Improvements in Alarm Time-keepers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
TRUYEDIVNAL OF MULTIVATION.
Improvements in Alarm Time-keepers.
I, NORMAN HARBEN, of Cheriton, Bedford Road, East Finchley, in the County
of Middlesex, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in alarm time-keepers.
The object of my said invention is to construct a self-contained alarm time-
keeper which when operative to give an alarm shall do so for a considerable time
or until stopped, in contradistinction to alarm clocks of the ordinary type which
can give an alarm for only the short time that the alarm mechanism occupies in
"running down.”
According to my invention I combine with any suitable clock-mechanism an
electric battery, and an electric bell, and I place the battery and bell in circuit
with a device adapted to complete the said circuit when operated by the alarm
mechanism, which latter may consist of a part of the alarm gear of the clock, or of
special mechanism. In addition to the device aforesaid I preferably provide any
suitable switch or other simple means for interrupting the circuit to prevent the
operation of the aların when necessary.
For example I may secure a "dry" battery to the base or frame of the clock
and connect the "slip wheel," that is to say the wheel in the ordinary alarm gear
which moves endwise when allowed to do so by a cam, with one part of the circuit,
and connect a suitable insulated contact-piece with another part thereof in such a
manner that the movement of the slip wheel, end wise, into contact with the contact-
piece aforesaid, will complete the circuit through the battery and the bell, which
latter unless purposely stopped will thereafter continue to sound for a considerable
time, two hours for example, at the end of which time the slip wheel will break the
circuit.
By the automatic breaking of the circuit at the end of a fixed period of time I
provide against the entire exhaustion of the battery which might occur if there
were no person at hand to break the circuit.
Tu Is A 1804
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Alarm Time-keepers.
I, NORMAN HARBEN, of Cleveden, Cyprus Road, Church End, Finchley, late
of Cheriton, Bedford Road, East Finchley, in the County of Middlesex,
Commercial Traveller, 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 alarm time-keepers.
The object of my said invention is to construct a self-contained alarm time-
keeper which when in operation will continue to give an alarm for a considerable

page_text: time or until stopped, in contradistinction to alarm clocks of the ordinary type
which can give an alarm for only the short time that the alarm mechanism occupies
in "running down."
According to my invention. I combine with any suitable clock movement an
electric battery or cell and an electric bell, and I place the battery or cell and bell
in circuit with a device adapted to complete the said circuit when operated by the
alarm mechanism, which latter may consist of a part of the alarm gear of the
clock, or of special mechanism..
In carrying my invention into practice I secure a "dry" cell preferably to the
base or case of the clock and in the circuit of such cell I connect the slip, wheel,"
that is to say the wheel which in ordinary alarm mechanism, moves Interally on its
arbor when allowed to do so by a projection acting in conjunction with a cam on
said "slip wheel." In proximity to the "slip wheel" I provide a suitable insulated
contact-piece which is also connected in the above mentioned circuit and is so
arranged that the lateral movement of the slip, wheel, by coming against the
contact-piece aforesaid, will complete the circuit through the beli, which latter
unless, purposely stopped will thereafter continue to sound for a considerable time,
at the end of which time the slip wheel will regain its normal position and thus
break, the circuit.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood. I will now describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,
Figure. is a front view, partly in section, of an electric alarm clock constructed
according to my invention, the dial and a portion of the case being removed, and
Figure 2 is bottom plan thereof showing the dry cell and the clips holding the
same in position.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the clock showing the positions of the
slip wheel when the bell circuit is open.
.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing the position when the bell circuit is
closed.
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Figures 5 to 8 are enlarged detail views of Figures 3 and 4 to be hereinafter
described.
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Like letters denote corresponding parts throughout the drawings..
A is the clock case, B; is. the electric bell. To the frame C which ordinarily
carries the dial of the clock is attached, but insulated therefrom, a metallic contact
plate D of suitable form, which is adapted to, make contact with the. "slip
wheel" E when the latter is in its outermost position as hereinafter more fully
described.
A "dry" cell F is placed in the space at the base of the, clock case and is held
in position by turn buttons G G or in any other convenient manner. The said
buttons G G can be turned aside, so as to enable the cell to be removed or placed
in position, by slightly loosening the screws G' G' which form the feet of the
clock case.
I provide a switch H for interrupting the circuit and to prevent the operation of
the bell when desired.
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1
The fixed contact H of the switch is insulated from the clock case but the
switch itself is electrically connected to the case A and therefore to the mechanism
of the clock.
The circuit. when closed ciz. when the alarm is in,operation is as follows, that is
to say, the current, starting from one pole of the cell,, F, passes through the
switch Hi to the case A and thus through, the mechanism to the slip wheel E;,it
then passes through the insulated contact piece D to the electromagnet B' and
contact-breaker B of the electric.bell B leaving the bell by the contact pillar B³
and thence back to the other pole of the cell F.
The relative positions of the "slip-wheel" E' and contact piece D when the
circuit is, respectively open and closed' are shown in Figures 3 and 4 and more
clearly in the enlarged views Figures 5 to 8.
Figures 5 and 6 show the position of the parts when the alarm is set. In this

page_text: position a pin I on the arbor I which carries the slip wheel E is in contact with
the raised part of a cam J which is secured to the face of the slip wheel E. The
pin I bolds the slip-wheel E out of contact with the piece D against the pressure
of a spring K which tends to press the slip-wheel forward.
As the movement of the clock mechanism continues the slip-wheel, through
suitable gearing, is gradually rotated until the hour or fraction of an hour at which
the clock is set to give the alarm is reached. At this prearranged time the cam J
of the wheel E which has been travelling round in the direction of the arrow in
the drawing has attained such a position relative to the pin I that the steep
side J' of the hollow J' in the cam J is reached. The pin It being now no longer
able to hold back the wheel E the latter is pressed forward by the action of the
spring K and the pin 1' enters into the hollow J' in the cam thus allowing the slip-
wheel E to come into contact with the contact piece D thereby completing the
circuit and the bell is started ringing. The parts now occupy the position shown
in Figures 7 and 8 which as drawn illustrate their situation after the bell has been
ringing some time.
The bell will now continue to ring for a length of time depending on the length
of the hollow or gap in the cam, at the end of which time the slip-wheel will
break the circuit.
This breaking of the circuit by the slip-wheel is accomplished as follows, that is
to say, as the slip-wheel continues to slowly rotate, after a time it moves so far that
At this end of
the pin I has reached the other end of the hollow J₁ in the cam.
the hollow is an incline J up which the pin Irises and thus gradually again presses
back the slip-wheel E out of contact with the piece D.
As shown in the drawing the length of the hollow Jis such that the bell B will
ring for about two hours unless previously stopped by breaking the circuit by means
of the switch H or in any other manner.
By the automatic breaking of the circuit at the end of a fixed period of time as
above described I provide against the entire exhaustion of the cell which might
occur if there were no person at hand to break the circuit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An electric alarm time-keeper or clock constructed substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as and for the purpose
specified.
2. In an electric alarm time-keeper or clock the combination with the "slip
wheel "E of an insulated contact piece such as D substantially as hereinbefore
described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 14th day of January 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.