Improvements in Perpetual Calendars.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1898-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COME IL DI DUITICAITUN
Improvements in Perpetual Calendars.
I, FRIEDRICH FASSBENDER, of Zuckmantel, near Teplitz, in the Empire of Austria-
Hungary, Doctor of Philosophy, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a so-called permanent calendar to be suspended or
otherwise placed in apartments; the arrangement of the calendar being such, that,
on actuating the disc, bearing the names of the week, by means of an outwardly
projecting knob, the names of the months and the numbers, indicating the date,
are simultaneously displaced in their order, corresponding to reality.
Moreover, in this improved calendar the various phases of the moon, adjustable
for each day are rendered visible. After the disc, adapted to show the crescent,
has once been adjusted to correspond to the given period and to the other indica-
tions; the phases of the moon then will likewise change automatically and simul-
taneously with the changing of the date.
This invention is shewn in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figures 1 and 1ª represent the indicating discs with their respective divisions
in elevation.
Figure 2 shews the whole calendar in front elevation.
Figure 3 represents the same in rear elevation.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, shewing the month changing wheel with the
month-indicating disc or wheel mounted thereon.
Figure 5 is an elevation of Figure 4, the uppermost part of the month changing-
wheel being cut away along the line AB of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a side elevation, shewing the day-changing wheel with the disc
carrying the names of days fastened thereto.
Figure 7 is a section shewing the working mechanism for the day-wheel repre-
sented in Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a side elevation shewing the guides f for the pawl (see also
Figure 3) and
;
Figure 9 is a view from above shewing the pawl f¹ with the catches or stops
limiting its stroke.
The apparatus is constructed in the form of a box A of suitable material, which
box, according to the special purpose in view may be shaped, decorated, suspended
or fastened in any suitable manner.
The whole calendar is worked essentially by means of a pin projecting through
a slot on one side of the box, and provided with a knob a, this said pin with
knob being fixed to a thrust-rod a³ moving in a vertical direction in the guides a¹
and a².
By the action of the spring a', held in position at one end by a pin a³ arranged
on the interior of the box, the thrust-rod a³ is retained in its upper position and
therefore automatically re-ascends, as soon as a pressure is exerted upon the knob
and nin a.

page_text: At its top extremity the thrust rod a³ carries a pin a. This pin a engages with
a slot of the one-arnied lever adapted to oscillate upon the opposite side of the
box on a pivot 63, and compels the lever to oscillate to a corresponding extent
about the pivot 6, when the knob a is being acted upon. Te the one-armed
lever a long pawl is connected by means of the screw, this rawl being
pulled toward the lever b by the spring 2. The pawl engages with the teeth
of the moon-dise e, the divisioning of which will be seen from the front elevation,
Figure 1.
Upon the dise c, (Fig. 1) which is generally painted over or covered with a
suitably bright or otherwise conspicuous colour or substance, for instance covered
with white or yellow tin-foil, two dim and dark-coloured spots suitably
covered over are provided. In the drawing Figs. 1 and 2 the bright surface is
indicated by vertical shading lines. These spots are located upon one and the
same diameter of the dise c, the arrangement being such, that their centre lies
at exactly the same distance from that of the disc e, as the centre of the sight
hole provided in the face of the box. The centre of the sight hole moreover
lies vertically above or below the centre of the disc c. It will be readily seen,
that, as the disc is rotated opposite the opening the moon-phases, alternately
decreasing and increasing, are formed. Thus, for example new moon is formed,
when one of the uncovered dark spots or coincides with the sight hole c.
The disc c, which is adjustable according to the phase of the moon at the time
being, is on the other hand independent of the whole other indicating device and
is solely and exclusively set in motion by the pawl b', rotatably fixed to the
lever The stroke of the pawl is so adapted that, on completely depressing
the knob a in the direction of the arrow, the changes of the moon will exactly
correspond to the proportion, in which the changes of the moon take place in
reality.
The moon disc is also provided with flat teeth of another kind directly
opposite the first mentioned teeth; with these, teeth engages the leaf spring
screwed on to the face of the box, and prevents the moon-wheel from partici-
pating in the movement when the pawl recedes.
Between the two guides a¹ and as a bolt d is arranged upon the thrust-rod a³,
upon this bolt, as shewn in Figures 3 and 7 three spring actuated fingers with
widened extremities are mounted. By means of the springs these fingers are
lightly drawn against the catch, so that, as the stopping surface of d is recti-
linear, the said fingers, lie under normal conditions in a plane.
These fingers thus participating in the movement of the thrust rod a³, serve
for actuating the day wheel, and consequently through the intermediary of stop-
work likewise for actuating the month wheel.
This stop-work consists of three stop-levers e¹ and e³ pivotally arranged on
the shaft e, the last mentioned lever lying, however, hidden behind, and
being therefore invisible. The pivot or shafte is carried by the stay 4, the
underside of which simultaneously serves as guide for the thin date indicating
wheel, and which stay is screwed on to the face of the box.
The engaging levers or pawls el 3 and 3 have their free ends guided in a
guide f, provided with three slots and likewise screwed to the face of the box;
the distance of these pawls from each other, and their position relatively to the
spring-actuated finger d³ is so regulated by the slots of the guide f that the
heads of the fingers are enabled to carry the engaging levers or pawls as
shewn in their descending movement, as soon as they have, to a given extent,
been forced out of their highest position regulated by the length of the slots,
this forcing out operation being effected by another stop-work.
On the engaging levers el 2 and the pawls ff and f³ are mounted, of
which is likewise concealed. These pawls f f and fare pivotally secured on
a thin pin mounted on the stop levers el 3 and and while placing themselves
under the action of springs f f and f6, against a stop, bear against this stop
and are thus detained in an entirely determined position. Toward the other

page_text: side, the movement of the pawls is likewise limited by a stop, as is apparent
from the additional Figure 9, drawn to a larger scale.
By the springs g¹g and g³ the engaging levers e¹ and are pressed upward
that is to say against the upper end of the slots provided in the guide f.
It is evident that if all three engaging levers ele and were always bearing
against the upper end of their guide slots, neither of the fingers ³, as they move
in conjunction with the thrust-rod a would be able to carry said levers along
with them and actuate the same, on the contrary, all three would pass closely
by them.
According to the date indicating number of the respective months, however,
one of the engaging levers, at the end of the month preceding the last month,
is, by a suitable device, placed in a somewhat depressed position, such as occupied
by the engaging lever (Figure 3).
Although directly apparent from Figure 2, it may yet be specially pointed
out here, that the whole position of the calendar is represented and described to
conform to the first of January, that is to say, to a month of 331 days.
This displacement of the engaging levers el e and e' is effected by a ratchet
wheel m, ineunted on a month indicating wheel M and firmly connected there-
with, the construction of this ratchet wheel being apparent from Figures 3, 4,
and 5.
The face of the month-indicating wheel M, which lies toward the sight hole,
is provided with divisions, such as represented in Figure 1^, and bears itself,
the sight holes for the date indicating numbers; moreover the number of days
referring to each individual month are indicated thereon. As is to be further
seen from Fig. 1 the sight holes of the month disc M and likewise the numbers
upon the day indicating disc T are arranged in three different distances from the
centre of motion or pivot of the disc, these three distances coinciding relatively
to each other. This threefold partition is due to the fact, that there are months
with 31, 30 and 28 days, which alternate with each other in known succession.
The number 29, as applying to the month of February of a leap-year, has been
left out for the sake of simplicity. Likewise in the construction of the month-
wheel or in that of the stopwork connected therewith, the number 29, as occurring
but once every four years, has not been taken into account, and one is consequently
compelled to make a corresponding correction or displacement of the calender
each fourth year.
The ratchet wheel m has three various divisions lying above one another, the
first of which, namely, that which lies farthest away from M, is adapted for
30 days, the central one for 31 and the lowermost for 28 days. In other words,
upon the division for 30 days there are only so many stops of the kind shewn in
Fig. 5, as there are months with 30 days per annum, whereas, upon the lowermost
division for 28 days there is but one single tooth, the central division for 31 days
possessing the remainder of months.
In this arrangement the position of these individual teeth to each other is
exactly so chosen, that, analogous to the ordinary calendar, the months with their
respective 31, 30 and 28 days, alternate with each other and follow one another
in the correct way.
The engaging levers e¹ 2 and 3 have projections h h and so forth provided on
their top surfaces: consequently as the month wheel M or the ratchet wheel m
respectively is rotated in the direction indicated in Figure 3, the levers are
depressed alternately and according to the sequence of months by means of the
corresponding heads of the ratchet wheel m, and are thus exposed to the action
of the fingers . When after the lapse of a month the next following month is
to be commenced, that is to say, thrown into engagement, the corresponding
engaging lever for such month is depressed, so as to occupy the engaging position,
simultaneously, however, the corresponding spring y pulls the engaging lever,
which had been previously operating, up again and thus out of the sphere of
action of the finger d³.

page_text: According to the three divisions upon the ratchet wheel m the actuating drum i
exposed to the three pawls e¹ e² and e³ is likewise provided with three various
divisions, depending upon the number of days in the individual months. These
divisions are represented in Figure 6, the upper division again possessing 30,
the central 31, and the lowermost 28 studs or little projections which are so con-
structed that, as a corresponding movement is executed the pawls f f and f³
will engage therewith and thus rotate the drum, which is adapted to rotate about
the shaft i¹.
It should be borne in mind that according to the number of days of the months,
the length of the divisions upon the drum i is different, so that given a corre-
sponding number of movements, the drum i nevertheless executes a full revolution;
only the number of strokes required for completing a whole revolution is different
and corresponds to the number of days of the respective month. The difference
in the size of the divisions is clearly apparent from Figure 6.
Independently of the disc T rotating in conjunction with the drum i, which disc
bears the dates in the respective divisions and renders them visible by means
of sight holes, arranged in the face of the box and corresponding to the different
divisions, the disc N containing the names of the week days turns about the shaft i
The same traverses, by means of a sleeve or socket the disc T and is moved
independently of the latter, and moreover admits of being adjusted independently
of the same.
At any rate this independent movement does not take place by the direct
movement of the disc T but is effected directly from the thrust rod a³. Around
the shaft k, which is fixed in the cramp screwed on to the base plate, the one-
armed lever is adapted to oscillate. The same has a slot provided on its
extremity, with which engages the pin rivetted into the thrust rod a³. The
sleeve or socket carrying the disc N has its rear extremity in the interior of the
divided drum i, provided with a ratchet wheel having seven teeth. The rotary
pawl mounted on the lever engages with the ratchet wheel / when the knob a
is depressed, and rotates through the intermediary of the sleeve or socket, the
forward disc N, the length of movement being here as well as in all other parts
so chosen, that the names and figures as well as other indications will move away
from their respective sight holes exactly to such an extent, that the next indication
again appears exactly in the centre of the appertaining sight hole.
Also in this operation a ratchet wheel o and a pawl o, analogous to the ratchet
wheel and the pawl pin connection with the wheel above referred to, counteracts
any inverse rotary movement of the disc inasmuch as they prevent their corre-
sponding disc from turning backward during the receding movement of the pawl.
The connection of the month wheel M and the day wheel T with their engaging
drums is ensured by means of a projection g arranged on the drum i of the day
wheel T, which projection at each revolution of T engages with one of the teeth r
of the month wheel, so that the latter is moved to the extent of one tooth, that
is to say is shifted upon the following months.
Simultaneously with the change of the name of the months in the sight hole of
the apparatus, the ratchet wheel m is, however, turned at the back, so that at the
same time, according to the number of days of the respective month, a corre-
sponding engaging lever doris depressed and thus exposed to the action
of the finger, whilst the engaging lever corresponding to the preceding month
is under spring action, returned to its upper, inaccessible position if the said
month be of a different number of days.
All that is necessary after such adjustment, which need not here be further
explained, is to daily depress the knob a in the direction indicated by the arrow,
in order that all indications, usually required, may be read upon the face of
the calendar. It may be further pointed out that the indication of the month
and simultaneously the indication as to the number of days of each respective
month appears in an oblong opening provided upon the face of the apparatus,

page_text: in which said opening also the sight holes for the respective numbers of days
appear on their part, which sight holes pass through the month wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A perpetual calendar presenting this characteristic feature that by the
actuation of a thrust rod (as) held in a given position by a spring, and by the
co-operation of the engaging levers (6 e 3 and 4) with the pawls (61 f f³ fo
and ) fixed thereto, a disc, shewing the phases of the moon, a disc indicating the
names of the months, a disc indicating the numbers of days, and a disc bearing
the names of the days are after a first adjustment, correctly shifted, each shifting
being effected through the intermediary of the handle or knob (a) the arrange-
ment being such that the moon disc or wheel c and the disc or wheel N, bearing
the names of the days, become visible through sight holes in the face of the
box enclosing the apparatus, and that the sight holes for exhibiting the numbers
of days are provided in the month wheel at three different distances from the
centre, that is to say, in three different divisions corresponding to the numbers 31,
30 and 28, as presenting the more frequently occurring numbers of days of
the months.
2. In a calendar of the kind as set forth in the first claim the use of stop-work
presenting the characteristic feature, that, by means of a ratchet wheel (m) rigidly
connected with the month wheel (M) which ratchet wheel (m) is provided with
three divisions, placed above one another and corresponding to the respective
months of the year with 31, 30, and 28 days, while the heads, producing these
divisions and adjusted relatively to each other exactly like the months with 31,
30 and 28 days, alternate with each other three engaging levers (e¹, e² and ³)
adapted to oscillate about the pivot (e) through the medium of the guide (f)
and to engage with their projections (h¹ h2 and h³) in the several dents of the
ratchet wheel (m), are so acted upon, that two of them being drawn with their
projections h h and 3 between the heads of the month-changing-wheels M which
is their topmost position, through the action of springs (g¹² and g³), are placed
out of reach of the appertaining three fingers (d³), arranged under spring action
on the thrust-rod a³, whilst the third engaging lever, corresponding to the number
of days of that month, upon which the month wheel (M) is placed, being forced
out of its topmost position by one of the heads, is, on actuating the thrust-rod (a³)
by the knob (a), carried away with the corresponding finger (³) and engages,
through the intermediary of its pawl, with one of the heads of that division of
the drum (i) arranged on the disc T which indicates the number of days, the
said division corresponding to the respective month, so that this third engaging
lever thus effects the displacement of the day numbering wheel T, so as to indicate
the following day, these displacements or changes being, above all, always effected
correctly from the last day of the month to the first day of the succeeding month.
3. In the arrangement ascertained in the first claim, the use of the propelling
drum (i) mounted on the day-wheel T, the characteristic feature being that this
drum (i) is provided with three divisions, lying above one another, being
different from one another and corresponding to the numbers 31, 30 and 28,
representing the more frequently occurring numbers of days of the months, so
that, after the completion of the number of movements corresponding to the number
of days of the respective month, always a complete revolution of the drum (i)
is effected.
4. In the device described in the first claim, the use of a coupling between the
month wheel (M) and the day numbering wheel (T) presenting this characteristic
feature, that a head (y) arranged on the periphery of the day numbering wheel (T)
will at each complete revolution of the said day numbering wheel (T), that is to
say, atter the respective month has lapsed, shift the month wheel (M), through
the intermediary of the twelve pins mounted on its actuating wheel (m) and

page_text: corresponding to the number of months: upon the succeeding month, whereby
simultaneously the engaging lever, corresponding to the respective month, is
moved into the position required for the engagement of the fingers (ď³).
Dated this 27th day of June 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C, Patent Agents for the Applicant.