US1057951A - Clock, telltale, alarm, and the like. - Google Patents

Description

C. P. ELIESUN.

CLOCK, TELLTALE, ALARM, AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 17, 1911.

1 57,951 Patented Apr. 1,1913.

' with the point UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GHAIMSQNOVITZ PROSPER ELIESON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CLOCK, TELLTALE, ALARM, AND THE LIKE.

' Application filed June 17,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

1911. Serial No. 633,799.

clock work itself forms part of. the driving weight.

According to the present invention, the casing of the clock is weighted and the driving pinion for the clock work engages a vertical rack, while the clock and its casing when falling'areguided and balanced so that practically the Whole weight of the clock and its case acts at the point of contact of the pinion with the vertical rack. To this end the center of weight or the line of action of the weight is arranged as near as possible to coincide with or pass through the point of contact of the driving pinion with the rack.

According to the preferred construction the clock is incased in a weight arranged either all around it or at the sides and this weighted clock is balanced and guided on two parallel vertical columns, one of which is provided with teeth on -its inner surface which faces the other column While the driving pinion for the clockworkengages with these teeth. The-center of weight is then very approximately arranged to coincide of contact of the pinion and its rack. 'The same result however will be obtained if the center of weight. is verti-- cally above or vertically below the bearing point of the pinion on the rack. Of course more than two columns may be provided and in some cases eflicient guiding and balancing may be obtained with one column.

only, but I prefer to employ two or more columns. The driving pinion is also preferably provided with a one way clutch and starting mechanism is conveniently used for starting "the operation of the escapement whenthe clockiis moved to its uppermost position.

Figure'l, is a front elevation of one form of clock according to the invention. Fig. 2, is a rear view of the clock on a larger scale showing the driving rack and pinion in engagement therewith. Fig. 3, is an inverted plan of the clock partly broken away to show the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 4, is a detail view of the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 5, is a detail cross section of the rack column. Fig. 6, is a front el'evation'partly in section illustrating the invention applied to an alarm clock. Fig. 7, is a detail sectional view illustrating the starting device for the escape-' ment of a clock.

In carrying out the invention according to one mode as for example-in the application to a clock having the usual lever escapement controlled by a balance wheel-the usual main spring and winding barrel are dispensed with and in lieu thereof a wheel a, forming the first wheel of the usual clock train, is freely mounted on the arbor b. The wheel a, is provided with a pivoted pawl d, adapted to be held by a spring 6, in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 0, fixed upon the arbor b. A pinion f, is also mounted upon the arbor b, so as to be compelled to turn therewith and it is adapted to mesh with a rack g, formed on a column h, down whichthe clock i, is caused to descend under the action of gravity. As the clock descends, the pinion f, is rotated and drives the clock work through the medium of the arbor b,ratchet wheel 0, pawl 03, and wheel a. As the weight of the clock is constant the tension orforce actuating the clock remains uniform untilthe clock reaches the base of the column h, when, by virtue of .the ratchet wheel 0, and pawl d, the clock can be merely raised again to reenergize it. As the'clock is being raised, the pinion f, rotates the ratchet wheel idly. Ifthe pinion f, and the clock case be suitably arranged, a single col- --only one column 5., being provided with a rack, the other is, being smooth and merely acting as aguide so as to counteract any tendency on the part of the clock 6, to tilt. By

this means frictionor bindingbetween thev clock and, the column, or columns, can be practically avoided. In order to give a bet ter appearance the rack 9, may be hidden by a lip Z, Fig. 5, the'lip being formed either integrally with the column 71., or by a thin plate screwed or otherwise secured thereto.

The clock frame m, may be fitted with any suitable guide pieces, such as screws 11,

for receiving or engaging with the column or columns h, 7:, it being preferable to have four points of contact when two columns are used, two above and two below the pinion f, as indicated in Fig. 2. The screws 12, may have eccentric portions adapted-to engage the edges of the columns h, 7:, in order to provide for adjustment.

In use the clock 2', remains suspended on the columns h, 70, and can be repeatedly raised to any position thereon. In order to insure that the clock shall not'stop when being raised, a. power-maintainer of any convenient form may be provided. Instead of a power maintainer or in addition thereto a restartermay be provided such as a small push pin 0, Figs. 1 and 11, in a suitable position in the clock, so that the pin 0, will engage the frame 7), or a projection g, thereon at the top of the columns, when the clock is raised, and being thereby pressed will automatically restart the clock. The end 1', of the pin 0, is adapted to act on a light spring a, which in turn engages the usual escapement lever 25, and so starts the clock. The end 1", of the pin 0, isnormally withheld from engagement with the springs by aspring u. Should the clock be raised to an intermediate position, thevpin 0, may be pressed by the finger or thumb.

The weight of the clock and an ordinary.

case are not sufficient to drive the clockwork of an accurate clock even with accurate balancing. Additional weight is therefore necessary and may conveniently be provided by means of a metal ring a), surrounding the clock 2', and thus forming an ornamental case for-it. By surrounding the clock with the weight, the available space between the clock and the base w, on

which the columns h, is, are mounted, is not unduly reduced, which is an important feature, as the distance of the descent of the clock determines the period of time during which it can be driven without necessitating reenergizing. It is to be understood that the additional weight may take any other desired form and it may be utilized as an ornament, for instance, weights in the form of wingsmay bemounted on the sides of the clock casing. The weight is in all cases to be disposed and the clock is to be balanced so that the entire weight is effective at the point of contact of the pinion and its rack. This may be done by extending the weight rearward as shown at 26 in Fig. 3, so that the center of weight comes into line with the rack.

A clock as above described can be readily made to close electric circuits during its descent, so as to sound an alarm or actuate any other devices at predetermined intervals. Such an application of an alarm clock is illustrated in Fig. 6. One of the contacts m, for the electric bell circuit is upon the clock'and the other y, is carried by a slide 2, on a metal support 2, so that it may be set in any desired posit-ion thereon. The support 2, is provided with a scale indicating hours and subdivisions thereof, so that the slide 2, may be set in any required posit-ion below the contact a0,acc-ording to .the period of time after which the alarm is to be sounded. For instance, if the clock be raised into any position to reenergize it and it is desired that the alarm. bell shall. ring in six hours time, the slide 2, will be moved on the support 2, through a distance from the clock contact corresponding to six hour divisions on the scale. As the clock descends it will ultimately push its contact m, into engagement with the contact 3/, and so complete the electric bell circuit. One or both of the contacts 00 and 1 are preferably of springy materialso that the friction or resistance encountered during the period of contact will not be adversely on the clock- I claim: 1. In combination with the clockwork 'train, escapement mechanism, hour and minute hands and cooperating dial of a bodily movable, falling clock, means for driving said clock comprislng a driving pinion for said train, a vertical rack with which said driving pinion engages and an additional weight of predetermined amount carried by said clock.

2. In combination with the clockwork train, escapement mechanism, hour and minute hands and cooperating dial of a falling clock, means for driving said clock comprising a driving pinion for said train, a rack with which said driving pinion engages and an additional weight disposed substantially symmetrically about the point of contact of said driving pinion and rack.

3. In combination with the clockwork train, escapement mechanism, hour and minute hands and cooperating dial of a falling clock, a driving pinion for said train an additional weight arranged around the clock and disposed symmetrically with reference to the driving pinion, a vertical rack and means for guiding said clockwork and weight independently of said rack and pinion. I A

4:. In combination with a falling clock and the clockwork train and escapement mechanism thereof, a driving pinion for said clock, an additional annular weight dis posed about said clockwork and driving pinion, a vertical rack and means for guiding said clock and weight independently of said rack and pinion.

5. In combination with a falling clock and the clockworktrain and escapement thereof, two parallel vertical standards spaced apart, teeth onthe face of one'of said standards opposite the other standard, a pinion on the clockwork between said standards engaging in said teeth, a one-way and means enga for guiding said c ock and weight indeclutch on said inlon, an additional weight symmetrically, 'sposed about said clockwork with said standards pendently of the pinionand rack.

6. In combinatlon with a clockwork train and escapement of arising and falling time piece,,two parallel vertical standards spaced apart, teeth on'the face of one of said standards opposite the other standard, a pinion on the clockwork engagingin said teeth, a one-way clutch on said pinion, an additional weight symmetrically disposed about said clock work, means "ength said' standards'for guiding said 0100 weight independentlyof the pinion and ork and rack and means engaging the escapement for starting it moving when said clockwork and weight are moved to the top of the rack. '7

- 7. Incombination with 'a clockwork train and escapement of -an ascendingand descending time iece, two parallel vertical standards space apart, teeth on the face of one of said standards 0 po'slte'the other standard, a pinion on t eclockwork engaging in said teeth, aIone-way clutch on said pinion, an additional we' t symmetri 'cally disposedh abouit saiddcllefs 'fork, means engaging wit sai Jstan a or guiding said clockwork and weight independently of the pinion and rack and ad'ustable means for co-acting with said c ockworkand weight to sound ."an alarm at any desired point in the descent of the clock. 1 i 8. In combin tion with a falling clock, its

escapement, the clockwork train, the dial and time indicating secured-to the clockwork engaging said teeth,

a one-way clutch transmitting motion from 1 said pinion to said clockwork train, an addi-.

l'tional weight of predetermined amount can ried by the clock for driving its train and' means for guiding the clock in its descent.

, hands thereof, oftwo standards, teeth on one standard, :a pinion 9. In combination withisa falling clock and the clockworktrain and escapement thereof,

two parallel vertical standards, spaced apart, teeth on the face of one of said standards opposite the other standard,-a pinion on the clockwork engaging in said teeth, a

one-way clutch on said pinion, said pinion being to the rear-of the clockwork, an addi- I tional annular weight disposed around said clockwork and rollers engaging saidstandardsforguiding said clockwork and weight independently of the pinion and rack.

10. In combination with a falling clock and the clockwork train and escape mecha- .nism thereof, means for driving said clock comprising a driving pinion for said train, a rack w1th WhlOh sald drivlng pinion engages, and an additional weight disposed substantially symmetrically about the driving pinion, and means for automatically starting said escape mechanism when the clock is raised;

.11. In combination with. a falling clock and the clockwork train and escapement mechanism thereof, means for driving said clock comprising a driving pinion for said train, a rack with which said driving pinion engages and a weight in addition to that 30 on the clock for driving the clock work train and escapement mechanism and means for automatically starting the escapement mechanism when the clock is raised.

12. In combination with a falling clock, having a clock-work train,* and an escapement, means for driving clock, comprising a driving plmon for said train, a rack with which said driving pinionengages, an

additional weight of predetermined amount 9 disposed substantially symmetrically" about the driving pinion, a finger adapted to eng'ge a part of the escapement and a memr carried by the clock for actuating said finger to re-start the escapement when the

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