US334745A - caeey - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. E. CAREY.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

No. 834,745. Patented Jan. 26, 1886.,

@LTNESSES: v lgggiofi 1% W04 1 azm 60; v @Z,

fix ATTORNEY N. PETERS. FhcXo-Lilhognpuu, Washington. a];

(N0 Model.) 3 She'ets-Sheet 2.

J. E. CAREY.

ELECTRIC GLOGK.

No. 334,745. Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

| WITNESSES $5 ATTORNEY- N. PETERS, Phcloiikbographer. Wzshinflom D. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. E. CAREY.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

INVENTOR wi 5% Y $24 ATTORNEY WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN E. CAREY, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC TIME COMPANY.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

EPEOIFICATION torming part of Letters Patent No. 334,745, dated January 26, 1886.

Application tiled August 28, 1884. Serial No. 141,654.

T 0 aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIAN E. CAREY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clocks, and more especially to the general class in which the dial or time-indicating train is kept in opera-tion directly or indirectly by the agency of elec tricity acting periodically through suitable magnets.

The objects of my invention are to provide a means whereby the dial-train of a clock may be operated by either of two separate means, one constituting the normal or ordinary means and the other an auxiliary means, whereby a driving-power may be applied to keep the train in action in case the prime or normal source fails. The normalor prime means may be a spring, weight, or electricity acting on the dial-train in any desired manner, while the auxiliary means is any suitable agent, preferably electricity, acting on the same dialtrain.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple device whereby the ordinary drivingpower of a clock-such as aspring, weight, or other source ot'p0wermay be kept wound up.

The object of my invention is also to permitt-he pendulum of a clock of any desired kind (whether spring or weight driven, or electrically actuated by suitable electromagnets) to be utilized also as an operating device for other mechanism-such, for instance, as the winding devices of the clock, a circuitcloser, or other apparatus-which it'is desired to control or operate at regular intervals of time; and to this end my invention consists in giving to the pendulum an increased force ofvibration beyond that normally required of it in operating or controlling the dial or time train correctly.

My invention has further for its object certain improvements in the details of the clock and the manner of operating and controlling the same, which improvements will be hereinafter more specifically stated.

My invention consists in the combinations and details of improvement specified in the (No model.)

claims hereto annexed, and exemplified in the drawings, which illustrate one of the ways n which the improvements claimed may be embodied in practical working form.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a portion of a clock constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates in perspective the manner of supporting the drivingweight. Fig.3 is an elevation of the complete clock, certain minor details being, however, shown in other figures. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the clock, showing in detail certain features not illustrated in other figures, and also illustrating an approved means of keeping the dial-train in operation in case the ordinary driving-power as a spring or weight-- ceases to act. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the escapement ot' the clock. Fig. 6 shows in detail the pendulum and one of the arms 0perated thereby, with the pin projecting from the arm in side view.

A indicates the frame 01' the clock, and B a wheel, through which movement is communicated to any form of dial or time-indicating train from any desired driving-powersucl1 as a spring-weight, or other agency.

0 indicates an escapement-wheel for said train, and D the anchor of the escapement, which latter I prefer to construct, as will be hereinafter described,in order that a positive impelling action may be imparted to the dialtrain in case the driving-power ceases to act on wheel B.

E indicates the wheel to which the driving spring or weight is connected, which wheel is geared to a winding-train consisting of wheels F and G and a ratchet-wheel, H. The driving-power, of whatever kind, connected with wheel E,is kept wound up by the agency of the wheel H, to which a step-bystep movement is communicated by pawls h hflmonnted on the swinging arms L L. A retaining'pawl for wheel H is indicated at h The arms L L are operated by the pendulum of the clock, and are for this purpose provided with the pro. jecting pins m m, mounted on blocks that are adjustable up and down upon the arms, and may by setscrews be fixed at any desired vertical height. The arms are pulled in the direction proper to turn the wheel H by a spring, M, which connects the arms, and is provided with any suitable means for regulating its tension. The spring M imparts to the arms L L the quality of a yielding or elastic resistance to the movement of the pendulum when the latter impinges against them. The pendulum therefore experiences little resistance to its free vibration, and the danger of bringing the pendulum to a stop by impact against the levers is reduced to a minimum. It is obvious that the arms themselves may be made elastic or yielding.

By adjusting the pins on the arms,the length of swing of the arms and their attached pawls at each swing of the pendulum may be adjusted.

At a a are indicated stops for the arms L L.

They are set so that if the pendulum be kept in vibration only by the means of the escapement or by other means used in communicating the necessary movement to or regulating the motion of the dial or indicating train, the arms will rest against the stops just out of reach of the pendulum on its backward and forward swing.

To permit the pendulum to do the work of keeping'the driving-power wound up,0r to act as an operating-power for any other mechanism, I give to said pendulum an extra force of vibration in addition to that which it has or is required to have when used as the timemeasuring device for a power-driven timetrain or as the impelling and time-measuring device for said train. A preferred means of giving such extra power or vibration consists of an electro-magnet, as R, which is made by any suitable means-as, for instance, by a controlling or primary clock to receive properlytimed energizing electric impulses synchronous with the natural rate of vibration of the pendulum, so that it may, at or near each extreme of vibration of said pendulum, give an extra impulse or force to the same through the intervention of an armature, P, carried by the pendulum. WVith such auxiliary impelling means the pendulum at each swing is made to strike against one of the arms, L or L, and move the same, with its pawl,back against the influence of the spring M. \Vhen the pendulum makes its return movement, the spring operates the arm, and the pawl, by engaging with the ratchet-wheel H,moves the same forward one step and winds up the driving-power of the clock. The stops at a are made adjustable, so that an adjust ment may be effected whereby the pendulum shall not strike against the arms when it is vibrating with its normal or usual force or amplitude of swing required for controlling or operating the time-train. The magnet R is a horseshoe-magnet, and the armature P is 6o provided with the three projecting portions net and armature form the subject of claims in another application for patent filed by me. I

ing impulses to the pendulum by quite different means. The extra force of swing thus communicated to the pendulum mayalso be utilized in causing said pendulum to operate a circuit-closer employed for any of the purposes usual with electric clocks, either to control a winding-circuit, a secondary circuit to.

other clocks, or a primary winding or controlling circuit for the clock itself.

B, Fig. 3, indicates acircuit-closing arm or lever connected to the pendulum by an operating-link and carrying two circuit-closing points, F F adapted to alternately be forced between and make contact with the two sets of contact-springs G The circuit-closer may send alternating or reversed currents into the circuit connected to B from batteries M B, placed as indicated, and having, respectively, positive and negative poles connected to the springs 0 or it will serve tosend electricimpulses, all of the same polarity, if the battery be placed as battery M B WV indicates the weight, which serves as the driving-power for the dial or time-indicating train. In order that there may be no interruption or variation of such drivingpower at the times of winding, I support said weight from an endless cord or chain, W and a pulley, WV The cord W passes over the two drums or wheels f f, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, which said drums are capable of rotating independently of one another, and are keyed or otherwise connected to the wheels E E The wheel E is the winding wheel, and is geared to the winding-train, while the wheel Eis the driving-wheel for the dial or timeindicating train, being geared to said train through the wheel B after the manner of the mainspringwheel of an ordinary springclock. The wheel and drum Ef are sleeved upon the shaft G", and can rotate freely inde- ICO pendent-lyof it. The wheel and drum E f are keyed to said shaft in the usual way. The periphery of the drums is preferably grooved, so that the cord may not slip upon them. As afurther preventive of slipping, Iapply a belttightening device to the portion of the cord passing from one drum to the other. A weight so carried by a pulley-wheel supported from the cord serves this purpose. The turning of the wheel E by the windingtrain tends to lift the weight by lifting one side of the loop passing over the pulley W but in this operation the weight still exerts its pull upon the driving-drumf through the side of the cord passing over drum f and a uniform and conment-pallets of the anchor suitable surfaces,

stant power is thus applied by the gravity of the weight, while at the same time the weight is being constantly wound up by the windingtrain. It is perfectly obvious that instead of a weight a spring might be used asthe drivingpower. The frequently recurring winding impulses received from the pendulum are amply sufficient to keep the driving-power wound up. The power of each impulse is small, but the mechanical advantage given to the pendulum by the reducing or winding train permits it to turn the train, and so wind up the weight.

To permit the clock to be "wound in the ordinary way when the windingtrain is out of usegor fails to act, I place in the train, as at S, a ratchet-and pawl connect-ion of obvious kind, which will permit the wheel F to be turned without necessarily turning the winding-train, but will, nevertheless, permit said train to move the wheel intheprocess of winding from the wheel H. By applying a key to the squared arbor of wheel F, or by the employment of other devices for turning said wheel, the wheel E may be turned-and the power-sueh as the spring or weight-be wound up by hand or otherwise without turning the ratchet-wheel at S, and the other portions of the windingtrain between said wheel and the wheel H. The clock may therefore be used and operated as an ordinary clock at any time and without interference from the electrically operated winding devices. In such operation, as before mentioned, the pendulum has its ordinary swing sufficient to operate the ordinary escapement, but its length of swing when thus operated is not sufficient to bring it against the arms L L which are held out of its way by the adjustable stops a a.

I do not limit myself to the employment of a ratchet and pawl at S, as any mechanical equivalentthereof which will permit the wheel F to turn without turning the train, but will, nevertheless, permit the latter to turn the wheel, may be used in their place to accomplish the same result.

As indicated in detail in Fig. 4, the dial or timeindicating train is connected with the ordinary driving-power by a ratchet-andpawl connection, S By this device the dial or time train is permitted to have a movement independent of its normal driving-power, and in case the latter should cease to act and it should be desired to operate the clock with outit, said train may be kept in action by any auxiliary means that it may be thought desirable to apply. Positive impulses may be given to the time-train for this purpose, preferably by applying such impulses to a wheel upon the escapement-arbor. may be any wheel upon said arbor, and driven step by step by any desired means known in the art. I prefer, however, to make the ordinary escapement itself the impelling means, and for this purpose I form upon the escape which, by engaging with the opposite side of The impelling-wheel tively after the manner of a pawl and ratchet."

The anchor may be kept in vibration under such conditions by an electromagnet or by other means. In the present instance the pendulum and its impelling-magnet B would serve this purpose, and, therefore, in case the winding mechanism should accidentally cease to operate or the ordinary driving-power should cease to act for any reason, would keep the time or dial train going.

The form of the anchor-pallets is shown in Fig. 5, enlarged. The surfaces att t on the pallets are the ordinary impulse'surfaces by which the ends of the escape\vheel teeth, when said wheel is driven by a spring or weight, give an impulse to the pendulum as the anchor escapes from the teeth. The longer sides of the teeth are, as usual, the detent sides. The opposite side is beveled, and the bevel surface is formed, preferably, with a slight curve.

At it on the pallets of the anchor-are formed beveled impelling-surfaces, which are designed to engage with the surfaces d, and impel the wheel 0, if it fail to move forward under the influence of the driving-power applied to it through the connections from the driving spring or weight or other normally acting devices. The bevel i, like at, is also slightly curved inwardly in order to prevent the points of the escapement-wheel teeth and anchorpallets from striking the impelling-surfaces t d during normal operation of the wheel by the weight or spring.

\Vhile the wheel 0 is rotated in the normal way the anchor acts in conjunction with the wheel like an ordinary dead-beat escapement. If, however, the normal driving-power cease to impel the wheel 0, then the impelling-surfaces on the anchor-pallets engage with the wheel and rotateit step by step, so as to move the escapementwheel shaft in the proper direction to make the dial-train indicate time.

I do not limit myself to the employment of a ratchet and pawl at Sflas any other mechanical movement or device that will permit the dial or time-indioating train to be revolved independently ofits normal or ordinary driving power will answer the purposes of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, withaclock-pendulum actuated by electric impulses, of winding devices for the driving-power of the clock, said winding devices being actuated by the penduluin.

2. The combination, with aclock-pendulum, of an impelling electro magnet or magnets and winding devices for the driving-power of the clock, said winding devices being operated by the pendulum, but located out of range of the pendulum when the latter is kept in vibration by the driving-power only.

3. The combination, with an electricallyactuated clock-pendulum, of winding mechanism for the driving-power of the clockand said pendulum, for maintaimng 1n the same ment to said mechanism by the'pendulums swing, said actuating devices being located, as described, out of the range of the pendulum when the latter is kept in vibration by the spring or weight only.

4. A clock having a time-train run by a spring or weight whose force is maintained by the vibrations ofthe pendulum and auxiliary devices for giving to said pendulum the force of swing necessary to permit itsuse as such maintaining device.

5. A clock with a spring'or weight driven devices for maintaining the swing of said pendulum, as and for the purpose described.

' 6. A clock mechanism containing a winding device operated by the pendulum and intermediate actuating devices applied, in the manner described, so as to permit a limited free action of the pendulum sufficient to operate the timetrain without winding.

7. A clock containing a winding device operated by the vibrations of the pendulum and an adjustable stop or abutment, as a, for adjusting or determining thepoint in the swing ofthependulumatwhich it shall impinge upon the winding device, so as to permit a normal action of the pendulum in conjunction with the time-train without, interference from. the winding devices.

8. A clock with a spring or weight driven time-train, means for propelling the ti me-train, keptin operation by the pendulum, and a magnet or magnets for giving additional force to the pendulum in its vibrations.

9. In a clock, a winding-train operated by the force of the pendulums swing, in combination with devices auxiliary to the usual drivin g-power of the ti-ine -ti ai'n ior iin'partin g force to theswing of said pendulum.

The combination, with a dial or indicating train, of a pendulum used as a power vices for maintaining in said pendulum the force of vibration necessary to permit its use as such opera-tingpower.

11. The combination, with a dial or timeindicating train, ofa driving spring or weight, a controlling or actuating pendulum used asa power for operating other devices, and an impelling electro magnet or magnets acting on the augmented power requisite to operatesuch other devices.

12. The combination, with a dial-train, a controlling or actuating pendulum, and auxiliary mechanism kept in action or operated by said pendulum in its vibrations, of an/ele'ctro magnet or magnets for giving to said pendulum an increased force, as and for th purpose described. I 5' I 13. The combination, with a dial or/ timeindicating train and a controlling or actuating pendulum, of a supplemental jor auxiliary lever or levers placed in range of the pendulum and means for giving to said pendulum an increased force of swing through the influence of electro-magnetism,whereby said pendulum may be enabled to overcome the resistance of said auxiliary lever or levers and the mechanism worked by the latter.

14. In a clock provided with actuating devices, whereby it may be kept in operation by the force of the pendulums vibrations, the combination, with said pendulum, of an auxiliary independently-mounted pendulum or pivoted lever operating a circuit-closing device, said auxiliary pendulum or lever being connected with the clock-pendulum.

15. A clock containing a winding device, in combination with an actuating-pendulum receiving its actuatingpower from an electro magnet or magnets acting on the same at or near its extreme of vibration and circuit-controlling devices operated by said pendulum, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In a clock whose pendulum receives an increased power in its action from the influence of a magnet acting isochronously with the vibrations thereof, the combination, with said pendulum, of an auxiliary lever and circuit-closing devices actuated by the latter.

17. In a clock-escapement, the combination, withthe escapement-wheel, of an anchor having its pallets formed with two sets of engaging-surfaces, one set constituting the ordinary detentand impulse surfaces of the escapement and the other set being formed to impart power to the escapement-wheel when the latter is free from the continued influence of the driving-power geared thereto.

18. 'In an electric clock, the combination, with atimetrain, of a driving-power, such as a spring or weight, anchor-escapement pallets having teeth formed, as described, to act as impelling-teeth, so that they may imparta forward movement to the escapement-wheel when the anchoris operated by means independent of the driving-power applied to the escapement-wheel, and an electro-magnet or magnets for actuating said anchor, as and for the purpose described.

19. The combination, in a clock, of a driving-power, such as a spring or weight, a dial or time-indicating train normally actuated by but adapted to rotate independently of said drivingpower, and impelling devices for imparting a step-by-step movement to the dialtrain when the aforesaid driving-power is out of action. '20. The combination, in a clock, of a dial or IIO IIS

time-indicating train connected with an impelling spring or weight, as described, so as to permit the train to move although the spring or weight is out of action, an electrically-propelled pendulum for controlling the movement of the train under the force of the drivingpower, and impelling devices actuated by the pendulum, for giving a positive movement to the dial-train when the driving-power is out of action.

21. In aclock, a dial or time-indicating train and driving spring or weight therefor, in combination with independent mechanism for imparting a time movement to said train when the spring or weight is out of action.

22. The combination, with the time-train of a clock and its escape-wheel and pendulum, of means for propelling said escape wheel through the vibrations of the pendulum and auxiliary devices, which may operate asapower independent of that derived through the escape-wheel, to keep said pendulum in Vibration.

23. The combination, with a clock mechanism, of a driving spring or weight and actuating mechanism for operating the time or dial train of the clock independently of the action of driving spring or weight.

24. The combination, in a clock, of a dial or time train, a driving-power-such asa spring or weight-connected to said train through a pawl and ratchet, and electrically-operated impelling devices acting on said dial-train, whereby the latter may be kept in operation when the driving-power ceases to act.

25. In a clock, the combination of a drivingweight, supported by an endless chain or cord, and two wneels or drums, over which said cord or chain passes, one of said drums being fixed to and the other being loose upon a common shaft, and connected, respectively, as described, one with the time mechanism and the other with the electrically-operated winding devices.

26. In an electric clock, the combination, with the time-train, of a driving-weight car ried by a pulley supported on an endless chain or cord, a driving wheel or drum, over which said cord passes, geared to the clock-train, a second independent]y-rotating drum or wheel for said cord, a winding-train connected with the latter wheel or drum, and actuating devices for said train, operated by electromagnetism.

27. The combination, with a clock-train, of a driving-weight supported from an endless chain or cord, two independentlyrotating drums or wheels, over which said cord passes, and actuating devices for one of said drums, operated by the vibrating pendulum of the clock.

28. The combination, with the drivingweight, oi'the endless cord or chain supporting said weight, a winding-train geared to a wheel, over which said cord passes, actuating devices for said train, operated by the vibrating pendulum of the clock, and an impelling magnet or magnets for giving to said pendulum the impulses necessary to keep it in vibration while it is doing the work of winding up the weight.

29. The combination, with the endless belt or cord, of the two drums, the two weights, a winding mechanism connected to one of said drums, and an electrically-operated pendulum for actuating said winding mechanism.

30. The combination, with the driving spring or weight, and its winding train actuated at irequently-recurring intervals, of a pawl-and-ratchet connection, or its equivalent, as described, in said train near the weight or spring, whereby power may be applied to wind the weight or spring quickly without operating the normal winding devices.

31. The combination, with the driving spring or weight and the dial or time-measuring train actuated thereby, of the interposed pawl-and-ratchet connection, or its equivalent, as described, mechanism for imparting movement to the train by the pendulums vibrations, and an impulse electro magnet or magnets,whereby electric impulses may be applied through the pendulum to the time train when the spring or weight is not in action.

32. The combination, with a power-driven time-train, of an escapement and pendulum, and impelling devices worked by the pendulum for imparting a positive movement to the time-train, and an electro magnet or magnets for maintaining the action of said pendulum.

33. The combination, with the pendulum and a wheel, as H, kept in operation by said pendulum, of an independently mounted yielding arm or arms engaging directly or in directly with the pendulum, and actuating devices for said wheel, operated by the said arm or arms.

34. The combination, with the pendulum, of actuating devices for imparting movement to auxiliary mechanism through the force of the pendulums swing, said actuating devices being arranged so as to allow a normal swing of said pendulum without bringing the parts into action.

35. The combination, with a time-train and escapement devices therefor, constructed in the manner described, to operate both as escapement devices when the driving-power applied to the escapement-wheel through the clock-train is in action and as impelling de vices when the said power is out of action, of a pendulum and an electro magnet or magnets forgiving impulses to said pendulum by magnetic influence.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of August, A. D. 1884.

J ULIAN E. CAREY.

\Vitnesses:

Trros. TOOMEY, Gno. 0. 001mm.

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