AN IMPROVED CLICK AND SPRING WORK
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Auguste Grosclaude, of Genève (Suisse), Manu-
facturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CLICK AND SPRING WORK."
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Auguste Grosclaude at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1878.
LOUIS AUGUSTE GROSCLAUDE, of Genève (Suisse), Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED.
CLICK AND SPRING WORK."
In ratchet wheels and pawls of ordinary construction the pawls are usually pressed
against the teeth of the ratchet wheel or racks by a spring or weight in such a
manner that when the ratchet wheel or rack is moved forward under the pawl, or
when the pawl is moved backwards under the ratchet wheel, the former is made to
fall with a blow into the recesses between the teeth, producing an unpleasant jarring
noise, and subjecting both the pawl and the ratchet wheel to wear.
According to my present Invention I obviate these defects by the following con-
struction: In place of the ordinary spring or weight acting on the back of the
pawl, I provide the latter with a short tail or projection beyond its pin or fulcrum,
to which tail is fitted a spring that passes between the inner face of the pawl and
the teeth of the ratchet, and rests upon the latter in such a manner as to keep the
pawl raised out of contact with the teeth while the former is being moved backward
over the latter, or while the ratchet teeth are moved forward under the pawl, but.
as soon as the one or the other part is moved in the contrary direction to tliat above
mentioned, the free end of the spring in abutting against the angle of the tooth in

page_text: front of it has a pressure put upon it whereby it forces the tail or projection of the
pawl upwards, and thus causes the pawl to engage with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel or rack.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Louis Auguste Grosclaude in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
December 1878.
LOUIS AUGUSTE GROSCLAUDE, of Genève (Suisse), Manufacturer.
CLICK AND SPRING WORK."
"AN IMPROVED
In ratchet wheels and pawls of ordinary construction the pawls are usually
pressed against the teeth of the ratchet wheel or racks by a spring or weight in.
such a manner that when the ratchet wheel or rack is moved forward under the
pawl, or when the pawl is moved backwards over the ratchet wheel, the former is
made to fall with a blow into the recesses between the teeth, producing an
unpleasant jarring noise, and subjecting both the pawl and the ratchet wheel to
wear.
According to my present Invention I obviate these defects by the following con-
struction In place of the ordinary spring or weight acting on the back of the
pawl, I provide the latter with a short tail or projection beyond its pin or fulcrum,
to which tail is fixed a spring that passes between the inner face of the pawl and
the teeth of, the ratchet, and rests upon the latter in such a manner as to keep the
pawl raised out of contact with the teeth while the former is being moved backward
over the latter, or while the ratchet teeth are moved forward under the pawl, but as
soon as the one or the other part is moved in the contrary direction to that above
mentioned the free end of the spring, in abutting against the angle of the tooth in
front of it, has a pressure put upon it whereby it forces the tail or projection of the
pawl upwards, and thus causes the pawl to engage with the teeth of the ratchet
wheel or rack.
The accompanying Drawing shews one of the various modes of applying my said
Invention, which however is equally applicable to every other arrangement of
moveable or fixed pawls acting against ratchet teeth or cogs of wheels or racks.
The axis O of the barrel carries a ratchet wheel a, in conjunction with which
operates the fixed retaining pawl b, pivotted at c. This pawl has a spring & fixed
at e, and having its other end free. When the barrel is wound up, being turned in
the direction of the arrow f, the backs of the teeth press the spring d, and conse-
quently also the pawl b outwards, the play of tho latter being limited by the pin g.
As the brackets of the teeth slide over the spring there is practically no noise, the
pawl b only touching the teeth when it is required to engage with them for pre-
venting the return motion of the barrel. As soon as the ratchet wheel endeavours
to move backwards its teeth act against the spring d in the direction of the arrow h,
whereby the spring is made to press the pawl into the teeth of the ratchet wheel,
thus arresting the motion of the latter.
Not only does this construction avoid all noise, but also, the teeth of the ratchet

page_text: do not become worn, as they are not subject to the constant friction of the pawl, as
in the ordinary arrangement, and they cannot break, because the pawl always acts
upon the entire surface of a tooth when it retains it.
I have shewn the same arrangement of pawl applied to the lever L for winding
up the barrel. This arrangement may also be applied in cases where the pawls are
made to engage with the teeth of the wheel R of the barrel itself serving as a
ratchet.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim, the construction of spring pawls for ratchets, with
an inner spring in lieu of the usual outer spring, such inner spring being made to
bear with its free end against the teeth of the ratchet, so as to hold the pawl in such
a position that it rides clear of the teeth in one direction, but is caused to engage
with the teeth when the pawl or the ratchet moves in the contrary direction, sub-
stantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Auguste Grosclaude, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
J. ARMENGAUD, Jeune,
of Paris,
Boulevard de Strasbourg, 23,
Civil Engineer.
L. A. GROSCLAUDE. (L.S.)