Improvements in and relating to Electric Time-alarm and Synchronizing Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Time-alarm and
Synchronizing Apparatus.
I, ALFREDO ANTONIO CARDOSO E BASTOS, of 15 Rua do Commercio, São
Paulo, State of São Paulo, in the Republic of Brazil, Accountant, 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:-
My invention consists in adapting to any clockwork certain new arrangements
of parts combined with the object of giving an alarm by means of electric bells
established in predetermined places where the attention of persons desirous of being
called at any previously determined time may be attracted."
My said invention also comprises means for controlling several clocks from a
single central clock.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown the various parts and combinations
by which my said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into
practice.
Figures 1 and
show the general arrangement of a mnemonic clock arranged to
give an alarm or warning by means of a bell
Figure 3 shows the said clock with the dial open so as to show the arrangement
of the parts on its rear face;
Figures 45 and 6 illustrate details of parts of the signalling movement;
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 show arrangements having for their object to enable
the alarm or warning to be given from minute to minute
Figures 12, 13 and 14 show a clock arranged for transmitting the alarm to
various bells
Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18 show apparatus which may be placed in a telephone
office for transmitting the warning to subscribers' bells at definite hours
Figure 19 shows the connections between the clock and the half-rings and with
the bells
Figures 20, 21, and 22 show details of parts used in the arrangements shown in
Figure 19
Figure 23 shows an arrangement for controlling several clocks from one central
clock
Figure 24 is a plan of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 23.
Figures 25, 26, 27 and 28 are detail views of Figure 23 and
Figure 29 shows an arrangement by which a number of clocks may be
synchronized.
The clock represented in Figures 1, and 3 is designed to give a warning by
means of an electric bell S at the predetermined hours or half-hours as desired.
The said clock comprises a dial 7 around which are arranged 24 buttons 11,
corresponding to the hours and half-hours.
When I bave determined the hour or the half-hour at which I wish to give a
warning I act, as hereafter explained, upon the button corresponding to the hour
chosen, and when the hour hand passes before the said button previously set, the
circuit of a dry pile or other source of electric current in which the movement of the
clock which is electrically insulated and the electric bell are included, is closed,
thus setting the bell in action.
This result is obtained by means of the devices represented in detail in Figures 4,

page_text: 5 and 6 in which A designates a contact lever of metal having a boss 1 fixed upon
the sleeve 2 of the hour hand 5 of the clock, behind the dial 7, by means of screws 3.
This lever is fixed upon the sleeve exactly in the same position as the hour-hand 5,
which is arranged on the opposite side of the dial 7. The contact lever A is
provided at its extremity and perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, with a piece 8
having the form of a right-angled triangle and made of insulating material as shown
in Figure 4. This piece is fixed upon the shank of the contact lever A in such a
manner that the extremity of the said shank is flush with the hypotenuse of the
said triangle for a length m, n, which length is determined according to the length
of time during which the bell is to ring.
10 10 are the axes of the spring or cord drums and counter-weights of the clock,
B is a copper ring electrically insulated from the clock and concentric with the dial.
C is a metallic piece which is adapted to be displaced upon the ring B, and is made
hollow interiorly so as to form a tube in which a quadrangular prism F is adapted
to work with little friction, the said prism having one of its ends terminating in a
screw button 11, and provided on the face turned towards the centre of the clock
with a small pin G which works in a slot 13 formed in the tube, carrying the
prism F.
D is a support fixed upon the ring B in which is fitted a screw E serving to
regulate exactly the position of the tubular piece C in order that the alarm may be
given at the time corresponding to the divisions of the outer dial. 14 is a spring
arranged in a recess provided in the prism F adjustably so as to hold the said prism
in any desired position.
The ring B is furnished with 24 tubular pieces C with their accessories arranged
as herein before described.
When a warning is to be given at the hour corresponding to the position of one
of the said tubular pieces Crelatively to the dial the corresponding screw button 11,
with its prism is drawn out into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.
When, during the course of its movement, the hypotenuse of the triangle-shaped
piece 8 comes in contact with the pin G previously drawn out by means of the
button 11, the said rim will be displaced by the said piece 8 and will move the
prism F to its extreme position so that the said triangle-shaped piece 8 will pass
over the said pin G as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. During the contact of the
metallic part m n with the pin G, the electric circuit will be completed and the
alarm will be given.
At the lower part of the clock case may be arranged slates or writing tablets A¹
and B upon which are inscribed memoranda of the alarms which are to take place
at the hours indicated.
If it is desired to be able to give the alarm each minute I provide 5 parallel
rings abc de Figures 7 and 8 carrying 144 tubes with their respective prisms 40
adapted to move with little friction in the said tubes. Each of these prisms has a
head 41 with a collar 42 which limits the movement in one direction by bearing on
the dial frame of wood. On the 5 concentric rings the tubes may be arranged one
behind the other as indicated at B' Figure 9 or in radial lines as at C¹, Figure 9;
in the first case five triangles similar to that shown at 8 Figure 4 are mounted upon
the lever A as shown at B2 Figure 10; and in the second case, as at C Figure 11,
the hypotenuses of these triangles will act upon the chamfered extremities of the
prisms 40, driving the latter outwards, the triangles being arranged for this purpose
so that at the time when the alarm is to be given it will only be necessary to push
down the prisms corresponding to that time until their shoulders touch the dial frame
of wood as indicated by the prism 40 of the ring e Figure 7.
When the clock is to transmit the warning to various bells it is arranged as shown
in Figures 12, 13 and 14.
Below the clock A. fixed upon a cross-piece forming the diameter of a ring B² [
arrange as many concentric and parallel horizontal rings 16 as there are bells to be
actuated. These rings constructed of any insulating material have consecutively
between them a suitable space c* d* in which a flat rod 17 is placed. Distance

page_text: pieces 18 18 hold the rings rigidly in their respective positions; these rings are
moreover connected by as many small flat vertical bars 19, 19 as there are points on
the dial corresponding to the hours at which it is intended to give the warning.
We have supposed that there are 12 such points corresponding with the figures
representing the 12 hours.
In the direction of each of the radii passing through each of these figures on the
dial and near the same on a surface electrically insulated from the movement of
the clock, I provide devices 20 (Figure 15) each of which said devices comprises a
plate 21 with its tube 22, in the interior of which is arranged a metallic prism 23
carrying a pin 24 and acted upon by a spring 25 in such a manner that its extremity
will be constantly in a position to be encountered by the interior lever A of the dial
(fixed on the sleeve of the hour hand), which carries the triangle-shaped piece 8
the hypotenuse of which establishes, as it is displaced, a temporary metallic contact
during which time the current passes in the circuit formed as hereinafter set forth
and actuates the bell or bells.
The flat pointers 17 arranged between the consecutive rings one of which is
represented in Figures 16 and 17 is provided at one of its extremities with a
button 26 upon which is marked the number of the bell with which it is connected;
at the middle the pointer 17 turns upon a vertical axis 28 fixed upon a metallic
plate 29 which is secured upon a diametrical transverse piece of the lower ring which
Parries the same number as that of the button; the said pointer 17 carries a pin 30
to which is connected one end of a spring 31, the other enl of which is secured to
the axis 28. An oblong opening 32 formed in the pointer through which the fixed
axis passes permits of a certain displacement of the said pointer in the direction of
its length.
The extremity opposite the button is provided with a conical end 33 (Figure 17)
the part 34 of which is made of insulating material, for the purpose of ensuring the
insulation of the pointer and of the bars when the said pointer is in the position
indicated by dotted lines in Figure 17.
Upon the upper ring B2 carrying the clock, in front of the extremities of the
vertical flat bars 19 Figure 14 are marked the hours (12 in the present case) at
which the bells are adapted to give warning, and these extremities are connected
by conducting wires 35 with the plates 21 of the prisms 23 arranged near the hours
marked on the dial as before stated.
The metallic plate 29 of each ring Figure 16 is connected to the bell whose
number it bears by a wire 36 and the movement of the clock is connected by a
wire 37 to each of the bells which is susceptible of being actuated.
Supposing, for example there are two bells Nos. 1 and 2 to actuate and it is
desired to give warning to No. 1 at 9 o'clock. The button of the pointer is moved
opposite the division IX marked upon the front part F Figure 14 of the upper
ring, the point 33 is then in contact with the bar 19 diametrically opposite, upon
When contact is
which it bears, being under the action of the spring 31.
established at 9 o'clock between the lever A carrying the triangular piece 8 and the
spring prism 23 Figure 15 the circuit will be closed. The current sent by the
battery passing through the bell No. 1, the wire 36, the plate 29, the pointer 17,
the flat bar 19, the wire 35, the prism 23 and the movement of the clock and
returning to the battery through the wire 37 will operate the bell.
If it is desired to actuate the two bells at the same time at 9 o'clock I bring the
pointer No. 2 like the pointer No. 1 in contact with the same bar for 9 o'clock.
The extremity of the pointer 17 may be made in the form of a fork as shown in
Figure 18 the bars 19 being then arranged edgewise. The contact being then
established in the space comprised between the two prongs of the fork would be
better controlled.
If instead of having a battery to each bell it should be preferred to have a single
battery it is arranged as shown at 38, Figure 14.
For transmitting the warning to subscribers' bells of the kind established for the
telephone service I may provide a clock for example at each central station..

page_text: This clock has only one circumference provided with a number of prisms, for
instance 144, for enabling the warning to be given to the various bells with which
it is connected at intervals of time varying from five minutes. The tubes 41
Figure 20 containing the prisms 42 are made of insulating material and are placed
on the dial at appropriate points; each prism is connected to a helical wire coil 43
to keep the extremity of the prism 42 in electrical contact with the lever carrying
the triangular piece. These prisms do not form projections upon the dial.
From the prism 42 a conducting wire 44 Figure 20 is connected to a half-ring A
(of any suitable dimension) and preferably parallel to the dial, upon this half-ring
it is fixed by means of a terminal screw or pressing ring. Upon the said half-ring
the hours are indicated from right to left, the last on the left corresponding to
twelve o'clock.
To each of the terminals of the said half-ring a conducting wire 45 is connected
which terminates at the semi-circular balcony or table B where it is connected;
this circular table is sufficiently high to enable the wires which are to be connected
thereto and which are fixed to the half-ring A to afford a passage below them to the
operator. The hours inscribed on this table present themselves to the eye of the
operator, placed at its centre, from left to right (Figure 19). The wires are held
upon this table opposite the corresponding divisions on the half-ring A and of the
dial of the clock in order that all the wires coming from the prisons of the dial may
be easily recognized. The extremities of the wires terminating at the semi-circular
table B are provided with a metallic eye which is held by a spring or is hooked to a
nail or otherwise fixed in front of each hour division, thus maintaining the wire in
position to be readily utilized when it is required.
A second balcony C or semi-circular table concentric with the first from
which it is separated by a space 46 designed to afford a passage for one or two
persons, has inscribed thereon the number of the bells which are connected to
the apparatus.
In front of the numbers inscribed on the table and on the edge of the convex
part is fixed a device (shown in Figure 21) composed of a plate 47 carrying a
terminal 48, a pin 49 adapted to pass into the eye at the extremity of the wires
held upon the semi-circular table B, a pressing spring 50 held by a screw 51 which
screw at the same time fixes the plate upon the table. From each terminal 48
leaves a conducting wire 52 connected to its corresponding bell. All the bells
are connected to the clock by a wire 53 (Figure 19). A conducting wire 54
leaving the clock ends in a terminal placed at D at or about the centre of the
half-ring of the table C; from this terminal leaves a wire 56 which can at will
be put in communication with each of the plates 47.
In the diagram Figure 19 we have supposed the apparatus to be arranged for
sending the warning to 15 bells, the table C therefore bears the numbers from 1
to 15, and from this table leave 15 wires which pass in the same manner as thos.:
of the bells 5 and 15 which I have shown as terminating at the corresponding
bells.
I have indicated only the wires coming from the corresponding prisms on the
dial to the divisions of the 12 hours, and have likewise indicated upon the half-
ring A and upon the semi-circular table Bouly the points where these wires
terminate. It is evident that there should be as many wires and as many points
where they terminate on the semi-circular table as there are hour divisions at which
the warning might have been given.
In order to render the application more clear, suppose it is desired to actuate
the bell No. 15 at 4.35; as soon as this order is given the extremity of the
wire 56 is connected to the plate 47 at the point corresponding to No. 15, the bell 15
will now operate thus indicating that we have understood the order.
Then we unhook the eye which holds the wire 58 corresponding to the hours
division 4.35 and we connect the eye of the wire 58 with the pin of the plate 47
corresponding to No. 15.
When the pointer carrying the triangular pieces passes in front of the division 4.35

page_text: on the dial the electric circuit will be closed and the current produced by the
battery of the bell 15 will pass through this bell, the wire 52, the plate 47, the
wire 58 the metallic prism where the contact takes place, the clock, the wire 53
and the battery, thus causing the bell to operate.
If the two bells 5 and 15 (Figure 19) are to operate at the same time I establish
communication between the plates of the divisions 15 and 5 through a wire 59
at will, provided with an eye at each of its extremities, one engaging with
the pin of the plate corresponding to 15 and the other with that of the plate
corresponding to 5.
If the half-ring A were furnished with two wires for the division 4.35 the second
would be set in communication with No. 5 without having recourse to the wire 59.
Lastly if it is desired to avoid a great number of wires leaving the dial of the
clock and secured to the table B, and to have only the wires relative for example
to the divisions corresponding to the hours, half-hours and quarters of an hour, it
would be sufficient for the other divisions to arrange tubes of insulating materials
in the dial at suitable points; and when a warning is desired for the time corre-
sponding to the point or near the point where a tube 60 of insulating material
exists Figure 22 I cause to engage with this tube a prism 61 the head of which
carries the extremity of a conducting wire 62 and whose other extremity engages
with a pin of the plate corresponding to the number of the bell which it is desired
to ring. The warning once given the prism is disengaged from the insulating tube
to be used on the next occasion.
In case there are two or more stations designed for a service identical to that
which I have just described the stations are connected with each other and the
clockworks actuated by a device, which I term a Telemote, having for its object
to transmit to these different stations the exact hour of one of them in order to
only have to regulate the single clockwork of the latter. This I carry ont in the
following manner.
Upon an axis 1 (Figures 23 and 24) of the central clock making 60 turns per
hour is fixed a cam 2* represented in three views (Figures 25, 26, and 27) moving
in the direction of the arrow and possessing upon its periphery a groove 3* the
edges 4*, 4* of which form conducting cheeks.
A lever 5* (Figures 23, 24 and 28) articulated by one of its extremities 6* in a
transverse piece 7* mounted with journals on two supports 8* is provided towards
the middle of its length with two symmetric heel-pieces 9* and a small tail or
pin 10*. The other extremity possesses a head 11* in the form of a hammer
having a lateral appendix attached in the form of a hook 12*. This appendix is
made of non-conducting material. A pin wheel 13* is arranged as shown in
Figures 23 and 24 and is provided with 60 pins.
The two heel-pieces 9* of the lever 5* bear upon the periphery of the cam 2*,
and the tail or pin 10* engages with the groove 3*; when the cam turns in the
direction of the arrow it raises the lever and hammer, which fall when the heel
pieces 9* escape from the extremity 4¹ of the curve of the cam; the rod of the
lever is guided in its fall by the cheeks 4*, 4^, between which it moves, and the
lateral part of the hammer of insulating material in its fall causes the pin which it
encounters to advance 6th part of a revolution.
The cam continuing its movement raises the hammer (Figure 23) to its upper
position, during which movement the groove of the cam in which is engaged the
tail or pin 10* compels the rod 5*, the hammer 11* and its appendix 12* to be
displaced laterally and to occupy the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 2+
in order that in this upward movement the hammer and its appendix shall not come
in contact with the circumference of the pins. The hammer having thus avoided
the pins and continuing its upward movement is brought back to its normal
position by the form of the groove in the cam, whence, falling again, it causes the
circumference of the pin wheel to again advance as previously through eth of a
turn.
The hammer (Figure 23) is provided at its lower part with a pad 40* of leather,

page_text: indiarubber or any other elastic material the object of which is to mitigate the
shock upon the shaft 41**.
The wheel or disc 13* which carries the pins is insulated as is also the brake 14*
which is formed of a spring said brake having for its object to prevent the shock of
the lateral part of the hammer upon the pin wheel from causing the advance of this
wheel through a greater space than is comprised between two pins, that is to
say, th of the circumference.
Diametrically opposite to this brake is a spring 15* connected to a battery 21*
by the wire 19* which at the time of the passage of a tooth past the said spring
comes in contact at 17* with another spring 16* regulated by a screw 18* and in
communication with the battery 21 by the wire 20*, thus forming a circuit in
which is placed a coil or bobbin 22*.
During the passage of the current the electromagnet of the bobbin actuates the
lever 24 connected to a fixed pivot 28* and also connected at 29* to the escape-
ment lever 25* of a wheel 26* having 60 teeth. When the current is interrupted
the spring 27 moves the lever 24* to the rear and the escapement lever 25* to the
original position.
Therefore when the cam 2* has made one complete revolution, the wheel 13* has
advanced th of a revolution and the escapement lever has also advanced
through th of a revolution or one tooth.
If the axis 30* of the wheel 26* carries the pointer for the minutes of a dial
in each complete revolution of the axis of the central clock, the wheel 13*
advancing th, the pointer for the minutes will mark exactly a division corre-
sponding to one minute. The escapement wheel can be arranged to engage with a
pinion of 8 teeth for example, which would turn a wheel of 32 teeth carrying a
pinion of 10 teeth actuating a wheel of 30 teeth, the latter wheel therefore
making th of a complete revolution when the wheel 26* makes 1 turn, could
actuate a pointer marking the hours.
The wheel 26* is caused to move in the direction of the arrow by a spring drum
arranged in a suitable manner.
To this mechanism may be adapted a dial in the ordinary manner.
A series of
dials with their respective mechanism may be placed in the same electric circuit
and actuated by a central clock marking the exact hour on them all by connection
with this same clock.
Upon a shaft 31* (Figure 29) of a central clock making 1 turn per minute is
mounted a wheel 32* carrying a button 33* forming one with this wheel, which,
turning in the direction of the arrow causes the button to butt against a part 34*
of insulating material articulated on the fixed axis 35*. This part is moved
towards the centre of the wheel by the spring 36* whose tail-piece 37* is prolonged
beyond the extremity of the part 34°. This spring 36* is in communication with
the electric circuit, the clock is also connected to the circuit.
When the button 33* has arrived at the extremity of the part 34* made from a
non-conducting material this part moved towards the centre of the circumference
of the wheel by the spring 36* escapes and the extremity 37° of the spring 36°
bears upon the button 33* and the electric current passes in the circuit which is
again interrupted when the button continuing its movement is drawn out of contact
with the spring 36*.
A receiving mechanism with a dial may be suitably arranged for receiving the
pulsations coming from the corresponding clock. The arrangements which I have
before described may be employed for transmitting the hour of a central clock to
various clocks for the sole purpose of giving by these clocks the hour exactly
indicated by the first.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The application to any clock mechanism of the herein described arrangements

page_text: of parts combined for the purpose of giving an alarm by means of electric bells at
predetermined times.
2. For realizing this application a contact lever fixed upon the sleeve of the
hour hand of an electrically insulated clock work, a triangular-shaped piece of
insulating material secured upon the said lever having a contact formed flush with
the hypotenuse of the said triangular-shaped piece, an electrically insulated metallic
ring, tubular pieces arranged upon the said ring in intimate contact and provided
with prisms having buttons, an electric bell placed in a circuit including a battery,
the movement of the clock, and the metallic ring, which circuit is closed when the
contact of the triangular-shaped piece bears upon the pin of one of the prisms, thus
setting the bell in movement.
3. An arrangement consisting in establishing several concentric rings for
providing a sufficient number of contact prisms for enabling the alarm to be given
at any desired minute.
&
4. An arrangement permitting the transmission of the alarm by several bells by
employing for this purpose a clock with a contact lever fixed upon the axis for the
hours provided with a triangular-shaped piece 8 of insulating material having
contact face, contact prisms 23, horizontal rings B2, pointers 17 and their supports,
bars 19, or pointers 17 with their extremities modified and corresponding bars as
in Figure 18, with the electrical arrangement for actuating the bells.
5. An arrangement of a central clock provided at a station designed to send the
alarm to the bells of subscribers at hours previously arranged by the latter by
telephone or otherwise from their residences or at the station itself.
6. In the preceding claim a central clock, its contact lever with a triangular
contact piece insulated contact prisms Figure 20, a dial, a half-ring A Figure 19,
two semi-circular manipulating tables B and C, communicating wires with metallic
eyes, contact plates Figure 21, removable prisms Figure 22, and the electrical
arrangement relative to this device.
7. The general arrangement of a device comprising a central clock the hour of
which is communicated exactly to one or more dials by means of an intermediate
movement which causes an electric current to pass at determined intervals through
a circuit in which is or are one or more electromagnets which set in action the
movement or movements of the abovementioned dials to which they are adapted.
8. An intermediate movement composed of a grooved cam, an articulated lever
carrying a hammer and a lateral appendix of insulating material, and a pin wheel
with its brake substantially as described.
9. An electric circuit set in action by the passage of the pins on the wheel 13,
said circuit including the brake and contact springs of the battery and electro-
magnet or electromagnets substantially as shown and described.
10. A movement or movements adapted to the dial or dials composed each
respectively of an escapement wheel, an escapement lever actuated by an intermediate
lever and a spring, the escapement wheel being actuated by a spring drum and
actuating a minute wheel in the ordinary manner substantially as described.
11. The employment of the arrangements mentioned in the preceding claims for
transmitting from a central clock to as many dials of clocks as may be necessary
the exact hour marked by that of the central clock substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of January 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.