Year: 1889

page_text: CHARLES ADAMS-RANDALL 15 Montpelier Square Brompion, London Electrical
Engineer and Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
"
My invention relates to a simple efficient electrical apparatus operated by or from,
and in unison with a clock, by means of which an electric. alarm is sounded auto-
matically at any predetermined time.
My invention has for its object that of announcing and indicating the time and
nature of business engagements, appointments, orders to be executed, goods to be
delivered, calls to be made, carriages to be sent etc., it being useful and valuable to
Doctors, Lawyers, Shippers, Merchants Livery-stable-keepers, & business men
generally, as an aid in the transaction of business.
.:.
The invention consists generally in the combination of a clock, having a simple
circuit-closing device attached thereto, and operated thereby, which serves to close the
electric-circuit a predetermined' time, say one or more seconds, at regular intervals of
time, say every minute, or every five, ten or fifteen minutes, as may be desired, and
suitable mechanism operated and controlled by an electro-magnet energized by a
battery current. transmitted by the clock, such mechanism being arranged to
automatically close at predetermined times a local circuit containing therein an
electric bell or other suitable alarm that shall be sounded at the closing of the local
circuit, & shall continue to sound the alarm for a given time or until the circuit is
broken by an attendant, who will report the alarm and the nature of the appointment,
order, or other duty to be attended to, as indicated by the apparatus at the time.at
which the alarm and indication has been made.
The apparatus, as now conceived by me, consists more particularly of a circular
time plate about one-eighth of an inch thick divided into seven equal parts repre-
senting the seven days of the week, each part or day being divided into twenty-four
parts or hours and each part or hour into four parts or quarter hours, which parts
may be still further divided up into thirds or fifteenths, if desired, but for general
1 prefer making the division of the periphery of the circular time plate into
uses,

page_text: six hundred and seventy two parts, which divisions are made by a slot in the plate.
If preferred the time plate may be made for a single day and divided into ninety six
parts, or for two days & divided into one hundred and ninety two parts.
This plate is secured to a square frame having an annular opening therein about
one-eighth of an inch less in diameter than the time plate, thus making a solid frame
or side to which is secured by rods or studs a second plate, forming a frame-work to
hold the operative parts.
These frames support a central shaft, to which is secured a disk or wheel having
cut thereon six hundred and seventy two ratchet shaped teeth, or as many as there are
divisions of the time plate.
Mounted loosely upon the central shaft, is a suitable lever or arm, carrying an
arinature of an electro-magnet, and a suitable feed-dog or pawl that acts in and upon
the teeth of the feed-wheel, movement being given to the armature-feed-lever, in one
direction by a spring, and in the opposite direction-by an electro-magnet energized
at given intervals of time by a current from the clock. A circuit-closing arm is
secured upon the central shaft-in close proximity to the underneath side of the
slotted circular plate; which moves with the ratchet-feed-wheel, step-by step at
This
given intervals of time corresponding to the divisions of the time plate.
revolving arm is connected to one side of a battery in circuit with an electric alarm
bell and the time plute, said circuit being completely closed automatically by the
revolving arm contacting with metal points or contact-pieces placed into & held in
the slots in the circular time plate and passing through the same.
These metal contact pieces are so made as to hold a card or cards that indicate
the object of the time alarm.
Revolving with-the-circuit closing arın but upon the shaft outside of the circular
time plate, is an index hand that indicates the time at which an alarin is sounded-by
pointing to the contact-piece with which the revolving circuit-closing arm
in contact.
15
In operation, therefore, the parts being constructed & connected up in circuit
substantially as described by me, by placing-a-suitable metal contact-piece into a slot
in advance of the circuit-closing arin, at the instant the arm contacts therewith an
alarm will be rung notifying to an attendant or others the time of an engagement
or other duty to be attended to and the nature of the same.
The circular time plate being divided into seven days and six hundred and seventy
two quarter hours, the apparatus can be set to give an alarm in fifteen minutes or
thereabouts from the time of setting or in seven days less one minute or any part
of seven days, so that all future engagements, etc., from fifteen minutes to seven days
in advance can be quickly set upon the apparatus by the insertion of the contact-
pieces in the slots and automatically made known and indicated by the apparatus at
the moment the predetermined time transpires.
It will be understood that by combining suitable gearing with the above, the
apparatus can be made to serve equally as well for longer periods that seven days.
January 16th 1889.

page_text: CHARLES ADAMS-RANDALL No. 16 Trevor Square Brompton, London, Electrical
Engineer 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:-
My invention relates to a simple, efficient electrical apparatus operated from and in
unison with a clock or other time-keeper, by means of which, an electric alarm is sounded,
or other indication made automatically at any predetermined time, for the purpose of
announcing and indicating the time, and nature of business engagements, appoint-
ments, orders to be executed, or other duties to be attended to at the time the alarm
is sounded.
The invention consists generally, in the combination of a clock or other time-keeper,
having a circuit closing device attached thereto and operated thereby, which serves to
close an electric circuit automatically, a predetermined time, at regular intervals, say
overy minute, or every five, ten fifteen or more minutes as may be desired, with an
apparatus having suitable mechanism operated and controlled by an electro-magnet
energized by an electric current transmitted by, or from, or through the medium of
a clock or time-keeper, such apparatus, having a time indicating dial and mechanism
operating to close automatically, at predetermined times, an electric circuit containing
therein an electric bell, or, other; suitable alarm or indicator, that shall be sounde! or
actuated at the automatic closing of the circuit, and for a given time, say one or more
minutes, or until the electric circuit thus formed is broken by an attendant, or other
person.
The apparatus consists more particularly, as now conceived by me.
1st. Of a time indicating plate or dial, ropresenting one or more days, according to
the divisions of such plate, such day divisions being also sub-divided into divisions
representing hours and fractions of an hour.
2nd. Of a time indicating plate or dial divided to represent time by hours, or by
hours and minutes provided with a slot or aperture at the divisions, such slots or
apertures permitting of the insertion therein of a circuit-closing "plug."
"
3rd. Of suitable metallic "plugs," for insertion into the time indicating plate.
4th. Of a central shaft of the apparatus carrying mechanism that is moved by the
action of an Electro-magnet.
5th. Of a ratchet-feed-wheel, having as many teeth as there are divisions upon
the dial.
6th. Of means for moving such ratchet-feed-wheel step by step.
7th. Of a circuit-closing arm moving with the feed wheel.
Sth. Of a revolving circuit-closing arın arranged to make contact with the "plug"
or "plugs."
9th. Of a hand or pointer travelling with the circuit-closing arm to indicate its
position.

page_text: 10th. Of the combination of the clock controlled circuit and the alarm circuit, and
a time indicating dial.
11th. Of the combination with an electric time alarm and indicating apparatus, of
a controlling clock having a compound circuit-closer, consisting of circuit-closing
devices acting in conjunction actuated from the hour and minute shafts of the clock.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1. Shows a section of the time indicating plate, and also parts of the
operating mechanism-the plate being broken away.
Figs. 2 & 3.-Opposite side views of the mechanism.
Fig. 4. Is a diagrammatic view showing circuits and connections.
Fig. 5. Is an enlarged view of a section of the time indicating dial, showing the
slots or apertures therein.
Fig. 6. Represents a side frame of a clock and the circuit-closing devices secured
__ thereto and to the hour and minute shafts.
Figs. 7-8 & 9.-Different forms of contact plugs.
:
In the drawings, the time indicating plate or dial 1, has secured to it by cross-
bars 2-2-2112, a plate or frame 3, both being secured to the base B..
The dial, in this case, is divided into six hundred and seventy two divisions, repre-
senting seven days of twenty four hours divided into hours and quarter hours, the
division marks being the apertures or slots, S-S-S-S, the hours being
designated by figures from 1 to 12, the half hours by arrow-heads, the quarter hours
being between. The days and meridians are shown by suitable lettering see fig. 5.
A central shaft 4, bearing in the plates 1-3, has secured thereto between the
--plates; a feed-wheel-5, and an arm-6, and outside of plate 1,-a-pointor-7-all-moving
or revolving together. The arm 6, is electrically insulated from the shaft 4, and
the plates.
Fulcramed loosely upon the shaft 4, is the armature feed-lever 8, to one end of
which the feed pawl-9 is attached, in such manner as to take in and upon the ratchei
teeth of the wheel 5, the opposite end of the lever carrying the armaturo 10; opposite™
the cores of the electro-magnet 11-supported upon the bracket 12, secured between
the plates. A retractilo spring 8 is attached to the lever 8, and the pin or hook 14,
movement being given to the lever 8, in one direction, preferably to set the
pawl 9, by the action of the electro-magnet, and in the opposite direction by the
spring 8, the stop scrow 15, in the stud 16, secured to the plate 3, limiting
the movement of the lever 8 and its pawl 9, a small flat spring 17, secured to a
stud 18, in the plates 3, preventing any retrograde movement of the feed-wheel.
The arm 6, secured to a piece of vulcanite 6, or other insulating material upon
the shaft 4, carries a yielding contact spring 19, and is also provided with a small
non-metallic roller 60, that bears upon the inner side of the plate 1, as the arın
revolves behind the plate opposite the slots, and steadies the same, the arm moving
in such manner, that a contact plug, similar to figs. 7-8 & 9, being inserted in
any of the slots, is made to contact with the spring 19. in due time, closing an
electric circuit, as shown at 20, fig. 4.
An insulated piece 21, is secured to the lever 8, and carries a connecting spring
piece 22, that contacts with the arm 6, the spring 22, being properly connected to
the battery. The pointor 7, is secured to the shaft 4, in line with the end of the
contact-spring 19, and serves to indicate the plug with which the spring is in contact
when the circuit is closed and the alarm given. The plug 23, consists of a round
metal piece 24 having secured thereto, a thin flat piece of spring metal, doubled
or bent back upon itself in such manner, that when inserted in the dial it will act
to hold itself therein, and also to hold a card, or slip of paper placed between the two
sides. In fig. 8, a portion of the flat spring metal, is removed, and a slit made in
the round metal piece to hold the indicating card.
In the modification, fig. 9, the round metal piece is dispensed with, and only the flat
spring metal piece 24, having the lip 25, used. A piece of ivory, celluloid, or silicate
tablet may be secured to or held by the metal piece 25, upon which instructions can
he written, and erased at will. Various other forms can be devised, it being required.

page_text: only, that the plug or contact piece shall be male so that it will be held securely in
the aperture, and shall be arranged to hold a reference card, slip or ticket, that will
indicate the nature oft lie matter or business to be attended to when the alarm is sounded.
In fig. 6, one side of a clock frame 26, is represented, to which is secured
pieces of insulating material, 27, 28, a contact spring 29 being secured to 27, and
contact springs 30, 31, to 28. The springs 29 and 30 are electrically connected by a
wire 32, and spring 31 electrically connected to a battery 33, by a wire 34. The
hour shaft of the clock, represented at 35, has secured thereon and moving therewith
a spur wheel 36, having in this case four teeth, but it will be understood that a
greater or lesser number may be used.
The minute shaft is represented at 37, and carries a cam shaped metal piece 38
insulated from the shaft, or a picco of vulcanite, ivory or other non-conductor.
The motion of the springs 29, 30, 31 downward, is limited by stop-pins 39, 40, 41.
The clock frame 26, and battery 33, are connected to the terminals 42, 43 of the
time indicating apparatus, by the wires 44, 45, the electro-magnet 11, being also
connected to the terminals by wires 46, 47.
to
The battery 48, is connected by wire 49 to the terminal 50, and by wire 51,
electro-magnet 52, of the alarm or other indicating device, and wire 53, to terminal 54,
the circuit in the apparatus being from 54 by wire 55, to contact spring 22, arm 6,
contact spring 19, and from 19 to inserted plugs when in contact with same, as
at 20 then to the frame, and wire 56, to 50.
The apparatus being constructed, and connected up, substantially as herein shewn
and described the operation is as follows; The clock being wound up and started,
in its operation the cam 38 on shaft 37 serves to close the contact points 30°, 31*,
on 30, 31, once every minute for a second of time, more or less, and the spur wheel 36
on 35, contacts with 29 once every fifteen minutes (as shown), for a few seconds,
the closing of both the contacts, 36 and 29 and 30 and 31", simultaneously completely
closing the circuit from the battery 33.
As represented. the contacts 30, 31, have just been closed, simultaneously
with 36, 29, which are still closed, but which will be broken or separated before
the cam 38, has completed its revolution, so that, but one electric impulse is sent every
fifteen minutes upon the simultaneous closing of 36, 29, 30" and 31ª.
The electric impulses sent from the clock energizo the electro-magnet 11, in the
apparatus, the circuit being from battery 33, wire 34, springs and contact point 31, 31*,
30, 30, wire 32, spring 29, wheel 36, shaft 35 frame 26, wire 44, terminal 42 wire 16,
electro-magnet 11, wire 47, forminal 43, and wire 45, the action of the magnet
causing the attraction of the armature 10, and a movement of the lever 8, and
pawl 9 in one direction, setting the pawl into another tooth of the feed-wheel 5, and
putting tension upon the spring 8, which serves, upon the demagnetization of the
magnet, to move the lever 8, and pawl 9. in the opposite direction, moving the feed
wheel the arm 6, and pointer 7, a uniform distance, the pointer 7, being in accord with
the clock, and operating in unison therewith, indicating the full, half, and quarter
hours. If now a "plug" be inserted in the aperture first in advance of the pointer,
at the next closing of the circuit at the clock, the feed wheel, arm, and pointer, will
advance one step, and the circuit be closed as at 19-20, fig. 4, causing an electric
bell 52, or other alarm or indicator to be operated, the pointer 7 showing which plug
is in contact, the removing of which breaks the alarm circuit, the reference card or
cards held by the plug, informing the attendant of the nature of the engagement,
appointment or other duty to be attended to.
The apparatus as shown is constructed for seven days, the circle being divided into
six hundred and seventy two divisions representing full, half, and quarter hours, and
the apparatus can be set to give an alarin in fifteen minutes or thereabouts from the
time of setting, or in seven days or any part thereof, so that, all future engagements.
from fifteen minutes to seven days in advance can be quickly set upon the apparatus
by the insertion of the contact pieces or plugs into the apertures on the dial, and the.
same automatically made known by the apparatus at the instant the predetermined
time transpires.
".
:

page_text: Ir will be readily understood that the apparatus can be modified, and constructed
for one day only, or constructed for greater number of days than seven by simply
increasing the diameter of the circle or dial plate, or by the use of a double dial,
and proper intermediate gearing, without departing from the general principles of
my invention.
It will also be understood that the controlling clock, electric generator, indicating
dial, and operative mechanism alarm or indicating device, may all be constructed
and arranged or enclosed within a case, box or frame enclosing all of the parts,
instead of being detached, as shown, without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
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;
1st. In an electric time alarm and indicator, the combination with a controlling
clock or other time-keeper of an electric generator, an electro-magnet and proper
electrical connections between the generator, clock, and electro-magnet, whereby
the mechanism is made to move periodically, by the action of the electro-magnet,
in unison or accord with the controlling clock.
2nd. In an electric time alarm and indicator, the combination with a controlling
clock or other time-keeper of an electric generator, an electro-magnet, and proper
electrical connections between the generator, clock, and electro-magnet, an
independent alarm circuit and circuit-closing devices acting automatically to close
the alarm circuit at predetermined times, whereby the mechanism is made to move
periodically, by the action of the electro-magnet, in unison with the controlling
clock, and automaticly close an electric alarm circuit at predetermined times and
an alarm or other indication to be made and the time indicated, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
camise
3rd. In an electric time alarm and indicator the combination with a controlling
clock having a compound circuit-closer, an electric generator and proper electrical
connections between the clock and generator, of automatically operated mechanism
caused to move periodically in unison with the clock.
4th. In an electric time alarm and indicator, the combination with a clock
provided with an automatic circuit-closing device, of an electric generator, an electro
magnet actuated by a current transmitted automatically by the clock, from the
generator, a feed mechanism and indicating pointer operated by the electro-magnet,
and a time indicating dial.
5th. In an electric time alarm and indicator, the combination with a controlling
clock, electric generator, an electro-magnet, of an indicating dial and index hand or
pointer, mechanism for rotating the pointer actuated through the medium of the
clock, and mechanism for automatically closing an electric alarm circuit, whereby the
alarm circuit may be automatically closed at predetermined intervals of time, and
the actual time of closing indicated upon the dial by the pointer.
6th. In an electric time alarm and indicator the combination with a controlling clock,
and electric generator, of an electro-magnet, feed-mechanism actuated thereby a circuit-
closing arm moving in unison with the feed-mecbanism, a time indicating plato or
dial having the time divisions designated by apertures or slots, contact pieces or
plugs for insertion in the aperture, and an alarm or other indicating device, whereby,
the circuit-closing arm is rotated step by step and caused to make contact period-
ically with contact plugs inserted in the indicating dial, causing the alarm or indicating
device to be automatically operated.
7th. An electric time alarm and indicator having in combination, a controlling
clock, an electric generator, a time indicating dial having apertures therein designating
the time divisions, a pointer travelling over the dial, a rotating circuit-closing arm,
contact plugs, feed-mechanism actuating the pointer and circuit-closing arm, an
electro-magnet actuating the feed-mechanism, and proper electrical connections
between the clock, generator and electro-magnet, substantially as shown.

page_text: 8th. An electric time alarm and indicator, having in combination, a controlling
clock, electric generator, and an electro-magnet in circuit together, and an independant
alarm circuit and apparatus, with means for automatically closing the alarm circuit
by the action of the electro-magnet.
9th. In an electric time alarm and indicator, a time indicating plate or dial, having
the time divisions designated by apertures or slots, a circuit-closing arm revolving
or travelling in line with said apertures, contact plugs for insertion in the apertures
in such manner as to come within the path of the circuit-closing arm, or, to make
contact therewith as it is moved, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10th. The contacting plugs, constructed substantially as described and shown in
figs. 7-8-9.
11th. The combination with an electric time alarm and indicator of a controlling
clock provided with a compound circuit-closing device, substantially as shown and
described.
12th. The combination with an electric time alarm, of a controlling clock having
circuit-closing devices operated periodically from the hour and minute shafts of the
clock in such manner, that, at predetermined intervals of time the contacts shall be
made simultaneously at both circuit-closers and an electric circuit completed through
the circuit closing dovices.
13th. The rotating arm 6, provided with the yielding circuit-closer 19, in combination
with suitable contact pieces or plugs.
14th. The rotating arm 6, provided with a suitable roller 60.
15th. In combination with the central shaft 4 the feed-wheel 5, arm 6, and pointer 7,
secured thereto.
16th. In combination with the central shaft 4, the armature feed-lover 8, mounted
loosely thereon.
17th. In an electric time alarm and indicator a central shaft carrying the operating
mechanism 8-9-5 6, and 7.
18th. In an electric time alarm and indicator, a time indicating dial, divided into
one or more divisions representing days, and having these divisions sub-divided into
hours, or fractions of hours.
19th. In an electric time alarm and indicator, a time indicating dial divided into a
day or days, and hours, or fractions of hours, and a single feed-wheel having as many
teeth made thereon as there are divisions on the indicating dial, with means for
operating the feed-wheel.
20th. In an electric time alarm and indicator,. a controlling clock, an electrio
generator, electro-mechanical devices operated therefrom and thereby, a time indicating
dial, and pointer therefor, all constructed and arranged upon and contained within
an enclosing case supporting and containing all of the parts.
Dated this 9th day of May 1889.
CHARLES ADAMS-RANDALL.