US3747332A - Electric pendulum clock and parts therefor or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric clock having an electrically operated clock mechanism driving a drive means operatively interconnected to a pivotally mounted pendulum whereby the drive means is adapted to cause continuous to-and-fro movement of the pendulum as long as the clock mechanism is continuously operating, the drive means comprising an escapement wheel that is driven by the clock mechanism in one direction to impart swinging movement of the pendulum in one direction until the stop means of the pendulum stops movement of the escapement wheel so that a torsion spring can subsequently cause movement of the escapement wheel in its one direction after the pendulum has pivoted a certain amount in its other direction.

Description

Marquis 1451 July 24, 1973 ELECTRIC PENDULUM CLOCK AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE [75 inventor:

[73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company,

Richmond, Va.

Apr. 16, 1971 Edgar E. Marquis, Newtown, Conn.

[22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 134,853

[52] US. Cl. 58/29, 58/129 51 Int. Cl G04e 3 02 [58] Field of Search 58/26 A, 29-31, 58/129, 132, 152 H [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant ExaminerEdith C. Simmons Jackmon Attorney-Condor, Candor & Tassone [57] ABSTRACT An electric clock having an electrically operated clock mechanism driving a drive means operatively interconnected to a pivotally mounted pendulum whereby the drive means is adapted to cause continuous to-und-fro movement of the pendulum as long as the clock mechanism is continuously operating, the drive means comprising an escapement wheel that is driven by the clock mechanism in one direction to impart swinging movement of the pendulum in one direction until the stop means of the pendulum stops movement of the escapement wheel so that a torsion spring can subsequently cause movement of the escapement wheel in its one direction after the pendulum has pivoted a certain amount in its other direction.

17 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 3.747. 332

' SEE! 1 BF 3 v INVENTOR.

EDGAR E. MARQUIS BY I flaw $445M 3 ms ATTORNEYS Pmmmmw 3.147. 332

sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR. EDGAR E. MARQUIS BY FIG.6 v ,Mr7;-M

HIS ATTORNEYS Pmmiumm SHEEI 3 0F 3 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. EDGAR E. MARQUIS HIS ATTORNEY;

ELECTRIC PENDULUM CLOCK AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE This invention relates to an electric clock having a pendulum driven thereby as well as to improved parts for such a clock or the like.

It is well known that electric clocks have been provided in the past which will drive a pendulum to-andfro to simulate a pendulum operated clock mechanism.

It is a feature of this invention to provide an improved electric clock'of the pendulum driving type.

Another feature of this invention is to provide such a clock wherein the movement of the pendulum emits a tick-tock sound.

Another feature of this invention is to provide such a clock wherein if the power current to the clock is interrupted for a period of a few seconds or more, the movement of the pendulum will stop and will remain in a stopped condition even if the power is subsequently reapplied-to the clock motor so that the non-moving pendulum will give a warning to the viewer that there has been a power interruption and that the clock is not displaying the correct time.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a drive means for the pendulum which permits the pendulum to be of a construction that need not be precisely of a particular length or of an exacting weight to beat precisely for time keeping purposes.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides a frame means carrying a pendulum pivotally mounted intermediate its opposed ends and a drive means interconnected to the electrically operated clock mechanism and operatively associated with one of the ends of the pendulum to cause to-and-fro movementof the pendulum as the drive means is being operated by the clock mecchanism. The drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by the frame means and has an escapement wheelfixed thereto. A pinion gear is rotatably carried by the shaft and is disposed in meshing engagement with a drive gear of the clock mechanism so as to be continuously rotated in one direction by the clock mechanism as long as the clock mechanism is operating. A torsion spring has a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about a hub of the, pinion gear and asecond coiled portion disposed v:looselyin the opposite direction about the hub and interconnected to the escapement wheel. In this manner, the second portion of the torsion spring winds tighter as the pinion is being rotated in its one direction and causes the second portion to loosen on the hub whereby the escapement wheel can escape from its driving connection withthepinion gear. The one end of the pendulum carries'two abutment means that cooperate with the escapement wheel so that as the esvcapement wheel is being moved in one direction, the

same operates on one of the stop means to swing the pendulum in one direction until the other stop means thereof engages the escapement wheel to stop rotation thereof as well as to stop movement of the pendulum in its one direction. Subsequently, the pendulum begins to swing by gravity in its opposite direction releasing the escapement wheel whereby the force of the torsion spring again moves the escapement wheel in its rotational direction to engage the first stop means of the pendulum and reverse the swinging action thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved electric clock andpendulum arrangement having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such a clock or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved electric clock-and pendulum arrangement of this invention with the clock casing removed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view of the clock means of FIG. 1 with a-frame plate thereof removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in cross section, taken substantially on line 3of FIG. 2 and illustrating the clock casing in dash dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIg. 4 and illustrates the parts thereof in elevation.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates the escapement wheel operating against one end of the pivotally mounted pendulum.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrates another operating position of the escapement wheel and pendulum.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates still another operating position of the escapement wheel and pendulum.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the escapement wheel and drive means of the structure of FIG. 5

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted for providing pendulum means for an electric clock, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof with other clock mechanisms as desired, such as spring wound clock mechanisms and the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the improved electric clock of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a frame means 21 adapted to be supported in a conventional clock casing 22, an electrically operated clock motor 23 and a pendulum 24 projecting through a suitable slot (not shown) in the casing 22 so as to permit the to-and-fro motion of the pendulum 24 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The frame means 21 includes a main frameplate 25 having the clock motor 23 mounted on one side thereof and a conventional gear train means 26 on the other side thereof which is operatively interconnected to the drive shaft 27 of the electric motor 23 to produce the timing rotational movement of the shaft means 28 that projects through suitable opening means 29 in another frame plate 30 attached in any suitable manner to the main frame plate 25 and supporting the gear train means 26 therebetween, the timing shaft means 28 being interconnected in a conventional manner to clock hands and therefore need not be further described.

However, the conventional gear train means 26 includes a gear wheel 31 which operatively interconnects the clock mechanism 26 to a drive means 32 of this invention which is operatively associated with the pendulum 24 to provide to-and-fro movement of the pendulum 24 in a manner hereinafter described.

The pendulum 24 comprises a pendulum rod 33 having opposed ends 34 and 35 and carrying a suitable weight means 36 adjacent the lower end 35 thereof in a conventional manner. The pendulum 24 is pivotally mounted to the frame means 21 intermediate the ends 34 and 35 of the rod means 33 and in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings carries a shaft means 37 fixed thereto with the shaft means 37 having its opposed ends 38 and 39 journaled respectively in suitable openings 40 and 41 of the frame plates 25 and 30 so that the shaft means 37 and pendulum 24 will pivot in unison relative to the frame means 21. t The upper end 34 of the pendulum 24 carries two outwardly directed rods or stop means 42 and 43 adapted to cooperate with an escapement wheel 44 of the drive means 32 now to be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 9, the drive means 32 includes a shaft 45 having the escapement wheel 44 fixed thereto and having its opposed ends 46 and 47 respectively journaled in suitable openings 48 and 49 in the frame plates 25 and 30 so that the shaft 45 and escapement wheel 44 move in unison relative to the frame means 21. A pinion gear 50 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 and has its gear teeth 51 disposed in meshing engagement with the gear 31 of the clock mechanism 26 so as to be continuously rotated in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 2 as long as the timer motor 23 is driving the gear 31 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2.

A torsion spring 52 has afirst coiled portion 53 disposed tightly in one direction about ah'ub 54 of the pinion gear 50 and a second coiled portion 55 disposed loosely in the opposite direction about the hub 54 and being interconnected at its right-hand end 55' to the escapement wheel 44 by being bent through an opening 55' of the escapement wheel 44.

In this manner, as the pinion gear 50 is being driven ,by the clock mechanism 26, the same, through the torsion spring 52, tends to rotate the escapement wheel 44 .in unison therewith in the same counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. However, if any restraint is placed on the escapment wheel 44 to tend to oppose such rotation thereof, the rotation of the pinion gear50 causes the right-hand coiled portion 55 of the torsion spring 52 to wind tighter which, in turn, not only stores energy therein but also tends to cause the left-hand coiled portion 53 thereof to unwind on the hub 54 and thereby loosen on the hub 54 so as to provide slippage between the gear hub 54 and the torsion spring 52 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The escapement wheel 44 is provided with a plurality of teeth 56 about the outer periphery thereof with each tooth 56 having an arcuately shaped leading edge 57 which cooperates with the pins or stop means 42 and 43 of the pendulum 24 in a manner hereinafter described. However, when the pendulum is at rest, the teeth 56 of the escapement wheel 44 will not operate on the stop means 42 and 43 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the parts of this invention causing the electrical clock 20 to simulate a pendulum operation therefor are relatively simple to manlower end 35 to its maximum point to the right as illustrated in FIG. 8, a particular tooth 56A of the escapement wheel 44 has its leading edge 57A moved against the right-hand stop means 42 so that not only can the pendulum 24 not have its lower end 35 moved further to the right in FIG. 8, but also the escapement wheel 44 cannot turn further in a counterclockwise direction until the windup tension force on the coiled part 55 of the torsion spring 52 overcomes the intertia of the pendulum 24 tending to oppose counterclockwise movement of the escapement wheel 44 and the pendulum begins to swing back to the left whereby the escapement 44 will begin to again move in a counterclockwise direction with the tooth 56A acting against the stop 42 to drive the upper end 34 of the pendulum 24 to the right while the lower end 35 thereof swings to the left as illustrated in FIG. 6. However, when the pendulum 24 has its lower end 35 moving to the left to the position illustrated in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the lefthand stop means 43 thereof abuts against another tooth 56B of the escapement wheel 44 at the leading edge 57B thereof to not only cause the pendulum 24 to cease swinging to the left, but also to stop rotation of the escapement wheel 44 in its counterclockwise direction until after the inertia of the pendulum 24 changes direction and the weight 36 of the pendulum 24 will begin to swing the lower end 35 of the pendulum back to the right until the right-hand stop means 42 again hits another tooth 56 of the escapement wheel 44 as previously described in connection with FIG. 8.

However, during the initial movement of the lower end 35 of the pendulum 24 back to the right from the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the escapement wheel 44 will remain stationary until the stop means 43 clears away from the tooth 56B. Prior to this time, the continuously rotating pinion gear 50 has caused the right hand coiled portion 55 of the torsion coil 52 to wind tightly so as to not only store energy therein, but also to cause the left-hand portion 53 thereof to unwind and slip on the hub 54 of the pinion 50 and thereby permit the escapement wheel 44 to escape and move in a counterclockwise direction under the force of, the wound right-hand coiled portion 55 of the spring 52 until such movement is again prevented means 42 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Thus, as the pendulum 24 swings to-and-fro in the above manner, the engagements between the stop means 42 and 43 thereof with the escapement wheel 44 provides an audible tick-took sound.

Also, once the pendulum 24 has been set in motion and is being acted upon by the escapement wheel 44 under the continuously rotating pinion gear 50 in the manner previously described, the pendulum 24 will be continuously driven to-and-fro in the manner previously described. However, should the clock motor 23 be turned off, either manually, or by a temporary power failure, the pendulum 24 will come to rest in a few seconds so that should the timer motor 23 be thereafter turned on either manually or by a restoring of the power supply, the pendulum 24 will not be driven in its by the stop to-and-fro movement as previously described because the escapement wheel 44 has its s teeth 56 so constructed and arranged relative to the stop means 42 and 43 of the pendulum 24, that the same clears such pins 42 and 43 when the pendulum 24 is in its at rest posi- I tion and the escapement wheel 44 is being driven by the drive means 32.

Therefore, once the timer motor 23 is again operating, the pendulum 24 must be initially manually set into motion so that the escapement wheel 44 will continue such motion continuously thereafter.

Accordingly, should the user of the electric clock 20 see that the pendulum 24 is in an at rest position, either the power source is off or the power source was temporarily in an off condition so that the clock is not reporting the proper time whereby the user of the clock 20 will be alterted to make a readjustment in the time setting of the clock 20.

In this manner, the pendulum 24 need not be precisely of a particular length or of an exacting weight to beat precisely for time keeping purposes, the pendulum 24 merely being so constructed and arranged that the same does not swing faster than the pinion 50 is winding the torsion spring 52 to keep sufficient energy stored for the operation of the escapement wheel 44 in the manner previously described. Of course, ideally, the twowould be equal whereby there would be no slipping between the pinion 50 and the left-hand portion 53 of the tension spring 52, but due to manufacturing policies, the pendulum 24 should be designed to swing slower than the rotation of the windup pinion 50.

Another drive means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 32A in FIG. for the same purpose as the drive means 32 whereby the parts of the clock A in FIG. 10 that are similar to the partsof the clock 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the pendulum 24A is pivotally mounted to the frame plates 25A and A by the shaft means 37A in the manner previously described "previously described. A pinion gear 58 is provided for the drive means 32A and is also free to rotate on the shaft 45A. Afriction clutch 59 is provided to operatively interconnect the pinion gear 58 to the shaft 45A, the friction clutch 59 comrpising a disc 60 secured to the shaft 45A and a beveled spring member 61 disposed between the disc 60 and the left-hand side 62 of the pinion gear 58 so that rotation of the pinion gear 58 by the clock mechanism of the clock 20A, such as by s a meshing gear similar to the gear 31 previously described, tends to rotate the disc 60'and, thus, the shaft 45A in unison therewith. However, the friction clutch 59 will permit the shaft 45A to be restrained from rotation even though the pinion gear 58 is being continuously driven in one rotational direction by the clock mechanism.

A torsion spring 63 has a left-hand coiled portion 64 thereof tightly wound on the shaft 45A and a righthand coiled portion 65 wound in the same direction as the left-hand coiled portion 64 but loosely disposed about the shaft 45A, the right-hand coiled portion 45 having its right-hand end 66 interconnected to the escapement wheel 44A in the same manner as the torsion spring 52.

Thus, as the pinion 58 is continuously rotated in a counterclockwise direction when looking at the side 67 of the pinion gear 58, the same through the friction clutch 59 tends to rotate the shaft 45A therewith and as the shaft 45A is rotating, the left-hand coiled portion 64 of the torsion spring 63 tightly grips the shaft 45A to tend to also rotate in unison therewith and carry the escapement wheel 44A in the same direction. However, when the escapement wheel 44A is restrained from rotating in unison with the shaft 45A in the same manner as the escapement wheel 44 under the influence of the pendulum 24A, the continuing of the rotation of the shaft 45A winds up the right-hand coiled portion 65 of the spring 63 to store energy for the subsequent rotation of the escapement wheel 44A in the same manner as the torsion spring 32 previously described.

Thus, even though the pinion gear 58 rotates at a constant speed by the clock motor, the escapement wheel 34A rotates intermittently to provide the to-andfro movement of the pendulum 24A, the tick-took sound and the indication, of a temporary power failure in the same manner as the escapement wheel 44 previously described.

Further, it can be seen that in both embodiments of this invention, should a child or the like hold the pendulum 24 or 24A in a position that the same prevents movement of the escapement wheel 44 or 44A, the torsion spring 52 of the drive means 32 permits the pinion gear 50 to be continuously rotated without putting an adverse strain on the clock mechanism and the friction clutch 59 of the drive means 32A permits the pinion gear 58 to be continuously driven without imposing an adverse force on the clock mechanism.

Thus, it can be seen that thisinvention not only provides an improved electrical clock and pendulum arrangement, but also this invention provides improved parts for such a clock or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with one of said ends of said pendulum to be adapted to impart continuous to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum as long as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism and said pendulum is not being restrained from its to-and-fro movement whereby said electric clock continuously gives the appearance that the same is pendulum operated, said drive means comprising an escapement member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism and being adapted to act on said one end of said pendulum.

2. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means and said one end of said pendulum cooperate together to provide an audible tick-took sound as said pendulum is being pivoted by said drive means.

3. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with one of said ends of said pendulum to impart to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means and said one end of said pendulum being so constructed and arranged that if said pendulum is in an at rest position said drive means will not cause said toand-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum even though said clock mechanism is driving said drive means until said pendulum is manually set in motion.

4. An electric clock as set forth in claim 3 wherein once said drive means is imparting to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum said drive means will continuously impart said to-and-fro pivotal movement as long as said drive means is driven continuously be said clock mechanism.

5. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with one of said ends of said pendulum to impart to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means comprising an escapement member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism and being adapted to act on said one end of said pendulum, said escapement means when being moved in said one direction by said clock mechanism being adapted to move said pendulum in one pivotal direction, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said escapement member in said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain amount in said one pivotal direction.

6. An electric clock as set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive means has means for moving said escapement member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in the opposite pivotal direction thereof of a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said escapement member.

7. An electric clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said escapement member has means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has pivoted in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the pivotal movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause pivotal movement thereof in said one direction.

8. An electric clock as set forth in claim 7 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatablycarried by said frame means, said escapement member comprising an escapement wheel fixed to said shaft, a pinion gear rotatably carried by said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is being electrically operated and having a hub, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion disposed loosely in the opposite direction about said hub and interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction and causing said second portion to loosen on said hub.

9. An electric clock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means and rotatably carrying a pinion gear that is continuously driven in one rotational direction by said clock mechanism as long as said clock mechanism is being electrically operated, friction clutch means interconnecting said-pinion gear to said shaft, said escapement member comprises an escapement wheel rotatably carried by said shaft, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a coiled torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said shaft and a second coiled portion disposed loosely about said shaft in said one direction and being interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion gear rotates said shaft through said friction clutch in said one rotational direction.

10. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum movably carried by said frame means, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with said pendulum to impart toand-fro movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means and said pendulum being so constructed and arranged that if said pendulum is in an at rest position thereof said drive means cannot cause said to-and-fro movement of said pendulum even though said clock mechanism is driving said drive means until said pendulum is manually set in motion a certain amount.

11. An electric clock as set forth in claim 10 wherein once said drive means is imparting to-and-fro movement of said pendulum said drive means will continuously impart said to-and-fro movement as long as said drive means is driven continuously by said clock mechanism.

12. An electric clock as set forth in claim lZ wherein said drive means and said pendulum cooperate together to provide an audible tick-tock sound as said pendulum is being moved to-and-fro by said drive means.

13. A clock comprising a frame means, a driving clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum movably carried by said frame means, and drive means carried by said frame means and being opera tively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively as sociated with said pendulum to impart to-and-fro movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means having an escapement member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism to impart movement to said pendulum in one of its directions, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said escapement member in its said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain amount in its said one direction.

14. A clock as set forth in claim 13 wherein said drive means has means for moving said escapement member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in its opposite direction a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said escapement member.

15. A clock as set forth in claim 14 wherein said escapement member has means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has moved in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause movement thereof in its said one direction.

16. A clock as set forth in claim 15 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means, said escapement member comprising an escapement wheel fixed to said shaft, a pinion gear rotatably carried by said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is operating and having a hub, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion disposed loosely in the opposite direction about said hub and interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction and causing said second portion to loosen on said hub.

17. A clock as set forth in claim 15 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means and rotatably carrying a pinion gear that is continuously driven in one rotational direction by said clock mechanism as long as said clock mechanism is operating, friction clutch means interconnecting said pinion gear to said shaft, said escapement member comprising an escapement wheel rotatably carried by said shaft, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a coiled torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said shaft and a second coiled portion disposed loosely about said shaft in said one direction and being interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion gear rotates said shaft through said friction clutch in said one rotational direction.

Claims (18)

1. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with one of said ends of said pendulum to be adapted to impart continuous to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum as long as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism and said pendulum is not being restrained from its to-and-fro movement whereby said electric clock continuously gives the appearance that the same is pendulum operated, said drive means comprising an escapement member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism and being adapted to act on said one end of said pendulum.

2. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means and said one end of said pendulum cooperate together to provide an audible ''''tick-tock'''' sound as said pendulum is being pivoted by said drive means.

2. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive means and said one end of said pendulum cooperate together to provide an audible ''''tick-tock'''' sound as said pendulum is being pivoted by said drive means.

3. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with one of said ends of said pendulum to impart to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means and said one end of said pendulum being so constructed and arranged that if said pendulum is in an at rest position said drive means will not cause said to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum even though said clock mechanism is driving said drive means until said pendulum is manually set in motion.

4. An electric clock as set forth in claim 3 wherein once said drive means is imparting to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum said drive means will continuously impart said to-and-fro pivotal movement as long as said drive means is driven continuously be said clock mechanism.

5. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with one of said ends of said pendulum to impart to-and-fro pivotal movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means comprising an escapement member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism and being adapted to act on said one end of said pendulum, said escapement means when being moved in said one direction by said clock mechanism being adapted to move said pendulum in one pivotal direction, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said escapement member in said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain amount in said one pivotal direction.

6. An electric clock as set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive means has Means for moving said escapement member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in the opposite pivotal direction thereof of a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said escapement member.

7. An electric clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said escapement member has means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has pivoted in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the pivotal movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause pivotal movement thereof in said one direction.

8. An electric clock as set forth in claim 7 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means, said escapement member comprising an escapement wheel fixed to said shaft, a pinion gear rotatably carried by said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is being electrically operated and having a hub, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion disposed loosely in the opposite direction about said hub and interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction and causing said second portion to loosen on said hub.

9. An electric clock as set forth in claim 9 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means and rotatably carrying a pinion gear that is continuously driven in one rotational direction by said clock mechanism as long as said clock mechanism is being electrically operated, friction clutch means interconnecting said pinion gear to said shaft, said escapement member comprises an escapement wheel rotatably carried by said shaft, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a coiled torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said shaft and a second coiled portion disposed loosely about said shaft in said one direction and being interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion gear rotates said shaft through said friction clutch in said one rotational direction.

10. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum movably carried by said frame means, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with said pendulum to impart to-and-fro movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means and said pendulum being so constructed and arranged that if said pendulum is in an at rest position thereof said drive means cannot cause said to-and-fro movement of said pendulum even though said clock mechanism is driving said drive means until said pendulum is manually set in motion a certain amount.

11. An electric clock as set forth in claim 10 wherein once said drive means is imparting to-and-fro movement of said pendulum said drive means will continuously impart said to-and-fro movement as long as said drive means is driven continuously by said clock mechanism.

12. An electric clock as set forth in claim 12 wherein said drive means and said pendulum cooperate together to provide an audible ''''tick-tock'''' sound as said pendulum is being moved to-and-fro by said drive means.

13. A clock comprising a frame means, a driving clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum movably carried by said frame means, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with said penduLum to impart to-and-fro movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means having an escapement member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism to impart movement to said pendulum in one of its directions, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said escapement member in its said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain amount in its said one direction.

14. A clock as set forth in claim 13 wherein said drive means has means for moving said escapement member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in its opposite direction a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said escapement member.

15. A clock as set forth in claim 14 wherein said escapement member has means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has moved in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause movement thereof in its said one direction.

16. A clock as set forth in claim 15 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means, said escapement member comprising an escapement wheel fixed to said shaft, a pinion gear rotatably carried by said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is operating and having a hub, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion disposed loosely in the opposite direction about said hub and interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction and causing said second portion to loosen on said hub.

17. A clock as set forth in claim 15 wherein said drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means and rotatably carrying a pinion gear that is continuously driven in one rotational direction by said clock mechanism as long as said clock mechanism is operating, friction clutch means interconnecting said pinion gear to said shaft, said escapement member comprising an escapement wheel rotatably carried by said shaft, said means for moving said escapement member in said one direction comprising a coiled torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said shaft and a second coiled portion disposed loosely about said shaft in said one direction and being interconnected to said escapement wheel, said second portion winding tighter as said pinion gear rotates said shaft through said friction clutch in said one rotational direction.

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