The Rolling Ball Web
An Online Compendium of
Rolling Ball Sculptures, Clocks, Etc.
By David M. MacMillan et. al.
In
Langman, H.R. and A. Ball. Electrical Horology: A Practical Manual on the Application of the Principles and Practice of Electricity to Horological Instruments and Machines for the Measurement and Transmission of Time, With an Account of the Earliest Electrically-Driven Clock Mechanism. Third Edition. London: The Technical Press Ltd., 1935.there appears on pages 148-150 a brief account of an electric clock patented in 1910 by one A. J. Boult. Boult's clock is described in two versions.
In one version, the ball travels along a circular track. At some point on this track, the ball attracts a permanent magnet situated below the track. The movement of this permanent magnet (which is shown as pivoted in the diagram) closes a switch, thus energizing an electromagnet. This electromagnet provides the impulse which keeps the ball going.
In the other version, the ball oscillates back and forth within a partially evacuated tube. This tube is generally horizontal, but curves upwards on each side of center. The impulsing mechanism is the same; the ball attracts a permanent magnet, which triggers an electromagnet which impulses the ball.
Boult's clock was apparently intended to be the master clock synchronizing a series of slave clocks through electrical impulses (generated at the same time that the ball was impulsed).
Boult's clock resembles in some respects the "Novelty Electric Motor" patented by Roger Wayne Andrews (US Patent 3783550, Jan 8, 1974). In Andrews' device, a rolling magnetic component (which may be a ball) rolls through a set of coils, inducing a current in them. This induced current triggers an electromagnet. Andrews' device has been embodied in toys such as the "Space Wheel" (which is currently available commercially).
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Version
1.2, 1998/06/19.
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