Improvements in Watches and Clocks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watches and Clocks.
We LEWIS DONNE and MORGAN DONNE both of 6 Birchin Lane in the
City of London Watch Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :—
Our invention relates to improvements in watches and clocks and has for its
objects Firstly to obtain a broader and longer mainspring a stronger barrel and
stop mechanism and a broader base for the bearings of the main wheel and Secondly
to obtain a simple convenient and compact arrangement of mechanism for giving
motion to the hand or pointer commonly known as the "up and down" hand
employed to indicate the extent to which the mainspring is wound up or unwound.
According to the first part of our invention the barrel which is preferably made
of steel is formed with a central projecting boss having two diameters the larger
one of which fits a corresponding hole in the pillar plate and forms a journal whilst
the smaller diameter projects beyond the pillar plate and fits a corresponding hole
in the ratchet winding wheel which is arranged upon the outside of the pillar plate
and is fixed to the larger diameter of the boss by means of screws.
The main wheel is formed hollow or recessed to receive part of the mainspring
and with a central boss or hub which at one end revolves upon or in contact with
the boss of the barrel which projects inwards for that purpose and the boss or hub
of the main wheel is drilled to receive an arbor which is firmly fixed therein.
One journal of this arbor is mounted in a bearing formed in the top plate whilst
the other journal is mounted in a bearing formed in the central boss of the barrel
and projects beyond such boss to carry the stop finger.
It will thus be seen that the bearings for the journals of the arbor are arranged
as far apart as the dimensions of the movement will permit and great stability and
steadiness are thereby obtained whilst by reason of the hollow formation of the main
wheel accommodation is afforded for a broader spring so that the thickness thereof
may be reduced and the length proportionately increased causing the spring to
develop a more equal power with less liability to break.
The winding wheel which is preferably of hardened steel is formed with a recess
in the outer face thereof to accommodate the stop mechanism and the star wheel
which is of ordinary construction is mounted loosely upon an axis formed by a screw
screwing into the winding wheel and provided with a large head which is counter-
sunk in the star wheel.
The stop finger is also arranged within the recess of the winding wheel and is
fixed upon the projecting end of the arbor of the main wheel as hereinbefore
described.
The main spring is coiled around the boss or hub of the main wheel and the
inner end thereof is fixed to such hub whilst the outer end is fixed to the barrel so
that in order to wind up the main spring the barrel is revolved by means of the
winding wheel when the spring will be wound around the boss or hub of the main
wheel until the spring is fully wound and the further revolution of the barrel is
arrested by the stop mechanism as is well understood.
The barrel is therefore held stationary except when the mainspring is being
compressed whilst the unwinding of the mainspring revolves the main wheel and
thus furnishes the motive power.
By this arrangement the action of the mainspring is to exert its force from the
centre towards the outer coils instead of from the outer coils towards the centre
and therefore the strain upon the spring and consequent liability to break are much
reduced and a more equal power is obtained.

page_text: According to the second part of our invention which relates to the mechanism
for giving motion to the "up and down" hand we mount a spindle or arbor with
capability of revolution at one end in a bearing formed in the top plate and at the
other end in a bearing formed in a bridge or cock carried by the pillar plate and
upon this end of the spindle or arbor which projects beyond the bridge or cock we
fix a pinion which gears with the "up and down" wheel upon the axis of which is
fixed the " up and down” hand or pointer and gives motion thereto as hereinafter
described.
Upon the arbor or spindle near to one end thereof is loosely mounted a spur
wheel which gears with the main wheel and upon the spindle or arbor near to the
other end thereof is loosely mounted a similar wheel which through an idle wheel
mounted upon an axis carried by the pillar plate gears with the winding wheel.
The two loose wheels upon the spindle or arbor are formed upon their inner faces
with contrate or bevelled teeth which constantly engage the corresponding teeth of
an intermediate wheel mounted loosely upon an axis fixed to the spindle or arbor at
right angles to the axis of the two contrate or bevelled wheels.
By these means rotary motion may be given by either of the contrate wheels to
the spindle or arbor whilst the other contrate wheel does not partake of such motion
but remains stationary and it therefore follows that when the winding wheel is
revolved in order to wind up the mainspring and through the idle wheel motion is
given to the loose wheel gearing therewith the spindle or arbor will be rotated so
as to turn the "up and down "hand or pointer in the direction desired and the
intermediate wheel will roll upon the contrate teeth of the other loose wheel without
imparting any motion thereto whilst in a similar manner during the running down
of the mainspring the main wheel will give motion to the opposite loose wheel and
through its contrate teeth and the intermediate wheel and spindle or arbor to the
up and down" hand or pointer in the opposite direction.
<<
It will be understood that this part of our invention is equally applicable to the
ordinary "going barrel" watch and clock movement.
Dated this 25th day of March 1890.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watches and Clocks.
We, LEWIS DONNE and MORGAN DONNE both of 6 Birchin Lane in the City of
London Watch Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in watches and clocks and has for its
objects Firstly, to obtain a broader and longer mainspring, a stronger barrel and
stop mechanism and a broader base for the bearings of the main wheel and
Secondly, to obtain a simple convenient and compact arrangement of mechanism
for giving motion to the hand or pointer commonly known as the "up and down
hand employed to indicate the extent to which the mainspring is wound up or
unwound.
37
According to the first part of our invention the barrel which is preferably made
of steel is formed with a central projecting boss having two diameters, the larger
one of which fits a corresponding hole in the pillar plate and forms a journal
whilst the smaller diameter projects beyond the pillar plate and fits a corre-
sponding hole in the ratchet winding wheel which is arranged upon the outside
of the pillar plate and is fixed to the larger diameter of the boss by means
of screws.
The main wheel is formed hollow or recessed to receive part of the main-
spring and with a central boss or hub which at one end revolves upon or in

page_text: contact with the boss of the barrel which projects inwards for that purpose, and
the boss or hub of the main wheel is drilled to receive an arbor which is firmly
fixed therein.
One journal of this arbor is mounted in a bearing formed in the top plate whilst
the other journal is mounted in a bearing formed in the central boss of the barrel
and projects beyond such boss to carry the stop finger.
It will thus be seen that the bearings for the journals of the arbor are arranged
as far apart as the dimensions of the movement will permit and great stability and
steadiness are thereby obtained whilst by reason of the hollow forination of the main
wheel accommodation is afforded for a broader spring so that the thickness thereof
may be reduced and the length proportionately increased causing the spring to
develop a more equal power with less liability to break.
The winding wheel which is preferably of hardened steel is formed with a recess
in the outer face thereof to accommodate the stop mechanism and the star wheel
which is of ordinary construction is mounted loosely upon an axis formed by a screw
screwing into the winding wheel and provided with a large head which is counter-
sunk in the star wheel.
The stop finger is also arranged within the recess of the winding wheel and
is fixed upon the projecting end of the arbor of the main wheel as hereinbefore
described.
The mainspring is coiled around the boss or hub of the main wheel and the inner
end thereof is fixed to such hub whilst the outer end is fixed to the barrel so that
in order to wind up the main spring the barrel is revolved by means of the winding
wheel when the spring will be wound around the boss or hub of the main wheel until
the spring is fully wound and the further revolution of the barrel is arrested by the
stop incchanism as is well understood.
The barrel is therefore held stationary except when the main spring is being
compressed whilst the unwinding of the main spring revolves the main wheel and
thus furnishes the motive power.
By this arrangement the action of the main spring is to exert its force from the
centre towards the outer coils instead of from the outer coils towards the centre and
therefore the strain upon the spring and consequent liability to break are much
reduced, and a more equal power is obtained.
According to the second part of our invention which relates to the mechanism
for giving motion to the "up and down" hand we mount a spindle or arbor with
capability of revolution at one end in a bearing formed in the top plate and at the
other end in a bearing formed in a bridge or cock carried by the pillar plate, and
upon this end of the spindle or arbor which projects beyond the bridge
we fix a pinion which gears with the "up and down" wheel upon the axis of which
is fixed the "up and down" hand or pointer and gives motion thereto as hereinafter
described.
or cock
Upon the arbor or spindle near to one end thereof is loosely mounted a
spur wheel which gears with the main wheel and upon the spindle or arbor near to
the other end thereof is loosely mounted a similar wheel which through an idle
wheel mounted upon an axis carried by the pillar plate gears with the winding
wheel.
The two loose wheels upon the spindle or arbor are formed upon their inner
faces with contrate or bevelled teeth which constantly engage the corresponding
teeth of an intermediate wheel mounted loosely upon an axis fixed to the
spindle or arbor at right angles to the axis of the two contrate or bevelled
wheels.
By these means rotary motion may be given by either of the contrate wheels to
the spindle or arbor whilst the other contrate wheel does not partake of such
motion but remains stationary and it therefore follows that when the winding wheel
is revolved in order to wind up the main spring and through the idle wheel motion
is given to the loose wheel gearing therewith the spindle or arbor will be rotated so
as to turn the "up and down" hand or pointer in the direction desired and the

page_text: intermediate wheel will roll upon the contrate teeth of the other loose wheel without
imparting any motion thereto whilst in a similar manner during the running down
of the main spring the main wheel will give motion to the opposite loose wheel and
through its contrate teeth and the intermediate wheel and spindle or arbor to the
"up and down" hand or pointer in the opposite direction.
It will be understood that this part of our invention is equally applicable to the
ordinary going barrel watch and clock movement.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a face view of part of a watch movement having our improvements
applied thereto, and with the dial removed, and
Figure 2 is an edge view thereof partly in section.
Figure 3 is a transverse section drawn to an enlarged scale of the main wheel, the
barrel and connected parts separately.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of parts separately taken on the line 1-1 of
Figure and drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is an edge view also drawn to an enlarged scale, the top plate and pillar
plate being removed for the sake of clearness.
Figure 6 is a transverse section drawn to an enlarged scale representing a
modification of parts and
Figure 7 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 6.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
a represents the barrel which is preferably made of steel and is formed with a
central projecting boss a' having two diameters a² a the larger one a of which fits a
corresponding hole in the pillar plate e and forms a journal whilst the smaller one a³
projects beyond the pillar plate and fits a corresponding hole in the winding
wheel e which is arranged upon the outside of the pillar plate e and is fixed to the
larger diameter a² of the boss a¹ by means of screws e'.
The main wheel is formed with a hollow or recess 'therein to receive part of
the main spring a* and with a central boss or hub which at one end revolves upon
or in contact with the boss a¹ of the barrel which is formed with an inward pro-
jection at for that purpose and the boss or hub of the main wheel is drilled to
receive an arbor 63 which is firmly fixed therein.
One journal of this arbor is mounted in a bearing d' fitted into the top plate d
whilst the other journal 65 is mounted in a bearing formed in the central boss a³ of
the barrel a and projects beyond such boss a¹ to carry the stop finger 7.
It will thus be seen that the bearings for the journals of the arbor are
arranged as far apart as the dimensions of the movement will permit and great
stability and steadiness are thereby obtained whilst by reason of the hollow
formation of the main wheel & accommodation is afforded for a broader spring so
that the thickness thereof may be reduced and the length proportionately
increased causing the spring to develop a more equal power with less liability
to break.
The winding wheel which is preferably of hardened steel is formed with a
recess in the outer face thereof to accommodate the stop mechanism and the
star wheel which is of ordinary construction is mounted loosely upon an axis
formed by a screw 3 screwing into the winding wheel e and provided with a large
head which is countersunk in the star wheel ".
The stop finger is also arranged within the recess e² of the winding wheel e and
is fixed upon the projecting end of the arbor 3 of the main wheel as hereinbefore
described.
The main spring a* is coiled around the boss or hub of the main wheel and
the inner end thereof is fixed to such hub whilst the outer end is fixed to the barrel a
so that in order to wind up the main spring a* the barrel a is revolved by means of

page_text: the winding wheel e when the spring a will be wound around the boss or
hub of the main wheel & until the spring a is fully wound and the further
revolution of the barrel a is arrested by the stop mechanism ƒ ƒ as is well
understood.
The barrel a is therefore held stationary except when the main spring a* is
being compressed, whilst the unwinding of the main spring a* revolves the main
wheel and thus furnishes the motive power.
By this arrangement the action of the main spring a* is to exert its force from
the centre towards the outer coils instead of from the outer coils towards the
centre, and therefore the strain upon the spring and consequent liability to break
are much reduced and a more equal power is obtained.
with
According to the second part of the invention which relates to the mechanism
for giving motion to the "up and down" hand we mount a spindle or arbor
capability of revolution at one end in a bearing d formed in the top plated and at
the other end in a bearing formed in a bridge or cock j carried by the pillar
plate e and upon this end of the spindle or arbor which projects beyond the bridge
or cock j we fix a pinion which gears with the "up and down" wheel & upon
which is fixed the "up and down" hand and gives motion thereto as hereinafter
described.
The " up and down" wheel & is formed with a cannon which is mounted upon
a stud fixed in the boss which is secured to the pillar plate e by screws 1 and
forms the axis of the intermediate wheel which latter is geared with the winding
wheel e through an idle wheel n.
Upon the arbor or spindle g near to one end thereof is loosely mounted a spur
wheel which gears with the main wheel and upon the spindle or arbor y near to
the other end thereof is loosely mounted a similar wheel i which through an idle
wheel mounted upon an axis m' carried by the pillar plate c gears with the
winding wheel e.
The two loose wheels and i upon the spindle or arbor g are formed upon their
inner faces with contrate teeth which constantly engage the corresponding
teeth of an intermediate wheel mounted loosely upon an axis formed by a screw g²
screwing into a corresponding hole formed in the arbor or spindle g at right angles
to the axis of the loose wheels hi.
By these means rotary motion may be given by either of the loose wheels hi
through its contrate teeth to the spindle or arbor whilst the other loose
wheel hori does not partake of such motion but remains stationary, and it there-
fore follows that when the winding wheel e is revolved in order to wind up the
main spring and through the idle wheel m motion is given to the loose wheel i
gearing therewith the spindle or arborg will through the contrate teeth and
intermediate wheel g' be rotated so as to turn the "up and down" hand or pointer k
in the direction desired and the intermediate wheel will roll upon the contrate
teeth of the other loose wheel without imparting any motion thereto whilst in
a similar manner during the running down of the main spring a* the main wheel
will give motion to the opposite loose wheel and through its contrate teeth and
the intermediate wheel y and spindle or arborg to the "up and down" hand or
pointer in the opposite direction.
In the modification represented at Figures 6 and 7 we have shown the loose
wheels and provided with bevelled teeth in lieu of contrate teeth upon
their faces but in this case the bevelled teeth and are formed separately from
their respective wheels and i in order to facilitate the cutting of the teeth.
It will be understood that this second part of the invention is equally applicable
to the ordinary “going barrel" watch and clock movement.
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. The combination in a watch or clock with the top plate d having a bearing

page_text: and the pillar plate c connected therewith and provided with a circular opening
opposite said bearing, of the arbor 3 journalled at one end in said bearing the
recessed main wheel on said arbor the barrel a having an apertured boss a'
journaled in said circular opening and in which boss the other end of the arbor 3
is journaled the main spring within the said main wheel and barrel substantially as
set forth.
2. The combination in a watch or clock with the top plate d having a bearing
and the pillar plate c having a circular opening of the main wheel recessed on its
inner face and provided with a hub or boss the barrel a having a boss a' journalled
in the said circular opening, the main spring secured at its inner end to the hub or
boss of the main wheel and at its outer end to the drum the arbor 3 passed
through said hub and journalled in the boss aand in the bearing in plate d
substantially as set forth.
3. In a watch or clock the combination with a main wheel recessed on one face
of a barrel mounted to turn in the pillar plate, a main spring extending partly into
the said recess of the main wheel and into the said barrel a ratchet or winding
wheel secured on the said barrel and connected with the winding mechanism, and a
star wheel and stop finger held on the said winding wheel and the spindle of the
main wheel substantially as shown and described.
or
4. The combination with the main wheel, the barrel having a ratchet or winding
wheel secured to its upper side, the star wheel on said winding wheel the arbor ³
the toothed disc or stop finger thercon and the main spring, of the spindle
arbor wheels hi loosely mounted on the said spindle or arbor carrying gear
wheels respectively on their inner faces, the pinion gearing into the main
wheel a pinion on said arbor gearing with the wheels idle wheel m connecting
the winding wheel e and pinion the winding gearing connected with the winding
wheel, the pinion & the pointer carried thereby the pinion g³ on the arbor or
spindle and gearing with the pinion substantially as set forth.
g
5. In a watch or clock a main wheel recessed on one face, a barrel mounted to
turn in the pillar plate, a main spring extending partly into the said recess of the
main wheel and into the said barrel and a ratchet or winding wheel secured on said
barrel, and connected with the winding mechanism in combination with an arbor or
spindle, two contrate or bevelled gear wheels held to turn loosely on the said arbor
or spindle and adapted to be alternately turned by the said main wheel and
winding wheel, and a third bevelled gear wheel mounted to turn on one side of the
said spindle and in gear with the said two contrate or bevelled gear wheels
substantially as shown and described.
6. In a watch or clock a main wheel recessed on one face a barrel mounted to
turn in the pillar plate a main spring extending partly into the said recess of the
main wheel and into the said barrel and a ratchet or winding wheel secured on said
barrel and connected with the winding mechanism in combination with an arbor or
spindle two contrate or bevelled gear wheels held to turn loosely on the said arbor
or spindle and adapted to be alternately turned by the said main wheel and winding
wheel, a third bevelled gear wheel mounted to turn on one side of the said spindle
and in gear with the said two contrate or bevelled gear wheels and a star wheel
and stop finger held on the said main wheel and the said winding wheel substantially
as shown and described.
7. In a watch or clock a main wheel recessed on one face, a barrel mounted to
turn in the pillar plate a main spring extending partly into the said recess of the
main wheel and into the said barrel and a ratchet or winding wheel secured on the
said barrel and connected with the winding mechanism, in combination with an
arbor or spindle two contrate or bevelled gear wheels held to turn loosely on the
said arbor or spindle and adapted to be alternately turned by the said main wheel
and winding wheel, a third bevelled gear wheel mounted to turn on one side of the
said spindle and in gear with the said two contrate or bevelled gear wheels, a star
wheel and stop finger held on the said main wheel and the said winding wheel and a hand
or pointer actuated by the said arbor or spindle substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 8. In a watch or clock the combination of a spindle or arbor having two contrate
or bevelled wheels loosely mounted thereon and adapted to be alternately turned
by the winding mechanism and the main wheel a third bevelled wheel mounted
upon an axis at one side of said spindle or arbor and gearing with said contrate or
bevelled wheels and a hand or pointer receiving motion through said arbor
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 24th day of December 1890.
D
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.