IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF MAGNETO-ELECLECTRICITY TO THE PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING OF SYMPATHETIC CLOCKS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick James Ritchie, of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Clock and Watch Maker, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF MAGNETO-ELEC-
Sealed the 12th July 1864, and dated the 21st January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick James Ritchie
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st January 1864.
I, FREDERICK JAMES RITCHIE, of Edinburgh, in the. County of Mid Lothian,
North Britain, Clock and Watch Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF MAGNETO-ELECTRICITY
TO THE PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING OF SYMPATHETIC CLOCKS," to be as follows,
that is to say:
This Invention relates to the application of currents of electricity to
horological instruments. These currents are induced upon the wire coil
attached to the armature or to the poles of a permanent magnet, either as a
single or compound bar or horse-shoe, or other mechanical form in alternate
directions when the magnetic circuit is made or broken. These induced
currents are employed for the purpose of producing motion at certain intervals
of time, regulated by a normal clock or timekeeper by means of coils of wire
influencing magnetic bars or needles, or other wire coils or electro-magnets
upon escapements or other wheelwork to indicate similar time on other clock
dials. These improvements are carried out in several ways. The armature
I

page_text: is caused to move in close proximity to the poles of a permanent magnet or
the magnet in relation to the armature, alternately making and breaking the
magnetic circuit either by a motion derived directly from the oscillations of a
pendulum kept in vibration by electrical or mechanical means, or by a motion
derived from the escapement or other part of the wheelwork of a clock or
other machine producing either a vibratory motion or causing it to rotate
around its own centre or axis, or giving it any other motion by which the
magnetic circuit may be completed or broken at regular or convenient
intervals, depending upon the vibrations of a well regulated or controlled
pendulum or balance, thus producing waves or currents of induced electricity
upon the wire coils in alternate directions; these alternate, positive, and
negative currents of induced electricity are used to produce by means of wire
coils or otherwise alternate attractions and repulsions upon magnetic bars or
needles, which by their oscillations or rotations give motion to escapements or
other wheelwork connected with hands or pointers on clock dials, causing
them to indicate the same time as shown by the normal clock or timekceper.
These induced currents of magneto-electricity, either as single currents or
waves, or as successive waves of similar nature, may be used to relieve by
means of an escapement or other detents to the wheelwork of a clock driven
in the usual way by weights or springs, and requiring to be wound up in the
'ordinary manner. This Invention is also carried out by causing the armature
or magnet to rotate by electrical or mechanical means, either constantly or at
certain intervals of time by means of a "Remontoire," train, thereby inducing
a constant succession of waves or currents of electricity in alternate directions
as the magnetic circuit is alternately made or broken, and continues to be
induced whilst the armature or magnet is caused to rotate. The alternate
_currents are changed into those of the opposite kind by means of a "Rheotome"
or current changer, that is to say, whilst the positive currents remain positive,
the negative currents are changed into positive, thus, producing a constant
succession of positive currents upon the line wire, thereby doubling the
number of effective positive currents, or vice versa. The currents of induced
.electricity are flowing in one direction are received by a normal clock or time-
keeper, and at certain stated intervals are by it reversed, thereby producing,
by wire coils or otherwise, alternate repulsions and attractions upon magnetic
.coils or needles, which by their oscillations or rotations give motion to escape-
ments or other wheelwork connected with hands or pointers upon clock dials,
causing them to indicate time identical with the normal clock.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick James Ritchie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
JAMES RITCHIE, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain,
Clock and Watch Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Frederick James Ritchie, Her special license that I, the said Frederick
James Ritchie, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Frederick James Ritchie, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF MAGNETO-ELECTRICITY TO THE PROPELLING AND CON-
TROLLING OF SYMPATHETIC CLOCKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frederick James Ritchie, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick James Ritchie, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to the application of currents of electricity to
horological instruments. These currents are induced upon the wire coil
attached to the armature or to the poles of a permanent magnet, either as a
single or compound bar or horse-shoe, or other mechanical form in alternate
directions when the magnetic circuit is made or broken. These induced
currents are employed for the purpose of producing motion at certain intervals
of time, regulated by a normal clock or timekeeper, by means of coils of wire
influencing magnetic bars or needles or other wire coils or electro-magnets

page_text: upon escapements or other wheelwork to indicate similar time on other clock
dials.
These improvements are carried out in several ways. The armature is
caused to move in close proximity to the poles of a permanent magnet, or the
magnet in relation to the armature, alternately making and breaking the
magnetic circuit either by a motion derived directly from the oscillations of a
pendulum kept in vibration by electrical or mechanical means or by a motion
derived from the escapement or other part of the wheelwork of a clock or
other machine, producing either a vibratory motion or causing it to rotate
around its own centre or axis, or giving it any other motion by which the
magnetic circuit may be completed or broken at regular or convenient
intervals, depending upon the vibrations of a well regulated or controlled
pendulum or balance, thus producing waves or currents of induced electricity
upon the wire coils in alternate directions; these alternate, positive, and
negative currents of induced electricity are used to produce by means of wire
coils or otherwise alternate attractions and repulsions upon magnetic bars or
needles, which by their oscillations or rotations give motion to escapements or
other wheelwork connected with hands or pointers on clock dials, causing
them to indicate the same time as shown by the normal clock or timekeeper.
These inducing currents of magneto-electricity, either as single currents or
waves, or as successive waves of similar nature, may be used to releive by
means of an escapement or other detents the wheelwork of a of a clock
driven in the usual way by weights or springs, and requiring to be wound up
in the ordinary manner.
This Invention is also carried out by causing the armature or magnet
to rotate by electrical or mechanical means, either constantly or at certan
intervals of time, by means of a "Remontoire" train, thereby inducing a con-
stant succession of waves or currents of electricity in alternate directions as
the magnetic circuit is alternately made or broken, and continnes to be induced
whilst the armature or magnet is caused to rotate. The alternate currents
are changed into those of the opposite kind by means of a "Rheotome" or
current changer, that is to say, whilst the positive currents remain positive, the
negative currents are changed into positive, thus producing a constant
succession of positive currents upon the line wire, thereby doubling the number
of effective positive currents, or vice versa. The currents of induced electricity
all flowing in one direction are received by a normal clock or timekeeper,
and at certain stated intervals are by it reversed, thereby producing, by wire
coils or otherwise, alternate répulsions and attractions upon magnetic coils or
needles, which by their oscillations or rotations give motion to escapements

page_text: or other wheelwork connected with hands or pointers upon dials, causing them
to indicate time identical with the normal clock.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I sball.
now proceed to describe the system, mode, or manner under which the same
is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had
to the several Figures upon the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I havo
hereunto attached, and in which similar parts are indicated by corresponding
letters of reference, that is to say, upon the poles of a strong permanent.
magnet A, as shown in end view at Figure 1 and in plan at Figure 2, there are
fastened the soft iron cores B, surrounded with bobbins C, of very small
insulated copper wire. Two bobbins C are placed upon each pole, and the
ends of the wires on each bobbin are connected with each other in a certain.
definite order. In front of and very near to, but not in actual contact with.
the ends of the soft iron cores B, there is situated a soft iron armature D, this.
armature being fixed on a shaft E so as to revolve with it, and to which
the requisite rotatory motion is transmitted through the pinion F from any.
proximate and suitable source of prime mover. During the revolution of the
armature D it leaves the faces of one pair of bobbin cores C, and covers the
alternate pairs, in this way a current or wave of electricity is generated upon
and caused to flow along the wire of the bobbins in the one direction, which if.
passed through an electro-magnet would attract the north pole of a mariner's.
compass or a magnetic needle, and when the armature D has revolved further.
and uncovers the second pair of bobbins C', whilst approaching to cover or
complete the magnetic circuit of the first pair, a current or wave of a character
opposite to the first-mentioned current and flowing along the wire in tho
reverse direction is generated, which produces exactly contrary effects when
passed through an electro-magnet, that is to say, in this case it attracts the
south pole of a mariner's compass or magnetic needle.
In this manner, as
the armature is caused to revolve continuously, alternate negative and
positive currents are transmitted along the wire, and alternate attractions are
exercised upon the north and south poles of a permanently magnetized needle
by an electro-magnet. To render these effects of the currents serviceable in
actuating sympathethic clocks it is only necessary to control the revolution of
the armature D, and arrange the mechanism, causing it to revolve so that it
shall make one quarter of a revolution during each second, if it is intended that
the clocks should indicate seconds, and thus transmit only one current during
each second, these currents being alternately positive and negative. It
is very important that the armature D should move as suddenly as possible
over the space in which the magnetic circuit is broken with one pair of

page_text: bobbins, and completed with the alternate pair, for by so doing the more
powerful and effective is the current generated. For the purpose of driving
the armature D, or causing it to rotate in front of the poles, I prefer to
employ a train of wheels gearing into pinions and actuated by means
of a cord or chain passed around a barrel, with a weight or weights
attached to it, and to be wound up at intervals in a manner similar to a clock.
To allow of the motion requisite of the armature D, I place on the same axis
as that on which the armature is fixed two escape wheels G and G, Figure 3,
each of which has two teeth, and these act alternately, one on the right and
the other on the left hand pallets F and F of a "Denison's gravity escape-
ment," the construction and principles of which are well known, and therefore
are no part of the present Invention. I prefer to employ "Denison's gravity
escapement" in combination with my present Invention, for when a clock has
heavy work to perform it possesses many advantages over the ordinary
mechanical arrangements of this nature.
66
Another part of this Invention of applying magneto-electricity for the pro-
pulsion of sympathetic clocks consists in employing a separate piece of
machinery to cause the armature to revolve constantly in front of the
magnetic poles and bobbins, and independently of the clock or timekeeping
piece of machinery. These constant revolutions of the armature produce a
series of currents, alternately positive and negative, which are transmitted along
the wire, but by applying a current changer or Rheotrope" the alternate
currents are changed into currents of one kind, that is to say, all the negative
currents passing along the wire are changed into positive, or the positive
into negative, whilst the reverse current remains unchanged. The "Rheotrope"
I prefer to employ for the carrying out of the present Invention consists of a
long metallic spring H, Figure 1, the tendency of which is to press downwards,
but is raised during two opposite quarters of a revolution of the armature D
by means of the cam I, fastened to and revolving with the shaft on which the
armature is fixed. On a bracket J, situated beyond the end of this spring, are
fixed two insulated springs K and L, which tend when at rest to press upon
the central stud a, connected with one end of the wire M, composing the bobbins
upon the poles of the magnet. On either side of this stud a, but on the outer
sides of and detached from each spring, are fixed the studs b and c, to each of
which the other end of the wire M, composing the bobbin on the poles of
the magnet A, is attached. The action of this arrangement is as follows:-
When the cam I raises the long spring H, the end of this spring also raises
the upper short spring K until it is brought into contact with the upper
stud b, thus allowing one current to enter the upper spring, whilst the lower

page_text: spring c bearing against the central stud a receives from it the other current.
When the armature D has revolved through one quarter the cam permits the
long spring H to fall and press the lower spring against the lower stud, which
together with the upper stud previously received the positive current, but now,
from the altered position of the armature D, receives the negative current, and
this passes along the lower spring L, whilst the upper spring now resting upon
the central stud a receives the positive current from it, and so on successively.
The upper spring K receives all the positive currents naturally as well as all
the negative currents which become positive after their change has been
effected by the "Rheotrope." The currents are now led to the normal clock,
which may be of the most delicate construction, and treated without in any
way interfering with the timekeeping qualities. Attached to the framework of
the clock, and worked by the teeth of the 'scape wheel N, is a "rheotome" or
current changer, similar to the "Rheotrope" already described. The teeth of
the 'scape wheel N at one second raise the long spring H, and thus produce
contact between the upper spring K' and stud b', which together with the lower
stud c¹ is connected to the positive spring of the rheotrope, and in this
manner a positive current is transmitted through the upper spring and along
the line wire e, leading through the different clocks f, g, h, etc., and thence to
the earth, whilst the lower spring L' being in contact with the central stud a¹,
transmits a negative current to the earth, consequently whilst the 'scape wheel
of the normal clock remains at rest in this position, a constant succession of
positive currents are passed along the line wire e to the clocks. Again, when
the normal clock makes another beat the projection H2 on the long spring H¹
drops into the space between two teeth of the 'scape wheel N, and thus
the action of the current changer is reversed. In this instance the under
spring is pressed against the lower stud c', which is positive, and conveys to
the earth a current or series of positive currents during its contact, whilst the
upper spring K, now resting against the central stud a', conveys negative
currents along the line wire e, through the clocks, and thence to the earth.
By these arrangements the normal clock transmits an alternate stream of positive
and negative currents, continuing very nearly an entire second of time, but any
one of which waves or currents might perform the requisite work, still I deem
it preferable to employ a series of currents instead of a single current. In the
sympathetic clocks themselves there are placed two electro-magnets, with two
magnetized steel bars or permanent magnets, having their poles pointing in
opposite directions, and mounted upon the opposite sides of and parallel to
one another as well as to the axis on which they oscillate. They are arranged in
such manner that when the electro-magnets are excited by a current of

page_text: electricity all the ends or poles of the permanent magnets are attracted to one
side and repelled from the reverse sides or poles of the electro-magnets, thus
producing motion or a partial rotation of the permanent magnets in one
direction, which direction is reversed when the opposite current is transmitted
by the line wire of the electro-magnets. Upon the extremity of the axle or bar
upon which these permanent magnets are mounted, and which oscillates with
them, there is fixed the balance lever R, shown at Figure 4, carrying at its
upper extremity a light metallic spring Q, fastened at its centre to the lever,
and each end of which rests in the teeth of the two wheels k and of similar
diameter, and each of which in this modification have thirty teeth, which gear
into one another, the oscillations of the lever R, caused by the attractions and
repulsions exercised upon the magnetic bar, press forward the two wheels / and /
by means of the spring Q. During the motion of the lever in the left-hand
direction the spring Q presses upon or impels the wheel k on the left side one
half tooth forward, whilst the seconds' hand being secured to the same centre is
moved one second forward, whilst during its motion to the right the wheel /
on the right-hand side is pushed forward one half tooth, carrying with it the
left-hand wheel k and the seconds' hand in the same direction as that in which
the hand moved when the vibrating lever R acted upon the wheel k, and so on
continuously for any number of vibrations of the lever R, thus producing a
step-by-step motion at every second to the seconds' hand. For the purpose
of preventing the "tripping" of the wheel k carrying the seconds' hand over
two or more seconds or teeth of the wheels, as well as for locking and keeping
the seconds' hand steady, a pair of locking pallets m and n are fixed on to the
lever R, and move with it, which pallets are so constructed that when the
lever R is at the extremity of its play, one or other of the pallets m and n dip
into the space between two teeth of the wheel carrying the seconds' hand, and
these pallets during the motion of the lever prevent more than one tooth from
passing or tripping. The motion of the minute and hour hands is carried out
in the usual manner by means of wheels and pinions.
Another part of this Invention is as follows:-For large sized dials and
heavy hands I propel the wheelwork and hands in the ordinary manner by
means of a main spring or weights wound up at intervals, but without any
pendulum, and I employ the vibratory motion of the magnets to unlock the
escapement and allow the wheelwork to revolve under the force of the
moving power. This arrangement is shown at Figure 5, in which the pallet
lever o is attached to the end of the shaft on which the permanent magnets p
and q are mounted, and as these oscillate by means of the attractions and repul-
sions caused by the electro-maguets rand's, they also cause to vibrate the pallet

page_text: of
my
lever o, and in this manner the 'scape wheel t is alternately released in a
manner similar to that of the ordinary pendulum, the chief feature of this part
Invention being the substitution of the vibrations of the magnets in lieu
of the ordinary pendulum to produce the locking and unlocking of the 'scape'
wheel. When clocks are not required to show seconds the action of the
magneto-electric generator may be intermittent, a single wave or current or a
stream of similar polarity being transmitted at intervals of ten, fifteen, twenty,
or thirty seconds, moving forward or allowing the weight or spring to carry
forward the hands of the sympathetic clocks through a corresponding space of
time with a sudden motion.
Instead of using the combinations of machinery or apparatus as herein-before
described for inducing magneto-electricity used for propelling sympathetic
clocks, I prefer in some instances to employ a disc wheel having fixed at its
periphery small pieces or bars of soft iron, this wheel being caused to rotate in
proximity to a permanent magnet, the alternate currents thence conducted
to a "Rheotome" and onwards to a normal clock in the manner herein-before
described in reference to the former arrangements.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the true principles and main features of my Invention, but what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me bý
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction and combinations of
machinery or apparatus used for propelling sympathetic clocks by means of
magneto-electric currents, substantially as herein-before described, or any mere
modification thereof.
Second, the application of magneto-electric currents for the purpose of
actuating sympathetic clocks, as herein-before described, or any mere modifi-
cation thereof..
Third, the mode or manner of actuating several dials so that each may
indicate time identical with a normal clock by means of magneto-electric
currents, substantially as herein-before described, or any mere modification
thereof.
Fourth, the system, mode, or manner of transmitting a successive series of
similar currents to the normal clock, and the changing of them at this point,
so as to transmit a continuous series of alternate positive and negative currents

page_text: to the several dials, substantially as herein-before described, or any mere modi-
fication thereof.
Fifth, the system, mode, or manner of working the escapement of clocks
driven in the ordinary manner by weights or springs by means of pallets
actuated by magneto-electric currents in lieu of a pendulum, substantially
as herein-before described, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick James Ritchie, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of July, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
FREDERICK JAMES RITCHIE. (LS.)