Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 18th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 18th Nov., 1887
We, HEINRICH STEINHEUER, JULIUS STEINHEUER, HEINRICH RABE and ECKARD
RABE, all trading under the firm of Hanauer Electrische Uhrenfabrik, Steinheuer and
Rabe, in the City of Hanau near Frankfort-on the Main in the Empire of Germany
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to apparatus for winding up the driving mechanism of clocks
having torsion and rotary pendulums.
In one form or modification of our Invention the electric winding-up mechanism for
clocks having torsion and rotary pendulums is arranged in combination with a rack,
whereas in another form or modification it is represented as acting directly upon the
shaft of the dial work.
The electromagnet is arranged immediately behind the clock work. The clock
work electromagnet and armature are insulated from each other; the latter two, that
is to say, the electromagnet and armature, are however in conductive connection
through a wire. The conducting wires extending from the electric element are so
arranged that one of them conducts the current to the clock work whilst the other
conducts it to the electromagnet or armature, accordingly there is as a rule an
alternating current, because as stated the electromagnet and armature are completely
insulated from the clock work.
The rack situated in the clock work upon the axis and arranged to turn in bearings,
is in gear with the pinion which actuates the dial work. With the rack is firmly
connected a lever which is bent above to an angle. Upon the same axis with the rack
is firmly arranged on a lever arm a weight which by its gravity causes the rack to
turn, whereby the pinion is set in rotation.
Instead of the weight, a spring can just as well be used for the purpose of turning
the rack.
With the armature upon its upper side, is firmly connected a lever
front end of which is arranged a pin placed at a right angle to the same.
arm, at the
This pin on

page_text: one side and the part of the lever which is bent to an angle, on the other side form the
contacts through which at the proper time, the circuit is closed.
The armature that is in firm connection with the vertical shaft is ordinarily kept in
position by a spring surrounding the shaft, and prevented from turning too far by a
small roller which is insulated.
These parts hereinbefore described operate in the following manner. The rack as
already observed, is caused by the weight, or by a spring under tension which
replaces this weight to make turning forward motion whereby a rotation of the pinion
and by this time the transmission of the motion to the pendulum and the remaining
parts of the work is effected. During this rotation of the rack which is gradually
performed, this rack passes finally to a position in which the lever comes in contact
with the pin thereby discontinuing the insulation established between the clock work
on one hand and the armature together with the electromagnet on the other, and
making the circuit. Owing to the making of the circuit the electromagnet becomes
magnetic and violently attacks the armature so that it strikes over a little to the
other side; during this swinging motion of the armature the rack is carried back to
the original position by the lever or pin firmly connected with this armature, the said
pin heing placed before the bent end of the lever which is firmly connected with the
rack. Immediately after this the armature is caused to swing back by the electro-
magnet that is still magnetic, in consequence of which the contact points again come
out of contact thus breaking the circuit again.
Simultaneously with this the electro-magnet loses its magnetic property and the
armature is now carried back again by the spiral spring surrounding the armature
shaft in which position it remains, until the rack is turned again so far by the
counterweight that the contact points touch each other, and again cause the operation
above described.
In another form or modification in which the construction is similar to that above
described but distinguished from it by greater simplicity the swinging motion of the
armature is at once directly transmitted to the shaft of the dial work, whereby the
number of the wheels of the clock work proper, excluding the dial work is reduced to
a single escapement wheel.
The electro-magnet and armature in combination with the sickle-shaped lever are
arranged in the same manner as above described. In lieu of the rack the double
armed lever is here placed upon the axis, whilst upon the shaft of the dial work the
escapement wheel is here arranged instead of the pinion. Immediately beside the
said escapement wheel are upon the same shaft, but adapted to turn upon the latter,
the cord drums which are rigidly connected with each other. From the cord upon
the first drum is suspended a weight, whilst the end of the cord upon the second
drum is connected with one arm of the double armed lever. The cords are wound
upon the said drums in opposite directions so that during the rotation thereof
one cord is wound upon the corresponding drum, whilst the cord of the other drum is
unwound therefrom and vice versa.
On the side of the drums which faces the wheel is firmly connected with them a
small spur wheel with which a pawl on the escapement wheel engages in such a
manner that during the revolution of the drums caused by the gravity of the weight
the said wheel together with the dial shaft must participate in this, whilst during the
opposite rotation of the drums caused by the turning of the double armed lever the
said drums turn loose upon the dial shaft.
The arm of the double armed lever which extends upwards, is bent to an angle at
its end, in like manner as with the ward rack and likewise the end of the sickle
shaped lever connected with the armature, so that on the assumption of certain
positions both levers bear with these bent parts against each other.
Upon the end of the axis, placed on the other side of the rear wall of the clock
frame, are fixed two discs, the former of which is made of ivory, vulcanite or any other
body not conducting electricity, whilst the latter consists of metal which is a good
conductor. The metal disc is of somewhat smaller diameter than the insulating
disc, in consequence of which the latter projects a little beyond the edge of the metal

page_text: disc. Both discs are firmly connected with each other and provided with a notch
into which during their rotation a metal spring connected with the cross bar engages.
The metallic cross bar with the said spring is arranged with regard to the other
parts of the clock so as to be completely insulated, and it is in connection with one
of the two conducting wires extending from the electric element. The other con-
ducting wire of the element leads to the clock, and therefore the part of the spring
which is bent to an angle in front, on one side, and the notch of the discs on the
other side forms a contact point. It may be observed that the notch of the metal
disc is somewhat smaller than the notch of the insulating disc, so that when the spring
engages into the notch, the end of the same which is bent to an angle comes in
contact at this point only with the metallic disc but not with the insulating disc
whereby complete contact is secured.
Instead of the weight a spring can, in a similar manner, be caused to act upon the
cord drums, and the latter can be set in rotation by the said spring without thereby
necessitating a further change in the construction.
The winding up mechanism operates in the following manner: The clock is wound
up, and by the gravity of the weight the dial shaft with the escapement wheel is set
in rotation. While. the cord is wound off from the first drum the cord set in connec-
tion with the double armed lever is wound upon the second drum, in consequence of
which the said lever makes with the said shaft a turn. As the spring is now with its
bent end upon the insulating disc, the circuit is interrupted. The discs arranged
upon one end of the armature shaft of course take part in the gradual rotation of the
double armed lever and the shaft in the direction stated, so that finally the notch of
the discs passes below the bent end of the spring. When this happens, the latter
springs into the notch, and comes in direct contact with the metal discs, contact being
thus established. By reason of the making of the circuit the electromagnet now
becomes magnetic and attracts the armature. The latter therefore makes the swinging
motion already described. The part of the sickle shaped lever extending perpen-
dicularly upwards bears against the part of the double armed lever that is bent to an
angle and, pressing the saine back, causes the said lover with the shaft to turn in a
direction opposite to the previous one, by which all the parts are brought back into
their original position. The discs also turn with the shaft, in consequence of which
the bent end of the spring presses again upon the projecting edge of the insulating
dise whereby as a further consequence an interruption of the current is caused. At
the same time the drums are set in rotation from the left to the right by the turning
of the double armed lever with which they are in connection by the cord from the
right to the left, the weight cord being wound upon the first drum and the weight
drawn up, whereby the requisite driving power is given to the dial work till the next
making of the circuit.
By reason of the connection of the escapemont wheel with the drums by the
ratchet wheel and pawl, the rotation of the drums from the left to the right has not,
as already stated any effect upon the escapement wheel and the dial shaft, whilst they
must take part in the reverse motion of the drums from the right to the left.
Now when during the gradual rotation, caused by the gravity of the weight of the
drums with escapement wheel and dial shaft the cord has nearly been wound from
the first drum accordingly when the clock has almost run down the circuit is made
again in the manner above set forth, in consequence of which the weight is then
wound up again. in both constructions the described operation is repeated again
and again, and the clock does not require either to be attended to or wound up long
as the power of the electric current lasts.
Dated this 16th day of Anant 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, HEINRICH STEINHEUER, JULIUS STEINHEUER, HEINRICH RABE and ECKARD
RABE, all trading under the firm of Hanauer Electrische Uhrenfabrik, Steinheuer,
and Rabe, in the City of Hanau, near Frankfort on the Main Germany 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
This Invention relates to apparatus for winding up the driving mechanism of clocks
having torsion and rotary pendulums.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the Figures of which
are hereinafter referred to.
In the form or modification of the said Invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 the
electric winding-up mechanism for clocks having torsion and rotary pendulums is
arranged in combination with a rack R whereas in the form or modification shown in
Figures 3 to 6 it is represented as acting directly upon the shaft of the dial
work.
For the sake of clearness in the drawings only those parts are shown which are
here principally concerned.
The electromagnet E is arranged immediately behind the clock work. The clock
work, electromagnet and armature are insulated from each other; the latter two, that
is to say the electromagnet and armature, are however in conductive connection
through a wire. The conducting wires extending from the electric element are so
arranged that one of them conducts the current to the clockwork whilst the other
conducts it to the electro magnet or armature, accordingly there is, as a rule an
alternating current because as stated, the electromagnet and armature are completely
insulated from the clockwork.
The rack situated in the clockwork upon the axis 0 and arranged to turn in
bearings, is in gear with the pinion B which actuates the dial work. With the rack R
is firmly connected a lever b which is bent above to an angle. Upon the same axis O
with the rack is firmly arranged on a lever arm a weight C which by its gravity
causes the rack to turn in the direction of the arrow shown, whereby the pinion B is
'set in rotation.
Instead of the weight C, a spring can just as well be used for the purpose of turning
the rack:
With the armature A upon its upper side, is firmly connected a lever arm K at the
front end of which is arranged a pin a placed at a right angle to the same. This
pin a on one side and the part of the lever which is bent to an angle, on the other
side form the contact through which at the proper time, the circuit is closed.

page_text: The armature A that is in firm connection with the vertical shaft D is ordinarily
kept in the position represented in Figures 1 and 2 by a spring surrounding the
shaft D, and prevented from turning too far by a small roller I which is insulated.
These parts hereinbefore described operate in the following manner.
Supposing they are in the position represented in the drawing, the rack R as
already observed is caused by the weight Cor by a spring under tension which replaces
this weight to make a turning forward motion in the direction of the arrow shown,
whereby a rotation of the pinion B and by this the transmission of the motion to the
pendulum and the remaining parts of the work is effected. During this rotation of
the rack which is gradually performed, this rack passes finally to a position in which
the lever comes in contact with the pin a thereby discontinuing the insulation
between the clock work on one hand and the armature together with the electromagnet
on the other and making the circuit. Owing to the making of the circuit the
electromagnet E becomes magnetic and violently attracts the armature A so that it
strikes over a little to the other side, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. During
this swinging motion of the armature the rack is carried back to the original position
by the lever or pin a firmly connected with this armature, the said pin being placed
before the bent end of the lever which is firmly connected with the rack R.
Immediately after this the armature A is caused to swing back by the electromagnet E
that is still magnetic, in consequence of which the contact points a and b again come
out of contact thus breaking the circuit again.
Simultaneously with this the electromagnet loses its magnetic property and the
armature A is now carried back again to the position represented in Figures 1 and 2
by the spiral spring surrounding the armature shaft D, in which position it remains,
until the rack R is turned again so far by the counterweight C that the contact points a
and 6 touch each other and again cause the operation above described.
Another form or modification in which the construction is similar to that above
described but distinguished from it by greater simplicity, is represented in Figures 3
to 6 in which the swinging motion of the armature is transmitted directly to the shaft
of the dial work, whereby the number of the wheels of the clock work proper
excluding the dial work is reduced to a single escapement wheel S.
The electromagnet E and armature A in combination with the sickle-shaped lever k
are arranged in the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
In lieu of the rack R Figures 1 and 2 the double-armed lever H is here placed upon
the axis O whilst upon the shaft of the dial work the escapement wheel S is here
arranged instead of the pinion B. Immediately beside the said escapement wheel are
arranged upon the same shaft, but adapted to turn upon the latter, the cord drums L
and L which are rigidly connected with each other. From the cord N¹ upon the
druin L is suspended a weight Q whilst the end of the cord N upon the drum L' is
connected with one arm of the double armed lever H. The cords N and N' are wound
upon the said drums in opposite directions so that during the rotation thereof one cord
is wound upon the corresponding drum, whilst the cord of the other drum is unwound
therefrom and vice versa.
On the side of the drums which face the wheel S is firmly connected with them a
small spur wheel with which a pawl on the escapement wheel S engages in such a
manner that, during the revolution of the drums L and L' caused by the gravity of
the weight Q the said wheel S together with the dial shaft must participate in this
movement whilst during the opposite rotation of the drums caused by the turning of
the double armed lever H, the said drums turn loose upon the dial shaft.
The arm of the double armed lever H, which extends upwards is bent to an
angle at its end, in like manner as with the rack R and likewise the end a of the
sickle shaped lever k connected with the armature A, so that at certain positions both
levers bear with their bent parts a and b against each other.
Upon the end of the axis O, placed on the other side of the rear wall of the clock
frame, are fixed two discs U and P, the former of which is made of ivory, vulcanite
or any other non conductor of electricity whilst the disc P consists of metal which is
a good conductor. The said disc P is of a somewhat smaller diameter than the

page_text: insulating disc U, in consequence of which the latter projects a little beyond the
edge of the metal disc P, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. Both discs are firmly
connected with each other and provided with a notch into which, during their rotation
a metal spring f connected with the cross bar t engages Figure 6. The metallic
cross bar T with the said spring fis arranged with regard to the other parts of the
clock so as to be completely insulated, and it is in connection with one of the two
conducting wires extending from the electric element. The other conducting wiro
of the element leads to the clock, and therefore the part of the spring f, which is bent
to an angle in front on one side and the notch of the discs P and U on the other side
forms a contact point. It may be observed that the notch of the disc P is somewhat
smaller than the notch of the insulating disc U, so that when the spring engages
into the notch, the end of the same which is bent to an angle comes in contact at this
point only with the metal disc P but not with the insulating disc U, whereby complete
contact is secured.
Instead of the weight Q a spring can, in a similar manner, be caused to act upon
the cord drums L and L, and the latter can be set in rotation by the said spring
without thereby necessitating a further change in the construction.
The winding up mechanism operates in the following manner; when the several
parts of the clock are in the position, shown in Figures 3 and 4 the clock is wound
up, and by the gravity of the weight Q the dial shaft with escapement wheel S is set
in rotation. While the cord N¹ is wound off from the drum L, the cord N set in
connection with the double armed lever H is wound upon the drum L' in consequence
of which the said lever H makes with the shaft O a turn in the direction indicated
by the arrows shown in Figure 3. As the spring is now with its bent end upon the
insulating disc U, the circuit is interrupted and as long as this lasts the armature A
occupies a position similar to that shown in Figure 2 in which it is kept by the
spring surrounding the armature shaft D. The discs U and Parranged upon one end
of the said armature shaft take part in the gradual rotation of the double armed
lever H and the shaft O in the direction stated, so that finally the notch of the discs
passes below the bent end of the spring f. When this happens the latter springs into
the notch, and comes in direct contact with the metal disc P, contact being thus
established. By reason of the making of the circuit the electro magnet E now
becomes magnetic and attracts the armature A. The latter therefore makes the
swinging motion already described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and passes
from the position indicated in full lines to that indicated in the same Figure by dotted
lines. The part a of the sickle shaped lever k, extending perpendicularly upwards,
bears against the part 6 of the double armed lever H that is bent to an angle, and,
pressing the same back, causes the said lover H with the shaft O to turn in a direction
opposite to the previous one by which all the parts are brought back into their original
position as represented in Figures 3 and 4. The discs U P also turn with the shaft O,
in consequence of which the bent end of the spring passes again upon
the projecting
edge of the insulating disc U whereby as a further consequence an interruption of the
current is caused. At the same time the drums L L are set in rotation from the left
to the right by the turning of the double armed lever H with which they are in
connection by the cord N, from the right to the left, the weight cord N' being wound
upon the drum L and the weight Q drawn up, whereby the requisite driving power is
given to the dial work till the next making of the circuit.
By reason of the connection of the escapement wheel S with the drums L and L¹
by the ratchet wheel and pawl, the rotation of the drums from the left to the right
has not, as already stated, any effect upon the escapement wheel S and the dial shaft,
whilst they must take part in the reverse motion of the drums from the right to
the left.
Now when during the gradual rotation, caused by the gravity of the weight Q, of
the drums with escapement wheel and dial shaft, the cord N₁ has nearly been wound
from the drum L and accordingly when the clock has almost run down, the circuit
is made again in the manner above set forth, in consequence of which the weight is
then wound up again. In both constructions the described operation is repeated

page_text: again and again, and the clock does not require either to be attended to or wound up
as long as the power of the electric current lasts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
An electric winding mechanism for clocks having torsion and rotary pendulums,
in which by the clock work, when nearly run down, the circuit is closed, the electro
motive power of which is used for winding up the weight or a spring which actuates
the clock work substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of October 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.