Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 7th Apr., 1887
RESERV
J, JAMES ENRIGHT of 202 Holland Road Kensington Electrician do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide means of closing Electric circuits for
definite periods at particular times for such purposes as opening a valve to deliver a
supply of fluid, operating an alarm, etc.
In order to effect such purposes 1 take an ordinary eight-day clock and I attach to
it supplementary wheels and pinions according to any particular requirement. For
instance, suppose I require to discharge a stream of disinfecting liquid for 5 minutes
into a drain at the end of every 48 hours,-1 prolong the arbor of the hour hand
and attach to the prolongation after the manner of clock-gearing pinion and wheel
with leaves and teeth so related as to number that the new wheel shall revolve
once in 48 hours. This new wheel I shall call the contact wheel. Its circumference
is cut away except at the parts which are intended to make contact. Suppose it is
intended to close a circuit once during a revolution of this wheel for 10 minutes.
The outer part of the circumference of the wheel is cut away except at two positions
diametrically opposite. Two palls or springs are fixed so as to come in contact at
the proper time with the two uncut parts just mentioned. One at least of these
palls is insulated from the clock and each of them is connected to one of the
terminals of the circuit it is intended to close. Thus the circuit is closed as long
as the palls are in contact with the contact wheel. If it is required to close the
circuit more than once during the revolution of any contact wheel it is easily effected
by leaving the wheel uncut in another diameter. The extent of the uncut part
determines the time the circuit remains closed.
For obtaining the required motion of the contact wheel it is not necessary to work
from the hour-hand arbor, as any arbor more convenient as to position and time of

page_text: revolution may be utilized. The arbor carrying the hour-hand of the new 24 hour
clocks is at once available for carrying a contact wheel for closing circuits at
intervals of 24 hours. Several contact wheels may be attached to the same clock
each for a special purpose. For instance one may operate one or more Electrical
bells each in a different room, another may open a valve to water the flowers in a
conservatory and so on. The contact wheels are so fixed to their arbors that the
hour at which each closes its circuit or circuits may be easily altered from time to
time if required. The circuits so closed at particular times may be connected to
the ordinary Electric bell circuits of a house, one battery serving the double
purpose and also the wires of the bell circuit may be partly used for the circuits
closed by the clock.
1, JAMES ENRIGHT Electrician of 202 Holland Road-Kensington-W. 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide means of closing Electric circuits for
definite periods at particular times for such purposes as opening a valve to deliver a
supply of fluid operating an alarm etc.
In order to effect such purposes I take an ordinary eight-day clock and I attach to
it supplementary wheels and pinions according to any particular requirement. For
instance suppose I require to discharge a stream of disinfecting fluid for 5 minutes
into a drain at the end of every 48 hours, I prolong the arbor of the hour hand and
attach to the prolongation after the manner of clock gearing, pinion and wheel with leaves
and teeth so related as to number that the new wheel shall revolve once in 48 hours.
This new wheel I shall call the contact wheel. In obtaining the required motion of
the contact wheel it is not necessary to work from the hour-hand arbor as any other
arbor more convenient as to position and time of revolution may be utilized. The
arbor carrying the hour hand of the new 24. hour clocks is at once available for
carrying a contact wheel for closing circuits at intervals of 24 hours. Several contact
wheels may be attached to the same clock each for a special purpose.
For instance
one may operate one or more bells each in a different room, another may open a valve
to water the flowers in a conservatory and so on. The contact wheels are so fixed to

page_text: effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows the way in which Electrical contact is made and broken by the clock
when my object is to produce an intermittent current. A, B and C are supplementary
wheels placed at the back of the clock. A is geared up with the ordinary clock wheels
to revolve once in 24 hours. This wheel controls contact and I call it the contact
wheel. B revolves in one hour and I call it the hour disc. A and B are concentric,
but in parallel vertical planes and are approximately inch apart. B is larger than A
as indicated. They are fixed in the same manner as the dial wheels of an ordinary
clock. is the socket of A and d the socket of B. c is the central spindle. The
direction of rotation is shown by the arrow. D is a wheel revolving in 5 minutes
approximately. It is moved by the arbor t of what is known as the 3d wheel of a clock
movement. Its rim is smooth and sinuous. G is a light lever pivoted on an insulated
support n. The bossess and we attached to it slide over the smooth rims of A and B.
Either of these latter keeps its other extremity v from touching the contact plate k;
but when the notches in A and h in B coincide, the bosses s and w drop down
bringing the friction wheel m into contact with the rim of D. When m rolls on the
crests,, v cannot touch k; but when m rolls into the troughs z, z v then comes into
contact with closing the circuit. The binding screw i is connected to G exactly at
the pivot by a very delicate coiled metallic spring 7. The binding screws i and are
insulated and joined up to the battery and to the apparatus it is intended to operate.
and are platinized The time that the intermittent current lasts depends upon the
portion of the circumference of B occupied by the notch and may be made of any
required duration. The boss w by resting on the contact wheel (24 hour wheel)
prevents the closing of the circuit at the end of every hour. u and are the circuit
wires. For some requirements I make more frequent contacts by the use of a special
train of clock wheels driven by a special spring. The movement of this train is doubly
governed by pins in the minute wheel in front of the clock in the same way as the
striking train of a clock is governed; and by the contact wheel A. The pins in the
minute wheel liberate this extra train at any required intervals in every hour without
however producing movement as the contact wheel A may hold it. Pins are placed
in the contact wheel A to liberate the extra train during special hours, and accord-
ingly during these hours the pins in the minute wheel will operate. The makes and
breaks are then effected by a rapidly revolving sinuous wheel as above described.
Instead of the sinuous wheel I sometimes employ a revolving cam which engages the
friction wheel m at every revolution.
When the clock is large and powerful it will not be necessary to employ an extra
train and spring in order to effect a rapid make and break and 1 preferably use a
sinuous wheel carried on the arbor of the "scape wheel" or a special wheel with a
speed intermediate between the "scape wheel" and the 34 wheel.
When I dont require contact or an intermittent current during the whole time of
the revolution of the sinuous wheel I leave part of its rim plain and high enough to
keep from touching k.
When it is my object to use the clock for causing a continuous current for a definite
time I use the hour disc B directly and the sinuous wheel or other device is not
necessary. When the bosses s and g fall into g and h, v comes into contact with k
closing the circuit and it will remain closed until by the motion of the hour disc B
the bosses and g are again lifted up to their normal position. Sometimes I have
several rims connected to the hour disc B each operating a separate lever similar to G

page_text: but all are governed by the contact wheel A which may have any desired period of
revolution. Thus several circuits may be closed at specified times for different purposes
by the same clock. The number of notches similar to g and h in A and B'depends
upon the requirement.
Fig. 2 represents a double subsidiary cistern which I use when I require to deliver
a quantity of liquid drawn from a reservoir. a is the pipe from the cistern. bone
part of the subsidiary cistern d the other part of the same. is always full, and
of such shape and capacity that sufficient water flows into d to lift ƒ high enough
to open when the valve
e is open
When the circuit is closed the current
passing through the wires n, u¹ excite the Electro-Magnet e causing it to move the
lever and open the valve v. The liquid then flows into lifting the float and causing
the opening of the valve j to which it is connected by the bent rod pivoted at g.
The part then rapidly overflows and the liquid is carried away by the pipe m. and
through . to its destination. The part d also may overflow and the liquid is carried
by the pipe n. to h. When the circuit is broken the valve e is closed and d. is cut
away from b. d. then slowly empties itself through the small aperture k, the liquid
falling into h. The float then descends closing the valve j. remains full. The
opening of the valve e. fills d. notwithstanding the existance of the aperture k on
account of the small calibre of the latter. may thus fill a bath at a specified hour.
If from any cause sufficient fluid is delivered before the circuit is broken as for
instance the bath is filled, I arrange that a float in a small compartment of the bath
breaks the circuit by separating two insulated springs the contact of which (springs)
is necessary to complete this particular circuit.
Fig. 3 shows the bell which I use. The intermittent current which operates it is
produced by the clock (as already described) and not automatically by the current
itself. When the clock closes the circuit the Electro-Magnet e. is excited and draws m.
towards it against the spiral spring s. When the circuit is broken the hammer g.
strikes the gong. S keeps g. from touching A. The lever n. carrying g. is pivoted
at p. The blows struck on the gong can be regulated to any degree since the makes
and breaks are performed by the clock and so the full effects of a gong or other sounder
are brought out.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 indicate the arrangements I make when I wish to regulate the gas
supply to a house by the clock.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the main d. which supplies the house, the
tap G. in the open position, the handle b. and the gas chamber R at the back. w is a
pin in the back of the tap G.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section across the back part of the tap G. d is a conical plug
partly of soft iron carried by an arm pivoted at p. m. is a permanent magnet which
normally keeps the soft iron armatures* k. excited u and are electric conductors
going to the battery and clock. They are insulated from the metallic wall of the
chamber. and jare the apertures by which the gas enters the house.
Fig. 6 is a section across these apertures. Let us suppose that the gas is on as
indicated. When the time arrives at which it is arranged the gas shall be lowered,
the clock closes the circuit and the current, passing round the soft iron armatures k,
neutralizes the permanent magnet and so causes d. to fall and to close the aperture d².
When the gas is being put on, the handle b. must be pressed down until the pin w
(Fig. 5) lifts d. up to the armatures & which hold it until the circuit is once more
closed. The springs s (Fig. 4) brings the handle back to the open position. The
handle b. turns off and puts on the gas in the ordinary way, with the exception
already mentioned viz. that it must be pressed down against the spring s. so as to lift
the plug d. (Fig. 5) up to k. When it is required to turn the gas out in two
instalments it will be necessary to duplicate the arrangements with regard to the
pin w, the plug d, the armatures k, and the permanent magnet m. The second
armature which I shall call ¹ must be coiled so as to have opposite polarity to k.
when a current passes through them, simultaneously. Suppose it is required to turn
the gas completely out a quarter hour after it has been lowered I arrange that the
clock makes two contacts one later than the other by a quarter hour and that the.

page_text: current resulting from one contact shall be in the reverse direction to that resulting
from the other.
:
Fig. 6 indicates how this is effected. B is an hour disc of insulating material.
Two plates of metal s. and q. are fixed diametrically opposite so also are the
plates p and r The diameters in which these pairs of plates lie are at right angles
Four light springs a. b. c. d. press on these conducting plates as the wheel revolves.
Conducting wires are connected by binding screws as indicated to the poles of
the battery and to the springs a. and c. The terminals of the wires u and which
extend round the armatures are joined up with the other pair of springs as shown in
the drawing. The plates 7. and . are connected by a slender wire, likewise the
plates p. and s. by a wire. Let us suppose that at the beginning of an hour the
circuit is closed as indicated in the drawing. The current passes through coils
as indicated neutralizing one or other of the permanent magnets m. m², and inten-
sifying the other. One of the plugs must then fall and close one of the two apertures
by which the gas passes to the burners in the house. At the end of a quarter hour
the position of the plates is so changed that the contact they then make causes the
current to flow in the opposite direction and so neutralizes the other magnet and
causes the closure of the second aperture by which the gas enters the house. When
the plugs are in the apertures, contacts made by the clock as indicated do not affect
them on account of their distance from the armatures. The spring d. (Fig. 7) has
a lateral extension which rolls over the smooth rin of the contact wheel (24 hour
wheel) normally so as to prevent a closure and reversal of the circuit every quarter
hour. A notch in the contact wheel however allows such closure and reversal during
the hour it is intended that the gas should be lowered and extinguished.
When I desire to exhibit a visual signal Fig. 8 indicates the modified arrangements
which I adopt. is a float governing the delivery pipe d. in the ordinary way.
That is to say it closes the valve a when the water in b. stands at a suitable height.
The water stands in b. always at a level above the valve ». t is a perforated partition
which limits the lateral movement off, the conical float which operates the visual
signal. is a valve in all respects similar to v. in Fig. 2 and like it operated by
an Electro-Magnet e. k is a similar valve operated by the Electro-Magnet E.
and are conducting wires. If the Electro-Magnet e. be excited the valve vis
opened. dfills with liquid and raises which exhibits the signal. When the signal
is in its proper position the circuit exciting e is automatically broken in the manner
already described. The signal will remain exhibited as long as a retains its liquid,
but if the valve k. be opened by the excitation of E. the liquid escapes and the signal
is withdrawn. The circuit exciting e. is broken by the clock before E is excited. It
thus happens that successive excitations of the Electro-magneis e and E. for certain
short periods of time raise and lower the visual signal. These excitations may occur
for, and at any desired intervals of time; and in order to produce such successive
excitations, I use the clock as a current reverser in the manner already explained and
indicated in Fig. 7. At the place where the signal is operated I provide a polarized
Relay and connect it to the clock, which may be at any distance, as shown in Fig. 7
The coils on the Electro-magnets e. and E are connected to the Relay and to a local
battery so that when the current passes through the clock circuit in one direction e. is
excited when in the opposite direction E is excited. An ordinary current reverser
operated by the hand may evidently be used instead of the clock.
Large bells such as church or school bells are actuated by the stream of liquid
by means of the subsidiary divided cistern represented in Fig. 2. The stream passing
through causes the revolution of a water wheel which carries a cam on one side. This
cam encounters at every revolution a horizontal arm attached to a vertical spindle to
which the hammer which strikes the bell is fixed at its (the spindle's) upper extremity.
The vertical spindle which is suitably pivoted is thus made to turn a fraction of
a revolution each time the cam encounters it. The spindle and the hammer attached
is brought sharply back by a spring and the hammer is thus made to strike a sharp
blow on the bell at each recoil.
It is stated above that by the arrangements indicated in Fig. 2. a stream of fluid

page_text: of any required volume may be discharged from a reservoir. By the simpler
arrangement indicated in Fig. 8 a smaller stream may be delivered. In fact a stream
is delivered to the compartment d. I wish further to point out that the valve k
Fig. 8 if small enough may be left open and the Electro-magnet E dispensed with,
without materially interfering with the working of the signal. In fact it would very
much simplify its working as the float f. would then be raised in the same way
that in Fig. 2 is raised. One of the objections to the simpler method is the
waste of water.
Any other source of Electricity available may be used instead of a battery.
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 what I claim is
First. A clock for closing Electric circuits by means of a lever actuated and
controlled by 2 or more wheels of different periods of revolution substantially as
herein described.
Second. A clock which converts continuous into an intermittent current of
Electricity by means of a sinuous wheel or a cam either of which is controlled
by two or more wheels of different periods of revolution substantially as described.
Third. A reversing clock which, by means of a revolving disc of insulating
material carrying conductors, and fixed springs as indicated in Fig. 7 of the
Drawings periodically closes an Electric circuit and sends the current alternately in
reverse directions substantially as described.
Fourth. A bell-operated by an intermittent current,-the intermittency being
produced by a clock substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of a clock or other Electric circuit closer, a source of
Electricity, an insulated conductor, an Electro-magnet, and the divided cistern
represented in Fig. 2 of the Drawings for causing the flow of a stream of fluid
substantially as herein set forth.
Sixth. The combination of a clock or other Electric circuit closer, a source of
Electricity, an insulated conductor, an Electro-Magnet and the supplementary
cistern represented by b. Fig. 8 of the Drawings, for causing the flow of a stream
of fluid from a reservoir substantially as herein set forth.
Seventh. The combination of a clock or other Electric circuit closer, a source
of Electricity, an insulated conductor, an Electro-Magnet, either of the cisterns
represented in Fig. 2. or Fig. 8. of the Drawings and a reservoir of fluid, for
operating visual signals, large bells or other sounders substantially as herein
set forth.
Eighth. The combination of a clock or other current reversor, an insulated con-
ductor, a polarized Relay, a local battery, two local Electric circuits each containing
an Electro-magnet, the divided cistern represented in Fig. 8. of the Drawings,
to operate a visual signal substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination of a clock or other circuit closer, a source of Electricity,
an insulated conductor, a permanent-magnet with coiled armatures for closing a valve
by the completion of the circuit substantially as described.
Tenth. The combination of a clock or other current reverser, a source of Electricity,
an insulated conductor, two permanent magnets with coiled armatures to close one
of two valves when the currents flows in one direction, to close the other when
it is reversed substantially as described.
Eleventh. The modified tap with the projecting protuberance as represented in
Figs. 4 and 5 of the Drawings substantially as, and for the purposes herein
set forth.