US933381A

US933381A - Self-adjusting pendulum-escapement.

Info

Publication number: US933381A
Application number: US49257409A
Authority: US
Inventors: William B Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1909-04-27
Filing date: 1909-04-27
Publication date: 1909-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1926-09-07

Description

W. B. MILLER.

SELF ADJUSTING PBNDULUM ESGAPEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27,1909.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

INVENTOR ATTOR NEYS Manz-.11. a, GRAHAM cow Fxufmuwncmmsns, wAsumGrou. u c.

'UNITED STATES ATENT OFFIQE.

WILLIAM B. MILLER, OF LOUISVILLE, OHIO.

SELF-ADJUSTING PENDULUIJI-ESCAPEMET.

To all whom "it may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM B. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Self Adjusting Pendulum Escapement, of which the following is a specification.

It is a well known fact to those skilled in the art that the pendulum method is a very desirable form of escapement for clocks and the like. It is also well known that in many instances a clock embodying a pendulum escapement may prove.unsatisfactory in use because of the fact that the one in charge of the clock does not have the necessary mechanical skill to so arrange the clock that the works thereof may be plumb that the pendulum in swinging may move through the appropriate arc to properly operate the escapement. In this way many clocks of superior mechanical construction are condemned as practically worthless when in fact adjustment of their position is alone necessary to cause them to operate in a perfect manner.

My invention relates to a pendulum escapement wherein means is provided by which the device is rendered self-adjusting, thereby avoiding` troubles caused by the improper placing of the clock.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved device of the character described which will be easily andA cheaply made, simple in construction and well adapted to accomplish the purposes for which it is intended. I attain these objects, together with other objects readily apparent to those skilled in the art, by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the works of a clock and illustrating a device embodying my invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the plate of the clock works, provided with a boss for the pivotal connection of the adjusting plate. F ig. 3 is a perspective view of the adjusting plate, and showing a portion of the escapement detached from said plate. Fig. 4t is a horizontal section on the line l1-4t of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the friction spring. Fig. e is a top view, partly in horizontal section illustrating a portion of the clock plate, the boss arranged thereon, the adjust- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application lerl April 2?, 1909.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

serial No. 492,574..

ing plate and friction spring, and also illustrating the method of removal of the escapement-wheel with its appropriate shaft the view showing said wheel partly removed.

Throughout the several views similar numerals of reference indicate similar part-s.

The numeral 1 indicates one of the plates forming a portion of the framework of the clock. Upon such framework should be arranged, (although not shown) an appropriate train of gears. rilhe vertically disposed portion 2 forms a part of the plate 1 and through the portion 2 is cut an aperture 3 from which a slot il extends through the edge of the portion 2 for the purpose hereinafter more fully disclosed. Surrounding the aperture 3 on the front face of the portion 2 is a boss 5, the periphery of which is appropriately arranged to form a bearing to which the adjusting plate (3 may be pivotally connected. The boss 5 is provided with a slot or opening corresponding to the slot t, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The adjusting plate 6 is preferably of the form illustrated in Fig. 3 and is provided with an aperture T at its upper end adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the boss 5. The slot S extends from the aperture 7 through one of the sides of the plate 6, the slot 8 thus corresponding with the slot 4 and the slot in the side of the boss 5. The boss 5 extends outwardly from the surface of the portion 2 a distance greater than the thickness of the adjusting plate G. At a point on the peripheral. surface of the boss 5 just beyond the front surface of the plate G when properly arranged upon said boss, is an annular groove 9 for the purpose hereinafter disclosed. The plate G as hereinbefore indicated, is adapted to be pivotally suspended from the boss 5, the plate (3 and the portion 2 lying closely adjacent to each other.

A friction spring of the form illustrated in F ig. 5 is provided the spaced portions 10 of said spring being adapted to include the boss 5 between them, the said portions 10 being entered into the groove 9, as illustrated in Fig. 6 for the purpose of preventing the said spring from slipping frontwardly ott' of the said boss. The integral eX- tension 11 of the spaced port-ions l() is provided with the portion 12 lying at right angles with the portion 11 and adapted to be arranged in the dent 13 of the plate 1.

From an inspection of Fig, 6 it will be seen that from the free ends of the portion 10 to the point where lthe portion 12 joins the port-ion 11 the said spring is curved or bowed, the center portion of vSaid spring being convex and extending frontwardly. The portion 12 is of sufficient length, with reference to the arrangement of the other parts so that when the spring is in place with the portionslO arranged in the groove 9 and the portion 12 in the dent 13 the free ends of the portions 10 will bear against the plate 6 in a light frictional manner, permitting pivotal movement of the plate 6 on the boss 5 but preventing any sympathetic vibrating movement of the plate 6 with the vibrating of the pendulum as hereinafter more fully disclosed.

A bracket or support 14 is removably connected in a fixed manner to the plate 1 and is provided with a bearing for the spindle 15 of the escapement-wheel 16. r1`he purpose of the slot 4, the slot in the side of the boss 5 and the slot 8 is to permit the removal of the escapement-wheel with its spindle by removing the bracket 14 and moving the spindle 15 sidewise through the said slots, the construction illustrated in Fig'. 6 showing the said spindle partially removed.

1t should be stated that the present invention is not only intended to be embodied in new clocks, but also to be applied to clocks already made. In many instances the distance between the plate 2 of such a clock and other parts thereof is so slight that in placing the adjusting plate 6 in front of the plate 2 Ycare must be exercised in order that the parts be not crowded. For the purpose of pivotally supporting the lever 17 in a neat and mechanical manner and in such way as to take up the -minimum of space, l provide the rear arm 18 and front arm 19, which are pivotally connected to the adjusting plate .6 by means of the rivet 2O .passing through apertures in said arms and said plate. rlhe arm 18 lies closely adjacent the plate 6 and is pivotally adjustable about the rivet 20, although held to the plate 6 in a sulficiently close manner to frictionally engage the same to prevent accidental pivotal movement. The said arm 18 is provided with an extending' pin 21 constituting a stationary shaft. The lever 17 is provided with the spaced, downwardly extending bearing flanges 22, provided with apertures suitably arranged to engage the pin 21 and constitute a pivotal connection therewith. The arm 19 at its free end is olf-set at 23 and is provided with a linger 24 at the lower edge of the said free end. The said arm is adapted for pivotal adjustment on the rivet 20. ln arranging the parts the lever 17 is pivotally suspended upon the pin 21 by means of the bearings in the bearing flanges -22 and the arm 19 -is .then pivotally adjusted in the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the finger 24 engaging the pin 21 and `the `oE-set portion of said arm engaging' the bearing flange of the 'lever 17 which lies adjacent the rear arm 18, preventing the bearing flanges from moving off of the free end of the pin 21, while providing for' the intentional removal of the lever 17. The relative position of these parts is well illustrated in Fig. 4. It should be no ted that the center of the pivotal convnection of the lever 17 is normally in substantially the same vertical plane which passes through the spindle 15.

ilear the lower end of the plate 6 is a split post 25, in which the flat spring at the upper end of the pendulum-rod 26 is fixed. The said split post 25 is preferably located substantially in the same vertical plane with the pivotal connection of the lever 17 andthe spindle 15. The verge-rod 27 operatively connects the lever 17 .vith'the pendulu-mrod 2G, and the pendulum 28 is connected to the bottom of the pendulum-rod 26 in any appropriate mechanical manner. The lever 17is provided with the usual pallets 29 and '30 adapted for engagement with the escapement-wheel 16 in the usual manner, the verge-rod 27 actuating the said lever 17 upon its pivotal point in accordance with the vibrations of the pendulum-rod 26. lt has been stated that the spindle 15, the pivotal connection of the lever 17 and the split post 25 should normally lie in substantially the same vertical plane. This construction is preferable and is adapted to produce superior results, although not essential, but the drawings do not disclose an exact arrangement of the said parts in accordance with this principle.

A device of the character described having been provided, the mode of operation of the same is as follows. Then the clock is rst placed, even though the case of the said clock and the works are not arranged in a proper level and plumb position, yet the weight of the pendulum being supported by the plate 6 which is pivotally connected concentrically with the spindle 15, will cause the plate 6 to move in a pivotal manner around the boss 5 and around the center of the spindle 15 and escapement-wheel 16 until the split post 25 and the spindle 15 lie exactly in the same vertical plane. may then be started swinging or vibrating and will vibrate from the said split post 25 as a center, the plate 6 being maintained in a lixed position with reference to the plate 1 by the friction spring. If at any time the clock be moved, so as to throw the works again farther out of plumb, or back into their appropriate plumb position, the plate 6 will adjust itself to the new position of the parts in such manner as to keep the split The pendulumY post 25 and the spindle 15 at all times in a true vertical plane, thus fully accomplishing the purpose of the invention.

I claim:

l. A self-adjusting pendulum escapement comprising a clock provided with an escapement wheel and a plate, a boss mounted on said plate and having a peripheral surface adapted to form a bearing, an adjusting plate provided with an aperture adapted to permit the pivotal arrangement of said adjusting` plate on the bearing surface of said boss, said boss provided with an annular groove in its peripheral surface at a point beyond the front surface of said adjusting plate, a friction spring having spaced portions including said boss between them and entered into said groove, rear and front arms pivotally connected to the adjusting plate, the rear arm lying closely adjacent said plate and provided with an extending pin, a lever provided with downwardly extending bearing flanges having apertures adapted to be pivotally mounted on said pin, the front arm at its free end oft-set and provided with a finger, said arm adapted for pivotal adjustment, and said finger adapted to engage the said pin, and the olf-set portion adapted to engage one of said bearing iianges, a pendulum rod connected to the lower end of said adjusting plate and depending therefrom, a verge rod connecting the said lever with said pendulum rod, a

`)endulum connected to said pendulum rod and said lever engaging said escapement wheel.

2. In a device of the character described, an escapement-wheel, an adjusting plate adapted for pivotal adjustment about the axis of said escapement-wheel, a pendulum and pendulum rod connected to said adjusting plate, arms pivotally connected to said adjusting plate,` one of said arms provided with an extending pin, the other arm provided with an olf-set portion, a lever provided with bearing ianges, said flanges provided with apertures adapted to form a pivotal bearing on said extended4 pin, said flanges arranged upon said pin, the arm provided with an oiiset portion engaging one of said iianges, said lever adapted for engagement with .said escapement-wheel, operati ve means connecting said lever with said pendulum-rod and means consisting of a spring frictionallj7 engaging said adjust-ing plate for the purpose of preventing said plate from swinging with the vibrations of said pendulum and pendulum-rod.

ln testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLLXM B. MILLER.

Witnesses LAURA KLINE, VILLIAM H. MILLER.