US399725A - bannatyne - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(ModeL) \A. BANNATYNE.

ALARM CLOCK.

No. 399,725. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

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' A. BANNATYNE.

. ALARM GLOOK. No. 399,725. Patented Mar. 19; 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHIBALD BANNATYNE, OF \VATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATERBURY CLOCK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ALARM-CLOCK.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,725, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed July 16, 1887. Serial No. 244,500. (MocleL) T at whom it may concern: by an. anchor shaped pallet, M, the staff Be it known that I, ARGHIBALD BANNA- whereof carries an arm, N, engaging with the TYNE, residing at Vaterbury, in the county pin 0 of the balance-wheel P, which is conof New Haven and State of Connecticut, have trolled by the spring Q, as shown. 55 invented certain new and useful Improve- The alarm-train consists of an alarm main ments in AlarmClocks; and I do declare the wheel, R, an alarm first pinion, S, an alarm following to be a full, clear, and exact descripsecond-wheel, T, an alarm second-pinion, U, tion of the same, reference being had to the and an alarm escape-wheel, V, as shown. A accompanying drawings, which form a part verge, W, engaging with such escape-wheel, is 60 of this specification. secured to a verge-staff, X, provided near its My invention relates to an improvement in center with a bell-hammer, Y, at one end, with single-spring alarm-clocks, the object being a stop-arm, Z, having its free end bent at a to provide for unlocking the alarm-train inright angle, and atthe other end withastraight dependent of any interference with the mainlocking-arm, A. The said stop arm Z is 65 spring, reducing the resistance to the timelifted for locking the verge XV into the estrain to the minimum, completely retiring the cape-wheel, and so stopping the alarm-train, alarm-train when desired, running down the by a combined stop and let-off or unlockmainspring independent of the time-train, ing-lever B, extending under it and seand for making the clocks cheaper, simpler, cured to a manual push-stalf, C, having 70 p more compact, easier to operate, and more bearing in the frame-plates A and B, with reliable in use. a capacity for rotation and endwise play YVith these ends in view my invention contherein, provided upon its inner end with sists in a single-spring alarm-clock having a push-button, D, and encircled by a spiral stop-work entirely independent of the timespring, E, having the twofold function of 75 2 5 train and adapted for direct manual operation rotating it to disengage its lever B from the in unlocking the alarm-train for action when face of the stop-pin F, when it is manually such alarm-train is released by the time-train. pushed forward, and of automatically mov- My invention further consists in certain ing it back into line with the said pin and details of construction and combinations of under the arm Z, when the actuation of the 80 parts, as will be hereinafter described, and alarm-train operates to withdraw the said pin pointed out in the claims. from contact with the face or side of the said In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is lever. The said stop-pin F is secured to a a view in front elevation of a clock embodyrotary female stop-piece, G, loosely mounted ing my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan on a short staff, H, located in the frame-plate 85 3 5 view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of the clock in B, and rotated always in the same direction elevation with the front plate removed. Fig. by a male stop-piece, I, also always rotated 4 is a broken view in elevation, showing the in the same direction and mounted upon the combined stopping and unlocking mechanism. alarm second-wheel staff J, as shown. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the novel The arm A of the verge-staff X is engaged 90 features, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspecby the bent finger K of a flat releasingtive view of the push-staff and its lever. spring, L, secured to the outer face of the As herein shown, the time-train, the alarmframe-plate A, which is provided with a small train, and the combined stopping and unlock opening, M, through which the said finger ing mechanism are mounted between and projects for engagement with the said lock- 5 upon two circular frame-plates, A and B, being-arm A. p tween which is included the mainspring C The spring L is located between the frame driving both trains. plate specified and the inner face of the alarm- The time-train, as herein shown, consists of dial wheel N, which is provided with a sleevea wheel, D, pinion E, wheel F, pinion G, cam, O, co-operating with a flat wroughtmo wheel H, pinion 1, wheel J, escape-pinion K, metal fingered collar, P, made in one piece and escape-wheel L, the latter being engaged and located on the alarm set-staff Q, upon which the wheel N is loosely mounted. The said alarmdial wheel N meshes into the minute-wheel pinion R, carried by the minute-wheel S, which meshes into the socketpinion T, mounted on the center shaft, U, located in the time-train and carrying the hour-wheel V, which meshes into the minute-wheel pinion R aforesaid.

Having described my invention in detail, I will now set forth the mode of operating it.

The set-staff Q is first turned to set the alarm to go off at any predetermined time. In this operation the finger of the collar P, riding upon the sleeve cam O, forces the alarm-dial wheel N, and hence the spring L, toward the plate B, the finger K of the spring being brought into position for engagement with the locking-arm A of the verge-staff. The push-staff O is then manually pushed forward by its button D until its lever B clears the face of the stop-pin F, when the spring E at once operates to rotate the pushstaff and engage the lever B with the short staff H. The spring then operates to push the staff 0 back, and in so doing engages the side or face of the lever B with the end of the stoppin. This leaves the lever B below and out of contact with the arm Z of the verge staff, the alarm train held by the engagement of the arm A, with the finger K of the spring L and the stop-pin free to be rotated when the alarm-train is released. Then when the time-train actuating the alarmdial wheel N brings the drop of the sleevecam 0 into alignment with the finger of the collar P the fiat spring L at once recovers and springs away from the plate B, disengaging its finger K from the arm A and moving the alarm-dial wheel N also away from the said plate and 011 the setestaif Q. The Vergestaff being now entirely free, the alarm-train is released and the alarm given by the impact of the bell-hammer upon a suitable bell. The rotation of the stop-pieces G and I, following the actuation of the alarm-train, at once disengages the stop-pin F from the lever B, which is then moved back into its normal position under the arm Z by the action of the spiral spring E, so that when the female stop-piece G has made one revolution the pin will engage with the lower edge of the lever B, which it will lift slightly. The lever B will in turn lift the stoparm Z sufficiently to turn the verge-staff X and lock the verge into the escapewheel V, and thus stop the alarm-train, which will now be held by the said stop-arm, the finger K and the arm A being still disengaged. Then when the alarm is set again and the said finger K and arm A therefore re-engaged the push-staff is pushed forward manually until the lever B clears the face of the stop-pin F, leaving the stop-pieces free to rotate when the timetrain disengages the spring-finger K from the arm A. After setting the alarm then it is simply necessary to push the push-staff button.

To let off or run down the mainspring, the setstaff is turned to bring the finger of the collar P into alignment with the drop of the cam- 0, so as to permit the disengagement of the spring-finger K of the spring L from the arm 'A carried by the vergestaff. The pushstaff is then pushed in to release the stoppieces for rotation, and so held until the mainspring has run down, which results independent of the time-train and without injury thereto.

It will be noted that under my invention the stop-work is entirely independent of the time-train and adapted for direct manual operation in unlocking the alarm-train for action when such train is released by the timetrain, so that not only is no power taken from the time-train to unlock the alarm-train after an alarm has been sounded, but also the setting of the clock to give an alarm is made entirely independent of the winding of the clock. It will be noted, also, that when the stop-work acts to stop the alarm-train it assumes the entire power thereof, which is shifted to it from the time-train, cutting out the alarm-train, as it were, from the clock, which maythen be run indefinitely as though it were a simple time-piece and had no alarm attachment. My invention, therefore, by relieving the time-train of resistance, as described, reduces the power required in the mainspring, and therefore makes the clock easier to wind and cheaper to construct. Furthermore, my improved stop-work is positive and therefore reliable in operation and does not involve that liability to error inherent in frictional and spring-controlled alarm mechanisms.

The provision for running down the mainspring is an important feature. It may be done when the clock is in or out of its case and absolutely without injury to the movement. It also avoids the injury which the workman frequently receives in his fingers in running down a mainspring. This feature is not limited to use with alarm mechanisms.

Such a simple escape-train as would be left by removing the alarm-dial work and the bell hammer might be applied to any clock.

Under my invention, also, the bell-hammer is maintained almost rigid and prevented from swinging an d striking the bell when the alarmtrain is held either by the releasing-spring or by the stop-work, this being effected by holding the train through arms carried by the very staff which also carries the verge and hammer. It will also be noted that, whether the train is locked or unlocked, the power is constantly on the verge, whereby the strain on the train is reduced to the minimum.

The fiat-fingered collar cooperating with the sleeve-cam on the alarm-dial wheel is a cheap and reliable substitute for the pin heretofore employed and requiring the drilling of a hole in the staff, which is thereby weakened. Another advantage that the fingered collar has over a pin is that the coll r m -v e d- IIO . ing-spring, as desired, whereas a pin located justed back and forth on the staff, so as to place more or less tension on the fiat releasin a hole in the stafi cannot be so adjusted. Furthermore, a flat fingered collar has a sharp edge from which the cam may drop abruptly, whereby a more accurate timing of the alarm may be had than with a pin. Again, with a flat fingered collar I get a larger bearing-sun face for the edge of the cam to ride upon than can be secured with a pin.

My improved mechanism is convenient, reliable of operation, simple, cheap, and compact, and secures to the time-t am the maximum of independence from the alarm mechanism, whereby both trains give better and closer performance.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the'exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described myin vention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. I11 a single-spring alarm-clock, the combination, with a spring, of a time-train and an alarm-train driven thereby, and alarm stop-work for holding the alarm-train, such stop-work being entirely independent of the timetrain of the clock and adapted for direct manual operation in unlocking the alarmtrain, substantially as set forth.

2. In a single-spring alarm-clock, the com bination, with a spring, of a time-train and an alarm-train driven thereby, and alarm stopwork having a rotatable and a longitudinallymovable push-staff carrying a lever, through which the alarm-train is automatically locked, the said train being unlocked by manually moving the staff endwise and thus shifting the lever, substantially as set forth.

3. In a single-spring alarm-clock, the combination, with a manual push-staff carrying a stop-lever, of a rotary stop actuated from the l mainspring and engaging with the said stoplever, which is disengaged from the stop when the said staff is manually moved endwise, and an arm carried by the verge-staff and engaged by the stop-lever when the same is lifted by 1 the rotary stop, substantially as set forth.

4. In a single-spring alarm-clock, the combination, with a spring-actuated manual push- 1 staff carrying a stop-lever, of male and female rotary stop-pieces driven by the mainspring, a stop-pin carried by the female stoppiece and rotated in range of the said steplever, a stop-arm carried by the verge-staff in position to be operated by the stop-lever, and a locking-arm also carried by such staff and controlled by the alarm-train, substantially as set forth.

5. In a single-spring alarm-clock, the combination, with a spring, of a time-train and an alarm-train driven thereby, and alarm stop-work made entirely independent of the time-train and having two rotary stop-pieces always rotated in the same direction by the alarm-train, which is stopped through them, one of such rotary pieces carrying a pin operating a stop-lever, substantially as set forth.

6. In a single-spring alarm-clock, the combination, with a spring, of a time-train, an alarm-train provided with a verge-staff having a stop-arm and a locking-arm, and alarm stop-work having a push-staif adapted for direct manual operation, and carrying a stoplever which co-operates with the stop-arm to stop the alarm-train, the said locking-arm being connected with the time-train, which automa tically holds and releases it, substantially as set forth.

7. In a clock, the combination,with aspring, of a time-train driven by said spring, an alarm or escape train geared to the said spring and normally cut out of action, and manual letoff or stop mechanism entirely independent of the time-train and manually operated to release the escape-train, whereby the spring may be run down without disturbing the time-train, substantially as set forth.

8. In an alarm-clock, the combination,with the time-train thereof, of a sleeve-cam carried by a wheel driven by such train, an independent rotatable set-staff extending through such cam which rotates around the staff, and a flat collar having a finger projecting from its edge in the same plane therewith, such collar and finger being made from one piece of sheet metal and the finger bearing flatwise on the edge of the cam, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARCHIBALD BAXNATYNE.

it-n esses:

JAMES MAoGREeoR, O. H. HALL.

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