US462000A - Clock - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

S. PELLINGER.

Y GLUGK.

Patented Oot. Z7, 1891.

STEVEN FELLINGER, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed April 13, 1891.

Patent No. 462,000, dated October 27, 1891.

Serial No. 388,623. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEVEN FELLINGEE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inv Clocks, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to that class of clocks that are commonly known as magic clocks, in which there is no apparent actuating mechanism; and it has for its object to improve the construction and arrangement of such clocks, whereby they are made as accurate time-keepers as in any other possible construction, and at the same time are simple in their arrangement and not liable to get out of order; and to these ends my invention consists in a clock the parts of which are constructed and arranged as more particularly hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, Figure lis a view showing the clock as it appears in operation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the minute-hand, showing the preferred arrangement of the movement. Fig. 3 is an enlarged scctional View through the clock face and hands, showing the movement; and Figs. el, 5, G, and '7 are detailed views enlarged.

My improved clock is shown as it normally appears in Fig. l, in which there is a basepiece A, which is preferably in the form of a plate of glass or other transparent material, which may be suspended by a cord A or otherwise, and has upon its face the usual dial-iigures A2, which may be gilded or other- Wise, as taste may dictate and centrally mounted on this plate are the liour and minute hands B O, respectively, and these hands, which may be made of any material, such as wood, metal, and the like, and may be gilded or otherwise ornamented to produce a pleasing appearance to the clock. None of the operative mechanism of the clock is in sight, and the hands, which may be of the usual size and proportion, rotate without any apparent means for propelling them, the mechanism for rotating them being concealed entirely within longitudinal recesses in the staff or body portions of the hands, in the manner hereinafter described.

The movement which propels the hands of the clock is inclosed, mainly, in the minuteliand C, and while any desired construction of gearing or train of wheels may be used and arranged substantially in the manner heresider to be the best arrangement, in which a is the mainspring-barrel, containing a mailispring coiled in the usual manner and provided with suitable means for winding. )onnected with the exterior of this barrel is a chain o, which passes around the barrel or drum of the iirst wheel l), which wheel gears with a pinion on the center Wheel d, and this wheel is shown as being connected with the third wheel e, which operates the second wheel f, gearing with the pinion of the escapement g, which operates the fork and pallet 7i, the movements of which are controlled by the balance-wheel fi, having the usual hair-spring. From this it will be seen that the train of gearing is practically the same as is ordinarily used in watches and ehronometers, the wheels being` extended substantially in a straight line, instead of on a circular plate, and by this means I am enabled to apply all the wheels in a very compact position entirely in the body or staff of the minute-hand C, the hand being longitudinally recessed for this purpose. This train of gearing is preferably mounted to have its bearings in the plates C C2, which are arranged to tit into the recess in the minute-hand, and in this way the whole mechanism may be assembled and mounted in the plates and the plates bodily applied to and wholly inclosed Within the recess and secured in any suitable manner therein. The hour-hand B is also recessed at B and has attached to itthe hour-Wheel 7U', it being shown as being mounted on a hollow spindle 7u', which is secured to the hand. In the recess B is mounted a case B2, consisting of two plates supporting between theml the minutewheel j, having a pinion m gearing with the hour-wheel 7c, and the minute-wheel is arranged to gear with the cannon-pinion Z on the shaft of the center wheel d.

Fixed to the dial-plate A in a central position is an axle or spindle F, by means of which the hour-hand is supported, the spindle passing freely through the bearing 7c of the hour-wheel 7c and thence through the cannon-pinion into the axle of the center wheel d, and this axle or spindle forms the only coninafter pointed out I have shown what I con- IOO nection between the dial and the hands and is the support upon which the hands rotate. The case B2 is secured to the spindle F by some suitable means, as the set-screw S, and the minute-wheelj is supported on this case in a position to rotate on its axis; but the wheel itselt` does not revolve around the spindle. It will then be seen that the hands have a positive connection with'the spindle through the medium of the case B2.

I am aware that it is common to produce the so-called mysterious clocks in which the propelling mechanism is carried by the hands; but in all instances of which I am aware this propelling mechanism depends upon changing the center of gravity in one or both of the hands. ln my device the center of gravity ot both of the hands, not only the hour-hand, but the minute-hand carrying the train of gears arranged on each side of the center pinion, is evenly balanced and remains so balanced under all conditions, the movement of the hands depending not. upon the shifting of a weight or otherwise varying the center of gravity, but upon the positive connection with the spindle. I am also aware that it is not broadly new to arrange the train of a watch or clock movement in a straight line; but, so far as I am aware, it is new to so arrange the train in the hand of a clock. In a clock of the kind referred to, it is animportant feature, as it enables the production of a small hand having no apparent receptacle for the ordinary watch or clock movements and adds greatly to its mysterious eftects. The operation of these parts will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and need not be speciiically set forth, further than to say that the source of power for moving the hands resides in the m ainspring and is transmitted from that to the center pinion, the speed being regulated and controlled by the escapement and balance wheels, and as the center wheel rotates the cannon-pinion drives the minute-wheel,and the pinion on theaxle of this wheel engages with the hour-wheel and causes the hour and minute hands to rotate on the axis or spindle F. It will be observed that the parts of the movement are arranged on both sides ot the center wheel, so that they are evenly balanced, and there is no tendency to accelerate or diminish the speed as the hands pass round in their course, while their proper relations are maintained throughout their rotations. The train may be provided with a spring arranged to propel it any given length of time; butI have found it convenient to use a spring which will operate the clock about fifty hours.

XVhat I claim isl. The combination, with a dial having a iixed spindle, of the hour and minute hands mounted thereon and having a positive connection with the spindle, and a train of gearing carried in the minute-hand and i-nclosed within a longitudinal recess inthe body or shaft thereof and arranged to propel the hands positively around the spindle, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the minute-hand of a clock, ot a center wheel adapted to be mounted on the spindle and having the propelling portion of the train on one side and the regulating portion of the train on the other side, the whole being arranged in a straight line and inclosed'entirely within the staff ot the hand, substantially as described.

The combination, with the minute-hand having a longitudinal recess crossing the axis of the hand, of a case consisting of two plates inclosed within said recess and supporting between them the ordinary train of a clock, the center wheel of the train being recessed to lit over a spindle which supports the hand, substantially as described.

et. The combination, with the hour-hand having a central longitudinal recess, ot a case in the recess, a minute-wheel mounted to rotate on the case, an hour-wheel Ii'vted to the hand, and a pinion on the shaft ot' the minute-wheel engaging the hour-wheel, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the hour-hand having a recess, of an hour-wheel located in the recess and having a hollow spindle connected to the hand, a case carryingaminutewheel mounted in the recess, a spindle supporting the hour-hand and case, and means for securing the case to the spindle, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the dial havinga spindle, of a recessed hour-hand, a case fitting the recess and secured to the spindle, an hour-wheel connected to the hand and engaging a minute-wheel on the case, a minutehand carrying a longitudinal train of gears, the center wheel of which is provided with a hollow shaft loosely fitting the spindle, and a cannon-pinion mounted on the minute-hand and engaging the minute-wheel of the case, substantially as described.

7. In a mysterious clock', the combination, with the pinion supporting the hour and minute hands,which are loosely mounted thereon, of a case rigidly attached to the pinion and carrying a minute-wheel, connections between said minute-wheel and the hour-hand, and connections between said minute-wheel and the minute-hand, and the driving mechanism for the hands mounted in the minute-hand, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot' two sul'iscribing witnesses.

STEVEN FELLINGER.

Witnesses:

XVM. R. WHITE, CHARLES L. MILLER.

IOO

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