US1004097A - Program-clock. - Google Patents

Description

A. `W. SOUTH.

lPROGRAM CLOCK. APLIOAATION'FILBD 0035.12, 1910.

2 sums-SHEET 1.

:d'7 I y I l Y 4 l J8 Patented sept. 26,1911. 'I

. Patented, sept. 26, 1911.

'UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.v

AUGUSTUS W. SOUTH, OF CLARINDA, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE A. W. SOUTH MANU- FACTURING lCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

PROGRAM-CLOCK. i

To all who-'m it may concern:

Be it-known that I, AUGUSTUS W. SOUTH, a citizen of the United States, .residing at Clarinda, in the county of Page and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Program-Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clocks and particularly those clocks wherein not only is the time of day denoted but the period of time at which a cert-ain event is predetermined to happen, as for instance the departure or arrival of trains, or the beginning or end of certain acts, such clocks being known as program clocks.

The primary object of 'my invention is to provide a clock of this character which shall be compact, easily read' and extremely simple in its mechanism. i

A further object is' to provide in connection with a program arranged in vertical columns and horiontal lines, (the latter indicating subdivision of time) a clock which shall be of the Same vertical height as the columns and in which the hand or pointer of the clock shall traverse the spaces defined by the horizontal subdivisions of the program, thus permitting of a closer cordination between.

the clock and the program than is otherwise possible.

ing an oblong dial, this dial having vertical graduated ,sides which are rounded at top .and bottom so that Vthey unite to form a semicircle at each end of the dial, giving it an oblong form, thus requiring but one hand or pointer to indicate the time upon the dial, this pointer moving in one continuous direction, and furthermore providing a dial which is readily adapted; to combine perfectly with. any program time table or other like list of events or acts, the dial of 'the' I clock and the program being so arranged as to leave every item on the progra-m in full view at all times and so combined with the dial of the clock that the one hand or pointer which indicates the time upon the dial also points out plainly and automatically every time for the occurrence or execution for any partlcularact, or the timel for any happening event.

Yet another object is to provide in connec-tion with they clock mechanism an exspeccation 'of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 26, 1911, Applicationmed october 12, 1910. serial No. 586,659.

or visible, whereby those concerned may be advised that a certain predetermined period has begun or ended, or a predetermined event is about to happen.

A further object is to provide in connect-ion with the clock dial above referred to, oppositely disposed program sheets located on opposite sides of the dial, these sheets being wound upon rollers and adjustable with respect to the dial, thereby providing a very simple and economical means for changing theprogram, the events on't-he program in predetermined order and succession, or making up new programs.

The invention includes in general terms a longitudinally extended or oblong dial provvided with an endless slot, along which moves a pointer or hand, the dial on both sides of the slot `being divided into spaces indicating subdivisions of time as hours, periods of live minutes and minutes.

It also includes an endless chain disposed behind the dial and in alinement with the' y Y l ing a predetermined position. Another object is to provide a clock hav- It further includes a movable program divided into spaces, each having a width equal to a time subdivision on the dial, the dial being provided with certain. indicating marks, and lead lines of a peculiar character whereby the precise moment that the eventnamed on the program is to happen may be easily and clearly read upon the dial.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a face view of the clock and the laterally disposed programs used therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a'portion of the dial and a portion of the adjacent program. Fig. 3 is a tace view of the clock case, the dial being re moved. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on thi line 4 4 of F ig. 3, the mechanism in the interior of the clock case being in elevation. Figis a perspective detail view of a section of the sprocket chain showing the pointercarrying pin and the elctrical contact pin for the signal. Fig. 6 is a detail view enlarged,

tremely simple form of signal, either audible Y showing the means tor operating one of the endless programs. t

Referring to the drawings, and part-1eularly Figs. 1 and 2, 2 designates a clock case of anyv desired character and oblong'in form. The face of this case 1s provided with a dial 3 having an endless slot 4, along which with numerals indicating each subdivlsion,

and the space or column next adjacent thereto being divided preferably into minute spaces. Inward of the slot the dial is provided at regular intervals with numerals indicating successive hours. It is obvious that this arrangement of graduating marks and subdivisions may be altered to suit any specific case. The graduating or divisional marks are preferably arranged in columns, parallel with the slotI 3 entirely around the dial, and thus these divisional spaces are arranged in a semicircle at both ends of the dial. The dial is also provided with triangular index marks and lead lines, whereby the time indicated on the dial may be coordinated with certain events or acts stated on the program sheets located on each side of the dial, these index marks or lead lines heilig, as before stated, arranged in parallel columns on each side of the dial, as will be later described. The mechanism for moving the pointer or hand 4 along the dial is contained within the case 2 and comprises a sprocket chain 6 passing over sprocket wheels 7 and 8 disposed at opposite ends of the case. Each sprocket wheel has a diameter equal to the distance between the two parallel portions of the slot 3, and the circumference of each wheel travels in alinement with the curved portion of the slot. Thus the sprocket chain is supported directly beneath the entire length of the slot. As illustrated in Fig. 5, one link 9 of the sprocket chain has a stud or pin 10 projecting from its face upon which pin is mounted the channeled anti-friction roller 11 which rolls against the walls of the slot 4. This pin carries the hand or pointer Each link of the chain is also formed with one or more sockets l2 having a staggered relation to each other and adapted to receive contact pins 13 whereby an electrical contact may be made with a fixed contact piece disposed in the path of movement of the pin, thus sounding a signal. While I j may support and actuate the sprocket wheels I and 8` inany desired manner, I have shown the sprocket wheel '7 as being mounted on a shaft 14 supported on a hanger 15 attached. to a shelf 2*, while the sprocket wheel 8 is shown as being ioose on a shaft 16 which is supported in an suitable manner 1n the base of the cloc case. The shaft 16 is shown as driven from a spring motor 17 which carries a gear wheel 18 meshin with a lantern wheel 19 on the shaft 16. Sli inglv mounted on the shaft 16 is a toothed clutch member 20 which is forced by a spring 21 into engagement with a toothed clutch memy ber 22 carried by or rotatable with the wheel 8. The clutch m'ember 20 isvlongitudinally shiftable relative to the shaft 16 so that the clutch member 20 may be moved out of engagement with the clutch .member 22, thus permitting the sprocket wheel 8 to be freely turned around the shaft and thus permitting the sprocket chains 6to be shifted and the pointer 5 to be set to any predetermined point on the dial while the clock is running. The spring 21 is shown as bearing against a collar 23 fast on the shaft 16. The shaft 16 is rotatably supported in bearings in the supporting plates 24 and 25. Mounted on the shaft 16 is a spur ear 26 which meshes with a lantern pinion 2 on a shaft 28, which shaft carries a gear 29 which meshes with a pinion 30 on a-shaft 31 which carries a gear 32, which in turn meshes with a pinion 33 on a shaft 34 which carries an escapement wheel 35. Above said wheel 35 is mounted an escapement lever 36, the pallets of which engage the teeth of said wheel 35. Two balance wheels (not shown) are provided engaging the ends of said lever. The beats of said balance wheels and the rate of movement of the clock may be regulated by worin gears (not shown) on a spindle 41, which spindle is geared by bevel gears 39-'40 to a shaft 42 projecting through the side of the casing and carrying the thumb wheel 43.

The detailed construction of the mechanism for regulating the rat-e of movement of the clock and the beats of the balance wheels is'fully illustrated in my'Patent, No. 687,865, of December 3, 1901, and therefore requires no extended description at this place.

It will be seen that the driving mechanism described is adapted to cause a continuous movement of the sprocket chain 6 in one direction and thus carry the inter 5 in oney direction around the clock ial. As shown, the pointer 5 is intended to travel around the clock dial once in twenty-four hours, but it will be entirely obvious that the dial may1 be shorter or longer and the pointer take a lesstime or a eater to traverse the dial. It will also be o vious that the pointer in its course will traverse the divisional lines indicating the subdivisions of time and that the Hight of time will bervery clearly read upon the dial.

In order to give'a signal atany predesockets not being upon the faces of the linksV but being upon-the edges ofthe links.

hile I may use a sprocket chain made up in any desired or suitable manner, I have shown a sprocket` chain comprising pairs of spaced linksv connected by. an intermediate link `9. Witha chain constructedv in this manner the intermediate lengths'are 'each provided with perforations or sockets 12, while the pairs of links are also'provi'ded` with perforations in each link of the pair,

these being arranged in staggered relation 15 to each other so as to economize space without-weakening the link. It is obvious, however, vthat one link of each pair might be provided with one or a plurality of perforations or sockets. A number of contact pins 13 are provided Whichare adapted vto be inserted in the perforations or sockets at any point desired along the length of the chain. Located in the path of movement of' these pins is a relatively fixed contact piece 45 which is supported from a bracket 4,6 by means of a spring 47. This Contact `piece 45 is-forced by the spring 47 upward toward,

the pathv of travel of the pins 13 and is depressed against theforce of the spring 47 by the movement ofthe pins past the oontact piece. The contact piece 45 is electrically connected by a wire 48 to a battery 49, the jars of'which are preferably supported upon the shelle 2a. From the battery a wire 50 passes to an electrical signaling mechanism 51 of any suitable character but shown as including an electrical bell 52. From the signaling mechanism a wire 53 *leads to the hanger 15 supporting the shaft 14 and electrical current is carried from this hanger along the shaft 1.4 to thechain 6 and from thence to the contact pin or pins upon the chain. It will beobvious that whena pin contacts with the fixed contact 45 that a circuit will be completed through the alarm mechanism and the alarm will be energized. Thus by setting pins along the chain it will be .possible to sound the alarm at any predetermined point and in conjunction with the arrival of the pointer 5 at any predetermined point on the dial.

In conjunction with the dial and clock as 'before described, I provide the program ported upon the clock case 2 While the outer.`

ends of the rollers are supporteddn standvards 56. The arbor of each roller is provided with a thumb wheel 57, and mounted' upon the arbor is a toothed clutch wheel 58, while mounted upon the standard 56 and surroundingA the arbor is a toothed clutch wheel 59. The arbor upon which the roller is mounted is laterally shiftable so as to permit the clutches to be disengaged and permit the arbor to be rotated. A spring 60, however, acts .to force the rotatable` clutch wheel into engagement with the clutch wheel 59 and thus to lock the arbor' and the roller from rotation. When so locked the program mounted upon the roller isheld in fixed relation to the clock dial. y In order to lead the eye from the time subdivisions o n the dial to the sub-subdivisions or graduations on the program, I provide the inner margin of each program with a column designated 61 which is located immediately adjacent to the outer .column` or space 62 of the dial, which outer column or space is graduated preferably in minutes.

In F ig. 1, however, this outer column or Space is shown as graduated into five minute spaces. The program is divided by horizontal lines into a number of spaces, each l i" at which the act or event stated in the program space is to occur. While opposite the straight portions of thedial the program spaces may be arranged in exact alinement with the time spaces on the dial, it is obvious that this arrangement cannotbe carried out at the upper and lower portions of the dial Where the dial curves and it is for this reason that I provide the lead lines G3 which extend from the time subdivisions on the curved portions of the dial to the tri angular pointers 61 which are located on that portion of the grogram extending above the curved portion of the'dial. It will be obvious that the program must extend above or below the curved portion of the dial in order to permit the lead line G3 to lead to the time subdivisions without running together and permit these lead lines to be easily read. It Will be seen that one side of the dial, as in the form illustrated in Fig. 1, will indicate the hours of the morning between 12 oclock midnight and 12 oclock noon, and that the other' side of the dial will indicate thehours between=l2 oclock noon and '12 oclock midnight, and thus one of theprogra s will indicate lthe acts, events :or happening v which are to occur betweenv midnight and noon while the other program will indicate the events which are to occur between noon and midnight. l

It will be` seen that my oblong dial clock is extremely convenient in that it is a twenty-four hour clock' and therefore requires no shifting of theP programs between the morning and the afternoon. It. will also ,be seen that only one hand is necessary in the hand then is, but vthat it is an easy E.

matter by glancing down the program and reading the corresponding time subdivisions on the dial to see precisely when any particular act or eventis predetermined to occur.

While my invention is capable of a wide range of use, I have illustrated it as applied m containing inits upper por-- to a pro tiom a list of studies Aand thel periods of recitation therefor, while the program at its lower portion shows how the invention may be applied to'railway time tables. When utilized for the purpose of indicating the periods of recitation and study in a school, the various recitation hours, intermissions, etc., forming the school routine are indicated upon the various horizontal lines of the programs and the programs being further subdivided into vertical columns, each column bein applied to a particular class. lVhere the the arrival and departure of trains, it wi l be obvious that the program will be divided into' columns showing for instance the particular road upon which the train is to travel, the number of the train, the direction of the train the track it is to be on, and various other items of infomation of like character while the time table will be divided by horizontal lines into time subdivisions, as previously described. It will also be obvious that the program or "time table on one side of the dial must be read upward, while the time table on the other side of the dial must be read downward.

A clock constructed for an eight hour movement, that is, completin its cycle in eight hours instead of twentyour as shown in` the illustration, combines perfectly with rogram for all schools, meetin etc.,

a. public or private, or for lodges, drills and theatrical entertainments. A dial constructed to permit the, pointer to make' a complete revolution in twelve hours instead of twenty-four combines with programs and time tables for general purposes, but the twenty-four hour dial clock is most com evice is to be used as a timetable indicator showin plete and useful and is more practical in use as it does not require the shiftin of the programs. The twenty-four hour dial comines perfectly with programs and time tables and is particularly useful for indicating the time tables of railway stations, passenger vessels, the arrival and departure of igailsfandfbesildes is useful for a large numr o era purposes.

Whatgln claim is:

1. A clock having a dial rovided with an endless slot therein, the dia having'graduations on its face adjacent to the slot, a pointer movable along said slot and over said graduations, and motor-actuated mech- 'ani'sm for moving the pointer continuously in one direction.

2. A clock having a dial rovided with an lendless slot therein, the ial havin time Igraduations on its face adjacent to tie slot along theentire length of the same and ex- 'tendi parallel to said slot, and a` pointer Vmovab e along the slot continuously in one `direction and over said graduations in combination with a program divided into horizontal spaces correspondin to the time graduations and located 1n conjunction therewith.

3. A clock having a dial rovided with an endless slot therein, the ial havin time graduations on its face adjacent to t e slot and extending parallel thereto, and apointer movable along said slot continuously in one direction and. moving over said graduations in combination with a rogram located ad.- jacent to the outer wali) of the slot and divided into horizontal spaces, said program beingarranged ad'acent to the time graduations on the dial, t e inner end of each horizontal space on the program being provided with a ointeddndex mark leading to a corespon ing time graduation mark on the 4.' A clock having an oblong dial provided with an endless slot therein, said slot being approximately elliptical in form, the sides o the ellipse described by the slot extending parallel to each other, the ends of said lips escribing opposed semicircles, said dial having time graduations extending adjacent to the slot and parallel therewith, a pointer movable along the slot continuously in one direction and over said time graduations in combination with oppositely disposed prothe dial parallel to the sides thereof and divided into horizontal spaces corresponding to the time duations on the dial.

5. A cloc having an oblong dial provided with an endless slot therein, said slot .being approximately elli tical in form, the sides of the ellipse described by the slot extending parallel to each other, the ends of fsaid lips describing opposed semicircles, said dial being provided with time graduation grams extending vertically on each sideof the sides thereof and extending beyond therounded ends of the time graduations, said programs being each divided into horizontal spaces, 4 each ofl said spaces being provided With a lead mark extending to a corresponding time graduation mark on the dial.

6. A' clock having an oblong dial provided with an endless slot therein, said slot being approximately elliptical in form, the sides ofthefellipse described by the slot extending'para'llel to each other, the ends of .saiiellipse describing opposed semicircles,

,f said dial being provided With time gradua- Yr tion marks disposed adjacent to the slot and `extending parallel thereto entirely around the dial, a pointer movable continuously `along the slotandover said time gradua.

" tions, and inotor actuated means for moving the pointer continuously in one direction in combination Wit-h oppositely disposed -prorams extending vertically on each side of vthe dial parallel to the sides thereof, and.

extending beyond the rounded ends of the ytime graduations, said programs being each divided into horizontal spaces, each of saidv spaces along the sides of the dial being provided vvith a triangular index mark, the apex of Which is coincident with a time subdivision mark, those spaces on the program which are disposed beyond the straight sides of the dial being also provided with triangular index mark and with lead lines extending from the apices of said marks to the time graduation marks on the circular portionsof the dial.

,7. A. clock having a dial provided with an endless slot therein, the dial having time graduations on its face extending parallel to said slot, and a. pointer movable along said slotl and over said gralduationsvin combination With a shiftable program divided into horizontal spaces corresponding to th'etime graduations on the dial and movable into alinement therewith.

8. A clock having an oblong dial provided With an endless slot therein, the-dial having time graduations on its face extending parallelto said slot, and a pointer movable continuously in one direction along the slot and over said time graduations in comhina-tion with oppositely disposed parallel endless programs mounted adjacentto the straight sidesof the dial and divided into horizontal spaces corresponding to the time 'graduations on the dial, means for supporting said endless programs, and means for shifting said programs relative to the dial.

9. A clock having an oblong dial provided .with an endless slot therein, the dial having time graduations on its face extending parallel to said slot, and a pointer movvable continuously in one directionalong the slot and oversaid time graduations, continuously in one direct-io`nin combination with oppositely disposed parallel endless sides of the dial and divided into horizontal spaces corresponding to the time graduatlons on'the dial, means for supporting said endless programs, and means for supporting said programsv adjacent to the dial, means for independently shifting either one of said programs with relation to the graduation marks on thedial, and means for holding said programsjset in any shiftedposition.

l 10. A clock having an oblong dial provided with an endless slot therein, said slot being approximately elliptical in form, the sides ofthe ellipse 'described bythe slot extending parallel t-oeach other, the ends of said ellipse describing opposed semicircles,

the face on the dial adjacent to the slot on eachside thereof being divided by marks indicating time subdivisions, an endless carrier mounted behind the dial and in alinement With the slot therein, a pointer mounted on the carrier and extending out through.

said slot and movable with the carrier over the time graduation marks on the dial, and motor-actuated means for moving said endless carrier in one direction.

prov grams mounted adjacent .to the straight 11. A Vclock having an 'oblong dial proi vided With an endless slot therein, said slot being approximately elliptical inform, the sides of the ellipse described by the slot extending parallel to each other, the ends of said ellipse describing opposed semicircles,

said dial adjacent to the slot being provided With time graduations, oppositely disposed sprocket Wheels mounted behind the dial, the circumference of each sprocket wheel coinciding with the semicircularends of the` slot, a sprocket chain carried upon said Wheels, a pin mounted on-thesprocket chain projecting through the slot, a pointer carried on the pin and movable over said time graduations of the dial, and motor-actuated means for rotating said sprocket Wheels in one direction.

12. A clock having an oblong .dial provided With an endless slot therein, said slot being approximately elliptical in form, the sides of the yellipse described by the slot eX- tending parallel to each other, the ends of said ellipse describin opposed semicircles, said dial adjacent to t e slot being provided with time graduations, oppositely disposed sprocket Wheels mounted behind the dial, the circumference of each sprocket Wheel coinciding with the semiciroular ends of the slot, a sprocket chain carried upon said Wheels, a pin mounted on the sprocket chain projecting through thet slot, a pointer carried .0n the pin and movable over said time graduations of the dial, motor-actuated mechanism for rotating said sprocket wheels in one direction, adjustablecontacts mounted on said sprocket chain, a fixed Contact disposed in the: path of travel of the chain contacts, said fixed contact and the chain contacts being connected in circuit with a signaling mechanism.

-13- A clock having an voblong dial pro-A vided with an endless slot therein, the face of the dial being provided with time duation marks, an endless sprocket .chain supported immediately beneath the endless slot, a pointer carried by said chain projecting out through said slot and movable with the chain over the time graduation marks, the links of said sprocket chain being provided with sockets upon the. side edges thereof, means for supporting and moving said s rocket chain in one direction beneath the s ot, Contact pins adapted to be inserted in the sockets of tlr-y chain at ang;r desired point', a reatively fixed contact piece mounted in the path of travel of said pins, asprocket for supporting said contact piece, and `an Copies of this patent may be obtained tor BEST AVAILABLE COPY alarm mechanism, said fixed contact piece and the sprocket chain being connected in circuit with said alarm mechanism.

14. The combination with a dial having a longitudinally extending slot therein, and a ointer movable along said Slot, of an endess program sheet arranged parallel to the slot and adjacent to the ath of movement of the pointer, a su porting frame for said' sheet, ofipositel disposed parallel roller; mountedIt on saiframe over which the endless sheet travels, an arbor for each of said rollers, a fixed toothed clutch member sur-- A TGUSTUS W. SOUTH. [1.. s]

Vitnesscs C. WV. Brenn-f3, J. FRED THoMAs.

ve cents e: :11, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent 'hashingtm I). C.

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