Improved Winding Mechanism for Watches.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Winding Mechanism for Watches.
I, NATHAN SILBERBERG, Watchmaker, of Jassy, Roumania, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a winding mechanism for watches provided with a
safety device to prevent damage to the stem winding gear, springs and detents
when the watch is being overwound, and also to protect the train from being
damaged should the main-spring break.
The improved winding mechanism is illustrated on the accompanying drawings
in Figs. 1 to 6.
The improved mechanism comprises a disengaging device by which, when the
watch is fully wound, the transmission of motion from the winding mechanism to
the spring is interrupted, so that further winding of the spring is prevented.
Referring to Fig. 1, the winding is effected by turning a stud A, which acts upon
wheels B, B', B", under the last of which there is a ratchet-wheel C, against which
two pawls d¹, d, are pressed by a double acting spring e. Above the wheel B", is
placed a bridge D, receiving the barrel-arbor f¹.
Fig. 2, represents the other side of the pillar-plate (the dial side) where, the
barrel arbor runs in the bridge E.
On the cover of the spring barrel (cide Fig. 3,) there is provided a spring k¹, and
a wheel, adapted with a projecting pin b. In the barrel there is a hollow spring-
arbor having square ends, one j, serving to carry a toothed piece a, and the other
serving to carry the said ratchet-wheel.
The tooth, on the square, is covered by a steel disc 1, (mide Fig. 4,) rivetted
upon it. On the disc there is mounted a spring, which presses a pawl n, against
a toothed wheel' m. The pawl n, is mounted on a lever, against which there
presses a spring, all such parts being suitably mounted upon the disc l. The
said toothed wheel carries the journal of the barrel arbor shown in Fig. 2, and also
a spindle passing through the hollow barrel arbor and fitted at the other end with a
square carrying the winding wheel B, and there supported by the journal, in
the bridge D, as previously mentioned.
Fig. 5, shows the same mechanism as that represented in Fig. 4, only that in this
figure the winding train is represented as disengaged.
The winding train is disconnected, when the watch is fully wound, in the following
manner: When the watch is being wound, the winding stud A. acts, through the
wheels B, B, upon the wheel B, which, as aforesaid, is mounted upon a square
on the arbor or spindle of the ratchet-wheel m, the arbor passing through the
hollow barrel arbor, and thus actuating the wheel m. In this movement, the
wheel m, by the pawl », (vide Fig. 4,) pulls upon the disc 1, and tooth a, together
with the hollow arbor, thus winding up the spring.
The wound spring is held by the ratchet-wheel C, which also is mounted on a
square on the arbor, and by the pawls d', d", and spring e, as shown in Fig. 1.
By winding the watch, the pin b, of the wheel " (which, when the watch has
run down, assumes the position shown in Fig. 4,) is shifted, and, when the wa.ch is
fully wound, comes in contact with the spring n", putting tension upon the same
and forcing the pawl n, out of the wheel m. Now, the entire power of the spring",
(which is greater than that of the spring ",) holds the pawl n, away from the
wheel m, so that further winding has no effect, as the rotation of the winding stud
s no longer transmitted to the barrel arbor by the pawl », disc 1, and tooth r.
soon as the watch is partly run down, the pin b, leaves the lever n', and the
As

page_text: spring, again forces the pawl n, against the wheel m, and the watch may again
be wound.
The two pawls d', d", Fig. 1, may be so arranged as that when one has dropped
entirely between two teeth, the other is raised half the height of one tooth, so that,
on raising the pawl n, out of the wheel m, the main spring is securely held by one
pawl and the spring cannot run down.
To protect the train (ie., the barrel, main wheel, centre wheel &c.,) against
damage, should the spring give out, one wheel, instead of being rigidly fixed on
the pinion, is operated by a pawl-arrangement; I propose to do this, as a rule, with
the third wheel."
On the centre wheel pinion o, is provided a ratchet wheel o', having a projection y
upon which the "third wheel" ³, is loosely mounted, a disc with two screws
attached to the projection y, connects the third wheel with the ratchet wheel. On
the wheel, is provided a spring pawl o", engaging with the ratchet wheel o', so
that the pinion o, may be turned backwards with the ratchet wheel, without carrying
the third wheel ³, with it whilst the turning of the pinion in the other direction
rotates the third wheel together with the ratchet wheel '.
When the watch is going, the third wheel is moved by the spring pawl o", and
the third wheel pinion; should the spring break, the recoil acts so that the ratchet
wheel and pinion go back but do not act on the train, and hence cannot damage the
latter.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Winding Mechanism for Watches.
I, NATHAN SILBERBERG, Watchmaker of Jassy, Roumania, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention 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 a winding mechanism for watches provided with a
safety device to prevent damage to the stem winding gear, springs and detents
when the watch is being overwound, and also to protect the train from being
damaged should the main-spring break.
The improved winding mechanism is illustrated on the accompanying drawings
in Figures 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Figure 2b, being a section on the line -
Figure 1.
The improved mechanism comprises a disengaging device by which, when the
watch is fully wound, the transmission of motion from the winding mechanism to
the spring is interrupted, so that further winding of the spring is prevented.
Referring to Figure 1, the winding is effected by turning a stud A, which acts
upon wheels B, B, B", under the last of which there is a ratchet-wheel C, against
which two pawls, d, are pressed by a double acting spring e
wheel B, is placed a bridge D, receiving the barrel-arbor f'.
Above the
Figure 2, represents the other side of the pillar-plate (the dial side) where the
barrel arbor runs in the bridge E.
On the cover of the spring barrel (vide Figure 3,) there is provided a spring k¹,
and a wheel, adapted with a projecting pin b. In the barrel there is a hollow
spring-arbor having square ends, one j, serving to carry a toothed piece a, and the
other serving to carry the said ratchet-wheel.
The tooth, on the square i, is covered by a steel disc 1, (vide Fig. 4) rivetted
upon it. On the disc there is mounted a spring 1', which presses a pawl n, against
a toothed wheel m. The pawl n, is mounted on a lever n', against which there
presses a spring ", all such parts being suitably mounted upon the disc 7. The said

page_text: toothed wheel carries the journal of the barrel arbor shown in Figure 2, and also a
spindle passing through the hollow barrel arbor and fitted at the other end with a
square carrying the winding wheel B", and there supported by the journal ƒ¹, in
the bridge D, as previously mentioned.
Figure 5, shows the same mechanism as that represented in Figure 4, only that
in this figure the winding train is represented as disengaged.
The winding train is disconnected, when the watch is fully wound, in the
following manner :- -When the watch is being wound, the winding stud A, acts,
through the wheels B, B', upon the wheel B, which, as aforesaid, is mounted upon
a square on the arbor or spindle of the ratchet-wheel m, the arbor passing through
the hollow barrel arbor, and thus actuating the wheel m. In this movement, the
wheel m, by the pawl n, (vide Figure 4,) pulls upon the disc 1, and tooth, together
with the hollow arbor, thus winding up the spring.
The wound spring is held by the ratchet-wheel C, which also is mounted on a
square on the arbor, and by the pawls d', d", and spring e, as shown in Figure 1.
By winding the watch, the pin b, of the wheel (which, when the watch has
run down, assumes the position shown in Figure 4,) is shifted, and, when the watch
is fully wound, comes in contact with the spring n", putting tension upon the same
and forcing the pawl a, out of the wheel m." Now the entire power of the spring nl,
(which is greater than that of the spring 1,) holds the pawl n, away from the
wheel m, so that further winding has no effect, as the rotation of the winding stud
is no longer transmitted to the barrel arbor by the pawl n, disc l, and tooth ... As
soon as the watch is partly run down, the pin b, leaves the lever n', and the
spring, again forces the pawl n, against the wheel m, and the watch may again
be wound.
The two pawls d', d", Figure 1, may be so arranged as that when one has
dropped entirely between two teeth the other is raised half the height of one tooth,
so that, on raising the pawl n, out of the wheel m, the main spring is securely held
by one pawl and the spring cannot run down.
To protect the train (ie., the barrel, main wheel, centre wheel &c.) against
damage, should the spring give out, one wheel, instead of being rigidly fixed on the
pinion, is operated by a pawl arrangement; I propose to do this, as a rule, with the
third wheel."
On the centre wheel pinion o, is provided a ratchet wheel o, having a projection y
upon which the third wheel n³, is loosely mounted, a disc with two screws attached
to the projection y, connects the third wheel with the ratchet wheel. On the
wheel n, is provided a spring pawl o", engaging with the ratchet-wheel o', so that
the pinion o, may be turned backwards with the ratchet-wheel, without carrying the
third wheel n³, with it; whilst the turning of the pinion in the other direction
rotates the third wheel together with the ratchet wheel o'.
and
When the watch is going, the third wheel is moved by the spring pawl o",
the third wheel pinion should the spring break, the recoil acts so that the ratchet-
wheel and pinion go back but do not act on the train, and hence cannot damage the
latter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what. I
claim is:
A winding mechanism with safety device to protect the winding train springs and
detents in case of overwinding and also to protect the train should the spring break,
characterized by
a.) The disengaging gear consisting of the tooth, disc l, wheel ², fitted
with pin b, the lever n', carrying pawl n, subject to the action of the two
springs and n², which by engaging with the wheel m, (mounted on a spindle
passing through the hollow spring-barrel arbor and carrying a wheel B2,
participating in the movement of the winding gear) causes, when the watch
is being wound, the rotation transmitted from the winding arbor to the

page_text: toothed wheel m, to be communicated to the hollow barrel-arbor, whilst,
when the watch is completely wound, the pin b, on the wheel 2, so acts upon
the spring n², and lever n', as to cause the pawl n, to be kept out of engage-
ment with the toothed wheel m, in consequence of which the further rotations
of the wheel m, produced by the winding stud are not transmitted to the
hollow barrel-arbor, as above described and shown in the drawings.
) A connecting gear consisting of a toothed wheel and a spring pawl by
which one of the pinions of the train is connected with the corresponding
wheel, and carries a stud upon which is loosely mounted the wheel carrying
the spring pawl, as described and shown in the drawings.
а
Dated this 3rd day of November 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.