US650842A - Electrically-controlled winding mechanism for time-locks. - Google Patents

Description

No. 650,842. 7 Patented June 5, I900. 'w. H. HOLLAR & A L. mmmas. ELECTBICALLY CONTROLLED WINDING MECHANISM FOR TIME LOCKS.

(Application 1116a Mar. 10, 1099. v 4 Sheets8heet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 650,842. Patenfed June' 5, I900.

w. H. HOLLAR & A. L. RHODES. ELECTRIGALLY CONTROLLED WINDING MECHANISM FOR TIME LOCKS'.

(Application fllqd In. 10, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shoat 2.

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'Na. 650,842. Patented June 5, I900.

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w. H. HOLLAB ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED WIN ECHANISM FOB TIME LOG (Application filed Mar. 1599. (No Model.) 4 Sheet WITNESSES: INVENTORS: w /u/ou/z/a flL o/vzo L. RHODES, W W w 'No. 650,842. I Patented June 5, I900. W. H. HOLLAR &. A."L. RHODES. ELEGTRICALLY CONTROLLED WINDING MEGHANISM FOB TIME LOCKS.

(Application madam. 10, 1399.

' (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UNITED STATES iPATENT. EE

, WILLIAM H. HOLLAR AND ALONZO L.' nnonns, or PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYTNANIA; sAm nnonns ASSIGNOR TO SAID HOLLAR.

ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED WINDING MECHANISM FOR TIME-LOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,842, dated June 5, 1960.

Application filed March 10, 1899, Serial No. 708,480. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. HOLLAR and ALONZO L. RHODES, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Electrically Oontrolled Vfinding Mechanism for Time-Locks, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is the object of our invention to provide means to wind the clock-movements of timelocks such as are employed upon safes,vaults, dzc.,without opening the latter, such a device being particularly useful to rewind said movements in any emergency in which it is desirable to postpone the moment of opening originally predetermined by the set of the time mechanism when the safe or vault was locked.

Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 545,020 and 545,021 have been granted to William H. Hollar et al. for devices of the type aforesaid; and our present. invention comprises an improved construction and arrangement of means whereby a plurality of clock 4 movements may be simultaneously wound by a normally-disconnected motor through winding mechanism adapted for independent connection to the respective moveme11ts,as hereinafter more definitely specified.

Generally stated, the main features of our invention comprise the combination, with a safe or vault,of a time-lock therefor having a plurality of clock-movements,'any one of which is designed to effect or permit of the release of the look after a predetermined interval; winding mechanism. adapted for independent connection with the respective movements, but normally disconnected therefrom, and a motor adapted to actuate said winding mechanism and controlled by means exterior to the safe or vault.

Our present improvements are applicable to any ordinary form of time-lock and, although we shall for convenience refer to certain parts of our invention as rewinding mechanism to distinguish the same from the manually-operative winding mechanism with which said locks are ordinarily provided, it is to be understood that all of the winding or rewinding operations of a time-lock may be effected by our device to the exclusion of said ordinary manually-operative mechanism.

\Vith the foregoing main elements our invention combines certain adj un'cts--such, for instance, as stop mechanism-connected with the respective clock-movements to prevent the overwinding of the same by said motor by effecting the disengagement thereof at the proper instant and a device for indicating or reporting the extent to which the rewinding mechanism has been operated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent, diagrammatically, three slightly-modified arrangements of electrical connections for our invention. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of a time-lock, showing a convenient embodiment of our improvements. Fig. 5 is asectional View taken on the line5 5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4/ Fig. 7 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 5, but showing modified means for engaging the re winding mechanism with the respective clock-movements. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevation showing the application of a convenient form of stop mechanism to the rewinding mechanism shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the clock-movement pawl-disks. Fig. 10 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the stop mechanism shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents an electric motor, which, as hereinafter described, is arranged to actuate the rewinding mechanism of the time-lock. The electric generator B, indicated as a primary battery, is in circuit with the motor A through connections a a, and C is a switch by which the operation of said motor is controlled.

As shown in Fig. 2, the motorA is series- I wound and the circuit between said motor and the generator 13, indicated as a secondary battery, includes an electromagnet D, which serves, as hereinafter described, to permit the engagement of the rewinding mechanism and the respective clockmovements upon the completion of the circuit at switch 0.

As shown in Fig. 3, the motor A is shuntwound and connected in multiple with the electromagnet D, the generator B being indicated as a dynamo.

Referring to Fig. 4, A is the motor, (i11di cated, diagrammatically, in Fig. 1,) and it is to be understood that the same is in circuit with a suitable generator and provided-with the necessary appurtenances, such as the switch indicated in Fig. 1.

The motor A is conveniently fixed upon the casing Xof a time-lock comprising fourclockmovements, respectively indicated at X, X X and X". Said motor A is provided with an armature-shaft A, upon which is keyed a worm A as shown in Fig. 5. Said worm engages the worm-gear A upon the shaft A, which extends at right angles with the shaft A and is provided with worms A A A. A to respectively engage and rewind the afore said clock-movements X X X X The rewinding mechanism comprises counterpart groups of members connecting each of said worms with its respective clock-movement. We shall therefore confine the following de scription thereof to a single one of said groups.

Referring to Fig. 6, the main arbor m" of the clock-movement X is provided with a pawl-disk E, which is fixed thereon conveniently by engagement with its squared extremity. Upon said pawl-disk E is mounted a pawl 6, whose outer extremity c is adapted to engage the teeth of a face-ratchet 1" upon the gear F, which is in constant engagement with the worm A upon the shaft A but is mounted to rotate loosely upon the hub of said pawl-disk E.

It is to be understood that each of the clockmovements X, 850., comprises an independent spring which when wound progresses its respective mechanism to ultimately release the usual automatic bolt mechanism at a predetermined instant. In said progress the main arbor 00 of the clock-movement X is rotated in the opposite direction to that required for its winding or rewinding, so that although the above-described engagement of the parts of the rewinding mechanism serves to properly connect the motor A to rewind the spring of said clock-movement X means must be provided to disengage said winding mechanism in order to permit the aforesaid normal progression of said clock-movement.

During the rewinding operation of the above-described parts the pawl e is maintained in engagement with the ratchet f by means of the spring 6 However, the inner end a of said pawl is prolonged beyond the center of rotation of the arbor to be con- Veniently disengaged, as follows:

The frame G is mounted for oscillation in the bearings 9 upon the casing X, and the upper bar G thereof extends in opposition to the axes of rotation of the main arbors and disks E of all of the clock-movements. Said bar G is provided with detents II I1 11 II in alinement with the respective axes of rotation of the disks E, so that said detents are adapted to encounter the extensions 6 of the pawls c to disengage the latterfrom the ratehetsf when said frame Gis rocked in the bearings g to the position indicated in Fig. 7. Said detents are in threaded engagement with the bar G, so as to be conveniently adjusted ceases in the primary assembling of the parts. It

is to be understood, however, that said detents are in fixed relation with the frame G during its operation.

In the form of our invention shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6 the frame G is normally maintained in position to disengage said pawls e by the weight of the armature A and shaft A of the motor A, resting upon the arm G of said frame, the magnetic center of said armature being in said position slightly below the magnetic center of the motorfield. The completion of the electric circuit at switch 0 serves not only to actuate said motor A, but also to lift said armature to the center of said field and permit the frame G to swing outwardly under the pressure of the springs I, so that the respective pawls 6, being thus released, are thrust into engagement with their ratchets f by the springs 0 and the rotary movement of the motor-armature and shaft is transmitted through the counterpart trains of gearing, hereinbefore described, to the respective arbors of the several movements and the springs thereof rewound.

To prevent the overwinding of the respective springs by the operation of the parts above described, each of the clockmovements is conveniently provided with stop mechanism consisting of a studj, fixed in relation with the pawl-disk E, so as to rotate therewith and engage the notches of the stopwheel J, shifting the latter one notch at each rotation of the pawl-disk E until the arm J of said stop-wheel Jslides over the extremity e of the pawl e and disengages the latter from the ratchet f. The wheels J are counterpart and conveniently mounted in pairs in brackets K, extending from the casing X between adjoining clock-movements. Accidental rotation of the wheels J is prevented by the pins 7c, which register with sockets in said wheels and are thrust therein by springs If the respective gearing-trains are synchronously operated and the respective pawls e maintained in similar angular relation with their respective movements, as shown in Fig. at, it is obvious that the counterpart stop mechanisms above described will be simultaneously opera-ted. It is to be noted, however, that, as indicated in Fig. 8, said stop mechanisms are entirely independent of each other and may therefore be operated at different times in accordance with the particular angular relation of the parts.

In the form of our invention shown in Figs. 2 and 7 the armature A of the motor A is arranged to rotate without longitudinal reciprocation, and the frame G is provided with springs I, which tend to thrust said frame inwardly and disengage the pawls e, as indicated in Fig. 7. In this form of our invention the frame G is rocked outwardly and the pawls 0 released by means of the electromag' net D, which is opposed to the arm G 01 the frame G, which serves as an armature for it.

As a convenient adjunct to the elements of 650,842 v as our invention above described it is desirable to provide mechanism whereby the extent of the rewinding action of the parts may be indicated or reported exterior to the vault or safe. \Ve have therefore shown in Fig. 4 the terminals L L of an electric circuit, which extends exterior to saidyault and is adapted to be closed within the latter by means of the circuit-closer M. Said circuit-closer M comprises a disk, upon which are fixed four studs m, adapted to successively encounter the spring-terminal L and effect the contact of the latter with the terminal L. The gearwheel m, fixed upon said circuit-closer M, engages with the gear-wheel N, mounted for rotation upon the frame 0, which is insulated from the casing X. The gear N is in fixed relation with the gear N, and both of said gears are rotated by the engagement of the former with the worm A upon the shaft A.

The ordinary clock-movement for a timelock is so proportioned that one complete revolution of its main arbor winds the mainspring sufficient to operate the clock-movement for a period of ten and four-fifths hours, and, as illustrated, the train of gearing leading to the circuit-closer lWI is so proportioned that the studs m complete the circuit through the terminals L L at intervals, indicating that the clock-movements have been rewound the extent sufficient for one-half'hours operation thereof. It will be understood that the closing of the circuit at the terminals L L, as above described, may be utilized to operate any convenient form of indicating device exterior to the vault.

Although we prefer to employ an electric motor to actuate our rewinding mechanism, as above described, it is to be understood that we do not desire to limit ourselves to the use of such a motor in combination therewith, as it is obvious that the precise nature of the motor used is not of the essence of our invention. Moreover, we do not desire to limit ourselves to the details of construction above described, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

WVe claim 1. The combination with a time-lock for a vault or safe, of a motor adapted to rewind the spring of the time-lock clock-movement, normally-disengaged clutch mechanism, arranged to operatively connect said motor and said spring, and means, distinct from said clock-movement, arranged to simultaneously initiate the operation of said motor and the engagement of said clutch mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a time-lock for a vault or safe, of a motor adapted to rewind the spring of the time-lock clock-movement, normally-disengaged clutch mechanism, arranged to operatively connect said motor and said spring, and means, exterior to the vault, arranged to simultaneously initiate the operation of said motor and the engagement of said clutch mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a time-lock for a vault or safe, of a motor adapted to rewind the spring of the time-lock clock-movement, normally-disengaged clutch mechanism, arranged to operatively connect said motor and said spring, and means, comprising an electric circuit, extending exterior to the vault, arranged to simultaneously initiate the operation of said motor and the engagement of said clutch mechanism, substantially as set forth.

4. In a time-lock, the combination with a clock-movement, of amotor adapted to rewind the spring of said movement, rewinding mechanism adapted to operatively connect said motor and said spring, and comprising a normally-disengaged clutch, a movable detent to retain said clutch in disengaged position, and cooperative means, independent of said clock-movement, to release said detent and engage said clutch, substantially as set forth.

5. In a time-lock, the combination with a plurality of clock-movements, of a motor adapted to rewind the springs of said movements, rewindin g mechanism operatively related to said motor; common to all of said clock movements but normally disconnected therefrom, clutches forming part of the rewinding mechanism, arranged to independently engage the respective clock-movements, movable detents to normally retain the respective clutches in disengaged position, and cooperative means, independent of said clock-movements, to release said detents and engage the respective clutches, substantially as set forth.

6. In a time-lock, the combination with a plurality of clock-movements, of a motor adapted to rewind the springs of said movements,rewinding mechanism operatively connected with said motor and comprising ashaft provided with worm-gearing trains leading to the respective clock-movements, normallydisengaged clutches in the respective trains, and cooperating means, independent of said clock-movements, to engage said clutches and actuate said motor, substantially as set forth.

7. In a time-lock, the combination with a clock-movement, of a motor adapted to rewind the spring of said movement, rewind ing mechanism operatively connected with said motor and comprising a clutch member, a clutch member fixed upon the main arbor of said clock-movement, opposed to the clutch member of the rewinding mechanism, means to normally disengage said clutch members, and means, independent of said clock-move ment, to engage said clutch members, sub stantially as set forth.

8. In a time-lock, the combination with a clock-movement, of a motor adapted to rewind the spring of said movement, a shaft operatively related to said motor and pro clock-movement, of mechanism adapted to rewind the spring of said movement, and stop mechanism to prevent the overWinding of said spring, comprising means to automatically disengage said rewinding mechanism at the proper period in its operation, substantially as set forth.

10. In a time-lock the combination With a clock-movement, of a motor adapted to re- Wind the spring of said movement, rewinding mechanism operatively connected with said motor, and comprising a shaft provided with a Worm-gearing train leading to said clock movement, a normally disengaged clutch in said train, and means independent of said clock-movement to engage said clutch, substantially as set forth.

WVILLIAM H. HOLLAR. ALONZO L. RHODES.

iVitnesses:

E. A. SYMMEs, E. H. BUOHEY,

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