IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC CLOCKS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED IN WORKING THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC
CLOCKS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED IN WORKING THE SAME."-A commu-
nication from abroad by Ernest Van Bruyssel, of Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium.
Sealed the 1st March 1867, and dated the 5th September 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th September 1866.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ELECTRIC CLOCKS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED IN WORKING THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain novel arrangements of apparatus to be
employed in connection with a regulating pendulum clock for indicating
simultaneously at numerous and even distant points in any given town,
district, or country the time of the day in hours and minutes upon clock

page_text: dials. Connected with a regulating clock (the pendulum of which beats
seconds) is the shaft of a commutator which carries a pinion that gears into
a wheel on the arbor of the minute wheel; this gearing serves to rotate the
shaft once in two minutes. The commutator shaft carries at its extremity
an ivory cylinder, by which the currents of electricity employed to actuate the
clocks or time indicators will be constantly and alternately changed from
positive to negative, and vice versa. The ivory cylinder is fitted with two
insulated metal discs which are set concentric therewith, and dip respectively
into one of two mercury cups placed below them, and brought into connection
with the opposite poles of a battery. Platinum wires from these discs are led
to one end of the cylinder, and laid parallel to the axis of the cylinder and at
opposite sides of its periphery. Set around this cylinder and bearing upon its
periphery at the part where the wires are exposed is a series of springs made
of rolled brass; these springs are affixed to the back board of the commutator,
and they number double the number of the clocks or time indicators intended
to be worked by the regulator clock; these springs are used in pairs, and
each pair is connected by insulated wires with their respective time indicators.
The springs of each pair are so disposed that they will both be in contact
with the wires of the ivory cylinder at the same time, the one with the wire
of the near disc, and the other with that of the more distant. As therefore
the cylinder rotates the circuit will be opened through the several pairs of
springs with the several indicators in regular succession, and the required
impulse will thereby be given through the electro-magnetic apparatus to be
presently described to the hour and minute hands of the indicator; but
inasmuch as the platinum wires transmit the one the positive and the other
the negative current, and as their position with respect to the springs of each
pair with which they come into contact is alternately reversed, a positive and
a negative current will be alternately transmitted to the distant time
indicators..
As a modification of the above-described commutator it is proposed to
use a series of elastic wires which severally dip into and pass over mercury
cups as the ivory cylinder which carries them is rotated, and thus the circuit
is made with and broken successively by the aid of all the wires. This arrange-
ment, like the first described, admits of currents being sent in succession to
different stations or points where time indicators are established. The wires
are arranged in four sets on the cylinder, each set being soldered at one
end to a metal plate or strip carried by the cylinder. Two sets are on one side
and two on the opposite side of the cylinder, and they are connected in pairs
by cross wires in order to reverse the current as already explained. Two metal

page_text: discs, rotating in mercury troughs connected with opposite poles of the battery,
are respectively connected with the two pairs of wire conductors by means
of platinum wires, and two sets of mercury troughs, corresponding in number:
with the wires in the two sets that act together, are placed below the cylinder.
The one set of mercury troughs connect respectively by conducting wires.
with the time indicators at the different stations, and these with the earth,
and the troughs of the other set connect directly with the earth. To complete
an electric circuit and send a current to the several stations in succession it
is only necessary to rotate the cylinder.by means of the regulating clock, and
the free ends of the conducting wires carried by the cylinder will successively
(in pairs) sweep over their respective mercury cups and complete the circuit..
As this pair leaves the mercury a second pair will come into action, and so on
throughout the series. When the next sets come round the reverse current
will be sent to the distant stations. By applying two half metal discs at the
end of the cylinder, and providing mercury cups into which (as the cylinder
rotates) they will respectively and alternately dip, the pairs of sets of wires
above described will not be required, but the sets may be used singly. These
half discs are situate at the opposite end of the cylinder to that which carries
the discs which rotate in constant contact with mercury. The clock or
time indicator consists of a clock dial fitted with minute and hour hands,
which are mounted on the usual central shaft and are driven by a suitable train
of spur gearing set in action by means of an escape or ratchet wheel as usual.
The escape wheel receives its impulse from ruby or other pallets which
embrace it, and which are carried by a magnetised rock lever or plate
mounted so as to vibrate between a pair of electro-magnets. The currents
transmitted through the action of the commutator circulate through the
coils of the magnets, and cause the rock lever to be attracted alternately in
opposite directions by the magnets. A click is provided to maintain the
advanced movement and prevent the running back of the gearing. By
substituting for the magnetised plate a plate of soft iron, and giving the escape
wbeel a double number of teeth and the plate but one pallet to act upon the
wheel, one electro-magnet only will be required to set the apparatus in action.
A spring will be required to give the return motion to the soft iron plate.
The rock lever, instead of being provided with ruby pins or pallets, may be
made to transmit the motion to the ratchet wheel for driving the train of gear
through a rocking arm carrying two driving clicks. These clicks are situate
at opposite sides of the fulcrum of the rocking arm, and act alternately upon
one of two ratchet wheels carried by the central shaft.
A modification of the above consists in slotting the rocking lever to receive

page_text: a magnetic armature, which is placed between the electro-magnets, and by
the reversion of the current the lever carrying the magnetic armature is
rocked and caused to drive round the escape wheel as before described.
A further modification consists in forming the propulsory or escape whee!
with pins which project through the band forming its periphery, and are acted
upon by a vibrating fork carried by the rock plate or lever. This fork
embraces the rim of the wheel and acts in succession upon the several pins,
striking first upon one end and then on the other of each pin to give the
wheel the required progressive motion. The locking motion thus obtained
may be used in connection with other propelling power than electro-magnetism
for giving motion to the escape wheel. Instead of transmitting to the
different stations currents of electricity derived from the battery, it is proposed
to work the time indicators by means of induced currents. This is effected
by providing each station with an induction bobbin, and surrounding these
bobbins with coils of a coarse insulated wire connected with a commou
battery. The current continuing to flow from and to the battery will induce
currents in the bobbins, which currents are applied by means of a
commutator constructed on the principle first described, the number of springs
bearing on the cylinder being determined by the number of stations grouped
together and the circuits with all these stations being simultaneously
completed.
Another mode of obtaining an induced current is to surround a rotating
permanent magnet with electro-magnets arranged radially. As the poles of
the rotating magnet pass the poles of the stationary magnets electric currents
will be induced in the coils of those magnets, which currents may be applied
as above described. Several dials or electro-chronometrical indicators may
be worked by the current of a single pile, the regulator destined to transmit
the time by the aid of another current being employed. A constantly acting
pile is provided, whose current will have a sufficient intensity to put in move-
ment all the dials of the town or locality if they are interposed in the same
circuit. The conducting wire which receives the current of the pile placed
near the regulator and communicating with the nearest time indicator, instead
of connecting with that indicator is put in communication with a relay
disposed near the special pile, so that this relay transmits the current
alternately in contrary directions to the dials of the locality. The conducting
wire from the relay is brought into communication with the nearest indicator.
Another manner of proceeding is to conduct the current of a pile by the
conducting wire in one only of the electro-magnets of each dial, and to bring
it back to the pile by a second wire, after which the current is transmitted to

page_text: the second electro-magnet of each dial by a third wire, and brought back to
the pile by the second wire, but care must be taken to replace the magnetic
plate by a plate of iron.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th March 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred,
Vincent Newton, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred,
Vincent Newton, executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC CLOCKS, AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED IN WORKING
THE BAME," being a communication from Ernest Van Bruyssel, of Brussels, in
the Kingdom of Belgium, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to certain novel arrangements of apparatus to be
employed in connection with a regulating pendulum clock for indicating

page_text: simultaneously at numerous and even distant points in any given town,
district, or country the time of the day in hours and minutes upon clock
dials.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 one
arrangement of apparatus for effecting this object.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a regulating clock or regulator fitted with a
commutator by which the currents of electricity obtained from any usual
source are transmitted through a series of line wires to any required number
of clocks or time indicators forming groups connected severally with their
respective line wires; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the commutator, and
Figs. 3 are sections shewing details of a portion of the commutator; Fig. 4
shews in vertical section the clock or time indicator to be actuated by the
electric currents, and Fig. 5 is a front view with the dial or face removed to
exhibit the internal mechanism.
A is the regulator, provided with a pendulum B, which beats seconds. Con-
nected with this regulator and having its bearings in suitable supports in the
regulator case is the shaft a of the commutator. This shaft carries & pinion b
that gears into a wheel on the arbor of the minute wheel. This gearing
serves to rotate the shaft a once in two minutes. The commutator shaft
carries at its extremity an ivory cylinder c (shewn in section at Figures 3), by
which the currents of electricity employed to actuate the clocks or time
indicators will be constantly and alternately changed from positive to negative,
and vice versa. The ivory cylinder is fitted with two insulated copper
discs d, d', which are set concentric therewith and dip respectively into one of
two mercury cups e, e¹, placed below them and brought into connection with
the opposite poles of a galvanic battery. The inner end of the ivory cylinder
is recessed to receive at its opposite sides pieces of platinum f, f¹, which
project slightly above the periphery of the cylinder, and connected with these
metallic surfaces are wires f*, which lead respectively to the copper discs d
and d, and are secured thereto by solder so as to secure electrical conduction
between the discs and the platinum. Set around this cylinder, and bearing
upon its periphery at the part where the wires are exposed, is a series of
springs 9, 9, 9, 9¹ª, 9³, 9**, g³, 9³*, made of rolled brass. These springs are
affixed to the back board C of the commutator, and they number double the
number of the groups of clocks or time indicators intended to be worked by
the regulator clock. The springs 9, 9*, 9', 9¹ª, 9³, 9²*, 93, 9³*, are arranged
and used in pairs, and are brought by means of insulated wires in connection
with their respective groups of time indicators. The wire from one spring
(of each pair) connects with a line wire, which is itself in connection with a

page_text: group of clocks or time indicators to be actuated, and the wire from the other
spring goes to the earth.
By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the springs are made fast to
brackets h secured by screws to the back board C, and that these brackets are
severally provided with regulating screws h*, which determine the position of
the extremities of the springs with respect to the ivory cylinder. The contact
points of the springs are made of platinum to preserve them from the
destructive action of the electric current in passing from the springs to the
conducting surfaces of the rotating cylinder c, and to maintain as far as
may be perfect electric conduction. The springs of each pair are so disposed
that they will both be in contact with the conducting surfaces of the ivory
cylinder at the same time, the one with that connected with the near disc and
the other with the one more distant. As, therefore, the cylinder c rotates the
circuit will be opened through the several pairs of springs with the several'
line wires and their groups of time indicators in regular succession, and
the required impulse will thereby be given through the electro-magnetic
apparatus to be presently described to the hour and minute hands of the several;
groups of indicators; but inasmuch as the platinum conducting surfaces of the
cylinder c transmit the one the positive and the other the negative current, and
as their position with respect to the springs of each pair with which they
come into contact is alternately reversed, a positive and a negative current will
be alternately transmitted through the line wires to work the distant. time
indicators.
The construction of these clocks or time indicators is shewn at Figures 4
and 5; i (Fig. 5) is a clock dial fitted with minute and hour hands, which:
are mounted, the one on a central sleeve shaft as usual .in timekeepers, and,
the other on a shaft passing through the hollow shaft. These shafts are:
driven by a suitable train of spur gearing k set in action by means of an
escape or ratchet wheel * as usual. The escape wheel receives its impulse
from ruby or other pallets which embrace it, and which are carried by a
rocking frame 1, in which is mounted a magnetized bar or plate A, the same
This bar
being held in position in its rocking frame by a clamping screw.
is suspended between a pair of electro-magnets m, m, which are mado
adjustable in relation thereto by means of nuts n, and constitute the motive
power for vibrating the rocking frame and lever and setting the gearing in
action. The coupling bars of the electro-magnets m, m, are fitted with
screwed pins to receive the nuts n, and these pins project through brackets n*
affixed to the back plate and block o, by which the rest of the mechanism is
carried. Coiled springs surrounding the screwed pins serve to press the

page_text: magnets forward, and by means of the nuts n their position may be adjusted
with the greatest nicety. This is very important, as inaccuracy of adjustment
will induce irregularity in the action of the apparatus whenever a diminished
or feeble current is supplied to the coils. The currents transmitted through the
action of the commutator to the line wires circulate through the coils of the
electro-magnets of the several groups of clocks, and passing thence to earth
return to the battery. In making this circuit the currents cause the rocking
frame or lever of each time indicator to be attracted alternately in opposite
directions by the electro-magnets.
In the above description I have assumed that four line wires are in
connection with the commutator, and that to each line wire a group of clocks
distributed over, say, one division or district of a city is connected, but there
may be more or fewer groups, according to the requirements of the locality..
The current, it will be understood, will be distinct and separate for each line
wire, and they will follow each other from the commutator in consecutive
order. If, therefore, through any accident a line wire were to become disabled,
and the time indicators connected therewith were consequently to be thrown
out of action, the derangement would not affect the timekeepers of the other
localities, as electrical currents would still continue to flow in the proper order
through the remaining line wires at the periods determined on at the starting
of the apparatus. To maintain the advanced movement of the ratchet
wheel k*, and prevent the running back of the gearing k, a click k', Fig. 4, is
provided.
I will now describe à modification of the commutator shewn at Figures 1
and 2, and also several modifications of the apparatus for working the hands
of the time indicator. Fig. 6 shews in side elevation, and Fig. 7 in end view
the modified form of commutator, the mercury troughs employed being shewn
in section. An essential object in commutators of this kind is to ensure good
metallic contact for the closing of the circuit with the least possible friction,
which friction requires to be overcome by the the power of the regulator.
The commutator shewn at Figures 6 and 7 is designed to send six currents in
succession for every rotation that it makes, and it is therefore for the sake of
illustration connected with six time indicators, which may be taken to represent
groups of clocks connected by their respective line wires with the commu-
In this case 1 is the ivory or non-conducting cylinder, which receives
rotary motion as before explained from the regulator clock; this cylinder is
fitted with two copper discs 2, 2*, which dip into mercury troughs 3, 3, con-
nected with the opposite poles of a battery 4. Lapped helically around the
cylinder 1 are two bands of copper 5, 5*, which are severally connected by an
six
tator.

page_text: insulated copper wiro with one of the discs 2, 2*. Soldered to each of these
bands 5, 5*, are two groups of elastic flat wires 6, 6, 6, and 6º, 6º, 6º, six
wires corresponding to the number of line wires used being in each group, and.
those of each group being set equidistant from each other. These elastic
wires are situate immediately above and severally dip into and pass over two
groups of mercury cups 7, 7, 7, and 7*, 7*, 7*, as the ivory cylinder
which carries them is rotated. These cups are connected the one group
to the line wires and the other to wires leading to earth. As, there-
fore, the cylinder is rotated the circuit is made with and broken successively
by the aid of a pair of wires 6, 6*, one from a group attached to one
band and one in a corresponding position in the opposite group connected
with the other copper band. This arrangement, liko the first described,
admits of positive and negative currents being sent in succession to different
districts where time indicators are established. The wires, it will be seen, are
arranged in four groups on the cylinder. Two groups are on one side and two
on the opposite side of the cylinder, and they are arranged as explained in
order to reverse the current, as already explained.
The course of the currents through the whole system of apparatus will be
clearly understood by reference to Fig. 6, where the arrows shew a current
flowing from the battery to and through the commutator, and thence by the line.
wires to the district clocks No. 1. The current then flows to earth and returns
by the earth wire to the mercury trough, and through the wire in metallic
contact therewith through the commutator, and thence to the battery; from
this explanation it will be understood that to complete an electric circuit and.
send a current to the several stations in succession it is only necessary to
rotate the cylinder by means of the regulating clock, and the free ends of the
conducting wires carried by the cylinder will successively in pairs sweep over
their respective mercury cups and complete the circuit. As this pair leaves
the mercury a second pair will come into action, and so on throughout the
series. When the next sets come round the reverse current will be sent to the
different stations. By applying two half metal discs at the end of the cylinder,
and providing mercury cups into which (as the cylinder rotates) they will
respectively and alternately dip, the pairs of sets of wires above described will
not be required, but the sets may be used singly; these half discs should be
placed at the opposite end of the cylinder to that which carries the discs which
rotate in constant contact with mercury.
I will now describe the modifications of the driving gear for operating the
time indicators. The rocking frame or lever carrying the magnet, instead of
being provided with ruby pins or pallets, may be made to transmit the motion

page_text: to the ratchet wheel for driving the train of gear through a rocking arm
carrying two driving clicks; this arrangement is shewn in plan view at
Fig. 8, in front elevation at Fig. 9, and in end elevation at Fig. 10.
a is the rock lever, receiving its vibrations from the electro-magnets A, A ;
at its upper end the rock lever embraces the extremity of a rocking arm b,
which is mounted on a swivel pin c, and carries two clicks; these clicks are
situate at opposite sides of the fulcrum of the rocking arm, and act alternately
upon one of two ratchet wheels e, c, carried by the shaft f, the motion of which
is transmitted by the usual clockwork to the hour and minute hands that are
mounted in front of the dial.
A modification of the arrangement described with reference to Figures 4
and 5 consists in making the rocking lever and magnetic armature in one
piece; this arrangement is shewn in front and sectional elevation at Figures 11
and 12. The rock lever carries ruby pallets for engaging with the ratchet
wheel.
A further modification consists in forming the propulsory or escape wheel
with pins which project through the band forming its periphery, and are acted
upon by a vibrating fork carried by the rock plate or lever; this arrangement
is shewn in front elevation at Fig. 18, and in partial plan view at Fig. 14.
g is the wheel, the periphery of which is fitted with radial pins, the ends of
which project equally within and beyond its periphery. h is the vibrating
fork carrying at its lower end the magnet, which is suspended between tho
poles of the electro-magnets; this fork h embraces the rim of the wheel, and
acts in succession upon the several pins, striking first upon one end and then
on the other of each pin to give the wheel the required progressive motion.
The locking motion thus obtained may be used in connection with other
propelling power than electro-magnetism for giving motion to the escape
wheel.
⚫ Instead of transmitting to the different stations currents of electricity
derived from the battery it is proposed to work the time indicators by means
of induced currents; this is effected by providing each station with an
induction bobbin, and surrounding these bobbins with coils of a coarse
insulated wire connected with a common battery. The current continuing
to flow from and to the battery will induce currents in the bobbins, which
currents are applied by means of a commutator constructed on the principle
first described, the number of springs bearing on the cylinder being determined
by the number of stations grouped together, and the circuits with all these
stations being simultaneously completed.
. Another mode of obtaining an induced current is to surround a rotating

page_text: permanent magnet with electro-magnets arranged radially. As the poles of
the rotating magnet pass the poles of the stationary magnets electric currents
will be induced in the coils of those magnets, which currents may be applied
as above described.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in
the Construction of Electric Clocks, and in the Means employed in Working
the same, as communicated to me from abroad, and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
First, the means described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of
the Drawing for actuating by the aid of an ordinary regulator clock groups of
time indicators.
Secondly, the modified form of commutator as above described for
transmitting reversed currents of electricity to the electro-magnetic apparatus
of the time indicators.
Thirdly, the modifications of electro-magnetic apparatus above described
for working the spur gearing of the time indicators.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)