US3778997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clockwork mechanism for large clocks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-24
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A clockwork mechanism for clocks with chimes comprising a clock movement, a striking mechanism, a control device for the striking mechanism, a driving motor for driving the striking mechanism and a set of batteries for the driving motor all constituted as seperate units mounted in the housing of the clock. At least the motor and batteries are detachably mounted for each replacement.
Inventors
- 👤 H Jauch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:22
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C21/00; G04C21/04; G04C21/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A striking mechanism for a clock comprising a time gear train for moving the hands of the clock including an hour wheel, a striking control mechaNism responsive to said time gear train for actuating said striking mechanism, said striking mechanism comprising hammers for sounding at the quarter hour and hour, respectively, cam discs for actuation of said hammers including an hour cam disc with a single tooth on the periphery thereof for actuating the first stroke of the hour sounding hammer, a shaft mounting said cam disc, a motor for driving said shaft, said motor being intermittently actuated by said striking control mechanism, a gear wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, a gear train driven by said hour wheel for driving said gear wheel at a transmission ratio of 1 to 3 relative to said hour wheel, said gear wheel having three pins mounted thereon in equally spaced angular relation, a cam segment pivotally mounted on said hour cam disc and having a peripheral surface with eleven hammer actuating teeth thereon, means biasing said cam segment to a first position out of cooperation with said hour hammer, means to pivot said cam segment to a second positon enabling cooperation of said teeth with said hour hammer, and means for holding said cam segment in said second position, said holding means coating with one of said pins so that on each occasion when the sequence of strokes has been completed, the cam segment is released permitting said biasing means to return said cam segment back to said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A striking mechanism for a clock comprising a time gear train for moving the hands of the clock including an hour wheel, a striking control mechaNism responsive to said time gear train for actuating said striking mechanism, said striking mechanism comprising hammers for sounding at the quarter hour and hour, respectively, cam discs for actuation of said hammers including an hour cam disc with a single tooth on the periphery thereof for actuating the first stroke of the hour sounding hammer, a shaft mounting said cam disc, a motor for driving said shaft, said motor being intermittently actuated by said striking control mechanism, a gear wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, a gear train driven by said hour wheel for driving said gear wheel at a transmission ratio of 1 to 3 relative to said hour wheel, said gear wheel having three pins mounted thereon in equally spaced angular relation, a cam segment pivotally mounted on said hour cam disc and having a peripheral surface with eleven hammer actuating teeth thereon, means biasing said cam segment to a first position out of cooperation with said hour hammer, means to pivot said cam segment to a second positon enabling cooperation of said teeth with said hour hammer, and means for holding said cam segment in said second position, said holding means coating with one of said pins so that on each occasion when the sequence of strokes has been completed, the cam segment is released permitting said biasing means to return said cam segment back to said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mechanism according to claim 1 comprising a clock movement and a set of batteries for the driving motor, and driving motor and the set of batteries being constituted as separate units and means supporting the units on a common mounting structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mechanism according to claim 2 comprising an electric circuit for the driving motor including a switch means for activating the striking mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the clock movement includes hour and minute hands, and a mechanism for moving the hands, the control mechanism for the striking mechanism and the mechanism for moving the hands being arranged on one side of the mounting structure and the remaining units on an opposite side thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein at least the set of batteries and the driving motor are detachably installed on the mounting structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the control mechanism for the striking mechanism comprises a star-like control cam driven by the clock movement and including three identical curved teeth and one higher curved tooth, a contact switch inserted in the electric circuit of the driving motor and a lever mechanism between the control cam and contact switch to close the switch every quarter of an hour, said striking mechanism including a shaft, a quarter-hour disc rigidly connected, to open the switch after the completion of the quarter-hour stroke, to said shaft of the striking mechanism and coupled to the lever mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A mechanism according to claim 6 wherein the quarter-hour disc is provided with a recess on the circumferential surface thereof, the lever mechanism including a pin which drops into the recess at a time approximately after the stroke of the third quarter of an hour, such that the contact switch can only be closed after actuation of the lever mechanism by the higher curved tooth of the star-like control cam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A striking mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said holding means is a crank pivotally mounted on said hour cam disc and said crank has a nose located in the path of said pins to coact therewith for releasing said cam segment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mechanism according to claim 8 comprising a control curved cam on one of said interposed wheels for deactivating the driving motor for a time period corresponding to the difference of angular positions of this interposed wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the control curved cam engaged the lever mechanism such that the same cannot actuate the striking mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mechanism according to claim 10 wherein the control curved cam is attached to one of the interposed wheels so as to be capable of being adjustably displaced in the direction of rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mechanism according to claim 11 wherein two curved control cams are provided on said one of the interposed gear wheels as as to be displaceable in the direction of rotation in relation to each other as well as in relation to the interposed gear wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |