Improvements in Gyrating Pendulum Escapements.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gyrating Pendulum Escapements.
I, FERDINAND GUNDORPH, of No. 134, Powell Street, in the City and County
of San Francisco, and State of California, United States of America, Watch-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to an improved pendulum escapement to govern chrono-
metrically a clock-movement or other similar mechanism.
The novel features of the improvement include a pendulum having a gyrating
movement without points of rest, and an escapement by which the motive power
is applied to the pendulum without being directly connected to it.
The pendulum proper is composed of a rod having a bob or weight on the
lower end, and furnished on the upper end with a head consisting principally
of a circular flange with a flat top-face which lies in a plane perpendicular
to the axis of the rod, and with a segmental recess in the underside adapted to
admit the end of a stationary horizontal arm or bracket. In the end of that arm
is fixed a conical pin, the point of which rests in a jewelled bearing provided for
it in the underside of the pendulum-head or circular flange, and on this bearing-
point as a pivot the pendulum is suspended and is free to swing in all directions
in a circle without striking the stationary arm. Thus balanced on the point
of the conical pin the circular flange is movable in any direction out of a
horizontal position under any disturbing force that is sufficient to move the
suspended pendulum beyond the center of gravity.
Above the head or flange thus supported an upright spindle or arbor is set in
bearings in a stationary support to rotate directly over and in line with the center
of suspension of the pendulum.
That spindle carries a pinion fast on the upper part, and on the lower part in
closer relation to the top face of the flange is a fixed sleeve having on the
lower end a forked bearing, between the arms of which a rod or lever is pivoted
to oscillate freely in a vertical are. On one arm or member of this lever is set
a spherical weight that is arranged to rest at all times upon the flat top of the
flange, while on the opposite end or member of the lever is fixed a counter-
weight not in contact with the flange.
By virtue of this arrangement of the parts the weight resting on the top-face
of the flange acts through the force of gravitation to tilt the disk out of a
horizontal plane and throw the pendulum beyond the center of gravity, and the
amount or degree of this deflection being determined and regulated both by the
mass of the weight and the length of the arm or member of the lever that carries
the weight. Under the motive force applied to the upright spindle through the.
medium of the pinion fixed thereon the spindle rotating in its bearings gives
revolving motion to the weighted lever in a circular path upon the top face of
the pendulum-head, thereby tilting the head and producing a gyrating movement
of the same upon its supporting pivot and imparting through that motion a
continuous circular motion to the lower end of the pendulum-rod.
In the circle described by the outer end of the oscillating weight-carrying :

page_text: lever are stop-pins projecting vertically from a fixed support above so as to lie in
the circular path in which that end of the lever travels, and extending down-
wards from their support at equal distances from the center of revolution of the
lever and equi-distant from one another around the circle. The function of
these stop-pins is to intercept and momentarily arrest the movement of the
weight-carrying lever in its revolutions, and they are made of such length that
in the horizontal position of the pendulum-head the end of the lever will lie
against the stop-pin and will be held at rest momentarily until the angular
deflection of the pendulum-head under the force of gravitation acting on the
weight allows the end of the lever to slip off and pass under the point of the
stop-pin.
These movements of the traveling weight as it is impelled by the motive force
in a circle around the top face of the pendulum-head produces and maintains
uniform movement of the pendulum irrespective of any irregularity in the motive
force.
Any such variation in the motive force or power, while it may cause the
weight to travel from one stop-pin to the next with greater or less irregularity
of movement, will simply cause the weight-carrying lever to strike the stop-pin
with greater or less force without disturbing the regularity of motion of the
pendulum.
This movement of the pendulum is a continuous one without points of rest or
culminating points as exist in the case of all pendulums that have a simple
oscillating movement. By virtue of the peculiar gyrating motion obtained, the
pendulum absolutely determines the moment of escape of the weight-carrying
lever at each stop-pin and accurately controls and regulates the intervals of rest
and motion in the forward movement of the lever.
These jumps or intervals are marked by the second-hand with which the pinion
bearing spindle would be connected in applying these improvements to a clock-
movement, and the number of such impulses that are required to cause the hand-
to stop momentarily at given points on the dial for indicating the divisions of a
second are governed by the number of stop-pins employed. These in any case
can not be less than three, as that number will be found necessary in order to
produce movement of the pendulum in a true circle around the point of
suspension.
Improvements in Gyrating Pendulum Escapements.
I, FERDINAND GUNDORPH, of No. 128 (formerly of No. 134) Powell Street, in
the City and County of San Francisco and State of Californa, United States of
America, Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved pendulum escapement to govern chrono-
metrically a clock movement or other similar mechanism; and the same
consists in certain novel parts and combination of parts as hereinafter explained
and pointed out, producing an improved governing mechanism in which the

page_text: pendulum is detached or disconnected from the power in such manner as not to
be affected in its motion by any irregularity in the motive power or force and,
is impelled continuously in one direction.
The novel features of this improvement include a pendulum having a gyrating
movement without points of rest, and an escapement by which the motive power
is applied to the pendulum without being directly connected to it.
The following description explains at length the nature of my said improve-
ments and the manner in which I proceed to construct, apply and carry out the
same reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this
specification, in which:-
Figure represents in side-elevation a pendulum escapement for clocks
embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a front-view taken from the left-hand side of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an inverted plan of the upper part of the mechanism with the
pendulum-rod cut off at -, Figure 1.
Figure 4 illustrates the position of the parts at one point in the movement of
the pendulum.
Figures 5 and 6 are details of the oscillating weighted lever that gives motion
to the pendulum and the spindle connecting the lever with the power-pinion.
Figure illustrates a construction of weight and carrier in which two balls
are employed in place of a single ball.
A indicates a bracket fixed to a stationary support X and standing out from
that support in a horizontal plane.
A is an arm beneath the bracket A, to the underside of which it is secured
by screws a¹ On this bracket is mounted a pinion P' to which the motive force,
or power is applied, from the underside of the same piece is suspended the pivot
on which the pendulum swings.
1) is a
C is the pendulum-rod, and C its weight or bob on the lower end.
head or fitting on the upper end of rod C, having a broad top-flange with a
segmental recess or opening d in one side into which the end of the arm A¹
extends from one side.
C2 is a conical pin fixed in the end of that arm having its point coinciding
with the longitudinal center line of the pendulum-rod.
B is a disk or circular plate on the top of the head D to which it is fixed by
screws, so that the center of the disk being coincident with the longitudinal
axis of the pendulum-rod the top-face of the disc is at right angles to that axis.
A jewelled bearing for the point of the pin C2 is fixed in the center of the
disk 13, and the recess in the fitting D is of proper dimensions to admit the
arm A and allow clearance for the pendulum to swing without striking the
arm. On this pivot the circular plate or disk B thus mounted is free to tilt or
move in any direction out of a horizontal position under any disturbing force
that is sufficient to throw the pendulum beyond the center of gravity.
E is a spindle or arbor supported in upright position in bearings to rotate
directly over and in line with the center on which the pendulum is suspended.
The pinion P fast on this spindle forms the medium through which in turn the
governing force of the pendulum is applied. On the lower end of this spindle
is fixed a sleeve F having on the lower end a fork F¹ between the arms of which
a rod G is pivoted to oscillate freely in a vertical arc.
His a weight on one arm or member of this rod, and K is a counter-weight
on the opposite arm. This rod forming the carrier of the weight H is loosely
hung on the center I', so that the weight rests at all times upon the disk B and
through the force of gravitation.acting on its mass the weight will tilt the disk
out of a horizontal plane, as illustrated in Figure 4, thereby throwing the
pendulum beyond the center of gravity. The amount or degree of this deflection
is determined and regulated both by the mass of the weight H and its distance
radially from the center of oscillation of the carrier.

page_text: By the revolutions of this carrier around the center F¹ under the motive force
applied to the spindle the weight H travels around the surface of the disk in a
circular path and the resultant movement of the lower end of the pendulum-rod
is a continuous circular motion. The weight H is best formed of a spherical
ball loosely mounted on the carrier G so as to rotate freely by frictional contact
with the surface of the disk. In the slight modification represented in Figure
two balls are mounted to rotate freely on pins or axles in place of a single ball.
This construction has the advantage of producing bearings for the balls with a
small amount of frictional surface. The counter-weight K employed to regulate
the amount or degree of pressure of the ball H and the consequent deflection
of the disk is movable on the carrier G and is fixed at the required point beyond
the pivot by a set screw ¹.
LLL are stop-pins fixed in the plate A from the underside of which they
project or extend downward at points equi-distant from the center and from one
another around a circle that is concentric with the disk B of the pendulum and
in the circular path described by the end of the rod or carrier G when that
part stands horizontal. When thus placed the stop-pins intercept and arrest the
movement of the rod in its revolutions about the center. They are made of
such length that in the horizontal position of the disk B the outer end of the
rod lies against the pin, and in the movement of that end in a circle as produced
by the motive force the rod is arrested momentarily until the angular deflection
of the disk B under the force of gravitation acting upon the weight H allows
the end of the rod to slip off and pass under the point of the stop-pin. In this
manner the weight released at each stop-pin is caused to move forward at
definite points in the circle, which points are controlled and regulated by the
movement of the disk.
The stop-ins are adjustable perpendicularly in the plate for the purpose of
regulating the length or amount of their projection below the line of the weight-
carrying rod when that part stands, horizontal.
As thus constructed and combined for operation the pendulum is moved and
caused to swing entirely by the force of gravitation acting through the travel-
ing weight upon the disk, and a uniform movement of the pendulum is produced
and maintained irrespective of any irregularity in the motive force.
:
Any variation in such force or power while it may cause the weight to travel
on the disk from one stop-pin to the next with greater or less irregularity of
motion will simply cause the weight-carrier to strike the stop-pin with greater
or less force without disturbing or affecting the regular movement of the
pendulum. This movement of the pendulum also when it is started in its
gyrations is a continuous one, so that it has no points of rest or culminating
points as in the case of all pendulums that have a simple oscillating movement.
By virtue of this peculiar gyrating motion maintained without being directly
connected to or with the motive force, the pendulum absolutely determines the
moment of escape of the weight at each stop-pin and thus accurately controls
and regulates the intervals of rest or momentary stops in the forward motion of
the carrier. These jumps or intervals will be indicated by the second-hand
with which the pinion P' would be connected in the clock movement, and the
number of such impulses required to cause the hand to stop momentarily at
given points on the dial to indicate the divisions of a second are regulated by
the number of stop-pins L employed. These in any case cannot be less than
three, as that number is required to produce the movement of the pendulum-
weight in a true circle around the point of suspension.
A spiral spring S connected at one end to the pendulum-rod by a collar S¹,
and at the other end to a fixed point above, such as to the support A', acts to
hold the disk B in position with relation to the support on which it is suspended
and without interfering with or disturbing the continuous movement of the
pendulum in a true circle, and thus keep the pendulum on the part D from
making contact with the support A' while in motion.

page_text: 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: In a gravity-escapement the combination with the power-shaft or spindle
of a disk balanced and free to move on a central pivot having its center of
gravity located at a distance below the pivot an oscillating carrier connected
with the power shaft to travel in a circle under the rotation of said shaft and
having movement in a vertical are a weight on the said carrier adapted to travel
on the surface of the disk and stop-pins located at intervals of distance apart
in a circle and in the path of the weight-carrier in its revolutions.
2: In a gravity escapement a balanced disk pivotally mounted to move in
any direction out of a horizontal plane and having its center of gravity located
below its supporting pivot an oscillating carrier capable of traveling in a circle
over the said disk a weight on said carrier adapted to make contact with the
surface of the disk and by the force of gravitation to deflect the disk a counter-
weight on the carrier and the stop-pins as a means of intermittently arresting
the travel of said carrier.
3: The combination with the disk pivotally mounted and balanced on a
central support and having its center of gravity located below said support of the
traveling-carrier movable in a circle above the surface of said disk and also
movable in a vertical arc whose center coincides with the pivotal support of
the disk a weight adapted by contact with and movement over the surface of
the disk to deflect the disk and controled by said carrier to travel in a circular
path an adjustable counterweight on said carrier and means as the stop-pins
for intermittently arresting the movement of said weight at intervals in its
movement as described.
4-The combination with the power-shaft of the sleeve fixed thereon the rod
fulcrumed on the lower end of said sleeve and movable in a vertical are a weight
on one arm of said rod mounted to rotate thereon an adjustable counter-weight
on the opposite arm a disk pivotally mounted and balanced on a central pivot
under said rod having its center of gravity located below said pivot and the
stop-pins standing in the path of the weight-carrying rods and adapted by their
position to intermittently arrest the travel of said rod.
Dated this 20th day of Octaba 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.