US1216727A

US1216727A - Self-leveling clock.

Info

Publication number: US1216727A
Application number: US12148816A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Albert Pixler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-09-21
Filing date: 1916-09-21
Publication date: 1917-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1934-02-20

Description

, J. A. PIXLER. SELF LEVELING CLOCK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 2l| I916.

1,216,727. Patented Feb. 20,1917.

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J. A. PIXLER.

SELF LEVEUNG CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. l9l6.

1 ,21 6,727. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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Attorneys 101m ALBERT PIXLEB, or BENKELMAN, NEBRASKA.

SELF-LEVELING oLocK.

Specification of Letters Patent. 'Patented Feb,- 20, 1917.

, Application filed September 21,1916. Serial N0. 121,488.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN ALBERT PIXLER,

citizen ofthe United States, residing at,

Benkelman, in the county of Dundy and State of Nebraska, have invented'a new and useful Self-Leveling Clock, 0f whichth'e following is a specification. A

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive leveling mechanism applicable to clocks with the minimum rearrangement of the essential elements thereof, and adapted to insure regularity of pendulum movement through a comparatively wide range of positions of the clock mechanism, the adjustment of the same to different positions of the clock mechanism being automatic.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the inventionresides in the combi nation and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. In the drawing- I I Figure 1 is a front view of a clock mechanism including the leveling means embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view of thesame.

Fig. 3 is a rear view.

Fig. -ft is a front view showing the positions of the parts when the clock mechanism is inclined from a vertical position.

Essentially the invention consists of a pivoted yoke 10 carrying the escapement mechanism, including the verge 11 andvescapement wheel 12, and held in its normal or proper position, to preserve a regular operation of the pendulum 13, by a positioning weight it, the stem 15 of which is connected with the spindle 16 of said yoke and said spindle being mounted in the front and

rear plates

17 and 18 of the clock mechanism. Preferably the spindle consists of two members, a main member lfi mounted in registering bearings in said rear plate a and a bracket 19, and an auxiliary member 16 supported by the front plate, said spindle being in axial alinement with the last time gear 20 which meshes with the pinion 21 on the spindle of the escapement wheel.

The connection between the stem of the leveling weight and the spindle of the yoke may consist as indicated of a sleeve'22 embracing the said spindle and provided with a socket member 23 in which the extremity of the stem is removably secured by set screw 24, and the yoke is provided with a a sleeve 25 fitted upon the adjacent portion of said yoke spindle and adapted to be locked adjacent to the outer end of the sleeve 22.

Bylocking the sleeve 22 on the spindle by means of set screw 30', and similarly locking the yoke sleeve 25 to said spindle by means of the set screw 26, the movementof the leveling weight will be communicated directly to the yoke through the spindle, the sleeve 27 under these conditions preferably being released by loosening the set screw 28, and the proper relative arrangement of the parts will thereby be preserved so that the motions of the pendulum communicated through the verge wire 80 to the verge will result in a uniform tick or equal movements in opposite directions of the pendulum bob. However, as a means of increasing the accuracy and promptness of adjustment to suit different positions of the clock mecha nism, and particularly to insurethat the parts shall come to a position of rest at the desired adjustment without prolonged vibration, it is preferred to reverse the above described adjustment of the sleeves on the spindle, tightening the set screw 28 to fasten the sleeve 27 thereto in order to prevent endwise displacement of the spindle and-loosening the

set screws

26 and 30, so as to permit the sleeves 25 and 22 to turn looselyon the spindle, and to employ as a means for communicating motion from the leveling weight to the yoke the following devices At the lowerv end of the yoke is arranged a segmental rack 31, with which engages, a segmental gear 32 carried by a spindle 33 mounted in the front and rear plates and provided at its rear end with a radial arm 34 upon which operates a-sleeve 35 swiveled by means of a pin 36 on the stem of the leveling wei ht, said stem being engaged by a collar 37 held in place by a set screw 38 and carrying a bearing in which the pin of the sleeve 35 is mounted. As the leveling weight moves to one side or the other, it causes a corresponding oscillation of the arm 34, said sleeve 35 sliding freely thereon, and hence a rocking movement of the spindle 33 which is conveyed through the segmental gear 32 and rack 31 to the yoke, causing the same movement thereof as would be produced by movement conveyed from said weight directly through the spindle 16 as hereinbefore mentioned.

It will be observed that the parts are so arranged that the escapement wheel spindle is located, in a vertical position of the clock mechanism, directly above the spindle of the time gear 20 from which it receives motion, and therefore variations in the position of the clock mechanism as to the ver tical, cause but a negligible disturbance of the relation between the time gear and the escapement wheel, each point of the verge entering and leaving the escapement with the same draft on each side. Thereby the accuracy of operation as a time keeper is secured.

As a further means of securing accuracy and uniformity of movement of the pendulum and of the escapement mechanism, the pendulum stud 39, with which is engaged the verge wire 30, is carried by the yoke so as to be adjusted simultaneously with and proportionately to the escapement mechanism; said stud, however, being prefe'ably disposed above and therefore eccentrically with reference to the fulcrum of the yoke.

Obviously the tilting of the clock frame to one side or the other due to placing the same upon a support which is not level, serves to change the path of oscillation of the pendulum, but by the arrangement herein described, the escapement is positioned by gravity actuated means to preserve the same relation between the escapement mechanism and the path of oscillation of the pendulum, so that the transmission of movement from the pendulum through the verge wire to the verge remains undisturbed by such alteration in the path of oscillation of the pendulum.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapement carrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which the escapement wheel receives motion, a weight suspended from the clock frame, and connections between the weight and said yoke, for positioning the latter to preserve a fixed relation between the escapement and the pendulum.

2. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapement carrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which the escapement wheel receives motion, and a yoke positioning weight suspended from the spindle of the yoke.

3. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapement carrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which the eseapement wheel receives motion, a yoke positioning weight having its stem fulcrumed coaxially with the yoke, a rocking element having a rack and gear connection with the yoke at a point remote from its fulcrum, and means for communicating motion from the weight stem to said spindle.

1. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapement carrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which the escapement wheel receives motion, a yoke positioning weight having its stem fulerumed coaxially with the yoke, a rocking element having a rack and gear connection with the yoke at a point remote from its fulcrum, and a swivcled slide car ried by the weight stem engaging an arm of said rocking element.

5. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapement carrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which the escapement wheel receives motion, a yoke positioning weight having its stem fulcrumed coaxially with the yoke, a rocking spindle having a segmental gear meshing with asegmental rack carried by the yoke concentric with its fulcrum, and a sleeve swiveled upon the weight stem and having sliding engagement with an arm of said rocking spindle.

(i. A leveling appliance for pendulum clocks having an escapemcnt carrying yoke fulcrumed coaxially with the time wheel from which the escapement wheel receives motion, a plumbing weight having its stem fulcrumed coaxially with the yoke, means for adjusting the yoke angularly, and means connected to an intermediate portion of the stem for actuating said yoke adjusting means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ALBERT PIXLER.

Witnesses: F. R. WARNER, W. R. BERGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.