IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME CONTROLLING SYSTEM
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Franklin Gardner of the city and County of
Baltimore in the State of Maryland one of the United States of America for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME CONTROLLING SYSTEM"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Franklin Gardner
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1883.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN GARDNER of the city and county of Baltimore, in the
State of Maryland, one of the United States of America IMPROVEMENTS IN
TIME CONTROLLING SYSTEM '
33
My invention relates to a system for automatically controlling clocks and
sending time signals. The object of my invention is the correction of clocks to
their local or other time, as may be desired, by signals from an observatory, and
consists in a standard mean-time clock, a primary transmitting or control clock,
series of secondary controlled clocks and controlling clocks and a series of controlled
local clocks, the transmitting clock containing means for sending preliminary
signals and mechanism for controlling the system of clocks.
It further consists of a system for transmitting time signals and setting to correct
local time, clocks on different meridians from a standard clock, whose daily error is
determined by astronomical observation. It embodies such standard clock, a signal
transmitting clock independently actuated, a chronograph for comparing the standard
and transmitting clocks, circuit opening or closing devices in connection with the
transmitting clock for giving preparatory signals and for actuating synchronizing
devices on the secondary clocks in electric circuit and having devices whereby
the hands may be set to noon or correct local time by the proper signal from the
transmitter and a series of local clocks similarly connected in circuit with the
secondary clock so as to be set thereby to their proper local time through the
signals from the primary transmitter.
It further consists in certain mechanism and details which will be fully set forth
in the specification and pointed out in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 represents a standard, mean-time clock, a chronograph and a transmitting
and control clock in observatory circuits. Figure 1 is an elevation partly in

page_text: section of a transmitting and controlled clocks einbraced in my system of clock
control and time signaling mechanism. Figure 2 a side elevation of the repeater,
the time signaling mechanism and the means for automatically setting the seconda,
minute and hour hands of the control clock to a zero point. Figure 3 a section
of an axial magnet, and the cam actuating lever having secured therewith an
armature core. Figure 4 a side elevation of the signal repeater Figure 5 a
side clevation of the dial train and cam actuating mechanism. Figures 6 and 7 a
side and front view respectively of the circuit breaking springs and wheel for
transmitting the primary and controlling signals. Figures 8 and 9 side elevations
of modifications of the mechanism shown in Fig, 5. Figure 10 a plan view of
the repeater. Figure 11 is an elevation showing slight modifications of the dial
mechanism. Figure 12 a detail view of the cam actuating lever. Figure 13 a
section on line Figure 11. My system of sending time signals and controlling,
begins with a standard mean time clock whose error is determined daily such as
the standard time clocks at the United States Naval Observatory. The standard
clock is in a local circuit with a chronograph electrically connected with a
transmitting clock as shown in Fig: 1. "Heretofore the transmission of time
signals has been accompanied by many errors arising from defects in the mechanism
and system.
Cities, railways, steamship-lines, factories and large commercial establishments
want and require a standard-time system. Many ways have been devised for this
purpose. Electric, pneumatic, and other clock or time indicators having both
pneumatic and electric movements have been tried. These are what are known as
"dead" clocks, that is, clocks actuated by currents only having no maintaining
power within themselves. Moreover in the use of all such devices, and other
time setting system, there has been no means of starting from daily corrected
timo.
As there is a daily error in the standard time, it must be corrected daily other-
wise an increment of error is carried on until the system of control is valueless
for the purpose indicated
Pneumatic clocks are local in their nature and could not be used on long lines.
Electric clocks are liable to get out of order with the line Suppose the line
to be down several days the electric clocks are stopped and time is not indicated.
In my system no matter whether the line is down or not, the time continues as
the clocks are not "dead" clocks but have within themselves a train independent
of the control. Again by means of my system, railway trunk lines ctc have the
direct means of simultaneously controlling all the clocks in their system by the
one general system, each station clock being sot daily to its local, section or
other time.
To attain this I have provided mechanism as follows:-The second beats of the
standard clock O' Fig. 1 are transmitted to a chronograph Q' as are also those of
the transmitting control clock M' by which the two clocks are compared, and the
pendulum of the control clock accelerated or retarded by hand, friction or gearing
until it indicates correct time in a manner well known to astronomers and others
skilled in the art. The control clock movement consists of the ordinary dead beat or
gravity escapement. The second hand g' of the secondary controlling clock Fig. 11,
is mounted on a sleeve passing over arbor o', the minute hand being on the sleevo
of the cannon pinion actuated by the dial train G'G' in the ordinary way. The
hour hand g is mounted on a similar pinion on arbor o' Fig. 3. Two cams F F
are rigidly mounted on two sleeves t and 8 on the arbor of Fig. 11. and a third
cain is mounted in the same way on the arbor o'. The hands have independent
motions in the ordinary manner, upon the arbors, but the cams being fixed to the
sleeves on which the pinion moves, control the movement of the hands I may
however mount the second, minute and hour hands on one arbor as indicated
in N' Fig. 1 or control the hour hand by gearing. These pinion sleeves carry the
cams also the hands, the latter being carried by friction in the ordinary manner
The cams must be centered so that the points of the lever will bear on all their

page_text: centers at the same time, and held in this position while the hands are adjusted
to indicate the time local or otherwise to which they are to be set, by the one
general signal, thus enabling me to set a whole series of clocks at the same time
to as many different times as may be desired.
This
That is to say, the cams are adjusted to a point or a center that upon being con-
trolled will give the local time of the place or other points as desired. the hands
being set to read the difference in time whatever it may be. For example a con-
trolled clock in New York energizing the magnets in controlled clocks in Philadelphia
and intermediate stations causes the true local time to be indicated simultaneously
at all these points in that circuit of the controlled clocks. The difference in time
between the control and controlled stations being known I am enabled to set tho
hands of the clock to the local time of the place or station: This having been done,
I am enabled by means of the cams to bring back the hands daily or hourly to
their true local point time. The magnet D Fig. 2 of the controlling clock is
energized by the current, from an observatory transmitting clock in the main line,
and attracts the armature on a balanced armature lever C pivoted to plate K at c.
This lever consists of two arms C. C². the former having the armature c and the
latter the push points e e¹ which act upon the cams F F¹ on the second and minute
hand sleeves. These points striking the cams at any point on their periphery,
causes them to turn with the arbors or sleeves until the points enter notches in
the cams; this action carries the hour, minute and second hands and sets them
to the time for which they have been adjusted. A wheel G of the transmitting
clock Fig. 11. is mounted rigidly upon the sleeve carrying the second cam.
is a 60 tooth wheel from which some teeth are removed so that it contains 49 teeth
more or less. The first intermission is the 29th tooth used merely for an
intermediate break during the minute the next omission of nine teeth previous
to the beginning of each minute is to mark the beginning of the next minute
and afford time for making connections. The wheel G is adjustable in that it
turns with the cam on the second hand arbor. thereby bringing the zero point
always to the beginning of each minute. or it comes back to zero with the cain in
order to send out the even minutes, that is the sixty seconds point or tooth is
always in position to transmit its signal after the secondary control clock has has
been controlled. Circuit breaking springs B B' and bars B³ B³ are secured in a
vulcanite block w and are vertically adjusted in the insulating plate or block R
attached to the plate K of the primary transmitting or secondary control
movement by means of set screws b which pass through the upper ends of the
bars B2 B3 and into the block R This vertical adjustment is for the purpose of
obtaining coincidence of the jewels h on the springs and the teeth on wheel G.
Platinum disks are secured to the ends of the bars B B by means of screws 1.
A horizontal adjustment is given to the jewels with the teeth on wheel G by
means of the scrows by tightening or loosening them The faces of the teeth
are thus permitted to engage with the jewels a greater or less distance and thus
regulate the length of time of contact. The lower ends of the springs have
platinum points i normally in contact with the disks These disks can be
rotated on the screws 13 as become necessary, and thus insure a perfect contact
between points i and disks A repeater A and switch H₁ complete the
transmitting and controlling mechanism. The operation of transmitting the time
signals and controlling clocks is as follows:-A few minutes before the signals are
to be sent and the clocks in the circuit set or brought to a zero point, the beats
of both the standard and transmitting clocks are thrown into the chronograph
when the second beats are recorded. Then the pendulum of the transmitting clock
is retarded or accelerated until the difference between the two clocks is equal to
the error of the standard (the sign of said error being noted) when the transmitting
clock will indicate, correct time. At one minute (sooner or later as may be
required) before the clocks in the circuit are to be corrected I close the local
circuit by the switch H₁ (Fig. 1) through the seconds spring B' of the trans-
mitt ng clock thence through contact point i disk 1 bar B³ to electro magnet A³

page_text: thence to battery, thus actuating arms A' A causing contact to be made between
spring and point 2 when circuit is broken by wheel G. The circuit or main
line is then closed by opening switch S3 causing the clock beats to be transmitted
for fifty seconds to all stations on the line to be controlled, except the 29th second
brat, as indicated by the transmitter which is left out to mark the half minute.
These seconds beats are sent over the line as a preparatory signal to the
stations and for further comparison of time pieces not included in the circuit.
When the seconds beats cease to be transmitted after the 50th second, of
the transmitter (by the omission of the teeth on wheel C). The switch H' is
moved from point to f¹ breaking the circuit through the seconds spring B
and closing it through the controlling spring B'. This last circuit is broken
only at the zero second of the controlling clock by the projecting pin H
on wheel G which comes in contact with spring B and pushes it out of contact,
with disk breaking tho circuit through B during the omission of the nino
teeth, the circuit through the local clocks is closed by means of switch S by
each operator along the line through the clock or clocks of his station.. The contact
points ffare placed so close together that the circuit is closed on the second
circuit before it is broken, on the first, thus preventing the breaking of the local
circuit of the transmitter, or of any false signals on the main line until the zero,
which last signal sets all the clocks on the line, to the time for which they have
been adjusted by means of devices similar to those described in connection with
the control clocks. After the final signal has been given setting all the clocks in
circuit, the circuit should be through the clocks by opening the switch S² after
which close the main line by switch S when the circuit through the transmitting
clock may be broken by switch H without giving any further signal along the
line. This leaves the main and other lines in their normal condition for such
other business as may be required of them. While I here open and close the
circuits by hand switches. I may also use any of the well known automatic means
for changing currents or making and breaking circuits, I may multiply the number
of transmissions of signals over main or other lines by increasing the number of
repeating points such as shown at A³ (Fig 10) or by any other of the well known
means of transmitting and repeating. The main line passing through relay
magnet R² attracts armature R³ thus closing local circuit Q through contact
switch S being closed, the circuit is completed. When local circuit Q is closed-
the magnet D is energized and attracts the armature c of lever C. (Fig, 5) thus
causing the points e e¹ to impinge against the periphery of the cams and return
them to their centers. The instant the circuit is broken, the armature is released
and the lever being balanced, returns to its normally balanced position. As before
described the cam movement, and the dial train are independent, therefore there is
no retardation of either after being brought to the zero point as both are acted
upon by the clock movement without interruption. The lever is guided in its
movement by the guide t¹ which also limits its play. The lower projection I² on
bar I (see Fig. 12.) strikes a cam F2 and turns the hour hand (or this inay ho done
by gearing) so that I may at once and simultaneously bring back to the zero point
the second, minuto and hour hands. Thus the secondary control clock is controlled
in the main line from an observatory or standard controlled time. Instead of the
armature lever shown in Figs, 1, 2. and 5 I may cause the armature A¹ of the
electro magnet (Fig. 11) to push down a vertical bar I having projections 1' 1³
which strike and turn the cams as before described. The bar is secured to the
plate K and guided in its movement by set screws which outer slots z on said bar
also permit the stroke of the projections I¹ 12 on the cams; a spiral spring S
surrounding the lower end of the bar 1 one end of the spring being secured to a
shoulder S the other to plate S the spring acting to return the bar to its normal
position after the armature has acted. The bar I may be adjusted vertically not
only by the set screws 21 but by an adjusting screw 2 (Fig 11) so that the
projection on tho bar may be adjusted the proper distance from the cams. I do not
limit myself to the specific method herein described of arranging the circuits us
the

page_text: convenience and economy might make it necessary to use lines or circuits already
established and in use for other purposes. This I can do without departing from
the spirit of iny invention. This system of controlling clocks has great value and
advantages in a railway system for each road can control its own time. from its own
control clock at a central station. Its control clock being corrected daily as
described, the local clocks can be corrected at night when the wires are compara-
tively clear. At railway stations there may be two clocks one indicating local and
the other the section time of the railway. There may also be a series of clocks,
one of which indicates the local or railway time and the other the times of other
principal cities thus affording means for comparison of time. It would be prefer-
able for each set of clocks at a depot to have their own local circuit, instead of
throwing them into the main line. One Leclanche cell will suffice for several
clocks for a long period without renewing.
So far as I know, there has been no system of clocks devised to control the
hour, minute and second hands to an unlimited extent. In systems now in use
the control is limited to a certain time usually zero minutes of both the controlling
and controlled clocks at which point the control can only be made, and it is also
necessary that the extent of error in the subsidiary clock shall not exceed one or
two minutes. Neither will any of the various systems control two or more clocks
and set them to different times by the one signal. In the system herein described,
I control the hour minute and second hands or any part of the dial, and set the
clocks correct to the nearest second. I also set the clocks at any time during tho
twenty-four hours that may be prearranged and at each succeeding hour during
the twenty-four, as may be desired. Again I can set any number of clocks to as
many different times as there are clocks, and correct any error in each and every
one of them While I have shown two sets of springs in the controlling clock I
may use only one set B¹ in local lines where local control only is necessary as in a
single station containing one or more clocks. But in sending to distant stations I
then use the spring B to send out the preparatory signals which precede the
control signals The controlled clocks such as shown in Fig. 1, represent a lover
clock containing the controlled mechanism; clocks M and O (same figure) are
pendulum clocks thus showing that I may use either pendulum or lever clocks or
any other time mechanism containing the form of cams contained in the
mechanism hore shown. Having described my invention what I claim is :-
1st The method of transmitting time signals and automatically setting a
system of clocks to such correct time which consists in comparing an independent
transmitting with a standard time piece and detecting and recording their variation
by connecting said time pieces with a chronograph so that the seconds indications
are made on the record sheet simultaneously and in parallel lines, the correct time
thus obtained being transmitted to a series of clocks automatically set to the same
or different times by means of a signalling repeating and setting mechanism as set
forth 2nd In a clock controlling system, a standard clock, the daily error of which
is known, a chronograph for comparing clocks, a transmitting and control clock. a
repeater and a series of controlled clocks electrically connected, the control clock
containing means for automatically transmitting preparatory and controlling
signals substantially as and for the purpose described. 3rd In a clock controlling
system, a standard clock, a chronograph, a control clock, a repeater and a series
of controlled clocks electrically connected, as described, the controlling clock
containing means for automatically transmitting preparatory signals to the
stations containing the controlled clocks and at the end of said signals, setting
the hands of the controlled clocks to their local or other determined time
substantially as set forth.
4th In a clock controlling system, a series of controlled clocks in circuit with a
transmitting clock containing mechanism for automatically sending preparatory
signals to the controlled stations and setting the hands of the controlled clocks at
such stations, the controlled clocks containing a hand-train independent of the
setting mechanism so that the last corrected time will be indicated and carried on

page_text: by the hands on such clocks whether the setting mechanism fail to act or the line
be broken as set forth. 5th In a clock controlling system a series of clocks in a
main line circuit, a controlling clock in a local circuit, a repeater having one or
more make or break arms and contacts said controlling clock and repeater being
switched into the main line at the time of sending preparatory signals and
switched out.after said signals have been sent and the clocks set to their local or
other times. 6th A clock controlling system, containing a transmitting and one or
more controlled clocks in electric circuit the controlled clocks having their hands
and one or more cams mounted as described the hands being adjusted to local or
other time and the cams so centered or adjusted that the push points of a cam
lever will bear on their respective centers at the same time, whereby through the
intervention of a magnet and armature in electric circuit with the clocks, said
controlled clocks may be automatically set to the same or as many different times
as there are clocks substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7th A clock controlling system in which two or more clocks in the same electric
circuit, can be automatically and simultaneously set to different times by one
signal from the transmitting clock substantially as described and for the purpose
set forth.
i
8th A clock controlling system, as described, in which the hour, minute and
second hands are controlled on any part of the dial, the error being corrected and
each clock set to the same or a different time at the same instant substantially as
set forth. 9th In a clock controlling system as described, a transmitting clock
provided with a dial train one or more cams mounted as described a circuit
breaking wheel G on the second hand arbor, one or more circuit breaking springs
and spring bars said springs being provided with a jewel to engage with the teeth
on said wheel and a contact point engaging with a disk attached to the spring bars,
a lever for actuating the cams, a magnet armature, to actuate said lever, the
magnet and springs being in circuit with a standard clock and a repeater A sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth. 10th A time mechanism in which the
hour, minute and second hands are simultaneously set or brought to a zero point
from any position on the dial, by two or more cams suitably connected with said
hands, said cams being controlled by a current of electricity through the inter-
vention of suitable mechanism substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11th In a clock controlling system as described, a controlled clock having a dial
train one or more cams F F¹ mounted as described, a cam actuating lever and a
imagnet for actuating the cam lever, said magnet being in circuit, with a signal
transmitting clock as and for the purpose set forth. 12th In a transmitting clock
for the purpose herein described, a circuit breaking wheel G mounted on the sleeve
carrying the second hand and having one or more teeth removed from one part of
its periphery, for an intermediate break during the minute and nine teeth more or
less removed previous to the beginning of the next minute whereby time is afforded
for making proper circuit connections substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13th In a transmitting clock as described a circuit breaking wheel G having a
projecting pin H substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 14th In a signal
transmitting clock for the purpose described, the circuit breaking springs B B¹
insulated from each other and provided with jewels h and contacts i said springs
having a vertical and horizontal adjustment as and for the purpose set forth.
15th The spring bars B³ B³ provided with the adjusting screws b and land
disks as and for the purpose set forth. 16th In a signal transmitting clock as
described, the combination with the springs B B' having the contacts hi of the
spring burs B2 B3 having the disks said springs and bars having a vertical
adjustment as and for the purpose set forth 17th In a transmitting clock as
described the combination with the springs B B' and spring bars B2 B3 of the
wheel Gas and for the purpose set forth. 18th In a transmitting clock as described
the combination of the springs B B', spring bars B³ B³ and wheel G with the
repeater ▲ as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 19th In a controlled clock in a clock controlling system, the combination with
the magnet D of a balanced armature lever C as set forth. 20th In a controlled
clock in a system of clock control the combination with a magnet D of the lever C
for actuating the cams, said lever having an armature c through the intervention of
which the lever is actuated by the magnet as set forth, 21" The combination with
the dial train cams mounted as described circuit breaking springs, magnet and
armature, of the cam actuating bar I provided with the projections 111 by
means of which the cams are acted upon vertically and positively substantially as
and for the purpose set forth. 22nd A clock provided with cams mounted on the
minute and second hand arbors and hour hand arbor said cams being actuated by a
lever so as to turn them and at the same time turn the bands as set forth 23rd The
combination with the cams F and F of the springs a' and the arbors o' and o* as
described and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Franklin Gardner have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fifteenth day of October in the year of our Lord, One thousand
Eight hundred and Eighty three
WILLIAM FRANKLIN GARDNER (LS.)