Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1886.
Complete Left, 21st Apr., 1887
Complete Accepted, 24th 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 that class of electric clock which has neither driving spring,
driving weight, pendulum, balance wheel, nor escapement, but is driven and controlled
entirely by electricity.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ an electromotor the fixed part of
which consists of an electromagnet curved into a form somewhat resembling the letter S.
When desired this may be furnished with soft iron pole-pieces. The movable part of
the electromotor consists of a permanent magnet which may also be curved into a
form resembling that of the letter S, and it also may be furnished with soft iron pole-
pieces when desired. The said movable part of the electromotor may move upon an
axis in either a vertical or a horizontal plane. In the case where the movable part
of the electromotor moves in a horizontal plane its axis or arbor is vertical and may
carry a worm or endless screw working in a worm wheel forming one of a train of
wheels actuating the hands. In the case where the movable part of the electromotor
moves in a vertical plane its axis or arbor is horizontal and may carry a toothed wheel
forming one of the train of wheels actuating the hands.
The action of my apparatus is as follows. A number of these clocks being arranged,
preferably in series, so as to receive electrical transmissions or impulses from a master
clock which controls them all, this master clock transmits a current of electricity
through them at regular intervals but each time in a reverse direction, that is
alternately positive and negative. The direction of the current is such at each trans-
mission that it develops in the electromagnet (i.e. the fixed portion of the electromotor)
poles of the same name as those of the permanent magnet (the movable part of the
electromotor) which are nearest to them. The poles of the permanent magnet are
therefore repelled by those poles of the electro-magnet which they are next to and of
the same name and attracted by those which are farthest away and of different name.

page_text: 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
and the electro-magnet come together, and the permanent magnet brought to rest.
The current may be allowed to continue to flow for a second or two in order to maintain
this relative position of the parts by acting as a kind of magnetic brake as it were.
The next transmission of the current being in the opposite direction reverses the
polarity of the electromagnet-what was a north pole being now a south pole and
what was a south pole being now a north pole whilst the poles of the permanent
magnet of course remain the same. Poles of like name are therefore again in juxta-
position, so that repulsion again takes place, the permanent magnet again moves
through half a revolution, and so on, the train of wheels and hands being advanced
each time.
To prevent the momentum of the permanent magnet carrying it beyond the half
revolution I may employ a spring pressing against the axis of the permanent magnet
which may be flattened or provided with a projection so as to cause it to be held by
the said spring as will be readily understood. This device also serves to prevent the
permanent magnet being moved out of position, by jarring or otherwise, when the
current is not flowing; and it is also an additional protection, besides that afforded by
the shape and disposition of the parts of the electromotor, against any backward
movement of the permanent magnet.
To protect the parts of my clock from external inductive effects I may enclose them
entirely in a case or box of iron.
The object of making the electromagnet of a form resembling the letter S is that
its poles or extremities may point in the same "direction of rotation." I here use
the term direction of rotation in a geometric sense and. without reference to the
direction of rotation of the removeable part of the electromotor.
Dated this 21st day of June 1886.

page_text: I, 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 that class of electric clock which has neither driving spring,
driving weight, pendulum, balance wheel nor escapement, but is driven and actuated
entirely by electricity. Such a form of clock is more appropriately called a chronoscope
or time indicator.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ an electromotor the fixed part of
which consists of an electromagnet curved into a form somewhat resembling, the
letter S. This 1 sometimes furnish with separate soft iron pole pieces. The movable
part of the said electromotor consists of a permanent magnet, and I sometimes curve
it into a shape resembling the letter S. Occasionally I furnish it also with soft iron
pole pieces. The said movable part of the electromotor moves upon an axis or spindle
in a vertical or a horizontal plane. In the case where it moves in a horizontal plane
its spindle is vertical and carries a worm or endless screw working in a worm wheel
forming one of the train of wheels actuating the hands. In the case where the movable
part of the electromotor moves in a vertical plane its spindle is horizontal and carries
a toothed wheel forming one of the train of wheels actuating the hands.
The action of my apparatus is as follows. A number of these chronoscopes being
arranged, preferably in series, so as to receive electrical transmissions or impulses
from a master clock which drives or controls them all, this master clock transmits a
current of electricity through them at regular intervals, but each time in a reverse
direction, that is, alternately positive and negative. The direction of the current is
such at each transmission that it develops in the electromagnet (that is, the fixed
portion of the electromotor), poles of the same name as those of the permanent magnet
(the movable part of the electromotor) which are nearest to them. The poles of the
permanent magnet are therefore repelled by those of the electromagnet which they
are next to and of the same name, and attracted by those which are farthest away and
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 and of the electromagnet come together and the permanent magnet is
brought to rest. The current is preferably allowed to continue to flow for a second
or two in order to maintain this relative position of the parts by acting as a kind of
magnetic brake as it were. The next transmission of the current being in the opposite
direction reverses the polarity of the electromagnet-what was a north pole being now
a south pole and what was a south pole being now a north pole-whilst the poles of
Poles of like name are therefore
the permanent magnet of course remain the same.

page_text: again in juxtaposition so that repulsion again takes place, the permanent magnet
again moves through half a revolution, and so on, the train of wheels and hands being
advanced each time.
To prevent the momentum of the permanent magnet carrying it beyond the half
revolution, I employ a spring or springs pressing against the spindle or axis of the
permanent magnet, which is either flattened, by filing flats thereon, or provided with
a point or projection so as to cause it to be held by the said spring as will be readily
understood: This device also serves to prevent the permanent magnet from being
moved out of position by jarring or concussion when the current is not flowing; and
it is also an additional protection, besides that afforded by the shape and disposition of
the parts of the electromotor, against any backward movement of the permanent
magnet.
Instead of employing a single projection, as above mentioned, I sometimes employ
a number of projections, so as to constitute in fact a ratchet wheel; and the spring
may then either act as a click to the said ratchet wheel or press a separate click
against the ratchet wheel. This device I may conveniently term a mechanical
brake.
The object of making the electromagnet of a form resembling the letter S is that
its poles or extremities may point in the same direction of rotation (I here use the
term direction of rotation in its geometric sense), so as to determine the direction in
which the movable part of the electromotor will move.
It will be readily understood that without departing from my invention the fixed
part of the electromotor may be a permanent magnet instead of an electromagnet,
and the moveable part may be an electromagnet instead of a permanent magnet, the
reversed currents in this case passing through the moveable part and changing its
polarity.
When desired I may multiply all or any of 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 my clock from external magnetic effects I sometimes enclose it in an
iron case.
Having now explained my invention in a general manner I shall, in order that it
may be more readily understood, proceed, to refer to it in detail, with the aid of the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
.
:
Figure 1 shows the electromotor hereinbefore referred to, and figures I. a., Ib., I c.,
1 d., I e., and If. details of the same: The electromotor in this case is shown as
consisting of a fixed electromagnet and a moveable permanent magnet. The said fixed
pari, shown in detail in figures I a., I b., and I c., consists of a straight soft iron bar a¹
upon which are slid the magnetizing coils C. To the ends of the bar a', and at right
angles with the same, are attached the short bars a² and to the ends of these, and
also at right angles, are attached the curved extensions a³, so as to give the whole
electromagnet a form resembling that of the letter S, and enabling it to einbrace or
come into as close proximity as possible with the moveable part of the electromotor.
The bar a is attached by the pin E to the support F with distance pieces G G¹ between,
the latter distance piece being tubular in order to embrace E. The permanent
magnet, or movable part of the electromotor, is in this case of the shape shown in
figure Id, the straight part being in the same plane as the curved parts 2,
instead of their being in different planes as are the straight and the curved parts
of the electromagnet shown in figure Ic. The movable part B of the electromotor
is keyed as shown in figures Ie and If to the spindle D, which transmits the
movement to the train of wheels operating the hands. The lower end of the spindle
D is turned to form a pivot H, as shewn in figure I e, which is free to revolve in
the cup J of the pin E shown in figure I a.
.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively side and front elevations of parts of the clock
movement serving to transmit motion from the electromotor to the hands! Dis the
spindle of the electromotor whose lower pivot Hhas already been referred to when
speaking of figure-I e, and whose upper pivot is shown'at K. Upon this-spindlo the
Г

page_text: worm L is cut and it drives the worm wheel M on the arbor N and so transmits
movement to the hands 0 0 through the usual train of wheels P P serving to operate
the hands of clocks. S is a spring or pair of springs resting against the flat or flats R
formed on the spindle and together serving as herein before mentioned to prevent the
momentum of the permanent magnet carrying it beyond a half revolution, to prevent
jar or concussion displacing the movable part of the electromotor when the current
is not passing, and to prevent any backward movement of the said movable part.
Figure 4 represents the case herein before referred to wherein a ratchett wheel and
click constitute a form of mechanical brake. In this case the spring S acts the part
of the click to the ratchett wheel W: but it is sometimes more convenient to have a
separate click or pawl, such as is commonly used in clockwork, with the spring keeping
it in position.
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 electric clocks consisting of a train of wheels operating the
hands and operated by an electromotor, actuated by reversed currents, whose fixed
part consists of an S-shaped magnet, substantially as set forth.
2. The improvement in electric clocks consisting in the combination of an electro-
motor, actuated by reversed currents, and whose fixed part consists of an S shaped
magnet, and a mechanical brake substantially as set forth.