IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCK
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Jacques Emile Robert-Houdin, of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris, Clock maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLOCK
Sealed the 12th July 1867, and dated the 15th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Jacques Emile
Robert-Houdin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 15th January 1867.
I, JEAN JACQUES EMILE ROBERT-HOUDIN, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, Clockmaker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS," to be as follows:-
open
My Invention relates, 1st, to the application of keyless watch winding
gear to clocks, regulators, and all large time indicators. The advantages
presented by this new application are numerous, 1st, it will be unnecessary to
the clock face, which is the cause of dust being introduced and
necessitates frequent cleaning; 2ndly, keys are not required, nor holes in the
dial plate for their reception, thus obviating the inconvenience of requiring
several keys for the striking and going mechanism, and for regulating the
motion; 3rdly, by means of these improvements the barrels for the striking
and clock movements are wound simultaneously, the motion of each terminating
at the same moment, hence it is impossible to omit winding one or other of
the barrels, as it often happens that the striking gear is not wound when it

page_text: should be, and stopping before the other part of the apparatus, the clock
ceases to strike; 4thly, these improvements offer great facilities for winding,
setting, and regulating clocks; lastly, as the face is not required to open the
hands cannot be injured by the fingers, as the setting is effected mechanically
by turning a button or knob.
My Invention further consists in an improved keyless winding gear
applicable to clocks, the chief features of which are, 1st, the application of a
thumb knob or swivel at the lower or other part of the face for winding the
striking barrel, as also the one for giving motion to the clockwork; 2ndly, of
a knob fitted at the upper or other part of the face for setting the hands by
acting on a small stud, or for moving the regulator in either direction by
acting on another small stud.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings which show
the improved keyless winding gear as applied to an ordinary clock.
It will be understood that my Invention is applicable to all kinds of clocks,
including those now in use.
Figure 1 shows a front view of a clock escapement mechanism with my
improved keyless winding gear applied; Figure 2 is a front view of the same
with the dial and face removed in order to show the new arrangement of the
gearing on the plate; Figure 3 is a top plan of the gearing on an enlarged
scale, also showing the arrangement applied for setting the hands and
regulating the motion; Figure 4 shows a sectional elevation of the same,
while Figure 5 shows a separate part sectional view of a ratchet or brequet
winding apparatus. The mode of applying the winding gear will of course
vary according to the circumstances of each case. The same letters serve for
all the Figures.
a, dial plate; b, fixed glass face, in the rim of which are fitted, 1st, the
button head c for winding the striking and clock motion barrels; and, 2ndly,
the button d for setting the hands and regulating the motion, the setting
being effected by turning the button d and bearing on the stud g; h, h, plates
enclosing the clockwork; i, minute wheel keyed on the central axis of the
hands, intermediate minute wheel; k, loose wheel gearing with the minute
wheel; 7, wheel also mounted loosely on the axis carried in a double bridge
piece m, serving as a support therefor; n, clutch formed on the wheel 7, on the
axis of which at its other end is keyed a toothed wheel o gearing with a
wheel p fixed on the regulating spindle 9, the said wheel also carries a
clutch r, serving by the aid of the double clutches s, s', to put in gear either
the regulating or setting mechanism. One of the clutches s is operated by
means of two oscillating forks t, t', pivotted on axes u, u, and on which bear

page_text: the springs v; these forks t, t, have each a stud pin which is pressed on by
the fingers, the one f for setting the bands, and the other g for regulating the
motion, the regulating mechanism is represented at q'; a, a, toothed wheels
fixed on the square ends of the striking and clock motion barrels; y, toothed
wheel gearing with wheels a, and imparting motion thereto simultaneously;
z, toothed wheel keyed on the axis 1 and gearing with wheel y, on which
axis 1 is jointed the hand hold c, serving for the winding; between the two
plates h, h, there is a spiral spring 2 for throwing into gear two toothed
clutches 3 on the principle of a brequet key during the winding.
As regards the winding of the barrels I have before stated that it is effected
by a button or knob, which by the aid of gearing suitably disposed produces
the simultaneous winding of the two barrels, the one for the striking gear, and
the other for giving motion to the clockwork. In this manner the barrels
cannot be wound up separately, which presents a certain disadvantage as in
ordinary striking clocks running fourteen days; it sometimes happens that the
striking gear gets bebind or fails to strike, and in order to place it in accord
with the other barrel it is necessary to adjust the striking barrel; the tension
of the two barrels would be thus rendered unequal on the winding taking
place. This is an objection in ordinary clocks, but a still greater one in
repeating clocks in which it is more frequently requisite to adjust the striking
gear. I remedy this by the employment of the mechanism represented in
Sheet 2 of the Drawings; this consists of a combination winding gear by
means of which the two barrels may either be wound simultaneously, as in
tlio preceding description, or separately in order to regulate one with the
other. In Sheet 2 the setting and regulating gear are omitted, they being
the same as previously described.
Figure 6 shows a back view of a clock escapement plate with my improved
keyless winding apparatus applied; Figure 7 shows a face view of the appa-
ratus on the side of the dial plate, while Figure 8 is an edge view of the train
of wheels; the same letters serve for all the Figures.
a, plate serving to enclose the mechanism; b, barrel imparting motion
thereto mounted on an axis ; c, striking barrel mounted on an axis c¹;
d, ratchet keyed on the axis 6'; d', ratchet keyed on the axis c'; f, wheel
mounted loose on the axis 6'; f', wheel mounted loose on the axis c¹; inside
these toothed wheels f, f', are mounted pawls g, g', for regulating the motion
of one or other of the barrels. By turning the spindle h of the winding
mechanism one way or the other by the aid of gearing i, j, k, one or other of
the ratchets d, d', is turned so as to put the spring of its corresponding barrel
in tension. It should be observed that by turning the stem h alternately in

page_text: either direction the two barrels may be wound up simultaneously, while ly
turning it always one way only one of the barrels is acted on. 1, P, ratchets
and pawls fixed to the back plate for keeping the spring barrels in proper
tension; the spindle h is provided at m with a toothed clutch, by means of
which the button or knob is returned to its original position on the completion
of the winding.
'The chief features of my Invention are, 1st, the application of keyless
watch-winding gear to clocks and other large time indicators generally;
2ndly, the application of the improved keyless winding gear, herein described
and represented in the Drawings, to any ordinary clock, although the arrange-
ment may be varied in detail for producing the same result; 3rdly, the
improved apparatus, berein described, for winding up the striking and clock-
motion barrels either separately or together.
I wish it to be understood that my Invention is based on the application of
keyless winding apparatus generally to clocks of all kinds, the examples
represented being simply illustrations of the mode of carrying out my
Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jean Jacques Emile Robert-Houdin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JEAN
JACQUES EMILE ROBERT-HOUDIN, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, Clock-
maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Jean Jacques Emile Robert-Houdin, Her special licence that I, the
said Jean Jacques Emile Robert-Houdin, executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean Jacques Emile Robert-Houdin,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jean Jacques Emile

page_text: Robert-Houdin,
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jean Jacques Emile Robert-Houdin,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the annexed Sheets of
Drawing, that is to say :-
Numberless Inventors have heretofore been engaged in contriving keyless
winding gear or remontoirs, but in the mere view of their application to
watches and timekeepers of small size, but never thought of applying the
same to clocks and other clockwork of large dimensions. To obviate the
difficulties inherent to the winding up and setting at the right time of clocks
and other big movements I have thought of providing them with this useful.
appendage a remontoir, and it is for this new application of a keyless winding
gear to clocks and clock work of rather big size that I have obtained the grant
of Letters Patent. The advantages of this new application are manifold, as will
be understood from the description which is to follow herein-after.
First, the opening of the rim is dispensed with which very often is not an
easy matter, and may occasion the breaking of the glass; or sometimes the
same rim being not so tightly closed as to exclude dust will necessitate
frequent cleanings and repairs; 2dly, there shall no longer exist any key
holes in the dial, and consequently no key shall be wanted, which very often
does not fit the square properly, or may be mislaid; thus likewise will be
avoided the inconvenience of having two keys, one for the striking part
and the clock movement and another for the "fast and slow" device, all
which difficulties are obviated by my improved remontoir. 3dly, a peculiarity
of my remontoir is to permit either the simultaneous winding up of the two
barrels or their winding up separately, or one at a time. This quite peculiar
arrangement in connection with or independent from the two barrels allows
of their being wound up to a different pitch, or the oue more than the other,
deficient, or when the
when not in concordance, or when the striking part is
clock is repeating, in which case the barrel for the striking part having been
unwound a greater quantity has to be wound up of course either more frequently
or a greater quantity. 4thly, by my system the clock is most easily wound
up and set right, and the "fast and slow" device is readily adjusted;.

page_text: 5thly, as the rim no longer requires to be opened the hands are free from
any contact with the fingers and are not liable.to be made crooked or otherwise
damaged, as they are operated mechanically by means of a knob.
My improved remontoir as applied to a clock consists, 1st, in a knob for
winding up the barrels provided with a toothed or brequet gear fitted to the
lower part of the rim (so as to avoid holes in the marble or other case);
2d, in a similar knob likewise fitted to the upper part of the rim for setting
at the right time by a first index being acted upon or for imparting a forward
or a backward movement to the setting rod by a second index being operated.
I have represented in the accompanying Drawings my new system of
remontoir applied to a common clock, but I can apply the same to any clock
of either the ancient or the new system to any timekeeper or other horal
movement.
Fig. 1 in Sheet I. is a front view of a clockwork to which is applied my
new system of remontoir or keyless winding gear. Fig. 2 is a like view of
the same, the rin and dial being removed in order to show the new arrangement
of the wheelwork on the pillar plate. Fig. 3 is the plan view of the upper
part of the movement wherein is shown the arrangement on a double scale
which I use for setting and regulating purposes. Fig. 4 is a sectional
elevation of the same arrangement. Fig. 5 shows a detail partly in section
partly in elevation of a ratchet or brequct remontoir. In all these Figures
the same letters of reference stand for the like parts.
a, external body of the clock; b, immovable rim round which are fitted
the oval head c for the winding up of the two barrels and the upper knob d
for setting at the right time and regulating the "fast and slow" movement;
h, plate forming the movement case; i, wheel keyed on the central axis or
hand shaft; j, minute wheel or follower; k, loose wheel engaging the minuto
wheel; l, another loose wheel on the axis supported in a double bridge m;
n, gearing cast with the wheel l. On the other end of the axis is also keyed
a toothed wheel o gearing with the wheel p which is fitted on the regulating
pin or "fast and slow" device q; this wheel o also carries a gear wheel r
whose function is to actuate through the double gear wheels, s¹, the regulating
or the setting right of the bands. The movement of one of the gear wheels s is
imparted by means of two rocking forks t, t, pivotted on axes u, and against which
bears a spring V. The said forks are each one possessed with an index, the
onef for the setting of the hands, and the other g for the regulating of the
clock; the regulating parts are marked with the letter g. 2, toothed wheels
fitted on the square-ended pieces of both barrels; y, toothed wheel engaging
the two wheels and imparting motion thereto; z, wheel keyed on the axis 1

page_text: and gearing with the wheel y. Upon said axis 1 is hinged the oval head c.
Between the two plates a spiral spring 2 causes two ratchet or brequet
sockets 3 to be thrown into gear together for the purpose of winding up.
As regards the proper winding up of the barrels it was formerly effected
by a knob or breguet oval head, which by means of suitable gearing operated
at once simultaneously and in connection with each other the winding up of
the two barrels; these two barrels, which are wound up in connection with
each other, or cannot be wound up independently of each other, are liable to
many inconveniences. With common clocks, for instance, it generally
happens that during the fortnight march the striking part will prove deficient,
and to set it right it will be necessary to unwind the barrel for the said
striking part; this delivery of the striking part being once effected the two
barrels are no longer at the same tension, and when winding up the barrels
that of the movement alone will be entirely wound. This inconvenience,
which I have just signalized for ordinary clocks, still becomes far greater and
more apparent for repeating clocks where more unwinding is requisite of the
striking part than of the movement; this difficulty I have obviated by the
arrangement represented in Sheet II. of the annexed Drawings, which
arrangement consists in a combined remontoir, whereby I may at will have
the two barrels wound up either simultaneously, as illustrated in Sheet I., or
separately, that is to say, independently from one another. In the Drawing,
Sheet II., which shows this last improved arrangement, the setting and
regulating devices are omitted as they have been sufficiently described herein-
before and represented in Sheet I.
Fig. 6 is a back view of an escapement or other clock movement, to which
is applied my system of remontoir; Fig. 7 is a front view of the movement, and
Fig. 8 an edge view of the same. In all the Figures of Sheet II. the
same letters of reference indicate the like parts.
a, plates constituting the movement case; b, barrel for the movement
established on the axis b'; c, barrel for the striking part mounted on the
axis c'; d, ratchet keyed on the axis 6'; d', ratchet keyed on the axis c¹;
f, toothed wheel set loose on the axis b¹; f¹, toothed wheel set loose on the
axis c¹; in the inside of the wheels f, f', pawls g and g³ are so disposed as to
operate either barrel; by turning in either direction the pin h, and also by
means of the gearings i, j, and k, either ratchet or d' is moved which gives
the proper tension to the spring in the corresponding barrel. It may be
observed that by turning alternately the pin h in both directions the simul-
taneous winding of the two barrels will take place, and by turning the said
pin in only one direction but one barrel will be wound up. 1, 1, ratchets with

page_text: pawls fixed on the other plate a, they are intended to keep the spring bent;
the pin h carries at ma gearing, the function of which is, after the winding
operation, to set the oval knob to its normal position again; n, spiral spring
for keeping the gear up whilst the winding takes place.
I will now describe some new improvements and modifications in my
system of remontoir, which consists, 1st, in the simplifying of the "fast and
slow" device, and the setting right of the hands, in which new arrangement
I use plain upright pinions instead of crown or edge wheels, as before, the
result being a saving of labour; 2nd, in an important modification of my
remontoir, whereby the same is made to work in either one direction or the
other by means of a shank pinion gearing in a socket with inside teeth; 3dly,
in the suppression of the hand ring or knob, which is substituted by a part
herein-after described; 4th, in the reduction of the size of the rim edge owing
to the suppression of said rim.
One great advantage of this remontoir is that it is made to fit directly on
the fore plate of a clock by means of two screws only; further, the said system
of remontoir is applicable to all forms of clocks without any modification
therein; and, finally, this remontoir is possessed with the no less great
advantage of diminishing the importance of the gearing. levers for the "fast
and slow movement, these levers being of a much plainer construction.
"
I will now describe the improved clock as represented in Sheet III., wherein
Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the plates, showing merely the "fast and slow,"
the setting right, and the winding up devices; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the
upper part of the movement; and Fig. 11 an outside front view of the rim
and dial. Same letters for the like parts.
a, plates, carrying all the working parts; they are connected by pillars to
each other; b, shank knob for working the "fast and slow" device, and the
setting of the bands. The shank or rod 6 turns loose in a bridge or support c,
and carries on its square part d two upright pinions f, g, adjustable by forked
levers h, i, one of which levers moves the pinion f, and throws it in gear
with another pinion j keyed on the end of the "fast and slow" rod k, whilst the
other lever i moves the pinion g, throwing it in gear with the wheel 7, which
operates the minute wheels; these two pinions f, g, when once liberated will
come back to their initial position under the action of the springs m, in which
state the knob shank b turns loose and ineffective. The device carrying
support c is secured by two screws to the foreplate without any change or
modification being made therein whatever may be the movement the device is
applied to. n, toothed wheel of the remontoir; it is fixed by a support o to
the lower part of the plate; this wheel is hollowed out, and is cast with a

page_text: socket p, toothed inside; q, winding rod, having at one end a pinion r and at
the other a parts; this pinion is made to work loosely within the hollow of
the wheel n. By pulling the cartooze s the pinion is thrown in gear with the
internally toothed socket, and then the winding up of the barrels can take
place either separately or simultaneously by turning in both directions.
t, screw, secured to the end of the pinion r to prevent its coming out through
the socket p. The part s, bearing engraved on it the Inventor's name, will be
an advantageous substitute for the ring precedently in use; when the winding
operation is over the part s is pushed so as to fit in the outward edge of the
rim u; by this new device are suppressed both the edge gear and the spiral
spring.
Having thus described my improvements in clocks, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that what I claim as new, and as being of my Invention is,-
First, the new application of any system of remontoir to clocks or horal
movements of any rather large description.
Secondly, the new system of remontoir, as described and represented in
Sheet I., applicable to any ordinary clock or horal movement.
Thirdly, the modified remontoir, as described and represented in Sheet II.,
which allows winding up the two barrels either separately or conjointly.
Fourthly, simplifying the two devices, viz., the "fast and slow" movement
and the right setting movement of the hands on the dial, as described and
represented in Sheet III., and also the new arrangement of the working
parts, as and for the purpose herein above specified, and illustrated in same
Sheet III. of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Jacques Emile Robert-Houdin, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. J. E. ROBERT-HOUDIN, FILS. (L.S.)