US1258768A - Detenting mechanism for clocks. - Google Patents

Description

A, L. HAHL. DETENTING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY ZI, 1915. 1,258,768.

PatentedjMar. 12, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS L. HAZEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DETENTING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

Application filed May 21, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS L. i-lann, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detenting Mechanism for Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved dotenting' mechanism or controlling device especially adapted for use with clocks.

The object of the invention is to provide a detenting mechanism adapted for use with master clocks or other such mechanism or appliances, which must operate at regular and invariable intervals of time. This improved detenting device is an improvement upon, and is adapted as a substitute for, the detenting mechanism shown and described in my prior Patent No. 1,098,495, of June 2, 191%. The immediate purpose of the invention is to provide an improved detenting mechanism peculiarly adapted for use with master clocks of pneumatic time systems, in which the motor is released at regular in tervals by detenting devices of the time movement, and permitted to send air impulses through the conduits, and thereby actuate the secondary clocks.

The principal purpose of this invention is to simplify the construction described in the above-mentioned patent, and to provide amore perfect detenting mechanism.

A further object is to provide a direct method of detenting, as explained in the above patent, while eliminating the planetary or internal gearing of the detenting mechanism therein described, and in this and other ways reducing the frictional and other losses to a minimum. Still another object is to provide a detenting mechanism which will consume a minimum of power from the time train of the clock or other device to which it is applied.

These and other objects of the invention will. appear more fully in the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view of the controlling or detenting mechanism.

Fig. 2is an elevation thereof.

Fig. 3-is a'vertical section, taken substantially'onthe line 3-3'0f Figs. 1 and 2; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 29,527.

Fig. 41 is an enlarged plan View of a cam and its associated parts which are employed in said controlling mechanism.

My improved mechanism is carried by a frame which comprises principally the plates 20 and 21, and a supplementary plate 23, which are mutually secured and spaced apart by members 2 1, and other suitable devices.

The controlling mechanism comprises a stop 25, and stop arm 26, said stop being given a combination of movements whereby the stop member may be gradually moved out of the path of the arm and caused to pass suddenly into the path of the arm at the desired intervals. The stop arm is given a considerable length, and is made to rotate a considerable number of times between successive operations of the stop, being actuated by a suitable motor through a train of gearing, or other transmission mechanism, (not shown) and thence through the shaft 30.

The stop arm carries a spring 31, which strikes the stop 25 and softens the impact of the arm against the stop. The stop is given a gradual movement radially with respect to the arm 26 by the pin wheel 32, which imparts an angular movement to the lever 33, upon which the stop is mounted. The disk or pin wheel 32 carries a series of pins which successively actuate the lever 33. The disk or pin wheel is controlled in its movement in the direction indicated by the arrow by the time train, indicated generally by the numeral The dish is securee to the up right shaft 36, lmvin bearing at itsupper end in t in frame plate 21, and at its lower end in the upper extremity of the shaft 30. The gear wheel 37 is secured to saic. shaft 36 and meshes with and drives a inion 38. The last-named pinion is secured to a gear 39, forming the first of a series of parts forming the time train 35.

Secured to the shaft 30 adjacent the gear 37 is a hub or collet 40, to which the inner end of a spiral spring 41 is attached. The outer end of this spring is attached to the gear by means of a pin 4:2. It will be ob served that the rotary motion of the said shaft has a tendency towind up the spring a1, and the said spring in turn has a tend ency to impart rotary motion to the gear 37. The shaft 30 rotates at regular intervals, said intervals being controlled by the timetrain and detent mechanism above described;

The stop arm 26 is driven by the motor train, when released by the stop 25, through a train of mechanism beginning with the gear secured to the shaft 30, and meshing with and driving the pinion d6 secured to the shaft 47. This latter shaft carries a gear 48, which meshes with and drives a pinion 49, secured to a shaft 50. This latter shaft carries the stop arm 26, and the gearing above descri ed is so proportioned as to give ten or more revolutions of said stop arm for every single revolution of the shaft 47.

The stop is secured to and carried by the arm 33, which, in turn, is fixed to asmall vertical shaft 51 mounted in the end of the disengaging arm The movement of this disengaging arm is such as to carry the lever 33 downwardly and outwardly a short distance, and hence to cause the upper end of the stop 25 to move out of and into the plane of movement of the stop arm 26. The arm 52 is secured to the horizontal shaft. 5%, said shaft also having two oppositely disposed arms 55 and 56 secured to it. These arms and 56 have a sul stantially vertical position, their ends being disposed opposite cams 57 and 58, respectively which control the stop-disengaging and restoring movements of the arm 52.

The disengaging cam 58 has a general circular form with a notch 59 in its periph cry, which is adapted to receive the end 56 of the arm 56. lVhen the motor train is at rest the end 56 lies adjacent the inner portion of the cam slope 60, said cam slope being adapted to push said end outwardly at the beginning of each operation and to cause the arm 52 to move downwardly and the stop to move out of the plane of rotation of the stop arm 26. The stop 25 is thus caused to be moved to a position entirely free of the stop arm until it is desired to stop the motor train. At this time the stop is restored to its position. in the plane of said arm by the cam 57, which engages the upper end of the arm and pushes it outwardly, thus causing the arm to rise, and causing the stop to move suddenly into the path of the stop arm 26. The cam 57 is preferably attached to the body of another cam 61, secured to the upright shaft 47. Said cam 57 is provided with a beveled face 61 by which it engages the end of the arm and pushes it outwardly.

The arm 33 formed at its end as shown at 63, where it engages the pins on the pin wheel 32. This permits each pin 34: to impart an angular movement to said arm at the end of which angular movement the disengaging operation above described takes place. The downward disengaging movement of the arm 33, which is caused by the cam 58 actuating the disengaging arm 52, permits said arm to be moved backwardly through the same angular distance to a position where it can engage another of the pins 34L when said arm is raised. This angular movement is produced by the cam 61, which actuates the arm 65, preferably integral with the arm The cam (31 is so proportioned with respect to the cam 58 that the arm will be brought to a position wherein the forked end 63 will lie directly below one of the pins slightly in advance of the time when the slope acts upon the end of the arm 56. The cam 61 is provided with the face 61 concentric with its axis by which the double arm level 65-- 33 is held rigidly in one an ular position while it is being restored to engagement with one of the pins 31. During the operation of the motor train, while the stop 25 and arm are gradually moving toward the leftas viewed in Fig. 1,-the extremity of the arm 65 is moving inwardly toward the position indicated by dotted lines 65. The cam is cut away at 61 for that purpose.

It will be observed that the stop 25 is given a movementin two directions by the mechanism above described. There may be said to be four steps or periods in these two movements, the first of which is a radial movement with respect to the arm 26, by which it gradually passes beyond the end of said arm and releases it, thus allowing it to rotate under the power imparted to it by the motor train.

The second period or step in these movements is the downward stroke produced by the disengaging arm 52 when actuated by the slope 60 of the cam 58.

The third step in these movements is the angular movement of the arm 33 and hence of the stop 25, which is caused by the cam ('31 during the operation of the motor train.

The fourth step in the series of movements is the sudden vertical movement of tie arm 33, and of the stop 25, which is brought about by the slope 61 of the cam 57 when it strikes the arm and hence produces an upward movement of the arm 52. This sudden upward movement takes place during a fraction of a single rotation of the stop arm 26, and hence causes the stop 25 suddenly to stop the rotation of said arm.

The releasing movement of the stop (said releasing movement being that in which the stop is moving radially with respect to the stop arm 26 and gradually passing beyond its end) is effected by the slow movement of the pin wheel 32, said movement being controlled by the time train 35. This move ment is produced by the power of the spring 4-1, which exerts a constant driving force upon the gear 37, irrespective of the variable driving force of the motor. For this reason I term the spring 41 a constant power element. Power is stored in said spring during the period of the operation of the motor train, and is given out by said spring to the time train 35 during the period of rest of said motor train.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the time train 35 causes the stop 25 to release the stop arm 36 at regular intervals, preferably one minute, thereby allowing the motor train to run. A very important feature of the invention is the elimination of frictional resistance, which usually occurs in detenting mechanisms; and to accomplish this purpose I have provided a very long travel of the end of the stop arm during each rotation. t is a well-known mechanical principle that in the transmission of a given quantity of energy through a mechanism, the pressure transmitted is inversely proportioned to the distance traveled. For this reason I have given a relatively great length to the stop arm, and have geared it to run at a relatively high speed. To make this construction and operation feasible, a positive clearance must be maintained between the stop and stop arm during the operation, and means must be provided to cause an instantaneous and positive movement of the stop into the path of the stop arm at the end of the operation. In my improved mechanism the stop is moved quickly into the path of the stop arm during a fractional part of one revolution of the latter, and this is accomplished by the slope of the cam 57 which occupies a very small portion of the circular travel of the cam. This operation is also made possible because of the poised and counterbalanced arrangement of the levers in the controlling mechanism. The quick return of the stop into the path of the stop arm is accomplished by means of the combination of independent lateral and radial movements of the stop relative to the stop arm. After the releasing movement the stop is given movement out of the plane of the stop arm by the disengaging arm 52 and cam 58, which members effect that movement while the lever 33 is passing out of engagement with one of the pins 34.

It is understood that the detail construction and arrangement of my two-way detent will be somewhat varied, when applied to master clocks in which the motor and time train are separated from each other by a considerable distance, or when applied to motor-driven secondary clocks or apparatus controlled by a pneumatic or electric master clock, or when applied to individual clocks in which the motor and time-train are relatively close together.

Although I have shown and described aparticular embodiment of my invention, and have explained its operation in a particular manner for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that I contemplate changes in form and arrangement of parts as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient Without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a time-train, a motor-train, a stop, a stop arm, means actuated by said time-train for moving said stop in the plane of movement of said stop arm out of engagement therewith, and means actuated by said motor-train for returning said step into the path of said stop arm.

2. In a device of the class described, a time-train, a motor-train, a stop, a rotary stop arm, means actuated by said time-train for moving said stop in the plane of rotation of said stop arm, and means actuated by said motor-train for moving said stop to and from. the plane of rotation of said stop arm.

3. In a device of the class described, a motor-train, a time-train, a stop, a rotary stop arm, means actuated by one of said trains for moving said stop in the plane of rotation of said stop arm out of engagement therewith, and means actuated by one of said trains thereafter for moving said stop out of said plane of rotation of said stop arm and then positively returning said stop into said plane of rotation of said stop arm.

In a device of the class described, a stop, a rotary stop arm, means for moving the stop radially away from the stop arm in the plane of rotation thereof, and means for moving said stop out of the plane of rotation of said stop arm.

5. In a device of the class described, a stop, a rotary stop arm, and means for successively moving said stop away from said stop arm in the plane of rotation thereof, then out of the plane of said stop arm, then radially toward said stop arm in a plane different from the plane of rotation of the stop arm, and finally back into the plane of rotation of said stop arm for engagement therewith.

6. In a device of the class described, a stop, a stop arm, and means for successively moving said stop radially away from the stop arm in the plane of rotation thereof, then out of the plane of said stop arm, then in. a direction radially toward said stop arm in a plane different from the plane of rotation thereof, and finally back into the plane of rotation of said stop arm for engagement therewith.

'7. In a device of the class described, a stop, a rotary stop arm, a time-train, a motor-train, a rotary pin-wheel actuated by said time-train, an arm carrying said stop and having an engageable part adapted to receive one of the pins of said pin-wheel whereby the rotation of said pin-Wheel carries said stop out of engagement with said arm and returning it into engagement with stop arm, a lever connected to said arm, a said stop arm ai'ter a predetermined insupporting arm connected to said lever and terval.

said first named arm, and means actuated In testimony whereof, I have subscribed by said motor arm for operating said lever my name.

and said supporting arm for maintaining said stop out of engagement with said stop AUGUSTUS L. HAHL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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