Improvements in Keyless Mechanism for Watches.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Keyless Mechanism for Watches.
I HENRY ROBOTTOM The Firs, Over Whitacre in the County of Warwick
Watch Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
I mount on barrel arbor square a ratchet with teeth on the edge and face. On the
top of this ratchet I place a bevel wheel, in the centre hollow of which (fitting
easily) is another faced ratchet. This second ratchet is carried round with the bevel
wheel by means of a stop or block but so arranged that it allows an upward or
downward motion so that when the button is turned for winding the two-faced
ratchets clutch each other and the watch is wound. For setting hands the button
is pressed downwards and the head of the bevel pinion resting against the band on
bevel wheel causes the bevel wheel to gear with set hand pinion and thus the hands
are set.
My improvement by this arrangement is that the whole of the keyless mechanisın
for winding and setting hands is fixed on to the barrel arbor square.
Dated thin 1
C T 1 1000
HENRY ROBOTTOM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Keyless Mechanism for Watches.
I HENRY ROBOTTOM of The Firs, Over Whitacre in the County of Warwick
Watch Maker 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in keyless mechanism of watches,
whereby greater simplicity is obtained with consequent reduction in cost of manu-
facture and with considerable reduction in friction; and I attain this object by
mounting upon the arbor the whole of the mechanism which surrounds it, as the
complication and friction incidental to the attachment of any portion of such
mechanism to the pillar plate is thereby avoided.
I will proceed to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a watch (with the dial plate removed) with my
improvements applied thereto;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the barrel and arbor, with portions of the
mechanism hereinafter described applied thereto, such portions being shewn as
spaced apart for convenience of identification;
Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 2, but shews the mechanism hereinafter described
closed up as in its ordinary position;
Figure 4 shews a face view of the edged and faced ratchet wheel hereinafter
described, and also a transverse sectional view thereof;
Figure 4 shews an inner face view of the bevel wheel hereinafter described, and
also a section through the same;
Figure 5 is a face view of a faced ratchet which gears into the ratchet shewn by
Figure 4;
Figure 6 shews a front or inner face elevation of the washer hereinafter described,
and also a section through the same, and shews the spring, hereinafter described, as
employed with such washer.

page_text: C
On a square portion of the arbor d, which carries the barrel a, is mounted the
ratchet wheel formed with ratchet teeth around its edge and also with a ring of
ratchet teeth e projecting from its outer face. This ratchet wheel bears against a
shoulder formed at the junction of the square part of the arbor with the round
part thereof. The screw e forms the termination of the arbor from the square
portion thercof on which the ratchet wheel is mounted. On to this screw is
screwed the washer f, of which an inwardly projecting nave or boss bears against
the face of the ratchet wheel band thus keeps it in position on the square of the
arbor d. Previously to screwing on the washer f, however, the faced ratchet
wheel is slipped around the nave or boss thereof, and the bevel wheel i is slipped
around the faced ratchet wheel h, a circular hole being formed through the wheel i
to receive the ratchet wheel and allow it to move up and down (that is parallel
with the axis of the arbor) therein. A key k is formed to project within the hole
in the wheel, and fits just easily within a corresponding notch or key-way formed
in the edge of the wheel h. When, therefore, these two wheels are put together
around the nave or boss of the washer f, and the washer is screwed up in place as
described, the wheel i cannot be turned without turning also the wheel h. The main
disc of the washer securely prevents both these wheels from slipping endways off
the arbor. The ratchet wheel is pressed up by means of a spring 1, carried
by the washer, so that its teeth engage with the face teeth of the ratchet wheel b.
The bevel pinion m (see Figure 1) on the inner end of the button spindle, gears
with the teeth of the bevel wheel, and thus, as the button is rotated, movement is
of course imparted through the bevel wheel i and ratchet wheel to the ratchet
wheel and consequently to the arbor d. The edge teeth of the wheel b gear with
the usual ratchet pawl to prevent the return of the wheel.
g
To adapt the above described mechanism for the purpose also of setting the
hands, a collar gis formed around the inner end of the nave or boss of the washer /,
and the hole through the ratchet wheel is made to fit around this collar, and the
hinder edge of the collar is preferably bevelled off, as shewn. When it is desired
to set the hands, the button may be pressed inwards to press the inner end of the
bevel pinion m against the band 'n forming a plain portion of the edge of the beve!
wheel i, and the pressure thus conveyed against the edge of the ratchet wheel h
causes such wheel to ride over the bevel edge of the collar g, so that it compresses
the spring and passes behind the collar and thus brings its teeth out of gear with
the teeth c of the ratchet wheel. This inward pressure also of the button pushes the
wheel into gear with the usual set, hand pinion, as the hole through the wheel /
being larger than the diameter of the part of the washer between the collar and
the main disc thereof, allows of sufficient sideway movement of such wheel and
consequently of the wheel for this purpose. A spring, not shown in the drawing,
presses against the band n of the wheel in the opposite direction to which the
wheel is pushed by the pushing in of the button, and this spring causes the return
of the wheel, and consequently of the ratchet wheel also, on the release of
pressure from the button, and the parts are thus brought back into their normal
position again with the teeth of the wheel gearing with the teeth c of the wheel b.
The pillar plate is properly recessed in its outer face to receive the ratchet wheel b
and washer e, and the mechanism contained between them, and such recess is
formed somewhat elongated or oval in shape in the portion thereof which receives
the wheel. The wheel is thus suitably guided as it is moved in and out in the
manner described; it is stopped, by one end of the recess in which it is carried,
when pushed back by the spring from its position for setting the hands, in position
concentric with the arbor, to allow the ratchet wheel to be pressed by the spring
around the collar thus bringing its teeth into gear with the teeth c of the wheel;
and, when pushed in by pressing the button, it is stopped and held in position for
setting the hands by the opposite end of the recess. It is not essential that the
collar be bevelled at its rear edge, as shewn, though such is preferred, as
the teeth of the wheel / may be brought out of gear with the teeth c by turning the
button slightly backwards, and the wheel be thus moved back sufficiently to

page_text: enable it to pass behind the collar as the button is pushed in. The spring is
formed with a slot in one side which narrows in slightly at its open end, and is
sprung into place around the boss.
A modification of this invention is shewn by Figures 7 to 9 inclusive; of which
Figure 7 shews a front elevation of the barrel and of the bevel wheel carrying
face ratchet teeth hereinafter described;
Figure 8 shews a face view of the other ratchet wheel; and
Figure 9 shews an inside view of the washer hereinafter described.
In this modification the bevel wheel is sunk or hollowed at its face which is
away from the barrel a, and a circle c' of face ratchet teeth is formed within the
hollow. The bevel wheel i¹ is carried in an elongated recess in the same manner as
the corresponding wheel i previously described, and its central hole is large enough
to permit of its sideway movement when to be used for setting the hands.
Immediately at the face of the bevel wheel which is towards the barrel, and upon
a square portion of the arbor, is carried, in the manner of the ratchet wheel />,
before described, a ratchet wheel having teeth around its edge only for the purpose
of engaging with a ratchet pawl in the usual manner.
The washer has a square
boss p projecting from its inner face, and is screwed on to the screwed portion of
the arbor until the inner face of the boss comes against the ratchet wheel last
described, passing for this purpose through the wheel . Upon the square boss
of the washer is placed the faced ratchet wheel ', so that it cannot be turned
without turning also the washer and consequently the arbor and a spring is
placed between the washer f¹ and the back of the wheel to press such wheel up
to gear with the ratchet teeth c¹. A bevel-ended boss o is formed to project at the
inner face of the ratchet wheel ¹, and the bevelled portion enters somewhat within
the central hole through the wheel i, so that as the bevel wheel is pushed inwards,
by pressing in the button (to bring it into gear with the set-hand pinion) it presses
inwards against the bevelled end of the boss o, and forces back the ratchet wheel /'
out of gear with the ratchet teeth c. Except in so far as otherwise described, the
operation of this modification is the same, or substantially so, as in the modification
first described.
P
It should be explained that in both the above described modifications the wheel i
or is retained in position endways of the arbor by the outer face of the ratchet
wheel which gears with the pawl and the inner face of the washer. It is simply
guided, and stopped in position inwards and outwards, by the recess in the pillar
plate.
In Figure 1, a modification is shewn of the manner of pushing in the bevelled
pinion m against the band n of the wheel (or wheel ¹ as the case may be), that is
to say, a lever or arm is fulcrumed by means of a pin screwed into the pillar
plate. A. push piece is carried upon the rim of the case in position to press
against the outer end of the lever when itself pressed upon, and the lever passes
immediately behind the head of the pinion so that when pushed in it pushes the
pinion in also and consequently the wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Keyless mechanism for winding and setting the hands of watches, having the
portion which surrounds the arbor mounted thereon without any part thereof being
fixed to the plate, substantially as described.
2. Carrying the parts of keyless mechanism for watches which directly operate
in moving the faced ratchets out of gear with one another in such manner that
neither of such parts is attached to the pillar plate or to any portion of the watch
other than the arbor, substantially as described.
3. In keyless mechanism for winding and setting the hands of watches, the
combination with a pair of faced ratchets and a bevel wheel surrounding the arbor,
of a washer fixed upon the arbor, such parts being constructed and arranged to

page_text: operate together and with other suitable mechanism substantially as described, for
the purpose set forth.
4. The washer f, having central boss and collar g and fitted with spring 7, in
combination with bevel wheel i and faced ratchet wheel h, substantially as described
and shewn for the purpose set forth.
5. The washer "having central boss, the ratchet wheel / carried upon such
boss in such a manner that it cannot turn thereon and set forwards thercon by means
of a spring and itself provided with a bevel ended boss, in combination with the
wheelcarrying faced ratchet teeth, substantially as described and shewn, for the
purpose set forth.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts forming keyless mechanism for
winding and setting the hands of watches, substantially as described, and shewn,
according to two modifications, by the drawings herewith, for the purpose set forth.
7. The means described with reference to Figure 1 by which the pinion m is
pushed inwards, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 15th day of April 1891
HENRY ROBOTTOM.