US416804A - prentiss - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. S. PRENTISS. CLOCK MOVEMENT AND THE LIKE. No. 416,804. Patented 1m. 10, 1889.

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, 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. S. PRENTISS. GLOGK MOVEMENT AND THE LIKE.

No. 416,804. 'PatentedDec. 10, 1889.

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[Fm/1% ATTORNEY (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. S. PRENTIS-S.

GLOGK MOVEMENT AND THE LIKE. No. 416,804. Patented De0.'10, 1889.

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- (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4.

H. S. PRENTISS.

GLOGK MOVEMENT AND THBLIKR,

No. 416,804. Patented Dec, 10, 1889.

WITNESSES INVENTUR I UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE;

' out in the following specification and claims tion in the lane 0a Fi 7.

- obtain by the use of purely mechanical means HENRY S. PRENTISS, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

CLOCK-MOVEMENT AND THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,804, dated December 10, 1889.

Application filed April 3, 1889. Serial No. 305,863. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY-S. PRENTISS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement-in Clock-Movements and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in mechanical motors, and especially to such as are adapted for use in cases where uniformity of motion and aconstant impulse are essentialsuch, for instance, as motors for operating the feed-rolls of magnesium lights or in clock-movements.

Primarily the object of my invention is to a practically uniform impulse, especially in spring-motors, where otherwise the impulse varies with the variation of tension in the springs. My improvement is therefore especially applicable to time-pieces, which in consequence thereof can be supplied with very powerful mainsprings and will run accurately fora long period of time without rewinding, the effect on the pendulum or other timing devices being constant regardless of the tension of the mainsprings.

With the above object'in View I combine with a motor an equalizing-spring which is connected with and continually actuates a movable member of the motor, said spring being Wound up at predetermined intervals by the motor, all of Which is more fully pointed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents avertical section in the plane 00 00, Fig. 2, of a spring-motor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof in the plane 3 y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section in the plane 2 .2, Fig. 2, showing the equalizing device. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views. Fig. 6 is a section in the same plane as Fig. 1, but showing the parts in different relative positions. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing my improvement applied to a clock-movement Fig. 8 is a'vertical sec- Similar letters and figures indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, referring at present to Figs. 1, 2, and I the letter A designates the frame of the motor, and B is the mainspring, arranged as usual and provided with the usual means for winding. The first or great wheel 0 of the motoris connected by a train of gear wheels with a pinion D, mounted loosely upon a post a, which is rigidly secured in the frame A.

E is a spindle or shaft arranged in line with the post a, which shaft can turn freelyin suitable bearings, one of which may be directly in the end of the post and the other in the frame. This spindle or shaft I shall hereinafter term the main shaft E,'and it is the member to which a uniform impulse is imparted and from which power is transmitted directly or indirectly to any mechanism or devicesuch, for instance, as tothe feed-rolls of a magnesium light or to the pendulum or regulator of a time-piece.

To the pinion D is connected so as to turn with the same an arm F, projecting radially therefrom, and provided at or near its ends with laterally-projecting stops 1 and 2, which are arranged to he successively engaged by a stop 3, located at the end of an arm G, affixed to a rock-shaft b.

H is the equalizing-spring, which at the outset is placed under a definite tension, and which I have shown in the form of a spiral spring, having its inner end attached to the main shaft E and its outer end secured to a post on the winding arm F. On the main shaft is an eccentric 4, which engages with a bifurcated arm I, projecting from the rock-shaft b, the vibrations of said arm, due to the rotation of the main shaft, being transmitted to the stop-bearing arm G.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the stop 1 on the winding-arm F is engaged by the stop 3 of arm G, and consequently is prevented from turning in the direction of arrow 10, in which direction the force of the mainspringB would normally impel it. In the meantime the equalizing-spring, being under tension, turns the main shaft in the direction of arrow 10. W'hen the eccentric 4 draws the arm I downward, or in the direction of arrowll, Fig. 1, the stop 1 is released from stop 3, and the mainspring is free to act. The winding-arm F, under the impulse of the mainspring, is rotated in the direction of arrow 10 until the stop 2 is engaged by the stop 3, (see 'Fig. 4,) which, as here shown, is one-half a rotation, and the e u1alizing-spring is wound up to correspond. \Vhen the main shaft has turned sufficiently to cause the eccentric 4 to raise the arm, the stop 2 is released from step 3 and the winding-arm completes the revolution. ()n inspection of Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noticed that stop 1 is farther removed from the center of the arm F than stop 2, so'that when the arm G is in its highest position the upper edge of stop 8 will engage withthe lower edge of stop 1, and when in its lowest position the lower edge of stop 3 will engage the upper edge of stop 2.

The equalizing-spring ll is best made in the form of a spiral spring, and in practice I make use of a very long light spring, which at the outset is placed under a definite tension. This tension is sustained by the periodical rewinding to which the spring is subjected.

Instead of winding the spring" periodically through half a turn, as illustrated, the winding-arm and the stops could be arranged to coil the springperiodieally through one-quarter of a turn or less; but.- I have found that when a long hair-spring is used no appreciable increase of tension follows the winding of the spring through a half-turn. It will be noticed that the main shaft E rotates in the same direction as the spring is wound, and that it turns through half a revolution before the rewindin g of the spring takes place. Consequently the impulse on the shaft is constant at all times.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the general function of the equalizing-spring is to transmit c011- stantly to the main shaft a definite impulse regardless of the existing tension of the mainspring or other source of power, the said equalizing-spring being always wound to a definite extent and always under the same tension.

The form of motor just described is especially adapted for magnesium lights, where a constant impulse is required for continuously feeding the ribbon along, the velocity with which the rolls are turned being determined by any suitable timing device. One form of timing device Ihaveillustratedin Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawingsviz.,. an escapementand pendulum, as ordinarily used in clocks-and I will now describe the arrangement of my improvement in time-pieces.

I will not at present enter into the construction of the clock-movement here shown, as my equalizing device can be applied to any well-known movement.

In Figs. '7 and 8, Eis the arborof the scapewheel J, which arbor corresponds to the main shaft of Figs. 1 and 2. The inner end of the equalizing-spring H is secured to said arbor as before, and the pinion D, carrying the arm F, is connected with the train of wheels constituting the clock-movement, and conse quently is ultimately in connection with the center wheel K on the center arbor N. The scape-wheel J is engaged by an anchor L, connccted with a pendulum M, as usual. The action of the motor is the same as before. \Vhile the stop 23 engages either of the stops 1 2 the train of wheels is held out of action; but on release of either stop 1 or stop 2 it is free to move and to actuate the hands m and 71/ of the clock. As here shown, the clockmovement is released. at. every halfrevolution of the scape-wheel J, which is so geared that the hands are moved twice each minute through a space corresponding to one-half a minute on the dial at each release of the motor. In the'case of clocks embodying a weightmovement the equalizing-spring counteracts any irregularities in the construction of the gears constitutii'lg the movement and any variation in the friction thereof. The use of such powerful mainsprings as my invention will permit of would ordinarily involve the use of a crank-arm or its equh 'alen't for winding the said springs. This I propose to avoid by placing the winding arbor or arbors outside of the spring or springs.

In the example shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I employ a common windingarbor O for both mainsprings 13' B, which is connected by trains of gears e (Z c with the first or great wheels 0 C and by a third train f g with the center arbor, said trains at the same time forming also a portion of the clock train, and the trains c d reducing the power required at the winding-arbor. The pinion c of train 0 (Z c is made fast to the windingarbor 0, while the gear-wheel fof train f g is loose thereon and carries a detent i, engaging a ratchet-wheelj, fast on the arbor 0, so that in winding up the springs this wheel fwill not rotate. The winding-arbor may be similarly placed and connected when only one mainspring B is used in the clock-movement, and it is evident that three or more mainsprings could be geared together in the same manner.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a clockmovement, an equalizingspring for the governing member and a mainspring for actuating the train, normally held out of action and released at determinate intervals to rewind the equalizing-spring and to actuate the movement, substantially as described.

2. In a clock-movement, a mainspring for aetuatin g the train, normally held out of action, an equalizing-spring for the governing member, adapted to be coiled by said mainspring, and a device actuated by the uncoiling of the equalizing-spring to release the mainspring, said mainspring on its release recoiling the equalizing-spring and actuating the train, substantially as described.

3. In a clock-movement, a stop for holding the mainspring out of action, an equalizingspring for the governing member incorpo- IIO rated in said movement, and a device for releasing the mainspring to coil the equalizingspring and to actuate the train, substantially as described.

4. In a clock-movement, a timing device, an equalizing-spring for the timing device controlled thereby, a mainspring for recoiling the equalizing-spring at determinate intervals and for actuating the train during such periods of recoiling, a stop for the mainspring, and a device actuated through the uncoiling of the equalizing-spring to release the mainspring from the action of the stop, substantially as described.

5. In a clock-movement, a mainspring for actuating the train, normally held out of action, an equalizing-spring for the governing member, adapted to be coiled by said mainspring through the intermediate train, and a device actuated by the uncoiling of the equalizing-spring to release the mainspring, said mainspring, when released, recoiling the equalizing-spring and actuating the movement during such period of recoilin g, substantially as described.

6. In a clock movement, an equalizing mechanism incorporated in the train or handactuating mechanism and controlling the mainspring, said mainspring recoiling the spring of the eqalizing mechanism and actuating the said train during the period of recoiling the said spring, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a mainspring, an equalizing-spring, a winding-arm arranged to be actuated through an intermediate train by the mainspring to coil the equalizing-spring, and suitable stopping and releasing devices, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a mainspring, an equalizing-spring, a winding-arm arranged to be actuated through an intermediate train by the mainspring to coil the equalizing-spring, an escapement for controlling the uncoiling of the equalizing-spring, and suitable stopping and releasing devices, substantially as described.

9. The combination of amainspring, a revoluble shaft, a train of gear-wheels between the shaft and the mainspring, all constituting a motor, a winding device carried by one of the gear-wheels of the train, an equalizingspring having one end attached to the shaft and the other to the winding device, a regulator or governing member, a stop for holding the mainspring out of action, and a releasing device actuated at determinate intervals, substantially as described.

10. Ina mechanical motor, the combination of the mainspring,a main shaft, a windingarm, a spring having its inner end attached to the main shaft and its outer end to the winding-arm, a tripping mechanism actuated by the main shaft, and a gear-connection between the mainspring and the winding-arm, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the mainspring and the main shaft, of awinding-arm having two stops, a spring attached to the main shaft and to the Winding-arm, a stop for successively engaging the stops on the windingarm, a cam or eccentric on, the main shaft for actuating the latter stop, and a connection between the mainspring and the winding-arm for actuating the latter when released from the stop, substantially as described.

12. An equalizing mechanism for springmotors, consisting of a revoluble shaft, a winding-arm arranged to turn about a center in line with the shaft and provided with two stops, an equalizing-spring having one end attached to the revoluble shaft and one to the winding-arm, an arm provided with a stop adapted to engage with the stops of the winding-arm, a cam on the revoluble shaft, and an arm engaged by the said cam and connected with the stop-bearing arm, substantially as described.

13. In a mechanical motor, the combination of a mainspring, a winding-arbor, and gears connecting the windingarbor with the springgear, said gears forming a part of the train of the motor, substantially as described.

14. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two or more mainsprings, a common winding-arbor, gears connecting the winding-arbor to the spring-gears, and a train of gears connecting the winding-arbor to thecenter arbor, said gears forming a part of thetrain of the motor, substantially as described.

15. In an equalizing mechanism for springmotors, a revoluble shaft, an escapementwheel mounted on said shaft, a winding device, a spring having one endattached to the shaft and the other to the winding device, and a gear connected with the motor and actuating the winding device, all said parts being arranged about one and the same center line or axis, substantially as described.

16. The combination, with the frame A, of a post a, secured in said frame, a shaft E, arranged in line with the post and having a bearing therein, a winding device F, mounted on the post, a spring H, connected with the shaft and the winding device, a stop, and a cam at, engaging said stop, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 29th day of March, 1889.

HENRY S. PRENTISS Witnesses: EDW. S. GALINGER, EDWIN F. STERN.

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