US377240A - Combined clock and lamp - Google Patents

Description

(NoMoael.) J. M. CRAWFORD.

COMBINED CLOCK AND LAMP. No. 377,240. Patented Jan. 431, 1888.

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JOHN M. CRAVFORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COlt/lBlNED CLOCK AND LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377.240, dated January 31, 1888.

Application tiled May 14, 1887. Serial No. 238,259.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. CRAWFORD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Philadelphia, iu the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Clock and Lamp; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention has relation to combined clocks and lamps of that class wherein the clock-dial is illuminated at predetermined intervals by automatically raisingthe dame of the lamp.

Letters Patent of the United States, dated the 3d day of March and the 5th day of May, 1885, and numbered, respectively, 313,300 and 317,312, have already been granted to me for improvements in illuminated clocks, and iu said Letters Patent No. 317,312 I have shown and described mechanism whereby theraising and lowering ofthe llame of the lamp is automatically produced by the aid of a sliding tube which embraces the wick-tube, and is connected or coupled te the clock mechanism by devices which will cause the light-regulating tube to be lowered at predetermined intervals, maintained in its lowered position for a moment, and then raised in order to diminish the light. In addition to mechanism for intermittently raising and reducing the light Said Letters Patent embrace means whereby upon the discharge or sounding ot' the alarm mechanism of an alarm-clock the light will be raised to a full flame and so maintained until reduced by hand.

lIy present invention contemplates certain modifications and improvements in the sub- 40 jects of my said patents, and these improvements have reference partly to the simplifica- 4 tion of the mechanism by which the light is (No model.)

the best expedient for raising and lowering the dame, as it has many advantages over any contrivance for the saine purpose with which' I am acquainted, among which may be incidentally mentioned that it does not require any tampering with the wick, and that it effectually destroys the noxious fumes that rcsult from the use of other forms of extinguishers or flame-reducers.

Incidental to the simplification of the lightcontrolling devices I have had in view the reduction of the number of working parts and the discarding of all unnecessary motions,such as cranks, levers, and the like. In short, my aim and object has been to contrive an instrument upon the best mechanical principles, wherever springs, rock-shafts, and unnecessary friction-generating features could be omitted.

My invention accordingly consists, rst, `in the peculiar construction and combination of parts, having reference to the objects above suggested, and, furthermore, in the provision of the following novel features and expedients, to wit: second, a swiveled clock-case suitably mounted upon the lamp-fixture and capable ot' being turned readily toV any angle with the light, so that it can be adjusted to any position convenient or necessary for fully exposing the dial to view; third, an adjustable wedge, key, or slide by which the extent or play given to the light-controlling devices may be regulated so as to flash or raise the light to any predetermined extent or to maintain it at any degree of illumination 5 fourth, an adjustable indicator applied to or placed in proper relation with the dial of the clock and capable of being set or adjusted to correspondence with any hour or period which is to be recalled for the purpose of performing any specitic act atadelinite interval; fifth, a combined clock and lamp in which the handle of the lamp c'onstitutes the supporting base or platform upon which the clock rests.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating IOO Lil

the face of the clock. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly broken away, showing wedge or key for controlling size of ame. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detail.

A designates the clock, the case of which is indicated by the letter B and the dial by the letter C.

D designates a lamp, the bowl of which consists of a cylinder or otherconveniently-shaped tank surmounted by a burner, D', having the iiat wick-tube D. f

E designates the light controlling tube, which is in the form of a sleeve, embracing the upper part Vof the wick-tube, and separated 'therefrom by a narrow air-space all around.

The object of this space is to admit sufficient air to the flame to consume the escaping or waste gases, which are noxious and unhealthy. To the sides of this sleeve are rigidly attached the rods or arms e e, which pass downward vertically through suitable openings in the burner.

In my PatentNo. 317,312 I have shown and` described the tube E as coupled to a rock-shaft, which by a series of intermediate connections was connected to the clock-case so as to be controlled by the rotation of the minute-hand arbor. In the present case I have so contrived and arranged the parts that the tube E will have a true Vertical play or motion, and hence have discarded the rock-shaft and its appurtenances. In lieu thereof I connect the pendants e directly to the forked extremity of a long lever, F, fulcrumed on the lampfixture at a considerable distance from the burner. rlhe pendants e are pivotally connected to this lever and to the long arm thereof and move up and down with great freedom in exactly parallel lines, without any lateral motion whatever.

G designates a bracket which serves the double purpose of a handle for the lamp and a support for the clock.. This bracket is preferablya skeleton or openswork casting formed an annular groove, h, in the part g2.

with a segmental base-plate, G', which conforms to the shape of and is secured by screws,y nuts, or suitable fastenings to the lamp-bowl. The top of the bracket is flanged so as to form a table or platform, G, on a line or even with the surface of the lamp-bowl. A short flanged tube collar or thimble, H, is secured to this table and forms the bearing for the rotary hollow stern of the clock. The latter (shown at g) iits over the tenoned or diminished portion g2 of the thimble and turns freely thereon, `being held in position against vertical displacement by means of set-screws g3 entering The stem g is formed upon or with a segmental plate, g4, shaped to fit nicely to the cylindrical wall of the clock, and provided with hooks 'i c',

ywhich embrace the ange surrounding the back of the clock, and with screws it, by which itisfastened rigidly to the clock-case. This plate and stenrniay be easily attachedto and detached from the clock-case, and hence are applicable to any clock of sui-table size and shape. Hence should it be necessary to renew or substitute the clock at any time it requires but little work to attach the stem. The lever F extends rearwardly into the thimble H through a slot, H', and terrninatesin a disk or flat plate, h. At right angles to and below the inner end of theleverF is arrangedaslide, which projects through openings on either side of the thimble, and is bent up at the ends to provide thumb-pieces with which to grasp it. Upon the upper surface of this bar is formed or tted a wedge shaped ridge or block, k, which slides under the end of thelever and serves to regulate and limit the movement of said lever and, correspondingly, the movementof the lightregulating tube E. By moving this slide ythe amount or Vsize of the ame can be gaged to the greatest nicety from a mere glimmer or speck to a full llame.

Tooperate the lever Ffrom the clock mechanism I adopt the same expedient on the minute-hand arbor as in my previous patents; but, instead of usinga lever or levers such as therein shown to communicate motion from the arbor or alarm,Iemploy avery simple and effective contrivance, which consists of a frame, K, comprising the two wires or rods m m', attached to a cross-head, m2. From the latter depends a bar, n, which is bent inwardly and vertically, passing through the slots'a a2 in the back and wall of the clock, and terminat ing at its lower end in a stud, 19, which just touches or normally lies above the plate or disk 7L. At theirupper ends the wires or rods m m pass through holes in the flange I and have no movement except a true vertical one. Upon the rod m is fixed abeveled stud,p,

which faces the winged head or cross R of the minute-hand arbor, while a similar `stud, p2, n

on the rod m is adapted to engage with the thumb-nutS on the winding-shaft of the alarm.

rIhe relation of the wires m m and their attachments is clearly illustrated in the drawings, and their operation will be easily nnder= stood. The wires m m and cross-head are intended to fall by gravity solely and have neither shaft, spring, nor pivot to overcome.

The weight of the frame is sufficient to trip the lever F and to move the light-controlling tube E.

As the parts are shown thelight will be raised every quarter-hour by the arms of thev cross coming in contact with the stud m and lifting the frame K, so as to release the lever F. Now, as the long arm of the latter and the tube E overbalance the short arm their weight is sufficient IlO ates similarly upon the stud p2 when the alarm strikes, but after raising the frame K stops and maintains the frame at its elevation, so that the enlarged. flame is now constant until reduced by hand.

To produce and maintain a light full flame at any time it is only necessary to move the slide h2, so as to elevate the short arm of the lever F.

The mechanism above described for operating the tlamecontrolling tube embodies in construction and arrangement a very novel and important departure in the line ol' illuminating-clocks. The operation ot' the parts being controlled by gravity, without the use of sp rin gs or other uncertain eXpedients, is thoroughly and permanently reliable. The number of working parts is reduced to a minimum and there is really not-hing to get out of order or require taking up or ,adjustment. Between the gravity-frame on the back of the clock and the lever th rough which the iiame is raised and lowered there is no actual connection. Hence the clock may be adjusted to any angle without in any degree whatever affecting the operation of the devices. The relation ot' the latter to each other remains the same into whatever position the clock is turned.

So far I have described means for raising and lowering the light at definite intervalssay every quarter of an hour. Itis, however, important, particularly in the sick room, to indicate other intervals or the recurrence of periods necessary for the administration of medical treatment or nourishment. It is diilicult to keepin mind such periods or to refer to any record. To meet the want in this particular I have provided the device M, which consists of a pointer attached toaband, M, which encircles the face ot' the clock, and which may be moved around to any position, the pointer being always directed toward the center of the dial. Lugs o0 on the band serve to keep t-he latter in position. The pointer is set to registerwith thepredetermined liouror period, and when the hour-hand of the clock arrives at this point and coincides with the pointer it will be remembered, without further indication, that the time has arrived when medicine or nourishment is to be administered or some other speciticactperformed. rIhis method of indication is obviously better and more reliable than mere dependence on the memory, or on a written record, which under anxiety,

- mental strain, and other causes incidental to the sick room are very likely to be misleading.

It may be observed that the omission after any period to adjust the pointer does not materially affect its efficiency, as it will in this event indicate the last period. For instance, if medicine or treatment is tobe administered every two hours, beginning at ten p. m.,the pointer is 'then set to twelve o7 clock. Should it be forgotten to adjust it after twelve it will at two a. 1n. be seen that another two hours has elapsed and that the last treatment was at twelve, the hour with which the pointer coincides.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a lamp or other light fixture, of a clock having its dial in a vertical plane and its case swiveled upon a vertical axis, whereby said clock may be arranged at different angles in relation to the light, substantially as described.

2. In a night-clock or combined clock and lamp or light fixture, a clock having its dial in a vertical piane and having an adjustable pointer or supplementary hand arranged in dependently ot' the clock mechanism and at tached to an adjustable ring or collar encircling the clock-case, substantially as described.

3. In a combined clock and lamp, the combination, with the lamp-bowler oiltank, of a laterally horizontally projecting handle upon which the clock is supported, said handle being arranged in a vertical radial plane and provided with atable or platform, G2, on its upper edge to receive the clock-stein, substantially as described.

Li. In a combined clock and lamp, the combination, with the clock and lamp-burner,the latter being provided with a sliding or vertically-adjustable flame-regulating tube having pendants c e, ot' a horizontal lever connected directly to said pendants and connected operatively with the clock mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In a combined clock and lamp, the combination, with the llame-regulating tube eX- terior to the wick-tube and the clock, of the horizontal lever F,0perating by its own weight, and a frame attached to the back ofthe clock and controlled by the clock mechanisrmwhereby at intervals the name-regulating tube is moved vertically to raise or lower the iiame, substantially as described.

6. In a combined clock and lamp, the com bination, with the vertically-movable tiameregulating tube e, of the horizontal lever F, having its long arm connected directly to the tube-arms c e and its short arm in contact with mechanism for operating said lever at intervals, whereby said lever will move in substantially a vertical line at its point of connection with the arms c, substantially as described.

7. In a combined clock and lamp, the combination, with the light-controlling device applied to the burner or wicletube and the lever F connected therewith, of the cam or wedge-like slide h2, constructed and adapted to limit or regulate the throw of said lever' and the size or duration of the iiame, substantially as described.

8. In a combined lamp and clock, the combi- IOO nation, with the flame-controlling tube and In testimony that I claim the foregoing I the lever F, of a, vertically-sliding frame athave hereunto set my hand this 11th day of Io taehed to the back of the clock and having its May, A. D. 1887. lower part in Contact with the lever and 5 adapted to engage with the clock mechanism JOHN M' CRAWFORD' at intervals and to be raised thereby, so as to Vitnesses: release the lever and allow the tube to be low- -W. W. DOUGHERTY, ered, substantially as described. GEO. H. KINsoLvING.

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