US1101536A - Intermittent-alarm mechanism for clocks. - Google Patents

Description

F. GUBING.

INTERMITTENT ALARM MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED 001215, 1913.

1,101,536, Patented June 30,1914.

st: Inventor.- by Z 21M duh/- UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK GUBING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO YANKEE WIZARD CLOCK COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

INTERMITTENT-ALARM MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK GUBING, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have made and invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intermittent-Alarm Mechanism for Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to repeating or intermittently operating alarm clocks in i which the alarm mechanism, when released by the time train, operates to sound an alarm made up of periods of noise separated by intervals of silence until the stopping switch or shut-off of the clock is operated to permanently arrest the operation of the alarm mechanism, or until the alarm mechanism runs down; and the object of my invention is to provide an alarm clock in which the mechanism whereby the intermittent operation of the alarm is secured will be entirely disconnected from the time train of the clock when the stopping switch is moved into position to permanently arrest the operation of the alarm mechanism; from which it follows that the repeat or intermittent mechanism is in operative relation with the time train of the clock only when the alarm mechanism is set, and is entirely disconnected from the time train while the stopping switch or shut-01f is in a position to shut off or arrest the operation of the alarm mechanism.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the improved intermittently operating alarm mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed, and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a view showing the time and alarm trains of an alarm clock in which my invention is embodied; Fig. 2 is a View showing the front section of the frame of the trains removed and turned over to thereby show mechanism located on the rear face of the front frame section, in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing certain portions of my improved alarm mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a detail of my device.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 15, 1913.

Patented June 30, 1914.

Serial No. 795,187.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 designates a back plate from which the mechanism of the clock is supported, and 6 the front frame, it being understood that a rear frame is also employed and that the time and alarm trains and other mechanism of the clock are supported in proper position by said frames.

The time and alarm trains and the means for releasing the alarm train at a predetermined time are not illustrated in detail, and will not be described at length, as those features form no part of my invention. The reference numeral 7 however, designates an oscillating shaft which forms a part of the alarm train and is provided with an arm 8 adapted to be engaged by the upper end 9 of a switch 10 to thereby permanently arrest the operation of the alarm mechanism of the clock. When this switch member is in the position shown in full lines the alarm mechanism will be shut off, and the clock will remain silent or inoperative, so far as the alarm mechanism thereof is concerned, until the switch is moved out of engagement with the arm 8 and into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. The said switch is pivotally supported at 11 to the front frame 6, and is provided with an arm 12 which extends to the outside of the case of the clock, so that the switch may be operated to shut off or release the alarm mechanism. The shaft 7 is oscillated from'a verge wheel 13 through an escapement 14 secured to said shaft, as is common in alarm mechanisms.

The reference numeral 15 designates an element which I refer to as a repeat member because of the fact that it controls the operation of the alarm mechanism to secure the alternate periods of noise and silence hereinbefore referred to, or to secure an intermittent operation of the alarm mechanism. This member is operated from the time train of the clock, and is shown as in the form of a ratchet-wheel having teeth 16 upon its periphery.

My invention includes a stop member controlled by the repeat member 15 and adapted to engage the free end of the arm 8 and intermittently interrupt the operation of the alarm mechanism of the clock, an approved arrangement of repeat mechanism being one in which the alarm is sounded for about five seconds each half minute, although this is a matter obviously dependent upon the number of teeth upon the repeat member and the speed at which it rotates, or upon other features of said member. The stop member is shown as comprising a lever 17 .pivotally supported intermediate its ends at 18 to the front frame 6 and the lower end of which is bent at right angles, as shown at 19, and is in engagement with and rides over the teeth 16 as the repeat member 15 rotates, the lower end of said lever being held against said repeat member by a spring 24. The upper end of said lever is also bent at right angles as shown at 20, which end portion is moved into and out of the path of movement of the extremity of the arm 8 to thereby intermittently interrupt the operation of the alarm train, as will be understood.

It will be appreciated that in a'mechanism as thus far described the stop member or le- -ver 17 would be in contact with the wheel 15 at all times, and, as the said wheel is driven from the time train of the clock, the friction between the parts would constitute a constant force tending to retard the time train. In my improved alarm mechanism, however, I provide means for moving the lower end of the said lever out of engagement with the repeat member or wheel 15 when the switch member is operated to shut off the alarm mechanism of the clock, so that the time train will be relieved of the load due to friction between the lever and wheel while the switch member is in a positionto shut off the alarm mechanism; which will usually be for the greater part of the time as the alarm mechanism is usually released, and in condition to operate when released by the time train, for about eight hours only of business days.

The means shown for moving the lower end of the lever 17 away from the wheel 15 comprises an arm or projection 21 carried. by the switch member 10 and so arranged that its free end will engage the lower end of the lever 17, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the parts occupy the positions. shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, the end of the arm 21 is out of contact with the lever 17 and the alarm mechanism is released and in condition to operate intermittently when the same is released by the time train of the! clock. WVhen, however, the parts occupy the positions shown in full lines the alarm mech- .anism is shut oif and kept silent, and, because of the engagement between the arm 21 and the lower end of the lever 17 the lever is kept away from the wheel 15 and the time train relieved ofthe drag or load due to the friction between the wheel and lever.

The reference numeral 22 designates a pivotally supported lever one end of which extends to the outside of the case of the clock, and the inner end of which is adapted to engage a projection 28 upon the lever 17, sothat the repeat mechanism may be permanently'cut out and the clock converted into an ordinary alarm clock in which the alarm mechanism when released will run until it is run down, or until stopped by the cut out or stopping switch of the clock.

Havingthus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a repeating alarm clock, a time train; an alarm train including anoscillating shaft having an arm; a rotating ratchet wheel driven from said time train and adapted to control the operation of said alarm train; an oscillating lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends and the lower end of which is in engagement with said ratchet wheel, and the upper end of which is provided with a projection movable into and out of the path of movement of the extremity of the arm aforesaid of said shaft to thereby intermittently interrupt the operation of said alarm train; a pivotally supported oscillating switch member the free end of which is adapted to engage the arm aforesaid of said shaft and force its free end toward the projection aforesaid at the u per end of said lever to thereby permanent y arrest the operation of said alarm train; and an arm carried bysaid switch and adapted to engage the lower end of said lever and move the same out of engagement with said ratchet wheel when said switch is moved into a position to arrestthe operation of said alarm train.

Signed at New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and .State of New York, this 11th day of Octo- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi. Patents.

Washington, I). 0.

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