US2669088A - Combined electrically-mechanically operated clock - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 16, 1954 c. R. BOYD 2,669,088

COMBINED ELECTRICALLY-MECHANICALLY OPERATED CLOCK Filed Feb. 14, 1949 lluhminr CLYDE R BOYD.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED ELECTRICALLY-MECHANICAL- LY OPERATED CLOCK Clyde E. Boyd, Baltimore, Md.

Application February 14, 1949, Serial No. 76,231

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to horological instruments and more particularly to a combination of electrically-mechanically operated mechanism for clocks. The invention has among its objects to provide a new and improved electrical-mechanical horological mechanism that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved horological mechanism that can intermittently operate either mechanically or electrically.

A further object is to provide a new and improved horological mechanism that can automatically actuate alternately mechanically or electrically as conditions may require.

An additional object is to provide a new and improved electrical clock that will operate electrically normally but in case of stoppage of the electrical source of current will automatically shift to mechanical operation and continue in this manner for a considerable period, and be subject to its return to electrical operation when the service for such is restored at any time. Other objects will be evident as the invention is further outlined.

In the conventional type of electrical clock, the operation is subject to the continuance of the electrical service supplying same. Should it be interrupted for any reason, the clock will stop at that moment, and stay stopped until the service is restored. On restoration, the clock may restart automatically or may require manual restarting depending on the type of clock used. In any case, the time on the clock at restarting will be that at which the original stop occurred. This is objectionable as it requires thev resetting of the clock hands to put them on time. If several hours have elapsed in between, the clock hands will be delayed by that amount, and if the fact of the inaccuracy is not appreciated may cause considerable inconvenience to those who rely on the time indicated as being correct. In this invention the clock is operated normally or primarily by electrical current. However, when such is interrupted, it automatically shifts to conventional mechanical or auxiliary operation as long as necessary, without stopping the hands of the clock for any noticeable amount, and then when the electrical service is resumed, returns to electrical operation automatically, without stopping the hands. This it will do indefinitely or until themechanical mechanism needs rewinding.

.For a-more detailed description or the invention, its principles and operation, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein a particular form is indicated by way of example. These drawings are explained in the following specifications, while the scope of the invention is emphasized in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a clock embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, with parts broken away to show the electrical and mechanical construction of the horological mechanism used in this embodiment; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic arrangement showing operating parts of clock set out in Figures 1 and 2.

Similar reference characters pertain to the same parts throughout the drawings.

In the particular form of construction shown in the drawings a conventional clock housing i0 is employed, with a dial ll marked with arabic numerals l2 or time indicators spaced appropriately along its peripheral area, together with such hour and minute markings as may be desired to make the reading of the time convenient. The minute hand l3 and hour hand I 4 are of conventional design and operated about the center of the dial, through such operational elements as are necessary from the clock mechanism mounted within the housing.

The mechanism used for operating the hands is in two sections, l5 and I6, termed mechanical and electrical mechanisms respectively and in this instance coupled to one another. They are also termed the primary and auxiliary motive sections.

Primarily the electrical mechanism of section is is of conventional form, including a train of gears I9 operated by an electrical motor 20, a frame 2| to support the gears and parts, and the shafts 22 and 23 concentrically arranged for operating the hour and minute hands respectively. In addition an electro-magnet 24 is mounted on the frame 2! with its coil 25 energized in parallel by the same circuit supplying current that flows from the service connections 26 to the motor 20. The magnet 24 is not effectively energized when the current is disconnected from it.

This magnet 24 is employed for operating the clutch mechanism 21 that couples the mechanical mechanism [-5 with the electrical mechanism This is accomplished by a pring 28 tensioned to throw the clutch 21 into action when the magnet is deenergized. This clutch mechanism 21 does two things, first it operatively couples the train of gears 29 of the mechanical mechanism with the train of gears I9 of the electrical section so it will continue to actuate the hands I 3 and I 4, as if directly connected with them, and secondly it releases the brake 30 so the clock main spring 3I will be able to operate the gear train 25} without hindrance. This brake 3B is used to hold the mechanism of section I5 against operation until' the electrical source fails. The electrical connections to the electrical motor 20 are not disturbed by the clutch 21 or brake 30. The motor 20, its gear train I9 and hands I3 and I4 are all operated without change by the mechanical mechanism when the clutch is connected and brake released. The mechanical mechanism, is of conventional clock type and has the main spring 3I attached to its frame and its train of gears 29 in a conventional manner. It is wound up by a key 32 on the shaft 33, with ratchet and pawl elements suitably con.- nected. Preferably the spring 3I is of th eightday type, so it will be long operating and able to meet exceptional emergency service. In such an instance, the spring would be available for several years use without rewinding, under ordinary conditions.

Th magnet 24 is placed in an accessible location on the frame 2|, and an armature 35 mounted on a hinged arm 36 is placed where it can be energetically drawn towards the magnet poles when the latter are energized through the use of the coil 25. When the arm 36 is so pulled, the electric servic operates the motor 20 also, without any resistance from the mechanical mechanism I5. However when the electric serv* ice is interrupted, the magnet 24 is" deenergized. The arm 36 under the tension of the spring 28 is then pulled away from the magnet. The arm 36 carries a fork 31 that holds a loose half 39 of the clutch 27, it is moved by the spring 28 until it engages the rigid half M of the clutch mechanism and couples both the mechanical and electrical units operably together. When the clutch mechanism 21 is so coupled and the train of gears 29 is actuated, the electrical mechanism I6 is physically rotated. thereby'by the mechanical mechanism I5. 4 rectangular sectional piece AI is rigidly mounted on the extending shaft d5 of the escapement wheel 43 which incidentally is connected in the train of gearing 29. The part ll is so aligned with a socket joint 52 mounted on the arm 34; that the lattercan slide readily off of it when the arm 36 is released by the ma net 24. When this socket G2 is saddled on the 41 t ks th ent wheel c 5 it a not rotate and this in' turn loclgs andstops the whole t a n 9 f the mec n a 'riich m 5- When the socket joint l? is removed or unloosened from the escapement wheel shaft 45 of the mechanical train becomes operable in the conventional'way by its main spring 3|, This: is what happens when the magnet is deenergiz ed and allows the arm 36 to be pulled up by its spring 28 and engages the clutch 2? and operatesthe hands until the current comes back to operate the motor 29. A peg M limits the movement of the arm 36 and keeps the armature 35 within the influence of the field of the magnet 24.

When the magnet 24 is energized by the current being restored at the service, it attracts the armature. This incidentally pulls the arm 36 so the mechanical clock mechanism is disconnected from the electric clock mechanism I 9 and-stopped by the brake 30. The current fiowingthroiigh the motor 20 operates it and actuates the clock mechanism directly by electrical current, and is entirely free of the mechanical mechanism. The operational elements of the clock movement are those parts or extensions that are included for supporting the hands operably.

Thus when the primary electrical service current is interrupted the motor 29 is electrically disconnected and the electrical mechanism I6 is simply a mechanical part of the clock system for the time being, and the mechanical clock movement I5 with spring 3! take over to turn the hands is and Id using the mechanism I9 as an intermediate coupling. This is arranged by the clutch mechanism 21 tieing the two mechanisms I5 and I6 together and the brake 30 being released. so the main spring can activate the system to turn the hands. The reestablishment of the electrical service, immediately connects the electrical mechanism I6 back into operation. This disconnects the auxiliary mechanical section I5, whilev at the same time stopping it, so the clock runs entirely on the electrical mecha: nism Is in a conventional manner. Should the spring 3| operate so many times as to use up all its potential energy by its unwinding sufficiently, itbecomes necessary for the user to rewind the main spring SI again. Since this rewinding may not be necessary for several years and only takes about a minutes time, it becomes a minor item to be considered. It is of course understood that the mechanisms in both instances operate at such periods of time as to make the hands rotate around the clock in the same time and apporr tion their movements to suit the hours etc. marked or space-d on the clock; face card. It is also understood that the term gear train can include any secondary auxiliary mechanism suitable for horological use that will change the speed of the electrical motor andthe spring wound motor to suit the rotation suitable for moving the hands around the clock face, and that gears themselves with teeth are not essential, since such operation can take place through th use of frictional contacts, chains or belts and similar means just as efiectively. It is further understood that a conventional synchronous motor as conventionally used in electric clocks can be used and coupled to the mechanical mechanism I5 through clutch 2'! and arm 3% and yoke 3? as explained above.

However since it does not appear that the prior art appreciated the intrinsic value of employing an auxiliary motive section for emergency operation when the primary clock section becomes inoperative, it is further intended that the application will embrace the field of secondary operation broadly, whether the auxiliary section be strictly mechanical in its usual sense or interpretation of the term or not. This is due to the fact that the secondary motive section could include electrical or even chemical motive mechanism to operate it, without exceptional ingenuity on the partof designers anticipating to employ the principles of this invention. In such an instance a battery and motor in its circuit would be used to operate the auxiliary section when the primary motive sectionfailed. Also, it would be feasible to provide a modified clutching arrangement for operating the hands directly, when the primary section failed instead of including all the mechanism of the latter. It is however essential in this invention'that the hands of the clock forindieating the time register their positions similarly for the same hours'and'minute'ano matter which motive section is actuating them. Also further sequential operational sections could be provided in case the first auxiliary section also failed, if such a requirement was involved in the conditions of use, to anticipate progressive break downs and more positive continuance or non-interruptional performance of the clock operation.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a clock, time indicating means, a synchronous motor, a train of gears between said time indicating means and said motor, a spring motor, driving means between said spring motor and the aforesaid train of gears comprising a second train of gears driven by the spring motor, said last-mentioned train of gears including an escapement wheel and a shaft extending therethrough, and a clutch between said last-named train of gears and said first train of gears, means for operating said clutch including a pivoted lever, a magnet in parallel with the electric motor circuit to swing said lever about its pivot, and locking means for said escapement shaft carried 6 by said lever to immobilize said shaft when the clutch disconnects said driving means from said first train of gears.

2. In a clock, time indicating means, a synchronous motor, a train of gears between said motor and said time indicating means, a spring motor, gearing and shafting between the spring motor and the aforesaid train of gears, said shafting including the escapement wheel shaft, a clutch between the aforesaid train of gears and the gearing and shafting, means for operating said clutch, and cooperating locking means be tween the escapement wheel shaft and the clutch operating means for immobilizing the spring motor, consisting of a socket carried by the clutch operating means and an extension carried by the escapement wheel shaft receivable in the socket.

CLYDE R. BOYD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,072,609 Taliaferro Mar. 2, 1937 2,079,029 Neureuther May 4, 1937 2,228,825 Hernandez Jan. 14, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 511,327 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1939

Images