US711944A - Electric clock. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7|l,944. Patentad 0ct. 28, |902.

' C. H. EBOOK.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Anne-.cion ma sepa. ao, 1901.)

(lo Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. CROOK, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL SELF-VINDING CLOCK COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION OE NEV JERSEY.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,944, dated October 28, 1902.

Application filed September 30, 1901. Serial No. 77,005. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. CRooK, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Bristol, Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Synchronizing-Clocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved synchronizingr device and to overcome certain diiiiculties which are encountered in synchroniziiig-clocks, in which the staffs of the several hands to be set are driven in a train by which they are positively connected-that is, not yieldingly connected-so that one synchronizing action sets all the hands. It will be apparent that if the hands are not rigid with their respective staffs they are liable at the synchronizing action to be carried by the momentum of that action past the points, respectively, to which they are positively carried by the rotation of their staffs, slipping at the frictional connection with said staffs, and it will be apparent, on the other hand, that if they are rigidly and positively connected with their staffs all the Wheels of the train comprising and connecting said stals and the shaft or gear which is primarily acted upon in the synchronizing laction sustain a necessary relation which cannot be altered without defeating the proper setting of the hands-that is, the several wheels of the train must be so meshed thatthe hands shall each and all be brought to proper position on their respective dials by the rotation of the wheel or stati", which is primarily acted and rotated to a certain invariable position by the synchronizing stroke; but if the hands are rigidly and unchangeably attached to their stas, respectively, then whenever the clock is taken apart for repairs or cleaning it must be reassembled with the wheels respectively meshing at the same cogs as when irst assembled-that is, there will be only one proper mesh-and any change in that respect will throw one or another of the hands into inconsistent position. This would necessitate marking each wheel to denote the proper teeth to be lneshed, and any disregard for such marking would cause the hands to come to disagreeing positions when the synchonizing stroke is made. the matter of ordinary repairs and cleaning expensive and would practically necessitate for that otherwise-simple work the employment of an expert familiar with the particular clock-movement.

This invention consists in the improved synchronizing device set out in the claims and in the device also set out therein 'for overcoming the above-mentioned difficulty by making it possible to assemble the ltrain in any manner that is, causing the wheels to mesh as they may chance-and yet bring the hands to agreed positions.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a clock-movement embodying my improvements, the frame and part of the train being cut away to disclose the more essential parts of the structure. Fig. 2 is a section at the line 2 2 on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation, partly sectional, of the synchronizing device, section being made at the line 3 3 on the Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section axial with respect to the minute-hand staff, showing hand securing and adjusting means. Fig. 5 is a detail section at the line 5 5 on Fig. 4. Fig. G is a detail section at the line 6 (3 on Fig. 4f. Fig. 7 is a detail section axial with respect to the seconds-hand staff and pinion, showing connection of said shaft with the escape-wheel shaft and the means of adjustment. Fig. Sis a section at the line 8 S on Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detail section in the plane of the axis of the shaft operated upon for synchronizing, cutting through the stud or crank-wrist on which the synchronizing-lever acts and adjacent parts.

A is the front plate, and A the rear plate, of the frame.

B is the prime wheel of the train, I) being the main shaft, on which said wheel is rigid, said main shaft being also the minute-hand stall. The motor connections are not shown, not being a part of this invention. The escape-wheel shaft (seen at d) is in line with and at its forward end obtains bearingin the rear end of the seconds-hand staff d', and there is one shaft only, c, intermediate the This would make IOO main shaft b and the seconds-hand stad d', and the train from the prime wheel to the seconds-hand staff comprises the pinion C on the intermediate shaft c, the gearvC, rigidly connected with said pinion by the crank-wrist or eccentric post c2, on which is the antifric!` tion-roll C2, and the seconds-hand pinion D,

rigid with the staff d', which projects through the front plate and is considerably extended to afford means for mounting thereon the seconds-hand D. To the escape-wheel stai` there is an independent train, commencing with a wheel c3, loose on the shaftcand driven by friction from the back of the pinion C', as indicated by the tripod4spring c3. This is in accordance with my Patent No. 610,229, dated September 6, 1898, and the construction in this respect need not be further described. The shaft l) penetrates the front plate A and just forward thereof is reduced yand'squared at b and receives on said squared portion the cupped disk E, which has a square aperture to tit the shaft atthat point, and on the stad b,forward of the cupped disk E,there is lodged a sleeve G, which is squared at the forward end to receive the minute-hand. This sleeve has at the rear end the disk G, adapted to enter the cupped disk E, the former being interiorly and the latter exteriorly very slightly tapered to permit the -one to enter the other and obtain by slight pressure firm frictional engagement for the work to be done, equivalent to a positive attachment of the two parts to each other. positive connection more certainly positive, the periphery ofthe disk G and the inner wall of theilange of the cupped disk E are finely corrugated or serrated, so that when the disk is entered into the cup the engagement is perfectly positive and rigid. The number of corrugations or serrations is equal to oran exact multiple of the number of teeth on'the gear-wheel B, so that the hands can be set in correct position whatever teeth of said wheelI is meshed with the pinion C at the synchronizing position of said pinion. The forward end ot' sta b is threaded, and a thumb-nut G2 thereon operates to force the sleeve G back on the staff and sink the disk G' in the cupped disk E, thus forcing and retaining the two parts of the clutch which these two disks constitute in engagement. I do not limit myself to the serrations described as the means of engagement between the two parts of the clutch, since obviously this expedient is only superior for certainty and rigidity of engagement to that which would be eiected by mere friction between the two slightly-tapered elements; but if such serrations are employed it is important that their number should be as describedto wit, equal to or a multiple of the number of the teeth on the gear-wheel which carries the stad, so that there shall be as many dierent positions possible in the relative adjustment of the two clutch elements as would be possible by To render this substantially shifting the mesh of said stai-carrying wheel with the next preceding pinion.

The first wheel K of the train connecting the minute and hour hands is rigid with the sleeve G at the rear portion of said sleeve immediately forward of the clutch-disk G', so thatthe hour-hand is set with the minutehand, the proper relation of the two hands being preserved as is usual. in any setting action. The diameter of the disk G is sufficient to cause the disk to lap behind the intermeshing teeth of the gear K andA next Wheel K of the 'hands-train. This prevents any danger of throwing the gear K out of mesh with the gear K' when the sleeveis moved forward to release the clutch. This construction has a value independent of the synchronizing or automatic setting of the hands by a synchronizingr device, for it dispenses :with the necessity for the customary means of permitting the hands to be set at willthat is, the frictional connection between the minute-hand sta and the remainder of the motor-train, for with the construction above -described while the hands are at al1 times positively driven, yet by slacking the nut and drawing forward lthe minute-hand and its sleeveto disengage the two parts of the clutch the entire hands-train commencing with the wheel K on the sleeve G is freed from the anterior driving-train and the hands may be set at will, preserving their proper relations through the train which connects them, and then byypushing back the hand and its sleeve and applying the thumb-nut the clutch again operates to hold the hands as set with respect to the remainder of the train.

L is the synchronizing-electromagnet. L is its armature carried on the lever M, which extends across the shaft c above the path or orbit of the crank-wrist c2, so that when the magnet is energized the armature lever strikes across the axis of the said shaft in the plane of the orbit of the wrist and encounters the latter wherever it stands, and if it is out of its proper positionthat is, the position it would occupy if the clock was running accurately and indicating the exact time at the synchronizing instant, said position being the lowest position in its orbit-'it will be forced to that position unless it is almost diametrically opposite the same. The practical range of adjustment which may be caused by the stroke of the lever upon the vwrist is about thirty-six degrees less than onehalf revolution, and, since in the train, as shown in drawings, one revolution of the shaft c occupies seven and one-half .minutes one-half revolution less thirty-six degrees corresponds to three minutes, so that correction can bemadeof an error amounting to three minutes, either slow or fast.

When synchronizing action is performed upon a shaft intermediate the minute and and seconds hand staffs, as in the construc- IOO IIO

being set at the Zero-point of their respective tion illustrated, in order that both hands may be rigidly secured to their staffs, respectively, the saine or equivalent provision should be made for adjusting the secondshand on its staff as that above described with respect to the minute-hand. This is not so essential, however, as in respect to the minute-hand, because the carrying-wheel of its staff being a pinion with only twelveteeth it is not a diicult matter to take note of the position of the hand when assembling the train or to readjust t-he meshes of this pinion with the next preceding wheel. However, for the purpose of rendering the secondshand adjustable with the same effect as above described I provide it with a two-part clutch device. The seconds-hand has its sleeve, which is split to adapt it to hold strongly by friction on its staff, expanded at the rear end to4 increase its periphery and provided at such increased periphery with twelve notches to correspond with the twelve teeth of its carrying-pinion, and through the staff (Z/ a little forward of the front plate I set a transverse pin (Zw, which is adapted to engage any two notches on sleeve. The frictional grasp of the split sleeve on the pin is suiicient to prevent its longitudinal displacelnent by accident, and so long as there is no longitudinal displacement the pin lodged in the notches effects a secure positive engagement of the hand with the staff after the movement is fully assembled, the synch ronizing stroke being given and both hands then dials.

Iclainr- 1. In a clock a gear-frame and train therein connecting positively the minute and seconds hand staffs; synchronizing meansoperating on the shaft of the train to set both hands at one operation, said hands being rigidly secured to their respective shafts; the means of securing one of the hands consisting of a two-part clutch, having one part rigid with the hand, and the counterpart rigid with the staff, said part and counterpart beingadapted to be disengageably engaged positively-gas distinguished from yieldingly, against relative rotation at as manydifferent relative positions as there are teeth on the gear-wheel which carries said staff, and means accessible i for operation outside the frame for effecting i such engagement and disengagement at will. i

2. In aclock, a gear-frame and train therein, a hand-staff, which said train drives positively; a synchronizing-lever and a shaft in said train on which said lever acts to rotate it to certain position; a hand adapted to be i rigid with the hand-staff, and means for disengageably securing the hand to the staff, comprising atwo-part clutch, whose parts are adapted to be engaged positively, as distinguished from yieldingly, at as many relative positions as there are teeth on the gear-wheel which carries said staff, means connected with i one of said parts accessible outside the frame for effecting the engagement and disengagement of said clutch parts.

3. In a clock, a gear-train, two hand-staffs which said train drives positively, a synchronizing-lever and a shaft in the train int-ermediate said hand-staffs on which said lever acts to rotate it to a certain position, the hands being adapted to be rigid with their staffs respectively, .the means for making them rigid being a two-part clutch, one part being rigid with the hand and the other with the staff, and disengageably engageable positively, as distinguished from yieldingly, at as many different positions as there are teeth on the staff-carrying wheel.

4. In a clock-train, the minute-hand staff, the minute-hand, a two-part clutch device for making the hand rigid with the staff, one part of the clutch being rigid with the staif, the other part having a sleeve by which it is mounted loose on the staff, and which at the forward end carries the hand rigidly, the staff projecting from the forward end of the sleeve and means for positively forcing and holding the sleeve back to effect unyielding engagement of the clutch and the hands-train having its first wheel rigid with saidy sleeve forward of the clutch-disk.

5. In a clock, a gear-frame and train therein connecting positively the minute and seconds hands staffs; synchronizing means operating on a shaft of the train to set both hands at one operation, said hands being secured rigidly to their respective staffs, the means for securing one of the hands being a two-part clutch consisting of a cupped disk rigid with one of said elements and a slightly-tapered disk rigid with the other element and adapted to enter the cupped disk, the part rigid with the hand being movable on the hand-staff to become engaged w-ith and released from the other part; and means accessible outside the frame for moving said movable part into engagement with the other part of the clutch and for holding' it unyieldingly in such engagement.

6. In a clock, a gear-frame and train therein; a hand-staff which said train drives positively; a synchronizing-lever, and a shaft in said train on which said lever acts to rotate it to a certain position; a hand adapted to be rigid with the hand-staff; and means for disengageably securing said hand and staff together consisting of a two-part clutch composed of a cupped disk rigid with one of said elements, and a slightly-tapered disk rigid with the other element adapted to enter the cupped disk, the part rigid with the hand being movable on the hands-stall to become engaged with and released from the other part; and means accessible outside the frame for moving said movable part into engagement with the other part of the clutch and for holding it unyieldingly in such engagement.

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said train drives positively; a synchronizinglever, and a'shaft in said train on which said lever acts to rotate it to a certain position; a hand adapted to be rigid with the hand-staff; and means for disengageably securing such hand to the staff consisting of a two-part clutch comprising a cupped disk rigid with one of said elements and a slightly-tapered disk rigid with the other element adapted to enter the cupped disk, the part rigid with the hand being movable on the hand-staff to become engaged with and released from the other part; and a nut on the forward end of the hand-staff for forcing the two parts of the clutch into engagement.

8. In a clock, a gear-train, and a hand-stad which said train drives positively; a synch ronizing-le ver, and a shaft in said train on which said lever acts to rotate it to a certain position; a hand adapted to be rigid with the handsiaif; means fordisengageablysecuring such hand to the staff consisting of a two-part clutch comprising a cupped disk rigid with one of said elements and a slightly-tapered disk rigid with the other element adapted to enter the cupped disk, the part rigid with the hand being movable on the hand-stad to become engaged with and released from the other part, the periphery of the other disk and the inner surface of the cupped disk being corrugated or serrated, the number of corru-4 gations or serrations corresponding to the number of teeth on the stad-carrying gear; and means for positively forcingsaid serrated or corrugated disks into unyielding engagem'ent.

9. A clock-train having one of its shafts cranked betweenits bearings; an electromagnetpon the clock-frame and its armature, a lever on which said armature is carried, extending across the cranked shaft in the plane of the orbitof the crank-wrist, whereby when the magnet is energized said lever may drive the crank-wrist to a point of its orbit most remote in the direction of the movement of thev lever.

10. In a clock-train in connection with the minute-hand staff and the seconds-hand staff, a gear-train positively connecting said staffs, and frictionally connected with the remainder of the train; a shaft in said train intermediate said hand-staffs, having thedriving and driven wheels on it connected as by acrankwrist or post eccentric to the shaft; the shaft being interrupted at the plane of the orbit ofy such eccentric post or wrist; va synchronizing electric magnet and its armature, and a lever operated bythe armatu re extending across the axis of the shaft and having a range of movement caused by the armature from one 'side to the other of said axis at the plane of the orbit of the wrist.

ll. In a clock-train in combination with a minute-hand staff and a seconds-hand stai and gear train positively connecting said staifs and frictionally connected with the remainder of the train, a shaft in said train intermediate said hand-stais having rigid with it between its bearings an eccentrically-located abutment, or crank-pin, a synchronizing-lever extending across the shaft in the plane of the orbit of the abutment, and means for operating said synchronizing lever to cause it to encounter said abutment and carry its face which makes said encounter past the axis of the shaft.

l2. In a clock-train in combination with a minute-hand staff and a seconds-hand staff and gear train positively connecting said stads and frictionally connected with the remainder of the train, a shaft in said train intermediate-said hand-stads having the driving and driven wheels on it connected by a crank-wrist, or post eccentric to the shaft, the shaft being interrupted at the plane ofthe orbit of such eccentric post or wrist, a synchronizing-lever extending across the axis of the shaft and having a range of movement from one side to the other of said axis at the plane ofthe orbit of the Wrist, and means for operating said lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 14th day of September, 1901.

CHARLES M. oRooK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. MALoNE, ALICE E. BROWN.

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