US696319A - Time circuit-closer. - Google Patents

Description

No. 696,319. Patented Mar. 25, I902. D. L. DEMOREST.,

TIME CIRCUIT CLOSER.

(Application filed Feb 16, 1901.)

(No Model.)

Juvenile z QXht-ncano I I i I UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

DAVID L. DEMOREST, OF TACOMA, XVASHINGTON.

TlM E CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,819, dated March 25, 1902.

Application tiled February 16,1901. Serial No. 47,698. (No model.)

To all 4072,0724, it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, DAVID L. Dnnonnsr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Automatically Turning on an Electric Circuit; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for automatically turning on an electric current at a given time or turning it off at a given time or for automatically turning it on at one time and then turning it off again at a desired moment.

It consists in the combination, with an ordinary clock mechanism, of a series of wires and connections so arranged that a circuit may be completed by the engagement of the hour-hand of the clock mechanism with a contacting device connected with said wires, the wires leading to a suitable source of electricity.

It further consists in providing the clock mechanism with a circular conductor arranged beneath the path of one of the hands of the clock, the said conductor being provided with an adjustable clip which may be engaged by one of the hands of the clock, the said hand and the said circular conductor being connected up with a source of electricpower and contacting springs or arms also connected with said clock-hand and circular conductor and adapted to be operated by the alarm mechanism of the clock, so that when the clock-hand engages the adjustable contact on the circular conductor the circuit will be completed and when the alarm mechanism is actuated or released in the usual manner the circuit will be broken.

It further consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be herein fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an ordinary clock, showing a circular conductor arranged upon the face thereof beneath the hands of the clock, the said conductor being provided with an adjustable contact-piece. Fig. 2 is a View, partiallyin section and partiallyin elevation, of the works in a clock, particularly showing the alarm mechanism and the wiring connecting the device with circuits which are to be controlled by the said clock mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through a portion of the alarm mechanism which is employed for making or breaking a circuit. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the stem of an hour-hand and the gear which carries the same, showing a contact sleeve or ring mounted thereon. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of a portion of the mechanism, showing a different manner of wiring the same. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical View showing another way of wiring the device.

This invention is designed to afford a simple means for automatically closing or opening a circuit at a given time; and the object is accomplished by employing the simple mechanism of an ordinary clock, as 1, upon the face of which is arranged a circular conductor 2. The circular conductor is provided with a sliding contact block or piece 3, which may be a simple clip or similar device easily placed in position on the said conductor and engaging the same in such a manner that it can be readily forced around the face of the clock by one of the hands without interfering with the time-keeping function of the clock. The conductor 2 is connected through the face-plate of the clock by means of the wire 5 with a metallic piece 6, which is mounted in an insulating-block 7, arranged on the easing of the clock. The block 7 is preferably screw-threaded, as at 8, to engage a threaded aperture 9 in the clock-casing and is perforated to receive the connecting-piece 6. This piece 6 is provided with a binding-screw 10 on its inner end for holding the wire 5 in position and is also provided with an outer binding-screw 11 for holding the wire or other conductor 12 in position, which leads to the source of electricity.

The stem 13 of one of the clock-hands,preferably of thehour-hand, is provided with a loose collar or ring 14:, to which is attached the end of the connecting-wire 15. A contact may thus be made with the hour-hand without interferin g with its movement. The wire 15 leads to and is connected with the spring contactpiece 16, which is secured to the cross-bar 17 of the clock-frame, and a suitable-binding the said shaft 20 about one-half a turn by means of its key 20, as in winding, the spring-' plate 19 will be moved from the dotted position shown in Fig. 3 to a position where it will be forced against the end. of the spring contact 16, as shown infull lines in the-said Fig. 3. The wire conductor 23 connects the spring-contact 19 with an attaching-piece 24, mounted in the insulating block 25, arranged in the casing in the same manner as the block 7, heretofore described. The binding-screws 26 and 27 at each end of the piece 24 secure the conducting-wire 22 to the said piece, as also a circuit-wire 28. The spring contactplates 16 and 19 are thoroughly insulated from the clock-frame by means of insulating material, as at 29 and 30. The parts attached to the clock mechanism are thus all insu-- lated therefrom with the exception, perhaps, of the collar engaging the stem of the hourhand. The ring conductor 2 on the face of the clock is of course thoroughly insulated from the said clock-face.

When it is desired to complete a certain circuitsay through a series of lamps at a given time, and turn them off at a later periodthe adjustable clip or contact-piece 3 is moved to a point on the rim 2 opposite the hour when it is desired to complete the circuit. The alarm mechanism of the clock is set for the time when it is desired to open the circuit or put out the lights, the contactplates 16 and 19 being brought into engagement with each other by the turning of the alarm mechanism arbor for winding the spring thereof by means of the key 20. It will thus be seen that as the hour-hand moves around the face of the clock it will come into engagement with the contact-block 3 at the desired time, and the circuit will be completed through the wired portion arranged in the clock. The contact-clip 3 will not interfere with the movementof the hour-hand, since it engages the ring 2 loosely enough to be easily pushed around thereon by the said maintain the circuit until the time when the alarm mechanism is released, which will cause the spring-plate 19 to move out of contact with the plate 16, the arbor 20 of the alarm mechanism carrying the plate 19 with it as it rotates, and the circuit will be broken atthatpoint. Byaslightly-differentarrangement of the connectingwires the current may be turned ofi at a givenperiod after having been originally turned on by some other means. Thus instead of connecting the wire 5 with'the ring 2 on the face of the clock its end may be connected directly with the spring-plate 16, as shown in Fig. 5. In this manner when the alarm-mechanism is releasedafter having 'beenproperly set the current which has been previously, closed may be opened automatically at the desired time.

face of the clock for closing the circuit by simply placing the spring-plate 16 upon the other side of. the clock-frame, as shown in Fig.6 at 3l.- Thenby winding the alarm mechanism the plate 19 will move and be held out of contact with the plate 16, the ar bor 20 being held against reversal by the usual means-which engages the pallet of the The same alarm mechanism may also be employed without the connection on the alarm-escapement until the said alarm mecho anism is released, when the said plate 19 will be caused to move with the arbor of the alarm mechanism until it engages the spring-plate 16 and closes the circuit.

It will thus be seen that by this simple arrangement of circuits and contact-plates an alarm-clock of ordinary structure may be made to close or open or close and open an electric circuit automatically at given times, requiring no further attention than the setting of the clock mechanism.

The device will be found extremely useful in turning on and off electric incandescent lights, especially where the same are used in buildings and stores where people do not ordinarily stay at nights.

It will of course be apparent that I may employ any kind of a movable contact on the face of the clock in the place of the ring and movable adjustable block shown in the drawings, all within the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, .what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A mechanism for making or breaking a when the said hand comes against the said contact device. hour-hand. Of course this will also serve to 2. A mechanism for making and breaking an electric circuit, comprising a clock mechanism,a movable contact arrangedin the path of one of the clock-hands, contact plates or springs adapted to be controlled by the alarm mechanism of the clock, and suitable conductors for connecting the parts, the structure being such that the making or breaking of the circuit may be controlled both by the clock-hand and by the alarm mechanism so that when the hand of the clock engages the contact on the clock-face, the circuit may be closed, and when the alarm mechanism of the clock is released the circuit may be automatically opened.

3. In a circuit making and breaking device, the combination With an ordinary alarm-clock mechanism, of a circular contact mounted on the face of the clock, an adjustable contact block arranged to move thereon, and adapted to be struck by the hand of the clock, and to move around therewith, contact-springs arranged upon the clock-frame and connected to the arbor of the alarm mechanism Whereby they will be separated automatioallywhen the alarm mechanism is released, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a circuit making and breaking device, the combination with an alarm-clock mechanism, of an insulated conductor mounted on the face of the clock, a contact-block movable thereon and adapted to be struck by the hourhand of the clock, a Wire connecting the said conductor with the piece insulated with respect to the clock-casing, an insulated block for holding the same, a Wire connected with a loose ring on the stem of the hour-hand, a spring mounted on the frame of the clock and connected with the said Wire, a movable plate secured to the arbor of the alarm mechanism, a Wire connecting the same with a piece passing through the casing of the clock, an insulating-block for holding the said piece in position, the structure being such that the hour-hand will be adapted to complete and maintain the circuit until the alarm mechanism is operated, when the circuit will be antomatically opened,substantiallyas set forth.

5. A circuit-breaking device comprising a clock mechanism having an alarm-operating device, a spring-contact carried by the arbor of the said alarm mechanism,a contact-spring mounted on the frame of the clock adapted to be engaged by the arbor-contact when the alarm mechanism is Wound and set, and Wires connecting the contact-piece with the circuit to be closed, the said spring-plates being separated and the circuit automatically opened when the clock mechanism releases said alarm mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID L. DEMORESTt lVitnesses:

FRANK J. MILLER, W. H. HAYDEN.

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