US2063976A

US2063976A - Electric clock

Info

Publication number: US2063976A
Application number: US632005A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bateholts Clinton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-09-07
Filing date: 1932-09-07
Publication date: 1936-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 1953-12-15

Description

Dec. 15, 1936.

c. BATEHOLTS 2,063,976

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed Sept. 7, 1932 INVEN'TDRI I CLINTON EATEHULT Hi5 ATTEENEY Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to clock mechanisms of the type in which a train of gears is driven by a synchronous motor connected to a source of alternating current, and more particularly to means for assembling such clocks.

The general object of the invention is to provide means which permits such mechanisms to be quickly and accurately assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which permits such mechanisms to be so assembled as to maintain the noise incident to the operation thereof at a minimum.

For a clear understanding as to how the above and other objects are attained reference may be made to the accompanying drawing. In this drawing, however, the invention is shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, and obviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of operation which 50 will still be comprised within its spirit. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the back supporting plate with the clock mechanism and rotor pulled away to more clearly show the assembly.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal view partially in section of the main driving shaft and associated parts.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rotor and the clock mechanism with the bearing plates omitted, and

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the back supporting plate showing the position of the rotor and the pole pieces.

Referring to the drawing the structure comprises three spaced bearing plates ill, I I, and I2.

0 The plate i2 which also serves as the back supporting plate is desirably moulded from bakelite or other suitable moulding compound and has a plurality of lugs l3 extending therefrom to which the face plate of the clock is secured. The 5 plates l0 and II are desirably made from sheet metal and are connected together in spaced relation by four hollow binding posts i4. As shown more clearly by Figure 1, the binding posts l4 are adapted and arrangedto fit over the ends of 0 four supporting studs I5, l6, I1, and I8 which are desirably set in place during the moulding of the back supporting plate l2. The center bearing plate H is held in spaced relation from the back supporting plate i2 by-means of sleeves 5 I9 and which are moulded about the binding posts l5 and i6 respectively and by metallic sleeves 2i and 22 which fit over the binding posts I! and I8 respectively.

The synchronous motor comprises a rotor 23 and

pole pieces

24 and 25. The rotor 23 is rigidly 5 mounted on a bushing 26 which, in turn, is rigidly mounted on a main driving or rotor shaft 21, journaled in

bearings

28 and 29, and the outer periphery of the rotor 23 comprises a plurality of regularly spaced radial projections 30. 10 The pole pieces 24 and are secured, as by a plurality of spun rivets 35, to two shoulder members 3| and 32 which are moulded integral with the back supporting plate l2, and the faces of the pole pieces also comprise a plurality of reg- 15 ularly spaced projections 33. The pole pieces are so positioned on the shoulder members 3| and 32 that the projection 33 on the pole pieces are adjacent the projections on the rotor and a horizontal line b-b drawn across the top of the 20 pole pieces is below a parallel horizontal line H drawn through the axis of rotation of the rotor.

A core 34 is connected across the

pole pieces

24 and 25, as by a plurality of spun rivets 35a, to 25 complete the magnetic circuit, and to prevent the occurrence of heat-creating eddy currents in the magnetic structure the armature and pole pieces are laminated. A coil 36 which is adapted and arranged to be connected to a suitable source of alternating current by

conductors

31 and 38 is wound on core 34 and acts to energize the

pole pieces

24 and 25 when traversed by current. The alternating current passing through the coil 36 produces a magnetic flux in core 34, the flux circuit of which is completed through the

poles

24 and 25 and that portion of the rotor 23 intermediate the

poles

24 and 25. This flux varies in density and direction in accordance with the current flow through the coil 36. The projec- 40 tions 30 on the periphery of the rotor 23 are successively attracted toward the projections 33 on the

stationary pole pieces

24 and 25 after the rotor has been manually started. The operation of motors of this type is well known in the art and further explanation is not believed to be necessary. By mounting the

pole pieces

24 and 25 as shown a constant downward pull is created on the rotor 23. This downward pull on the rotor maintains the rotor shaft 21 in contact 5 with the lower portions of the

bearings

28 and 29 and as a result the shaft does not have a tendency to float in the bearings. The pole pieces are preferably mounted below the rotor because. when in this position the attraction exerted by the pole pieces is augmented by gravity. A fly wheel 39 is loosely mounted on the bushing 26 intermediate collar 40 and a shoulder on bushing 26 to maintain uniform the rotation or rotor 23. This feature is also old in the art and further explanation is not believed to be necessary.

The

bearings

28 and 29 in which the shaft 21 is journaled are preferably made from a cellulosic compound such as that sold under the trade name of Lumarith since such bearings have been found to be noiseless and to possess good wearing qualities. While a cellulosic compound is preferred as the bearing material other materials such as Bakelite or other suitable phenol condensation products may be used. The bearing 28 is preferably set in the back plate i2 during the moulding of the plate. It is to be understood, however, that this method of placing the bearing 28 in the plate I2 is preferred merely from a manufacturing standpoint and that the bearing may be placed in a suitable opening after plate l2 has been moulded. The bearing 29 comprises a shoulder portion which abuts the plate II and a hub portion 4| which extends through the plate.

As the rotor 23 rotates under the influence of the varying magnetic field it drives the main driving or rotor shaft 21. As the shaft 21 rotates it drives a sleeve 42 and a worm gear 43 fixedly mounted thereon. The worm gear 43 is in mesh with and drives a gear 44 which is fixedly mounted on one end of a shaft 45 journaled on bearings (not shown) carried by the plate I0. As the shaft 45 rotates it drives a worm gear 46 fixedly mounted thereon. The worm gear 46 is in mesh with and drives a gear 41 which is fixedly mounted on one end of a shaft 48 journaled in brackets 48a (one of which is shown) carried by the plate As the shaft 48 rotates it drives a worm gear 49 which is fixedly mounted on the other end of the shaft. The worm gear 48 is in mesh with and drives a gear 50 mounted on one end of a hollow shaft 5|. One end of shaft 5| is journaled on the hub portion 4| of the bushing 28 and the central portion of the shaft is iournaled in bushing 52. Bushing 52 is journaled in bushing 53 which in turn is fixedly mounted in bearing plate i0. As shaft 5| rotates it drives a minute hand 54 which is secured to the other end of the shaft and a gear 55 which is fixedly secured to the central portion of the shaft behind the plate The gear 55 is in mesh with and drives gear 56 which is fixedly mounted on one end of shaft 51. As the shaft 51 rotates it drives a gear 58 which is fixedly secured to the other end thereof. The gear 58 is in mesh with and drives a gear 58 which is fixedly mounted on one end of the bushing 52. As the bushing 52 rotates in bushing 53 it turns the hour hand 50 which is fixedly secured to the other end thereof.

A reset gear 5| (Fig. 1) is mounted on a shaft 52 and is normally held out of mesh with gear 56 by spring 63. The shaft 52 is journaled in plates i0 and ii and extends through an aperture 65 in the back plate i2. To permit the minute and the hour hands 54 and 60 respectively to be reset without turning the main driving or rotor shaft 21, the gear 58 is frictionally mounted on shaft 5| intermediate the spring 64 and the collar 65 (Fig. 2). To reset the hands the shaft 62 is pulled outwardly until the gear 6| is in mesh with the gear 56. The shaft 56 is then turned thereby rotating gears 56 and 58. As the gears 56 and 58 rotate they rotat

gears

55 and 59 respectively. As the

gears

55 and 59 rotate they drive the bushings 5| and 52 on which the minute hand 54 and the hour hand 58 are respectively mounted. The friction developed by the spring 64 against the gear 50 is insumcient to permit the gear 55 drive the worm gear 48 and as a result the gear 50 slips on shaft 5| but is sufficient to permit the worm gear 4! drive the gear 5".

An oil saturated felt washer 55 is mounted on shaft 25 adjacent the bearing 24 to lubricate the bearing during operation.

The feature of moulding the back supporting plate and providing it with a plurality of lugs on which the motor and the clock mechanism may be mounted simplifies the construction of the clock and permits the clock to be rapidly assembled without danger of the rotor shaft bearings being out of alignment.

While the pole pieces are preferably mounted so that they create a downward pull it is to be understood that favorable results may be obtained by mounting the pole pieces in other positions with respect to the rotor. For example the pole pieces may be mounted so as to create a constant upward pull or a constant side pull on the rotor. The essential feature in all cases being that the pole pieces shall be mounted on one side of a straight line drawn through the axis of rotation so as to create a steady pull on one side of the outer periphery of the rotor.

I claim:

1. In an electric clock having a gear train assembled in a frame, a moulded back supporting plate having lugs extending therefrom for supporting said frame, a main drive shaft for d11ving said train, one end of said shaft being journaled in said back supporting plate, and the other end of said shaft being journaled in said frame and electro-magnetlc means for rotating said shaft.

2. In an electric clock having a gear train assembled in a frame, the combination of a back supporting plate having lugs extending therefrom for supporting said frame, a main drive shaft for driving said train, one end of said shaft being journaled in said plate and the other end of said shaft being journaled in said frame, a rotor mounted on said shaft and magnetic pole pieces secured directly to said plate adjacent the outer periphery of said rotor.

3. In an electric clock having a gear train assembled in a frame, the combination of a back supporting plate having lugs extending therefrom for supporting said gear frame, a main drive shaft for driving said train, one end of said shaft being journaled in said plate and the other end of said shaft being journaled in said frame, a rotor mounted on said shaft and magnetic pole pieces secured directly to said plate adJacent the outer periphery of said rotor and on one side of a straight line drawn through the axis of rotation of said rotor.

4. In an electric clock having a gear train assembled in a frame, a back supporting plate having lugs extending therefrom for supporting said frame, a non-metallic bearing carried by said plate, a non-metallic bearing carried by said frame, a main shaft journaled in said bearings and adapted to drive said train and means responsive to an electrical impulse for rotating said shaft.

5. In an electric clock having a gear train assembled in a frame, a back supporting plate having lugs extending therefrom for supporting said aooaova' 3 frame, a non-metallic bearing carried by said plate, a non-metallic bearing carried by said frame, a main shaft journaled in said bearings and adapted to drive said train, a rotor mounted on said shaft and means responsive to an elec trical impulse for rotating said rotor to drive said shaft.

6. In an electric clock having a gear train assembled in a frame, pole pieces, a back supportin: plate having lugs extending therefrom for supporting saidtrame and shoulders extending therefrom for supporting said pole pieces, a nonmetallic bearing carried by said plate. a. nonmetaliic bearing carried by said frame, a main shaft journaled in said bearings and adapted to drive said train, and a rotor mounted on said shaft adjacent said pole pieces.

CLINTON BATEHOLTS.