Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1886.
Complete Left, 4th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 10th May, 1887.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in self-winding clocks wherein electricity is
employed to wind up the driving spring or weight.
The only practical form of electrical mechanism for self-winding clocks that I know
of is one in which what is known as a rotary electromotor is employed, that is an
electromotor which when a current of electricity is passed through it rotates
continuously in one direction. This form of mechanism for self-winding clocks is
open to certain serious objections. It involves the use of a commutator and contact
brushes or springs, and such devices invariably entail a considerable loss of electrical
energy through sparking or the formation of ares between the contact brushes or
springs and the conducting segments of the commutator. These arcs cause a burning
away and oxidation of the brushes or springs, and of the conducting segments, in
time preventing electrical contact from being made, and the electromotor from acting.
Another drawback to the use of a commutator and contact brushes in an electromotor
is that their continued rubbing causes their surfaces to be abraded, and minute
particles of metal to be disengaged, which gradually bridge over the spaces between
the conducting strips or segments of the commutator and cause short circuiting,
thereby rendering the electromotor useless for a time, and perhaps destroying it.
But this is not the only effect of the minute particles of metal so disengaged. These
are apt to get into the working parts of the clock and so clog and impede its action.
The working parts of a clock require cleaning too frequently as it is, without having
an additional source of fouling introduced. Yet another drawback in the use of a
commutator and contact brushes or springs lies in the fact that if any dust gets
between a contact brush and a conducting segment of the commutator, electrical
contact is not established when required and the electromotor does not act. Still
another and very serious drawback lies in the fact that the continuously rotating
electromotor hereinbefore referred to cannot be relied upon to wind up a spring or

page_text: weight to the exact amount required, inasmuch as it cannot be relied upon to make a
given number of revolutions. In the mechanism for self-winding clocks to which I
am referring, the electric circuit is closed for a given period of time at given
intervals, and it is assumed that if the periods during which the circuit is closed are
always the same the number of rotations and consequently the amount of winding up
of the spring or weight will always be the same. This however is not the case in
practice. The number of rotations which the electromotor makes in a given time
depends upon the load or resistance offered to free movement by the mechanism to be
driven, so that as the works get dirty, which those of all clocks do, the load or
resistance becomes greater, and consequently a fewer number of revolutions is made
and a less amount of winding up effected, within the given time that the circuit is
closed. Again the speed of revolution of a rotary electromotor varies with the
electrical energy passing through it, and it is practically impossible to keep this
constant, more especially under such circumstances as those at present under
discussion. The electromotors in self-winding clocks require in practice to be driven
by primary batteries, and the electrical energy furnished by these gradually diminishes
as they remain in use, so that the number of rotations within the given time during
which the circuit is closed becomes less, thus lessening the amount of winding up of
the driving spring or weight.
To overcome these drawbacks is the object of my invention: and it mainly
embraces in combination with a mechanical clock mechanism the following distinctive
features: first, the use of reversed currents that is of currents passing alternately in
one direction and then in the opposite direction; second, a circuit closing rheotrope
actuated by the clock mechanism; third, an electromotor whose movable part does
not continuously rotate, but moves round its axis through a given angle only ;
fourth, an electromagnetic brake or means of preventing the movable part of the
electromotor from moving round its axis through a greater angle than is required,
and serving also as a means of keeping the movable part at rest for a period after
each movement; fifth, a mechancial brake or device for keeping the movable part of
the electromotor in the proper position for again starting after the electromagnetic
brake has ceased to act, and in some cases also serving to prevent movement in the
wrong direction.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ currents of electricity furnished by
any convenient source or reservoir of electrical energy, generally a primary battery,
and I cause these currents to flow through the electromotor in alternately opposite
directions. This alternation of direction I effect by means of a circuit closing
rheotrope or current reverser actuated by the mechanical clock mechanism. This
rheotrope may be either a revolving one or a reciprocating one, and when the latter
it may reciprocate either in a straight line or in an arc. Any suitable form of
rheotrope may be employed; and one convenient form consists of a disc or drum, or
the like, formed of non-conducting material against which press four conductors
preferably springs. Two of these are in connection with the battery or other source
or reservoir of electrical energy used to feed the electromotor, and the other two in
connection with the electromotor. The said disc or drum has conducting pieces
attached to it. These are arranged in such manner that as the disc or drum revolves
they come under the conductors just referred to so as to complete the circuit between
the battery and the electromotor. When there are only two sets of conducting pieces
affixed to the disc or drum one set is arranged and its parts connected so as to cross
the circuit in the manner employed in a well known form of current reverser. When
more than two sets of conducting pieces are affixed to the said disc or drum, each
alternate set is crossed, the number of sets being of course an even one. Thus as the
disc or drum revolves the circuit is closed and a current of electricity transmitted to
the electromotor each time the conducting strips come under the conductors, and, as
each alternate set of conducting pieces is crossed, so each alternate transmission of the
electric current will be crossed, so that each transmission will be in the reverse
direction to that which preceded it, that is, the transmissions will be alternately
Dositive and negative.

page_text: The electromotor which I employ is one which for convenience I may call a balance
wheel electromotor that is, one in which the moveable part of the electromotor
vibrates round its axis somewhat after the manner of the balance wheel of a watch,
but with this difference that instead of constantly vibrating backwards and forwards,
or reciprocating in an arc, it rests at each end of its course until the next passage of
the electric current, when it moves in the opposite direction to its immidiately
preceeding movement, rests again at the end of its course, and so on. This electromotor
consists of a fixed and a moveable part. The moveable part is mounted on a central
axis round which it makes a definite angular movement at each passage of the electric
current through the electromotor, and is then held in its new position by electromagnetic
attraction for a short period so that the movement cannot be either greater or less in
extent than what is required. I shall now briefly explain one form of this electro-
motor, and then refer to the modifications of which it is susceptible. In one form the
fixed part consists of an electromagnet, straight or curved into any convenient shape,
whilst the moveable part consists of a permanent magnet, also either straight or
curved into any convenient shape; and I may furnish them when desired with soft
iron pole pieces. The action of this form of electromotor is as follows:-As has been
already mentioned the electromotor receives a current of electricity at intervals, each
such transmission of the electric current being alternately in the reverse direction to
that which preceeded it, that is, alternately positive and negative. The direction of
the current at each passage through the electromotor is such that it develops in the
electromagnet, or fixed portion of the electromotor, poles of the same name as those
of the permanent magnet, or moveable part of the electromotor, which are at the time
nearest to them. The poles of the permanent magnet are therefore repelled by those
poles of the electromagnet which they are next to, and which are of the same name,
and are attracted by those which are farthest away, and which are of different name.
Movement therefore takes place, and the permanent magnet makes an angular
movement through 180° degrees or half a revolution, till the respective poles of the
permanent magnet and of the electromagnet having different names come together,
and the permanent magnet is brought to rest by the attraction between the said
respective poles. The current may be allowed to continue to flow for a second or
two so as to keep up this attraction, in order to maintain this relative position of the
parts, a kind of electro-magnetic brake, as it were, being thus constituted. The next
passage of the electric current being in the opposite direction reverses the polarity of
the electromagnet,-what was a north pole becomes now a south pole and what was a
south pole becomes now a north-whilst the poles of the permanent magnet of course
remain the same as before. Poles of like name are therefore again in juxta-position so
that repulsion again takes place, the permanent magnet again turns round its axis
through an angle of 180 degrees or half a revolution, but in the reverse direction,
that is back over the course of its first movement just mentioned, and so on, tho
moveable part of the electromotor vibrating backwards and forwards alternately.
To ensure that each movement of the moveable part of the electromotor will be back
over the course of its previous movement, I may provide one or more stops against
which the moveable part of the electromotor, or a part in mechanical connection
therewith, may come in contact at the end of each vibratory course. It will be seen
that this form of electromotor is free from the objections existing in a continuously
rotating electromotor, inasmuch as it has neither commutator nor contact brushes, and
inasınuch as its moveable part will always make the same amount of movement so
winding up the clock always to the same extent, independently of the duration of the
current, and independently of variations in its strength. It is also more economical
of the electric current as it reduces the possible sources of loss to a minimum.
In order to keep the moveable part of the electromotor in the proper position for
again starting after the electromagnetic brake has ceased to act, I may employ a
mechanical device, which I may call a mechanical brake; and it may consist of a
spring or springs pressing against the spindle of the permanent magnet which may be
flattened or provided with a projection so as to cause the said axis to be held by the
said spring. In some cases instead of having the flattening or the projection on the

page_text: spindle of the moveable part of the electromotor I may have it on the said moveable
part itself, or on any convenient part in mechanical connection therewith.
To utilize the movement of the moveable part of the electromotor for the purpose of
winding up the spring or weight I may employ any convenient known mechanical
movement such for example as one of those used for the conversion of reciprocating
into rotary motion.
The spring or weight may be wound up during the whole time that the moveable
part of the electromotor is in motion, that is, when it is moving in both directions, or
they may be wound up only during the movement in one direction, and disengaged
during the movement in the other.
The rheotrope which I have herein before referred to is one which serves to close the
electric circuit as well as to change the direction of the current, but I may in some
cases employ a circuit-closing device independent of the current reversing device,
though it may be mounted on the same support.
I will now refer to some modifications in the form of electromotor hereinbefore
mentioned. Instead of the fixed part being an electromagnet and the moveable part
a permanent magnet, the movable part may be an electromagnet and the fixed part a
permanent magnet, the reversed currents in this case passing through the moveable
part and changing its polarity. Or both the fixed and the moveable parts of the
electromotor may be electromagnets, in which case the current must not be reversed
through both of them at the same time, but through one only. To reverse the current
in one of the electromagnets and not in the other I may either introduce a second
rheotrope of any convenient form into the circuit between the two electromagnets
(that is between the fixed and the moveable parts of the electromotor), or, in the case
where the circuit closing device is independent of the current reversing device, I may
have the coils of the electromagnet whose polarity is not to be reversed in a shunt or
branch circuit from that part of the circuit which is between the circuit closing device
and the current reversing device.
may when desired multiply the parts of the electromotor; and I may alter the
amount of angular movement made by the moveable part of the electromotor at each
transmission of the electric current.
To shield the electromotor from external magnetic effects I may enclose it or the
whole clock in an iron case.
By mechanical clock mechanism 1 mean the ordinary mechanism existing in
ordinary clocks.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clocks and Apparatus for Winding the same
by Electricity.
1, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN of Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Consulting 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 improvements in clocks and apparatus for winding the
same by electricity.
The only practical form of electrical mechanism for self winding clocks that I know
of is one in which what is known as a rotary electromotor is employed, that is, an
electromotor which when a current of electricity is passed through it rotates
continuously is one direction. This form of mechanism for self winding clocks appears
to be open to certain serious objections, chief amongst which is the fact that the
continuously rotating electromotor cannot be relied upon to wind up a spring or
weight to the exact amount required, inasmuch as it cannot be relied upon to make a
given number of revolutions. In this form of mechanism the electric circuit is closed
for a given period of time at given intervals; and it is assumed that if the periods
during which the circuit is closed are always the same the number of rotations and
consequently the amount of winding up of the spring or weight will always be the
same. This however is not the case in practice, because the number of rotations which
the rotary electromotor will make in a given time will vary, first with the load or
resistance offered to free movement by the mechanism to be driven, and second with
the electrical energy passing through it. Now the load or resistance will not remain
constant but, as the works get dirty, which those of all clocks do, will become greater,
and consequently a fewer number of revolutions will be made and a less amount of
winding up be effected within the given time during which the circuit is closed.
Neither will the amount of electrical energy passing through the electromotor remain
constant; for in practice the electromotors in these self winding clocks are driven by
primary batteries, and the electrical energy furnished by these gradually diminishes
as they remain in use, so that the number of rotations of the electromotor within the
given time during which the circuit is closed becomes less, thus also lessening the
amount of winding up of the spring or weight. The object of my invention is to
overcome these drawbacks.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ currents of electricity furnished by
any convenient source or reservoir of electrical energy, generally a primary battery,
and I cause these currents to flow through the electromotor in alternately opposite
directions. This alternation of direction I effect by means of a circuit closing rheotrope
or current reverser actuated by the mechanical clock mechanism. This rheotrope may
be either a revolving one or a reciprocating one, and when the latter it may reciprocate
either in a straight line or in an arc. Any suitable form of rheotrope may be employed:
and one convenient form consists of a disc or drum formed of non-conducting material

page_text: against which press four conductors preferably springs. Two of these are in connection
with the battery or other source or reservoir of electrical energy used to feed the
electromotor and the other two in connection with the electromotor. The said disc or
drum has conducting pieces attached to it. These are arranged in such manner that
as the disc or drum revolves they come under the conductors just referred to so as to
complete the circuit between the battery and the electromotor. When there are only
two sets of conducting picces affixed to the disc or drum one set is arranged and its
parts connected so as to cross the circuit in the manner employed in a well known
form of current reverser. When more than two sets of conducting pieces are affixed
to the said disc or drum each alternate set is crossed, the number of sets being of
Thus as the disc or drum revolves the circuit is closed and a
current of electricity transmitted to the electromotor each time the conducting strips
come under the conductors; and as each alternate set of conducting pieces is crossed
so each alternate transmission of the electric current will be crossed, so that each
transmission will be in the reverse direction to that which preceded it, that is, the
transmissions will be alternately positive and negative.
course an even one.
The electromotor which I employ is one which for convenience I may call a balance
wheel electromotor, that is, one in which the movable part of the electromotor vibrates
round its axis somewhat after the manner of the balance wheel of a watch, but with
this difference, that instead of constantly vibrating backwards and forwards, or reci-
procating in an arc, it rests at each end of its course until the next passage of the
electric current, when it moves in the opposite direction to its immediately preceding
movement, rests again at the end of its course, and so on. This electromotor consists
of a fixed and a movable part. The movable part is mounted on a central axis round
which it makes a definite angular movement at each passage of the electric current
through the electromotor; and it is then held in its new position by electro magnetic
attraction for a short period so that the movement cannot be either greater or less in
extent than what is required.
I shall now briefly explain one form of this electromotor and then refer to the
modifications of which it is susceptible.
In one form the fixed part consists of an electromagnet, straight or curved into any
convenient shape, whilst the movable part consists of a permanent magnet, also either
straight or curved into any convenient shape; and I may furnish these when desired
with soft iron pole pieces. The action of this form of electromotor is as follows. As
has been already mentioned the electromotor receives a current of electricity at
intervals, each such transmission of the electric current being alternately in the reverse
direction to that which preceded it, that is, alternately positive and negative. The
direction of the current at each passage through the electromotor is such that it
developes in the electromagnet, or fixed portion of the electromotor, poles of the same
name as those of the permanent magnet, or movable part of the electromotor, which
are at the time nearest to them. The poles of the permanent magnet are therefore
repelled by those poles of the electromagnet which they are next to, and which are of
the same name, and are attracted by those which are farthest away and which are of
different name. Movement therefore takes place and the permanent magnet makes an
angular movement through about 180 degrees or half a revolution, till the respective
poles of the permanent magnet and of the electromagnet having different names come
together, and the permanent magnet is brought to rest by the attraction between the
said respective poles. The current is advantageously allowed to flow for a second or
two so as to keep up this attraction in order to maintain this relative position of the
parts, a kind of electromagnetic brake as it were being thus constituted. The next
passage of the electric current being in the opposite direction reverses the polarity of
the electromagnet-what was a north pole becomes now a south pole and what was a
south pole becomes now a north whilst the poles of the permanent magnet of course
remain the same as before. Poles of like name are therefore again in juxta-position so
that repulsion again takes place, the permanent magnet again turns round its axis
through an angle of about 180 degrees or half a revolution, but in the reverse
direction, that is, back over the course of its first movement just mentioned, and so on,

page_text: the movable part of the electromotor vibrating backwards and forwards alternately.
To ensure that each movement of the movable part of the electromotor will be back
over the course of its previous movement I provide one or more stops or their
equivalents against which the movable part of the electromotor, or a part in mechanical
connection therewith, may come in contact at the end of each vibratory course.
In order to keep the movable part of the electromotor in the proper position for
again starting after the electromagnetic brake has ceased to act I frequently employ a
mechanical device which I may call a mechanical brake and a convenient form consists
of a spring or springs pressing against the spindle of the permanent magnet which
may be flattened or provided with a projection so as to cause the said axis to be
held by the said spring. In some cases instead of having the flattening or the
projection on the spindle of the movable part of the electromotor I may have it
on the said movable part itself or on any convenient part in mechanical connection
therewith.
To utilise the movement of the movable part of the electromotor for the purpose of
winding up the spring or weight I employ any convenient known mechanical move-
ment such for example as one of the well known movements used for the conversion
of reciprocating into rotary motion.
The spring or the weight may be wound up during the whole time that the movable
part of the electromotor is in motion, that is when it is moving in both directions, or
they may be wound up only during the movement in one direction, and disengaged
during the movement in the other.
The rheotrope which I have herein before referred to is one which serves to close the
electric circuit as well as to change the direction of the current, but I sometimes
employ a circuit closing device independent of the current reversing device, though
it may in some cases be for convenience mounted on the same support.
I shall now refer to some modifications in the form of electromotor heroinbefore
mentioned. Instead of the fixed part being an electromagnet and the movable part a
permanent magnet, the movable part may be an electromagnet and the fixed part a
permanent magnet, the reversed currents in this case passing through the movable
part and changing its polarity. Or, both the fixed and the movable parts of the
electromotor may be electromagnets, in which case the current must not be reversed
through both of them at the same time, but through one only. To reverse the current
in one of the electromagnets and not in the other I may either introduce a rheotrope
into the circuit between the two electromagnets (that is between the fixed and the
movable parts of the electromotor), or, in the case where the circuit closing device is
independent of the current reversing device, I may have the coils of the electro-
magnet whose polarity is not to be reversed in a shunt or branch circuit from that
part of the circuit which is between the circuit closing device and the current reversing
device.
I may when desired multiply or increase all or any of the parts of the electromotor
and I may alter the amount of angular movement made by the movable part of the
electromotor at each transmission of the electric current.
To shield the electromotor from external magnetic effects I sometimes enclose it or
the whole clock in an iron case.
By mechanical clock mechanism I mean the ordinary mechanism existing in
ordinary clocks, and which indeed may be looked upon as practically constituting an
ordinary clock.
Having now generally described my invention I shall proceed to describe an
illustrative case and for this purpose shall refer to the accompanying sheets of
drawings. Figures 1 and 2 show the form of circuit closing rheotrope herein before
referred to. A is a cylinder of non-conducting material carrying contact strips F
and G crossed in this case in two places as shown. Contact springs B and C are
connected to the electromotor and contact springs D and E to the battery, or, vice-
versa, B and C may be connected to the battery and D and E to the electromotor.
To cause the circuit to be broken the strips F and G may be cut away at one or more
points so as to leave spaces at which as the rheotrope rotates contact is no longer

page_text: made. The size of these spaces will determine the duration of the intervals between
the transmissions of the current. It is evident that there may be any desired number
of crossings and it will also be evident that such a rheotrope instead of rotating may
reciprocate; and to produce such reciprocation it may be attached to any convenient
part of the apparatus and be actuated by any convenient form of movement.
Figure 14 illustrates a case wherein more than two sets of conducting strips are
affixed to the disc or drum of the rheotrope; this being equivalent to the cutting away
mentioned in the preceding paragraph and in this figure it will be seen that each
alternate set of strips is crossed as hereinbefore described.
:
Figure 3 shows so much of a mechanical clock mechanism as is required to
illustrate the application thereto of an electrical winding mechanism and figure 4 is
a side elevation of the electromotor employed. A is the barrel containing the spring
which drives the clock, and B is the winding spindle. Upon BI fix a ratchet wheel &
which is actuated by a pawl D attached to a toothed wheel E which is free on the
winding spindle and is driven from the electromotor M by means of the pinions F
and G and the wheel H. In the electromotor illustrated in this case the fixed part J
consists of an electro-magnet and the movable part K of a permanent magnet attached
to the spindle L. Springs N N press against flats formed on L in order to retain K
in its limiting positions against the effect of vibration or concussion. These springs
in this case constitute the mechanical brake horoinbefore referred to. R is a circuit
closing rheotrope which is placed upon any convenient arbor O of the clock train or of
a special train. It consists in this case of two conducting rings P and Q with teeth P¹
and Q projecting from each ring alternately into the space between the two rings.
Contact springs or brushes S S¹ connect one of these rings always to the negative
and the other always to the positive pole of the battery T. The terminals of the
electromotor join the two other contacts U and V which press against two adjoining
teeth. Thus U presses against one tooth of P whilst V presses against the adjoining
tooth of Q. In the position shown the circuit is closed and the current is passing
from T through the contact S¹, the ring P, the contact U, the electromotor, the
contact V, the ring Q, and the contact S, back to the battery. When the rheotrope
has revolved a little further it will be seen that the contacts Ŭ and V no longer touch
the rings P and Q, but are opposite the spaces between the teeth. When the
rheotrope has revolved still further the contact U will be upon one of the teeth of Q,
and the contact V on one of the teeth of P, so that the circuit will again be closed,
but in a reverse direction, that is, the current will now pass from T through the
contact S¹, the ring P, the contact V, the electromotor M, the contact U, the ring Q,
and the contact S back to the battery. Thus it will be seen that as the rheotrope
rotates with the arbor O an electric current will pass through the electromotor
alternately in opposite directions as herein before mentioned; and as the transmissions
of the electric currents through the electromotor take place in alternately different
directions they reverse the polarity of the electromagnet so as to produce the effects
herein before referred to when describing the action of this form of electromotor.
The width of the teeth P¹ Q1, and of the spaces between the said teeth, together with
the rate of movement of O, will determine the duration and frequency of the electric
currents transmitted through the electromotor. It will be readily understood that as
the motion of the electromotor M is only vibratory and not rotary the wheels E and H
might be replaced by toothed sectors, or that the wheels might have only parts of
their peripheries furnished with teeth. It will be noticed that in the case illustrated
the winding up is only effected at each alternate movement of the electromotor, that
is, at each alternate transmission of the current. In the electromotor just referred to
it will be seen that the pole pieces of the electromagnet themselves form the stops for
the movable part of the electromotor. It will be readily understood that instead of J
being an electromagnet and K a permanent magnet, K might be an electro-magnet
and J a permanent magnet: or both J and K might be electro-magnets. To transmit
motion through the arbor L to the winding spindle B any other known mechanical
movement for the conversion of reciprocating into rotary motion might be employed
and a number such movements will readily suggest themselves.

page_text: A form of balance wheel electromotor in which both the fixed and the movable
parts are electro-magnets is shown in figure 5. In this figure a rod in mechanical
connection with the movable part of the electromotor is shown in contact with a stop
which limits its movement in any one direction as previously described. This figure
will be readily understood from what has preceded without further description.
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 show various methods of connecting up the
several parts of the electrical_winding apparatus. Similar letters stand for similar
parts in the various figures. B is the battery or other source or reservoir of electrical
energy, (a separate circuit closing device, R a separate rheotrope, CR a circuit
closing rheotrope, M an electromagnet forming one of the parts of the electromotor,
Pa permanent magnet constituting a part of the electromotor, and A an electro-
magnet forming a part of an electromotor of which both the fixed and the movable
parts are electromotors. It will be seen that these figures are purely diagrammatic.
In the cases wherein the movable part of the electromotor is an electromagnet the
wires are left sufficiently long to allow of free vibration.
•
I show in figure 3 the application of my winding apparatus to the winding up of a
spring. The application in the case of a weight is practically the same, and need
not be separately illustrated.
In the cases wherein electromagnets are employed both for the fixed and the
movable parts of the electromotor the current may vary in strength within much
wider limits than in the cases wherein one of the parts is an electromagnet and the
other a permanent magnet. In the latter case the current should not be so strong as
to allow of the polarity of the electromagnet reversing the polarity of the permanent
magnet, nor so weak as to be unable to produce a polarity in the electromagnet
opposite to that induced by the permanent magnet.
It will be seen that the apparatus constituting my invention is free from the
objections existing in the known form of self winding clock hereinbefore referred to,
inasmuch as the movable part of the electromotor will always make the same amount
of movement, so winding up the clock always to the same extent, independently of
the duration of the current, independently of variations in its strength, and
independently of variations in the load- -so long of course as the current is not too
weak or the load too great to admit of movement taking place at all.
In some cases I employ only one source or reservoir of electrical energy to supply
the reversed currents necessary for a number of self winding clocks. In such cases I
join up the electromotors of the different clocks in circuit in any convenient manner,
as for example in series or in parallel. In such cases only one circuit closing
rheotrope (or separate rheotrope and circuit closing device) is necessary, and it may
conveniently be actuated by the mechanism of the first clock, (that is, the one nearest
to the source or reservoir of electrical energy), and be in the circuit between it and
the said source or reservoir of electrical energy.
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
1. The improvement in clocks consisting in the combination of a mechanical clock
mechanism and an electrical winding mechanism substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
2. The improvement in clocks and apparatus for winding the same by electricity
consisting in the combination of a mechanical clock mechanism and a balance wheel
electromotor actuated by reversed currents substantially as set forth.
3. The improvement in clocks and apparatus for winding the same by electricity
consisting in the combination of a mechanical clock mechanism, a balance wheel
electromotor actuated by reversed currents and a mechanical movement for converting
reciprocating into rotary motion substantially as set forth.
4. The improvement in apparatus for winding clocks by electricity consisting in
the combination of a balance wheel electromotor and a circuit closing rheotrope (or
a rheotrope and separate circuit closing device) substantially as set forth.
5. The improvement in apparatus for winding clocks by electricity consisting in the

page_text: combination of a balance wheel electromotor a circuit closing rheotrope (or separate
rheotrope and circuit closing device) and an electromagnetic brake substantially as
set forth.
6. The improvement in apparatus for winding clocks by electricity consisting in the
combination of a balance wheel electromotor a circuit closing rheotrope (or separate
rheotrope and circuit closing device) and a mechanical brake substantially as set
forth.
7. The improvement in apparatus for winding clocks by electricity consisting in
the combination of a balance wheel electromotor a circuit closing rheotrope (or
separate rheotrope and circuit closing device) an electromagnetic brake and a
mechanical brake substantially as set forth.
8. The method of employing a single source or reservoir of electrical energy and a
single circuit closing rheotrope (or separate rheotrope and circuit closing device) for
the purpose of supplying reversed currents of electricity to the electromotors of a
number of self winding clocks substantially as and for the purpose described.