Improvements in Repeating Attachments to Watches.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating Attachments to Watches.
We CHARLES MORLET of Hoboken in the County of Hudson State of New Jersey
Watchmaker and PROSPER NORDMANN of 9 Bond Street in the City County and State
of New York Manufacturer both in the United States of America 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:-
This invention relates to an improved repeating attachment to watches and has for
its object to provide a simple strong and durable motor for operating the repeating
attachment. A further object of this invention is to provide a simple moderating
gear which can be easily applied and still another object of this invention is to arrange
and provide the entire repeating mechanism and its moderating gear upon the face of
the top-plate in such a manner that no part or parts of the repeating mechanism
extend to the bottom plate.
The invention consists in a repeating watch having the moderating gear mounted on
an independent bridge on the top plate.
The invention further consists in a motor for the repeating watch mechanism
composed of a helical spring surrounding a curved rod at the rim of the movement.
The invention also consists in the construction and combination of parts and details
as will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a face view of this improved repeating
mechanism for watches parts being broken out and others in section.
Figure 2 is a side view showing the location and arrangement of the motor.
Figure 3 is a side view of the bridge of the moderating gear.
Figure 4 is a face view of the repeating mechanism the parts having different positions.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The mechanism for transmitting motion from the motor of the repeating mechanism
to the hammers is of the old and well known construction and does not form a part of
this invention.
A rod A which is either a quadrant or other arc of a circle is secured at its ends in
lugs a a formed on the underside of the top plate B or on any other plate of the
watch. The rod A is surrounded by a helical spring C which has the shape of a curved
tube one end of the spring resting against a seat at one end of the rod while the other
end rests against a sliding collar D on said rod. The collar D can be moved toward
that end of the rod at which the other end of the spring is located whereby the spring
is compressed. The collar D) is acted upon by an arm D of a lever E which is pivotted
to the top plate B and provided at the opposite end with a segmental rack F engaging
the pinion G from which the curved ratchet-bars for working the hammers are operated
in the usual manner.
The pinion G engages the cog-wheel H which is pivoted on the end of the lower
shank of a U-shaped bridge J that is pivoted at its opposite end on the upper surface
of the top plate B by a screw or pivot K. so as to adapt said bridge to oscillate with
the pivot or screw K as centre on the upper surface of the top plate B. A spring L
is secured at one end to the top plate and bears by its other end against the rim of
the swinging bridge J thereby keeping the cog-wheel H engaged with the pinion G.
Between the shanks of said bridge J the wheels of the moderating gear are mounted
which may be of any well-known construction.
In the watch shown the wheel H engages an intermediate cog wheel I which in
turn engages the pinion M mounted on the same shaft with the cog-wheel N engaging
the pinion O on the same shaft with the cog-wheel P said cog-wheel P engaging the
pinion on the same shaft with the ratchet wheel R with which latter the escape-
ment S engages. Said escapement and the shafts on which the pinions and cog-
wheels I, M, N, O, P, Q and R are mounted are all pivoted to the bridge J.

page_text: The entire moderating gear being on a separate bridge and entirely independent of
the remaining repeating mechanism it can be readily removed, without disturbing or
interrupting the remaining parts of the repeating mechanism.
The operation is as follows:-
By moving the arm 1) and collar D in the direction of the arrow a¹ Figure 1 the
spring is compressed and the rack F is moved in the direction of the arrow a² so
as to rotate the pinion G in the direction of the arrow ³. The pinion G will not
rotate the wheel H but will press or swing the entire bridge J and the wheels thereon
in the direction of the arrow * so that the wheel H is out of the way and thus does
not interfere with the quick compression of the spring C for action. When the
arm D has been moved as far as possible in the direction of the arrow the springs
and catches provided are released and the parts of the repeating mechanism assume
the positions shown in Figure 4 ready for striking. The arm D₁ is now released and
the spring C. expanding moves said slide in the inverse direction of the arrow .¹
whereby the rack F is moved in the inverse direction of the arrow &² and operates
the striking mechanism in the usual manner. The pinion G is now rotated in the
inverse direction of the arrow a³ and turns the wheel H in the same direction in which
the spring Lacts. The result is that the pinion G now rotates the wheel H in the
direction of the arrow a and from said wheel H the moderating gear is operated in
the usual manner until the spring G has expanded and the arm D has been moved
back to its initial position. The helical spring motor is much more durable simpler
and stronger than a barrel or straight spring motor used heretofore and not so liable
to get out of order.
A further advantage is that it occupies very little space and that it can be located
at the circumference of the watch movement so as to take up the space which is not
otherwise utilised thus tending to reduce the size of the watch and case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A repeating watch having its moderating gear mounted on a movable bridge
substantially as set forth.
2. A repeating watch having its moderating gear mounted on a bridge pivoted to
oscillate on a plate of the movement substantially as set forth.
3. A repeating watch having its moderating gear mounted in a bridge pivoted at
one end to oscillate on one of the plates of the movement the wheels at the opposite
end of the bridge engaging one of the wheels driven by the motor of the repeating
mechanism substantially as set forth.
4. In a repeating watch the combination with the repeating gear of a moderating
gear mounted in an oscillating bridge on a plate of the works and a spring acting on
said bridge and serving to keep one of the wheels on the oscillating bridge engaged
with one of the wheels operated by the motor of the repeating gear substantially as
set forth.
5. A repeating watch having a motor for the repeating mechanism composed of a
helical spring surrounding a rod substantially as set forth.
6. A repeating watch having a motor for the repeating mechanism composed of
a helical spring surrounding a curved rod at the rim of the movements substantially as
set forth.
7. In a repeating watch the combination with one of the plates of a curved rod held
at the rim of the same a helical spring surrounding said rod a slide on said rod on
which slide the spring can act a rocking lever operated from said slide and gearing for
transmitting motion from said rocking lover to the repeating mechanism substantially
as set forth.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.