IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS AND CHRONOMETERS
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PETER ISAIE PONCY, of Well Street, in the County of Middlesex, Watch-
maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Thirteenth day of August, in the fourth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Peter Isaic Poncy, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said John Peter Isaic Poncy, my exors, adññiors,. and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Peter Isaic Poncy, my exors, adñiors,
or assigns, should at any time agrec with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein expressed; should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS
AND CHRONOMETERS," communicated to me by a certain Foreigner residing
abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
John Peter Isaic 'Poncy, shall cause a particular description of the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar

page_text: months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Peter Isaic Poncy, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
The Invention relates to a mode of constructing clocks and chronometers,
in order to their going for a longer period without being wound, and in such
manner that two main springs are used in combination with what I call a
constant power or regulator, whereby the power of the two main springs is
transmitted to the escapement by means of such constant power or regulator,
as hereafter explained.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING, to explain the Mode of constructing a
Chronometer to work Three Months.
Figure 1. A, A, are two barrels, containing the main springs, having 100
teeth cach, which take into and drive the pinion ; they make four revolu-
tions each, and work at the same time. B is a largo wheel, having 94 teeth,
and the pinion: 12, as shewn at Figure 2, making eight and one third
revolutions while the barrels make one, and taking into the pinion C of the
wheel C. C, C, is another wheel, having 86 tecth, and pinion of 10 (shewn
at Figure 2) making nine and two-fifths revolutions for one of the wheel B,
and taking into the pinion of the wheel d. D is another wheel of 90 teeth,
and pinion of 12, making seven two-twelfths revolutions for one of the wheel
C, being 2232 hours or revolutions for four of the barrels, and taking into
the pinione of the wheel E. E is another wheel of 80 teeth, and pinion
of 12 (which takes into the fly pinion g). On the stem of this wheel is the
constant power, which is formed of one-double wheel, marked F, of 80 teeth,
inside of which is fixed a barrel with serrated edges, having a spring and
catch, and kept by two holding pieces, shewn at Figure 7. The axis of the
barrel is fixed on the stem of the wheel. E. By these means the spring,
being held at its centre, is wound up by the revolution of the wheel D in the
pinion of the wheel E. F is another wheel of 80 teeth, inside of which is
the barrel. This wheel is moved by the action of the spring of the barrel
.while unwinding, and takes into the pinion of the wheel H. G is a fly
having a pinion of 10 teeth, which is moved by the wheel E. The barrel of

page_text: the constant power has on its flat part 8 pins placed at equal distances round
the centre, where the extremity of the fly rests, and the fly is freed from these
pins each eighth part of a revolution of the barrel, in consequence of which
the constant power is wound up every minute, or sixty times in the course
of one hour, and gives an equal power to the wheel F to set the escapement
going, which, by these means, is entirely independent of the large springs.
The object of these cight pins'is to stop, by means of the fly, the impulsion
of the large springs, and thus give sufficient time to the small spring to unwind
the eighth part of its revolution. H is another wheel of 80 teeth, having a
pinion of 10, taking into the pinion i of the escapement. I is the escapement
wheel, of 15 teeth, and having a pinion of 10. J is the pallet or roller of the
escapement.
k is the
Figure 2 shows the chronometer with the dial plate removed.
bridge of the fly. l, m, n, are the bridges of the wheels B, C, E, and the
pinion d. vis the minute wheel, of 56 teeth, and pinion of 18. wis the
hour wheel, of 54 teeth, with a centre pinion of 14.
Figure 3 shews the under side of the chronometer. o is the great bridge of
the balance. p is the balance. q is the ratchet wheel. q' is the catch, and
the spring. r, r, are the bridges over the ratchet wheels.
to hold the plates together.
s are screws
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING, to explain the Mode of Constructing Chrono-
meters to go for Six Weeks.
Figure 4. a, a, two barrels, of 94 teeth cach, both taking into the pinion b
of the wheel B. B is a wheel of 80 teeth, and pinion of 14, making five
seven-eights revolutions for one of either of the barrels, and taking into the
pinion c of the wheel C. C is another wheel of 80 teeth, and pinion of 12,
making six two-thirds revolutions for one of the wheel b, and taking into the
pinion d of the wheel D. D is another wheel of 90 teeth, and pinion of
twelve, making six two-thirds revolutions for one of the wheel C, which makes
1044 revolutions or hours for the four revolutions of the barrels. E is
another wheel of eighty teeth, and pinion of twelve, carrying the constant
power, as before described and shewn at Figure 1. F, wheel of 80 teeth, as
at Figure 1. G, fly pinion of 10 teeth, as at Figure 1. H, wheel of
80 teeth, and pinion 6 of 10, as at Figure 1. I, escapement wheel, of 15
teeth, and pinion i, of 10, as at Figure 1. J, pallet or roller of the escape-
ment, as at Figure 1.
Figure 5 shews the under side of the chronometer, with the dial removed.
k, 1, are the two bridges of the wheels E, 'm, and the pinion b.
m is a report

page_text: wheel, of 56 teeth for the minute work, and is carried by the stem of the
wheel D, and takes into the minute wheel. n, hour wheel, of 54 teeth,
centre pinion of 14. o, minute wheel, of 56 teeth, and pinion of 18. In
working for six weeks, the description. will be the same as before <lescribed of
Figure 3, when working for three months,
Figure 6 represents the dial with two half-circles and two hands, one
placed between the Figures 1 and 2 and 10 and 11, serving as indicators to
shew if the spring is wound up or down. I would observe that by varying
the naves of wheels I am enabled to vary the length of time which a chrono-
mechanic.
meter or clock shall go, as will readily be understood by any
The mode of constructing clocks is as follows:
Figure 8. a, a, are two barrels, of 84 teeth, the springs having four
revolutions, and making one revolution every 23 days. They take into the
pinion 6 of the wheel B. B is a wheel, of 72 teeth, and pinion of 18, making
a revolution of .43 revolutions to one of the barrels, and takes into the
pinion c of the wheel C. C is another wheel of 80 teeth, and pinion of 12,
making a revolution of 28 turns for one of the barrels; it takes into the
pinion d of the wheel D. D is another wheel of 84 teeth, and pinion of 8,
making a revolution of 10 turns for one of the wheel C. or 280 revolutions
for one of the barrels, or 12 revolutions every 24 hours, and as the minute
work is moved by the report wheel p, shewn in Figure 10, of 60 teeth,
which is fixed on the same stem as this wheel D, it will be clearly under-
stood the works will go 2240 hours, or 98 days. This wheel & takes into
the pinion e of the wheel E. E is a wheel of 80 teeth, and pinion of 7. On
this wheel is fixed the constant power apparatus, which is the same as de-
scribed at Figure 1. F is a wheel of 80 teeth, inside of which the apparatus
to produce the constant power is fixed; it takes into the escapement pinion.
G is the fly and pinion of 7 teeth, which is the same as described in Figure-1.
HI, escapement wheel, of 60 teeth, and pinion of 8, moved by the wheel F of
the apparatus..
DESCRIPTION OT THE STRIKING PART, shown at Figure 8.
i is a wheel of 40 teeth, having no pinion. It is moved by the wheel B.
On the stem is fixed, by means of a square, the axis on to which is wound the
spring of the barrel of 60 teeth, shewn at Figure 11, taking into the pinion
of the wheel k; inside of this wheel i is a ratchet wheel, with catch and spring,
which prevents the wheel from turning but on one side in winding up the spring
at every time the clock strikes. J is the striking part, barrel of 60 teeth taking
into the pinion of the wheel k.
K is the wheel of 72 teeth, and pinion of 12.

page_text: In
L is a wheel of 70 teeth, and pinion of 8, with 10 pins. M is a_wheel of 56
teeth, and pinion of 7. N is a wheel of 56 teeth, and pinion of 7, with only one
pin. O is a fly or governor, which regulates the speed of these, wheels.
place of the fly, for regulating the speed of these wheels, I can use an endless
pinion, but that will change the arrangement of tlie wheels.
Figure 9 shews the arrangement. S is a wheel of 36 teeth, moved by the
wheel b. T, striking part, barrel of 75 teeth. V, wheel of 72 teeth, and
pinion of 10. W, wheel of 60 teeth, and pinion of 12. X, wheel of 60
teeth, and pinion of 12. Y, endless pinion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MINUTE WORK.
Figure 10. p is a wheel of 60 teeth, carrying a centre pinion of 14, kept
spring tight. This wheel is on the same stem as the wheel d, and takes into
the minute wheel. is the minute wheel, of 30 teeth. 7, hour wheel, of 84
teeth, moved by the centre pinion of 14 on the wheel p.
Figure 11 represents the back plate, with the barrel, and the depth of it,
with the pinion of the wheel k. One of the advantages of this mode of
constructing chronometers is, that should the main spring in either barrel
break, the other will have sufficient power to keep the chronometer going
as the barrel containing the broken spring would not interfere with the
proper working, but as only half the power would be exerted it would be
necessary to wind up the going barrel twice in the usual time, in place of
once, as would be sufficient were both barrels at work. Another advantage
of this Invention is, that as the springs are not in connection with the escape-
ment, or less costly description of spring may be used, which is not the case
with ordinary chronometers, they requiring a particular description of spring,
which at times is difficult to be got.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim as the
Invention communicated to me is the mode of constructing chronometers
and clocks, in order to their going for a longer period without being wound up,
and in such manner that two main springs are used in combination with what
I call a constant power or regulator, whereby the power of the two main
springs is transmitted to the escapement by means of such constant power or
regulator, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Peter Isaic Poncy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-one.
JOHN PETER ISAIE (L.S.) PONCY.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirteenth .day of February,
in the year of our Lord 1841, the aforesaid John Peter Isaie Poncy came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Thirteenth day of February in the vo
FOOK of our Lou