US961952A - Electric clock. - Google Patents

Description

F. I. GETTY. ELECTRIC CLOCK.- APPLIGATION FILED ammo, 1910.

961,952. Patented June 21,1910.

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Armnzw a URANAM 00., PHOIWLITHOGHAPHERS, WASHINGTON n, c

ELECTRIC CLOCK. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20

GETTY.

Patented June 21, 1910.

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Anomzw ll GRAHAM co. PNUYOLITHQGRAPHERS, WASMNGTON n C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED I. GETTY, OF JENNINGS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO CHAR-LES F. GILLMANN, OF NEOV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED I. GETTY, a resident of Jennings, in the parish of Calcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Clocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and precise specification.

My invention relates to electric clocks, and is an improvement on the electric clock disclosed in my Patent #687,454, issued November 21, 1899. The construction of the clock in this patent involves two weight arms which are restored alternately to the beginning of an active stroke by an electromagnet whose circuit is controlled by contact mechanism which is closed when one of the arms reaches the end of a working stroke. If, for any reason, the weight arms are not re-set to the beginning of their active strokes the movement of the clock becomes erratic and unreliable, and such failure to properly re-set the arms occurs when the current source, usually a primary battery, becomes weakened. In the arrangement in the patent failure of the electro-magnet to properly re-set an arm will result in a period of unreliable operation of the clock and the even tual stopping thereof with the contact mechanism in position to close the circuit. The battery will quickly deaden under the strain of this continued closed circuit and will be Worthless, whereas if the circuit could be kept open after failure of proper re-setting of the arms, it might recuperate and be fit for further service after proper re-adjustment of the weight arms. l/Vhenever the adjustment between the weight arms is disturbedit is much more desirable to have the clock stop immediately than to have it continue to operate in an erratic and unreliable manner, and one of the main objects of my invention is, therefore, to cause the clock to stop shortly after the adjustment of the weight arms is disturbed and before the clock indication becomes unreliable.

Another object is to provide an arrangement which leaves the contact mechanism open when the clock is stopped.

The invention also provides improved cooperating mechanism between the weight arms and the contact mechanism whereby the weight arms are locked to stop the clock and the contact mechanism locked in open condition. The battery is, therefore, saved from complete deterioration on closed cir- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 20, 1910.

Patented June 21, 1910.

erial No. 539,075.

cuit and in many cases would be able to recuperate to be available for further service, whereas, if the circuit is closed, the battery is quickly rendered entirely useless.

The clock is frequently subjected to ars and olts which would upset the adjustment of the weights, and in the clock of the patent such disarrangement would result in stop-' ping of the clock on closed circuit, whereas with my improved arrangement the clock would stop with the circuit open, thus giving immediate notification.

My invention is clearly described in the following specification and illustrated on the accompanying drawings, in which draw- 1ngs- Figure l is a rear elevation view of the clock mechanism embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on plane 22, Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on plane 3-3, Fig. 2, showing the position of the parts just before the contact mechanism is to be closed, Fig. 1 is a similar view, showing the position of the parts when the weight arms and contact arm are in mutually locked position, Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken from plane 5-5, Fig. 2, looking toward the rear of the clock, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on plane 55 of Fig. 1.

The clock mechanism and contact controlling mechanism are mounted between vertical frame walls 1 and 2 spaced rigidly apart at the top by a post 3 and at the bottom by a bar 1, the bar 1 being of magnetic material and forming a yoke for the cores 5 of electro-magnet coils 6. Pivoted between the walls 1 and 2 adjacent the pole ends of the electro-magnets is the armature plate 7. The minute hand arbor S pivots in the walls 1 and 2 above the elect-ro-magnets and extends beyond the front wall 2 to carry at its end the minute hand and to connect its pinion 9 with transmission mechanism, not shown, for driving the hour hand, which will be pivoted on the arbor in a well known manner. A. suitable train of gearing 10 connects the main arbor with the arbor 11 pivoted between the walls 1 and 2 at the top and in practice carrying a second hand at its outer end, the arbor also carrying an escapement wheel 12 with which cooperates the escapement lever 13 pivoted between the walls 1 and 2 and carrying the arm 14 which in practice connects with a pendulum. Upon the minute hand arbor are secured two ratchet wheels 15 and 16 having the elongated teeth 17 having the abrupt front faces 18 and the sloping rear faces 19. Between these ratchet wheels two hubs 20 and 21 are loosely pivoted on the arbor 8 and at their outer ends adjacent the ratchet wheels 15 and 16 respectively these hubs carry cam disks 22 and 23 from which extend weight arms 24 and 25 respectively, these weight arms carrying spring pressed pawls 26 and 27 for cooperating with the ratchet wheels 15 and 16 respectively. The disks and weight arms are symmetrical, the dis is having respectively the slots 28 and 29 concentric with the arbor for receiving the ends of a pin 30 carried at the end of a link 31 which is pivoted at its lower end to an arm 32 extending laterally and upwardly from the armature plate 7. The slots are so positioned with reference to the weight arms that the pin 30 will engage with the rear ends thereof when the arms are down and the armature plate is away from the electromagnet poles, so that attraction of the armature plate, which results in downward movement of the pin, will cause the lowered weight arm to be raised. The disk peripheries are cut away adjacent the slots to leave the lower surfaces 33 and 3% respectively terminating at their front ends in cam inclines 35 and 36 respectively.

Pivoted in the wall 2 is a bar 37 having at its end the extension 38 terminating in a locking plate 39 which cooperates with the ratchet wheels. Extending from the other end of the bar 37 is a contact arm lO carrying at its front end the contact plate 41, leaf spring 12 on the arm cooperating with a post 43 and tending to force the arm downwardly. A bracket 441- carries at its end a plate 15 which supports contact a-ws l6 and 17 for receiving the contact plate ll, the plate 15 being insulated from the bracket 44, as indicated. One terminal of the electro-magnet connects with the plate L5 and the other terminal connects with a binding post 48 carried by but insulated from the supporting frame, as best shown in Fig. 2. The contact arm 10 has electrical connection with the frame, and the source of power will connect to the frame and to the binding post 18 so that the circuit thrrugh the electromagnet will be closed as soon as contact plate 41 engages with the contact jaws.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described is the same as that of the mechanism shown in the patent referred to. When the weight arms are up their engagement with the ratchet wheel will cause rotation of the main arbor 8 and thus operation of the clock mechanism. The weight arms are at angles with each other, their engagement with the ratchet wheels being displaced the distance of one tooth, and this angular arrangement is maintained except during the brief instant when a lowered arm is thrown to its initial position by the electromragnet. As indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the arm 25 is approaching the horizontal and the arm 24: is approaching the lower end of its stroke, the cam plate 39 engaging with adjacent teeth of the ratchet wheels just in advance of the abrupt surfaces 18 thereof. As the operation continues the cam plate will be released by the ratchet teeth, allowing the contact arm 40 to drop to carry its contact plate 4:1 between the contact jaws 4:6 and 47, this causing closure of the electromagnet circuit and attraction of the armature. If the battery is strong enough the lowered arm 2-l will be thrown the distance of two teeth to its initial position, this resetting movement of the arm causing the cam approach 35 to engage with the cam plate 39 to raise the cam plate clear of the ratchet teeth and to rest on the outer surface of the cam disk until the ratchet wheels have been rotated to carry the next adjacent ratchet teeth under the cam plate. This raising of the cam plate will, of course, cause disconnection of the contact plate ll from the contact jaws and re-opening of the battery circuit. Both arms now are effective to rotate the shaft 8, and when arm 25 reaches its lowermost position the cam plate 39 will again drop to close the circuit, which will be followed by re-setting of arm 25 and re-opening of the circuit, this re-setting operation being exactly the same as in the patent referred to. Suppose, however, that for some reason or other the lowered arm is not returned fully to its original position. This will result in unbalancing of the clock movement and erratic and unreliable indication of the clock. F or example, the battery may become weakened and not sutliciently strong to cause the lowered arm to be fully reset. Suppose that the battery is only sufliciently strong to throw the lowered arm half way. This would bring both arms into horizontal position but will not result in opening of the electro-magnet circuit. The circuit. will. slowly open as both arms travel downwardly together and will be re-closed when the next tooth is reached. The battery, which before was too weak to fully restore one arm, will now certainly be too weak to simultaneously restore both arms, the result being that. the

clock stops with the circuit closed and the battery immediately deadens beyond chance for recuperation. After weakening of the battery the clock may run for a length of time, but it will be unreliable and it would be much more desirable to have the clock stop immediately as soon as the battery becomes too weak to carry on the proper operation. The main object of my invention is, therefore, to bring the clock to stop as soon as the battery becomes weakened and to keep the circuit open after stopping. In many cases the battery would be only temporarily weakened and if given a little time it would be able to fully recuperate. By thus opening the circuit the battery is prevented from deadening completely and is given a chance to re-gain its strength to again take up its operation upon proper resetting of the weight levers when the at tendant is notified by the stopping of the clock of the adjustment disturbances of the weight arms.

The means for carrying out my invention are best shown in Flgs. 3, 1 and 5. The outer end of each approach surface 19 of the teeth is cut away to leave a locking notch 49, these notches cooperating with the cam plate 39 to lock the weight arms against further operation upon failure of proper resetting of one weight arm. Suppose that arm 24, after reaching its lowermost position, is not fully re-set. This means that its cam approach 35 is not carried far enough to raise the cam plate 39 away from the ratchet teeth. The locking plate, therefore, remains between the ratchet teeth and as the clock continues the ratchet wheels will be rotated to carry the approaches 19 of the ratchet teeth along the cam plate to gradually raise it to open the circuit. As soon, however, as the cam plate reaches the locking notches 49 the ratchet wheels and the weight arms will be locked against further movement and the clock will stop. In this locking position, however, the contact arm is in its open position, and the battery circuit will be open. The stopping of the clock will notify the attendant that the weight arms are out of adjustment. The weight arms can then be re-set, and if the weakening of the battery was only temporary it will again take up its work. If the battery is dead then, of course, the clock would again stop and a new battery would have to be provided. With my improved arrangement, therefore, any adjustment disturbances of the weight arms would result in opening of the circuit and locking of the weight arms to stop the clock. The source of current will thus be saved and the windings will not be subjected to prolonged current flow.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to secure the following claims by Letters Patent:

1. In an electric clock, the combination of an arbor of a clock train, a weight arm adapted to swing from an upper to a lower position, means for coupling said weight arm with the arbor during downward movement thereof to cause rotation of the clock train, electro-magnet-ic means for re-setting the arm from its lower to its upper position, a circuit for said electro-magnetic means,

and means for locking said arm against further movement upon failure of the electromagnetic means to re-set said arm to its upper position.

2. In an electric clock, the combination of an arbor of a clock train, a weight arm adapted to swing from an upper to a lower position, means for coupling said weight arm with the arbor during downward movement thereof to cause rotation of the clock train, electro-magnetic means for resetting the arm from its lower to its upper position, a circuit for said electro-magnetic means, and means for opening said circuit and retaining it in open condition upon failure of the electro-magnetic means to re-set the arm to its uppermost position.

3. In an electric clock, the combination of a clock train, a weight arm adapted to swing from an uppermost to a lowermost position, means for coupling the weight arm with the 'clock train during its downward travel whereby the clock train is driven, electromagnetic mechanism for re-setting the arm to its uppermost position, a circuit for said electro-magnetic mechanism, and means for locking said arm against further movement and for permanently opening said circuit upon failure of the electro-magnetic mechanism to fully reset said arm.

at. In an electric clock, the combination of a clock train, a weight arm adapted to swing from an uppermost to a lowermost position, means for coupling the weight arm with the clock train during its downward travel whereby the clock train is driven, electromagnetic mechanism for re-setting the arm to its uppermost position, a circuit for said electro-magnetic mechanism, contact mechanism for said circuit, means for closing said circuit when the arm reaches its lowermost position to cause operation of electromagnetic mechanism, and means for permanently opening said circuit at the contact mechanism directly after failure of the electro-magnetic mechanism to properly reset said arm.

5. In an electric clock, the combination of a clock train, a weight arm adapted to swing from an uppermost to a lowermost position, means for coupling the weight arm with the clock train during its downward travel whereby the clock train is driven, electromagnetic mechanism for re-setting the arm to its uppermost position, a circuit for said electro-magnetic mechanism, contact mechanism for said circuit, means for closing said circuit when the arm reaches its lowermost position to cause operation of electro magnetic mechanism, and means for positively locking said arm against further movement and for permanently opening said circuit at the contact mechanism directly after failure of the electro-magnetic mechanism to fully re-set said arm.

6. I n an electric clock, the combination of an arbor of a clock train, a ratchet wheel on aid arbor, a weight arm pivoted on said arbor and having a. pawl for cooperating with the teeth and notches of said ratchet wheel and adapted to swing from an upper most to a lowermost position to drive the clock mechanism, electro-magnetic mechanism cooperating with said arm, a circuit for said electron1agnetic mechanism, means for closing saidcircuit when the arm reaches its lowermost position whereby said electromagnetic mechanism is energized to tend to restore the arm to its uppermost position, locking mechanism, and means whereby said locking mechanism will lock the ratchet wheel and arm against further movement directly after failure of the electro-magnetic mechanism to fully restore said arm.

7. In an electric clock, the combination of an arbor of a clock train, a ratchet wheel on said arbor, a. weight arm pivoted on said arbor and having a pawl for cooperating with the teeth and notches of said ratchet wheel and adapted to swing from an uppermost to a lowermost position to drive the clock mechanism, electro-magnetic mechanisn'i cooperating with said arm, a circuit for said electro-magnetic mechanism, means for closing said circuit when the arm reaches its lOWOlll'lOSt position whereby said electromagnetic mechanism is energized to tend to restore the arm to its uppermost position, locking mechanism, auxiliary notches for said ratchet wheel, and a locking plate engaging with said auxiliary notches to lock the ratchet wheel and arm against further downward movement upon failure of electro magnetic mechanism to fully restore the arm to its uppermost position.

8. In an electric clock, the combination of an arbor connected with the clock train, a ratchet wheel fastened on said arm and having teeth and notches, a weight arm pivoted on said arbor and having a pawl for cooperating with said teeth and notches, electro-magnetic 1n chanism associated with said arm and tending upon energization to restore the arm from a lower to an upper position, a circuit for the electro-magnetic mechanism, contact mechanism for said circuit, a cam plate for said contact mechan ism, said cam plate engaging in one of said notches when the arm reaches the lowermost position thereby to close said circuit to cause energization of the electro-magnetic mechanism, and auxiliary notches for said ratchet wheel adapted to be engaged by said cam plate to lock the ratchet wheel and arm against further downward movement upon failure of the electromagnetic mechanism to fully restore the arm to upper position, engagement of said cam plate with an auxiliary notch causing the circuit to be permanently opened.

9. In an electric clock, the combination of an arbor of the clock train, a ratchet wheel fixed on said arbor and having teeth and notches, a weight arm pivoted on said arbor and having a pawl for cooperating with said teeth and notches, said arm being adapted to swing from an uppermost to a lowermost position and adapted when moving downwardly to engage with the ratchet teeth to drive the clock train, electro-n'iagnetic mechanism associated with the arm for re-setting the arm from its lowermost to its uppermost position, a circuit for said electro-magnetic mechanism, contact mechanism for said circuit, a cam plate connected with said contact mechanism and riding over said ratchet wheel, said cam plate engaging one of said notches when the arm reaches its lowermost position whereby the circuit is closed and the electro-magnetic mechanism tends to re store the arm, a cam surface on said arm for engaging with said cam plate to open the contact mechanism only when the arm is fully restored to its uppermost position, and auxiliary notches at the outlets of said other notches for engaging with said cam plate to lock the arm against further downward movement and to lock the contact mechanism in open position upon failure of the electro-magnetic mechanism to fully restore said arm.

10. In an electric clock, the combination with an arbor of a clock train of two weight arms having pawl and ratchet connections with said arbor to actuate the same by gravity, electro-magnetic mechanism operatively connected with said arms to restore the same, a circuit for said electromagnetic mechanism, and means for locking said arms against further active movement directly after failure of the electro-magnetic mechanism to fully restore said arms.

11. In an electric clock, the combination with an arbor of a clock train of two weight arms having pawl and ratchet connections with said arbor to actuate the same by gravity, electro-magnetic mechanism operatively connected with said arms to restore the smile, a circuit for said electro-magnetic mechanism, and means for locking said arms against further active movement and for permanently opening the circuit directly after failure of the electro-magnetic mechanism to fully restore the arms.

12. In a clock, the combination of a clock train and a driving arbor therefor, weight levers adapted to swing from uppermost to lowermost positions and having driving connection with said arbor upon downward movement, means for restoring said arms from the lowermost to the uppermost positions, and means for locking said arms against further active movement directly after failure of said restoring means to fully restore said arms.

18. In a clock, the combination of a clock after failure of said restoring means to fully 10 train, weight arms adapted to swing from restore one of said arms. an uppermost to a lowermost position, In witness hereof, I hereunto subscribe my means for coupling said weight arms with name this 1.4: day of January, A. D. 1910. the clock train during downward movement FRED L GETTY. thereof, means for successively restorlng said arms from a lowermost to an uppermost WVitnesses: position, and means for locking said arms CHARLES J. SCHMIDT, against further active movement directly NELLIE B. DEARBORN.

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