IMPROVE- MENTS IN CONNECTION WITH CLOCKS AND CLOCK DIALS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM THOMAS STORY, of Market Place, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, Watch
Maker and Jeweller do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONNECTION WITH CLOCKS AND CLOCK DIALS," to be as follows :—
This invention has reference to certain means to be employed to regulate clocks,
more particularly French clocks, but my improvements are applicable to English or
other descriptions of clocks. As is well known when French clocks are gaining or
loosing time they have hitherto been adjusted by means of a key acting upon a
small arbour projecting through a hole on the top of the face or dial of the clock,
but there has been no hand or pointer to indicate in which direction to turn the
said arbour, and when such arbour has been turned there is no means of knowing
how much it has been moved, consequently the adjustment thereof has been
uncertain and not reliable.
My improvements consist in marking upon the face or dial of a clock, a circle or
segment of a circle divided into divisions indicating time, and also marked with
arrows shewing in which direction the arbour must be turned to regulate the clock.
Upon the central arbour carrying the usual minute and hour hands, I place loosely
a small pointer or hand which is to be employed in connection with the additional
circle or segment. The pointer or hand is attached to a wheel, which through the
intervention of an intermediate wheel is in gear with a wheel on the arbour placed
on the top of the face or dial of the clock, so that as the arbour is turned by a key
in the ordinary manner the pointer is moved accordingly on the small circle or
segment, the letters and marks thereon indicating which way the said pointer
must be turned in order that the clock may gain or loose time. So far my
improvements have reference only to the means of indicating in what direction
and how much the regulating arbour requires to be turned to adjust the time-
keeping of the clock, but my improvements also relate to the means of raising and
lowering the pendulum, which consists of a snail or cam fixed on the end of the
arbour, this snail works underneath a collar fixed to or attached to the top of
the suspension spring, so that as the arbour is turned in one direction, suspension
spring and the pendulum attached thereto are raised, and on the arbour being
turned in the opposite direction the suspension spring and pendulum are lowered,
consequently the regulation of the clock can be accurately adjusted.
Instead of placing the pointer or hand on the central arbour of the clock, it may
be placed on the arbour at the top of the dial and indicate on a circle or segment
as previously explained, or the two pointers may be used in combination.

page_text: Improvements in Connection with Clocks and Clock Dials.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS STORY of Market Place Dewsbury, Yorkshire, Watch
Maker and Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONNECTION WITH CLOCKS AND CLOCK DIALS" 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 for regulating Clocks of all
descriptions, but more particularly French Clocks.
It is well known that by the system at present in use when the arbour is turned
to regulate the clock it is not easy to tell with exactness how much it has been
turned, and further no two turns of the arbour act alike through the uncertain
cramping or shortening or lengthening of the suspension spring.
By my invention the suspension spring is not cramped, consequently the free
play of the spring is not interfered with, whilst the slightest alteration of the
regulator is perceptible and reliable, and any one may in twenty four hours regulate
a clock which sometimes by the old system took weeks to adjust.
This invention will be of great advantage to the public, as at present very few
persons understand how to regulate a clock, and most people are ignorant even
which way the regulator requires to be turned to make the clock go faster or
Blower.
Clocks that have been in use some years after being cleaned usually require the
time regulating, and by the present system the clock-maker must either make
several visits to do this, or the clock is left keeping incorrect time, but by my
system any person can regulate a clock correctly by simply turning the regulator,
and the index connected thereto will show the correct distance and the direction in
which to turn it.
My improvements consist in marking upon the dial or face of the clock a circle
or segment of a circle, or both, divided into divisions, indicating time for the
purpose of regulating and also marked with arrows showing in which direction the
arbour must be turned to regulate the clock.
Upon a wheel on the central arbour carrying also the usual wheels for the
minute and hour hands I place a small pointer or hand which is to be employed in
connection with the additional circle or segment.
The pointer or hand is attached to a wheel which through the intervention of an
intermediate wheel is in gear with a wheel on the regulating arbour placed on the
top of the face, so that when the arbour is turned by a key, winder, or other device
the pointer (or pointers) is moved accordingley on the small circle or segment or
both, the letters and marks thereon indicating which way the said pointer must be
turned and how much to be turned in order that the clock may be made to go
faster, or slower as required.
My improvements also relate to the means of raising and lowering the pendulum
by means of the same operation of turning the arbour on the face of the clock,
which consists of a cam or eccentric (or similar device) fixed at the end of the
arbour.

page_text: This cam works underneath a collar fixed to or attached to the top of the
suspension spring, so that as the arbour is turned in one direction, the suspension
spring and pendulum attached thereto are raised, and if turned in the opposite
direction they are lowered, consequently the regulation of the clock can be
accurately adjusted.
Instead of placing a pointer or hand on the central arbour of the clock, it may
be placed on the arbour at the top of the dial and have a circle or segment in
combination with it divided into divisions showing how much and which way to
turn it to regulate the clock, or the two pointers and two indexes may be used in
combination.
French clocks having a visible escapement require somewhat different mechanism.
The segment of a circle described as marked on the dial, and the indicator or
pointer might be placed below the centre of the dial, instead of above, or the centre
indicating pointer and aforesaid segment might be omitted, and the small pointer
on the upper arbour with its corresponding circle or segment might be used in its
place, or both might be used in combination.
In the accompanying design a is an arbour of the usual kind on the other end of
which is formed a small cam, or eccentric b which works under a collar c attached
to the top of the suspension spring which carries the pendulum.
When the arbour a is turned with a key the cam 6 revolves and lifts or lowers
the pendulum according to the movement being to the right or left. d is a small
pointer operated by means of cog wheels in unison with the arbour a and indicating
on the segmente the extent and direction of the movement imparted to the
arbour a
The segment e and the hand ƒ may if preferred be placed below the centre of the
dial instead of above, or may be entirely omitted and the circle and pointer & used
instead. g is a small circle or segment with indicating hand d and having also
""fast "
arrows pointing in opposite directions and the words "slow"
at the
respective sides so as to indicate clearly the extent and direction of any movement.
of the hand or pointer when the arbour a is turned.
If preferred the circle g and pointer d may be dispensed with, and the segment e
and pointer fused instead.
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;
Firstly. The use of a segment or circle or both divided into divisions on a
clock dial denoting time, and having in combination a hand or pointer so as to
render the regulation of a clock more easy and accurate.
Secondly. The means and method of raising and lowering the pendulum in
manner substantially as herein shown and described.
Dadth: To Manah 1000