Improvements in Magneto-electric Timepieces.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 16th Julv. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magneto-electric Timepieces.
I WILLIAM RUTTON MAY 130 St. Paul's Road Canonbury London Electrician
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in magneto-electric timepieces, and is
carried into operation in the manner hereinafter described.
The pendulum of the time-piece is driven by the means of an electro-magnet or
electro-magnets which may be furnished with one or more coils. To the penduium
is attached a piece of iron of a convenient section which forms the armature to the
electro-magnet, or electro-magnets. In this piece of iron a recess is made, in which
recess a small piece of metal, which is preferably wedge shaped, is pivoted. Along-
side the electro-magnet or electro-magnets, and between the pole or poles thereof
two vertical, or horizontal rods or pieces of metal, which may be either flexible or
rigid, are fixed at a convenient distance apart from each other. According as the
swinging movement of the pendulum slackens the small piece of metal on the
armature drops between, or on to these two contact rods or pieces, and brings
the magnet or magnets into operation, so imparting fresh impetus to the pendulum,
and causing it to give a longer swing. During the interval between each contact
until the swinging of the pendulum is at the minimum the small piece of metal, by
reason of its being pivoted, will pass over the contact rods or pieces without making
contact with them. The contact rods or pieces are connected with the battery and
magnets in any convenient manner. The pendulum may be put in motion in first
instance by a touch of the finger, thenceforth, it derives, its motion from the
electricity generated by the means herein specified.
Dated this 17th day of July 1891.
WILLM. RUTTN. MAY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magneto-electric Timepieces.
I, WILLIAM RUTTON MAY of 130 Saint Paul's Road Canonbury London,
Electrician 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 has reference to improvements in magneto-electric timepieces, and
will be easily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1, is a view of the lower part of the pendulum, with the armature and wedge-
shaped piece of metal attached thereto.
Fig. 2, is a view of the electro-magnet, and vertical contact rods, or pieces
attached thereto.
Fig. 3, is a view of the vertical contact rods or pieces one of which is in the form
of a spiral wire, or coiled spring, and the other rigid.
Fig. 4, is a view of the electro-magnet and horizontal contact rods or pieces.
Like letters designate like parts throughout the several views.
The pendulum of the timepiece, a, Figures 1 & 2, is set in motion in the first
instance by a touch of the finger; thenceforth it is driven by electricity obtained by
the means hereinafter specified. A piece of iron of a convenient section, & Figures 1
& 2, is attached to the pendulum, a, and forms the armature to the electro-magnet, d,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 (or electro-magnets) which may be furnished with one or more
coils. In the piece of iron, b, there is an opening, &', in which is placed a small

page_text: piece of metal-preferably wedge-shaped-which is pivoted to the piece of iron, b.
Alongside the electro-magnet (or electro-magnets) and between the poles thereof
two vertical or horizontal contact rods d', d, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 are fixed at a
convenient distance apart. One of these rods may be slightly longer than the other.
The vertical rods may be either rigid or flexible. The horizontal rods must be flexible.
The rods are connected with the electro-magnet (or electro-magnets) in any
convenient manner. When the pendulum, a, Figures 1 & 2, is swinging rapidly
over the vertical rods d¹ d¹ Figures 1 the piece of metal c which is pivoted to the
piece of iron b Figures 1 & 2 barely touches the rods but does not make electrical
contact with them; but when the pendulum, a, has fallen to its slackest motion, the
small piece of metal, c, drops between these rods and thus brings them into contact,
so completing the electric circuit and causing the electro-magnet (or electro-
magnets) to become strongly excited, and to attract the piece of iron, b, and
consequently the pendulum, a, by the additional impetus given to it is driven faster,
and performs a longer swing. In the case of the horizontal rods, d', d', Figure 4,
the pendulum, a, having subsided to its slackest motion the small piece of metal, c,
Figure 1 drops on or between them and so completes the electric circuit thereby
causing the effects hereinbefore specified. In the case of the spiral wire or coiled
spring, d', Figure 3 and the rigid vertical contact rod, d', Figure 3, when the
pendulum, a, Figures 1 and 2 has subsided to its slackest motion the small piece of
metal, c, which is pivoted to the armature, b, Figures 1 and 2 drops on the top of
the spiral wire or coiled spring, d¹, Figure 3, and forces it against the rigid contact
rod, a, Figure 3, and so completes the electric circuit causing the effects herein-
before specified.
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-In magneto-electric timepieces the combination, and arrangement of the piece
of iron (or armature), b, Figures 1 and 2 in which piece is the opening, 6', the small
piece of metal, c, Figure 1 pivoted to the piece of iron, b; the vertical or horizontal
contact rods d', d' Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 connected with the electro-magnet (or electro-
magnets), d, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 all substantially as, and for the purposes herein
specified, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2-The application to magneto-electric timepieces of the piece of iron, b, with the
opening therein, 6', the small piece of metal, c, the vertical or horizontal contact
rods, d, d', all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified, and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of April 1892.
WILLIAM KUTTON MAI.