IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME-PIECES to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME-PIECES
to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to time-pieces and consists partly in the combination in a
time-piece, of a rotary shaft or arbor actuated from the motive agent of the time-
piece, a gear wheel affixed to this shaft so as to derive motion from it, a second
shaft or arbor, a pinion affixed to the second shaft or arbor and deriving motion
from the aforesaid gear wheel of the first shaft or arbor, a gear-wheel affixed to the
second shaft or arbor, a pinion loosely mounted on the first shaft or arbor and
deriving motion from the gear wheel of the second shaft or arbor, a gear wheel
loosely mounted on the first shaft or arbor and affixed to the pinion last mentioned
so as to turn in unison therewith independently of the first shaft or arbor, an
escapement wheel shaft, and a pinion affixed to the latter and deriving motion
from the gear-wheel last mentioned which is loosely mounted on the first shaft.
By combining with the first shaft a gear wheel affixed to it so as to derive
motion from it and a pinion and gear wheel affixed together and adapted to turn
independently of said shaft I am enabled to dispense with a shaft which otherwise
would be necessary and hence I save expense and economize space.
Preferably I make all the gear wheels mentioned, alike, and all the referred to
pinions alike, as then I require fewer tools for the production of the same, and to
that extent reduce the expense of my time piece.
My improvements also involve, an escapement wheel having a circular peripheral
portion, one set of teeth extending beyond said peripheral portion and a second set
of teeth extending from the side of the peripheral portion and formed by making
V-shaped or similarly shaped cuts in the peripheral portion and bending out the
portions of metal which are within these cuts.

page_text: The improvements also partly consist in the combination, in a time-piece, with
a balance-wheel, of a screw constituting a bearing for one of the journals of its
arbor capable of a rotary adjustment and having the recess for the journal arranged
eccentrically to the axis about which the said bearing is adjustable.
This com-
bination of parts provides for easily adjusting the balance-wheel into its proper
position.
The improvements also involve a movement frame comprising a cast metal front
plate having on its rear side a rim shaped like the segment of a circle and forming
a recess for the movement.

page_text: "
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME-PIECES »
and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to time-pieces and consists partly in the combination in a
time piece, of a rotary shaft or arbor actuated from the motive agent of the time
piece, a gear wheel affixed to this shaft so as to derive motion from it, a second
shaft or arbor, a pinion affixed to the second shaft or arbor and deriving motion
from the aforesaid gear wheel of the first shaft or arbor a gear wheel affixed to the
second shaft or arbor, a pinion loosely mounted on the first shaft or arbor and
deriving motion from the gear wheel of the second shaft or arbor, a gear wheel
loosely mounted on the first shaft or arbor, and affixed to the pinion last mentioned
so as to turn in unison therewith independently of the first shaft or arbor, an
escapement wheel shaft and a pinion affixed to the latter and deriving motion from
the gear wheel last mentioned which is loosely mounted on the first shaft.
By combining with the first shaft a gear wheel affixed to it so as to derive
motion from it and a pinion and gear wheel affixed together and adapted to turn
independently of said shaft I am enabled to dispense with a shaft which otherwise
would be necessary and hence I save expense and economize space.
Preferably I make all the gear wheels mentioned alike and all the referred to
pinions alike, as then I require fewer tools for the production of the same and to
that extent reduce the expense of my time piece.
My improvements also involve, an escapement wheel having a circular peripherical
portion, one set of teeth extending beyond said peripherical portion and a second
set of teeth extending from the side of the peripherical portion and formed by
making V-shaped or similarly shaped cuts in the peripherical portion and bending
out the portions of metal which are within these cuts.
The improvement also partly consists in the combination in a time piece with a
balance wheel, of a screw constituting a bearing for one of the journals of its.
arbor capable of a rotary adjustment and having the recess for the journal arranged
eccentrically to the axis about which the said bearing is adjustable. This com-
bination of parts provides for easily adjusting the balance wheel into its proper
position.
The improvement also involves a movement frame comprising a cast metal front
plate having on its rear side a rim shaped like the segment of a circle and forming.
a recess for the movement.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a rear view of the movement with
the back frame of the movement frame removed. Figure 2 is a face view of the
front plate with the dial and a plate bearing the dial removed. Figure 3 is an
edge view of the movement with part of the frame removed, looking in the
direction indicated by the arrow a, Figure 1. Figure 4 is an edge view of the

page_text: i
movement looking in the direction indicated by the arrow b, Figure 1. Figure 5
is an edge view of the movement with part of the frame removed and looking in
the direction indicated by the arrow c, Figure 1. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating
the movement as it would appear if its component parts were extended out
approximately into line. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the front plate of the
movement frame and a rim with which it is provided. Figure 8 is a sectional view
of the front plate of the movement and its rim. Figure 9 is a rear view of the
escapement wheel and balance wheel and their appurtenances. Figure 10 is a
transverse section of the arbor of the balance wheel. Figure 11 is a side view of
the arbor of the balance wheel. Figure 12 is a face view of one of the bearings for
this arbor. Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the
figures. All the views are made on an enlarged scale.
The
A A¹ designate the spring barrel. It may be made of brass or other suitable
metal and preferably it is composed of two parts made separately and subsequently
fastened together. The part A consists of a cylinder and the part A¹ consists of a
disk having on its periphery teeth so that it will form a gear wheel. The part A'
has in one side a circular recess into which is fitted one edge of the part A.
parts AA¹ thus fitted together may be fastened by solder. The spring barrel is
mounted loosely on a shaft or arbor A². A³ is the spring. Its inner end may be
fastened to the arbor A² by engaging a hole in it with a pin or hook d¹ that
extends from a collar d of brass or other suitable metal which is affixed to the
arbor A². The outer end of the spring is provided with a hole which is engaged
with a hook that is made integral with the cylinder of the barrel by making a
U-shaped or analogously shaped cut in such cylinder and forcing inward the
portion of metal which is within the cut. This method of forming the hook d² is
advantageous because of the economy which it effects.
The gear wheel A¹ of the spring barrel engages with a pinion B formed on or
affixed to a center shaft or arbor B'. This center shaft or arbor has affixed to it,
as here shown, in front of the pinion B, a gear wheel B². The gear wheel B2
engages with a pinion C that is formed on or affixed to a shaft or arbor C¹ in the
same plane with this gear wheel. The shaft or arbor C¹ has affixed to it a gear
wheel C which is arranged rearwards of the pinion C.
On the center shaft or arbor B¹ are loosely mounted a gear wheel B. and a
pinion B which are rigidly affixed together so as to turn in unison. The pinion B
is in the same plane as the gear wheel C2 and engages with the latter so as to derive
motion from it. The gear wheel B³ which moves in unison with the pinion B is
arranged rearwards of this pinion. The gear wheel B³ engages with a pinion D
which is formed upon or rigidly affixed to the shaft or arbor D₁ of the escapement
wheel D2 in the same plane with said gear wheel. The advantages of mounting
the loose gear wheel B³ and pinion B upon the center shaft or arbor B' are that one
shaft is saved and space is economized.
E designates the balance wheel and E¹ the shaft or arbor upon which it is
mounted. It is very much larger diametrically than usual.
The balance wheel arbor E¹ is journalled in screws jj which are inserted one in
the cock G and one in the front plate G' of the movement frame. The journals of
the arbor E¹ are tapered and the bearings in the screws jj¹ which receive these
journals are flaring, but preferably the flare of the bearings will be greater than
the angle of the taper of the journals so that the journals will be supported at or
near the extreme tips. The bearing in the screw j¹ is eccentric to the axis or
center of the screw hence by turning this screw the arbor of the balance wheel
may be adjusted to a nicety.
The gear wheels B² C³ B³ are preferably made of the same size as then they can
be made with more economy than if made of different sizes, because fewer tools will
be needed for their production. In this example of my improvement each of these
wheels is designed to have sixty-four teeth. The pinions C D B are also made of
the same size when the gear wheels B2 C2 B³ are made of one size. In this example
of my improvement each of these pinions has eight teeth. The pinion B in this

page_text: example of my improvement has ten teeth and the gear wheel A¹ of the spring
barrel will preferably have seventy teeth.
The escapement wheel D2 has on its periphery a series of teeth e which may be
of ordinary shape except that they are short and more blunt than usual. These
teeth operate in conjunction with a notch or recess f extending lengthwise of the
arbor E' of the balance wheel. The escapement wheel D2 also has a series of
teeth e which are similar in shape to the teeth e, but extend from the side of the
wheel. These teeth e' are formed by making V-shaped or analogously shaped cuts
through the side of the wheel and forcing out the portions that are within the cuts.
They extend from the side of the escapement wheel which is the nearer to the
balance wheel, in this example of my improvement from the rear side of the
escapement wheel. They are arranged in positions intermediate to the positions of
the teeth e. There are in this example of my improvement sixteen of each series
of teeth upon the escapement wheel. The teeth e¹ of the escapement wheel are for
giving the impulses to the balance wheel. They operate in conjunction with a pin
or lug g projecting from one of the spokes of the balance wheel. This pin ŷ is
driven through the spoke from which it extends and is riveted in the same.
Preferably the side on which the teeth e¹ of the escapement wheel operate will be
made flat as the teeth e¹ can operate on it more effectively when made flat than if
made round.
g
The escapement wheel in watches is the most delicate and expensive part of the
watch and can be made only by the most skilful workmen.
My escapement wheel is easily and cheaply made because I can take a number
of blanks or disks of thin metal of the size of escapement wheels to be produced,
put them together as is now done with clock wheel blanks and then put them into
a gear cutting machine and cut the teeth on the periphery. The teeth are so short
and of such shape that the escapement wheels can be cut as easily as ordinary gear
wheels.
The teeth that are made on the face or side of my escapement wheel may be made
in a die at one blow, and the wheel will then be finished excepting a slight
polishing on a buff. All the teeth can be made by a die or set. of dies in some
cases.
It is desirable that all the teeth should be blunt because then they will be stiff
and strong in the direction in which they are subjected to strain, even when the
wheel is made of very thin metal. If not sufficiently stiff in the direction in
which they are subjected to strain they would be liable to spring so as to fail in
the fulfillment of their functions. By my method of making the wheel I can
place the inner set of teeth e¹ at any desired distance nearer the center of the
wheel.
The hair spring F is fastened at the inner end to a collar on the arbor of the
balance wheel and at the outer end to an arm h extending from the plate or cock G
forming part of the movement frame. The outer end of the arm h is bent forward
into the plane of the hair spring and the outer end of the hair spring is inserted
into a hole in it and secured there by a pin wedged in. The inner end of the
hair spring is slipped edgewise into a notch in the rear end of a collar i which
is mounted on the arbor of the balance wheel. This collar i is split and forced on
the said arbor so that it will be maintained there by friction. When the inner end
of the hair spring is inserted in its notch in the collar i the edges of the notch
are closed over it by a blow or otherwise.
From time to time, as the escapement wheel rotates one of its teeth e comes in
contact with the arbor E' of the balance wheel E and thereupon the escapement
wheel, is arrested. This happens while the adjacent portions of the escapement
wheel and of the arbor E¹ are moving in the same direction as indicated by the
arrows in Figure 9. When the balance wheel changes the direction of its rotation
the recess is carried past the tooth of the escapement wheel which is in contact
with the arbor E¹. As soon as the balance wheel changes the direction of its
rotation again and rotates in the same direction as when the tooth was arrested the

page_text: recess is brought opposite the tooth, the tooth enters it, the tooth and arbor move
together until the tooth passes the arbor, and at about this time one of the teeth e¹
comes in contact with the pin or lug g of the escapement wheel and gives an impulse
to it.
The regulator lever H comprises a split ring which fits on a circular hub
struck up on the cock G. The said hub may be undercut. The end of the lever
which projects beyond the cock is bent forwards and then backwards so as to form
a loop for the reception of the hair spring.
The front plate G¹ of the movement frame has on its rear side a rim G shaped
like the segment of a circle. This rim will preferably be cast with the plate and
forms a recess for the movement on the rear side of the plate G¹. On the front
side of said plate I have shown recesses cast therein in which the dial and hand
work may be arranged. Instead of a rim a number of projections could be cast
with the plate. The back plate G³ of the frame and the cock G are secured to the
rim G by screws. Preferably the front and back plates of the frame will be made
of an anti-friction metal such, for instance, as Babbitt metal. Bushings may be
inserted in the plates if desirable for the reception of the journals of the shafts
or arbors.
I will now describe what is commonly known as the dial work, premising that
recesses for its accommodation may be cast in the plate G¹. On the center shaft or
arbor B¹ at the forward side of the front plate G of the movement frame a pinion B
is arranged.. It is formed on or affixed to a hollow or cannon shaft B° which fits
the arbor or shaft B¹ so tightly as to turn therewith by friction. With this
pinion B engages a gear wheel H, which turns on a non-rotary stud n extending
from the front plate of the movement frame. The gear wheel H has affixed to its
forward side a pinion H which engages with a gear wheel I. This gear wheel I is
affixed to a hollow or cannon shaft I which fits loosely upon the cannon shaft B.
The pinion B and cannon shaft B turn once an hour and the gear wheel I and
cannon shaft I turn once in twelve hours. The minute hand is arranged upon the
shaft Be and the hour hand is mounted on the shaft I. As the shaft B is only
held on the shaft B₁ by friction it may be turned to set the hands without affecting
the shaft B¹.
J is a gear wheel which is mounted on a stud or screw o affixed to the front
plate of the movement frame and engages with the gear wheel H. There are in
the forward side of the front plate of the movement frame recesses which receive
the pinions and wheels B H¹ H2 and I. Over the forward side of the front plate
of the movement frame is secured by screws or other means a plate whereby the
gear wheels H I and pinion H2 are secured in place. The dial is arranged on
this plate. It may consist of a printed piece of paper. The hands extend outside
the dial.
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
First. In a time piece the combination of a rotary shaft or arbor B¹ actuated
from the motive agent of the time piece, the gear wheel B2 affixed to the shaft or
arbor B, the shaft or arbor C', the pinion C affixed to the shaft or arbor C¹ and
deriving motion from the gear wheel B³, the gear wheel C² affixed to the shaft or
arbor C, the pinion B deriving motion from the gear wheel C2, the gear wheel B³
rigidly connected to the pinion B₁ and with it loosely mounted on the shaft or
arbor B, the escapement wheel shaft or arbor D₁, and the pinion D affixed to the
latter and deriving motion from the gear wheel B³, substantially as specified.
Second. In a time piece the combination of a rotary shaft or arbor B₁ actuated
from the motive agent of the time piece, the gear wheel B2 affixed to the shaft or
arbor B¹, the shaft or arbor C, the pinion C affixed to the shaft or arbor C¹, and
deriving motion from the gear wheel B2, the gear wheel Caffixed to the shaft or
arbor C, the pinion B' deriving motion from the gear wheel C2, the gear wheel B³

page_text: rigidly connected to the pinion B and with it loosely imounted on the shaft or
arbor B', the escapement wheel shaft or arbor D¹ affixed to the latter and deriving
motion from the gear wheel B³, the gear wheels B³, C' and B³ being made alike,
substantially as specified.
Third. As a new article of manufacture a time piece escapement wheel having a
circular peripherical portion, one set of teeth extending beyond said peripherical
portion and a second set of teeth extending from the side of the peripherical
portion and formed by making V-shaped or similarly shaped cuts in the peri-
pherical portion and bending out the portions of metal which are within these
cuts, substantially as specified.
Fourth. In a time piece the combination of a balance wheel, of a screw
constituting a bearing for one of the journals of its arbor capable of a rotary
adjustment and having the recess for the journal arranged eccentrically to the axis
about which the said bearing is adjustable, substantially as specified.
Fifth. A movement frame comprising a cast metal front plate having on its
rear side a rim shaped like the segment of a circle and forming a recess for the
movement, substantially as specified.