US1417620A - Electric clock - Google Patents

Description

P. MANSEL.

ELECTRIC CLOCK. AEPLlcATloN FILED Aus.15,191.8.

Patented May 30, 1922.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. MANSEL.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.v

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 1918.

1,417,620. Patented May 30, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- backs are obviated in the following way: I'

UNITED 4,STA' l if.jS

PAUL MANsEL, .6E dHAnrENBu-'Na NEAR BEEL'N', GEM/MNE?, AssreNoe ro `v SIEMENS e miLsxE AKTIENGESELLseHAET, vor srEivrENssTADr, NEN-p. BER- LIN, GERMANY.

l lELECTRIC CLOCK;

Patented May so, 1922.

v Application filed August 1,5, 1918. ASerial No. 250,096.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS QF THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1921, '41 STAT. L.,

To all whom t may concern.'

e it known thatI, PAUL MANSEL, residing at Charlottenburg, have invented certain newand useful, Im-

rovements in Electric Clocks, (for which I have filed application in Germany May 12,

lowing is a specification.

My Ainvention relates to clocks and more especially to secondary clocks with a strike train, the particular object of this invention being to provide mechanisms of thisv kind which are less cumbersome and more reliable than those hitherto known.

In secondary clocks provided with a strike train this latter is actuated in general by thetrain of the secondary clock "causing the strike works to be wound up. In some `cases ythestrike train which may be provided in the master clock, is used to feed these'condary strike train.

Clocks of the kind mentioned in the iirst instance are'impaired by the-great stressunder which the sensitive works of the second` ary clock are placed, while those of the last mentioned kind require' special connections for feeding the secondary clock strike train.

According tomy inventionthese drawkeep the contact of the master'clock which is designed Ato actuate the secondary clocks, closed during the time magnet, which is connected-in parallel with the coil of the 'secondary clock train, to be closed so that the magnet is now fed through the network provided fordriving the secondar-y` clocks.

itse'lil controlsin a well known manner the' The striketrain mechanism interrupting and closing of the ysame circuit a number of times corresponding to the numl/ ber of strokes.

. l for clearness.

In the drawings aHXed to this specification and forming forms ofa master clock and the strike train of a secondary clock are shown 'connected' with each other, and-in whichigure 1 lrepresents'on the lefta part .of-

the master clock train and on theright a part of aseondary clock train.

Figure 2 represents `in dtail certain vportions of the striking train, omitted in Figure Figure`2a represents a detail view ofthe near Berlin, Germany,

'quarters four of them.

of striking and attheF same time I cause the circuit of a striketrain 'theend of each hour,

i shown in Figure 3.

part thereof the preferred* ary clock train similar to that shown in Figlurel, but with the trains, shown in Figure 2, indicated in dotted lines. e

Figure 3 represents in detail and in larger if scale the strike control movement of the master clock shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the .drawings B is the minute wheel arbor of the master clck and 118 a wheel fixed on said arbor and provided with notches 11'9 (see Figure 3), a lever 120 being f applied against'the circumference' of said wheel providedwith a pawl 121 adapted to enter said notches. rIhe number of notches provided in wheel 118 depends upon whether the clock kshall strike only full hours or also half hours and quarters of an hour. In the Vfirst mentioned case a single notch will suffice; half'hours will require two notches and The lever 110 fastened to a cam disk 111 fixed upon an aXle C and actuated by a spring, is brought in contact, while it is being rotated, with the teeth of a toothed wheel 112" driven from the minute wheel arbor, the arbor of said wheel 112 driving the wheel 124. The toothed wheel' 112 retards the movements of rotation y of Vlever/110 in such a manner that the'latter performs one-half revolution every minute for closing the contact the secondary clock'train, said contact being effected at .114, 115 through cam disk 111,

which alternately lifts contact springs 114a and 115% f Assuming wheel 118 to be provided with'a single notch 119 only, then pawl 121 will glide on the circumferenceof w eel 118 until and lonly once in an hour will it enter the notch 119, vsuch as is other end of lever 120 carrying a pin 122 will cross'the path of lever 110 thus causing this latter, when it is released by wheel '112,-to` abut against said pin 122 and t6 remain in this ,position until the pawl 121 has left the for the actuation of At such moment thenotch 119, thus causing the pin 122to effect a movement of rotation which carries'it out of the path of lever 110. 'During the time when lever is in contact with pin 122-the cam I111 will close `either contact 114:l or'contact as referredto before,y

the time of-closing being predetermined' by the form the l y ing the hands,

ltion may be transmitted notch 119 and the pawl 121 so as tov suffice also for the greatest number of strokes. As wheel 118 rotates only very slowly, an exact setting of the time of closing would require a very careful adjusting. In order to avoid this a third lever arm 123 is provided, this arm engaging the toothed wheel 112 in such a way that whenever said arm is in contact with the point ofthe tooth, the pawl 121 is out of engagement with the notch 119 and the wheel is not locked. Whenever one of the contacts 114, 115 is closed a Contactin the secondary clock is carried in a well known manner into a position ofv closing, this contact serving for closing the strike train magnet circuit, thus causing this latter to be' ei:- cited and the striking to be started, the number of strokes being controlled in a well known manner by the strike train mechanism itself.

The secondary clock shown in the drawings receives the current impulses for rotat- 7 8 and for feeding the strike train magnet through wire 2. To this end the cores of the electro-magnet coils 1 are attached to the permanent magnet 3 (Figures 2, 2b).

A secondary clock of this character is more fully described and shown in my copending application, Serial No. 146,939, filed on February 6th, 1917. Therefore, only those portions of the mechanism thereof are 4illustrated and described in the present case as are necessary to understand the invention involved here. In the magnetic circuit of the pole pieces 3A of this magnet an S-shaped armature 4 is rotatably located, said armature beingcaused by each current impulse transmitted throughthe line wire to move on in the same direction and causing in its turn,fby means of a `worm 5 and gear wheel 6, the hands 7 and 8 to travel around. Near the end of each hour a longer current im pulse is transmitted to the electromagnet 1, said impulse not only causing the hands to move, but also supplying the current required for the operation of the strike train. The striketrain itself is actuated by means of series of excitations, corresponding to the number of strokes of a strike train'magnet 20 connected in vparallel to the clock magnet 1, the current supply of magnet 2O being started by the clock work and controlled by the strike train itself. The :current Iimpulse transmitted at the end of each hour should last long enough to allow the strike train to strike full-twelve hours. For the half hours the usual impulse transmitted every minute and serving to keep the clock going will suffice. A current impulse of greater durayto the clock also every half hour.

The arbor of the minute hand 7 carries a disk 9 provided with two diametrically opposite pins 10 (Figures 2, 2?), these pins being adapted to cooperate with a bell crank lever 12 (the releasing lever) fixed on an axle 11 in such a manner that the said lever is lifted before the end of each half and full hour and will slip off exactly at the end of the half or full hours. The pins 1() are arranged at different distances from the arbor of the minute hand so as to lift the releasing lever at the end of each full hour more than at the end of eachhalf hour. On the lever 'axle 11 there is further fastened a pawl 13 gearing with theteeth 14 of a rack 15 adapted to swing on aXle 16. lWhen lever 12 is lifted at the end of anhour, pawl 13 is withdrawn from the teeth of the rack, thus allowing this latter to swing on its pivot inl a downward direction until a pin 17 fastened to it meets the periphery of a step disk 18 fastened to the arbor, operating the hour hand 8. At the end of each half hour the rack drops only forone tooth as the following larger tooth meets the pawl 13, which in this case is Anot withdrawn sufficiently to allow the passage of the larger teeth following the first short tooth of the rack.

As soon as lever 12 has slipped oif pin 10, which will be the case at the end of each full or half hour, the strike train is set going. The pawl 13 now engages the tooth 14 whose distance from the first tooth, according to the position of the step disk 18, corresponds to the length of the row of teeth whichl equals the'number of strokes required to indicate the respective hour. Therefore, if the rack is moved upwards during the act of striking and if an individual stroke corresponds to each tooth of the rack, then the number of strokes is dependent upon the step disk and from the position of the hands.

The rack is caused to move upwards by the strike train magnet 20, attracting its armature 21 pivoted on an axle 19 and being influenced by a spring 45', thus causing a bell crank lever 25 movable on an axle 23 and carrying a toothed segment 24 to movel (Figures 2, 2a). The toothed segment is in gear with a pinion 26 braked in both directions by means of a fly 28 coupled with .it by gear wheel 27, which carries a pawl 29. This pawl is adapted to take along a notched disk 30, when the gear wheel 27 is rotating in clockwise direction. Disk 30 moving with the disk 30, carries two pins 31 arranged diametrically -opposite each other and catching alternately in the teeth 14 of the rack 15 so as to cause the rack to move upwards by one tooth whenever the armature 21 is attracted. When the armature falls oif, disk 30 will keep its position due to the disengaging couplings 29 and 30 and a. pawl 33 fixed to the casing and engaging ratchet teeth of disk 30. The rack is held in its position by the pawl 13 until it is lifted another tooth by one of the pins 31, when miam i the armature is attracted once more. In accordance with the act1on of t-he contact device influencing the circuit of magnet 2O the upwards movement of the rack will continue until it has reached its uppermost position, where a. pin 34'arranged on the rack will cut off the supply of current to magnet v by means lof a lever, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

While the rack moves upwards, the strike train is actuated. The striker 37 striking the vgong spring 36, is fixed on a rotatable axle 38 carrying a block 39 influenced by a spring 40 so as to havea tendency to remain in its position of rest and notto come in contact with the gong spring or similar `sound producer after havingponce struck it.

Block 39 is provided with an .indenture 41; a pawl 42 pivotally attached to the toothed segment lever 25 and pressed by a spring .43 against a pin 42 engages in 'said inden ture 41 as soon as the armature 21 is attracted, thus causing striker 37 to be lifted each time the armature is being attracted. In order to allow striker 37 to slip :off sud-- denly' the relative movements of pawl 42 and block '39 vare chosen in such a manner .comes to'rest on the projection 42.

that after the striker has been lifted through the necessary distance, the pawl will leave the indenture 41, thus allowing the striker to slip olf'freely. At the same time pawl 42 As soon as magnet 20 becomes deenergized the armavce' ture l-isreleased and under the action of spring45 'pawl 42 then returns into the position shown in figure 2a.

i The current supply to'magnet 20 iscontrolled by ya number of contact springs 45,

v46,- 47 .(F igure 1.) Spring 45v is connected to one pole` of the line 2, lwhile springs 46, 47 are connected to the other pole `over the -lnagnet winding. Spring 46 is influenced by the releasing lever 12, ratchet pawl 42 and rack 15, spring 47 by the striker 37.

The connections for actuating the strike train are as follows: So long as the strike train is at rest, contact spring 47 lies against a flattened portion provided on the insulating block 48 xed to the striker axle 38, contacts 47, 45 being opened.` Spring 46 is Vkept away from spring45 by an insulating block j 49 arranged on a lever 5() provided-at-itsfree f :.-f-end with a forkl 51 embracing a pin 52,js"aid pin being arranged on a disk 54 fixed onfan `'axle 53. This axle is coupled by means of gear 55 with another axle 153 carrying the lever adapted to be turned by a pin 34 ar vranged on rack 15 whenever the rack has reached its uppermost position. ln accordance with this, arrangement, whenever the strike train is at rest, the contacts 46, is

' open and the strike train'magnet 20 does not receive any current.

Towards the end of each half and full hour one of the pins 10 meetsthe releasing lever 12 which is lifted more er less according to which pin is; in engagement with it. By the rotation of the releasing lever the lever 13is removed from the rack, which latter drops under the influence of its weight. The rack drops on the stepwheel at the end of each full hour, while forv half hours it drops only until its short tooth has passed the pawl 13, when the first of the following larger teeth engages the pawl, which in this case `is not thrown sufficiently far to admit the passage of the ylarger teeth. When the rack drops pin-34 provided on the same,

lleaves the lever 35, by means of which andy of gear 55, pin 52, leverand insulating piece 49 it has kept the contact spring 46 apart from the spring 45. By means of its tension spring 46 would atpresent close its contact, but is prevented from so doing by an insulating piece 56, which on lifting releasing lever 12 is rotated against spring 46 with its projection. Exactly at the end of a half or a full hour, releasing lever 12 slips 0E the pin 10, Awith which it is in engagement. insulating piece 56 leaves wlth its projection spring 46 land thecontact between springs 45 and 46 is closed; The magnet 20 is now supplied with current so as to attract its armature 21. The attraction of the armature is retarded on account of its engagement with the fan 28 by means of ies .the Spring 47, 45 is closed. This is necessary because the pawl 42 gliding in projec-f tion 42, has, immediately before the striker has reached its uppermost position, pressed downwards, by aid of a pin'60, a lever. 57 fixed to vaxle 53, thus turning insulatlng block'49 and opening contacts .46, 45.." This 'opening of the contacts is done forthe purpose of causing striker 37 to effect'the open- '.ing of the circuit which will take place at .the contact 47 45.

When the armature 21 has been moved 'against the action of fly 28 slowly into 'its position of rest by spring 45', the toothed segment 24 being ready to lift the rack once more andA pawl 42 having slipped oif the projection 42 of block-39, so as to be about to enter notch 41, pin 60 also releases lever- 47 and lever 5 0 with its insulating block 49, thus allowing contacts 46, 45 to close and magnet 20 to be supplied with current. In this way theinterruption of the most position.

wir

current energizing magnet 9.0 depends upon the end of the upwards stroke of the striker and the closure of the contact 45, 47 when the armature moves in its position of rest. As the armature has a retarded motion, the striker has reached already its position of rest before the armature reaches its rest position. On account of the fact, that the striker falls freely while the armature is retarded, the stroke ofthe striker will be performed with full Strength and the motion of the armature to its position of rest is noiseless, so that the sound of the gong is not disturbed by troublesome noises.

As soon as the contact between 46, 45 is closed,` armature 2() is energized again and a new stroke is performed and this is repeated until the rack has reached its upper- At each lifting of the striker the rack is lifted one tooth. To this end the larger gear 27, which is rotated when the armature is attracted, is provided with a pawl 29 which upon the attraction of the armature rotates two disks 30, 30. One of two pins 32, provided on the disk 30', en-l gages a toothl of the rack and lifts this latter for one tooth. In the raised position the rack is held by the pawl 13, when the gear is moving in the opposite direction. `Vhen the armature returns into its position of rest, the disks 30, 30 are not rotated, as they K- are' prevented from so doing by a vpawl 33 pivotally attached to the casing. After the rack has reached its uppermost position further strokes are prevented by pin 34, by means of which the insulating piece 49 is pressedl against contact spring 46 to hold it open, until the releasing` lever is lifted again and removes the pawl 13, so that the rack `drops again.

In order to be able to indicate the half hours by aid of ya single stroke, the followf ing arrangement is provided: The first tooth 58of the rack is somwhat smaller than the rest and the releasing pin 10 for the half hours is arranged at a the centre ofthe releasing disk 9, so asv to cause the pawlA 13 of releasing'lever 12 to release only tooth 58, but to be caught again by the normal size tooth 59 next following.

In' this manner only a single stroke 1s produced.

The strike train of the clock instead of being fed from the clock supply line, may as well be fed from a battery or from a heavy current supply."

The. clock train according to the present' smaller distance from tiiaen invention may also be connected, icy-aid of the step disk, with the receiver of an electric or other remote control device.k By setting the sender connected to the said device the step disk may be set also atwill, so as to produce any desired number of strokes. The releasing proper must be effected in this case after the step disk has been set, either by the movement of the receiver when setting the step disk or by-a special movement.

I claim: l

1. In an electric clock system in combination, a master clock and a secondary clock electrically connected with each other, means comprising a contact for driving said secondary clock from said master clock, a strike train forming part of said secondary clock and means for automatically keeping said contact closed so as to -feed said strike train with current while it is operating.

Q. In an electric clock system in combina tion, a master clock and a secondary clock electrically connected with each other, means comprising a contact for driving said secondary clock from said master clock, a strike train forming part of said secondary clock, a rotatable cam for temporarily closing said contact, and means for preventing sa'id cam from rotating in accordance with the time required for the striking.

3. In an electric clock system in combination, a master clock and a secondary clock electrically connected with each other, means comprising-.a contact for driving said secondary clock from said master clock, a strike train forming part of said secondary clock, a rotatable cam for temporarily closing said contact, and means connected with the minute hand arbor of the master clock for preventing said cam from rotating inaccordance with the time required for the striking.

4. fIn, an electric clock system in combination, a master clock and a secondary clock electrically connected with each other, means comprising a contact for driving said secondary clock from said master clock, a strike train forming part of said secondary clock, a rotatable cam for temporarily closing said contact, a notched disk fixed on the minute hand arbor of said mastenclock and an oscillating lever adapted, under the influence of said -notched disk, to temporarily prevent `said cam from rotatingin accordance with PAUL MANSEL.

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