US760895A - Electric clock striking mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

'No. 760,895. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904. B. MEYER. ELECTRIC CLOCK STRIKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 1903. v

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No. 760,895. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904. E. MEYER.

ELECTRIC CLOCK STRIKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24. 190s.v

H0 MODEL. 7 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Patented May 24, 1904.

PATENT @EEICE.

EMIL MEYER, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA;

ELECTRIC CLOCK STRIKING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,895, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed September 24, 1903. Serial No. 174,394. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL MEYER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Swissvale, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Clock Striking Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric clock striking mechanisms, andrelates more specifically to an automatic annunciating device to be electrically actuated and employed in connection with suitable clocks or time-indicating mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide means for the announcing or indicating of the time at a plurality of difierent points by the aid of a single clock or timepiece; and to this end the invention consists in employing one or more annunciators adapted to be located at any desirablepoint or points and each electrically connected to a clock common to all and which clock is adapted to complete a circuit to cause the annunciator or annunciators to sound an alarm announcing the hour simultaneously with the announcing of the hour by the clock or timepiece.

The invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and then particularly pointed out in the claims, and in describing the inventionin detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein like numerals of reference will be employed for the designating of like parts throughout the different views of the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the annunciator mechanism, showing the casing in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, showing the casing in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the circuit breaking wheel. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional View of the annunciator, and Fig. 5 isa diagrammatical plan view showing aplurality of the annunciators connected to a single clock.

As heretofore stated, the invention aims to operate a plurality of annunciators from a Single clock. By this means I may place an annunciator in each room of a building and electrically connect each annunciator to a common clock, whereby each of the annunciators will announce the hours at the same time the hours are indicated or sounded by the clock.

The mechanism embodied in the annunciator is preferably mounted on a suitable base 1 and inclosed by a suitable casing 2. The mechanism involves two supporting standards or housings 3 of a form which will permit of the mounting therein of the various arbors or shafts carrying the different elements involved. These elements will now be described in detail.

4 is an arbor or shaft, on which is mounted a ratchet-wheel 5. This ratchet-wheel carries on its one face a series of circumferentiallyarranged pins 6, adapted to actuate the tapper mechanism to sound the gong, as will be more fully described. This shaft or arbor ialso carries a pinion 7, which meshes with a gear 8,that is mounted on an arbor or shaft 9, journaled in the standards or housings. On this arbor or shaft 9 is mounted the circuit-breaking-wheel 10, provided in its periphery with notches, in whichis fitted insulation material 11 11. In Fig. 3 I have shown a diagrammatical plan view of this wheel, showing how the spaces between the insulation gradually increases to conform to the hours from two to twelve. Mounted on the base 1 is the actuating-solenoid 12, the core 14 of which is connected at its upper end by a cord 15 or other flexible connection to the segment 16, carried on the end of a lever 17, that has its other end rigidly fastened to a shaft 18, journaled in the standards or housings 3. Also rigidly connected to the shaft 18 is a lever or rod 19, on which a weight 20 is adjustably mounted. The lever 17 carries a pin 21, and the rod or lever 19 carries an arm-22, which pin and arm operate in connection with the circuit-breaker mechanism, as will presently appear. Pivotally connected to thelever 17 is a rod 23, having a pawl 24:

on its lower end for engagement with the A spring 25, attached to the rod ratchet 5. 23 and to the shaft 18, serves to keep pawl 24: in normal engagement with the ratchet,

and a stop 26, attached to the lever 17, limits the lateral movement of rod 23 under the tension of the spring. A practical and convenient form of construction is to connect the rod 23 at its upper end to a yoke or clevis 23, that is pivotally attached to the lever 17. Mounted in the standards or housings 3 below shaft or arbor 18 is a shaft 27, which carries a trip-lever, the longer arm 28 of which is adapted to be engaged by the pin 21 and the shorter arm 29 of which is adaptedto engage with a dog 30, carried on a shaft 31, journaled in arms 32, carried by the standards or housings 3. This dog 30 carries an arm 33, which is adapted to be engaged by the arm or finger 22, carried by red 19. A brush 34 is provided for engagement with the circuit breaker wheel 10, this brush being carried by a piece of insulation 35, attached to an arm 36, which is carried by a shaft 37, mounted in the standards or housings 3. The tension which this brush exerts against the wheel is varied by means of an adjustable weight 38, mounted on the arm 36. The standards or housings 3 3 are tied together by means of cross-bars39 4O 41, preferably made square in cross-section, as shown, and placed between the standards or uprights and the latter bound thereto by screws inserted through the standards or uprights into the ends of the cross-bars. The cross-bar 39 carries a pin 42, to which is attached one end of a spring 43, having its other end attached to the trip-lever carried on shaft 27. A pin 44 is attached to one of the arms 32 and has connected thereto one end of a spring 45, the other end of which is connected to the arm 33 of the dog for holding the said dog normally in position to be engaged with the end of arm 29. The other arm 32 carries a buffer 46, which acts to limit the upward movement of rod 19 and is preferably provided with a cushioning material 47 on its underneath face for the rod 19 to engage with. A circuit-breaker 48 is supported by a bracket or arm 49, attached to one of the standards or housings, said breaker being engaged by a spring-contact 50, carried by the shorter arm 29 of the trip lever. Mounted in the standards or housings 3 is a shaft 51, one end of which is extended beyond the housing or standard on that side and has mounted on its extended end the hammer-arm 52 for engagement with the gong 53 to sound the latter. This gong or bell is preferably arranged outside the casing 2, which may be accomplished by mounting the gong or bell on a post 54, passed through the side of the casing and threaded or otherwise suitably connected at its inner end to one of the standards or uprigl'its. \V hen this gong is so mounted, it will be necessary that the hammerarm be extended through the side of the case, and a slot of sufficient size to permit the vibrating of the hammer-arm will be provided in the side of the casing. The shaft 51 has mounted thereon a finger for engagement with the pins 6, carried by the ratchet-wheel 5, whereby to rock shaft 51 and cause the tapper to strike the gongor bell. The rocking movement imparted to this shaft 51 is limited by an arm 56,which is rigidly mounted on shaft 51 and strikes against a stop-pin 57, carried by one of the standards or housings. A string 58 is attached to cross-bar and bears against pawl 56. Backward movement of the ratchetwheel 5 is prevented by a spring-pawl 59, carried by cross-bar 41. Mounted on the base 1, preferably outside the casing 2, is a pair of binding-posts 6O 61, connected, respectively, by circuit-wires to the minute-hand 62 of the clock and to contacts 63 and 64, located at the hour and half-hour points of the clock-face. Mounted on the opposite end of the base 1 is a pair of binding-posts 65 66, to which is connected the two terminals of a source of electrical energy, such as battery 67, by circuit- wires 68 and 69, respectively. A wire 70 leads from binding-post 65 to one terminal of solenoid 12, the other terminal thereof being connected by wire 71 througlr the junctionplate 72 andwire 73 with the brush 34. A

wire 74 leads from the. junction-plate 72 to the binding-post 60, which is connected with the clock, as heretofore stated. A branch wire 75 from the binding-post 60 leads to the contact 76 of the actuating-key 77, which key carries the contact 78 and has a wire 79 connected with its rear end and grounded on the frame 3. A wire 80 leads from the bindingpost 66 to one terminal of the circuit-ln'eakcr 48, the contact being grounded on the frame 3. The circuit-breaking wheel 10 is also grounded on the frame of the machine.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the device to be in the position as shown in the drawings, the brush 34 will be resting on a portion of one of the blocks of insulation 11 in the wheel 10, and by following out the circuit it will be seen that it is necessary to somewhere complete the circuit through the solenoid in order to actuate the mechanism. The clock in a position, say, such as shown, (a few minutes after twelve,) the minute-hand 62 in the course of its rotation will connect with contact 64, at which time the circuit will be as follows: from battery 67 through wire 68 to binding-post 65, through wire 70 to and through the solenoid 12, thence through wire 71 to junction-plate 72, through wire 74, bindingpost 60, through wire to contact 64, thence through the pointer or hand 62, wire 61 to the binding-post 61, through wire 7 9 to the frame of the mechanism, through lever 28 and contact 50 of the circuit-breaker to contact 48 and wire 80 to binding-post 66, through wire 69, back to the battery 67. This energization of the solenoid will draw the core 14 thereof into the same, thus pulling down lever 17 through medium of the flexible connection 15. This lever 17 as it descends brings pin 21 into engagement with the outer end'of lever 28, carrying saidlever along with it, elevating part 29 of said lever, which is caught and held by the dog 30, thus breaking the circuit by reason of the disengagement of contact 50 from the one terminal of the circuit-breaker 48. The lever 17 will then be returned to its normal position by the action of the counterweight 20, and upon returning to its normal position the finger or arm 22, carried by the rod :19, contacts with the arm 33 of dog 30, whereby to actuate the dog to disengage it from the part 29 of the lever, and said lever is returned to its normal postion by the action of spring 13, thus restoring the circuit by again making connection between contact 50 and upper terminal of circuit-breaker 48.

In order that an audible or visual signal may be given at each descent of the lever 17, the pawl 24, carried by the rod "23, engages one of the teeth of ratchet-wheel 5, and the said lever in descending will move the said. ratchetwheel forward the length of one tooth. One of the pins 6, carried by said ratchet-wheel, will during this movement contact with and actuate arm 55, secured to shaft 51, giving the same a partial movement against the action of spring 58, which bears against arm 56. This movement'of the said shaft may beused to actuate any signal device; but, as shown, I have adapted the same to a single-stroke bell, and in this case the'arm 52, which carries the hammer or tapper, is suitably connected with the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that each time the ratchet-wheel 5 is actuated the said hammer will be raised to a point where the pins 6 will ride past the end of arm 55, the spring 56 then forcing the hammer against the bell or gong 53 to sound the same. To return to the energization of the solenoid 12 through the medium of the clock, the minute-hand 62 will now be supposed to be in contact with the terminal 63, and the circuit being the same as before described the solenoid will be again energized, and when the lever 17 has reached its lower position the said circuit will have again been broken at the point where the contacts 48 and 50 are located,

as before described; but the hour-hand of the clock now pointing to the third hour it is desired that three distinct signals shall be given, and to carry out this operation the shaft 4, upon which the ratchet 5 is secured, has secured thereon a small pinion 7, which meshes with the gear 8, secured to the shaft 9, on which the circuit-breaking wheel 10 is also mounted. It will thus be seen that at each actuation of the ratchet-wheel 5 the pinion 7 will act on the gear 8, thereby rotating the circuit-breaking wheel 10, this actuation of the circuit-breaking wheel being so geared with relation to the ratchet-wheel that it is necessary to have ninety consecutive movements of said ratchet-wheel for each revolution of the circuit-breaking wheel 10, this being for the purpose of permitting sufii'cient divisions in said wheel 10 to properly actuate the bell-ringing mechanism, so that the same will strike each hour and half-hour. The circuit having been completed at the third hour, as described, the brush 3 L passes off the insulation-blockll, (on which it has been resting for the striking of the half-hour and the first stroke of the hour,) when the circuit will be as follows: from the battery 67 through wire 68, binding-post 65, wire 70, to and through the solenoid 12,wire 71, junction-plate 7 2,wire 7 3, brush 34, circuit-breaking wheel 10, frame 3, lever 29, contact 50, contact 48, wire 80, binding-post 66, wire 69', back to the battery 67. It will thus be seen that the striking of the bell will be continued until such'time as the brush 34 has again been moved onto an insulation-block 11 in the circuit-breaking wheel 10. This having occurred, then minutehand 62 in passing the half-hour will again complete the circuit first described, one stroke of the bell resulting therefrom, and the hand then passing around to the hour position, where the first stroke of the nextusucceeding hour willbe completed by the first-mentioned circuit, the succeeding strokes of the hour being accomplished through the second described -circuit. The insulation-blocks 11 are so' placed in the circuit-breaking wheel 10 that one of the ninety movements thereof is added between each succeeding block of insulation until the point at which the full twelve strokes of the bell is'reached. The block 11 following this point on the wheel is of a greater length than the balance of the blocks in order that the half-hour after twelve oclock, one oclock, the half-hour after one oclock, and the first stroke of two oclock, all of which are single strokes, may be completed through the first-described circuit.

In order that the circuit-breaking wheel 10 may be placed in a position synchronous with the hands of the clock, I provide the key 77, the connections for which were hereinbefore described, which key may be depressed,whereby the contacts 76 and 78 will be connected, and the current instead of having to pass through the clock will pass from the bindingpost through the wire 75, through the before-mentioned contacts 76 and 7 8,and through wire 79 to the frame of the machine, thereby completing the electrical circuit through the solenoid, which is necessary to carry the insulation-block in the wheel 10 past the brush 34. By this means the said wheel may be rotated to such a position that the brush 34 may rest on any desired position of any of the insulation-blocks 11 or block 11.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described an electromagnet, an armature therefor, a pivoted armature-lever connected to said armature, a

pawl carried by said pivoted lever, a ratchetwheel engaged by said pawl, a disk provided with insulating-sections and revoluble by said ratchet-wheel through intermediate gearing, a signal operatively connected with said ratchet-wheel so as to be sounded at each movement thereof, a lever carrying a brush in contact with said disk, a pivoted switchlcver, an electric contact carried thereby and a latch adapted to engage said switch-lever and movable by said armature-lever, an electric circuit connecting the electromagnet, the brush, the disk, the switch-lever, a source of electric energy, and a clock adapted to close the said circuit at intervals, thereby energizing said electromagnet and causing it to actuate. said ratchet-whecl, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, a clock, an electric circuit including said clock, a source of electric energy and an electromagnet, said circuit being closed at intervals by said clock, a step-by-step mechanism adapted to be operated by said magnet, a signaling device adapted to give a signal at each movement of said step-by-step meehanism,a switchlever carrying an electric contact in connection with said electromagnet and a lever connected to the armature of the electromagnet and adapted to engage and operate said switchlever each time the magnet is energized to break the circuit through the magnet, whereby the electromagnet will be automatically energized, and deenergized successively, and successive signals sounded so long as the circuit through the clock is maintained.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a clock, contacts arranged on said clock at the hour and half-hour positions of the minute-hand and electric circuit having one terminal connected to said contacts and the other to the minute-hand of the clock and including a source of electric energy and a solenoid, a disk provided with conducting-sections of varying area means connected to the solenoid-core for imparting progressive movement to said disk, an electric contact opened and closed by the movement of the solenoid-coreand a signal adapted to sound at each movement of said solenoid-core, said disk and said contact being in circuit with the solenoid whereby the signal will be sounded when the circuit is completed through the clock a number of times depending on which conducting-section of said disk is in electrical connection with the solenoid.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a clock electrical connections thereto and means for maintaining a circuit through said clock during a lixed time at regular intervals, a source of electric energy and a solenoid in circuit with the clock, an annunciator operated by said solenoid and means whereby the solenoid will be automatically and successively energized and deenergized and the annunciator sounded a successively increasing number of times as the circuit through the clock is successively completed.

, 5. In an annunciator, the combination of the standards or housings, a circuit-breaker wheel, a brush for engagement with the said wheel, a solenoid, electrical connections between the brush and the wheel, a lever connected to the core of the solenoid, a trip-lever, a circuit-breaker, and a contact carried by the trip-lever for engagement with the circuit-breaker.

6. In an annunciator, the combination with the actuating-solenoid connected to a source of electrical energy, a circuit-breaker wheel, a brush for engagement with said wheel, connections between the solenoid and the wheel, a circuit-breaker, a trip-lever, and a contact carried thereby for engagement with one terminal of the circuit-breaker, a pivoted lever, connections between the core of the solenoid and said lever, a gong or bell, and means actuated by the pivoted lever for sounding said gong or bell, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EMIL MEYER.

WVitnesses:

H. (J. EVERT, A. M. WVILsoN.

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