US797103A - Electric clock. - Google Patents

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PATBNTBD AUG. 15, 1905. M. FISCHER.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. zo, 1903.

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No. 797,103. PATENTED AUC.15, 1905.

M. EISCEEE. ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1903.

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PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

vNo. 797,103,

- M. FISCHER. ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APBLICATIONIILED Nov. zo, 1903.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

MARTIN FISCHER, OF ZRICH, SIVITZERLAND. ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM OF ACTIENGESELLSCHAFT MAGNETAH (ELECTRISCHE UHREN OHNE BATTERIE & OHNE CONTACTE) OF ZRICH, SWITZERLAND.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application led November 20, 1903. Serial No. 181,977.

To all lull/071e it wtf/,y concern.

Be it known that I, MARTIN FISCHER, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland. residing' at Zrich, Switzerland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Synchronizers for Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to electricallycontrolled synchronizing appliances for clocks, each embodying a suitable well-known movement-as, for instance,a pendulum movement organized or regulated to run slightly fast.

In electrical-clock-synchronizing systems as heretofore organized the operation of the Synchronizing devices to stop the clock-train in such system in which the Secondary clocks are regulated to run fast orto liberate the clocktrain where the secondary clocks are liable to run slow are wholly dependent upon the proper function of the current-controlling appliances, so that in case these devices fail to properly perform their function or in case of a disturbance at the master-clock all the Secondary clocks whose synchronizing devices are controlled by the master-clock will under certain conditions be Stopped until the cause of the improper function is removed, which is very vexatious.

One of the characteristic features of my invention lies in means to electrically control the period ical stoppage of the clock and to mechanically control the release thereof, the releasing devices being controlled by an oscillating element of the clock-movement, as the pendulum or other oscillating element of the clock-movement, so that the release of the clock-train is not dependent upon electricallyoperated means, as has hitherto been the case, whereby the secondary clocks are kept going under the conditions above Set forth; but that my invention may be fully understood I will now describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures l to 6 show in elevation, partly in section and the dial partly broken away, so much of a secondary clock as will be necessary to an understanding of my invention and also show the synchronizing appliances in various positions. Fig. 7 is a detail View of said appliances. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the clocks in a system, and Fig'. 9 is a detail view of the circuit making and breaking appliances.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, A indicates the master-clock; 36, a wheel having eight teeth secured to an arbor of onel of the gears of the train of gearing and so as to make one-eighth of a revolution per minute. On' an arbor 38 is mounted a gear-wheel 38, driven by any suitable motor, as a weight 39, said wheel meshing with a pinion 40, fast on an arbor 4l, to which is also secured a circuit making and breaking cam or contact-41, hav# ing two arms 42 43 on diametrically opposite sides of its axis of rotation, said arms of such length as to extend into the path of teeth 36' of wheel 36. Y

On each side of the circuit-closer 41 is arranged a spring- contact 48 and 49, respectively, and between said springs above said circuit-closer is arranged a stationary contact. 47. The circuit-closer`4l is connected by wire. 45 with one pole of battery 44 or other sourcev of electricity, the other pole of which is connected by wire 46 with contact 47. The elec-- tromagnets 30 of the secondary clocks B B B2, &c., are connected in series and by wires 5() and 51' to the contact- springs 48 and 49, respectiv ely.

When during the rotation of wheel 36 a tooth 36l releases, say, arm 42 of circuit-closer 41, the latter and its arms 42 43, driven by the gearing 38 40, make one-half of a revolution, arm 43 being' arrested by the next tooth 36/ of wheel 36. This has for its result a momentary contact of the circuit-closer 41 with spring 48, moving the latter out of contact with 47, Fig. 9, and momentarily closing the circuit through battery 44, wire 45, circuitcloser 4l, spring 48, wire 50, electromagnets 30 of the secondary clocks, wire 50', Spring 49, contact 47, wire 46, back to opposite pole of battery 44, thus sending a current impulse through the electromagnets in one direction. IVhen, on the other hand, arm 43 is next released, the direction of the current through the electromagnets 30 will be reversed, current flowing from battery-Wire 45, circuitcloser 41, Spring 49, wire 50', electromagnets 30, wire 50, spring 48, contact 47, wire 46, back to opposite pole of the battery 44, as will be readily understood.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6 and as hereinabove stated, the secondary clocks B are regulated to run slightly .fast and may embody any suitable or well-known motor and movement, which in the secondary clocks shown is supposed to be a pendulum movement, though l do not wishto limit the invention thereto, and in said figures of drawings 1 indicates the escape-wheel; 59, the pallet-lever having secured thereto or to its axis of oscillation an arm 19, provided with a pin 20, projecting at right angles 'from its free end. 35 indieatesthe dial, here shown of annular form.

The scape-wheel 1 on arbor 2 has thirty teeth and makes one-sixtieth of a revolution at each oscillation or beat of the pallet-lever or pendulum, the latter beating seconds.

A cam 3 rotates synchronously with the scape-wheel 1 and has two approximately semicircular cam-faces 4 and 5, the former being of greater diameter than the latter,whereby a shoulder or nose6is formed at one point of junction ofthe two cam-surfaces, while diametrically opposite said nose l6 the cam-disk has a radial slot 7, shown to extend to the arbor 2, but not necessarily so, the width of said slot being equal to the space between two seconds-indices on the dial.

A stopping-lever 9, fulcrumed on a fixed pin 10, has a laterally-projecting beveled lug or pin 11, riding on cam-disk 3, and to said lever are pivoted two pallets 21 and 22, provided with arcuate slots having for centers the centers of their respective pivots, into which slots project pins 24 on said lever to limit the swing of the pallets.

At the free end of lever 9 and at right angles thereto is secured a pin 14, forming a bearing for a sleeve, to which is secured at its apex a V-shaped lever 12 13, whose rotation on said pin 14 is limited by a fixed abutment pin or stud 15 in the path of the arm 12,while arm 13 has a lateral V-shaped projection at its free end forming the inclined surface 53, and in the angle of said projection is located a concave abutment or catch 16, adapted under certain conditions to be engaged by the pin 2O on aforesaid arm 19. 30 indicates the electromagnet, which controls the lockinglever 9.

The armature 29 of the electromagnet is arranged to rock or oscillate on a fixed pin 31 and has secured to it a vertical arm 32, connected to one end of aspring 28, the other end of which is secured to a lever 26, fulcrumed at 27, whereby said lever is oscillated or rocked synchronously with the armature anda resilient connection provided to counteract the sudden movements of said armature.

The scape-wheel 1 and cam 3 rotate in the direction of the hands of the clock, as indicated by the arrow, once every minute, and

as long as pin 11 on locking-lever 9 rides on the cam-face 4 of said cam-disk 3 said lever l will be held at such a distance `from the armature-actuated lever 26 as to allow the latter to oscillate freely below the pallets 21 22, Fig. 1, and when the secondary clock runs synchronously with the master-clock the nose 6 on said cam-disk will be in line with the sixtyseconds or minute index on the dial, as shown in Fig. 1, at which moment a current impulse is transmitted from the master-clock to the electromagnet 36.

Supposing the cam 3 and armatlilre 29 to be in their respective positions (shown in Fig. 1) and, as hereinbefore stated, the electric impulses transmitted to the electromagnet 30 alternate in direction, the level' 26 will swing under pallet 22, Fig. 2, and at this moment nose 6 of cam 3 will have moved clear of pin 11 on lever 9. The latter will drop with its pin on cam-face 5; but lever 9 is now supported by pallet 22, so that when cam-slot T passes under pin 11 lever 9 cannot drop, and thus prevent its pin 11 Yfrom entering said slot, and as the slot moves from under pin 11 the beveled edge 8 of cam-face 4 will move under said pin, said cam-face 4 again supportingl lever 9 until cam-nose 6 is again in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the armature 29 will be rocked back to its position Fig. 1, and thereby move lever 26 under pallet 21 and support the locking-lever 9, which operations will be repeated so long as the secondary clock runs synchronously with the master-clock.

The object of pivoting' the pallets or latches 2122 to lever 9 is to allow them suiiicient swing to maintain pin 11 at all times in contact with cam 3, as will be readily understood.

It heilig' borne in mind that in the position of parts shown in Fig. 1 current energizes the electromagnet before lever 9 drops off nose 6 of cam 3 when secondary clock goes synchronously with the master-clock and that said lever 9 is then supported by lever 26, moved under pallet 22 by the current impulse, and y that the secondary-clock movements are regulated to g'o fast, it will be evident, therefore, that after the lapse of a minute the camnose 6 will be in the position shown in Fig. 1 and will drop from cam-face 4 onto cam-face 5 before the seconds-hand of the master-clock is at the minute, hence before current impulse of opposite direction energizes electromagnetBO to oscillate lever 26 from right to left. Supposing now that during this revolution of scape-wheel 1 and disk 3 the secondary clock has gained two seconds, lever9 willdrop from cam-face 4 onto cam-face two seconds before currentimpulse rocks armature 29 from right to left, Fig. 2, to move lever 26 in the same di' reetion from under pallet 22. The drop of lever 9 before the reversal of lever 26 has, however, placed pallet 21 in the path of said lever, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) so that said lever cannot move under said pallet to support lever 9. Scape-wheel 1 and disk 3 of course continue to rotate, and about the completion next beat of the pendulum and swing ot' pallet-lever 59 from left to right lever 9 will not only drop further with pin 11 in slot, but the left-hand wall of slot 7 will be in contact with said pin, Fig. 4, thereby stopping the clockmovement. This further drop of lever 9 also tilts V-shaped lever 12 13 from its position Fig. 3 into the position shown in Fig. 4, with its catch 16 in the path of oscillation of pin 20 on arm 19 oscillating with pallet-lever 59, pin 15 acting as a support for arm 12 of said V- shaped lever. Palletlever 59 now swings from right to left, the clock-movement having been stopped one second, and to enable pin 2O on arm 19 to pass the lateral projection 53 on arm 13 of V-shaped lever 12 13 said projection is also V-shaped to form an inclined face 53, (see also Fig. 7,) over which pin 20 rides as pallet-lever swings from right to left, tilting lever 12 13 slightly, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4. This now brings pin 2() into the path oi' catch 16, and as the pallet-lever 59 again swings from left to right and before it completes this oscillation pin 20 engages catch 16 and begins to lift lever 9, Fig. 5, which lever is lifted into the position shown in Fig. 6 as palletflever completes its movement from left to right, thereby releasing the clock-train at the expiration of the second second. Hence the clock-movement has been stopped two seconds and the gain compensated. Inasmuch as the armatureactuated lever 26 is then under pallet 21, Fig. 6, lever 9 when released by pin 2O through lever 12 13 at the next swing of the palletlever 59 from right to left will be supported by said lever 26 through pallet 21, while at the same time pin 11 will lie on face 4 of cam 3. From what has been said it will be seen that the secondary-clock train is stopped for a period of two seconds at each revolution of the scape-wheel 1 and cam 3 and will but for a moment run synchronously with the master-clock.

It has been assumed that the secondary clock is two seconds fast per minute; but in practice this may be considerably less-for instance, two seconds per twelve hours, in which case the clock would be slow two seconds minus an infinitesimal fraction of a second at the completion of the irst revolution of cam 3 after synchronizing has taken place, the secondary clock now running behind the master-clock two seconds minus a fraction of a second, so that at the completion of the revolution ofI scape-wheel 1 and cam`3 the nose 6 of the latter will be in the position Fig. 1 after the seconds-hand of the masterclock is at the minute-z'. e., after a current impulse is sent to 30-so that 26 can swing from pallet 21 under pallet 22, pin 11 being still on cam-face 5. The secondary clock will now run as first hereinabove described until it has gained the time by which it was retarded-a'. e., two seconds minus a fraction of a second-and will keep going until it is again a fraction of a second fast, when the operation last described will be repeated, and so on.

It will be seen that the release of the clockmovement is effected mechanically instead of electrically, as has hitherto been the case, so that in case of interruption of the function of the electromagnet from any cause the secondary clocks are kept going, as lever 9 will be supported by lever 26 through one or the other pallet 21 or 22. Even should the interruption occur while the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4 the clock would be kept going, since lever 9 would be lifted and its pin moved out ot' slot 7 every minute. 1n this case, however, the clock would lose two seconds minus a fraction every minute, while should the clock have gained twenty seconds or more during the interruption of the opera- -tion of the armature 29 this would be corrected afterward at the rate of two seconds per minute, as will be readily understood.

l have described my invention in its application to a clock the pendulum of which beats seconds. lt will, however, be understood that it may be applied to clocks the pendulum or other equivalent element of which beats fractions of sccondsas, for instance, halfseconds-in which case the clock will be stopped for a period of one second only whenever the pin 11 drops into the slot7 ofthe disk, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf- 1. The combination with a revoluble and an oscillating element of a cloclcmovement; of a stopping device, means to move the same automatically and periodically into engagement with said revoluble element to stop the clockmovement, and an arm secured to said oscillating element and adapted to engage and move the stopping device out of engagement with the revoluble element and release the clock-movement after a definite period of stoppage.

2. The combination with a revoluble and an oscillating element of a clock-movement; ot' an electrically-operated stopping device periodically moved into engagement with said revoluble element to stop the clock-movement, and an arm secured to said oscillating' element and adapted to engage and move the stopping device out of engagement with the revoluble element and release the clock-movement after a definite period of stoppage.

3. In a clocksynchronizing system, the combination of a master-clock, an electric circuit, a circuit-closer controlled by a moving' element of said master-clock, and means controlled by the circuitecloser to periodically close the circuit and reverse the direction of the current impulse at each closure; with a l'secondary clock (or clocks) provided with anv electromagnet included in said circuit and with revoluble and oscillating elements,a stopping device operated by the magnet-armature to move into engagement with said revoluble element and stop the secondary clock, and

meansv controlled by said oscillatingelement to move said stopping device out oi" engagement withthe revoluble element after a detinite period of stoppage.

4. In a clock-synchronizing system, the combination of a master-clock, an electric circuit, a circuit-closer con-trolled by a moving element of said master-clock and means controlled by the circuit-closer to periodically close the circuit and reverse the direction of the current impulse at each closure; with a secondary clock (or clocks) provided with an electromagnet included in said circuit and with revoluble and oscillating e1ements,a stopping device operated by the magnet-armature to move into engagement with said revoluble element, means determining the period of stoppage, and means controlled by the oscillating element to move the stopping device out of engagement with the revoluble element at the expiration of the period ot' stoppage.

5. In a clock-synchronizing system, the combination of a master-clock, an electric circuit, a circuit-closer controlled by a moving element of said clock to momentarily close the circuit once every minute, and means controlled by the circuit-closer to reverse the direction of the current impulse at each closure of the circuit; with a secondary clock (or clocks) regulated to go fast and provided with an electromagnet included in said circuit, and with revoluble and oscillating elements, a stopping' device operated by the magnet-armature to move into engagement with the revoluble element to stop the secondary clock, means independent of the movements of the magnetarmature determining the period of stoppage, and means controlled by the oscillating element to disengage the stopping device from the aforesaid revoluble lelement at the expiration of the periodof stoppage.

6. In a clock-synchronizing system, the

combination of a master-clock, an electric circuit. a circuit-closer controlled by a moving element of the clock-movement to momentarily close the circuit once every minute and means controlled by the circuit-closer to reverse the direction of the current impulse at each closure; with secondary clocks regulated to go fast, each comprising a clock-movement, an electromagnet included in said circuit, a cam rotating synchronously with the secondshand and having' cam-faces 4 and 5 oi' diii'erent diameter and a radial slot 7, a stoppinglever having a pin in the path of said cami'aces and slot and to enter the latter, and two pallets, 2l, 22, pivotally connected to said lever, the lever 26 oscillated by the magnetarmature below said pallets, said parts operating substantially as set forth, and means controlled by an oscillating' element of the clock-movement to lift the stopping-lever and move its pin out of the slot of the aforesaid cam after a deiinite period of stoppage oi' the clock-train.

7. The combination with the scape-wheel, the slotted cam 3, the stopping-lever 9 having pin 1l and pallets 21, 22, and V-shaped lever l2, 13, pivotally connected thereto and the electrically-oscillated lever 26, said parts constructed and operating substantially as described; of the pallet-lever 59, the arm 19 oscillating with the last-named lever and having pin 20 adapted at given periods to engage an abutment or catch on arm 13 ot' said V-shaped lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

.MARTIN FISCHER.

I/Vitnesses:

F. BRUNNER, A. LIEBERKNECHT.

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