US3039261A - Clock setting and regulating means - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1962 o. H. DICKE 3,039,261

CLOCK SETTING AND REGULATING MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l .FIG.I

IN V EN TOR.

OSCAR H. DICKE June 19, 1962 O. H. DICKE Filed Aug. 2, 1954 .IIHIIHIII 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

OSCAR H. DICKE AGENT 3,039,261 CLOCK SETTING AND REGULATING MEANS Oscar H. Dicke, 211 S. Washington St, New Bremen, Ohio Filed Aug. 2, 1954, Ser. No. 447,271 7 Claims. (Cl. 5824) This invention relates to clock mechanisms and more particularly to clock mechanisms including rate regulating means, which rate regulating means is automatically adjusted toward a better time-keeping position when the clock hands, or other time manifesting means, is set to correct time after a period of operation of the clock which started with the clock manifesting correct time.

It has for a long time been appreciated that the error of adjustment of rate regulating means for a clock is proportional to the extent the clock is off at the end of a particular period of operation, but no structure has heretofore been proposed, so far as is known, for accomplishing automatic rate regulation in response to setting without interfering with the proper operation of the clock, or its operation interfering with the adjustment of the rate regulating means during operation of the clock, or during preparation for a setting operation.

With synchronous electric clocks, which keep approximately correct time so long as no power failure takes place, in almost every home, mechanical clocks and watches may be set to indicate correct time almost anywhere and at any time. This source of approximately correct time is a decided advantage in providing automatic rate regulation in accordance with the extent of setting in accordance mm the present invention.

In View of the foregoing and other important considerations it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to continuously interconnect the escapement mechanism, the time manifesting means, and the rate regulating means of a clock or watch so that no gear shifting is required when a simultaneous setting and rate regulating function is to be performed.

More specifically, it is proposed to provide a planetary gear structure which connects a rotatable clock driven shaft, a rotatable rate regulating means together in a manner so that the clock driven shaft normally drives the time manifesting means and so that if the time manifesting means is set by being forced to manifest a different time than that determined by the clock shaft the rate regulating means is also operated in a direction to require less setting in the future provided such setting takes place at substantially equally time spaced intervals the length of which is dependent on the clocks design.

Although there are numerous ways in which such planetary gear structure could interconnect the three rotatable members of the clock system above mentioned only a few ways are specifically proposed. In one it is proposed to provide a differential planetary gear mechanism between a shaft operated at substantially one revolution per hour for driving a minute hand at the same speed when the planet supporting gear is held stationary, in another form it is proposed to accomplish this function at a different than a one-to-one ratio as, for instance, by driving a time manifesting means at one speed through the medium of planetary gearing of which the input shaft is driven by a clock shaft rotating at another speed with the planet supporting member of the planetary gearing held at rest. Obviously other planetary structures could have been proposed but have not been illustrated. It is also proposed to provide means whereby the clock or watch may be set without injecting the rate regulating function, which feature is to be used when such clock or watch has stopped for want of mainspring energy. Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the invention will be understood when this description is con- United States Patent sidered in the light of the accompanying drawing, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an escapement clock embodying the present invention in which the planetary gearing comprises the usual one-to-one ratio differential gearing connected to opposite sides of the usual slip clutch permitting setting of the minute hand of the clock;

FIG. 2 is a modification comprising a fragmentary portion of a structure depending on FIG. 1 for illustration of common structure and in which the one-to-one ratio planetary gearing is connected directly between the time shaft and the time manifesting means, and in which rotation reversing means is used to cause the clock hands to rotate in a clockwise direction;

FIG. 3 shows another modification of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 in which the planetary gear mechanism is one involving only spur gears and in which the planetary gearing also serves as speed-up gearing;

FIG. 4 is still another modification in which the planetary gear mechanism is a Vernier gear mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1, with certain hidden details eliminated for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 1 structure.Refe-rring now to FIG. 1 of the wound in any one of the various ways well known in theart and therefore requiring no specific illustration. The pinion 10 located at the high-speed end of the gear train, is directly connected to the escape wheel 11 which has itsteeth engaged by a pal-let 14 having a forked extension 1411 engaging opposite sides of leaf spring 15 supporting.

the pendulum 16 containing a pendulum weight or bob 16a.

pendulum 16, although the pendulum 16 is actually supported by the leaf spring 15 supported by the round threaded plug 18 slidable in a round hole in bracket 19 but actually supported by threads in worm-wheel 20, av key 21 sliding in a keyway in plug 18 preventing rotation of this plug. The net result is that the turning of this.

worm-wheel 20 will change the effective length of the pendulum 16, and by changing the distance from pin 17,.

constituting the upper end of the pendulum, to the center of gravity of pendulum 1616a, changing its period of swing or oscillation. Gear 5 and pinion '4 are connected to shaft '40 as by pin 41 and normally rotate at substantial-. ly one revolution per hour. This shaft 40* is in axial alignment with shaft 42 and operatively connected thereto by the friction slip clutch 43-44 containing friction springs '45. This shaft 42 is frictionally engaged with the usual minute hand shaft 46 through the medium of a second slip clutch 4748 containing friction springs 49. In other Words, shaft 40 is frictionally secured to shaft 42 by slip clutch 4344 and the minute hand shaft 46 is frictionally secured to shaft '42 by slip clutch 4748. This structure provides two separate slip clutches for setting the minute hand of the proposed clock under two different, The minute hand shaft 46 may be set.

circumstances. through the medium of slip clutch 4748 by merely tak ing hold of the minute hand itself or the setting knob 50 by turning it. The minute hand shaft 46 may also be set by rotating setting disk 30 having a V-shaped notch 30a and also by turning setting key 5-1. This setting key 51 is directly secured to shaft 22 which is operatively connect- The pallet 14 is pivoted on a split pin 17 through which spring 15 passes and is operatively connected to the ed through bevel gears 52 and 53 to shaft 23 to the planet supporting member 24 of differential gearing DF as by pin 25. This differential DF comprises planet gear supporting member 24 having pivotally secured thereto two bevel gears 26 and 27 having their axis arranged radially With respect to axis of the planet supporting member 24. These planet bevel gears 26' and 27 engage bevel gears 28 and 29 which are coaxial with shaft 23 and are free to rotate thereon. The two latter bevel gears 28 and 29 have integral therewith spur gears 60 and 61 respectively. The spur gear 6 1 is directly meshed with gear 62 contained on and secured to shaft 42, whereas spur gear 61} is driven by pinion 63 driven by shaft 40 through the medium of re versing idler 64. This idler 64 is provided to cause the two bevel gears 28 and 29 to be rotated in opposite directions. Also because the radius of gear 61 is to the radius of gear 62 as the radius of gear 60 is to the radius of gear 63 the shaft 42 is driven at the same speed and in the same direction as is shaft 40 driving the same, if we assume the planet supporting member 24 at rest. In other words, as shaft 40 drives the shaft 42 and the clock minute hand 70 directly through the medium of slip clutch 4344 it also drives them indirectly through the medium of pinion 63, idler 64, gear 60, bevel gear 28, planet bevel gears 26 and 27, bevel gear 29, spur gear 61 and spur gear 62. The direct drive through the slip clutch 43--44 is dominating by reason of the friction imposed by this slip clutch. If, however, this slip clutch is forced to yield and is relatively rotated by shaft 23, as by a setting operation, the planet supporting member 24 is rotated. The shaft 23 operatively connected to planet supporting member 24 by pin is normally connected to the worm 74 through the medium of disengagea-ble friction clutch 7778 which worm 74 engages worm-wheel 75 contained on a shaft 76 having a worm-wheel 76a engaging worm-wheel 20 having threads in its axial bore engaging the threads on the threaded round shaft 18 which is prevented from rotating by key 21. It is thus seen that rotation of planet supporting member 24 will cause a change in the adjustment of the rate regulation of the clock when the clutch 7778 is engaged but will leave the rate regulator unchanged if this planet supporting member 24 is rotated with the clutch 77-78 disengaged. This clutch therefore affords either setting alone by the turning of setting knob 51 or affords both setting and rate regulation by the turning of this setting knob 51 depending on whether this clutch 77-78 is disengaged or engaged respectively. Furthermore, the disengageable clutch 7778 may be omitted if desired in that there are still two ways of setting the clock hands, namely by turning setting knob 51 which results in simultaneous setting and rate regulation and by merely moving the clock hand 70 as by knob 50 as is permitted by slip clutch '4748. The reason for permitting either, as desired, setting alone or both setting and simultaneous rate regulation is that rate regulation should only accompany setting when the clock is off due to poor time keeping, and setting alone should be permitted when the clock is off due to other causes such as a run-down mainspring, for instance. It should be observed that the hour hand 71 is driven at one twelfth the speed of minute hand 70 through the medium of the usual reduction gearing including pinions 80* and 82 and gears 81 and 83.

Attention is now directed to the fact that the clock of FIG. 1 may also be set automatically, as through the medium of setting magnet SM which may be controlled from a remote point as for instance, by the accurately controlled time signals transmitted by the National Bureau of Standards radio station WWV, Beltsville, Maryland or by some other remote controlled time signal or master clock, which magnet S'M will in practice be energized and will pick up momentarily at exactly the end of each hour or at the end of any other suitable time period. To accomplish such remote controlled setting, a setting cam preferably consisting of a disk having a radial V- shaped notch 36a is employed. This V-shaped notch may be engaged by a Vshaped hammer 85 supported by a support pivot 86 and biased by spring 87 against a stop 88. The other end of this hammer 85 constitutes an armature 85a which may be attracted by setting magnet SM when energized from a suitable electrical signal impulse. momentary energization of setting magnet SM will cause the V-shaped hammer to engage V-shaped notch 30a in disk 30 and thereby cause slight rotation of this disk if it does not already assume the even hour position. Such rotation of disk 36) will, by reason of the relatively fixed nature of spur gear 60 and slipability of clutch 43-44 cause slight rotation of planet supporting member 24 and worm 74 which in turn causes a slight change in the effective length of the pendulum adjustment, or adjustment of other rate regulating means such as a hair spring. Furthermore, the Worm pitches of the worms and wormwheels are of an angle and direction such that if the V- shaped hammer 85 advanced the clock hands the rate regulating means is operated in a direction to shorten the pendulum 16 and vice versa. Should it be necessary to set the clock manually, as in the case when it is first installed and set into operation, the friction clutch 7778 is first disengaged followed by a rotation of setting key 51 until the clock hands indicate substantially correct time. This special procedure is necessary to prevent operation of the rate regulating means when the clock is set manually for a clock including the automatic setting feature just described. It should be understood that the automatic setting feature is not necessarily used, but in any event the slip clutch 43-44 must always be provided, but when this remote controlled setting is used the slip clutch 47--48 may also be omitted. It is omitted, when automatic remote setting is provided, so that the minute clock hand will always have a definite relationship with the V-shaped notch 39a of the setting disk 30, so that each time the setting magnet is energized the clock hand is moved to, or is positioned in, the even hour position. The clutch member 78 is spring pressed against cluch member 77 by compression spring 79 and is provided with a groove engaged by the end of the lever CL which is held toward its normal position by the spring 79.

Operation of FIG. 1 automatic setting.Let us first assume that the clock hand 70 or other time manifesting means is directly connected to shaft 42 and that the frictional connection 47-48 is omitted, as may be the case where remote controlled setting is imposed. Let us further assume that the setting magnet SM is energized at intervals exactly an hour apart and exactly on the hour. Let us also assume that the clock was cut into service on the hour with it indicating correct time. Let us now assume that at the end of the first hour when the setting magnet SM was momentarily energized the clock hand 70 is set ahead exactly one minute, because the clock had lost one minute the first hour. As the clock hand is thus advanced one minute the shaft 42 is rotated clockwise with respect to shaft 48 to cause the planet supporting member 2 4 to be operated counter-clockwise half as much. It is proposed that the gear ratio between planet supporting member 24 and worm wheel 20 be such that if the clock is advanced by automatic setting to the extent of one minute the rate regulating means is operated to an extent to cause the clock to lose only a half minute or say a quarter of a minute, depending on the gear reduction in the rate regulating chain during the next hour. That is, it is desired to make less than a full correction but not necessarily exactly a half correction, since a three-quarter correction; or a seven-eights correction could be made, if desired. If a half correction is made at each setting, made at specified intervals, the clock will be one-half minute slow at the end of the second hour, or other time period, will be one-fourth minute slow at the end of the third setting and so on until at the end of say the twenty-fourth hour the clock will keep substantially correct time and will be corrected only very slightly each time the setting The i magnet SM is energized thereafter. In other words, it is desirable to employ a gear ratio or rate regulation ratio such that each rate regulating correction is an under correction closely approaching a full correction. If the clock is to be automatically corrected over a remote controlled clock setting system which transmits a clock setting im pulse only once for each twenty-four hours a speed-reducing gear ratio which is twenty-four times as much as that above given, where the clock is set hourly, would have to be used. Also in this latter case the clock would have to be adjusted more accurately when the clock is installed. For instance, in the latter case the clock should not gain or lose more than about two minutes in twenty-four hours in order that the V-shaped hammer would be sure to strike the V-shaped notch 30a in setting disk 30 at the first automatic setting of the clock. Here again it would be desirable to make substantially a half to a seven-eighths correction at each setting operation so as to be sure to avoid an over-correction.

Operation Fig. 1 automatic setting omitted.As above pointed out it is proposed that the automatic setting feature including the setting disk 30 may be omitted, if desired, in which event the disengageable clutch 7778 may also be omitted, if desired, but if it is omitted the slip friction clutch 47-48 must be retained. Let us now assume that the setting disk 30, the setting hammer 85 and the setting magnet SM are omitted as is also the clutch 7778. In this case only hand setting will be resorted to. It will be remembered that automatic setting took place, as above pointed out, at repeated equal time intervals, so also it is desirable that manual settings shall be made at approximately equal time intervals. It is proposed that instructions go with each mantel clock or wrist watch embodying the present invention to the effect that these time pieces be set, say, once per Week as for instance each Sunday. This sort of instruction is desirable so that proper gear reduction may be built into the rate regulating gear reduction train so that when the time piece it set in conformity with these instructions a slight under-correction of the rate regulating adjustment will be made. It is more specifically proposed that an under-correction of the error in rate regulation adjustment be made at each such equally spaced setting time so that a correct adjustment will be approached gradually. The setting just mentioned will be made at setting knob 51 as a result of which the planet supporting member 24 will be turned together with the turning of shaft 22 which changes the rate regulating adjustment to an extent to make a partial correction of the rate error. Thus turning of the planet supporting member 24, since bevel gear 28 is held substantially stationary by the clock train, will cause the bevel gear 29 to rotate at twice the speed of shaft 23 and setting knob 51 the gears 52 and 53 preferably having the same number of teeth. This will cause rotation of spur gears 61 and 62, the slip clutch 43-44 allowing slippage to take place, and cause the clock hand 70 to take a new position with respect to the clock shaft 40 where it again indicates correct time. The turning of setting knob 51 will, of course, for reasons already given, change the effective length of the pendulum, or hair spring in the case of a watch, to cause the clock or watch to keep more nearly correct time thereafter. In the event the clock or watch is off, because it temporarily stopped, the clock or watch will be set at a setting knob fastened directly to the clock minute hand 70 as illustrated by knob 50. In this latter setting manipulation slippage will take place at slip clutch 47-48 in which case no rate regulation will take place. That is, slip clutch 47-48 imposes less friction than does slip clutch 43--44.

Fig. 2 structure-In the structure shown in FIG. 1 the differential DF is arranged on a shaft parallel to the clock shaft 40 and the differential is coupled to opposite sides of the slip clutch 4344 through the medium of spur gear trains which drive the bevel gear 28 and 29 of differential DF in opposite directions. This construction may be simplified by placing the differential DF directly in the axis of clock shaft 40, as shown in FIG. 2. This change would cause the clock hands 70 and 71 to operate counter-clockwise were it not for the reversing gears and 91 provided to cause rotation of shaft 92 in the clockwise direction. It should be observed that a slipclutch 9798 has been provided between setting disk 30 and the gear 90, in order to permit setting of the clock hands 70 and 71 of FIG. 2 without performing a rate regulating function. It should also be observed that the clock hour hand 71 of FIG. 2 is driven at one-twelfth the speed of minute hand 70 through the medium of pinions 100 and 102 and spur gears 101 and 103. Referring now to FIG. 2 the bevel gear 105 is fastened directly to shaft 40 as by a pin 106. The planet supporting member, which is a gear 107 in this instance, and which supports planet bevel gears 108 and 109 is normally held at rest by friction brake 115--116 which performs through the medium of gear 113 and shaft 123 the same function as does slip clutch 43-44 in FIG. 1. If now the setting knob 51 of FIG. 2, corresponding to the setting knob 51 of FIG. 1, is turned the friction brake 115 acting on brake wheel 116 will yield and allow planet supporting member 167 to rotate. Since bevel gear 105 is held substantially firm by the stubborn behavior of the clock train the bevel gear will be rotated at twice the speed of rotation of the planet supporting member 107 to thereby set the clock hands 7 0-7 1 to :a different position with respect'to the clock shaft 40. The gear train leading to the rate regulation means and including the two bevel gears 52 and 53 and also including worm reduction Worms 74 and 76a and worm wheels 75 and 20 of FIG. 1 is such that if the clock of FIG. 2 is set by turning of setting knob 51 to correct time after the proper interval since it indicated correct time, say one week earlier, the rate regulating means will be operated to a position to interpose only one-eighth that error during the next week of operation of such watch or clock, assuming a seveneighth correction.

Operation of FIG. 2 by manual setting.-As already pointed out the clock shaft 112 of FIG. 2 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction. The friction brake -116 resists rotation of the plane supporting member 107 so that counter-clockwise rotation of clock shaft 112 causes clockwise rotation of the clock minute hand 70 at the same rate by reason of the reversing gears 90-91 employed. Let us now assume that the clock of FIG. 2 was set to correct time on one Sunday and was found to be one minute slow the next Sunday. The clock is then set by turning setting knob 51 until the minute hand 70 indicates correct time as determined by a synchronous motor electric clock, :or some other reliable time inforrnation. That is, it is advanced one minute. This turning of setting knob 51 will adjust the rate regulating means of FIG. 2, shown only in FIG. 1, driven through bevel gears 52 and 53 to increase the speed of the clock or watch by shortening the pendulum, or hair spring, to an extent that the clock or watch will lose only a one-eighth minute the next week assuming a seven-eighth correction. At the end of the second Week similar setting to a lesser extent will take place so that the clock or watch will be slow only one sixty-fourth minute. This same procedure will be repeated and after a few more weeks the clock will keep substantially perfect time. It should be understood that instead of making a seven-eighth correction in the rate regulation for each equally spaced time period a two-third or three-fourth or some other fraction of the error may be corrected out. Should now, in the structure of the FIG. 2 modification it be desired to correct the time indication by setting the clock or watch following temporary stopping thereof due to failure to wind the mainspring of the time piece, such setting may be accomplished by turning setting knob 50 fastened directly to the clock hand 70 as permitted by the slip friction clutch 97-98. In

7 this case no change in the adjustment of the rate regulator including shaft 22 will take place.

FIG. 2.Operatin by remote setting.When the FIG. 2 clock or watch is set by signal impulses transmitted to the setting magnet SM from a remote point the slip clutch 9798 is preferably omitted, as is also the setting knob 50, and the clock hand 70 is properly secured to shaft 92 in relationship to the V-shaped notch 30a in setting disk 30. The simultaneous setting and rate regulation of the clock of FIG. 2 by remote control is the same as already described in connection with FIG. 1 and need not be repeated. In FIG. 1 each time the planet supporting member 24 rotates the slip clutch 43-44 slips and in the same manner when the planet supporting gear 107 of FIG. 2 is rotated the slip-brake 115-116 slips so that slip clutch 43-44 of FIG. 1 and slip-brake 115116 of FIG. 2 are functional equivalents. Such slippage takes place each time the setting disk 30 of FIG. 2 is rotated by the setting magnet SM of FIG. 2. Here too, when the clock is set due to stoppage of the clock, or the like, the setting is carried out by rotating setting knob 51 with the clutch 7778, shown only in FIG. 1, disengaged. This is done so that no rate regulation takes place when the clock is corrected because it was off due to causes other than poor time keeping.

FIG. 3 structure.-The conventional clock mechanism including gears 3, 5, 7, and 9 and pinions 4, 6, 8, and 10, mainspring housing 12, escape wheel 11, pallet 14, and pendulum 16, of FIG. 3, are in part shown in FIG. 1. Similarly the worms 74 and 76a and the worm- wheels 75 and 20 as well as their supporting structure of FIG. 3 are in part shown in FIG. 1. The principal modification of the FIG. 3 structure over FIGS. 1 and 2 resides in the elimination of bevel gears from the planetary gear structure to thereby cheapen the construction and to reduce the frictional losses in the gear train. This structure requires the shaft 40 of FIG. 3 to operate :at one fourth the speed of shaft 40 of FIG. 1 which is assumed to be the ease. Freely rotatable on the one-fourth revolution per hour shaft 40 of FIG. 3 is a planet supporting gear 150, which supports a pin 151 projecting from the right side of this gear 150. On this pin 151 is rotatably secured an integral pinion and gear structure comprising .a pinion 153 and gear 154 of twice the radius as that of pinion 153. The pinion 153 is nearer to the planet supporting gear 150 but on the right side of this planet supporting gear 150 and is in mesh with the spur gear 152 permanently and firmlysecured to shaft 40 as by pin 156. The gear 154 integral with pinion 15? on the other hand meshes with a pinion 155 rotatable on shaft 40 and having integral therewith a setting disk 30 similar to disk 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The setting disk 30 is provided with a V-shaped notch 30a which will be engaged by the V- shaped hammer 85 when the setting magnet SM is energized to attract armature 85a pivoted on screw-pin 86. This setting magnet SM will be momentarily energized from a remote point as pointed out in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. Since shaft 40 of FIG. 3 rotates clockwise as viewed facing the clock hands 70 and 71 at substantially one-fourth r.p.h. and since pinions 153 and 155 have radii half that of gears 152 and 154 the setting disk 30 and clock hand 70 will rotate at substantially one r.p.h. in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right side of the clock as shown in FIG. 3. A small pinion 164 on shaft 123 and containing a setting knob or key 51 is in meshed relation with the teeth of planet supporting gear 150. The shaft 123 is provided with a worm 165 in mesh with worm-wheel 16'6 contained on shaft 22 having keyed or otherwise secured thereto a clutch member of a clutch such as 77--78 shown also in FIG. 1. The shaft 123, is also provided with a brake drum 116 as also shown in FIG. 2 which is frictionally held as by the brake 115. Between the setting disk 30 and the pinion 170 is a slip clutch plate 160 which with setting disk 30 and spring 169 constitutes a slip clutch 160169 which affords setting 8 of the clock hands 70 and 71 by the setting knob 50. It will be observed that the hour hand 71 is operated at one-twelfth the speed of the minute hand 7 0 through the medium of speed reducing pinions 170 and 172 and gears 171 and 173 the same as in FIG. 1.

Operation of FIG. 3.-Ma nual setting.-For manual hand setting clocks and watches the clutch 7778, the setting hammer and setting magnet SM is disregarded or entirely omitted. The planet supporting spur gear is normally at rest and the shaft 40 which in this structure operates at one-fourth revolution per hour drives the clock hand 70 at approximately 1 r.p.h. through reducing gear train 152, 153, 154, and 155. If now the clock of FIG. 3 partly shown in FIG. 1 only, was started with correct time one Sunday and was found to be one minute slow the next Sunday, the clock hands 7t} and '71 are set to correct time indication by turning setting knob 51. It will be observed that turning of knob 51 counter-clockwise as viewed from the front of the clock, will cause the pinion 153 to roll counter-clockwise, as viewed from the right or front of the clock, over the relatively stationary gear 152 and thereby rotate inion 155, setting disk as and clock hand 70 clockwise. The knob 51 will in this manner be turned until clock hands 70 and 71 indicate correct time. As this is done the knob '51 will also rotate shaft 22 in a direction and to an extent until the pendulum 16 of FIG. 1 has been effectively shortened to an extent to cause the clock to lose only one-eighth minute during the next week, assuming it is sought to make a seven-eighth correction for each setting, which function is determined by the extent of gear reduction in the rate-regulating gear train including the worm 165 and the worm-wheel 166. Should the clock have stopped by reason of failure of mainspring energy, as by failure to wind the clock, then the clock is set by setting knob 50, as permitted by slip clutch -169, in which case no rate regulation is imposed.

Operation FIG. 3.Rem0te impulse setting-If we now assume that remote-imposed automatic setting is employed. In this case the setting knob 50 is turned until the minute hand indicates zero minutes while the hammer 85 engages the notch 30a in the setting disk 30 or otherwise the slip-clutch 160-469 is omitted and the minute hand is fixedly connected to the setting disk 36 in the above-mentioned juxtaposed relationship.

Let us assume that the gear reduction train leading to the rate regulating means of FIG. 1 and including worm and worm-wheel 166 is in this case designed to produce substantially a seven-eighth rate correction for one hour interval settings. If now the setting magnet SM is momentarily energized at the end of each hour the rate regulator will be corrected each time proportionally to the extent of error in the time keeping during the preceding hour until the clock is regulated to keep correct time after which no rotation of the setting disk takes place during a setting operation. Should now the clock stop due to failure of mainspring energy either due to failure of the automatic winding feature, not shown, or due to failure to wind by hand. In this case the clutch 77-78 will be held disengaged while the clock hands are being set through the medium of setting knob 51.

FIG. 4 structure.-In FIG. 4 has been illustrated a third modification of the invention. In order to avoid cumbersome drawings the regular clock mechanism and setting magnet SM of FIG. 1 have been omitted. For convenience the hour hand 71 and associated reduction gear train has also been omitted. In this form of the invention a planetary gear mechanism of the Vernier type is employed where the planet supporting member 183 supports two planet gears 184 and 185 meshing with a normally stationary gear preferably having 46 teeth and a gear 181 operatively connected to the shaft 40 of the clock movement of FIG. 1 as by a pin 132 and which preferably has 48 teeth. The gear 180 is integral with bevel gear 53 which meshes with bevel gear 52 on shaft 22 which through reduction gearing drives the rate regulation worm-wheel 20 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Since gear 180 is normally held stationary by brake 115-116 acting through shaft 22 and gears 52 and 53, and gear 181 is forced by shaft 40 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the right, at a speed of one twentyfourth revolution per hour the points of teeth-in-synchronism, two in number, are moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the right, at a speed of one revolution per hour. As these points of teeth-in-synchronism condition rotate about gears 180 and 181 the planet pinions 184 and 185 pivoted on planet supporting member 183 roll around with these points of teeth-insynchronism and at a speed of substantially one revolution per hour. The teeth in these gears 180 and 181 and in planet pinions 1'84 and 185 are so designed that as the teeth of gears 180 and 181 approach each other to gradually approach conditions of non-synchronism the teeth of planet pinions 184 and 185 are pushed out to produce rol-ling action of these planet pinions about these gears. It is thus seen that the vernier planetary gear system shown in FIG. 4 constitutes speed-up gearing having a speed ratio of one to twenty-four from shaft 40 to clock hand 70 provided gear 180 is held stationary. It will be observed that setting disk 30 having V-shaped notch 30a is directly secured to planet supporting member 183 and that this disk through slip- clutch 47, 48, 49, drives minute hand 70, so that the minute hand may be set relative to planet supporting member 183 by turning setting knob 50 when no automatic setting is employed and under conditions where setting solely and no rate regulation is desired for reasons already pointed out.

Operation FIG. 4.The operation of the FIG. 4 structure is essentially the same as that of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 heretofore described. It may, however, be pointed out that if the setting cam 30 shown is rotated by a setting hammer such as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, or 3, the clock hand 70 will be set and simultaneously therewith the gear 53 is rotated to cause operation of the rate-regulating means all as heretofore described. Also, if the clock hand 70 is off correct time by reason of stopping of the clock it may be set at setting knob 51 with the disengage able clutch 7778 placed in its released position so as to prevent rate-regulation during this manual setting manipulation. If on the other hand no automatic remote setting is employed the clock will be set at knob 51 or knob 59 depending on whether setting and rate regulation or setting only is to be accomplished, respectively.

Rsume'.-The various structures shown in each of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 perform exactly the same ultimate functions and merely employ different forms of planetary gear mechanisms, or points of application of such mechanism, for performing these functions. In FIG. 1 a con ventional diiferential gear mechanism is shown in multiple with a slip-clutch 43-'44 whereas in FIG. 2 a conventional differential has been included directly in the hour shaft to cause reverse rotation, which is then corrected by gears 90 and 91, and the slip-clutch function performed by slip clutch 43-44 in FIG. 1 is performed by slip brake 115-116 in FIG. 2. It will be noted that these two slip structures will slip in each case when setting by setting key 51 is performed. In FIG. 3 the planetary gear structure performs the additional function of producing, as shown, a one-to-four gear speed-up. This FIG. 3 structure is in fact that preferred construction in that no bevel gears 'are required and the construction is indeed very simple. In the FIG. 4 structure also no bevel gears are required in the planetary gear structure but this form is less desirable because of friction imposed by the Vernier feature of the planetary gear structure shown.

Having thus illustrated four different forms of structures for carrying out the functions of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that the particular forms shown do not exhaust all possible ways for carrying out this invention and merely have been selected to illustrate the scope of the invention and how the invention may be carried out and it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made to carry out these functions without departing from the scope of the invention so long as these changes come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuring mechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in one direction to increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and may be operated in the opposite direction to decrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting means driven by said time measuring mechanism for manifesting the time of day; manually operable means operatively connected to said time manifesting means and also operatively connected to said rate regulating means and if manually operated in one direction sets said time manifesting means forward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction to increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism, and if manually operated in the opposite direction sets said time manifesting means backward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction to decrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; and a second manually operable means for when operated set ting said time manifesting means without adjusting said rate regulating means.

2. An automatically rate regulated timepiece as claimed in claim 1; wherein the first mentioned manually operable means, although it is capable of when operated doing both setting said time manifesting means and adjusting said rate regulating means simultaneously, it will not interfere with the driving of said time manifesting means by said time measuring mechanism nor will the operation of the time measuring mechanism change the adjusted position of said rate regulating means.

3. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuring mechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in one direction to increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and may be operated in the opposite direction to decrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting means driven by said time measuring mechanism for manifesting the time of day; manually operable means operatively connected to said time manifesting means and also operatively connected to said rate regulating means and if manually operated in one direction sets said time manifesting means forward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction to increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism, and if manually operated in the opposite direction sets said time manifesting means backward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction to decrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; and a second manually operable means operable to a position to render said first mentioned manually operable means ineffective to adjust said rate regulating means to a different adjustment when operated to set said time manifesting means.

4. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuring mechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in either of two directions and if adjusted in one direction will cause an increase in the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and if operated in the opposite direction will cause a decrease in the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting means operated by said time measuring mechanism to manifest the time of day; manually operable means operatively connected to said time manifesting means and also operatively connected to said rate regulating means and permitting said time manifesting means to be driven by said time measuring mechanism and if manually operated in one direction sets said time manifesting means forward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction to increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and if manually operated in the opposite direction sets said time manifesting means backward and adjusts said rate regulating means in a direction to decrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; and a second manually operable means which if operated from its normal condition prevents adjustment of said rate regulating means by said first mentioned manually operable means during manual setting of said time manifesting means.

5. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time measuring mechanism; rate regulating means which may be adjusted in either of two directions and if adjusted in one direction will cause an increase in the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and if adjusted in the opposite direction will cause a decrease in the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism; time manifesting means; a planet gear supporting member operable about an axis; a shaft pivoted eccentrically in said planet gear supporting member on an axis parallel to the axis of said planet gear supporting member and having gears of different diameters secured thereto, one of which gears is driven by said time measuring mechanism and the other of which gears drives said time manifesting means; and means operatively connecting said planet gear supporting member to said rate re gulating means in a manner so that if said planet gear supporting member is operated in one direction said time manifesting means is set forward and said rate regulating means is adjusted to increase the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism and if operated in the opposite direction said time manifesting means is set backward and said rate regulating means is adjusted in a direction to decrease the speed of operation of said time measuring mechanism.

6. An automatically rate regulated timepiece comprising; time mechanism including a gear reduction train, a mainspring for driving the low-speed end of said gear reduction train, an escapement mechanism driven by the high-speed end of said gear reduction train; planetary gear mechanism including a planet-supporting member supporting a planet gear and having an input member and an output member in addition to said planet-supporting member and having the input member driven by said gear train; time manifesting means driven by the output member of said planetary gear mechanism at a different speed than the speed of said input member; rate regulati2 ing means operatively connected to and for adjusting said escapement mechanism so as to operate at a predetermined speed and connected to the planet-supporting member of said planetary gear mechanism in a manner so that if said rate regulating means is correctly adjusted said time manifesting means will be driven by said gear reduction train through the medium of said planetary gear mechanism to correctly manifest the passing of time as determined by said escapement mechanism, if said time manifesting means has been operating too fast and said rate regulating means is operated backward to an extent to cause said time manifesting means to be set backward through the medium of said planetary gear mechanism to correctly manifest time, said rate regulating means is also operated in a direction to cause said escapement mechanism to operate slower than it did before such operation of said rate regulating means, and if said time manifesting means has been operating too slow and said rate regulating means is operated forward to an extent to cause said time manifesting means to be operated forward through the medium of said planetary gear mechanism to correctly manifest time, said rate regulating means is also operated in a direction to cause said escapement mechanism to operate faster than it did before such operation of said rate regulating means.

7. An automatically rate regulated clock as claimed in claim 6, supplemented by disengageable means conmeeting the rate regulating means to the planetary gear mechanism of said timepiece so that if the time manifesting means is set when the disengageable means is in its engaging condition the rate regulating means is also adjusted but if said time manifesting means is set with said disengageable means in its non-engaging condition said rate regulating means is not adjusted to thereby render the timepiece at times non-selfra-te regulated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,066,961 Hummel July 8, 1913 1,961,320 Worrall June 5, 1934 1,982,495 Browning Nov. 27, 1934 2,185,334 Dicke Jan. 2, 1940 2,542,430 Rabinow Feb. 20, 1951 2,858,029 Rabinow 1.. Oct. 28, 1958 2,944,384 Rabinow July 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 452,433 Germany Nov. 10, 1927

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