combining the main spring with the time train and alarm train that the
movement of the time train may be produced by the uncoiling of the spring from
one end, and the movement of the music train be produced by the uncoiling of the
spring from the other end, substantially as specified.
Sixth. The combination of the spring barrel D, the barrel arbor a, the wheels b, c,
the arbor f carrying the pinion f, and wheel i, the barrel H', the spring tongues EI,
and the wheel h upon the arbor of the barrel engaging with the wheel i, sub-
stantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur William Lovell Reddie, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year of
ARTHUR W. L. REDDIE. (L.S.)