US2412077A - Clock winding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1946. s, w, BRAMLEY' 2,412,077

CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM Filed June-l2, 1944 '3 Sheets-Sheei 1 j a? z INVENTOR 7 -.Jmm/ey C W. ATTOR EY Dec} 3, 1946. s, w, BRAMLEY 2,412,077 CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM Filed ulie 12, 1944 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 8/ .j z'ya' INVENTOR Patented Dec. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-10E CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM Sylvanus W. Bramley, White Plains, N. Y.

' Application June 12, 1944, Serial No. 539,945

This invention relates ing mechanism, more particularly of the type in which an electromagnetic circuit is employed. In this type of apparatus energyis stored in a spring by the movement of an armature of an electromagnet. The energy of the spring is then employed to operate a train of clock mechanism. When the energy of thespring is partly dissipated, electrical contact is made which again energizes the magnet and restores energy to the spring.

Numerous mechanisms of this type have been proposed, notably fo'r'useon vehicles, such as automobiles. Practical difliculties have-however been met; in providing a mechanism which will be sufficiently reliable in its operationto provide accuracy of time keeping. It is an object of the present invention to provide improved mechanism to solve the problems which have arisen, to provide improved electrical and mechanical make and break mechanism, and in general, to provide improved electrical and-mechanical means simplein construction andadapte'd for long-continued operation t provide reliable, accurate time recording.

The invention will be defined in the claims and described in the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view taken on the line l--I of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a sideview showing the clock with the casing removed to show the clock mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a plan view generally similar to Fig. 1 showing the relative positions of armature and electromagnet when the main spring is fully tensioned, that is, when the clock is fully wound up, Fig. I showing the relative positions of armature and electromagnet in the run down position,

Fig. 4 is a view similar generally to Figs. 1 and 3 showing the relative positions of armature and electromagnet intermediate the positions shown in Figs. 1 and '3,

Fig. 5 is a reverse view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, V

' Fig. 6 is a view partly in section on the line 68 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a viewsimilar to that shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 with, however, all parts removed except the electromagnet and its electrical connections,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuit employed,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view showing the special structure of the make and break contact means,

Fig. 10 is a section on linen-1n of Fig. 11',

to automatic clock wind-- 8 claims. (01. 135-40) Fig. 11 is an elevational side View of a modified form ofthe invention,

Fig. 12is a view partly in section onthe line l2|2'of Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 is a sectional View on line I 3-l 3' of Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 is a sectional view online l4-|4 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is an enlargedview of a part of the switch mechanism, r

Fig. 16'is a diagrammatic viewof the electrical' connections and switch mechanism,

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary view oi a partof the switch mechanisni,"and Fig. 18shows another switch mechanism associated parts.

In the several views like the same numerals. I

Referring to' Figs; 1 to 9, an electromagne't'l,

including core 2, pole pieces'3 4,: and coil 5, 'ismountedon the plate 6, the pole pieces3, 4 being secured to the; plate 6 by screws 1 and the coil 5 being in spaced relation to said plate. Insulationpieces not shown inthe drawings insulate the endsof the coil from the pole pieces;'- The binding post 8' passes through anaperture in' the plate and is insulated. therefrom by insulation ID, the post 8 being securely held in place by metallic gaskets I l, to one of which one end of the coil is electrically connected as by soldering l2. The other end of the coil is secured in metallic and electrical connection withithe plate by means ofa screw or rivet I3. Adjacent the pole piece 3, there is mounted 011313116 plate 6 and insulated therefrom by the insulationli, a, small plate l4 carrying an upstanding pin 20'extending transversely to the plate M. The pin 20 is made of pure silver and the plate [4 of which the pin 20 is an extension may also be made of silver for the sake of convenience although the said plate l4 may be made of other metallic material, e. g. brass, to which the pure silver pin 20 may be joined by brazing. Secured to the plate! is the binding post 2|; which passes through apertures in both plates and is insulated from the plate by insulation pieces l5 and 22. The. post 2| is held infirm engagement with the said insulation and plates 6 and H by means of a gasket or w'asher;

The train of clock mechanism indicated generally as is conventional. Ifhis mechanism is mounted on segmental parts 24, 25, and 26 which ventional mechanism 1 includes a ratchet wheel and 1 parts are shown- 3 secured to a hub 3| carried by an arbor l8 rotatably mounted at one end on a fixed mandrel 32. The arbor near the other end is journalled in segment 25, passes through an aperture in the dial and carries hands 33 of the clock which are rotated by the mechanism actuated by rotation of the said ratchet wheel 30 and arbor l8. The fixed-mandrel 32 is secured in and mounted on a yoke which includes the flat strip supported on and secured toposts 4|, 42 which in turn are mounted on and secured to the segment 26. Intermediate between the ratchet wheel 30 and the strip 40, the armature 43 is rotatably mounted on said mandrel 32. The ary mature 43 comprises a flat strip ofsoft iron having end portions 44, 45 extending transversely thereof and arranged to sweep over, i. e. to be brought in closely spaced relation to the correclearly in Fig. 8. The clock containing the mechanism of the present invention is adapted to be operated from any suitable source of current, as for example, the battery 86. As shown in Fig. 8, the positive and negative lead wires 8| and 82 from the battery are insulated from the plate 6 (by connection to the binding posts which are in turn insulated by means of insulation members). Tracing the course of the current, it passes from the positive terminal of thebattery through the lead wire 8|, then through the coil 5 surrounding the core, and from there to the plate 6 through the wire 82 and the pin or rivet I3 secured to the plate 6 asclearly shown in Fig. '7 and as indicated in Fig. 8 by the point 83. The plate '6 is in ele'ctricalconnection with the armature through structural elements, including the posts 21, one of which is'shown clearly in Fig. 2, the

sponding ends of the pole pieces 3, 4. For this purpose the said ends 44, 45 of the armature are arcuately shaped to correspond to the complementary shape of the pole pieces 3, 4.: The armature 4 3 is therefore adapted to rotate'about an axis perpendicular to the plate 6 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electromagnet. The rotational axis of the armature passing through the mid point of the electromagnet and being transverse to the longitudinal axis of said armature. The latter axis lies in a plane parallel to the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the electromagnet. To the armature and intermediate the axis cf rotation and one end of said armature,thereis secured one end of the spring 56 by means of apin or rivet 5|, the other-end of the spring being secured to an extension 52 of the yoke piece or strip by meansof the pin 53. Near the ends of the armature 43 and pivoted thereon by the pins 54 are the pawls 55, 56 arranged to engage the ratchet wheel 30, these pawls being biased by spring members 51.

bent around a post 59 and into engagement with its'pawl.

On the sideof the armature opposite theside to which the spring is attached, theregisxprovided an extension or lug 60 carrying a pivot pin- 6| extending transversely to said extension. On this pivot pin 6| an arm 62 is pivotally mounted and is biased to occupy the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by means of a' coil spring 63, aided by spring 61, one end of which is secured to the one J end of each spring is inserted in a hole andthen tension on. the spring 50 as ;far as; the armature;

will go, e. g. against post 66, thisrotation of thearmature (note Fig. 1) moves the pivoted arm; 62 into a position WhEIBTthQCOX'itaG/t pins;'|3,'20

, the armature 43 tending to rotate it counter:v

lug 60, the other end bearing against a portion" transversely both to the. plane of the arm and also to the planeof'the fiat shoe 65 and from that terminal portion of the arm, there extends a pin made of pure silver. pin 13 which cooperates with the fixed pin 20, said pinsconstituting the electrical contact or make and break elements. As shown clearly in thevarious views, including particularly Fig. 9,

the axes-of thepins 20 and 13 are at right angles for purposes which will be more fully hereinafter described. v

.The electrical circuit connections are shown It is this movable segments 25, 26, the hub 3|, and the mandrel 32 on which the armature is rotatably mounted. The arm 62 pivotally mounted on thearmature 43 is also in electrical connection with'the latter, this electrical connection being further facilitated by the coil spring 63. Therefore, the piv-' oted arm 62 and the pin extension 13 thereof are in electrical connection; with, the plate 6 and,

therefore the coil 2. In;Ei 8-this electrical connection between the plate and the pivoted arm is diagrammatically-shown by the leadwire 84.:

No such lead wire is however necessary. in the practical construction of the mechanism. Tracing the course of the currentstill further and assuming contact between the pins 2!) v and;,.13, the

current then passes from the pin 13 to the pin 20 and then through the lead wire 82 back to the; negative terminal of-the battery; To protectthe are brought into engagement. (Note Fig.1). The electrical circuit is then. closed and the'electromag-net l energized; A pull is then exerted on clockwise and this pull exerts its efiect as long as the said pins 13, 20 are in contact. Aspre viously stated and as clearly shown; theiaxes of When the.

these two pins are at right angles. armature is in its ultimate position of, movement in a clock-wise direction the end of the pin 13' extends a substantial distance beyond theaxis of the pin 20. In the counter-clockwise movement of the armature the pin 13 is drawntrans-z versely across the pin 20 by the rotation of the lug 60 on which the pivotedarm 62 is mounted, this lug 60 having an offset position in relation to the.

axis about which the armature 43 rotates. The

electrical connection is not'ibroken until .there is.

a complete disengagement of the pin 13 from the pin 20, which requires an appreciableinterva-l' and provides for movement of the armature 'to its ultimate counter-clockwise position,.. during which movement the spring is. fully tensioned.

There is thereforezan appreciable time of contact" of the pins inmoving electrical contact with each other. Stated otherwise, the electrical. contact is preserved until the clock is fullywound up; A sudden make and break would not accomplish this purpose and would only partially, tension :the spring and thus develop correspondingly less energy for driving the clock operatingi,mechanism. By the means described, a maximum amount of energy. in the springis developed with a correspondingincrease in the time requiredto exhaust that'energy. Thus the period of time during which the clock runs down is lengthenedandthe total numb'er of breaks in'the electrical circuit iii any. given'timeinterval are reducedr Furthermore, by making the pins of pure silver, the formation of insulating coatings or scale isprevented and there is always a substantially perfect'contact' ofmetallic silver to metallic silver, thus establishing certainty of operation.

' The maintenahceof thepins "I3 and 20 (which constitute the control switch) in contact during the counter' clockw'ise movement' ofthe armature 43 isfacilita'ted b'y'strip which concentrates the 'ma'giietic'fiux" and" cooperates with the ,ma'g neticshoe member 55. I When the spring is fully ten'sioned, the contacts 20, I3 are separated, this separation being facilitated by the coil spring '63 which biases the pivoted arm 62 (note Figs. 3 and 4) to separate said contacts; tension, on the spring 50 then causes clockwise rotation of the armature, this rotation being transmittedto the ratchet wheel 30 and thence to the hands of the clock by means of the pawls 55, 56'. During tensioning of the spring and counter-clockwise rotation of the armature, tension to drive the ratchet wheel is maintained by a coil spring (not shown in the drawings) located within the drum 3I'.

Figs. 10 t 16 show a modified form of themvention. The electromagnet I is mounted on a base 90 of insulatin material having apertures through which binding posts 8 and 2I' pass se cured to said base by nuts "9 I, 92 with which nuts 93', 94 cooperate to secure lead'wires' from the battery 80. One end ofthe coil 2 is soldered or brazed to binding post 8., The-other end is connected to switch 95 shown diagrammatically and in perspective in Fig. 16. This switch comprises an insulating member 96 supported on a bracket 9! secured to binding post 2|. The insulating member 96insula'tes two small bars or strips 98, 99 (noteFig. 17) from each other except when they are placed in electrical communication by means to be described. The strips 98, 99 are made of pure silver. Strip 98' is brazed to the bracket 91 which may be brass or bronze. Strip 99, is connected to bar 99A which in turn is connected to bracket99Bsecured to base 90. by screw 990. To bracket 99B is secured one end of coil 5 and insulating member 96 is secured between brackets 91 and 99B and insulates these from each other. The other part of the switch comprises two cooperatin bars I00, IOI of pure silver brazed to an elongated U-shaped member I02 which may be made of Phosphor bronze and which is an extension of the member I03 forming a part of arm 62. The latter is pivoted by means of pivot pin 6| on abracket I04 secured to armature 43 by rivet I05. Arm 62 is biased by coil spring 63 mounted on pivot pin 6| one end of said spring bein secured to bracket I04 and the other end to arm 62. Arm6 2 has'a lug I06 adapted to engage bracket I04 which acts as a stop and limits movement of said arm 62 in one direction. The member I03 is a strip which may be made of Phosphor bronze and is stiffened by upstandingedge portions II". On its under side said strip carries a soft iron magnetic shoe 65 cooperating with strip 10' constituting an extension of pole piece 3. To the shoe 65 there is attached a nonmagnetic strip I08 which acts to provide spacing between strip 10 and the magnetic shoe piece 65.:

" the coil to around the electromagnet I.

Referring'to Figs. 10, .11, and 13,-the-armature '43 is rotatably mounted on fixed mandrel 32secured in strip 40 supported-by posts M, 42. On this mandrel is also rotatably mounted ratchet wheel secured to; arbor I8 which is suitably journalled as insegment 25. The rotation of-the ratchet-wheel andarbor actuatesthe clock mechanism and the indicating hands 33 mounted on the arbor at one end'thereoi. The armature 43 has a housing portion I09 within which coiled main spring H0 is located securedby pin III to said housing at one endand secured to the fixed mandrel 32 at the other end- I I2 thereof. An auxiliaryhousing I I3'securedto the strip 40 fur.- ther encloses said spring I I0. v I

On thearmature 43 paw1s. 55, 59 are pivoted. onpins 54 and biased by. coil springs I20.

The operation of the mechanism described-fin Figs. 10 to 17 inclusive will now be described. Assume that the mechanism is in the run down! condition as shown by the position ofthe armature 43in Fig. 10. This causesthe arm-62? to swung so that theU-shaped switch member- I02 bridges the contacts 98, 99 thereby establishing a closed electrical circuit from the battery through The energized electromagnet then causes rotation of the armature 43 in a counter-clockwise direction. During this movement the electrical circuit-.- is maintained in closed position or condition as long as the U-shaped switch member I02 bridges the contacts 98-, 99. The time of circuit closing that is duration thereof is controlled bythe length of the contacts or bars: 98,99 and theextent-to which the legs of the U-shaped member I02- extend beyond said contacts 98, 99 (note Figs.f11- and 13) and the structure of the part is arranged inthe manner taught herein so-that the circuit shall remain closed until, by rotationof the armature. the main spring of the mechanismis fully. wound up and acquires sufiicient ener y .tolopera ate the mechanism during a light substantial intervalfof time in order. to reduceto aminimum the total number of makes and breaks occurring during the life of the mechanism. The magnitude of energy storedin the main spring II 0 is dependent onthe angle through which armature 43 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and the magnitude of this angle is in turn dependent on the time during which the electrical circuit remains in a closed position. This maintenance is facilitated-by the member I03 to which is attached the magneticshoe which cooper- I ates with the extension 10 of the pole piece 13 pto hold the U-shaped switch member I02 in circuit closing position until the armature 4 3 is fully rotated through its predetermined angle of rotation in order to fully wind the main spring. H0. At the end of the movement of the armature'in a counter-clockwise position it. is necessary that the. circuit be immediately broken andto facilitate this action coilspring 63 is provided to throw the .arm 62 away from the contact 98, 99. The non-magnetic strip I08-provides sufiicient air gap between'magnetic shoe 65 and the extension I0 of pole piece 3 toprevent freezing ofthe part by residual magnetism remain-' ing after the circuit is broken; When the coil spring or main spring H0 is fully stressed by counter-clockwise rotation of the armature 43,v and the circuit is broken,,the energy in said spring then causes operation of the clock mechanism by' causing rotation of said armature in a clockwise direction this rotation being communicated to the ratchet wheel 30 by the pawls 55,. 5Ii.

During'winding of the main spring H0, rotation of 'the ratchet wheel is maintained by a maintaining spring located within hub 3|, this maintaining spring not being specifically shown.

Referringto Fig. 18, Hi indicates a tube which maybe made of glass secured to the armature 43 and having terminals or electrodes sealed into one end thereof, these terminals being connected to lead wires. This tube is a part of an electrical; circuit including the battery and the electromagnet shown in Figs. 8 and 16 for example. That is to say, the tube l2l with its electrodes constitutes a switch which is a part of that electrical circuit. The tube contains a globule of mercury which causes closing of the switch when the tube is tilted into the position shown. The armature 43 and the electromagnet I are so arranged that the switch IZI occupies the circuit closing position shown in Fig. 18 when the main spring H is run down. Thereupon the closing of the circuit energizes the electromagnet, ro-

tates the armature 43 into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 18 whereupon the globule of mercury runs to the other end of the tube and causes breaking of the circuit. The arrangement shown in Fig. 18 is not claimed herein. It is difierent from the switch mechanism described andclaimed;

' What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination an electromagnet having a longitudinal axis and a pair of poles, an elongated armature pivoted to rotate about an axis passing through the mid-point of'the electro-magnet and perpendicular tothe axis thereof, said armature havinga longitudinal axis perpendicular to its rotational axis, said longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane containing the longitudinal axis'of the electromagnet and said armature having end pieces arranged to sweep over the pole pieces'of the electromagnet, a spring biasing said armature to rotate it in clockwise direction and to thereby'operate the clockmechanism, said armature being arranged to rotate through an angle of predetermined magnitude alternately in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, the position of the armature at the end of its movement in a clockwise direction corresponding to a run down condition of the spring and the position of the armature at the end of itscounter clockwise movement corresponding to a fully restressed condition of the spring, a switch including a fixed elongated bar and a movable contact, and means to close said switch at the end of the clockwise movement of the armature, to maintain said switch in closed position during. the counter-clockwise movement of the armature and until the spring is fully restressed, said means including an arm pivoted on said armature to rotate about an axis parallel and in spaced relation to the rotational axis of said armature and offset from the longitudinal axis of said armature said arm carrying said movable bar and being adapted for longitudinal movement in the direction, of the longitudinal axis of said bar; said fixed contact being adjacent one pole of the magnet which pole is cooperatively arranged in relation to one end of the armature and the axis of rotation of said arm being intermediate the rotational axis of the armature and the other end thereof, the armature, movable arm. and switch members being thereby arranged to effect closing of said switch at the end of the clockwise movement of the armature and to effect movement of the movable elongated bar in sliding engagement with=thenxedcontact during counterclockwise movement of said armature and whereby the switch is maintained in a closed condition during contact oi said elongated bar with the fixed contact and opened by disengagement of the movable bar and fixed contact at the end of said longitudinal movement. 1 v 2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination an electromagnet having a longitudinal axis and a'pair of poles, an elongated armature pivoted to rotate about an axis passing through themid-point of the electromagnet and perpendicular to the axis thereof, said armature havinga longitudinal axis perpendicular to its rotational axis,.said longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the electromagnet and said arma ture having end pieces arranged to sweep over the pole. pieces of the electromagnet, a spring biasing said armature to rotate it in clockwise direction and to thereby operate the clock mechanism, said armature being arranged to rotate through an angle of predetermined magnitude alternately in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, the position of the armature at the end of itsmovement in a clockwise direction corresponding 'to arun down condition of the spring and the position of the armature at the end of its counter-clockwisemovement corresponding to a fully restressed condition of the spring, a switch including a .pair of electric contactpins one oi said pins being fixed and the. other mov able, the axes of said pins being transversejto each other, and means to close said switch at the endof the. clockwise movement ofthe armature, tomaintain said switch inwclosed position duringthe counter-clockwise movement of the armature and until the spring is fullyrestressed and then to open said switch, said'means. includ: ing a pivoton said armature and'an arm pivoted on said pivot armature to rotate about an axis parallel and in spaced relation to the axis of rotation of said armature, said arm carrying said movable contact pin, said 'armature and pivoted arm thereon being arranged to cause the end or the movable pin on said arm to extend beyond and in contact with the fixed pin when the armature is at the end of its clockwisemov'e ment and to draw said movable pin across and in contact with the fixed pin during counter clock-, wise motion of the armature .andto open said switch by said drawing movement, thelsaidpivot moving away from said fixedcontact during said counter-clockwise motion. f 7 i v 3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination an electromagnet having a longitu dinal axis and a pair of poles, an elongated arma-,

ture pivoted to rotate about an axis passing through the mid-pointof the electromagnet and perpendicular to the axis thereof, said armature having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to its rotational axis, said longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane containing the, longitudinal axis of the electromagnet and said armature having end pieces arranged to sweep over the pole pieces of the electromagnet, a spring biasing said armature to rotate it in clockwise direction ment in a clockwise direction corresponding to' a run down condition of thespring'and the position of the armatureat the'end of its counter- 'clockwise movem ent corresponding to a fully re- .stressed condition oflthe, spring, a switch including. a'fixed contact and a movable contact, and means .to close saidj'switch at the end of the, clockwise movement of the armature, to maintain said switch in-closed position during the counterclockwise movementof the armature and until the spring is fully restressed, said means including an arm pivoted onsaid armature to rotate about an axis'parallel and inspaced relation to the rotational axis of,,said ,ar'mature and offset from the longitudinal axis of said armature said arm carrying said movable contact; said fixed contact being adjacentone pole of the magnet which pole is cooperatively arranged in relation to one end .of the armature and the axis of rotation of said armbeingintermediatethe rotational axis of the-armature and the other end thereof, the armature, movable armand switch members being thereby arrangedto eifect closing of said switch at the end of the clockwise movementof the armature and to effectrnovement of the mov able contact in sliding engagement with the fixed contact during counter-clockwise movement of said. armature; and cooperating magnetic elements on said pivoted arm and electromagnet respectively, to maintain said switch in closed condition by maintaining said sliding engagement during counter-clockwisemovement of, said armature.

4. Inapparatusof the character described, in combination an electromagnet having a longitudinal axis and apair of poles, an elongated armature pivoted to rotate about an axis passing through the mid-point of the electromagnet and perpendicular to the axis thereof, said armature having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to its rotational axis, said longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to the planecontaining the longitudinal axis of the electromagnet and said armature having endcpieces arranged to sweep over the ;pole pieces of the electromagnet, a spring biasing said armaturetorotate it in clockwise directionand to thereby operate the clock mechanism said armature being arranged ,to rotate through an angle of predetermined magnitude alternately in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, the position of the, armature at the end of-itsmovement in a clockwise direction corre sponding to a .run down conditionof thespring and the .positionof the armature at .thesend of its counter-clockwise movement corresponding to a fully restressed condition of the spring, a switch includinga'fixed contact and a movable contact,

and means to close said switch at the end of the clockwise movement .of the, armature, to maintainsaid switchin closed position during the counter-clockwise movement of the armature. and until the spring is fully restressed, said means including. an armpivoted on said armature to rotateIabout an axisparallel and in spacedv relation to the rotational axis of said armature and oiTset-fromthe longitudinal axis. ofs'aid armature saidarm-carrying-said movable contact; said fixed contact being adjacent one pole of the magnet which pole is cooperatively, arranged in relation to one endtof thearmatu're and the axis of rotation of said armbeing intermed ate therotational axis of the armature and the other .end thereof thearmature, movable arm and switch membersbeing thereby arranged to effectclosing.

of said switch at the end of-theclockwisemov ement of the armature and to effect movement of the movable contactin sliding engagement with the fixed contact during counter-clockwise movement of said armature, and a magnetic member extending from one pole piece of the electromagnet. and adapted to concentrate the magnetic fluxand a cooperating magnetic member carried :by the pivoted arm, tov maintain said switch in closed-condition by maintaining said sliding engagement during counter-clockwise movement of said armature.

5.. Inapparatus of the character described, in oombinationan electromagnet having a longitudinal axis and a pair of, poles, an elongated armature pivoted to rotate about an axis passing through the mid-point of the electromagnet and perpendicular to the axis thereof, said armature having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to its rotational axis, said longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the electromagnet and said armature having end pieces arranged to sweep over the pole pieces of the electromagnet, a spring biasing said armature to rotate it in clockwise direction and to thereby operate the clock mechanism, said armature being arranged to rotate through an angle of predetermined magnitude alternately in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, the position'of the. armature at the end ofits movement in a clockwisedirection corresponding ,to a, run down condition of the springand the position of the armatureat 80 the end of its counter-clockwise movement corresponding to a'fully restressed condition of the spring, a switch including a fixed contact and a movable contact, andmeans to close said switch i at the end of the clockwise movement of the 35 armature, to maintain said switch in closed position during the counter-clockwise movement of the armature anduntil the spring is fully restressed and then to open said switch said means includingv anarm pivoted on said armature to rotate about anaxis parallel and in spaced relation to the rotational axis of said armature and offset from the longitudinal axis of, said armature saidv arm carrying said movable contact; said fixed contact being adjacent one pole of the magnet which pole is cooperatively arranged in relation to one end of the armature and theaxis of rotation of said arm being intermediate the rotationalaxis of the. armature and the other 1 end thereof, the armature, movable arm and 50 switch members being thereby arranged to effect closing of said switch at the endof the clockwise movement of thearmature and to efiect movement of the movable contact insliding engagement with the fixed contact during counter 5 clockwisemovement ofsaid armature; and cooperating magnetic elements on said' pivoted arm and electromagnet respectively to maintain said switchin closed condition by maintaining said sliding engagement during counter-clockwise 60 movement of. said armature and aspring biasing 1 said pivoted armto open said switch atthe end 01 said counter-clockwise movement. v

6. In apparatusof the characterdescribed, in

combination an electromagnet havin a longitudinal axis and a pair of.pole's, an elongated armature pivoted to rotate about an axis passing through the mid-point of the electromagnet and perpendicular tothev axis thereof, said armature havinga longitudinal axis, perpendicular toits 7 rotational axis said longitudinal axis lying, in a plane parallel to the plane containing the longitudinal ax s of the. electromagnet and said armature having. end pieces. arranged to, sweep over therpole. pieces-of the electromagnet, a. spring 5 biasing said armature to rotate it in clockwise 11 directionand to thereby operate the clock mechanism, said armature being arranged 'torotate through an angle "of' predetermined magnitude alternately in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, the position of the armature at the end of its movement in a clockwise direction corresponding to a run down condition of the spring and the position of the armature at the end of its counter-clockwise movement corresponding to a fully restressed condition of the spring, a switch including a fixed contact and a movable contact,

and means to close said switch at the end of the clockwise movement of the armature, to maintain said switch in closed position during the counterclockwise movement of the armature and until the spring is fully restressed and then to open said switch said means including an arm pivoted on said armature to rotate about an axis parallel and in spaced relation to, the rotational axis of said armature and. offset from the longitudinal axis of said armature said armcarrying said movable contact; said fixed contact being adjacent one pole of the magnet which pole is cooperatively arrangedin relation to,one ,end of the armature and the axis of rotationof said arm being intermediate the rotational axis of the armature and the, other end thereof, the armature, movable arm and switch members being thereby arranged to efiect closing of said switch at the end of the clockwise movement of the armature and toeffect movement of the movable contact in sliding engagement with thefixed contact during counterclockwise movement of said armature, and a magan arm pivoted on said pivot to rotate about an axisparallel an'd'in spaced relation, to the axis of rotation of said armature said arm carrying said movable contact pin, said armature and pivoted arm thereon being arranged to cause the end of the movablepin. on said arm to extend beyond and in contact with the fixed pin when the armature is at the end of its clockwisemovement and to draw said movable pin across and in contact withthe fixed pin during counterclockwise motion of the armature, the said pivot moving away from said fixed contact during said counter-clockwise motion.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination an electromagnet having a longitudinal axis and a pair of poles, an elongated armature' pivoted to rotate about an axis passing through the mid-pointer the electromagnet and perpendicularjto the axis thereof, said armature having a longitudinal axis perpendicular toits rotational axis, said longitudinal axis lying in a plane parallel to the plane containing the longie tudinal axis of the electromagnet and said armature having end pieces arranged to sweep over the pole pieces of the electromagnet, a spring biasing said armature to rotate it in clockwise direction and to thereby operate the clock mechanism, saidv armature being arranged to rotate through an angle of predetermined magnitude alternately in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, the position of the armature at the netic member extending from one pole piece of the electromagnet and adapted to concentrate the-magnetic fiux andja cooperating magnetic member carried by the pivoted arm, to maintain said switch in closed condition by maintaining said sliding engagement during counter-clockwise movement of said armature and a spring biasing said pivoted armto opensaid switch at the end of said counter-clockwise movement.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination an electromagnet having a longitudinal'axis and a pairof poles, an elongated armature pivoted ,to rotate about an axis, passing through the midpointof the electromagnet and perpendicular tofthe axis thereof, said armature having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to-its rotational axis, said longitudinal axis lying in 7a, 5

plane parallel to the plane containing thelongitudinal axis of the electromagnet and said arma-, ture having end pieces arrangedto sweep over, the pole pieces of the electromagnet, a spring biasing saidarmatureto rotate it in, clockwise direction and to thereby operate the clock mechanism, said armature being arranged to rotate through an angle ,of predetermined magnitude alternately in a clockwise andcounter-clockwise direction, the position of the armature at the end of its movement in a clockwise direction corresponding to a run down conditionlof the spring andthe position of the armature at the end of its counter-clockwise movement corresponding to a fully restressed condition including a, pair of electric contact pins made of pure silverroneto-f saidpins being fixed and the other, movable, the axes of said pins being, transverse, to each other, and means to close said switch atthe endof the clockwise movement of the armature, to maintain said switch in closed position during the counter-clockwise movement of the armature and until thespring is fully restressed and then to open said switch, said means. includin a pivot on saidarmature and 15 of the spring, a switch sponding end of its movement in a clockwise direction corresponding to a rundown condition of the spring and the position of the armature, at the end of its counter-clockwise movement correto a fully restressed condition of the spring, a switch including a fixed contact and a movable contact, and means to close said switch at the end of the clockwise movement of the armature, to maintain said switch in closed position during the counter-clockwise movement of the armature and until the spring is fully restressed, said means including an arm pivoted on-saidarmat ure to rotate about an axis parallel 5 andin spaced relation tothe rotational axis of said armature and offsetf romfthe longitudinal axis of said armature said arm carrying said movable contact; saidfixed contact being adjacent one pole of the magnet which poleis cooperatively arranged: in relation to one end of the armature and the axisof rotationof said arm being. intermediate the rotational axis of the armature and the other end thereof, the armature, movable arm and". switch members being thereby. arranged to efiect closi'ng of said switch 9 said armature,

at the end of, the clockwise movement of the armature and to effect movement of the movable contact in sliding engagement with the fixed contactfiduring counter-clockwise movement of and a magnetic member extend ing fromonepole piece of the electromagnet and adapted to concentrate the magnetic flux and a cooperating magnetic memberi carried' by the pivoted arm, to maintain said switch in closed condition by maintaining said sliding engagement during counter-clockwisemovement of said armature,,said fixed contact; comprising a pair of metallic bars insulated from each other; and the movab1e contact comprising an elongated U,-shaped metallic member adapted to "bridge saidfixd contacts atthe endof said clockwise movement and to remain in sliding en gagement therewith during said counterclockwise; move ment. 7 V

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