US294338A - smith - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Model.)

W. DSMITH. ALARM APPARATUSPOR GLOKS.

No. 294,888. Patented 1188.828, 1884.

N, Pneus. Pnmumomwwr. minimum. n. c.

(Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. D. sMlTH. ALARM APPARATUS FOR CLOCKS.

No. 294.7338. Patented 11610.26, 1884.

(Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. D. SMITH.

ALARM APPARATUS POB. CLOCKS.

No. 294,888. Patented Peb. 26, 1884.

N. nns. mmmnngmpher. Winningen. 0.1;.

f NTTEI! STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

WILLIAM D. SMITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIM-SELF, AND EMIL G. STUOKEY AND ROBERT FREV, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

ALARM APPARATUS FOR CLOCKS.

SIEECI EICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,338, dated February 26, 1884.- Applieation filed February 19, 1853. (Model.)

To @ZZ zul-tout it 'may concern.' W Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. SMITH, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Alarm Apparatus for Clocks; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full,.clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in'whichy Figure 1 represents a time-movement with alarm-movement attached. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are representations of the disks by which the alarm-movement is operated at intervals of twelve or twenty-four hours. Fig. 5 is a section of Fig. 2 through the line x x. Figs. 6 and 7 are sections through the time-movement at 1/ y of Fig. 1, showing the positions of the parts before and after the alarm is set in operation. Fig. 8 is a representation of the alarm-movement and disks for operating it. Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed representations of devices shown in Fig. 8 for operating the alarm. Fig. 11 is a representation ofthe clockface, showing the position of the alarm-dial in dotted lines. Fig. 12 is a face view of the alarm-dial, showing the lever and pawl for operating the same. Fig. 13 is a rear view of the alarm-dial, showing the position ofthe disks. Fig. 14 is a section through the linea fr of Fig. 13. Fig. 15-is a section ofa modified form of the disks by which the alarm-movement is operated at intervals of twelve or twenty-four hours. y

In the several figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts of the apparatus.

My present invention is an improvement in an alarm apparatus for which Letters Patent of the United States No. 269,475 were granted to me on the 19th day of December, 1882. In many respects the invention hereinafter described is similar to that described in. my

former patent, and some portions of my invention are directly applicable thereto. It will be necessary, therefore, in the specification, to describe some parts of the apparatus which are common to both.

My improved alarm apparatus, like that described in my former patent, is principally designed to be applied to time-pieces of otherwise ordinary construction,and is susceptible of being applied to almost all descriptions of clocks, but is especially adapted 'to use in time-pieces ruiming for more than one day with a single winding, as it is so constructed as to sound the alarm at intervals of twentyfour hours, and to run as long as the clock itself, without repeated windings.

My improvementshaverelation to the alarm apparatus itself, to the devices for operating the alarm apparatus at stated intervals of time by connection with the time-movement, and to devices for setting the alarm so as to sound at any required time.

Most of the improvements whichI am about to describe may be used as substitutes for the corresponding parts ofthe apparatus described in my former patent. I shall therefore not only describe my present improvements as a whole, but also show how they may severally be used in connection with some portions of my former apparatus, and as substitutes for others. I will therefore first describe my improved alarm device. This movement (shown in Fig. 1) is contained in a frame consisting of a front plate, A, and a similar back plate, connected in the usual way by posts atthe four corners. The mainspring of the alarm apparatus is coiled on the winding-shaft a, which is furnished in the ordinary manner vwith a ratchet-wheel, 2, and a pawl, c, attached to the prime cog-wheel 1. This wheel gears into a pinion, 3, on the shaft of the cog-wheel 4, which gears with the pinion 5 of the escapementwheel 6, the teeth of which engage the pallets of an escapement, b, to which is attached the rod of the clapper d, s'o that as the escapement-wheel 6 revolves, the clapper d strikes rapid blows on the bell B. This alarm-movement may have a separate bell, or may be so placed inside the clock-case as to strike the bell of the clock.

In order to prevent the alarm-movement from running down and striking the bell continuously, a locking-rod, e, is rigidly attached to the escapement b, or to the shaft on which the escapement vibrates, and extends downward so that its extremity nearly touches and rests upon the upper edge of a horizontal lever, G, which is pivoted at one end, at w, to one side of the frame A, while the other end of the lever projects slightly outside of the IOO frame on the opposite side, and so that when the lever G is raised the extremity of theloeking-rod c touches it and arrests and prevents the vibration ofthe escapement. The i'ree end ot' the lever G is connected by a rod or wire or chain, f, with the alarm devices in the timemovement, so that the alarm apparatus is set by raising the lever G, and caused to sound by allowing it to drop, as hereinafter described.

Near to the l'ree end of the starting-level' G is pivoted, at w', a stop-latch, y, (shown more clearly in Figs. and 10,) the extent ol the motion oi' which is limited by a pin, h, projecting horizontally from the lever G and entering a slot or hole in the stop-latch g. The stop-latch g has a leg, y', extending' downward, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The i'ree end of the stop-latch r/ is made'heavy enough to drop by its own weight. Fixed to the winding shaft a is an arm, 7|', at each side of which is a stud, Z Z. The length ot' the arm Z.: and of the leg g ofthe stop-latch is such that as the arm k revolves, when the alarm is in operation, one ofthe studs, Z, will encounter the extremity ot' the leg f/ when the lever G is lowered. W'hen this occurs, the stud Z raises the stoplateh g until its motion is arrested by the pin It, when the further motion of the alarm-movement is arrested and the alarm-bell ceases to ring. As the arm Zi: is attached midway from either end to the shaft a and has a stud Z at each end, the motion ot' the alarm apparatus is arrested when the prime wheel l has made only one haltl ot' a revolution. It it is desired thatthe alarmbell should ring for a longer time, one ot' the studs, Z or Z, may be dispensed with, and then the wheel l will make a whole revolution before the vibrations of the locking-rod e, and consequently ot the escapement and its clapper, are arrested. An equivalent construction would be to place the studs Z Z on the spokes of the wheel 1,01' one ofthe other wheels, provided there were more wheels in the alarm-train.

In order to silence the alarm when desired, or to prevent its operation, a small lever, 111, Fig. S, is pivoted to the frame A, by depressing one end ot' which the other end raises the lever G until it presses up against the locking-rod c and prevents any further motion ot the escapement Z). After the alarm has ceased to ring, having been stopped by the engagement ol' the stud Z with the leg g of the stoplatch g, it is necessary to release the stud Z, so that the alarm may be in a condition to operate again at the proper time. This is et'- fected by .raising the starting-lever G (in the manner hereinafter described) from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. l0, until the upper edge ot' the starting-lever G comes in Contact with the lower end of the locking-rod c, thus preventing the sounding ot' the alarm, while' the leg g of the st0p-latch ,f/ is raised `just high enough to allow the stud Z to pass. As soon as this occurs, the stop-latch g drops down again as far as the pin 'h will permit, and the arni Zt' remains in its position with the stud Z just past the leg y', ready for repeated action. XVhen the parts are in that position, the only thing which then prevents the alarm from ringing is the contact oi" the starting-lever G with the extremity of the locking-rod e. All that is necessary to set the alarm in operation is to allow the startinglever G to drop (to the position shown in Fig. l) t'ar enough to give suilicient room for the vibration ot' the lockingrod c, which thereby also permits ot the vibration of the clapper eZ. This dropping of the starting-lever G is effected by the second division ot' my apparatus, which is connected with the clock or time movement, and which I will now proceed to describe.

To the frame ot' the time-movement or clock is pivoted a lever, U, placed in a nearly-horizontal position above the alarmmovement, already described. About midway from either end ot' the lever (l a rod or chain, f, is attached, which extends downward to and is connected with the tree ends ot' the startinglever G, so that when the lever G is depressed it allows the starting-lever G also to descend, thus starting the alarm, and when the lever C is raised it raises the startinglever G, so as to hold the locking-rod e in a non-vibrating position, while the stud Z is released from the leg ot' the stop-latch g, and thus the apparatus is set for repeated operation. This operation of the lever C may be eftected by means ot' disks D and E, constructed and arranged in the manner described in my l'ormer patent, and shown in Figs. S, 9, and l() ol" the drawings to this specitication, or in the following manner, as shown in Fig. l.:

K is the i'ront plate or time-movement ot' the clock, thc train ot' wheels aml other devices ol" which, constituting the time-movement, not being represented, as they may he of the ordinary kind.

j is the hour-hand shalt, which is tubular, so as to receive the shaft ot' the minnte-haml, as usual.

On the hour-hand shal'tj is a circular disk, M, which is attached to the shai'tj, so as to revolve therewith. The disk M llas a circular recess or depression on the i'ront side, forming a rim, n, which extends around it, excepting at the notch t, where the rim and disk are cnt away, as shown in Fig. 3. The ibi-ward side ot' the notch f1.' is a straight line extending radially toward the center ot' the disk, while the opposite face ofthe notch is curved, as shown in Fig. 3, and is also beveled from the inner to the outer i'ace on the curved line. A smaller disk, N, fits into the recess ofthe disk M, being nearly ot' the same diameter as the inner edge oi' the rim a, and not' quite the same thickness as the depth ofthe recess in the disk M. It has also a notch, lu', corresponding with the notch t in the disk M, having one side straight and the other curved and beveled, the shape and size ot' the disk N being such that when placed inthe recess ot' disk M it IOO just lls its recess, and the notch c forms av continuation of the notch o. The disk N is not attached to the hour-hand shaft j, but turns freely thereon.' Two pins, M', project from the outer face of the disk N-one, i, at the termination of the curved side of the recess o', near to the circumference of the disk, and the other, fi, nearly diametrically opposite.

On the outer face of the rim u of the disk M, diametrically opposite to the notch o, is a cam-like projection, y, the height of which above the face of the disk M is equal to or slightly in excess of the height of the pins i 't' above the surface of the disk N. In front of the disks M and N, on the hourhand shaft j, is a sleeve, P, which has attached to it a ratchet-wheel, Q, which does not, however, revolve with though supported by the hour-hand shaft. Lever C has at its free eX- tremity a finger, o, the lower edge Aof which is `beveled, so as to serve as a pawl, iitting into the ratchet-teeth of the wheel Q, permitting that wheel to be turned from right to left only, or in the reverse direction of travel of the hands of the clock. On the inner face of the ratchet-wheel Q is a pin, w, the extremity of which is broad enough to rest against the rim ofthe disk M and to extend over its inner edge into the path of the pins i fi of the inner disk,'N. The extremity of the pin w is beveled, so that when the pin enters the notches t c in the disks M and N it may be raised out of the notches as the disks revolve by their beveled edges. The pin fw of the ratchetwheel Q is kept pressed inward against the face ofthe disks Mv and N by means of aspiral spring, s, which enters a recess in the sleeve P around the hour-hand shaft j. This spiral spring presses against ashoulder in the sleeve P in one direction, and in the other direction against the hub of the hour-hand R oi' the clock, which fits onto the sleeve j and enters the sleeve P.' This arrangement is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. The effect of this construction and arrangement is that, as, the fixed disk M revolves with the hour-hand once in twelve hours, with the pin w pressing against its rim, the pin would drop into the notch c once during each revolution-that is, once in every period of twelve hours; but as the rim of the disk M projects slightly beyond the surface of the disk N, the pin fw does not interfere with the motion of the disk N (which travels around with the disk M) until the pin w comes in contact with one ofthe small pins, i, on the disk N. The motion ofthe disk N is then arrested, while the disk M continues to revolve alone until the cam-shaped projection g/ on disk M passes under the pinw, raising it sufficiently to allow ythe pin i to pass it. The disk N then commences to revolve again with disk M until again arrested by contact of the pin fw, the other small pin, t', on the disk N stopping the motion of the disk N until the cam y again raises the pin w and frees the pin i. The result of this is that when the pin w reaches the notch c in the rim of the 'minute hands of the clock.

disk M, at the completion of one revolution .of the disk, the pin cannot fall, into the notch,

because the disk N, having been stopped during half the time, has made only half of a revolution, and the notch c on disk N is on the opposite side of the circle from the notch o on disk M; but when the disk M. has made another complete revolution, the disk N will have finished its revolution, and the two notches c and '1/ coinciding at the end of two revolutions of disk M-that is, once in every twentyfour hours-the pin vw falls into the coinciding.

notches o and c', and the ratchetwheel Q approaches the disks M and N, being pressed inwardly by the spiral spring s. Vhen this occurs', the ratchet-wheel leaves the finger o at the end of the lever C, the end of the ringer o not being wide enough to remain in gear with the ratchet-wheel Q when the latter is pressed inward. The end of the lever C then drops downward, being no longer supported by the ratchet-wheel Q, and consequently the start ing-lever G is also depressed or allowed to drop. As soon, however, as the pin w on the ratchet-wheel Q rises out of the notches c c in the disks M and N, as they continue to revolve, the ratchet-wheel is pressed outward again, and the edge of the wheel pressing on the beveled face of the iinger o at the end of the lever G raises it up into gear with the teeth of the .ratchet-wheel Q, when the same operation is repeated. Y

Inasmuch'as the alarm is set off whenever the lever C is depressed and the starting-lever Gfalls with it, it follows that by the device described the alarm will be sounded at regular intervals of twenty-four hours. 'If it is desired that the alarm should go off every twelve hours, it will only be necessary to remove the loose disk N, which can readily be taken out and replaced at pleasure. A s a modification of this arrangement of disks M and N, the smaller disk, N, may be fixed to the shaft, and the larger disk, M, made to work loose on its shaft, in which case the notches c c/ will be the same; but the pins i i will be placed on the disk M, and the cam projection on the disk N. This constructionis shown in Fig. l5, and its operation will be the same as that just described.

I will now explain the third portion of my invention, which relates to the means for setting the alarm to operate at any hour which may be desired. f

Near the end of the ratchet-wheel sleeve P is a shoulder, against which, on the end of the sleeve, is placed a hand, S, like a clock-hand, but which may be made of a different shape or color, to distinguish it from the hour and This hand S is fixed to the sleeve P, so that by turning the hand S the ratchet-wheel Q may be turned backward until the alarm-hand S points' to any desired time onthe hour-circle of the dial-plate at which itis desired that the alarm should sound.

In order that this apparatus may operate 'correctly, it is necessary to adjust the parts,

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4 ceases when the clock is put together, as follows: The disk M is placed on the hour-hand shaft j, and the diskN placed within the recess ofthe disk M. The alarm-handS is securely fixed to the outer end oi' the sleeve I, so that it extends radially with the pin w-that is to say, in the saine radial plane as that in which the pin w of the ratchet-wheel Q, is placed. The sleeve l? ofthe ratchet-wheel Q is then placed on the shaft j of the hour-hand, the spiral spring s inserted in the recess at the end of the sleeve P, and the hour-hand is then put on, which keeps the s pring s in place. The alarm-hand is then turned backward until the alarm begins to ring, andthe hour-hand is then setimmediately over the alarnrhand, and iinally the minute-hand is added, as usual. rPhe alarm apparatus is then adjusted and ready to be set. Of course the adjustment does not need to be repea-ted unless the alarm apparatus or clock gets out of order. In order to set the alarm, all that is necessary to do is to turn the alarm-hand backward, so as to indicate on the hour-circle of the clock-face the time at which it is desired to sound the alarm. If the time at which the alarm is to operate is more than twelve hours from the time at which it is being set, you turn the alarm-hand (always backward) until the alarm sounds, then keep on turning the alarm-hand until it points to the desired time, but if it is desired that the alarm should sound in less thantwelve hours from the time when it is heilig set, you turn the alarm a second time round the cl0ckface until it again points to the required time. It will then go off on 'the first occurrence of the hour for which it is set.

In Fig. l I have shown a device for setting the alarm without touching the alarnrhand.

This device consists of a pendulous arm, T, which has a circular hole at the upper end, which iits in a groove in the sleeve P near to the ratchet-wheel Q. This arm T has a pawl, l, pivoted to it at c, the lower end ofthe pawl being heavy enough and its pivot loose enough to dispense with a spring to keep it in place. The nose of the pawl t engages the ratchet teeth of the wheel Q, so that by moving the arm T back and forth the ratchet-wheel, and with it the alarm-hand S, may be turned backward to any desired point on the hour-circle. This device is desirable because the ratchetwheel having only a motion in one direction, and that the reverse of the motion ofthe clockhand, a person setting the alarm would be very apt to attempt to turn the alarm-hand in the wrong direction, and thus it might readily become detached from the sleeve I), to which it should be rigidly `fastened.

`I will now proceed to explain the way in which the several improvements which I have described may be applied to alarm-clocks otherwise constructed, as described in my former Letters Patent, N 269,475, as it will appear that the alarm-movement which I have described in this specification may be used with the devices for operating the alarm from the time-movement described in my former patent, and also the mode ofsetting the alarm by means of the arm T may be adapted to my former apparatus by means of certain niodiications, which I will describe.

The alarm-movement shown in Figs. il and 8 may be substituted, without alteration, for the alarm-movement described in my 'former patent, the arrangement being as follows: To the front plate of the clock is pivoted a lever, C', the other or free end of which rests on the peripheries of a pair of disks, D E, which are carried by the horizontal tubular shaft j of the-hour-hand of the clock. A rod or chain, f, connects the lever C of the time-movement with the free extremity of the starting-lever Gr of t-he alarm-movement. The disks D and E are placed close together side by side, and rotate with thehour-hand of the clock. The rear disk, E, being fixed to the shaftj of the hourhand, rotates with it continuously, making a complete rotation once in every twelve hours; but the front disk, D, is loose on the shaft, and by means which I am about to describe, revolves intermittently, so as to accomplish one complete revolution in every twenty four hours. The free extremity ofthe lever C has a finger, o', projecting forward at right angles to the lever C. This finger rests on the upper edge of both disks, as shown in Fig. S). Each disk has a notch-a in disk I), and a in disk E. These notches are of the same depth, which is such that when the finger o drops into the notches (which can only occur when they coincide) the lever C -drops down so far as to allow the starting-lever Gr of the alarm apparatus also to drop down suiliciently to release the lockingrod e of the alarm -escapement and set it in operation. As the disk E revolves every twelve hours, its notch comes just so frequently under the iiuger o of lever' C', and the alarm would then go off; but as the disk D revolves only once in twenty-four hours, the notches do not coineide on every period of twelve hours, and do coincide on the recurrence of every period of twenty-four hours. This is effected by means of two pins, a a', projecting from the periphery of the loose disk D. One pin, a, is placed just in rear of the notch, and the other pin, a, diametrieally opposite tothe forward edge of the notch. (See Fig. 8.) On the other disk, E, is a cam-shaped projection, p, diametrically opposite to its notch a, the height of which is that or a little in excess ot' that of the pins a a from the periphery of the disk. Otherwise the disks D and E are circa lar in shape and of the same diameter. The notches in the disks have one side (the forward side) straight, while the oppeste or rear side is curved, s'o that as the disks revolve in the direction ofthe arrows in Figs. 8, D, and l0 the finger o of the lever C will drop down suddenly into the notch; but the opposite face of the notches is inclined and curved, so that as the disks continue to revolve the finger o may slide up the curved incline and rise out IOO IOS

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. arrows (which is always the direction of travel of the hour-hand of the clock) they travel together until the iinger o rises out of the notch. It then engages the pin c on disk D and arrests the motion of that disk; but disk E continues to travel on for a half-revolution of the hour-hand, or six hours, when the cam p on disk E reaches the iinger o and raises it slightlyr above the level of the top of the pin a.

The disk D, being no longer arrested by the iinger, commences to travel with the disk E, and they continue to revolve together for another half-revolution of the hour-hand, or six hours more. The notch in disk E is then under the finger o of lever C', which, however, cannot enter the notch, because the notch of disk D is now on the opposite side of the circumference, while the other pin, a', of the disk D now comes in contact with the finger of of the lever, and the motion of the disk D is again arrested forahalf-revolution or period of six hours, at thc expiration of which time the notch in disk E coincides again with the notch in disk D, and the cam p on disk E has reached the finger 0, which it raises and sets the disk D free to resume kits rotation with the vdisk E. During the next half-revolution or period of six hours the two disks travel together, with their notches coincident, so that at the completion of the period of twenty-four hours, the two notches come together under the finger o, which drops down and starts the alarm. It will thus be seen that when the alarm is set to go oii` at any hour, it will go oii again at the same hour after an interval of twenty-four hours7 and not on the next recurrence of the xed time. This arrangement of disks D and E and lever C vis similar to that shown in my former patent for accomplishing the same purpose. Ii" it is desired that the alarm should sound every twelve hours, it is only necessary to remove the disk D, or, what will accomplish the same purpose, to remove the pins a a from the disk D. For this purpose the pinsc a may be movable, being set in a slot in the periphery of the disk D, iitting tightly enough to prevent theirworking out of place. By this means the clock can be adjusted at pleasure as atwelve-hour alarm or a twentyiour-liour alarm.

I will now proceed to explain my improved devices for setting the alarm when an alarm dial-plate is used.

The alarm-dial is usually' placed on the hourhand shaft, outside of the clock-face, and is set by turning the dial-plate until the required hour comes directly under the hour-hand.

This arrangement is unsightly, and as the alarm-dial is necessarily small, it is difficult to turn it with ones fingers, and it cannot readily be adjusted with precision. these defects, and to dispense with the plates and wires attached to one of the disks in my former patented device, in order to set the alarm so as to ring at an hour occurring less or more than twelve hours from the time when it is set, I have made the improvement represented in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings. The alarm-dial F, which is a circular metallic disk ,with the hour-circle printed or impressed To remedy on it, is located back of the clock-face, and is rigidly attached tothe sleeve I, to which the iixed disk E is also rigidly attached. This sleeve I iits into the tubular shaft of the hourhand, and is capable of being adj usted without turning the hour-hand or hour-hand shaft, but revolves with the hour-hand and its shaft. If the alarm were designed to be set by turning the alarm-dial until the required hour comes under thev hour-hand of the clock, the alarmdial would be so fixed on the sleeve I that the straight side of the notch a in the fixed disk E would be in line with the figures XII on the alarm-dial F, and my device might be so constructed and arranged; but as this is inconvenient, for the reason before stated, I placedistance may be used which will place the point for setting the dial away from the hourhand. yI then make a circular opening in the face or dial plate of the clock, concentric with the hour-circle, in which I place a circular plate, I-I, of metal, (or other suitable material, similar to the clock-face, or otherwise, as may be desired,) close to but behind the clockface, and to this plate I attach the hour-hand of the clock, rigidly connecting them, so that they may move together. I make a small opening, q, in the plate H, large enough to expose the figures of the alarm-dial, indicating any of the hours. This hole is located quarter of a circle to the left of the hour-hand, provided the notch in the disk E is placed three hours to th-e left of iigures XII on the alarm-dial, as before stated. The alarm is then set by bringing the exact hour on the alarm-dial to the opening q in the plate H, and as the circular plate II and alarm-dial revolve with the hourhand, these parts will preserve the same relative position, and the hour at which the dial is set to go oiivcan be readily observed by looking at the aperture q.

In setting the alarm-dial, when the alarm is constructed to go off at intervals of twentyfour hours, it is necessary to be able to set it so that it will operate either at the first or second recurrence of the required hour in any period of twenty-four hours. In order to do this, itisonly necessary to know when the alarm operated before; or, if this is not known,

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- ratchctwheel Q.

then turn the alarm dial until the alarm l sounds. Then turn the dial-plate until the required hour appears at the aperture q, and if left so the alarm will go off, not on the next recurrence of the required hour, but at the rc currence which is more than twelve hours ai'- tcr the time when itis set. It' it is desired that the alarm should go of't' 'twelve hours or less from the time it is set, turn the dial-plate One complete revolution more, until the required hour appears a second time at the aperture, and the alarm will then operate at the next recurrence et' the hour.

In order to adjust the dial-plate with precision, a pointer may be fixed on the circular plate at the aperture q,- or a mark may be made on the plate, so as'to set ihe alarm to any desired fraction ot' an hour.

In order to set the alarnrdial F without revolving it by seizing its edges between ones fingers, I use a pendnlous arm, T, the upper end of which has a circular hole,through which the tubular shaft I of the hour-hand passes. This arm T lies close to the rear face of the alarm-dial F, against a flange, i', on the sleeve I, which keeps it in position. The peripheryof the alarm-dial is serrated with fine teeth, as shown in Fig. 12, which are engaged bythe nose oi' a pawl, t', pivoted to the arm T. A

spring to keep the pawl up to its work is unnecessary if the portion below the pivot is made heavy and the pivot is loose. This construction ot' arm and pawl is similar to that before described as used for turning the (See Fig. l.) It is obvious that by moving the arm T' back and 'forth the alarm-dial F will be moved only in one direction, (indicated by arrows in Figs. l2 and 11.3,) and that the dial may be set in that manner to any desired position indicated by the appearance of the figure oi the desired hour at the aperture (j in the circular plate II. As the rotation back and f'orth oi the arm T' might interfere with the loose disk D, which turns on the same sleeve, I, and alter its position relatively to the fixed disk IE, I put aflange, o', ou the sleeve I, between the arm T and the loose disk I), and interpose a small spiral spring, .5", between the flange Ir and the disk D, which serves to keep the disk D in place, pressed up closely to the fixed disk E, so that while the disk D is free to move on the sleeve I, or, rather, to remain stationary while the sleeve revolves, it will also, when not arrested iniis revolution by the finger o ot' the lever C, move with the sleeve I and disk E.

In the description of my invention I have described a mainspring as the motive power to operate the train of' wheels constituting the alarm apparatus; but it is obvious that other motive power might be employed to aetuatc the alarm-as a weight and pulley or an electric motor-which would be the equivalent et' a mainspring, for the purpose described. It is further obvious that the alarm apparatus might be operated by some motor which was also employed at the saine time for other purposes, in which case, instead el' arresting the operation ofthe prime motor when the alarm is to be stopped, the lever G might be used to operate a clutch device to throw the alarm apparatus in or out of" gear with the prime motor. This would be desirable in ease the alarm apparatus were-used detached from the time-movement otherwise than by the necessary connection f'or starting and stopping the alarm at the desired hou r. Y

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Iatcnt, is A I. In an alarm apparatus consisting et a train ot' wheels operating a bell-ringing device, and connected mediately or immediately with an independent time-movement, the combination of the starting-lever G, actuated at regular intervals by the tiine-movement, a stop-latch, y, pivoted to said lever, the lock ing-rod ot' the alarm device, andone or more locking-studs connected and revolving with the shaft of one ot' the wheels ot' the alarmtrain, and engaging the stop-latch, so as io raise it into contact with the loeking-rod oi' the alarm device, :for the purpose ot' starting and stopping the alarm at regular intervals, substantially as described.

2. In an alarm apparatus, the combination ofthe notched disks D and Ill, actuated by a clock or time movement, one revolving in twelve hours and the other in twentyd'our hours, the lever G, and coimeeting-rod f, an alarm-train and bell-ringing device operated thereby, and having a locking-rod, the starting-lever G, and stop-latch g, and one or more locking-studs, l, connected and revolving with the shaft ot' one ot' the wheels ofthe alarmtrain, to raise the starting-lever in Contact with the locking-rod of the alarm, substantially as and for the purposes described.

IOO

3. In an alarm apparatus, atime-movement or clock having a disk fixed to the hour-hand shaft and revolving` therewith, with a notch at one point in its periphery, a ratchet-wheel fixed to a sleeve on the hour-hand shaft, with apin on said wheel to engage said notch in the disk when the alarm is to be sounded, and a hand for setting the alarm by the figures on the hour-circle of the clock, fastened to the sleeve and moving with the ratchet-wheeh in combination with a lever connected with and operating the starting and stopping device oi" an alarm-movement, said lever engaging and operated by the said ratchet-wheel ot' the ti lnemovement, substantially as and f'or the purposes described.

4. In an alarm apparatus, the combination of a notched disk :fixed to and revolving with the hour-hand shaft of the time-mbvement, having a cam, y, near its periphery, a loose disk having pins l i projecting f'rom its side, a ratchet-wheel, Q, fixed to a sleeve on the hourhand shaft, and having a pin, 1U, which is in contact with the faces of the disks as they revolve, a hand, S, attached to the sleeve orhub of the ratchetwheel and indicating time on IIO the hour-circle of the clock-face, and a lever, C, engaging and operatedby the ratchet-wheel, said lever being connected with and operating the starting and stopping device of an alarmmovement, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. A device for setting an alarm-clock by means of a hand pointing to the required time for the sounding of the alarm on the hour-circle of the timepiece, consisting of a ratchetwheel or equivalent device fixed to a sleeve on the hour-hand shaft of the clock, a cloclvhand fixed to the same sleeve, a notched disk or equivalent device iixed to the hour-hand shaft, a pin on the face of the ratchet-wheel which enters the notch in the disk when the alarm is to ring, and a lever connected with andoperating the starting and stopping device of the alarm-movement, and also engaging the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and operated thereby, constructed and operating substantially as an d for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

6. In an alarm apparatus operated by a clocl; or time-movement, the alarm-dial movably attached to hour-hand shaft of the clock, and having ratchet teeth on its periphery, or a ratchet-wheel fastened thereto, in combination with an arm and a pawl pivoted thereto and engaging said ratchet-teeth, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. In an alarm apparatus operated by a clock, the combination of the clock-face, the alarm dial having the hour circle marked thereon movably attached to the shaft of the hour-hand, and a central face-plate rigidly-attached to the` shaft ofthe hour-hand, so as to move therewith, and having an aperture for exposing to view the iigures denoting the time for which the alarm is set, substantially as described.

8. The arrangement of the alarm-dial relativelytothe notch inthe disk by which the alarm is set off, and ofthe alarmdial and movablefa'ceplate, such that the figures XII of the alarmdial are situate at any point from one to eleven twelfths of the circle distant from the'notch in said disk, and that the aperture in the central face-plate for exhibiting the hour at which the alarm is set is iiXed on the hour-hand shaft in the saine relative position (in twelfths of a circle) from the hour-hand, for the purpose of enabling the alarm to be set without covering with the hour-hand the figures on the alarm-dial indicating the time for which the alarm is set, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of February, A. D. 1883.

VILLIAM D. SMITH.

'Witnesses W. B. CoRwiN, T. B. KERK.

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