IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CLOCKS AND OTHER TIME-KEEPERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CLOCKS AND OTHER TIME-KEEPERS."
A communication from abroad by Arthur Ethelbert Hotchkiss, of Cheshire,
Connecticut. United States of America, Mechanic.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CLOCKS
AND OTHER TIME-KEEPERS." A communication from abroad by Arthur Ethelbert
Hotchkiss, of Cheshire, Connecticut, United States of America, Mechanic.
This Invention relates to clocks and other time-pieces, and several parts of the
said Invention are especially applicable to time-pieces which employ an internally
toothed circular gear-wheel to aid in transmitting the power of the spring to the
train of wheels or clock-movement.
The first part of the said Invention consists in constructing a clock-case back
with perforations, and combining therewith a plate which confines the spring to
said back, the said plate being provided with flexible claws, which pass through
said openings, and are bent behind the said back.
Another part of the said Invention consists in combining with a main spring a
fixed barrel having openings in its sides for the inspection of the said spring.
Another part of the said Invention consists in perforating the fixed end of the
main spring, and slipping it on a finger attached to the barrel or some other
motionless object, so as to be held firmly though easily removable.
Another part of the said Invention consists in combining a fixed internally-toothed
circular rack and a transmitting wheel with a clock-movement which always retains
the same position.
Another part of the said Invention consists in the substitution of an automatic
noiseless verge-like winding dog for the spring-pressed dog or click .commonly
used in time-pieces.
Another part of the said Invention consists in constructing the fixed rack with a
circular recess, which receives the pillar plate, so that both may occupy the

page_text: smallest possible space, and that said plate may be supported and braced by the
said rack.
Another part of the said Invention consists in constructing the adjustable weight
of the pendulum with a recess, guide plate, and spring, which tend to ensure proper
action.
Another part of the said Invention consists in constructing a clock with a hollow
internally screw-threaded winding hub, which extends through the back of the
case,
Another part of the said Invention consists in so constructing the centre shaft
and pendulum-adjusting nut of a clock, as well as its case, so that the pendulum
can be set and regulated from the outside of the case, and by the same key.
Another part of the said Invention consists in constructing a key in T-shape,
with a screw-threaded shank adapted to operate the winding hub, and a prismati-
cally recessed arm adapted to set and regulate.
Another part of the said Invention consists in constructing the back and bottom
of the clock-case in one piece, so that the works attached to said back can be con-
veniently inspected while working after the removal of the remainder of the said
case.
Another part of the said Invention consists in providing the front plate with a pin
which extends through a perforation in the dial plate to prevent the displacement
of the latter.
Another part of the said Invention consists in constructing the pillar-plate and
pillars in one piece, and providing the pillars with flexible tips which are passed
through openings in the front plate, and then twisted so as to bind said front plate
to the pillar-plate.
Another part of the said Invention consists in making the rack rotary instead of
motionless, and combining it with a train of wheels and an escapement.
Another part of the said Invention consists in making the hub, rotary disc, and
rack in one piece, or rigidly fastening them together so that they will rotate
together.
Another part of the said Invention consists in providing said rotating disc with
bracing and guiding plates, between which it turns.
Another part of the said Invention consists in the employment of bracing and
fastening arms, which extend from the pillars to the back of the clock-case, and aid
in supporting the works.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 represents a front perspective view of a clock constructed according to
this Invention, the dial, the dial-plate, and the front and sides of the case having
been removed.
Figure 2 represents a rear elevation of the back of the clock-case.
Figure 3 represents a rear detail view of the main spring and barrel.
Figure 4 represents a vertical sectional view in detail of the pillar-plate, the rack,
and some adjoining parts.
Figure 5 represents a face view of the pillar plate and rack.
Figure 6 represents a detail perspective view of the pillar-plate and front-plate
connected.
Figures 7 and 7 represent detail front and side views of my improved winding
dog and ratchet:
Figures 8 and 8ª represent detail front and side views of the dial-plate, and its
method of attachment.
Figure 9 represents a detail view of an improved key for winding, setting, and
regulating.
Figure 10 represents a detail view of an improved pendulum.
Figure 11 represents a detail view of the guide plate for the weight of the
same.
.
Figure 12 represents a detail view of the rack, transmitting wheel, and a pinion
on the centre-shaft.

page_text: .
Figure 13 represents a perspective view of a modification of the clock shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 14 represents a vertical section through the pillar-plate and the parts
behind the same in said modification.
Figure 15 represents a detail view of the rotating rack, disc, and hub in said
modification.
Figure 16 represents a detail side view of the pillar-plate, the transmitting wheel,
and the other plate to which said wheel is journalled in this modification.
Some of the Figures in detail are considerably enlarged.
I will first describe the devices shown in Figures 1 to 12 inclusive, in which like
letters designate the same parts.
A designates the back of the clock-case, and A' the bottom thereof, these parts
being made in one piece, so that the said bottom will support the back and the
clockwork attached thereto when the remainder of the case is removed.
struction allows the works to be conveniently exhibited while in operation (as shewn
This con-,
in Figure 1), and to be cleansed without removal from the case.
As it is sometimes necessary to remove the works for repairs I fasten them
detachably to the clock-case-back A by means of claws c, which pass through
openings a¹ in back A, and are bent behind the latter. These claws are the narrow
tips of flanges c², which extend rearwardly at right angles from the barrel-plate C,
inclosing the main spring B between said plate and flanges and the back A. These
flanges have square shoulders abutting against the back A on each side of each
claw or tongue c. The openings between said flanges are quite large so as to allow
inspection of the main spring while it is in operation, but said flanges and plate C
answer every purpose of a fixed barrel. When the flexible metallic claws c are
straightened plate C with all attached parts is easily removed.
The fixed end of mainspring B is slotted or perforated, and detachably but firmly
fastened to one of the flanges c by slipping or catching it upon a finger c² (Figure 4)
on the side of said flange, as shewn in Figure 3. The slot may be in the flange,
and the finger on the end of the spring. The other end of the said spring is
attached in any convenient manner to a hollow internally screw-threaded winding
hub G, which has a diminished forward extension that passes through plate C so
as to connect rigidly with a rotary disc F, which disc is concentric with plate C.
This disc carries excentrically a wheel E (Figure 12), which has a planet movement
about the centre-shaft H, and meshes both with pinion e on said shaft and with a
fixed internally toothed circular rack D, secured preferably to plate C. The
rotation of disc F and the double engagement last described causes the entire
train of wheels to operate. The train of wheels or clock-movement I is stationary,
the wheels having their bearings in the fixed pillar-plate J and the fixed front-
plate K. Hitherto in clocks using internally toothed gearing the clock-movement
has not been stationary, but the axes of the several wheels have been carried around
by a rotating disc. This construction compels the use of one bearing only for each
wheel, which arrangement is much less secure than that in which two bearings are
employed. Moreover the trains of wheels thus carried by a disc cannot be used
with pendulums. In my improved clock the transmitting wheel E is the only one
which changes its location, and in consequence the above objections are entirely
obviated.
The pillar-plate J is set into an inner annular recess of the rack D, so as to be
supported and braced by said rack, and is attached to front plate K by means of
tips j on the ends of pillars J, which tips pass through openings in said front plate,
and are twisted in front of the latter. When said tips are straightened said plates
J and K are easily separated. The dial-plate M is prevented from turning by a
oin L on said front plate, which passes through a hole m in said dial-plate. The
lial N is attached to said dial-plate M by an eyelet O formed in one piece with said
lial plate.
Q designates a pendulum, which is journalled on knife edges, and is provided with
n adjustable flattened weight or bob R. The rod R' of the said pendulum passes

page_text: through said weight R, and is provided with a guide-plate having a perforated lug 8,
Figure 11, which lug fits in a long vertical recess of said weight. Within said
recess around said rod, and between said plate and the bottom of said weight, is a
spring which tends to force said weight down against a prismatic adjusting nut 1,
which is placed on the screw-threaded lower end of said rod. By screwing said
nut up or down the action of the pendulum is regulated. This is done from outside
the clock by passing the prismatically recessed end t of one arm of a T-shaped
key T, Figure 9, up through a hole a² in the said bottom A¹ of the clock-case, and
then fitting said end t on said nut r, and turning it as desired. Plate S is provided
with wings 8¹, 8', which extend in front of the said flattened weight R, and prevent
it from turning. The object is to ensure regularity of oscillation.
This same end t of key T is passed from the back of the clock (for setting the
hands) through hub G, until it engages with the prismatic end of centre shaft H,
which enters the opposite end of said hub. The screw-threaded shank T¹ of said
key T is screwed home in said hollow hub G, and then turned still farther to wind
the clock. When the clock is wound up a few turns in the opposite direction will
free the key; thus the clock may be wound, set, and regulated from the outside of
the case, and by the same key.
To avoid the disagreeable clicking noise, and the resistance generally incident to
winding, I employ a verge-like dog U, Figures 7 and 7a, which engages with a
ratchet V on the centre wheel E¹ or the centre-shaft H. The impulse-pallet of this
dog is operated by the inclined faces of the teeth of this ratchet, so as to throw the
other pallet into such position, and hold it in such position that the catch on this
latter pallet will engage with the teeth of said ratchet on the first reverse movement
thereof..
In the modification represented in Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16 the rack rotates and
the transmitting wheel remains in one location. In said Figures A designates the
front-plate; B, the pillar-plate; C, the train of wheels journalled in said plates;
a, b, the hands; and D, the main-spring supported by clock-case back E. Its
attachment is by means of claws ƒ (as before) on the barrel plate F. O designates
the pendulum. The rotating dise G in this case carries the rack H, and has the
hollow spring-operated hub 9 attached to it at its centre, so that these three parts
G, H, g, all turn together. The transmitting-wheel K is in this case journalled
between a fixed plate J, parallel to disc G and pillar plate B. Said wheel preferably
has a bearing in each of said plates B, J, but may turn on a stud attached to said
plate J only. This transmitting wheel is not absolutely indispensable in this latter
modification, as a change in the construction of the other wheels or of one or more of
them may be easily made, which will cause the train of wheels to gear directly
with the rack, but the constructions and arrangements shewn are decidedly
preferable.
In the modification last described the rack may be made lighter than when it is
stationary and used to support the pillar plate and other parts. As the disc G turns
between plates F, J, it is braced and guided thereby. Fastening bars L rigidly
connect the pillars to back E.
It is obvious that many of the improvements described herein can be used on time-
pieces of different generall construction from that of the clock herein before described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim for the purposes above specified,---
First. In a time-keeper or time-piece the combination with a perforated clock-
case-back of a barrel-plate having flexible claws for attachment to said back.
Second. In a time keeper or time-piece the combination with a main-spring of a
fixed barrel having openings in its sides for the inspection of said spring.
Third. In a time-piece the combination of a main spring having a perforation o
finger near its fixed end, with a motionless piece having a finger or perforation for
engagement with a complementary device in the said spring.
:
U

page_text: Fourth. In a time-piece the combination of a fixed rack and movable trans-
mitting gear-wheel with a stationary clock movement.
Fifth. In a time-piece the combination with a suitable ratchet of an automatic"
winding dog thrown into proper retaining position by the forward movement of
said ratchet, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In a time-piece an automatic winding dog having a shape similar to that
of an escapement verge.
Seventh. In a time piece an internally toothed circular rack recessed to receive
and support the pillar-plate.
Eighth. In a time-piece a guide-plate in combination with a pendulum-weight
recessed to receive a spring, and adjusted by a nut, substantially as above set
forth.
Ninth. In a time-piece a pendulum-weight and adjusting nut in combination with
a suitable key and a perforated clock-case bottom, as above set forth.
Tenth. A time-piece having its pendulum adjusting nut and the prismatic end of
its centre shaft of the same size and shape, and located so that they can be reached
without opening the case, and operated by the same key.
Eleventh. A key having a screw-threaded portion for winding the main spring,
and a prismatically recessed portion for setting the hands and regulating the action
of the pendulum.
Twelfth. A clock-case back and bottom formed in one piece, and arranged to
support the works for exhibition when the remainder of the case is removed.
Thirteenth. A front-plate provided with a pin in combination with a dial-plate
perforated to receive said pin, as above set forth.
Fourteenth. In a time-piece a pillar-plate having flexible tips in combination
with a front plate having perforations to receive the same, so that said tips may be
twisted to fasten said plates together, or unfastened to set them free as desired, as
above specified.
Fifteenth. In combination with a main-spring and a pendulum or other escape-
ment a train of wheels and a rotating internally-toothed rack, substantially as above
described.
Sixteenth. A rack, hub, and disc, all rigidly connected and turning together, in
combination with the spring and works of a time-piece.
Seventeenth. In combination with a clock-movement and a rotating rack a
transmitting wheel which does not change its location.
Eighteenth. A rotating rack-carrying disc in combination with fixed plates, which
brace and guide it both in front and behind.
Nineteenth. In combination with the movement, main spring, and plates of a
time-piece bracing and fastening arms, which extend from the pillars to the back
of the case, and aid in supporting the works, substantially as above set forth.
Twentieth. In combination with a pendulum rod and adjustable pendulum
weight a spring arranged to force said weight down against the adjusting nut,
substantially as described.
Twenty-first. In combination with the adjusting nut of a pendulum a clock-case
botton, perforated as shown, and a key having a prismatic recess fitting said nut,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
W. ROB™. LAKE. (L.S.)