IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND RELATING TO ELECTRIC TIME PIECES
Year: 1885

page_text: "'
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Liverpool and London Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND RELATING TO ELECTRIC TIME PIECES (A communication from abroad
by Monsieur Ferdinand Baumann of Waldenburg, in the republic of Switzerland)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The system of clock which forms the object of the present application for
Letters Patent consists of a train of clockwork, striking mechanism, a balance
weight, electrical contact pieces and an electro-magnet.
For the better understanding of the invention specimens of it are represented in
the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows the detent mechanism of the striking apparatus mounted on a
small plate.
Figure 2 is a general view of the mechanism.
Figure 3 represents the external wheel-work mounted on the main plate.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the whole apparatus.
Figure 5 shows the electro-magnet.
The wheels of the clock movement are mounted between two plates a and b.
The movement which turns the hands for indicating the time, that which
determines the number of the oscillations and regulates the working of the
striking apparatus, consists of a large main wheel, a second wheel an escapement
wheel and a crotchet.
On the axis of the main wheel which is prolonged beyond the dial is mounted
the minute wheel c; the hollow shaft of this minute wheel is made of square
section on the outside and carries the large or minute hand. The minute wheel has
32 teeth; it is placed in front of the main plate 6 and actuates the change-wheel d
also provided with 32 teeth. This change wheel carrying the pinion e with 7 teeth
actuates the hour-wheel ƒ provided with 84 teeth, and on which is fixed the small
or hour hand.

page_text: The axis of the main wheel carries also the ratchet-wheel g having 60 teeth
and turning around this axis. The rim of this ratchet wheel carries a point or
pin exerting pressure upon the rod i which crosses the shaft of the main wheel,
thus determining the movement of the mechanism.
The striking mechanism consists of a first wheel % with 90 teeth, gearing with
the pinion of 8 teeth, on the axis of which is fixed a detent wheel with 80 teeth.
The rim of this detent wheel carries two pins which raise the short arm m
of the hammer. A governing or controlling wheel n is also arranged in the
striking movement, provided with a stop-pin and with vanes fixed on its axis.
On the outside of the main plate upon the shaft of the first striking wheel is
secured the extremity of the spring o, and outside this is the winding up wheel
carrying 96 teeth. On the inner surface of this wheel five pins q are arranged
which support the spring o actuating the striking mechanism; the outer end of
this spring is fixed to one of the pins of the winding-up wheel p. This wheel p
gearing with the minute wheel which actuates it, winds up the spring, which then
winds itself round its barrel. On the outside of the small plate a the shaft of the
first wheel carries another small wheel r of 20 teeth which actuates the main
striking wheels (called "chaperon "in France) furnished with 80 teeth.
The striking mechanism also comprises three axes. First. The axis t of the
hammer provided with the short arm m which passes under the detent wheel / and
is raised by it; upon this axis on the outside of the small plate is fixed the
hammer, and lastly upon this same axis is wound the spring which brings the
hammer down upon the coiled wire or bell. Second. The middle axis provided
with a
cam u and (on the outside of the main plate) with a pinion. Third. The
upper axis carrying the detent v and the bent arm; the brass detent is fixed on the
middle of the upper axis, and at its front end it is bent back at a right angle for
stopping the pin carried by the controlling wheel n.
The detent crochet engages (after the clock has struck) in one of the notches of
the disc or cam which is fixed on the axis of the detent wheel above mentioned.
The catch lever or pawl x is fixed on the outside of the small plate on the upper
axis, and falls when the striking is finished into one of the notches of the
'chaperon" s. This striking wheel or chaperon "8 has 80 teeth and is fixed on the
small plate, it carries notches on its side, cut out at various intervals for maintaining
raised the pawl x and consequently the detent, in order that the hammer may
strike the right number of strokes at each hour.
**
48
The brass lever y turns on its axis and is supported between the main plate and
a support fixed on the small plate. To the shorter arm of this lever is fixed by
screws za piece of iron; the longer arm of the lever carries at its end the balance
weight 1 and the click 2 which catches in the stop or ratchet wheel. This end of
the lever also carries an elbowed lever 3, the shorter branch of which carries a
strip or pallet 4.
At the bottom of the clock is a transverse or base plate 5 which by means of
three screws is secured to the bracket or support below. On the side having two
screws is arranged the electro magnet, also fixed by two screws. One of the ends
of the wire wound upon the bobbins of the electro-magnet is screwed at 7 to the
horizontal plate, and the other end also is connected to this plate by aid of the
binding screw 8. On the other side or end of this transverse plate 5 is the
contact, consisting of a spring 9 supported on the plate and insulated by a screw
surrounded by ivory or other suitable material, and a copper terminal. In the
middle of this spring is a slot or cut 10 traversed by a flat screw head, the shank
of which is screwed tight into a copper arm 11. This arm is also insulated and is
fixed to an axis provided with a small click or pawl which catches into the stop or
ratchet wheel and serves to prevent it from turning backwards. As soon as the
said ratchet wheel is set in motion by the large pawl 2, the point of the small
pawl 13 leaves the notch in the wheel which rotates on its axis, at the same time
slightly turning the insulated copper arm into which is screwed the flat screw
head 12 which traverses the contact spring 9 which latter is thus drawn backwards.

page_text: The electrical power is supplied preferably by a couple of Leclanché cells but
other kinds would do. The two calls are placed in the same box as that which
encloses the above described clock movement, so that the clock constitutes a
complete and independent apparatus, the cells are connected together so that their
force may be utilized collectively.
From one of the elements the current is transmitted by means of a coiled copper
wire, one of the ends of which is connected to the middle element (or carbon) of
the cells, and the other extremity to the copper terminal 14 which keeps the
contact spring 9 against the transverse plate. As stated above another copper
terminal 15 insulated by ivory, is fixed on that side of the transverse plate on
which the electro magnet is screwed; to this terminal is connected one of the ends;
of the wire wound upon the bobbins of the electro-magnet. From the copper
terminal the current returns to the elements by a copper wire connected to the
zinc electrode.
As soon as the copper wires are fixed and the upper end of the contact spring
touches the short arm of the elbowed lever which is fixed on the longer arm of
the lever y the piece of iron carried on the shorter arm of the lever y is attracted
by the electro-magnet and the lever is raised at the other end which causes it to
break contact with the contact spring 9 and interrupt the electric current. It is
at this moment that the balance weight of the lever fulfils its normal function.
Its weight then by means of the large pawl 2 exerts pressure on the ratchet wheel,
the pin of which presses the rod i which crosses the shaft of the main clock wheel,
and the clock is thus put in movement. In consequence of the rotation of the
detent wheel the point of the small click 18 leaves the space existing between two
teeth on this wheel in consequence of the oblique surface of each of the said teeth.
The axis and the insulated arm are thus caused to turn, and under the action of
the flat screw-head fixed in this arm and traversing the contact rod this latter
moves back a little, so that it cannot be put in contact with the shorter arm of the
elbowed lever during the descent of the lever.
As soon as the ratchet wheel is displaced by one tooth, the point of the small
click falls into a tooth or ratchet of this wheel and the spring or contact rod
strikes the shorter arm of the elbowed lever fixed to the lever y, so that the electric
current is re-established. The lever is again raised and the large pawl 9. falls into
another tooth of the ratchet wheel. This wheel being provided with 60 teeth and
turning once every hour, the relative movement of the organs such as I have
described, takes place 60 times in an hour that is to say once a minute.
It might be thought that the clock would stop whilst the lever is being raised,
but it is not so, the spring which is on the axis of the main clock wheel is stretched
so that its force is sufficient to keep the clock going regularly during the raising of
the lever.
The striking mechanism of the electric clock works in the following manner.
In consequence of the rotation of the shaft of the main clock wheel, the minute
wheel mounted on its prolongation is also rotated. This minute wheel which has
32 teeth as above stated gears with the winding up wheel of 96 teeth which is
thus set in motion; this latter wheel turns round four times in 12 hours and the
spring which is attached to one of the five points or pins is thus wound up.
Now since the spring is sufficiently wound up to give it strength to strike twelve
and half past twelve, it will have plenty of power for striking all the other hours, and
it will not cease to work as long as the electric elements are strong enough to raise
the lever by attraction.
There are two pins or points on the minute wheel designed to raise the detent
by the agency of the arm 16 carried by the axis 17 which is itself provided with
an arm 18; the detent of the upper axis consequently leaves the tooth or notch in
the disc fixed on the axis of the escapement wheel by means of the cam "ad hoc"
and the catch lever lets go the striking wheel or chaperon so that the
controlling wheel of the striking mechanism can turn freely.
"
>>

page_text: This latter wheel cannot turn however until the pin which it carries strikes
against the cam. In consequence of this rotation the detent in its turn leaves the
notch or tooth in the said controlling wheel.
As soon as the system of levers 16-18 take up again their primitive positions,
the striking mechanism can work, and the haminer can according to the size of the
projections on the striking wheel or "chaperon" strike the right number of strokes
on the vibrating coil or bell. When the "chaperon" has turned sufficiently to
enable the catch lever or pawl x to fall again into one of its notches, the detent
fixed on the same axis also falls into a notch in the disc, and the pin carried by the
controlling wheel of the striking mechanism applies itself against the detent. This
stops the striking mechanism until the lever 17 is again raised by one of the pins
on the minute wheel, namely every 30 minutes.
The following description shews the method of applying the above described
system of electric time piece to round or cylindrical clock cases.
This special arrangement is represented Figures 6 to 13 of the annexed drawings
which will be described at length with reference to the letters of reference inserted
thereon.
The principle of the invention and the operation of the mechanism being
moreover unchanged, it will be easy in this manner to explain the modified
arrangement.
Figure 6 shews a back elevation of the movement shewing the electric
mechanism.
Figure 7 shews a similar elevation, the gong and counter poise being removed
to shew the other details more clearly.
Figure 8 is a side view-the clockwork being removed.
Figure 9 shews an elevation of the hind plate and the organs which it carries
without the electro magnet and the lever which it actuates.
Figure 10 represents a vertical section through line 1-2 of Figure 8.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 shew different views of the striking mechanism.
As in the previously described arrangements the wheels of the movement are
enclosed between two circular plates a and b. Excepting unimportant variations
the wheels of the movements (striking minute and hours) are arranged as already
described. In this modification the hours are struck upon the gong A by means
of the hammer B, the axis of which carries the short arm m in communication
with the teeth of the stop wheel l. Figures 11, 12 and 13 moreover shew the
characteristic organs
of the striking arrangement, which excepting modifications in
detail are essentially the same as those which have been described above. Hence
the description already given of these parts is in great part applicable to this modi-
fication. The lever y which is of iron is articulated at the lower end below the
electro-magnet 6 instead of being so above it, and the counterpoise 1 is attached
to a rod which rises at a right angle from the lever y which is attracted directly by
the two poles of the electro-magnet. A copper piece 3 rides on lever y and bears a
spring pressing constantly upon the catch 2 articulated upon the piece 3 and which
serves to cause the stop wheel to progress at every oscillation of the lever upon the
passage of an electric current.
The support 5 which carries the electro-magnet 6 is fixed at the top of the clock,
it serves also to support the gong by means of the rod c. One of the ends of the
wire coiled round the bobbins of the electro magnet is attached to the terminal 8
carried by the plate a from which it is insulated. The other end is attached by
means of the piece 7 to the contact 2. Spring 9 is alternately put in com-
munication with and separated from at every oscillation of the lever y: this
contact being fixed upon the piece 3 and consequently sharing the movement of
this piece and of the lever.
The spring 9 is attached to a terminal 10 which is fixed and insulated on the
plate a.
A bent arm 11 mounted upon and insulated from the axis 12 which carries ä
stop 13 is in communication by means of a screw 14 with the spring 9. This

page_text: catch 13 serves to prevent the toothed wheel in which it engages from turning
backwards, and for this object it is slightly lifted at each oscillation of the lever y
by means of the bent lever 11 in one piece with the shaft 12 which carries the
aforesaid stop.
The transmission of the current and the working of these portions of the
mechanism has been already described there being no alteration in the principle of
the invention, but merely modifications in the details for the purpose of adapting
it to this special purpose.
The striking mechanism is arranged as follows: the two pins on the minute
wheel (Figure 11) raise as before the stop by means of the arm 16 which strikes
with the arm 17 upon which rests a third arm 18 the axis of which carries the stop
(Figure 12). In this arrangement the cam of the escapement wheel is replaced by
a little piece w (Figure 13) against which the pin of the regulating wheel n presses.
The "chaperon" s remains as previously described as well as the other details of
the mechanism not specially alluded to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. In a clock system in combination with the herein before described wheel
work and the primary wheel of the striking mechanism, the axis of which carries
the spring o and winding up wheel p the electrical arrangement composed of the
lever y, with magnetic piece z, the counter poise 1, catch 2, adjustable piece 3, electro
magnet 6, spring contact 9, with piece 10 to receive screw 12; arm 11 catch 13 and
arins 16 and 18 for effecting the striking, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn in the annexed drawings Figures 1 to 5.
2nd. In an electrically controlled clock system the combination of parts modified
so as to adapt the mechanism for insertion in a cylindrical clock case substantially
as above described and shewn in the annexed drawings, Figures 6 to 13.
Dated this and dow of Thrombin 1001