US3802181A - Electric pendulum clock and parts therefor or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric clock having an electrically operated clock mechanism driving a drive means operatively interconnected to a pivotally mounted pendulum whereby the drive means is adapted to cause continuous to-and-fro movement of the pendulum as long as the clock mechanism is continuously operating, the drive means comprising an ratchet wheel that is driven by the clock mechanism in one direction to impart swinging movement of the pendulum in one direction until the stop means of the pendulum stops movement of the ratchet wheel so that a torsion spring can subsequently cause movement of the ratchet wheel in its one direction after the pendulum has pivoted a certain amount in its other direction.

Description

United States Patent [191 Marquis 1 ELECTRIC PENDULUM CLOCK AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Edgar E. Marquis, Fairfield, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company,

v Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 317,144

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 134,853, April 16, 1971, Pat. No. 3,747,332, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 849,798, Aug. 13, 1969, abandoned.

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 58/29, 58/129, 58/152 H [51] Int. Cl. G04b 17/02 [58] Field of Search 58/2, 29, 123,124, 129,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1935 Osdel 58/152 H 11/1952 Punzak 58/26 A [111 3,802,181 Apr. 9, 1974 8/l961 Boyles ..58/29X 8/1969 Cielaszyk ..58/29 Primary ExaminerStephen J. Tomsky Assistant ExaminerEdith Simmons Jackmon Attorney, Agent, or FirmCandor, Candor & Tassone 5 7] ABSTRACT An electric clock having an electrically operated clock mechanism driving a drive means operatively interconnected to a pivotally mounted pendulum whereby the drive means is adapted to cause continuous toand-fro movement of the pendulum as long as the clock mechanism is continuously operating, the drive means comprising an ratchet wheel that is driven by the clock mechanism in one direction to impart swinging movement of the pendulum in one direction until 7 the stop means of the pendulum stops movement of the ratchet wheel so that a torsion spring can subsequently cause movement of the ratchet wheel in its one direction after the pendulum has pivoted a certain amount in its other direction.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures This application is a continuation-impart application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 134,853, filed Apr. 16, 1971 now US. Pat. No. 3,747,332, which, in turn, is a continuation application of its copending patent application, Ser. No. 849,798, filed Aug. 13, 1969, now abandoned in favor of its aforementioned copending continuation application.

This invention relates to an electric clock having a pendulum driven thereby as well as to improved parts for such a clock or the like.

It is well known that electric clocks have been provided in the past which will drive a pendulum to-andfro to simulate a pendulum operated clock mechanism.

It is a feature of this invention to provide an improved electric clock of the pendulum driving type.

Another feature of this invention is to provide such a clock wherein the movement of the pendulum emits a tick-took sound.

Another feature of this invention is to provide such a clock wherein if the power current to the clock is interrupted for a period of a few seconds or more, the movement of the pendulum will stop and will remain in a stopped condition even if the power is subsequently reapplied to the clock motor so that the non-moving pendulum will give a warning to the viewer that there has been a power interruption and that the clock is not displaying the correct time.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a drive means for the pendulum which permits the pendulum to be of a construction that need not be precisely of a particular length or of an exacting weight to beat precisely for time keeping purposes.

In particular, one embodiment of this. invention provides a frame means carrying a pendulum pivotally mounted intermediate its opposed ends and a drive means interconnected to the electrically operated clock mechanism and operatively associated with one of the ends of the pendulum to cause to-and-fro movement of the pendulum as the drive means is being operated by the clock mechanism. The drive means comprises a shaft rotatably carried by the frame means and has an ratchet wheel fixed thereto. A pinion gear is rotatably carried by the shaft and is disposed in meshing engagement with a drive gear of the clock mechanism so as to be continuously rotated in one direction by the clock mechanism as long as the clock mechanism is operating. A torsion spring has a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about a hub of the pinion gear and a second coiled portion disposed loosely in the opposite direction about the hub and interconnected to the ratchet wheel. In this manner, when the escapcment wheel is restrained from movement the second portion of the torsion spring winds tighter as the pinion is being rotated in its one direction to cause the first portion to loosen or unwind on the hub whereby the escapement wheel can escape from its driving connection with the pinion gear. The one end of the pendulum carries two abutment means that cooperate with the ratchet wheel so that as the escapement wheel is being moved in one direction, the same operates on one of the stop means to swing the pendulum in one direction until the other stop means thereof engages the ratchet wheel to stop rotation thereof as well as to stop movement of the pendulum in its one direction. Subsequently, the pendulum begins to swing by gravity in its opposite direction releasing the ratchet wheel whereby the force of the torsion spring again moves the ratchet wheel in its rotational direction to engage the first stop means of the pendulum and reverse the swinging action t thereof.

In another embodiment of this invention the torsion spring is wound all in the same direction, has one part thereof disposed tightly on the hub of the pinion gear and has another part thereof interconnected to the escapement wheel, the ratchet wheel and the pinion gear and its hub being rotatably disposed on the shaft whereby the spring unwinds on the hub as the pinion gear is rotated and the ratchet wheel is being held from movement to thereby cause the spring to slip on the hub and store energy therein to move the ratchet wheel when the escape-ment wheel is subsequently released.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved electric clock and pendulum arrangement having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such a clock or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved electric clock and pendulum arrangement of this invention with the clock casing removed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view of the clock means of FIG. 1 with a frame plate thereof removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in cross section, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the clock casing in dash dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the parts thereof in elevation.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates the ratchet wheel operating against one end of the pivotally mounted pendulum.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrates another operating position of the ratchet wheel and pendulum.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates still another operating position of the ratchet wheel and pendulum.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the ratchet wheel and drive means of the structure of FIG. 5.

' FIG. I0 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 and illustrates the parts thereof in elevation.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the ratchet wheel and drive means of the structure of FIG. 1 1.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 11.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted for providing pendulum means for an electric clock, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof with other clock mechanisms as desired, such as spring wound clock mechanisms and the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the improved electric.

clock of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral and comprises a frame means 21 adapted to be supported in a conventional clock casing 22, an electrically operated clock motor 23 and a pendulum 24 projecting through a suitable slot (not shown) in the casing 22 so as to-permit the to-and-fro motion of the pendulum 24 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The frame means 21 includes a main frame plate 25 having the clock motor 23 mounted on one side thereof and a conventional gear train means 26 on the other side thereof which is operatively interconnected to the drive shaft 27-of the electric motor 23 to produce the timing rotational movement of the shaft means 28 that projects through suitable opening means 29 in another frame plate 30 attached in any suitable manner to the main frame plate 25 and supporting the gear train means 26 therebetween, the timing shaft means 28 being interconnected in a conventional manner to clock hands and therefore need not be further described.

However, the conventional gear train means 26 includes a gear wheel 31 which operatively interconnects the clock mechanism 26 to a drive means 32 of this invention which is operatively associated with the pendulum 24 to provide to-and-fro movement of the pendulum 24 in a manner hereinafter described.

The pendulum 24 comprises a pendulum rod 33 having opposed ends 34 and 35 and carrying a suitable weight means 36 adjacent thelower end 35 thereof in a conventional manner. .The pendulum 24 ispivotally mounted to the frame means 21 intermediate the ends 34 and 35 of the rod means 33 and in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings carries a shaft means 37 fixed thereto with the shaft means 37 having its opposed ends 38 and 39 journaled respectively in suitable openings 40 and 41 of the frame plates 25 and 30 so that the shaft means 37 and pendulum 24 will pivot in frame plates 25 and 30 so that the shaft 45 and ratchet wheel 44 move in unison relative to the frame means 21. A pinion gear is rotatably mounted on the shaft 45 and has its gear teeth 51 disposed in meshing engagement with the gear 31 of the clock mechanism 26 so as to be continuously rotated in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 2 as long as the timer motor 23 is driving the gear 31 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2.

A torsion spring 52 has a first coiled portion 53 disposed tightly in one direction about a hub 54 of the pinion gear 50 and a second coiled portion 55 disposed loosely in the opposite direction about the hub 54 and being interconnected at its right-hand end 55 to the ratchet wheel 44 by being bent through an opening 55" of the ratchet wheel 44.

ln this manner, as the pinion gear 50 is being driven by the clock mechanism 26, the same, through the torsion spring 52, tends to rotate the ratchet wheel 44 in unison therewith in the same counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. However, if any rcstraint is placed on the ratchet wheel 44 to tend to oppose such rotation thereof, the rotation of the pinion gear 50 causes the right-hand coiled portion 55 of the torsion spring 52 to wind tighter which, in turn, not only stores energy therein but also tends to cause the left-hand coiled portion 53 thereof to unwindon the hub 54 and thereby loosen on the hub 54 so as to provide slippage between the gear hub 54 and the torsion spring 52 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The ratchet wheel 44 is provided with a plurality of teeth 56 about the outer periphery thereof with each tooth 56 having an arcuately shaped leading edge 57 which cooperates with the pins or stop means 42 and 43 of the pendulum 24 in a manner hereinafter described. However, when the pendulum is at rest, the teeth 56 of the ratchet wheel 44 will not operate on the stop means 42 and 43 for a purpose hereinafter described. v

Therefore, it can be seen that the parts of this invention causing the electrical clock 20 to simulate a pendulum operation therefor are relatively simple to manufacture and assemble to the clock frame 21 to operate in a manner now to be described.

Assuming that the clock mechanism 26 is being continuously driven by the electric motor 23 and that the pendulum 24 is already in its to-and-fro motion, at the particular time that the pendulum 24 is swinging its lower end 35 to its maximum point to the right as illustrated in FIG. 8, a particular tooth 56A of the ratchet wheel 44 has its leading edge 57A moved against the right-hand stop means 42 so that not only can the pendulum 24 not have its lower end 35 moved further to the right in FlG. 8, but also the ratchet wheel 44 cannot turn further in a counterclockwise direction until the windup tension force on the coiled part 55 of the torsion spring 52 overcomes the inertia of the pendulum 24 tending to oppose counterclockwise movement of the ratchet wheel 44 and the pendulum begins to swing back to the left whereby the ratchet 44 will begin to again move in a counterclockwise direction with the tooth 56A acting against the stop 42 to drive the upper end 34 of the pendulum 24 to the right while the lower end 35 thereof swings to the left as illustrated in FIG. 6. However, when the pendulum 24 has its lower end 35 moving to the left to the position illustrated in FIG. 7, it can be seen that the left-hand stop means 43 thereof abuts against another tooth 56B of the ratchet wheel 44 at the leading edge 57B thereof to not only cause the pendulum 24 to cease swinging to the left, but also to stop rotation of the ratchet wheel 44 in its counterclockwise direction until after the inertia of the pendulum 24 changes direction and the weight 36 of the pendulum 24 will begin to swing the lower end 35 of the pendulm back to the right until the right-hand stop means 42 again hits another tooth 56 of the ratchet wheel 44 as previously described in connection with FIG. 8.

However, during the initial movement of the lower end 35 of the pendulum 24 back to the right from the position illustrated in FIG. 7, the ratchet wheel 44 will remain stationary until the stop means 43 clears away from the tooth 5613. Prior to this time, the continuously rotating pinion gear 50 has caused the right-hand coiled portion 55 of the torsion coil 52 to wind tightly so as to not only store energy therein, but also to cause the left-hand portion 53 thereof to unwind and slip on the hub 54 of the pinion 50 and thereby permit the ratchet wheel 44 to escape and move in a counterclockwise direction under the force of they wound righthand coiled portion 55 of the spring 52 until such movement is again prevented by the stop means 42 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Thus, as the pendulum 24 swings to-and-fro in the above manner, the ratchet between the stop means 42 and 43 thereof with the ratchet wheel 44 provides an audible tick-took sound.

Also, once the pendulum 24 has been set in motion and is being acted upon by the ratchet wheel 44 under the continuously rotating pinion gear 50 in the manner previously described, the pendulum 24 will be continuously driven to-and-fro in the manner previously described. However, should the clock motor 23 be turned off, either manually, or by a temporary power failure, the pendulum 24 will come to rest in a few secondsso that should the timer motor 23 be thereafter turned on either manually or by a restoring of the supply, the pendulum 24 will not be driven in its to-and-fro movement as previously described because'the ratchet wheel 44 has its teeth 56 so constructed and arranged relative to the stop means 42 and 43 of the pendulum 24, that the same clears such pins 42 and 43 when the pendulum 24 is in its at rest position and the ratchet wheel 44 is being driven by the drive means 32.

Therefore, once the timer-motor 23 is again operating, the pendulum 24 must be initially manually set into motion so that the ratchet wheel 44 will continue such motion continuously thereafter.

Accordingly, should the user of the electric clock 20 see that the pendulum 24 is in an at rest position, either the power source is off or the power source was temporarily in an off condition so that the clock is not reporting the proper time whereby the user of the clock 20 will be alterted to make a readjustment in the time setting of the clock 20.

In this manner, the pendulum 24 need not be precisely of a particular length or of an exacting weight to beat" precisely for time keeping purposes, the pendulum 24 merely being so constructed and arranged that the same does not swing faster than the pinion 50 is winding the torsion spring 52 to keep sufficient energy stored for the operation of the ratchet wheel 44 in the manner previously described. Of course, ideally, the two would be equal whereby there would be no slipping between the pinion 50 and the left-hand portion 53 of the tension spring 52, but due to manufacturing policies, the pendulum 24 should be designed to swing slower than the rotation of the windup pinion 50.

Another drive means of this invention :is generally indicated by the reference numeral 32A in FIG. for the same purpose as the drive means 32 whereby the parts of the clock A in FIG. 10 that are similar to the parts of the clock 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the pendulum 24A is pivotally mounted to the frame plates 25A and 30A by the shaft means 37A in the manner previously described with the upper end 34A of the pendulum 24A carrying the stop pins such as such as in the same manner as previously described.

The ratchet wheel 44A of the drive means 32A is constructed in the same manner as the ratchet wheel 44 previously described except that the ratchet wheel 44A is free to rotate or pivot on the shaft means 45A that is rotatably mounted to the frame plates 25A and 30A in the same manner as the shaft 45 previously described. A pinion gear 58 is provided for the drive means 32A and is also free to rotate on the shaft 45A. A friction clutch 59 is provided to operatively interconnect the pinion gear 58 to the shaft 45A, the friction clutch 59 comprising a disc 60 secured to the shaft 45A and a beveled spring member 61 disposed between the disc 60 and the left-hand side 62 of the pinion gear 58 so that rotation of the pinion gear 58 by the clock mechanism of the clock 20A, such as by a meshing gear similar to the gear 31 previously described, tends to rotate the disc 60 and, thus, the shaft 45A in unison therewith. However, the friction clutch 59 will permit the shaft 45A to be restrained from rotation even though the pinion gear 58 is being continuously driven in one rotational direction by the clock mechanism.

A torsion spring 63 has a left-hand coiled portion 64 thereof tightly wound on the shaft 45A and a righthand coiled portion 65 wound in the same direction as the left-hand coiled portion 64 but loosely disposed about the shaft 45A, the right-hand coiled portion 65 having its right-hand end 66 interconnected to the ratchet wheel 44A in the same manner as the torsion spring 52.

Thus, as the pinion 58 is continuously rotated in a counterclockwise direction when looking at the side 67 of the pinion gear 58, the same through the friction clutch 59 tends to rotate the shaft 45A therewith and as the shaft 45A is rotating, the left-hand coiled portion 64 of the torsion spring 63 tightly grips the shaft 45A to tend to also rotate in unison therewith and carry the ratchet wheel 44A in the same direction. However, when the ratchet wheel 44A is restrained from rotating in unison with the shaft 45A in the same manner as the ratchet wheel 44 under the influence of the pendulum 24A, the continuing of the rotation of the shaft 45A winds up the right-hand coiled portion 65 of the spring 63 to store energy for the subsequent rotation of the ratchet wheel 44A in the same manner as the torsion spring 32 previously described.

Thus, even though the pinion gear 58 rotates at a constant speed by the clock motor, the ratchet wheel 34A rotates intermittently to provide the to-and-fro movement of the pendulum 24A, the tick-tock sound and the indication of a temporary power failure in the same manner as the ratchet wheel 44 previously described.

Furhter, it can be seen that in both embodiments of this invention, should a child or the like hold the pendulum 24 or 24A in a position that the same prevents movement of the ratchet wheel 44 or 44A, the torsion spring 52 of the drive means 32 permits the pinion gear 50 to be continuously rotated without putting an adverse strain on the clock mechanism and the friction clutch 59 of the drive means 32A permits the pinion gear 58 to be continuously driven without imposing an adverse force on the clock mechanism.

Another drive means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 328 in FIGS. 11-14 and is utilized for the same purpose as the drive means 32 previously'describe'd whereby the parts of the clock B in FIG. 11 that are similar to the parts of the clock 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter B."

As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 14, the pendulum 24B is pivotally mounted to the frame plates 25B and 308 by the shaft means 378 in substantially the same manner previously described with the upper end 34B of the pendulum 24B carrying stop pins 428 and 43B in the same manner as previously described.

The ratchet wheel 44B of the drive means 328 is fixed to a hub member 70 that is rotatably disposed on the shaft 45B that is rotatably mounted to the frame plates 25B and B. A pinion gear 71 is provided for the drive means 32B and together with its hub 72 is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 45B in such a manner that its gear teeth 73 are adapted to mesh with the gear teeth 74 of the drive gear 31B so as to be continuously rotated by the drive gear 51B in a counterclockwise di-' rection in FIGS. 13 and 14 for the reasons previously set forth. I I

A torsion spring 75 having the coils thereof wound all in the same direction has its left-hand portion 76 normally tightly disposed on the hub 72 of the pinion gear 71 while the right-hand portion 77 thereof extends beyond a tapered down right-hand portion 78 of the hub 72 and has i'tslast coil 79 bent out of the normal plane thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 so as t'ohook through one of a plurality of slots 80 passing through the ratchet wheel 44B and hook against "one side 81 of a resulting rib 82 of the ratchet wheel 443 so as to tend to rotate the ratchet wheel 443 in a counterclockwise direction as the pinion gear 71 is being rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the drive gear 318. The left-hand end coil 83 of the torsion spring 75 is bent at 84 away from a discflike surface 85 on the pinion gear 71 adjacent the hub, 72 so that the end of the torsion spring 74 will not dig into such surface 85 during the rotation of-the pinion gear 71 relative to the spring 75 as will be apparent hereinafter.

Thus, it can be seen that the drive means 328 illustrated in FIGS. 11-14 provides a torsionspring 75 having all of the coils thereof wound in the same direction and of the same diameter to function in the same manner as the torsion springs 52 and 63 in a manner now to be described.

As the pinion gear 71 is continuously rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the drive gear 318, the gear 71 and its hub 72 rotate on the shaft 453 and through the torsion spring 75 having the portion 76 thereof tightly wound on the hub 72 drives the torsion spring 75 in a counterclockwise direction therewith so that the ratchet wheel 44B is driven in a counterclockwise direction in unison therewith for the same purpose as the ratchet wheel 44 previously described. However, when the ratchet wheel 44B is held from rotating by the pendulum 248 for the reasons previously set forth, the continuously rotating pinion gear 71 causes the lefthand portion 76 of the torsion spring 75 to begin to unwind on the hub 72 and thereby permit the hub 72 to slip relative to the spring 75. However, such unwinding of the spring 75 causes thespring 75 to store energy therein tending to drive the spring in a counterclockwise direction so that when the ratchet wheel 44B is subsequently released by the pendulum 24B in the manner previously described, the ratchet wheel 448 can be rotated by the stored energy in the spring 75 in a counterclockwise direction independently of the pinion gear 71 for the reasons previously set forth and the left-hand end portion 76 of the spring can again tighten on the hub 72 to be rotated thereby.

Thus, even though the pinion gear 71 rotates at a constant speed by the clock motor, the ratchet wheel 44B rotates intermittently to provide the to-and-fro movement of the pendulum 24B, the tick-took sound and the indication of a temporary power failure in the same manner as the ratchet wheel 44 previously described.

Thus, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved electrical clock and pendulum arrangement, but also this invention provides improved parts for such a clock or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been described and illustrated as required by the Patent Statute, it is to be understood that other forms can be utilized and still come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means comprising a ratchet member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism and being adapted to act on said one end of said pendulum, said ratchet means when being moved in said one direction by said clock mechanism being adapted to move said pendulum in one pivotal direction, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said ratchet member in said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain'amount in said one pivotal direction, said drive means having means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in the opposite pivotal direction thereof of a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said ratchet member, said ratchet member having means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has pivoted in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the pivotal movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause pivotal movement thereof in said one direction, said drive means comprising a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means, said ratchet member comprising an ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pinion gear on said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is being electrically operated and having a hub, said means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion coiled in the same direction as said first portion and being interconnected to said ratchet wheel, said spring unwinding on said hub as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction when said escapement wheel is held from movement to thereby cause said spring to slip on said hub and store energy therein to move said ratchet wheel when released.

2. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pinion gear and its hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

3. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel is rotatably disposed on said shaft.

4. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel and said pinion gear and its said hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

5. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel has a slot therein, said spring having a coil thereof bent out of the normal plane thereof and hooking through said slot to interconnect said spring to said ratchet wheel.

6. A clock comprising a frame means, a driving clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum movahly carried by said frame means, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with said pendulum to impart to-and-fro movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means having a ratchet member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism to impart movement to said pendulum in one of its directions, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said ratchet member in its said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain amount in its said one direction, said drive means having means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in its opposite direction a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said ratchet member, said ratchet member having means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has moved in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause movement thereof in its said one direction, said drive means comprising a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means, said ratchet member comprising an ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pinion gear on said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is operating and having a hub, said means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion coiled in the same direction as said first portion and being interconnected to said tatchet wheel, said spring unwinding on said hub as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction when said ratchet wheel is held from movement to thereby cause said spring to slip on said hub and store energy therein to move said ratchet wheel when released.

7. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pinion gear and its said hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

8. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ratchet wheel is rotatably disposed on said shaft.

9. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ratchet wheel and said pinion gear and its said hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

10. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ratchet wheel has a slot therein, said spring having a coil thereof bent out of the normal plane thereof and hooking through said slot to interconnect said spring to said ratchet wheel.

Claims (10)

1. An electric clock comprising a frame means, an electrically operated clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum having opposed ends and being pivotally carried by said frame means intermediate said opposed ends, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means comprising a ratchet member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism and being adapted to act on said one end of said pendulum, said ratchet means when being moved in said one direction by said clock mechanism being adapted to move said pendulum in one pivotal direction, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said ratchet member in said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain amount in said one pivotal direction, said drive means having means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in the opposite pivotal direction thereof of a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said ratchet member, said ratchet member having means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has pivoted in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the pivotal movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause pivotal movement thereof in said one direction, said drive means comprising a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means, said ratchet member comprising an escapement wheel on said sHaft, a pinion gear on said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is being electrically operated and having a hub, said means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion coiled in the same direction as said first portion and being interconnected to said ratchet wheel, said spring unwinding on said hub as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction when said escapement wheel is held from movement to thereby cause said spring to slip on said hub and store energy therein to move said ratchet wheel when released.

2. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pinion gear and its hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

3. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel is rotatably disposed on said shaft.

4. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel and said pinion gear and its said hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

5. An electric clock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ratchet wheel has a slot therein, said spring having a coil thereof bent out of the normal plane thereof and hooking through said slot to interconnect said spring to said ratchet wheel.

6. A clock comprising a frame means, a driving clock mechanism carried by said frame means, a pendulum movably carried by said frame means, and drive means carried by said frame means and being operatively interconnected to said clock mechanism to be driven thereby, said drive means being operatively associated with said pendulum to impart to-and-fro movement of said pendulum as said drive means is being driven by said clock mechanism, said drive means having a ratchet member adapted to be driven in one direction by said clock mechanism to impart movement to said pendulum in one of its directions, said pendulum having stop means to stop the movement of said ratchet member in its said one direction when said pendulum has been moved a certain amount in its said one direction, said drive means having means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction thereof independently of said clock mechanism after said pendulum moves in its opposite direction a certain amount by gravity subsequent to its stopping of said movement of said ratchet member, said ratchet member having means for engaging another stop means of said pendulum after said pendulum has moved in said opposite direction thereof a certain amount to stop the movement of said pendulum in said opposite direction and cause movement thereof in its said one direction, said drive means comprising a shaft rotatably carried by said frame means, said ratchet member comprising an ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pinion gear on said shaft, said pinion gear being driven continuously by said clock mechanism in one rotational direction as long as said clock mechanism is operating and having a hub, said means for moving said ratchet member in said one direction comprising a torsion spring having a first coiled portion disposed tightly in one direction about said hub and a second coiled portion coiled in the same direction as said first portion and being interconnected to said ratchet wheel, said spring unwinding on said hub as said pinion is being rotated in its said one direction when said ratchet wheel is held from movement to thereby cause said spring to slip on said hub and store energy therein to move said ratchet wheel when released.

7. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said pinion gear and its said hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

8. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ratchet wheel is rotatably disposed on said shaft.

9. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ratchet wheel and said pinion gear and its said hub are rotatably disposed on said shaft.

10. A clock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ratchet wheeL has a slot therein, said spring having a coil thereof bent out of the normal plane thereof and hooking through said slot to interconnect said spring to said escapement wheel.

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