US1960521A - Signal clock - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1934. w K I 1,960,521

- SIGNALYCLOCK Filed Dec. 5-, 1952 5 Shets-Sheet 1 May 29, 1934. E. A. wlcK SIGNAL CLOCK Eiled Dec. 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 29, 1934. E. A. WlCK SIGNAL-CLOCK Filed Dec. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 29, 1934 SIGNAL CLOCK Emil A. Wick, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to The E. Ingraham Company, Bristol, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 5,1932, Serial No. 645,695

21 Claims.

This application discloses subject matter shown and described in my prior application Serial No. 579,894, filed December 9, 1931, and replaces the same. I

This invention relates to an improvement in signal clocks and relates in particular to audiblesignal clocks, such, for instance, as strike clocks, chime clocks, etc., though not so limited.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a reliable audible-signal clock in which the parts are so constructed and arranged as to operate with freedom'from derangement.

Another object of my invention is to provide at a low cost for manufacture a reliable and superior signal clock in which the time-indicating means and the signal means are operated from a single source of power.

A further object of my invention is to provide a signal clock in which objectionable noises are reduced to a minimum.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide an audible-signal clock, such as a strike or chime clock, which may be relied upon to give the correct number of beats for the successive time intervals, despite intervening manual setting.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a top or plan view of a strike-clock movement constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken-view thereof in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view thereof in front elevation, with the front movement-plate broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the various parts of the strike-control mechanism, etc., in the positions which they assume just prior to the fall of the shifting-lever;

Fig. '7 is a similar view but showing the parts in the positions which they assume immediately after the shifting-lever has dropped off of the lifting-cam and onto the supporting-disk;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the positions which the parts assume immediately after the shifting-lever has shifted the hammer-actuating wheel into position for actuating the strikehammer;

Fig. 9 is a broken view in side elevation of a combined strike-and-chime mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 10 is a view thereof in transverse section;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the four-prong shifting-cam, detached; and

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the four-prong lifting-cam.

The particular strike-clock movement herein chosen, in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, for the illustration of my invention includes three rectangular movement-plates, i. e., a front movement-plate 20, an intermediate movement-plate 21 and a rear movement-plate 22, extending parallel with each other and held in spaced relationship by means of suitable pillars 23. Extending from front to rear centrally through the movement is a seconds-arbor 24 carrying at its extreme forward end a seconds-pointer 25 and journaled at its rear end in the rear movement-plate 22. The seconds-arbor 24 just above referred to forms a feature of a time-train and has staked upon it, adjacent its rear end, a seconds-wheel 26 by means of which it is driven. The said seconds-wheel 26 meshes into and is driven by a pinion 27 attached to and forming a feature of a gear-wheel 28, which latter, together with the said pinion, is mounted with freedom for rotation upon a staff 29 journaled at its respective opposite ends in the intermediate and rear movement- plates 21 and 22 respectively.

The gear-wheel 28 is meshed into and driven by a pinion 30 mounted upon an arbor 31, which latter, in turn, is driven by any suitable means common in clocks, such, for instance, as a synchronous electric motor A, as schematically reprepresented in Fig. 2, or by an escapement-controlled spring-driven mechanism.

The seconds-arbor 24 has staked to it, adjacent its extreme rear end, a pinion 32 meshing into and driving a gear-wheel 33 which is staked upon the staff 29 above referred to. The said staff 29 has staked to its forward end a pinion 34 meshing into and driving a minute-wheel 35 (l R. P. H.) mounted upon the extreme rear end of a minutesleeve 36 through which the seconds-arbor 24 ex tends, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The minute-wheel 35 is frictionally coupled to the minute-sleeve 36 for driving the latter by means of a friction-washer 37 staked upon the rear end of the said sleeve and against which the said wheel 35 is pressed for frictional engagement by a spring-washer 38. At its forward end the minlite-sleeve 36 carries the usual minute-hand 39 and is journaled adjacent its rear end, as shown, in the intermediate movement-plate 21;

Immediately forward of the intermediate movement-plate 21, the minute-sleeve 36 has staked to it a. pinion 40 meshing into and driving a gear-wheel 41 secured to the rear end of a staff 42 which is journaled at its respective opposite ends in the intermediate movement-plate 21 and the front movement-plate 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. At its forward end the staff 42 has secured to it a pinion 43 meshing into and driving an hour-wheel 44 (1 2' R. P. H.) which is located immediately back of the front movement-plate 20.

The hour-wheel 44 just referred to is staked upon a latch-head 45 which has formed integral with it a sleeve-portion bearing in the front movement-plate 20 and extending forwardly therethrough to provide an hour-sleeve 46 carrying the usual hour-hand 47.

The parts 24 to 47, above described, save for the latch-head 45, constitute the major portion of the time-train, which may be driven from any approved source of power such as a synchronous motor or an escapement-controlled drivingspring acting through the intermediary of the staff 31.

The latch-head 45 above referred to constitutes what may be termed a rotary counting latchmember and is driven by and rotates with the hour-wheel 44 (one revolution each twelve hours) and is formed with a substantially-annular latching-shoulder or abutment 48 interrupted by a releasing-slot 49 extending substantially parallel with its axis of rotation. The rear end of the latch-head 45 is conically tapered as at 50 for the purpose as will hereinafter appear.

Adapted on occasion to be engaged with the latch-shoulder 48 above described is a 1atch-fin ger 51 formed integral with and bent radially inward from a resilient latch-arm 52, which latter forwardly projects from a ring-like body-portion 53 mounted upon a hub 54 mounted on the minute-sleeve 36 with capacity for rotary movement and reciprocating movement thereon. The rear end of the said hub 54 is reduced in diameter as at 55 which reduction results in the formation of a rearwardly-facing shoulder 56 against which the body-portion 53 of the latch-arm 52 is pressed. On the reduced portion 55 of the hub 54 immediately to the rear of the part 53, is rigidly mounted a hammer-actuating wheel 57 having in the instance shown twelve forwardly-offsetting hammer-actuating fingers 58.

The latch-arm 52 thus constitutes what may be termed a rotary latch-member coacting as will hereinafter appear with the rotary counting latch-member formed by the latch-head 45.

Immediately to the rear of the wheel 57 there is mounted upon the reduced portion 55 of the hula 54 a supporting-disk 59, against the counterbored rear face of which the material of the portion 55 of the hub 54 is upset, as shown, to rigidly attach the parts 56, 57 and 59 to the said hub 54 for rotation and axial reciprocation therewith. The disk 59 is formed with a substantially-radial drop-off passage 60 having its front wall inwardly and rearwardly sloped to form a cam-surface 61 for the purpose as will hereinafter appear.

The forward end of the hub 54 above referred to, has staked to it a gear-wheel 62 by means of which the said hub and the parts 51 to 61 inclusive are rotated. The gear-wheel 62 is formed with an aperture 63 through which the latcharm 52 projects and is meshed into and driven by a pinion 64 staked upon the forward end of a staff 65 which is journaled at its respective opposite ends in the front and rear movementplates 20 and 22 respectively. Near its rear end the staff 65 has staked to it a pinion 66 which meshes into and is driven by the seconds-wheel 26 before referred to.

The hammeractua'ting wheel 57, together with the parts organized therewith, is adapted to be moved bodily forwardly on occasion, as will hereinafter appear, to cause its hammer-actuating fingers 58 to engage and depress a finger 67 inwardly offsetting from a hammer-actuating lever 68 which is mounted upon a rocking-shaft 69 journale'd at its front and rear ends respectively in the movement- plates 20 and 21. The lever 68 is also formed with an outwardly-and-downwardly-extending arm 70 having at its free end a forwardly-tumed coupling-finger 71 entered into the slot in a bifurcated arm 72 of a sheet-metal hammerarm 73. The hammer-arm 73 just referred to is secured to a rocking-shaft 74 journaled at its respective opposite ends in the movement- plates 20 and 21. The free end of the hammer-arm 73 is provided with the usual hammer-head 75 for striking a gong-rod or any other suitable sounding device 75.

A helical spring 75* encircling the minutesleeve 36 and bearing at its respective opposite ends against the latch-head 45 and the wheel 62, serves to exert a constant effort to move the hammer-actuating wheel 57 (and also the parts organized therewith) rearwardly into its idling position, in which the fingers 58 of the said wheel are out of line with the hammer-actuating lever 68.

To the rear of the supporting-disk 59 I loosely mount upon the minute-sleeve 36 a hub 76 carrying at its forward end a lifting-cam 77 having a lifting-nose 77, and at its rear end a deflectingcam 78 formed with a forwardly-offset and sloping deflecting-finger 79, for the purpose as will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of driving the unit comprising the parts 76, 77 and 78, I mount upon the rear face of the said cam 78 a spring-pawl 80 (Fig. 5) engaging with a single tooth 81 formed upon a collar 82 staked upon the minute-sleeve 36 and rotating therewith. The tooth 81 and the pawl 80 will serve to cause the unit comprising .the parts 76, 77 and 78 to be driven in a clockwise direction in consonance with the minute-sleeve 36, i. e., l R. P. H., and will also serve to permit the said minute-sleeve to be turned in a counterclockwise direction free of the said unit, as may be required to permit convenient setting of the clock.

Coacting on occasion with the cams 77 and 78 and the supporting-disk 59 in the manner as will hereinafter appear, is a shifting-lever 83 which is pivotally mounted for swinging movement toward and away from the common axis of the said parts, as well as for movement in a front and rear direction in a plane parallel with the said axis. In other words, the said lever 83 may be said to be mounted for universal swinging movement, which capacity is imparted to it by securing its outer end to a sheet-metal rocking-shaft 84 by means of a stud 85. The said rocking-shaft 84 is journaled at its front and rear ends respectively in the front movement-plate 20 and the intermediate movement-plate 21, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. A sheet-metal spring 86 riveted to the rocking-shaft 84 and bearing against the lever 83 exerts a constant effort to swing the free inner endof the latter rearwardly about its stud 85.

The shifting-lever 83, above described, is constantly urged toswing inwardly toward the seconds-arbor 24, etc., of the movement by a helical spring 87 having its upper end hooked into an ear 88 offsetting from the said lever and having its lower end hooked over a stud 89 forwardly offsetting from' the intermediate movement-plate 21. The upper end of the said lever 83 is formed with a forwardly-offsetting finger 90 which, as will hereinafter appear, coacts with the periphery of the supporting-disk 59 and the cam-surface 61 thereof.

With the parts in the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and the movement running so as to drive the parts mounted upon the seconds-arbor 24 in a clockwise direction, as indicated, it will be noted that the shifting-lever 83 has been lifted by the lifting-cam 77 against the tension of the spring 87 to a point beyond the periphery of the supporting-disk 59. It will also be noted that the deflecting-finger 79 of the deflecting-cam 78 has substantially completed its task of swinging the shifting-lever 83 from rear to front against the tension of the spring 86, so that its finger 90 overlies the periphery of the supporting-disk 59.

Now as the motion of the lifting-cam 77 continues in consonanoe with the minute-hand (i. e., 1 R. P. H.) the free end of the shifting-lever 83 will drop off from the nose 77 of the lifting-cam 77 and swing inwardly so as to bring its finger 90 into engagement with the periphery of the disk 59. The parts have now assumed the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 7.

Now in the revolution of the disk 59, which is at a rate much faster (well in excess of 1 R. P. M.) than the 1 R. P. H. movement of the cams '77 and 78, when the drop-off passage 60 is brought into alignment with the finger 90 of the lever 83, the said lever will be snapped inwardly under the urge of the spring 87 with the effect of causing its finger 90 to engage the cam-surface 61 of the said passage 60 and forcibly shifting the unit comprising the hub 54, latch-arm 52, wheel 62 and 57 and the disk 59 forwardly against the counterurge of the spring '75 to thereby hook the latch-finger 51 over the substantially-annular latching-shoulder 48 of the latch-head 45 and at the same time moving the actuating-fingers 58 of the hammer-actuating wheel 57 into position to swing the actuating-lever 68 and hence lift and drop the hammer-head 75. The hammeractuating fingers 58 will continue in succession to lift and drop the hammer-head 75, as just described, until in the bodily revolution of the latcharm 52 with the hub 54 and the associated parts, the latch-finger 51 is brought into registration with the releasing-slot 49 of the latch-head 45, at which time the spring will assert itself and rearwardly shift the hammer-actuating wheel 57, together with the parts organized therewith and thus retire the hammer-actuating fingers 58 out of the path of the finger 67 of the actuatinglever 68.

Now it will be noted that the forward shifting of the hammer-actuating wheel 57, etc., always takes place at a given point, i. e., the instant that the drop-off passage 60 of the disk 59 is brought into registration with the finger of the shifting-lever 83. Therefore, the number of beats imparted to the hammer 75 will vary automatically as the angular displacement or distance varies between the point at which the latch-finger 51 is hooked over the latch-shoulder 48 of the latchhead 45 and the position of the releasing-slot 49.

Thus, in the particular clock herein chosen for illustration, the gear ratios, etc., are such that at three oclock, for instance, the releasing-slot 49 in the head 45 will be in advance of the latch finger 51 at the instant that it is engaged with the shoulder 48 a distance sufiicient only to retain the hammer-actuating wheel 57, etc., in its forward hammer-actuating position just long enough for three successive ones of its fingers 58 to lift and drop the hammer 75. At the end of the striking of three beats, the latch-finger 51 will have then overtaken the slowly-moving releasing-slot 49 and will snap rearwardly through the said slot, so as to prevent at this time any further actuation of the hammer 75. The same holds true for each hour of the day, so that at twelve oclock, for instance, at the instant that the latch-finger 51 is hooked over the latchshoulder 48, the releasing-slot 49 will be sufficiently ahead of the same to permit the full twelve teeth 58 of the hammer-actuating wheel 57 to operate before releasing the said wheel and permit the same to be moved into its retired or idling position by the spring 75 After the shifting-lever 83 has been snapped inwardly to shift the hammer-actuating wheel 57 forwardly for actuating the strike, it moves inwardly to a degree sufficient to lie beneath the deflecting-finger 79, as shown in Fig. 8, but before the time for the next hourly strike, the said finger will have been first lifted by the liftingcam 77 to a point beyond the periphery of the supporting-disk 59 and subsequently swung forwardly by the deflecting-finger 79, so as to cause its finger 90 to again overlie the periphery of the said disk 59 (the parts will now have reassumed the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 6), preparatory to again dropping off the nose 77 of the lifting-cam 77 and again entering the deflecting-passage for another cycle of operation but with one added beat.

The foregoing description clearly sets forth my invention as applied to an hour-strike clock, but it will be obvious that my invention may be embodied in various other types of signal clocks, such, for instance, as quarter-hour chime clocks and combination strike-and-chime clocks, which latter type is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive.

In the combined strike-and-chime clock illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, I employ two distinct latch-heads, namely, an hour-strike latch-head 45 and a chime-control latch-head 100. Each of the said latch-heads is provided with a releasing-slot 49 and a substantially-annular latch-abutment 48 corresponding to the similar features of the latch-head 45 previously described. Instead of being driven by the hourwheel as in'the strike-clock previously described, the latch-head 45- has staked to it a special wheel 101 which meshes into the pinion 43 and is driven thereby at the same speed as the hourwheel, i. e., R. P. H.

The chime-control latch-head 100 is staked upon the minute-sleeve 36 and rotates therewith at a speed of 1 R. P. H. Loosely mounted upon the minute-sleeve 36 with capacity for both rotation and reciprocation thereon is a hub 54 generally corresponding to the hub 54 save that it is of much longer extent and has rigidly mounted said hub also carries a supporting-disk 59 at its rear end and mounts a latch-arm 52 having a latch-finger 51 for coaction with the hourstrike latch-head 45.

The hub 54 aforesaid also carries a chimecontrol latch-arm 107 having an inbent latchflnger 108 for coaction with the chime-control latch-head 100 before referred to.

The wheels 102 to 105 inclusive are adapted to coact on occasion, respectively, with a similar number of hammer- actuating levers 109, 110, 111 and 112, which latter in turn respectively actuate hammer- arms 113, 114, 115 and 116, each of which is provided with a'hammer-head 75.

The hour-strike latch-head 45, instead of being axially stationary, is, in the construction now being described, mounted for reciprocating movement as well as rotary movement upon the minute-sleeve 36, and is normally urged forwardly by a helical spring 117 encircling the said sleeve and forced rearwardly each hour by a cam 118 sliding on the sleeve 36 andheld against rotary movement by engagement with a stud 119 rearwardly projecting from the front movement-plate 20. The face-lobe of the cam 118 is engaged for being shifted as described by a pin 120 carried by the minute-sleeve 36 and rotating therewith one revolution each hour.

Instead of employing a deflecting-cam with but one deflecting finger and a lifting-cam with but one lifting-nose, I employ a deflecting-cam 78 having four deflecting-fingers '79 and aliftingcam 77 having four lifting-noses 77*.

With the parts constructed and arranged as shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, the hub 5 1 and its associated parts will be moved forwardly once each quartei hourinto the position shown in Fig. 9, so as to cause the wheels 102 to 105 inclusive to actuate their respective hammers. The number of beats imparted to the hammers, as just referred to, will be governed by the relative position of the releasing-slot 49 of the latchhead 100 with respect to the position at which the latch-finger 108 is engaged with the said latch-head 100. As a matter of fact, on each quarter-hour, the releasing-slot will be onequarter of a revolution ahead of the finger 108; on the half-hour, it will be one-half revolution ahead; on the three-quarters hour, substantially three-quarters of a revolution ahead; and on the hour, slightly less than one full revolution ahead, so that a chiming action of progressively-increasing length will take place on each successive quarter hour of any given hour.

When the latch-finger 108 rotates around into registration with the releasing-slot 49 of the latch-head 100, the sleeve 54 and the parts carried thereby will be shifted rearwardly by the spring '75". However, if the action just described takes place on the hour, the latch-head 15 will have been moved rearwardly by its cam 118 and the pin 120 into position to intercept the rearward travel of the latch-finger 51 and halt said hub and its associated parts, in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 10. In this figure, it will be noted that the hour-strike wheel 106 is aligned with the actuating-lever 112 while the chimewheels 102 to 105 are inoperative. Therefore, the hammer-arm 116 will be operated by the hourstrike wheel 106. The number of beats imparted to the hammer-arm 116 will depend, of course, upon the relative position of the releasing-slot 49 of the latch-head 15 with respect to the point the latch-finger 51 has been engaged therewith. When the proper number of strokes have been imparted to the hammer-arm 116, as just described, the latch-finger 51 will have been moved into registration with the releasingslot 49 of the latch-head 45, and the unit comprising the hub 54 and the parts carried thereby will be shifted rearwardly until all of the wheels 102 to 106 inclusive are out of registrationwith any of the actuating-levers 109 to 112 inclusive.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that on each quarter-hour, a chime is sounded, and that 011 the hour immediately following the sounding of the hour chime, a strike action will take place, striking out the proper number 0! beats for that particular hour.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention may assume varied physical forms without departing from my inventive concept and I, therefore, do not limit my invention to the specific embodiments-herein chosen for illustration.

I claim:

1. In an audible-signal clock, the combination with the audible-signal mechanism thereof; of a control-mechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotary counting latchmember; a rotary latch-member coacting with the said counting latch-member for determining the number of beats of the said audible-signal mechanism; the said latch-members being rotatable with respect to both the clock structure and each other and one at least thereof being axially movable toward and away from the other; automatic-means for periodically moving one of said latch-members axially toward the other for interengagement therewith; and spring-means tending to axially separate said latch-members.

2. In an audible-signal clock, the combination with the audible-signal mechanism thereof; of a control-mechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotary counting latchmember; a rotary latch-member coacting with the said counting latch-member for determining the number of beats of the said audible-signal mechanism; the said latch-members being arranged coaxially and rotatable with respect to both the clock structure and each other and one at least thereof being axially movable toward and away from the other; automatic-means for periodically moving one of said latch-members axially toward the other for interengagement therewith; and spring-means tending to axially separate said latch'members.

3. In an audible-signal clock, the combination with the audible-signal mechanism thereof; of a control-mechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotary counting latchmember; a hooklike resilient latch-member also mounted for rotary movement and coacting with the said counting latch-member for determining the number of beats of the said audible-signal mechanism; the said latch-members being rotatable with respect to both the clock structure and each other and one at least thereof being axially movable toward and away from the other; automatic-means for periodically moving one of said latch-members axially toward the other for interengagement therewith; and spring-means tending to axially separate said latch-members.

4. In an audible-signal clock, the combination with the audible-signal mechanism thereof; of a control-mechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotary counting latchmember; a hook-like resilient latch-member also mounted for rotary movement and coacting with able with respect to both the clock structure and each other and one thereof being also movable in an axial direction with respect to the other; automatic snap-action camming means for pcriodically interengaging the said latch-members; and spring-means for disengaging the said latch?- members.

5. In an audible-signal clock, the combination with the audible-signal mechanism thereof; of a control-mechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotary counting latchmember; a hook-like resilient latch-member also mounted for rotary movement and coacting with the said counting latch-member for determining the number of beats of the said audible-signal mechanism; the said latch-members being concentrically arranged and rotatable with respect to both the clock structure and each other and one thereof being also movable in an axial direction with respect to the other; automatic snapaction camming means for periodically interengaging the said latch-members and spring-means for disengaging the said latch-members.

6. An audible-signal clock having in combination an audible-signal mechanism; a controlmechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotatable counting latch-member having a substantially concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a gap and turning therewith, a second rotatable latch-member having a portion engageable with the latch-abutment of the said counting latch-member and movable laterally through the gap therein; automaticmeans for periodically interengaging the said latch-members; and spring-means for disengaging the said latch-members.

'7. An audible-signal clock having in combina tion an audible-signal mechanism; a controlmechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotatable counting latch-member having a substantially concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a gap and turning therewith, a second rotatable latch-member concentrically mounted with respect to and having a hook-like portion engageable with the latch-abutment of the said counting latch-member and movable laterally through the gap therein, automaticmeans for periodically interengaging the said latch-members, and spring means for disengaging the said latch members.

8. An audible-signal clock having in combination an audible-signal mechanism; a controlmechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotatable counting latch-member having a substantially-annular latch-abutment interrupted by a gap and turning therewith, a second rotatable latch-member having a radially-yielding hook-like portion engageable with the latch-abutment of the said counting latchmember and movable laterally through the gap therein, automatic-means for periodically interengaging the said latch-members, and springmeans for disengaging the said latch-members.

9. An audible-signal clock including in combi-- nation a rotatable and axially-movable hammeractuating wheel; a pair of complementary interengaging latch-members for holding the said hammer-actuating wheel in its hammer-actuating position; spring-means for moving the said hammer-actuating wheel into an idling position; one of the said latch-members being movable with the said hammer-actuating wheel and the other thereof being independently rotatable with respect thereto, one of said latch-members having a substantially-concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a gap through which latter a portion of the complementary latch-member is movable by the said spring-means; and automatic-means for periodically moving the said wheel axially, to-

gether with the latch-member organized there- 811th for interengaging the two said latch-memers.

10. An audible-signal clock including in combination a rotatable and axially-movable hammer-actuating wheel; a pair of complementary interengaging latch-members for holding the said hammer-actuating wheel in its hammer-actuating position; spring-means moving the said hammer-actuating wheel into an idling position; one of the said latch-members being movable with the said hammer-actuating wheel and the other thereof being concentrically-arranged and independently-rotatable with respect thereto, one of said latch-members having a substantially-concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a gap through which latter a portion of the complementary latch-member is movable by the said spring-means; and automatic-means for periodically moving the said wheel axially, together with the latch-member organized therewith for interengaging the two said latch-members.

11. An audible-signal clock including in combination a rotatable and axially-movable hammer-actuating wheel; a pair of complementary interengaging latch-members for holding the said hammer-actuating wheel in its hammeractuating position; spring-means moving the said hammer-actuating wheel into an idling position; one of the said latch-members being movable with the said hammer-actuating wheel and the other thereof being concentrically-arranged and independently-rotatable with respect thereto, one of the said latch-members having a substantially-concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a gap through which latter a portion of the complementary latch-member is movable by the said spring-means; and automatic snap-action camming-means for periodically moving the said wheel axially, together with the latch-member organized therewith for interengaging the two said latch-members.

12. An audible-signal clock including in combination a rotatable and axially-movable hammer-actuating wheel; a pair of complementary interengaging latch-members for holding the said hammer-actuating wheel in its hammeractuating position; spring-means moving the said hammer-actuating wheel into an idling position; one of the said latch-members being movable with the said hammer-actuating wheel and the other thereof being concentrically-arranged and independently-rotatable with respect thereto, one of the said latch-members having a substantially-concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a gap and the other thereof having a radially-yielding hook-like portion movable laterally through the said gap; and automatic snapaction camming-means for periodically moving the said wheel axially, together with the latchmember organized therewith. for interengaging the two said latch-members.

13; An audible-signal clock including in combination a rotatable and axially-movable hammer-actuating wheel; a pair of complementary interengaging latch-members for holding the said hammer-actuating wheel in its hammeractuating position; spring-means for moving the counting latch-member;

said hammer-actuating wheel into an idling position; one of the said latch-members being movable with the said hammer-actuating wheel and the other thereof being concentrically-arranged and independently-rotatable with respect thereto, one of the said latch-members having a substantially-concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a gap and the other thereof having a radially-yielding hook-like portion movable through the said gap; automatic snap-action camming-means for periodically moving the said wheel axially, together with the latch-member carried thereby for interengaglng the two said latch-members, and including a supporting-disk movable with the aforesaid wheel and having a substantially-radial drop-off passage, a springpressed shifting-lever adapted to rest upon the periphery of the said supporting-disk and having a. finger movable through the drop-off passage therein, and means for swinging the said lever outwardly beyond the periphery of the said disk and shifting the same laterally thereover.

14. In an audible-signal clock, the combination with the audible-signal mechanism thereof; of a control-mechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a rotary counting latch-member; a rotary latch-member coacting with the said counting latch-member for determining the number of beats of the said audiblesignal mechanism; the said latch-members being rotatable with respect to both the clock structure and each other and one at least thereof being axially movable with respect to the other; automatic-means for periodically interengaging the said latch-members; spring-means for separating the said latch-members; a second rotary and a latch-member coacting with the second counting latch-member; the two last-mentioned latch-members being located with respect to the said first-mentioned coacting latch-members in position to temporarily halt the axial movement of one thereof, when the aforesaid spring-means is acting to effect such separation.

15. An audible-signal clock having in combination an audible-signal mechanism; a controlmechanism for the said audible-signal mechanism, including a pair of rotatable counting latch-members, each having a substantially-concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a releasing-gap and two secondary rotatable latch-members engageable respectively with the said counting latch-members and successively movable laterally through the releasing-gaps therein; automatic means for periodically interengaging one of the said secondary latch-members and one of the said counting latch-members; and spring-means tending to move the said secondary latch-members successively through the respective releasing-gaps in the said counting latch-members, one of the said counting latchmembers and its complemental secondary latchmember acting to hold the other of said counting latch-members and its complemental secondary latch-member temporarily out of coacting engagement.

16. An audible-signal clock having in combi nation an audible-signal mechanism; a controlmechanism for the said audible-signal mecha nism, including a pair of rotatable counting latch-members, each having a substantially-concentric latch-abutment interrupted by a releasing-gap and two secondary rotatable latch-members engageable respectively with the said counting latch-members and movable successiv ly laterally through the releasing-gaps therein; automatic means for periodically interengaging one of the said secondary latch-members and one of the said counting 1atch-members; spring means tending to move the said secondary latch-members successively through the respective releasing-gaps in the said counting latch-members, one

of the said counting latch-members and its complemental secondary latch-member acting to hold the other of said counting latch-members and its complemental secondary latch-member temporarily out of coacting engagement; and means for periodically rendering inoperative one of the said secondary latch-members and its complemental counting latch-member.

17. In an audible-signal clock, the combination with the minute-arbor thereof; of a hammer-actuating element located concentrically with respect to the said minute-arbor and independently rotatable and axially slidable with respect thereto; means for periodically axially sliding the said hammer-actuating element into a hammer-actuating position each hour; latching-means for holding the said hammer-actuating element in said last-mentioned position until the required number of strokes has been completed; and spring-means for moving the said hammer-actuating element into its idling position.

18.. In an audible-signal mechanism of the class described, the combination with the minutearbor of a clock; of a hammer-actuating member concentrically mounted with respect to the said minute-arbor with freedom for rotation independently thereof, and movable axially thereof into a hammer-actuating position and into an idling position; automatic means for axially shifting the said hammer-actuating member into one of said positions; spring-means for axially moving the said hammer-actuating member into the other of said positions; latching-means releasably holding the said hammer-actuating member against movement by the said springmeans; and driving-means for rotating the said hammer-actuating member at a speed in excess of that of the said minute-arbor.

19. In an audible-signal mechanism of the class described, the combination with the minutearbor of a clock; of a hammer-actuating member concentrically mounted with respect to the said minute-arbor with freedom for rotation independently thereof, and movable axially thereof into a hammer-actuating position and into an idling position; means for driving the said hammer-actuating member at a speed in excess of that of the said minute-arbor; spring-means for moving the said hammer-actuating member into an idling position; and automatic means for moving the said hammer-actuating member into its hammer-actuating position, including a disk-member carried by the said hammer-actu ating member and having a sloping cam-slot intersecting its periphery, and a spring-pressed camming-member engageable with the periphery of the said disk-member and movable through the cam-slot therein.

20. In an audible-signal mechanism of the class described, the combination with the minutearbor of a clock; of a hammer-actuating member concentrically mounted with respect to the said minute-arbor with freedom for rotation independently thereof, and movable axially thereof into a hammer-actuating position and into an idling position; means for driving the said hammer-actuating member at a speed in excess of that of the said minute-arbor; spring-means for moving the said hammer-actuating member into an idling position; automatic means for moving the said hammer-actuating member into its hammer-actuating position, including a diskmember carried by the said hammer-actuating member and having a sloping cam-slot intersecting its periphery, and a spring-pressed cammingmember engageable with the periphery of the said disk-member and movable through the camslot therein, and rotary means driven at the same speed as the said minute-arbor for tensioning the said spring-pressed camming-member and laterally shifting the same into position to overlie the periphery of the said disk-member.

21. In a combined quarter-hour-chime and hour-strike clock, the combination with the minute-arbor thereof; of a hammer-actuating element located concentrically with respect to the said minute-arbor and independently rotatable and axially slidable with respect thereto;

meansoperating each quarter hour for axially sliding the said hammer-actuating element into position for sounding a chime; 1atching-means for holding the said hammer-actuating element in the said last-mentioned position, in which the required number of strokes has been completed; spring-moans for moving the said hammer-actuating element into its idling position; and second latching-means effective each hour for intercepting the said hammer-actuating member when traveling into its idling position under the urge of the said spring-means to temporarily hold the said hammer-actuating member in an intermediate position for striking the hour.

EMIL A. WICK.

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