IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY WINDING UP CLOCKWORK
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY
WINDING UP CLOCKWORK" Communicated to him from abroad by Nathan
Silberberg, of Jassy, Roumania.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY WINDING UP CLOCKWORK [A communication
to him from abroad by Nathan Silberberg, of Jassy, Roumania]
"
The object of this invention is the winding up of clock-work by self-acting
appliances or apparatus. According to the said invention I utilize for this purpose
the variations in length of a chain of metal bars, which variations take place during
changes in the temperature of the atmosphere.
The self acting appliances or apparatus which I employ according to the said
invention consist essentially of a chain of metal bars arranged around the
clock-work, and having one end firmly attached to the frame whilst the other
end is attached to a winding drum. This chain is preferably constructed in
the following manner, supposing the clock to be about seven feet high, that is
to say-Inside the glass case of the clock, and on two opposite sides of the
frame of the clock-work a set of about thirty five (35) zine bars are pivotted
at their upper ends to a row of metal levers pivotted along the top of the
said frame, and at their lower ends to a second row of metal levers pivotted
along the bottom of the said frame. Each of the zinc bars may be about
six (6) feet long. One end, say the lower end, of the first zinc bar is fixed to the
frame while its other end is pivotted to one end of the first of the top row of
levers. To the opposite end of the first of the top row of levers is pivotted the

page_text: upper end of a second zinc bar. The lower end of the said second zinc bar is
pivotted to one end of the first of the bottoin row of levers. The opposite end of
the first bottom lever is pivotted to a third zinc bar, the upper end of which is
pivotted to the second top lever, and so on, the end of the last zinc bar being con-
nected to the winding mechanism. The total length of the chain thus formed will
be about two hundred and fifty (250) feet. It is therefore evident that very slight
variations of temperature will produce a considerable variation in the length of the
chain and a corresponding action on the winding mechanism connected therewith.
Any suitable arrangement of ratchet-wheels and pawls may be used for utilizing
the said variations in the length of the said chain for the purpose of winding up a
weight in connection with the clock-work, and any suitable stop may be arranged
for preventing overwinding.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Williain Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th May 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS
FOR AUTOMATICALLY WINDING UP CLOCKWORK A communication to me from
abroad by Nathan Silberberg of Jassy, Roumania.
"
This invention relates to apparatus for automatically winding up clock-work.
The said invention consists essentially in utilizing the variations in length of a
chain of metal bars, which variations take place during changes in the temperature
of the atmosphere.
The automatic apparatus comprises a chain of metal bars arranged around the
clock-work, and having one end firmly attached to the frame whilst the other end
is attached to a winding device.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which;
Figure 1 is a rear view of a clock, the back of the case being removed.
Figure 2 is a view showing the arrangement of the chain of metal bars.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the clock caso showing the metal bars.
Figures 4 and 5 show the winding mechanism connected to the last bar of the
chain.
The chain forming the essential part of the self-acting appliance for winding up
a clock consists of a number of metal bars y preferably of zinc, the ends of which
are connected by metal beams or levers f. One set of the levers f is pivotted
centrally at the top, and the other at the bottom of the clock case.
The metal bars y and the levers f form a chain the first bar y of which is fixed
at its end 1 to the clock case, the other end 2 thereof, being pivotted to the end of
the first lever of the top row of levers. To the other end 3 of this lever is
pivotted a second metal bar y leading down on one side of the clock case to one end 4
of the first lever f of the bottom row; to the other end 5 of the latter lever is
attached a third bar y passing upwards on the other side of the clock case to one

page_text: end 6 of the second lever f of the top row, to the other end 7 of which is pivotted
a fourth metal bar y, and so on as indicated by the numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11 in
Figure 2.
At any change of temperature therefor the extent of movement of the end
of the chain which is free to move, is equal to the sum of dilatations or contrac-
tions of all the metal bars y. The last bar y* of the said chain is connected to
suitable mechanism by which the variations in the length of the chain are utilized
for the purpose of winding up the clock.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 which has been found to give
good results the bar y* (Figure 5) is fastened to one end of a rope or chain v, the
other end of which is connected with a point e on the circumference of the wheel b.
Keyed upon the shaft of this wheel is a disc d, and to a point c on the circum-
ference of the latter is secured one end of a chain or rope to the other end of which
is attached a weight g.
The points cand e are on opposite sides of the common axis of the discs 6 and d.
Keyed upon the common shaft of the said discs is a ratchet wheel i; between the
teeth of the latter, pawls 7, acted upon by springs m, are arranged. These pawls and
springs are carried by another ratchet wheel k the shaft of which is concentric with
the shaft of the ratchet wheel i but is loose on the same and projects out of the
frame of the ratchet gear fixed to the back of the clock case. With the teeth of
the latter atchet wheel engage pawls kept in contact with the said teeth by
springs m¹ these pawls and springs are carried by the frame x.
The shaft of the ratchet wheel k is securely coupled to the shaft of the wheel n,
(Figure 4), around which the chain or rope carrying the clock-weight A is wound,
which chain passes as shown in Figure 4 round the wheel g of the clock work and
besides round a small wheel , and carries a small weight B which serves to keep
the chain tight. The wheels n, q and are preferably chain wheels.
The operation of the winding mechanism is as follows, that is to say-When by
increase of temperature the length of the chain of bars y and levers fincreases, the
end of the bar y* (Figure 5) moves upward, whereby the weight g is allowed to fall
(the chain v being slackened) turning the shaft of the wheel i, the pawls / now
acting as a clutch cause the ratchet wheel k to rotate in the same direction, and as
the shaft of this latter is coupled with the shaft of the wheel n this wheel will also
be rotated so as to lift the clock weight A and wind the clock. The sum of the
momenta of the weights g and B relatively to the axis of the wheels i, k, and n
must exceed the momentum of the weight A relatively to the same axis, because
otherwise the movement could not take place. In case the temperature should
decrease the end of the bar y would move downwards, lifting thereby the weight g
and turning the shaft of the ratchet wheel i in the opposite direction to that in the
former case, but now the pawls / permit the wheel i to rotate freely and the pawls
check the movement of the ratchet wheel k, thus preventing the wheel n from
rotating and unwinding the clock.
It is obvious therefrom that any dilatation of the chain of bars and levers will
be utilized to wind the clock but that no decrease of temperature and consequent
contraction of the said chain will cause an unwinding.
I do not however limit myself to the above described arrangement of the ratchet
wheels, pawls, and the connection between them, and the bar y* as many others
might be employed without departing from the nature of this invention. Instead
of utilizing the dilatation of the chain the contraction may be utilized; and instead
of pivotting the levers fupon knife edges, as shown in the drawing other nodes of
pivotting the same may be used.
Any suitable stop may be arranged for preventing overwinding. The construc-
tion shown in Figure 4 has been found to give good results. It consists of a pawl t
against which the blocks of the weight A strikes when the clock is wholly wound,
whereupon the pawl t engages with the teeth of the chain wheel n and thus prevents
further winding up of the clock by checking the downward motion of the weight g,

page_text: then in case of additional dilatation of the chain of bars y and levers fonly the
chain or cord v will be slackened.
The number and length of the bars y depends on the original length of time for
which the clock is to run and on the dimensions of the same.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim.
First. The apparatus for utilizing the variations of length of a metal chain, during
changes of temperature, for winding up clockwork, substantially as described.
Second. The pivotted levers f, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Third The combination of the levers or beams fand the bars y, substantially as
described with reference to the drawing and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination of the bar y* with the chain or rope v, the wheel & and
the weight g, for the purpose specified.
Fifth The safety catch t which, in the highest position of the weight A, engages
with the wheel n, for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty sixth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.