Improved Watch with Large Centre-seconds.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb.,
1899
CORE BAIE DIECIFICATION.
Improved Watch with Large Centre-seconds.
I, CHARLES AUGUSTE BOREL, Watch and Clock Manufacturer, of Buttes, Val de
Travers, Switzerland, 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:
With watches hitherto made, and known as large centre-seconds watches, it is
not possible to stop the centre-seconds hand, without at the same time also stopping
the watch itself.
In a watch constructed according to this invention, a special mechanism enables
the seconds hand to be stopped at will, without stopping the minute and hour
hands,
One form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. 1 is a plan, viewed from the side opposite to the dial and Fig. 4 a plan looking
from the dial side, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the
watch, illustrating the adjustment of the staff 1), its curb or check F and its
connection with the hand G, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the fourth wheel with its
impulsion spring d.
The pivot D (Figs. 2 and 4) passes through the pinion e of the fourth wheel C,
drilled for this purpose, then enters the pipe K of the plate Q where it receives the
pipe & of the large centre-seconds hand G and where, likewise, a special mechanism
alternately enables it to rotate or compels it to stop. This mechanism is specially
illustrated in Fig. 4, the check F being removed from the staff D, thus allowing
full liberty to the large centre-seconds-hand. When this hand is moving, and it
is desired to stop it, it is sufficient to press on the part o, of the lever N which,
by means of the pin g, impels the piece X which is pivoted in U, and the surface H
of which strikes against the pin f fixed to the check F, the extremity of which
entering the pipe K presses against the pivot D of the hand G and prevents its
rotation; the mechanical parts being forced into the position shown by dotted
lines (Fig. 4).
The spring d (Figs. 2 and 3) holds the pivot D in position in the pinion c
and wheel C, and for this purpose is formed at one end with a recess e which
receives the pivot at right angles, the sides of the recess taking between collars
fixed on the pivot D. The other end of the spring is curved and bears against the
fourth wheel C thus frictionally connecting the same with pivot D. The pressure
exerted by the spring d on the wheel C and between the collars on pivot D causes
sufficient friction between the parts for the impulsion of the pivot D by wheel C
when the pivot is free, but allows pivot D to be stopped on the application of
check F without arresting the movement of the spring and fourth wheel C.
When an inverse pressure to that hereinbefore indicated is put on the lever N,
the mechanism is forced to take a motion contrary to that just described, and
everything resumes its position as indicated in full lines (Fig. 4).
A spring S maintains the pressure of the piece X on the check F, by acting
on the projection t as long as it is desired that the hand G shall remain at rest; a

page_text: spring R bringing the check back when the lever N is moved into the position
shown in full lines to set the seconds-hand in motion.
This mechanism may be completed by a lever L pivoted in V, Fig. 1, and which
acts with its extremity y on a heart-piece A fixed to the staff D of the hand G, in
such a manner as to cause this hand to return to noon, by exercising a pressure
from the outside of the case on the lever L, as is done in all chronographical
mechanism,
It is also possible to apply to this watch an indicator, the hand of which registers
the number of turns made by the large centre-seconds-hand G. For this purpose,
a staff carrying the indicating hand is adjusted in a pinion in the same manner
as the staff D in the wheel C. This pinion has the same number of teeth as the
pinion m of the great wheel M, and like the pinion m, engages with the barrel B.
The pinions m and 6 have 10 teeth, the pinions sp and have eight, the great-
wheel M has 64 teeth and the third and fourth wheels P and C have each 60 teeth, so
that when the large centre-seconds hand G makes one revolution, the hand placed on
the shaft makes 60 of a revolution.
The shaft j also carries a heart-piece a, on which through the medium of the
spring projection Y, acts an arm T of the same lever L which actuates at the same
time the heart-piece A of the staff 1), in such a manner that the two hands may be
placed at noon by the one operation.
I have no intention here of claiming the mechanism for setting by means of the
heart-pieces a and A, which is similar to nearly all such mechanism employed
hitherto in watches with chronographical indicators; I limit myself to mentioning
the possibility of its application with my controlling mechanism of the staff of the
large centre-seconds-hand, which is thus fully completed:-however the direct
control of the shaft of the indicating hand by the barrel is my invention.
A small seconds-hand may also be applied to my watch fixed to the pinion s
which has eight teeth and engages with the third wheel (Fig. 1).
The size and shape of this watch and of its various parts as well as the mode of
actuating the check of the staff 1) may differ.
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 claim is
1. A watch with large centre-seconds-hand, which can be stopped independently
of the watch, the pivot of this hand being arrested by stop mechanism arranged and
constructed substantially as described.
2. In the watch as claimed in Claim 1, an indicating mechanism recording the
number of turns made by the large centre-seconds-hand, characterised by a
pinion bearing the indicating hand, having the same number of teeth as the
pinion m of the great-wheel M and engaging direct with the barrel of the watch;
an arrangement, enabling the large centre-seconds-hand as well as. the hand of the
indicator to be placed at noon, as may be desired; and a small seconds-hand
arrangement characterised by a pinion s engaging with the third-wheel P.
3. The improved watch with large centre-seconds substantially as described
with reference to the drawings.
. <)
£ 1000
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.