US2147318A

US2147318A - Alarm clock

Info

Publication number: US2147318A
Application number: US112091A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert B Reichenbach
Original assignee: WATERBURY CLOCK Co
Current assignee: WATERBURY CLOCK Co
Priority date: 1936-11-21
Filing date: 1936-11-21
Publication date: 1939-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-14

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. A. B. REICHENBACH ALARM CLOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 2l, 1936 Feb. 14, 1939. A. B. REICHENBACH ALARM CLOCK Filed Nov. 2l, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1939. A. B. REICHENBCH ALARM CLOCK Filed Nov. 2l, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALARM CLOCK Application November 21, 1936, Serial No. 112,091

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in clocks, and particularly to that class of audiblesignal clocks commonly referred to as alarm clocks.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior alarm clock in which the beat-frequency of the alarm-mechanism is sufficiently slow as not to occasion undue shock to a sleeper.

A further object is to provide a superiorl alarm clock in which the beat-frequency ci the alarmsounding means is determined by the time-train.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior spring-driven alarm clock embodying both a spring-driven time-train and a spring-driven alarm-train and in which the beatfrequency of the alarm-sounding means is modulated without recourse to complex governingmeans.

Still another object of the present invention is toprovide an alarm clock having superior means for providing a multiple-phase alarm-cycle, during one phase oi which the alarm is moderate and during the subsequent phase of which the alarm is more violent.

A still further object is to provide a superior alarm clock in which the alarm-train, instead of being a burden upon the operation ofthe timetrain, will exert an effort to assist the said timetrain when the alarm-train is released.

With the above and otherolojects in View, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed by me in a separate application.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation of an alarm clock embodying the present invention with portions ci the rear movement-plate broken away;

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a View in rear elevation of the alarmtrain detached, together with a portion of the time-train, the parts being shown in the positions which they assume when the alarm-governing pawl overrides the alarm-governing wheel;

Fig. 4 is a similar View but showing the frequency-changing member acting te retire the frequency-governing pawl, to thus leave the alarmtrain free of outside restraint;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and also showing the front and rear movement-plates;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the frequencychanging member;

e ul

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the unit comprising the verge-arbor, verge and alarm-stop arm;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hammer or striker; and

Fig. 9 is a similar View of the frequency-governing pawl.

The particular alarm clock herein chosen for the illustration of the present invention includes a front movement-plate and a rear movementplate 2| heldin rigid spaced relationship by interconnecting pillars 22. The movement-plates just referred to mount (mostly in the space between them) both a time-train and an alarm-train having characteristics which Will be more fully hereinafter described.

The time-train includes a mainor windingarbor 23 journaled in the movement-plates 2U and 2| and which, in the usual manner of the art, mounts a mainspring 24, the driving-urge of which latter is transmitted to a main-wheel 25 through the intermediary of a ratchet-wheel 26 and a pawl 2T. The main-wheel 25 meshes into and drives a first-pinion 28 of the lantern type which is rigidly mounted upon and serves to drive the centeror minute-arbor 29 of the time-train. The first-pinion 28 is rigidly attached to a second-wheel 39 which meshes into and drives a second-pinion 3| mounted upon an arbor 32 journaled in the movement-plates 2D and 2|. The arbor 32 just referred to has rigidly attached to it a third-wheel 33 which meshes into and drives a third-pinion 34 of the lantern type which, together with a fourth-wheel 35, is rigidly mounted upon an arbor 36 journaled at its respective opposite ends in the movement-plates 2l) and 2| respectively.

The fourth-wheel of the time-train just referred to meshes into and drives a fourth-pinion 3'! oi the lantern type which is rigidly attached to an arbor 38 journaled in the movement-plates 26 and 2|. The arbor 38, in the manner usual in time-trains, has rigidly secured to it an escapewheel 39 which coacts with pallet-pins 40-40 in a pallet 4| mounted upon an arbor 42 intermediate the ends thereof. The arbor 42 just referred to has rigidly secured to it an impulse-arm 43 cooperating with an impulse-pin 44 carried by a balance-wheel 45, which latter is mounted upon a usual balance-staff 46. The balance-stair 46 carries a usual hair-spring 47 having its inner end attached thereto and its opposite end fastened to a bracket 48 forwardly projecting from the rear movement-plate 2|.

The projecting forward end of the centeror minute-arbor 29 carries a minute-hand 49 and has loosely journaled upon it an hour-sleeve 50 carrying an hour-hand l, as shown in Fig. 2. The hour-sleeve 59 is formed as a unit with an 5 hour-wheel 52 turning freely on the center-arbor 29 and which is driven by a dial-pinion v53 rotating upon a stud 54 forwardly offsetting from the front movement-plate 28. The dial-pinion 53 Ycarries a dial-wheel 55 which meshes into and is driven by a minute-pinion 56 rigidly attached to the centeror minute-arbor 29 immediately in front of the front movement-plate 2D.

Meshing into and driven by the dial-pinion 53 before described is an alarm-control VWheel 51 rigidly carryinga sleeve-like alarm-control cam 58 and journaled upon the projecting forward end of an alarm-set staff 59 which latter is in turn journaled in both of the movement-plates 28 and 2l. In the usual manner of alarm clocks, the sleeve-like alarm-control cam 58 is provided in its forward edge with a notch 60 which is adapted to receive an alarm-control finger 6I rigidly attached to and radially offsetting from the extreme forward portion of the alarm-set staff 59.

alarm-control wheel 51, together with the cam 58, is urged forwardly by a sheet-metal alarm-control spring 62 which is secured at its outer end to the forward face of the front movement-plate 28 by means of a stud 63. At its inner or free end the alarm-control spring 62 is bent to form an alarm-control finger 64 which, under the control of the cam 58 and the alarm-control finger 6|, moves into" and out of the path of oscillation of an alarm-stop arm 65.

The alarm-stop arm 65 just above referred to forms a feature of the alarm mechanism and is rigidly attached at one end to a verge-arbor 66 journaled in the front and rear movement-plates 28 and 2l. The said verge-arbor 66 has rigidly attached to it a verge 61 which is vibrated in a manner usual in alarm mechanisms, by a toothed verge-wheel 68 which is staked upon an arbor 69 journaled in the front and rear movement-plates 20 and 2l. In addition to the verge-wheel 68, the arbor 69 has staked to it a lantern-pinion 10 which meshes into and is driven by an alarm main-wheel 1| mounted uponthe main-arbor 12 of the alarm-train. The said arbor 12 is driven by a spiral alarm-mainspringY 13 through the usual intermediary of a ratchet-wheel 14 and a pawl 15.

The verge 61 is provided with an offsetting hammer-actuating arm 16 tothe lower end of .v which is pivoted the adjacent end of a link 11 having its opposite end pivotally connected to a hammer or striker 18. The said hammer is rigidly mounted intermediate the movement-plates 20 and 2l upon a hammer-staff 19 which is journaled in the said movement-plates. The hammer 18 is preferably formed of sheet-metal and is provided with an enlarged terminal constituting a hammer-head 88 which is adapted tofstrike a bell or other sounder 8l indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.

Pivotally mounted upon the link 11 by means of a stud 82 is a frequency-governing pawl 83, preferably formed of sheet-metal and having a nose 84 which is adapted to engage the ratchetlike teeth of a frequency-governing wheel 85 staked upon the arbor 36 which carries the fourthwheel 35 of the time-train. The pawl 83 is provided adjacent the respective opposite sideedges of the link 11 with two forwardly-projecting

fingers

86 and 81, the former of which is Also in the usual manner of alarm clocks, the

adapted to limit the upward swinging movement of the pawl, and the latter of which is designed to be engaged by a member which will prevent the nose 84 of the said pawl from engaging with the wheel 85 in a manner as will hereinafter appear. 'I'he pawl 83 also has a perforated finger 88 bent rearwardly from it, through which extends the free end of a wire-like spring 89 swaged into the slotted rear end of the stud 82 upon which the said pawl 33 swings.

For the purpose, on occasion, of preventing the nose 89 of the pawl 83 from engaging with the frequency-governing wheel 85 so as to permit the hammer or striker 18 to vibrate freely in a manner as will hereinafter appear, an L-shaped frequency-changing member, generally designated by the numeral 98, is employed. The said frequency-changing member 90 includes a camlike nose 9! offsetting from the outer end of a radial arm 92 which is mounted for swinging movement upon a collet 93 rigidly fastened upon the main-arbor 12 of the alarm-train. The said member 90 is frictionally coupled to the collet 93 by being urged against the flange-terminal Vthereof by a helical spring 94 encircling the said collet. The degree of friction betweenthe member 96 and the collet 93 is suiiicient to cause the nose 9i of the said member to swing in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, and suspend the action of the pawl 83 without, however, preventing the turning of the main-arbor 12.

To limit the clockwise turning movement of the frequency-changing member 9D, the said member is bent up to provide a rearwardly-projecting stop-finger 95 which engages on occasion with a stop-finger 96 forwardly projecting from the rear movement-plate 2 l. VThe counterclockwise turning movement of the frequency-changing member 90, which occurs during the winding of the alarm-spring 13, is limited by the engagement of the said member with the arbor 69 of the vergewheel 68.

The parts 63,- 85 and 98, or their equivalents,

may be viewed jointly as constituting beat-frequency-governing means, since the said parts in effect cause on one hand the retardation of the vibrations of the striker 18 under the driving urge of the verge-wheel 68, and then release the said striker for free vibration by the said verge-wheel, all in theV manner as will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of describing the operation of the alarm-clock movement herein illustrated, let it be presumed that the mainspring 24 of the time-train is wound and that the said train is running, and further that the mainspring 13 of the alarm-train 'has been wound by turning the main-arbor 12 in a counterclo'ckwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, to thus bring the frequency-changing member 90 into a retired position, as shown in Figs. l and 3. In this connection, it is to be explained that the turning of the main-arbor 12 in a counterclockwise direction to wind the alarm-mainspring 13, as described, is permitted by reason of the fact that the frequency-changing member 96 is frictionally attached to the said arbor, and when in a winding operation it strikes the verge-wheel arbor 69, the said main-arbor may be further rotated to complete the winding of the said spring 13.

When in the usual course of the operation of the clock, the notch 68 in the alarm-control cam 58 comes into registration with the alarm-control finger 6l on the alarm-set staif 59, the sheetmetal spring 62 will flex forwardly and axially slide the said cam, together with the wheel 51, in

the same direction. The forward flexing of the spring S2 will effect the retirement of its alarmcontrol finger 64 out of the path of the alarmstop arm 65, whereupon'the alarm-mainspring 13, acting through the verge-wheel 68 and verge El, will be free to urge the link 'l1 and hence the pawl 83 and hammer or striker 18 to the left from the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1. This advance from right to left will, however, be retarded by the engagement of the nose 84 of the said pawl with the frequency-governing wheel 85 which is being turned but relatively slowly by the time-train, in the direction indicated. Thus, theurge of the alarm-mainspring to vibrate the hammer or striker 18 will be retarded and the energy of the said spring Will be applied in assisting in the turning of the said wheel 85, and hence assisting the mainspring to operate the entire time-train.

As the particular tooth of the wheel 85 with which the pawl-nose B4 is engaged reaches substantially its topmost'position, the said pawl-nose will be forced out of engagement with the said tooth by the next-succeeding tooth and will slide over the periphery of the said wheel to the limit of its movement to the left, thus permitting its associated parts to assume the positions shown in Fig. 3. rlhe verge 61 will now immediately move the parts back to substantially the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1 and thus cause the hammer-head to strike the bell or sounder 8|.

The cycle above described will now be repeated at relatively-long intervals (five seconds, for instance), depending upon the peripheral speed of the frequency-governing wheel 85. After a predetermined number of cycles, as described, the alarm-mainspring 13, in its unwinding, will turn the main-arbor 12 and the frequency-changing member 9G in a clockwise direction until the camlike nose 9! of the said member rides under the iinger 8'! of the pawl 83 to a degree sufficient to prevent the nose 84 of the same from engaging with the teeth of the wheel 85. As soon as the pawl $3 is in effect rendered inoperative by the member 9d, as described, the verge 61 and vergewheel 558 will cause the rapid vibration of the hammer or striker 78, which under the conditions iust described is free of any restraint by the time-train and may, therefore, vibrate at five beats per second, for instance.

When the nger 95 of the frequency-changing member 9G engages with the stop-finger 96 of the movement-plate 2l, the clockwise turning movement of the said member will be checked, but the main-arbor 'l2 will continue to turn to actuate the hammer or striker 18, owing to the relativelyslight frictional coupling of the member S0 with the said arbor 12.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the movement of the hammer or striker 18 or its equivalent may be so governed and reduced in frequency by the time-train acting through the wheel as to produce a beat-frequency which will not unduly shock even the lightest of sleepers.

In the event that asleeper is not sufiiciently aroused by the relatively-slow beat-frequency of the alarm when the same is under the control of the pawl 83 and the wheel 85, the frequencychanging member or its equivalent may be employed to free the alarm-mechanism of restraint by the time-train and thus permit the same to accelerate its beat-frequency.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all espects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming Within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating striker operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; and beat-frequency diminishing-means for forcibly diminishing the natural unrestrained beatfrequency of the said striker to a beat-frequency materially slower than the natural unrestrained beat-frequency thereof, and including two coacting members, one of which is operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and the other of which members is operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven, the two said coacting members being so constructed and arranged that the said vibrating member driven by the alarm-train assists in propelling the other of said coacting members.

2. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating strike' operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; beat-frequency diminishing means for forcibly diminishing the natural unrestrained beatfrequency of the said striker to a beat-frequency materially slot-ver than the natural unrestrained beat-frequency thereof, and including two coacting members, one of which is operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and the other of which members is operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven, the two said coacting members being so constructed and arranged that the said vibrating member driven by the alarm-train assists in propelling the other of said coacting members; and automatic means operatively-controlled by one of the said trains and being operable thereby during the driving-operation of the alarm-train at a predetermined time in the said driving-operation to automatically shift one of the two said coacting members of the beat-frequency diminishing-means out of coacting relationship with the other of said members to render the said means inoperative and permit the unrestrained continuous vibration of the said striker by the said alarm-train.

E. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating striker operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; beat-frequency diminishing means for forcibly diminishing the natural. unrestrained beatfrequency of the said striker to a beat-frequency materially slower than the natural unrestrained beat-frequency thereof, and including two coacting members, one of which is operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and the other of which members is operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven, the two said coacting members being so constructed and arranged that the said vibrating member driven by the alarm-train assists in propelling the other of said coacting members; and a releasing member frictionally coupled to and frictionally driven'by the said alarm-train and engageable with the said vibrating member of the said beat-frequency diminishing-means to move the same out of coacting relationship with the other of said members to render the said meansV inoperative and permit the unrestrained continuous vibration of the said striker by the said alarmtrain.

4. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating striker operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; and beat-frequency diminishing-means for forcibly diminishing the natural unrestrainedv beatfrequency of the said striker to a beat-frequency materially slower than the natural unrestrained beat-frequency thereof, and includingr a vibratable pawl operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and a toothed wheel coacting with the said pawl and operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven, the said vibratable pavvl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that the said pavvl automatically slides oi the said toothed wheel as the latter is turned by the timetrain to permit the said striker to move for sounding a single-beat alarm.

5. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating striker operatively connected to the said alarm train for being vibrated thereby; beat-frequency diminishing-means for forcibly diminishing the natural unrestrained beat-irequency of the said striker to a beat-frequency materially slower than the natural unrestrained beat-frequency thereof, and including a Vibratable pawl operatively connected to the said alarmtrain for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and a toothedwheel coacting with the said pavvl and operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven. the said vibratable pawl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that the rsaid pawl automatically slides oi the said toothed wheel as the latter is turned by the time-train to permit the said striker to move for sounding a singlebeat alarm; and automatic means operativelycontrolled by the said alarm-train and being operable thereby during the driving-operation of the alarm-train at a predetermined time in the said driving-operation to automatically shift the said vibratable pawl out of coacting relationship with the said toothed wheel to render the said beat-frequencyV diminishing-means inoperative and permit the unrestrained continuous vibration of the said striker by the said alarm-train.

6. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating striker operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; beat-frequency diminishing-means for Yforcibly diminishing the natural unrestrained beat-irequency of the said striker to a beat-frequency materially slower than the natural unrestrained beat-irequency thereof, and including a vibratable pawl operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and a toothed wheel coacting with the said pawl and operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven', the said vibratable pawl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that the said pawl automatically slides ofi the said toothed Wheel as the latter turns to permit the tively connecting the said striker to the said Y alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; a Vibrating pawl pivotally carried by the said link; and a toothed wheel coacting with the said vibrating pawl and driven by the said time-train, the said vibrating pawl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that said pawl automatically slides 01T the said toothed wheel as the latter turns to permit the said striker to move for sounding a brief alarm.

8. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating striker; a vibrating link operatively connecting the said striker to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; a vibrating pawl pivotally carried by the said link; a toothed wheel coacting with the said vibrating pawl and driven by the said time-train, the said vibrating pawl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that said pawl automatically slides oi the said toothed wheel as the latter turns to permit the said` striker to move for sounding a brief alarm; and a pavvl-releasing member driven by and frictionally coupled to the said-alarm-train and engaging with the said vibrating pawl to retire the same out of coacting relationship with the said toothed wheel to permit the unrestrained continuous vibration of the said striker by the said alarm-train.

9. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; alpower-driven alarmtrain; a vibrating striker operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; beat-frequency diminishing-means for forcibly diminishing the natural unrestrained beat-irequency of the said striker to a beat-frequency inaterially slower than the natural unrestrained beat-frequency thereof, and including two coacting members, Vone of which is operatively'connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and the other of which members is operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven, the two said coacting members being arranged in normally disengaged relation; a iirst one of the said members being operable by one of the said trains during the driving-operation of the alarm-v train and at a predetermined time in the said driving-operation to be shiitediinto coacting engaging relation to the other of the said members, whereby vibration of the striker is restrained; and automatic means operatively-controlled by said one of the trains and operable thereby at another and later predetermined time in the said drivingoperation of the-said alarm-train to automatically shift the saidrst one'of the two said coacting members of the beat-frequency diminishingmeans out of coacting relationship with the other of said members to render the said means inoperative and permit the unrestrained continuous vibration of the said striker by the said alarmtrain.

l0. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-drivenV n time-train; a power-driven alarm-train; a vibrating striker operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; beat-frequency diminishing-means for forcibly diminishing the natural unrestrained beat-frequency of the said striker to a beatfrequency materially slower than the natural unrestrained beat-frequency thereof, and including two coacting members, one of which is operatively connected to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby concurrently with the said striker, and the other of which members is operatively connected to the said time-train by which it is driven, the two said coacting members being arranged in normally disengaged relation; the vibration member connected to the alarm-train being operable thereby during the driving-operation of the larm-train and at a predetermined time in the said driving-operation, to be shifted into coacting engaging relation to the other of the said members, whereby vibration of the striker is restrained; and automatic means operatively-controlled by the said alarm-train and operable thereby at another and later predetermined time in the said driving-operation of the said alarm-train to automatically shift the said Vibrating member of the beat-frequency diminishing-means out of coacting relationship with the other of said members to render the said means inoperative and permit the unrestrained continuous vibration of the said striker by the said alarm-train.

11. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarl train; a Vibrating striker; a Vibrating link operatively connecting the said striker to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby, and cacting members including a Vibrating pawl pivotally carried by the said link, and a toothed Wheel coacting with the said vibrating pawl and driven by the said time-train; the said vibrating pawl and toothed wheel being arranged in normally disengaged relation, and one of the said coacting members being operable by its controlling train connected therewith during the driving-operation of the alarm-train and at a predetermined time in the said driving-operation, to be shifted into engagement with the other of the said coacting members and effect coacting relationship between the said vibrating pawl and toothed wheel and the said Vibrating pawl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that said pawl automatically slides off the said toothed wheel as the latter turns to permit the said striker to move for sounding a brief alarm.

12. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarm-train; a vibrating striker; a vibrating link operatively connecting the said striker to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby, coacting members including a vibrating pawl pivotally carried by the said link, and a toothed wheel coacting with the said vibrating pawl and driven by the said time-train; the said vibrating pawl and toothed wheel being arranged in normally disengaged relation, and one 0i" the said enacting members being operable by its controlling train connected therewith during the driving-operation of the alarm-train and at a predetermined time i in the said driving-operation, to be shifted into engagement with the other of the said coacting members and eiect coacting relationship between the said Vibrating pawl and toothed wheel and the said vibrating pawl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that said pawl automatically slides off the said toothed wheel as the latter turns to permit the said striker to move for sounding a brief alarm; and automatic means operable by the said controlling train at another and later predetermined time in the said driving-operation of the said alarmtrain to automatically shift the said one of the two coacting members out of coacting relationship with the other of the said members to permit unrestrained continuous vibration of the vibrating striker by the said alarm-train.

13. An alarm clock including in combination: a power-driven time-train; a power-driven alarm-train; a vibrating striker; a vibrating link operatively connecting the said striker to the said alarm-train for being vibrated thereby; a vibrating pawl pivotally carried by the said link; a toothed wheel coacting with the said vibrating pawl and driven by the said time-train; the said vibrating pawl and toothed wheel being arranged in normally disengaged relation, and the said vibrating pawl being operable by the alarm-train during the driving-operation of the alarm-train and at a predetermined time in the said drivingoperation, to be shifted into coacting engaging relation to the said toothed wheel; the said Vibrating pawl and the said toothed wheel being constructed and arranged so that said pawl automatically slides off the said toothed wheel as the latter turns to permit the said striker to move for sounding a brief alarm; and a pawl-releasing member driven by and irictionally coupled to the said alarm-train and engaging at another and later predetermined time in the said drivingoperation of the said alarm-train with the said vibrating pawl to retire the same out of coacting relationship with the said toothed Wheel to permit the unrestrained continuous vibration of the said striker by the said alarm-train.

ALBERT B. REICHENBACH.

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