Improvements in Watch and Clock Regulating Devices.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1897--Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watch and Clock Regulating Devices.
I, THOMAS ROBERT BOLTON, Machinist, of 165 E. 49th Street, New York, in the
County of New York, State of New York, one of the United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
This invention relates to improvements in clocks or watches, and more particu-
larly to the mechanism for regulating the same. The object of the invention is
to provide a cheap, simple and effective means for regulating a clock or watch,
and to this end contemplates a construction in which the outer end of the hair
spring is held between two rollers which are turned in unison to take up and let
out the said hair spring, the shaft of one of the rollers having a turning-knob and
pointer or indicator which moves over a scale.
In the following Specification I have entered. into a detail description of my
invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to letters or
numerals thereon which designate the different parts, and what I consider to be
the novel features of construction are specifically set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a sectional view through the works of the clock, showing so much
thereof as will illustrate the application of my invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line X-x of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the back plate, showing the device for indicating
the adjustment of the regulator.
Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 and 2 designate the front and back
plates which enclose the works and form the bearings for the shafts or spindles
for the gearing mechanism, and 3 designates the spindle to which the inner end
of the hair spring 4 is attached in the usual manner. The spindle 3 is also
provided with the usual balance wheel 5.
Between the plates 1 and 2 are mounted parallel shafts 6 and 7 upon which
are mounted disks or rollers 8 and 9 the peripheries of which are slightly recessed
to hold the end of the hair spring in proper engagement therewith, said recesses
not being so deep as to prevent the frictional contact of the disks with the hair
spring. The shafts 6 and 7 are geared to each other to turn in unison by means
of the gear wheels 10 and 11 which are in mesh with each other, and one of the
shafts is extended beyond the back plate 1 and has a knob or turning wheel 12
attached thereto. By placing the outer end of the hair spring between the disks 8
and 9 and gearing the shafts to each other, it will be apparent that the turning
of one of the shafts will turn both disks to either take up the hair spring or let it
out according to the directions in which said disks are turned. In connection
with this manner of adjusting the hair spring the operating shaft has a pointer
or indicating finger 13 that travels over a scale plate 14 marked in the usual
manner to assist the proper adjustment. The disks 8 and 9 act to firmly hold the
end of the hair spring by clamping the same between them, and this arrangement
D

page_text: provides a regulating device for clocks and watches in which the movement of the
adjusting means is not limited, as the shaft 8 may be given a complete rotation
or the hair spring quickly taken up by drawing it between the disks against the
frictional contact thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same. is to be performed, I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is:
1. In a regulating device for clocks and watches, in combination with the hair
spring, disks mounted upon suitable shafts and positioned to clamp the outer end
of the hair spring between the same, gear wheels mounted upon the shafts and in
mesh to turn said shafts in unison, means for turning one of the shafts, and an
indicator for the regulating device; substantially as shown and for the purposes
set forth.
2. In a regulating device for clocks and watches, the combination with the hair
spring, of disks mounted upon suitably journaled shafts and positioned to clamp
the outer end of the hair spring between the same, intermeshing gear wheels
mounted upon the shafts, a knob attached to the outer end of one of the shafts,
and a pointer travelling over the scale plate, substantially as shown and for the
purposes set forth.
3. In a regulating device for clocks and watches, in combination with the hair
spring, of disks mounted upon shafts and having shallow. recesses in their peri-
phery, said disks being positioned to clamp the outer end of the hair spring between
the same, intermeshing gear wheels mounted upon the shafts, a device for turning
one of the shafts, and a pointer indicating the adjustment, substantially as shown
and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 28th day of July 1897
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.