AN IMPROVEMENT IN CLOCKS, WATCHES, AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PIERRE
FREDERICK GOUGY, of Tavistock Street, in the City of Westminster, Watch-
maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eleventh day of December, One thou-
sand eight hundred and thirty-nine, in the third year of Her reign, did, for Her-
self, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Pierre Frederick'
Gougy, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Pierre Frederick Gougy, my exors,
adiiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Pierre Frederick Gougy,
my exors, admors, and assigns, should at any time agree 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 that part
of Her said Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called
England, Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
also in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention
of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN CLOCKS, WATCHES, AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Pierre Frederick
Gougy, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in

page_text: and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in pursuance of the said proviso, I, the said
Pierre Frederick Gougy, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion consists in adding to the ordinary movements of any clock, watch, or other
timekeeper used for astronomical, marine, and other exact purposes, a certain
new movement for more effectually ascertaining the instant or second of time
at which any particular event or occurrence takes place; and I declare that
the manner in which the said Invention is performed is fully shewn and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Figure A of the Drawings hereunto annexed is a plan of a watch or chrono-
meter (on a scale of double the real size), with the outer case and dial plate
removed so as to leave fully exposed to view my said newly-invented move-
ment, all the parts of which the same consist being colored blue and yellow.
The Figures numbered 1 to 11 inclusive are detached representations of the
different pieces requisite to the said movement. Numbers 1 to 5 inclusive
are shewn on a scale of four times the real size, and Numbers 6 to 11 inclusive
on a scale of double the real size (as in the plan, Figure A). Number 1 is a
plan, and Number 2 a side view of a cross bar or rest, which, by means of the
hole (a) in the centre, fits on the pivot of the fourth or seconds' wheel of the
watch; b and c are two eye-holes drilled in the extremities of this cross rest for
the reception of the circular spring herein-after mentioned (Number 4); and d
a vertical pin which serves as a rest for a supplementary second hand, which
is placed as herein-after mentioned below the ordinary second hand. Number
3 is a bottom plan of a hollow drum, which fits loosely on the collet e of
Number 1, and covers it as well as its pin d; d is a small horizontal pin
which projects from the inside of the drum. Number 3 is a top plan of the
drum Number 4, and of a circular spring, the interior end of which is
attached to the outside of this drum, and the other passed through the
eye-holes b, c, at the ends of the cross rest, Number 1, and secured at
c with a pin. Number 5 is a side view in section of Number 4. f is a
cannon socket which carries the lower or second hand before mentioned.
Number is a plan, and Number 6 a side view in section of a double or two-
armed detent, which is secured to the watch plate by a screw 9, and encloses
between its two arms the drum Number 5, but without touching the same,
except under the circumstances herein-after pointed out. Number 8 is a
plan, and Number 9 a side view of a T-picce or lever, which is secured by a
screw (on which it turns freely) to the watch plate in such a position that a

page_text: straight line drawn from the screw h shall be at right angles with the detent
Number 6. is a vertical pin which rises from the long end of this lever, and
on being passed between the chaps or extremities of the two arms of the
detent Number 6, keeps the same from passing against the loose barrel
Number 3; is the tail of this lever, which protrudes through the outer case
of the watch or other timepiece. Number 10 is a plan, and Number 11 a
side view of a spring catch, which is screwed at one end to the watch plate,
and is notched at the other in the manner represented in the Drawing, so as
to slip to and fro on the pin affixed to the tail of the lever Number 8. The
dial plate, which in Figure A is left out for the sake of clearness, is inserted
between the two second hands and the detent of these hands, the upper one
only, which is fixed on the top of the pivot of the fourth or seconds' wheel, is
visible the other, which is fixed on the cannon socket of the loose drum, is
concealed beneath. As the different pieces before described are presented in
combination in Figure A, the two second hands will move regularly together,
but supposing the tail k of the lever Number 9 to be moved forward (by hand
applied to the outside of the watch) from m to n, this will withdraw the
vertical pin i at the opposite or long end of the lever from the grasp of the
detent, which thereupon will instantly close upon and stop the loose drum with
the lower hand attached to it, while the upper hand will continue to move
round as before. The cross rest, Number 1, which is fixed on the pivot of the
second wheel, will also, of course, continue to revolve as before, as it has
attached to it one end of the circular spring Number 4, while the other is
secured to the outside of the loose drum (which in the case supposed has been
made fast by the detent); the consequence is, that the spring begins to be
wound up in the same instant that the lower second hand is stopped, and
continues to be so till any further collapse is stopped by the horizontal pin
d of Number 3, which is always in about fifty-eight seconds from the
stoppage of the lower second hand.
Before the lapse of the fifty-eight
seconds, the time indicated by the fixed or lower second hand on the dial may
in general be readily written off, and as soon as it has been so, the tail k of
the lever Number 9 should be moved back from n to m, when the stud i
re-entering between the chaps of the detent will set free the drum, and with
it the spring, which will immediately restore the lower second hand to its
original position below the upper; but should the time of the stop not be
written off before the lapse of the fifty-eight seconds, it will still remain indicated
by the dial plate, that is to say, to the extent of the seconds' circle, for after
the lapse of the fifty-eight seconds the cross rest, which is fixed on the pivot of
the second wheel, and has never ceased to revolve with it, will carry along

page_text: with it the drum spring and lower second hand, but with the lower second
band always fifty-eight seconds behind the other, and so the hands will remain
relatively to one another for any indefinite length of time, till by moving the
tail back from n to m the detent is reopened, and the loose drum and spring
set free.
The combination of parts which I have just described exhibits the best
method which I have been able to devise of carrying out the principle of my
said Invention, but it may be modified and altered in various ways so as to pro-
duce the same effect, though not, perhaps, in so simple or efficient a manner.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed, the sets of Figures marked B, C, D, E,
In the
F, and G, represent six different modifications of my said Invention.
modification B (the parts of which are represented as of four times their real
size) Figure 1 is a side view of a cross rest b, d, similar to that employed in
the movement first herein-before described, having a hole (a) in the centre by
which it is fixed on the pivot of the seconds wheel a, collet c, and pin c.
Figure 2b is a plan of Figure 1, with the following additions:-A quadrant
f, g, with seven teeth is attached to one end of the cross rest by a pin i, and
this quadrant takes into a pinion v, which is fitted loosely on the collet e.
From the pinion va stem s rises, which carries a supplementary second hand
placed under the other, as in the Plan A. A bow spring a, b, c, is secured at
one end to the under part of the quadrant by a pin n, and being passed through
an eye-hole p, at the opposite end of the cross rest b, d, is brought sharp round
and made fast to the pin c. Under one of the leaves of the pinion there is a
small pin which catches against the end of the spring at c. A detent, a lever,
and a spring catch, all as in Plan A, are employed in the present modification,
and act in the same way, with this difference only, that the arms of the detent
clasp the stem s of the pinion v, and thereby stop the under second hand, and
that in proportion as the stem is smaller than the hollow drum made use of in
the former instance, the arms of the detent must approach nearer to each
other. Supposo then the tail of the lever to be moved, as in Plan A, from
m to n, the arms of the detent will instantly lay fast hold of the stem
which carries the under second hand, while, in consequence of the cross
rest continuing to go round with the second vessel pivot, the quadrant will
be moved round in the direction of the arrow till the whole of its teeth
pass out of the pinion » (as shewn in the plan, Figure 2), and in this
position the parts will remain for any length of time which may be desired,
for the bow spring a, b, c, being long and flexible, catches the under pin
of the pinion on the side of the pin c, liberates it without resistance, and
allows the cross rest to pass without moving the pinion; but as soon as the

page_text: tail of the lever is pulled back from n to m, the pinion will be disengaged,
and the spring b, c, acting upon the point n, will turn round the quadrant
from p towards o, till it is stopped by the under pin of the pinion catching the
end a of the spring which abuts firmly against the pin o of the cross rest,
when the second hands will be found again one under the other, and move
afterwards together.
The plan I have just described, though perfectly sufficient, is one of difficult
execution, and I do not therefore recommend it.
In the next modification of my Invention, marked C, the parts of which arc
also represented as of four times their real size, I make use of a grooved wheel
instead of the hollow drum employed in the Plan A; and the spring, instead of
being affixed to the exterior of this wheel, is fixed inside the groove.
Figure 1 is a bottom plan of this wheel; Figure 2c, a section of it through
the middle. i, i, are two pins which serve as rests to the lower or supple-
mentary second hand, as in Plan A. n, o, is the groove containing the spring,
the inner or central end of which is attached to a ring m fixed on the pivot of
the second wheel (which serves the same purpose as the cross rest in Plan A),
and the outer end is fixed to the inside of the groove n, o, at the point d. g
is the cannon pivot which carries the lower or second hand.
The chief objec-
tion to this modification of my Invention is, that the size and weight of the
parts are encreased without any corresponding advantage.
In the Plan D, the parts of which are shewn of twice their real size, a
wheel m, similar to that employed in the Plan C, is mounted on the second
wheel pivot. 1, 1, are two levers which are screwed to the watch plate at =, s,
and diverge from these points like the arms of a pair of compasses when
opened. n, q, are two prongs which project at right angles from these levers,
and clasp, when actuated in manner to be afterwards described, the wheel m.
a, i, are two small springs which press upon the levers 1, 1. f is a stop lever
which serves the same purpose as Number 8 of Plan A, with a wedge-
shaped stop p projecting from the end thereof, which moves to and fro between
the two ends, s, of the levers 1, 1, and t is a spring catch to controul the
action of the stop lever, similar to Number 10 in Plan A. Supposing the stop
lever to be moved from c to d, as represented in the Drawing, the stop p will
be pushed inwards free of the levers, the prongs of which will grasp and stop
the wheel m; while, on the other hand, on drawing back the stop lever from
d to c the stop p will press the levers outwards and free the wheel from the
grasp of the prongs n, q.
The Plan marked E differs but slightly from the Plan D last described.
The levers 1, 1, instead of being separately attached to the watch plate, cross
each other near to their lower extremities, and are fixed by one screw 9 to'

page_text: the watch plate, and instead of the small springs a, i, a calliper spring a is made
use of, the arms of which press on the levers l, 1, at the points immediately
behind the prongs n, q; and moreover, the stop at the end of the stop lever is
of the form of a wedge with the base outermost. As the parts are represented
in the Drawing, the stop lever is supposed to be drawn back, and the levers to
have hold of the second wheel.
The Drawing F shews a plan in which the stop is effected in precisely the
same manner as in Plan A, but with a detent of the different construction
represented in the Drawing, consisting of two bow-shaped arms secured to the
watch plates at the points a, a, the short ends of which are pressed outwards by
the two prongs of the spring b, while the others are alternately opened
and closed by the projecting stud of the stop lever Number 8. . A detent of
this description would suit the modification C better than any other.
The Plan G, which is the last modification of my Invention that I think it
needful to describe, is delineated in the Figures 1g, 2g, 3g, 4g, and 5g, all the
parts being represented as four times the real size. In Figure 1g is a side
view of part of the mechanism only. i, i, is the second-hand pivot, which
carries at the top a the upper or second hand. e is a pinion which is fitted
loosely on the pivot i, i, and has a cannon sockets which carries the lower
or supplementary second hand. c is a disk fitted on the pivot i, under
the pinion e; and 6 is a circular spring, the inner end of which is fastened
to the disk, and the outer to the end of an arm d, which projects from a
small collet on the under side of the pinion c.
Figure 2 g is a side view of Figure 1g with some further additions, and
Figure 3 g a plan of Figure 2 g. c, c, is a toothed wheel which works into
the pinion e, turning on a pivot which is inserted at bottom in the watch plate
and at top in a cock t, separately secured to the plate. a is a straight spring,
shewn separately in Figure 4 g, which is secured by a screw to the plate; and
9 is the stop lever (shewn also separately in Figure 5 g), the tail of which
projects outside of the watch case. A triangular groove or notch is cut out
in the lever g at r (see Figure 5 g), for the reception of a triangular pin or
stud h affixed to the plate for the better support of the lever. As the me-
chanism is viewed in the plan Figure 3 g the disk c is concealed under the
pinion e, and the arm d under the wheel c, c. Atv in the arm d a small pin
projects vertically, which catches against a horizontal pin in the disk c while
the stop lever is in the position shewn in the plan Figure 3 g. The pinion
carries round the wheel c, c, along with it and the two second hands coincide
exactly, but if the lever is pushed forward from p to n, the opposite end of it
passes under, the spring a, which rising, presses against and stops the wheel
c, c, which in its turn stops the pinion which carries the lower second hand,

page_text: while the upper second hand continues to go round as before. On the stop
lever being drawn back from n to p, the wheel and pinion are again set free
and the lower second hand is restored to its place under the other by the
action of the circular spring b. The arrangement which I have last herein
described might be greatly improved by substituting for the wheelwork, the
continual friction of which is objectionable, the means of stopping employed
in Plan A, retaining only the parts represented in Figure 1 g, and substituting
a plain drum for the toothed pinion e, upon which the ouble detent will act.
And having now fully described the nature of my said newly-invented
movement, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, as also
various modifications of which the same is susceptible, I declare that I do
not claim as of my Invention any of the parts or pieces of which the said
movement consists, or by which it is effected, as being in itself separately
considered new. And that neither do I confine myself to any of the modes
of producing the said movement herein-before described. But that what I
claim as of my Invention is, the addition to watches, clocks, and other time-
keepers employed for astronomical, marine, and other exact purposes, of a
new movement which the instant or second of occurance may be unerringly
recorded on the dial plate without any interruption to the goimg of the usual
hour, minute, and second hands, and the employment for the purposes of such
movement of a supplementary second hand, so adjustable by mechanism in
connection with it that it may be stopped while the other second band is
going, and on being set free will instantly recover its original position, and
rotate as before along with the other or principal second hand, and whether
the said effects are produced by any of the modes of acting upon the said sup-
plementary second hand herein-before described, and distinguished by the letters
A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, or by any modifications or variations of the same.
And such my said Invention being to the best of my knowledge and belief
entirely new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, or in any of Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of
the same, and that I do very believe this my said Specification doth comply
fully and in all respects without reserve or disguise with the proviso in the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained, wherefore I hereby
claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Pierre Frederick Gougy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty.
PIERRE FREDERICK (L.S.) GOUGY.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of June, in the
year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid Pierre Frederick Gougy came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifi-
cation 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 Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty.