Patent GB-190913674-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Spring Driven Clockwork Mechanism.
Inventor: RAVIGNEAUX POL
IPC: G04B9/00
Filed: 1909-06-10
Granted: 1910-06-02
Abstract: 13,674. Ravigneaux, P. June 10. Winding-indicators.-A device for showing the state of tension of the driving-spring comprises two rotating indicating-members, one of which rotates with the winding-spindle or the barrel, and the other is connected both to the spindle and to the barrel by a gear train, so that while the spring is being fully wound, a relative motion of not more than one turn occurs between the indicating members, the parts being restored to their original position when the spring runs down. The indicating-members may be connected to any suitable auxiliary rotating parts, the speeds of which are proportional to those of the winding-spindle and the barrel respectively. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the indicating-members consist of a pointer 1 fixed to the winding-spindle 3, and a dial 2 carried by a sleeve 4<1>; a double wheel 8, 5, loose on a spindle 6 fixed to the barrel 7 gears with a wheel 4 on the sleeve, and with a wheel 9 on the winding-spindle. Various other arrangements are described in which epicyclic gearing is used; the wheel 8, 5 may be replaced by a single wheel gearing with the slightly unequal wheels 9, 4; or a planet-wheel carried by an arm fixed to the winding-spindle may gear with an annular wheel to which the dial 2 is attached and with a pinion fixed to the barrel; or, as shown in Fig. 3, the annular wheel 15 may gear with a wheel 17 loose on an eccentric 16 fixed to the barrel, a pin 18 fixed relatively to the spindle engaging in a slot in the wheel 17; in a further modification, Fig. 6, the dial 2 which is loose on the winding-spindle, is carried round by the arm 6 when the barrel rotates, the pointer 1 being attached to the wheel 8 which is loose on the arm 6 and gears with the wheel 9 on the winding-spindle. Fig. 7 shows a device in which the dial 2 is carried by a nut 22 placed on a threaded part of the winding-spindle, and having a projection 24 engaging in a spiral groove on a loose sleeve 20 to which the pointer 1 is fixed. The nut 22 is engaged by a pin 23 on the barrel. The arrangement shown in Fig. 8 embodies worm gearing. The wheel 25, supported by the barrel, engages with a worm on the winding-spindle 3, and has attached to it a grooved sleeve 27 by which the indicating- member 1 is moved. The latter is supported by a pin 23 which is fixed to the barrel and engages with the dial 2. In this case, the relative movement of the pointer 1 and dial 2 may be indicated by providing the end of the pointer with a disk which moves behind an aperture 29 in the dial. The dial 2 may be fixed to the pin 23, and the spindle 3 instead of serving to support the dial, may then stop short of it. In the device shown in Fig. 9, a disk 30, connected to the barrel has a spiral groove 32 which causes a piece 34 to which a rack 35 is attached to slide along an arm 33 fixed to the winding-spindle, which also carries the pointer 1. As the slider is moved, the dial 2 is rotated by means of the rack 35 and pinion 36. To facilitate enamelling of the dial of the winding-indicator, it may be provided with raised borders round the circumference and the central hole, between which the enamel may be melted. The indicating-device may be provided with a stop, to prevent overwinding.