Patent GB-428467-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to setting mechanism for timepieces
IPC: G04B37/00
Filed: 1933-11-13
Abstract: 428,467. Clocks and watches. BUGNION, A., 20, Rue de la Cite, Geneva, and DEGALLIER, E., 5, Chemin de la Violette, Lausanne, both in Switzerland. Nov. 13, 1933, Nos. 31559, 31560, 31561, and 31562. Convention dates, Nov. 15, 1932, June 8, 1933, June 12, 1933, and June 13, 1933. [Class 139] Hand-setting apparatus for timepieces where the hands are normally actuated through the usual time control train (including the escapement), but may be disconnected from said train for hand-setting, is characterized by an operating member, actuated from the exterior of the case, which controls a clutch device whereby the hands are disconnected from the normal time trains and coupled to a motor member and another gear train for the hand-setting. The invention is applied to a wrist watch, but may also be used for clocks driven by a mainspring, or by weights, or by an electric motor. The means for adjusting the hands direct may be the mainspring itself (used without the escapement) or an auxiliary spring. Alternatively, the opposite ends of the mainspring may be used for driving the normal escapement train and the direct hand-setting train respectively. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the arbor 12 carries a wheel 13 geared to the scape wheel 15 and a wheel 16 meshing with wheel 24. An arbor 18 carrying a seconds hand and wheels 23, 24, 25 is mounted between two arms 19, 20 (20 being exactly above 19 in Fig. 1) which have bosses rigidly connected together and loosely pivoting about the arbor 12. Rigid also with these bosses are two arms 32 and 33, of which the latter is acted upon by spring 34 tending to rock arms 33 &c. clockwise. The bosses also have rigid with them two arms 36, 37 (37 being exactly above 36, Fig. 1) carrying an arbor 38 with wheels 39, 71. The fine triangular teeth of wheels 23, 39 are adapted to mesh with a wheel 40, but friction surfaces could replace the teeth. Wheel 40 is driven from the mainspring barrel 43 through train 44-49, and in the position of Fig. 1 the wheel 40 drives the escapement 15 through train 23, 24, 16, 13, 14, 15, and drives the hands through train 23, 25, 52 ... 60. Coacting with arm 32 is a push rod 67, Fig. 5, secured to a deformable diaphragm 68 ; when this rod is pressed inwards it rocks the arm 32 which is rigid with arms 20, 37, &c. This brings wheel 39 into mesh with wheel 40 and disengages wheels 23 and 40 so that wheel 40 now drives the hands directly through train 40, 37, 71, 52-60. In a modification, Figs. 6 and 7, a lever 31 coacting with parts 37, 20, &c., Fig. 1, is rocked for handsetting by the following means. A diaphragm 75 welded to the periphery of the centre band 62 has a button 76 with a recess 77 eccentric of a cone 78 or a lever 79, of which latter the end abuts the end of lever 31. A lever 82 pivoted at 81 to the back 80 of the case, is rigid with a disc 83, the latter having a helicoidal cam surface 84 so that as lever 82 is moved, cam 84 depresses button 76 and the latter swings the cone 78 and lever 79 to one side to rock the arm 31. In further modifications, (1) Fig. 10, a slide 85, with a finger piece 91 exterior of the watch case back 80, has a cam 86 for depressing the button 76 ; (2) Fig. 9, a slide 85, with a thread 89 coacting with an actuating nut 90, has a cam 86 for depressing the button 76; (3) Fig. 12, a rotatable rod 92, actuated by an exterior button 94, carries a piece 93 for depressing the button 76. In the device of Fig. 6, the lever 82 may coact with graduations on the back of the watch case. In a construction, Fig. 14, for slowing down the train by which the mainspring directly sets the hands, this train is geared to an escapement 101, 103, a sector 104 rigid with anchor 103 is geared to a comparatively heavy wheel 106. If the actuating means are moved to an extreme position, then lever 32 moves past surfaces 110, 111 on to surface 112 of the lever 98 which is pivoted at 99 and carries the escapement. In this case, the escapement wheel 101 is disconnected from the hand-setting train and the latter may be rotated rapidly by the mainspring to adjust the hands a large amount. Instead of coacting with anchor 103 &c., the wheel 102 may be geared, Fig. 15, to a centrifugal governor 116, 117. In a further modification, Fig. 16, the hands may be adjusted either forwards or backwards. When the means for actuating the hand-setting are operated, lever 32, Fig. 16, is moved clockwise about its pivot 12. The part 123 registers with notch 125 and allows a spring 124 to rock the arm 120 counterclockwise about its pivot 121 so that wheel 119, which is carried on the lever and constantly meshes with the wheel 56, now meshes also with wheel 55. In the previous constructions the wheels 55 and 56 mesh with one another, so that the interposition of wheel 119 causes the hands to be set backwardly. At the same time arm 32 registers with notch 110, lever 98 rises, and the scape wheel 102 gears with wheel 126 to bring the brake into action. If lever 32 is moved sharply further to the left, the finger 123 passes on to surface 127, while the end of lever 32 is still in notch 110. Instead of train 54, 55, 119, 56, the train is now 54, 126, 122, 119, 56 turning the hands in forward direction. If the lever 32 is moved still further to the left, its end slides on to surface 112 and disconnects the braking device 102, 103, &c. so that the hands are set rapidly. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also the following : instead of pushing a pin 67, Fig. 5, to rock the arms 32, 37 and 20, Fig. 1, the deformable back of the case is depressed so that a cone on it rocks an arm 64, Fig. 1 (Cancelled), about pivot 66 whereby this arm rocks an arm 31, Fig. 1 (Cancelled), rigid with arms 37 and 20. Selfwinding watches, tower clocks, and remote control for the hand-setting are also referred to. Further, in order that the mainspring may not drive the hands directly too fast when wheels 39 and 40 are in mesh, a brake is provided which acts against a disc rigid with shaft 38, Fig. 1 (Cancelled). This subjectmatter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.