TIMING THE BOILING OF AN EGG OR EGGS AND METER OR TIME MEASURER
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 14th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 17th May, 1887.
the same or for Indicating any Given Amount of Time.
JOHN JERGER 42 Fore Street Devonport Devon Jeweller and ROBERT WILLIAM
STEPHENS 34 Catherine Street Devonport Devon, Ironmonger do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for TIMING THE BOILING OF AN EGG OR EGGS AND METER
OR TIME MEASURER to be as follows:-
A meter or Timer for timing the boiling of an egg or eggs or a machine made and
regulated to run for any specified time-indicating the time so run on the face by
means of a hand and dial similar to a clock-the expiration of such time or any inter-
mediate time that the meter or timer may be made to indicate as may be required
shall be indicated by the ringing of a Gong or Gongs or a Bell or Bells as indicators-
or if thought necessary or desirable the bells or gongs as indicators can be dispensed
with.
The said meter or indicator to be put in motion by simply pressing a knob fixed
on the top of a spindle-this spindle at its lower end or other convenient position has
notches or cogs cut out of it or inserted into it forming a rack in which a cog wheel
or spur or pinion wheel works-this pinion wheel is made to revolve by means of
pushing down the aforementioned spindle and in revolving winds up a clock spring or
Feather or other similar spring-this spring sets a series of three or more cog or spur
wheels in motion the speed and time of which is regulated by means of a pendulum
or by pallets as may be thought necessary so as to obtain the required beat or gauge
of time.
The pressing down of the knob and spindle by one action is sufficient to wind up
the meter and set it in motion thus creating a right and left action by one push and
thereby dispensing with the usual mode of winding up by means of turning around a

page_text: No special attention is required to place the hand or dial at starting point no
matter in what position the hand or dial may be or whether the meter is going or
stopped the pressing of the knob and spindle as before mentioned being sufficient to
set the hand in that position as well as for winding up the spring sufficient to give
the necessary power.
A Hand or dial is connected to the spindle of the centre wheels the spindle of
which is extended thro' the face similar to a clock and thus the time or measure
is indicated on the face in the usual way.
We reserve to ourselves also the right of winding up the meter with a key in the
usual way as in a clock instead of a presser knob and spindle as before described if
thought desirable.
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page_text: the same or for Indicating any Given Amount of Time.
We JOHN JERGER 42 Fore Street Devonport, Devon, Jeweller, and ROBERT
WILLIAM STEPHENS 34 Catherine Street, Devonport, Devon, Ironmonger, 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:-
This invention is designed to supply an apparatus for measuring the time required
for boiling eggs and is also applicable to any similar purpose with slight modi-
fications.
It consists of a clock movement of a simple kind which when set or adjusted records
in a specially distinct or emphatic way on a special dial by means of a hand, the lapse
of any required period or periods of time and it also if desired strikes a bell at the
expiration of the time or times indicated by the hand on the dial or any intermediate
time, and if desired rings a bell continuously during the period of time for which the
meter is required to run. Our time meter is started and set in motion either by
winding up a spring in the ordinary way, or when preferred, by pressing down a
vertical bar having on one side a rack or series of cogs, which rack engages with a
pinion wheel in the mechanism, so as to effect simultaneously the winding up of
the spring and starting of the mechanism as well as the return of the hand of the dial
to zero.
In our time-meter the pressure of the spring is by preference conveyed direct to
the centre wheel and escapement, this being a simpler and stronger form of action
than that ordinarily used in clocks. The arbor of this centre wheel being extended
through the face of the dial carries the hand on its outer extremity in the usual
way.
We also reserve to ourselves the right to make our time-meter without the Hand
or dial as before described-the ringing of the bell being the only indicator to be
used-In this kind of meter a case the form of an egg and cup, or of any other
appropriate design, can be used to contain the works.
Figure 1. shows a simple form of dial adapted for an egg-timer in which the hand
is arranged to travel over a space representing three minutes and ten seconds, or any
other preferred interval.
2. Shews a back view of the clock movement with the vertical rack and pinion.
3. Shews the position of the spring with the pressure applied direct to centre
wheel and arbor.
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page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is
1. A time meter or measurer for recording in a specially emphatic manner the
lapse of stated portions of time, for which it is adjusted, and which meter is arranged
to strike a Bell when required either continuously during the period of time for
which the time Meter is set, or at the expiration of such time; also if preferred,
to be used without a bell as an indicator only, as herein described and set forth.
2. A time-meter which can be set in motion by pressing down a vertical rack and
pinion or by a key in the ordinary way and which meter can be used with or without
a dial, and when a dial is employed, the action of winding or starting, causes the hand
of the dial to revert to zero as herein explained and set forth.
3. A special dial and hand, the face of the dial being specially marked to shew the
particular portions of time to be measured or recorded, as herein explained and set
forth.
4. A special direct action of spring on central wheel and arbour as herein described
and set forth.