US556428A

US556428A - Electric program-clock

Info

Publication number: US556428A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1913-03-17

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. P. LUXMORE.

ELECTRIC PROGRAM 01.0015.

1%.. 556,428,. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

WLZnesaefl: I t I I f ibzziif; 0

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. v

J. P. LUXMORE. ELECTRIC PROGRAM 01.0011.

m 556,428. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. LUXMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC PROGRAM-CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,428, dated March 17', 1896.

A li ati fil d November 14:, 1894. Serial No. 528,733. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN P. LUXMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi nois, have invented certain Improvements in Electrical Reminders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical reminders, and has for its object to produce an improved device by which calls maybe set so as to sound at a predetermined time.

My invention is illustrated in the accon1- panying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with portions of the back of the case removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken at the line 4 4, Fig. 2, looking down. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken at the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of a portion of the switchboard, showing how the Wires are connected thereto. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken at the line 7 7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the vulcanized-fiber disk to which the ends of the electrical wires are connected.

The object of my invention is to make an improved apparatus which will, by means of an electric bell, sound a reminder-call at any hour or any fraction of an hour during the period of one week, and which can be set when desired so as to sound an alarm at any time thereafter, provided such time is not greater than one week from the time of setting the alarm.

My invention consists in the devices and combination of devices hereinafter fully described and made the subject-matter of the claims hereof.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents what I term the switchboard of my apparatus,which I preferably make of wood or other insulating material. This board is associated with an ordinary clock,preferably an eight-day clock, with the usual clock-dial B.

I make the clock and the case or frame of the apparatus in any desired form. I place on the switchboard seven rings, each one having in it as many holes as there are hours and quarters of hours in a day. I mark each of these rings with the initial of one day of the week. There is behind each of the pinrotated by the clock mechanism.

holes in the switchboard a metallic spring D to which one of the wires E is connected, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, said springs being connected to the switchboard and insulated from the rings. The pin coming in contact with the ring and the spring closes the circuit at this point when in position. The spring being of the shape shown in Fi 7 makes a sliding contact with the end of the pin when it is inserted, thereby always making an electrical contact.

In Figs. (3 and 7 I have shown enlarged detached views of a portion of the switchboard and two of the rings, for the purpose of showing how the wires E are attached to the contact-springs and how the springs stand rela tive to the switchboard and the rings. Each of the wires E is electrically connected to one contact-spring of each ring of the switchboard, and in order to reach these diiterent springs the wires pass under the intervening rings and are insulated therefrom. One of the wires E is connected, as shown, with one contact-spring D on each circle at each pinhole, it being the spring associated with the corresponding hour or fraction of an hour of the day. For example, the contact-springs arranged for twelve oelock noon of each day duringthe seven days of the week are connected with the same wire E, and the 0011- tact-springs arranged opposite the pinholes in the line indicating fifteen minutes past twelve oclock of each day of the seven days of the week are all connected with the same wire E, but a different wire from that with which the twelve-oclock contact-springs are connected. There are as many wires E as there are hours and quarters of hours during the twenty-four hours. All of the wires E are connected to the vulcanized-fiber disk F by being passed through it and extending along on the surface and the end turned back through the disk, thus exposing a piece of each of the wires, as at G, Figs. 4 and 8. Over these pieces a contact-arm H passes as it is This finger comes in contact with each of the wires E every twenty-four hours. The entire circuit through the bell will be closed by this contactfinger coming in contact with one of these wires E only when a pin O is inserted in the pinhole in the switchboard so as to come into ICO contact with the spring D which is connected to such wire E, and when the circuit is also closed through a circular disk K, hereinafter described, which is arranged so that there are seven separate insulated parts associated therewith, each one of which is electrically connected with one of the rings indicating the different days of the week. By this arrangement, although each of the wires E is connected with each of the seven different insulated rings on the switchboard, the circuit will be closed to ring the bell only when this disk K with the insulated portions is in position to close the circuit through the ring corresponding to the day on which the alarm is to be sounded.

The index-finger II is rigidly mounted on the post I by means of a hub J. The post I extends through the vulcanized-fiber disk F and is rotated by the clock mechanism so as to make one revolution in twenty-four hours.

Mounted on the stud L secured to the frame of the apparatus is the toothed disk K, above referred to. This disk is rigidly attached to the sleeve 1, which turns upon the stud L. A contact-brush N is also mounted on the sleeve M and revolves with the disk K.

The pinion 0, which is rigidly secured to the post I, so as to turn with it, engages with the teeth on the periphery of the disk K, so as to revolve said disk at certain distance at each revolution of the post I, such distance being one-seventh of an entire revolution. The disk K carries an insulated plate P, which is secured to the disk by means of screws Q. The contact-brushes T T are secured to the stationary posts S S and are so situated that each of them comes in contact with the insulated plate P every week, the length of time in which any one brush is in contact with said plate P being limited to one day. Each of these brushes T T is connected with one of the rings on the switchboard, one being connected with the lVednesday pin-ring, and so on for each one, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The brush N is connected with the bell U by the wire V. The bell U is also electrically connected with the battery X by the wire Y, the battery being connected with the clock mechanism by the wire a, and hence the contact-arm II is always electrically connected with the battery through the clock mechanism and the wire a. The brushes T T are connected to the rings S M T, &c., by the wires 1).

In Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings I have shown a section through theclock m echanism, where I have shown a spring-clock with the ordinary gear-wheels by which the post 0, which carries the hands of the clock, is turned, and also the post I, which carries the contactarm II around the circle every twenty-four hours. I have described these several parts in detail, but it is evident that they may be varied in construction and arrangement without aifectin g the operation of the device, and

I therefore do not wish to be limited to the construction shown.

The clock mechanism in Fig. 3 is shown imperfectly, as it were, and, indeed, no part of the invention in the sense that there is an r peculiarity in the clock proper. It is used in the usual manner to keep time and also to drive the mechanism, as above explained.

I11 Fig. 2 I have shown only a few of the springs D, but, of course, it is understood that they will be applied throughout the entire circuit.

Referring to Fig. 5, the mechanism there shown, if more convenient to manufacture, could be varied to the extent of having a single continuous arm reaching from the center, for example, to the plate I, or formed continuous with that plate. In other words, either a hand or the entire disk can travel, the objeet being to keep each brush T in circuit for the period of one day.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: By means of a device construct ed as herein shown and described I am enabled to set an alarm at any time, so that such alarm will be sounded at any desired hour or fraction of an hour of any day not later than one week from the time of setting such alarm. Suppose that on Thursday morning it is desired to set the device so that an alarm will be sounded on the following lVednesday at twelve oclock noon. If the clock mechanism is running, all that need be done is to insert a pin 0 in the hole in ring \V opposite the figure 12 at the top of the switchboard, Fig. 1. A tag containing any desired memorandum may be attached to this pin, if desired. The clock mechanism rotates the arm II, which, by means of the pinion I, also rotates the disk K, said disk only moving one-seventh as fast as the arm II. ()n the \Vednesday for which the alarm is set the disk K will have moved so as to bringthe plate I in contact with the brush T, which is connected to the ring NV. lVhile the plate I is in this position the circuit through the bell will be completed when the contact-arm II comes in contact with the wire E connected to the spring D, which is located behind the hole into which the pin (J is inserted, and the alarm will be sounded. The circuit will then be traced as follows: from battery X along wire a to the clock mechanism, thence through the contact arm II, thence by wire E, spring D, pin (1, ring \V, and wire b to brush T, thence through plate P, brush N, and wire V to the bell, and thence by wire Y back to the battery X. Since the plate I is in contact with the brush T, that is connected to the ring \V for a period of twenty-four hours, the alarm maybe sounded at any predetermined hour or fraction of an hour of that time by inserting a pin 0 into the hole in such ring that corresponds to that hour or fraction of an hour. It will thus be seen that, since the plate P is successively connected with each of the rings S hi T, &c.,

for a period of twenty-four hours, an alarm can be sounded at any predetermined time during the week.

I have arranged the rings S M, &c., which contain the pinholes in a circle, one within the other. I deem this the most Convenient form, as I am enabled thereby to draw lines from the outer one to the inner one through the pinholes indicating the hours, so as to indicate more readily the holes in which to insert the pins at the time desired, the lines in connection with the figures around the outer rings serving as guides. This construction allows of a neat compact arrangement, and insures the successful working of the various parts.

I claim 1. The combination in an electrical reminder of a clock with a time-indicating dial and a clock mechanism a contactarm revolved thereby, a series of contact-points in the path of said contact-arm, a series of contact-strips each provided with a series of holes corresponding to the hours and fractions thereof of a day, conductors leading from the contact-points close to such holes, means for connecting the strip and conductor at such holes, a revoluble disk having a surface of non-conducting material, a conducting-section 011 such surface, a series of contacts arranged circumferentially around such disk, and connected to such contact-strips, the conducting-section of said disk so situated that it is successively brought into contact with the contacts arranged therearound, as the disk is revolved.

2. An electric signal apparatus comprising the following elements: a disk having a series of contacts and an arm impelled along said contacts at a predetermined rate, a second disk connected with the clock mechanism so as to be continuously rotated thereby, and having a surface of non-conducting material, a conducting-section on such surface, a series of contacts arranged circumferentially around such disk, said conducting-section so situated that it is successively brought into contact with the contacts around said disk as the disk is revolved, a signal device, and electrical connections substantially as described whereby a predetermined series of signals may be given by each successive rotation of the arm of the first disk, in connection with the rotation of the second disk, and the engagement of its conducting-section with the several brushes.

3. The combination in an electrical reminder of a clock and time -indicating dial with a revoluble contact-arm, driven by such clock, aseries of contact-strips corresponding each to one day of the week and each provided with holes corresponding to hours or fractions thereof of a day, and also adapted to receive circuit-making pins, a contact-spring associated with each of said holes and electrically connected with a contact-point placed in the path of said contact-arm and adapted to be engaged by a pin in such hole, a revoluble disk connected with the clock mechanism so as to be continuously revolved thereby, said disk having a surface of non-conducting material, a conducting-section on such surface, a series of contacts arranged circumferentially around such disk and connected to said contact-strips, said conducting-section being connected with said revoluble contact-arm and being so situated that it is successively brought into contact with the contacts arranged around said disk, and a circuit containing a bell and a source of electrical energy, having one terminal connected with the clock mechanism and the other with the revoluble contact-arm whereby an alarm may be set so as to be sounded at a predetermined time during the week.

4. The combination in an electrical reminder of a clock and time-indicating dial, a circular fiber disk placed back of the clock mechanism and provided with a series of holes near its circumference, a second series of holes nearer the center of said disk and forming a circle thereon, a series of wires each of which passes through one of each of said series of holes, so as to have a portion exposed upon the surface of the disk, a revoluble contactarm driven by such clock, and adapted to make contact with said wires, a series of contact-strips corresponding each to one day of the week, and each provided with holes corresponding to hours or fractions thereof of a day, said holes adapted to receive circuitmaking pins, a contact-spring associated with each of said holes, each spring electrically connected with one of the wires in the path of the revoluble contact-arm, a pin adapted to be inserted into each hole so as to electrically connect said springs with their respective contact-strips, a revoluble disk connected with the clock mechanism so as to be continuously rotated thereby, said disk having a surface of non-conducting material, a conducting-section on such surface, a series of station-ary contacts arranged circumferentially around such disk, each connected with one of said contact-strips, said conducting-section being connected with said revoluble contactarm and being so situated that each is successively brought into contact with contacts arranged around said disk, and a circuit containing a bell and a source of electrical energy, having one terminal connected with the clock mechanism, and the other with the revoluble contact-arm whereby an alarm may be set so as to be sounded at any predetermined time during the week, substantially as described.

JOHN P. LUXMORE. Witnesses:

J NO. CoULrER, FRANCIS M. IRELAND.