GB2438692A

GB2438692A - Fluid powered ball transfer mechanism for falling ball clocks

Info

Publication number: GB2438692A
Application number: GB0702317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin John Ridehough
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-31
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2007-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-07
Also published as: GB0610730D0; GB2438692B; GB0702317D0

Abstract

A falling ball clock has ball drive wheel 13 having a plurality of ball pockets therein for receiving a ball 16 in each thereof. A transfer drive wheel 17 is adjacent said ball drive wheel and encompasses the outer part of said ball drive wheel. Water may be pumped upwards via a duct, see figures 7, 7a item 24 to a discharge chute where it empties into receptacles 18 causing the transfer wheel to rotate, see fig 8. As said balls reach the lower part of their cycle each is discharged into one of two ball pockets 19 that carry said ball to the top of transfer wheel at which point the ball is discharged into the ball drive wheel to drive the clock mechanism 12.

Description

FLUID POWERED BALL TRANSFER MECHANISM

FOR FALLING BALL CLOCKS AND THE LIKE.

Fluid operated dock mechanisms in themselves are not new and many are known., Also that of conventional "falling ball" clocks which operate quite simply by providing by virtue of the weight and quantity of Balls' within the drive wheel, which in turn provides sufficient energy to cause rotation for the clocks gear train mechanism, regulated by the escapement.

Dependant upon the clocks design characteristics, this will vary in direct relationship to the size. The actual size will also vary and will predict the weight and quantity of the Balls', the Balls' are normally manufactured from hardened high carbon steel or stainless steel.

Conventional Falling Ball clocks will allow each ball to leave its pocket' or cavity' within the drive wheel as rotation takes place, by reason of the weight on one side of the drive wheel, and then roll free at the lower region or base. The frequency of release will vary dependant on size of drive wheel and the quantity of balls used. It will become necessary to place the released balls back in position at the uppermost vacant cavity.

There are existing designs where mechanical mechanisms and the like, have said means of collecting each ball as it evacuates free and re-positioning same into the uppermost empty cavity, giving continuous operation of the clock mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To provide sufficient energy using fluid/liquid to drive and create rotation of a secondary wheel within a falling ball clock, for transfer of the evacuated balls' and reposition the said balls' back within the drive wheel, to provide continuous drive to the clocks mechanism, regulated by the escapement.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig I. Front view of the clock.

Fig 2 End view of clock in direction of arrow A' Fig. 3 Front view of forepart and secondary frame member (dial side)

-I-

Fig 4 Front elevation of rear and intermediate frame member.

Fig S Front view of ball drive wheel.

Fig 6 Front view of transfer wheel, and ball drive wheel with part sectional end view.

Fig 7 scrap view of water supply pipe and duct.

Fig 7a water delivery outlet duct.

Fig 8 part elevation viewed at rear of clock.

Water will be the fluid/liquid in the following description. Items 9 Fig' s 1, 2 and 3 are the front and secondary frame members, which stand vertical, retained and spaced in position, relative to each other by base sections (not shown), likewise item 10 Fig's 2 and 4 are rear and intermediate frame members which are vertical and retained in position as item' s 9. Item Ii is the rear support member having a reduced width dimension W' to that of the other frame members. Having a base section and secured to the rear frame item 10 by rivets or similar fasting means. There are additional support bars (not shown) positioned in a horizontal plane within the clocks inner framework to provide support and stability in addition to the various shafts and bearings of the clocks gear train.

Item 12 fig 2 is the clocks gear train and associated shafts and bearings, although conventional n design, all drive' wheels have fitted circular pins' (not gear teeth) and engagingly located within the recesses (between the teeth) of the driven wheels, providing minimum backlash and smooth transitional drive means. The number of "drive" and "driven" wheels will depend upon the size and design criteria of the clock, and the necessary revolutions that are required at the clocks finger' spindle, which will depict seconds, Minutes and hour readings on the clock dial or dials all regulated by the escapement. direction of rotation will be corrected by spur' wheels, Item 13 Fig's 1, 5 and 6 the ball drive wheel, which is directly attached to the main drive shaft spindle of the clocks gear train mechanism, and located at the wheels centre 15. Cavities 14 allow location of the steel balls, in this particular design description six balls are employed within the drive wheel item 13, and will occupy the cavities at 30 degree spacing both in the drive' position on the left' hand side of the wheel (viewed from the front or dial side) whereas the right' hand side the cavities will be vacant, by reason of vacation of each ball at lowest position of the drive wheel, and entry of the said ball into the vacant pocket in the transfer drive wheel Item 17 fig 6, the chain dotted outline 16 represents the balls' in drive position.

Item 17 fig 6 and 6a the transfer drive wheel, having thirty water receptacles items 18 Fig.6a, spaced at 12 degrees to a depth depicted by the dimension D'. Two further pockets 196g.6 on the inner circumference, the two inner pockets 19 are spaced at degrees apart, and are the collection and delivery pockets for the balls, as rotation of both the clocks drive wheel iteml3 and the transfer wheel 17 takes place.

For reference only in this description the ball diameters are 40 millimetres.

The transfer drive wheel item 17 fig 6 will totally circumferentialy encompass the outer periphery of the ball drive wheel item 13 fig's 5 and 6 The pendulum item 20 flg's 1 and 2 is attached to the assembly at the upper part of the gear train and not shown in detail. There are several escapement designs, which are well proven in their operation, the type used in this design is that known as the re-coil' escapement. The adjustment for the regulation of the pendulum is at the upper location point and not shown in detail.

The following description will relate to the herein before described clock, and water source and supply.

The clock will be securely positioned at its common base framework to the upper part of a water tank (not shown) of a calculated size and volume, compatible with the base framework of the said clock, housed within the water tank will be a pump of sufficient capacity to deliver the requisite volume of water to the required height.

The water from the said pump will be directed by a pipe or duct concealed within the clocks framework and clear of any moving parts, at the upper most point of the transfer wheel item 17 fig 6 the regulated water Will then emit freely into the receptacles iteml8 fig 6, any surplus water will be deflected back into the water tank below. Alternatively the water can be delivered by a stainless steel square hollow section tube. and for this description only, one inch square (25mm.), having a flexible plastic pipe within,which runs the entire length of the duct, from the pump to the upper most part at the rear of the clocks framework. The upper part of the duct item 23 flg7 shown in part is rigidly attached to the rear vertical framework of the clock.

Item 24 is the upper end of the flexible pastic pipe, having an external diameter compatible with the through hole 25 fig 7a in the wall of the water delivery duct. Item 27 fig 7a the pipe 24 is a tight push fit into the duct and sealed with a commercial sealant, which prevents leakage and retains the pipe 24 in position., a blanking plate, fig 7a prevents water flowing to the opposite end of the duct 27. The duct 23 is retained rigidly in position to the outer rear vertical framework member Item 11 flg2 by screw fasteners or the like. A bracket item26 fig 7 attached to the square duct item 23 enables the water delivery duct item 27 to be secured rigidly to the duct 23 using screw fasteners within the holes 27a via the tabs28 on the water delivery duct 27 and the holes 29 in the bracket item 26 fig7.Fig,8is a part elevation viewed from the rear of the clock, showing the transfer wheel item 17 flg's 6 and 6a n position at a specified dimension represented by the letter C' fig8. The water outlet duct 27 has a larger radius R' than that of the transfer wheel 17, which allows dimension C' to be as specified, providing an equal clearance around the outer circumference of the transfer wheel. For reference the dials 30,31 and 32 (fingers not shown) are the seconds, minutes and hour, and for this description only have diameters of 200millemetres for the seconds dial and 300 millimetres for the minutes and hour, the main dial upon which the smaller dials 30,3 land 32 are mounted is 800millimeters.

Finally, item 33 fig's I and 2 has been added at the uppermost part of the framework and is of circular shape compatible in diameter with the clocks height, the section of item 33 is similar to that of a vehicles wheel rim and is for aesthetic purposes only, and has no bearing on the working of the clock. A tee' section fitted to the pumps outlet pipe-duct will carry water to a height above the transfer wheel item 17 and flow freely over the inner contour section of the decorative feature wheel item 33 fig's I and 2., of the wheel, flowing freely around the contoured inner surface in a downwardly direction, and deflected back into the water tank below.

For reference only the dials items 30, 31 and 32 (fingers not shown) are the seconds, minutes and hour.

The entire clock manufactured in stainless steel will eliminate oxidisation and will allow the said clock to operate in garden features, with water tank and pump, alternatively the clock could be adapted to stand within garden ponds and the like, also that of garden streams providing there is sufficient volume flow of water with or without assistance as necessary by a water pump.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A fluid powered transfer drive wheel having fluid receptacles at equal angular spacings on the outer circumference, the said wheel totally encompasses the outer periphery of the ball drive wheel, and will allow delivery and collection of the balls as rotational cycle takes place.

2. A fluid powered transfer drive wheel as claimed in claim 1, where fluid from a tank and submerged pump will deliver regulated fluid flow via a pipe/duct to the upper outer section of the transfer drive wheel and fall freely into the receptacles within the said transfer wheel, providing angular drive rotation.

3. A fluid powered transfer drive wheel as claims I and 2, with reference to the

aforesaid description and accompanying drawings. * *** S... * . S... * .* * . . S.. S *** * S... S...

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