Year: 1896

page_text: I, RODMAN WANAMAKER, of 5 Rue Rougemont, Paris, in the Republic of France,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
"My invention consists of an improved device for acting upon the sounding
mechanism of repeating watches, by depressing the crown of the watch, and also
for locking and unlocking the sounding rack of the same.
To effect this I fix the winding-up-crown of the watch to a sleeve having a
square axial hole, sliding upon a square portion of the stem, and engaging a
rocking-lever provided within the watch-case and bearing upon a pin pivotally
connected to a bell-crank-lever pivoted on the face of the watch-plate. The, said
bell-crank-lever has one of its arms projecting out of the circumference of tho
plate, and pivotally connected to the one end of a curved rod; embracing part of
the circumference of the plate, the said curved rod having its other end pivotally
connected to the one end of a lever, which is disposed in an approximately radial
position with respect to the watch-plate, and which has its other end pivoted to the
said plate, the purpose of the whole being to transmit to a suitable pin or projec-
tion of the usual rack of the sounding mechanism (which cannot be placed next
to the stem or crown), the pressure of the said stem or crown.
The invention further consists of an improved locking-device for the sounding-
mechanism.
Now in order that the invention may be better understood; I will proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front view of the sounding mechanism at rest, and
Figure 2 a similar view of the sounding-mechanism in the position it assumes
when the crown has just been depressed.
In the two figures like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the stem of the watch having on its square portion a sliding-sleeve A¹ to
which is fixed the crown A³. The lower end of the sleeve A¹ bears upon a rocking-
lever B lodged in the watch-case-ring B and pivoted to the same at b. The free
end of the said rocking-lever B bears upon a pin C which engages a suitable
radial or approximately radial hole of the plate D, and the inner end of which
is pivotally connected to the arm E of a bell-crank-lever E¹, E, the fulcrum.e
of which is fixed to the plate D.
The arm E of the said bell-crank-lever projects through the rim d of the
plate D, against which it bears externally, and has pivotted to it, the one end
of a curved rod F embracing a portion of the circumference of the plate D, and
having its other end pivotally connected to a lever G which engages with a
suitable hole in the rim d, of the plate D, and is connected to the face of the said
plate D by means of a pivot-screw g. The said sleeve g is at the same time the
pivot of the usual rack J, which acts upon a suitable pinion fixed to the axis.h
of the sounding-barrel, which is placed on the opposite face of the plate D.
The stroke of the sounding-rack J is limited by means of a screw j fixed to the

page_text: plate D, and working in a curved slot of the said rack J, the said rack J bears
against a screw or projection intended to be acted upon by the lever G.
There is further provided a locking device K formed of a lever having a spring
portion and being fixed to the plate D by means of a screw . The free end
of the locking-lever K engages a suitable projection or nose of the usual sounding-
rack L, when the sounding-main-spring has caused the said rack L to return to
its "rest position" as shown in Figure I, the sounding-main-spring being stronger
than the spring M which tends to throw the sounding-rack L into the position
shown in Figure 2 in which position its projection bears. upon the usual snail
(not shown). This throwing action of the spring M upon the rack L takes place
as soon as the projection fixed to the rack J engages the edge of the locking-
lever K as shown in Figure 2, the said edge being curved eccentrically with
regard to the fulcrum 9 of the rack J, the sounding-rack L being at the same time
made independent of the main-spring axis, by any of the well-known unlocking
devices used in sounding-watches.
The operation of the above-described mechanism is as follows:
The crown A being depressed by the finger it causes the bell-crank lever E Es
to be rocked from the position shown in Figure 1 to that of Figure 2. The said
bell-crank-lever E Es being connected to the radial lever G by the curved rod F
the latter is also rocked and it withdraws thereby the screw fixed to the rack J
which is rocked on its pivot g, the main-spring of the sounding mechanism is
wound up by means of the usual gearing which does not form part of the present
invention: When the rack J arrives to the end of its stroke the projection
the same, lifts the locking-lever K out of engagement with the nose of the
sounding-rack L, which is then thrown by the spring M against the usual "snail!"
limiting its stroke so as to sound the hours, quarters or minutes, in the well-
known manner.
of
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
"Improvements in Repeating Watches."
I, RODMAN WANAMAKER, 5 Rue Rougemont, Paris, in the Republic of France,
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 fol-
lowing statement:-
"My invention consists of an improved device for acting upon the sounding or
striking mechanism of repeating watches by depressing the winding-up-crown
of the watch, and also for locking and unlocking the sounding rack of the same.
To effect this I fix the winding-up crown of the watch, to a sleeve having a
square axial hole, sliding upon a square portion of the stem, and engaging a
rocking-lever provided within the watch-case and bearing upon a pin pivotally
connected to a bell-crank-lever pivoted on the face of the watch-plate. The said
bell crank-lever has one of its arms projecting out of tlie circumference of the
plate, and pivotally connected to the one end of a curved rod, embracing part of
the circumference of the plate, the said curved rod having its other end pivotally
connected to one end of a lever, which is disposed in an approximately radial
position with respect to the watch plate, and which has its other end pivoted to the
said plate, the purpose of the whole being to transmit to a suitable pin or projec-

page_text: tion on the usual rack of the sounding mechanism (which cannot be placed next
to, the stem or crown,) the pressure of the said stem or crown.
The invention further consists in an improved looking-device for the sounding-
mechanism.
1.
Now in order that the invention may be better understood, I will proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a front view of the sounding-mechanism at rest, and
Figure 2 a similar view of the sounding-inechanism in the position it assumes.
when the crown has just been depressed.
Figure 3 is a detail drawing showing the hour-rack.
In the three figures like lotters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is the stem of the watch having on its square portion a sliding-sleeve A tó
which is fixed the crown A. The lower end of the sleeve A¹ bears upon a rocking-
lever B lodged in the watch-case-ring B and pivoted to the same at b. The free
end of the said rocking-lever B bears upon a pin which engages a suitable
radial or approximately radial hole in the plate D and the inner end of which
is pivotally connected to the arm E of a bell-crank-lever E', E, the fulcrum e
of which is fixed to the plate D.
The arm E of the said bell-crank-lever projects through the rim d of the
plate D, against which it bears externally, and has pivoted to it one end
of a curved rod F embracing a portion of the circumference of the plate D and
having its other end pivotally connected to a lever G which engages with a
suitable hole in the rim d, of the plate D, and is connected to the face of the said
plate by means of a pivot-screw 9. The said screw g is, at the same time, the
pivot of the usual rack J, which acts upon a suitable pinion fixed to the axis h
of the sounding-barrel, which is placed on the opposite face of the plate D.
The stroke of the rack J is limited by means of a screwfixed to the
plate D, and working in a curved slot j¹ of the said rack J, the said rack J bears
a screw or projection intended to be acted upon by the lever G.
Land N are the two usual superposed sounding-racks, pivoted at * to the
watchplate and which may be of any suitable description.
7
The lower rack L is the one intended to strike the hours by means of its
teeth acting upon the usual hammers. The said rack L has a suitable cut away
portion with an inner rack 1 engaging the usual pinion O free on the axis h of
the sounding spring-barrel (not shown). The said axis h has a radial projection h¹
which engages the pin o of said pinion to cause the latter to be rotated when
rotating from its position shown in Figure 2 into that one shown in Figure 1,
thereby causing the rack L to be oscillated by means of the engaging of said
pinion O. with the inner rack 12 of said rack Land the teeth causing at
same time the hammer to strike the hours. According to the position of the hour-
snail (not shown) at the moment when the rack L meets the said hour-snail with
its finger (Figures 2 and 3) the meeting of the said projection h¹ with the pin n
will take place sooner or later and the number of teeth 19 acting upon the hammer
will be different.
The said rack L is further provided with a projection intended to meet the
stopping-lever K in the manner which will be described below, and a pivot
screw to which is pivoted the usual detent N', intended to engage the teeth n²
of the upper or minute-rack N. The rack L is acted upon by a spring L', the
rack N by a spring M and the detent N by a spring n in the well-known manner.
7 are the teeth of the rack N which are intended to act upon the minute-hammer
and is the finger of said rack N which is intended to meet the minute-snail
(not shown).
Neither the rack L, the rack N nor the detent N' are claimed as new matter
in the present application, the same being of a well-known construction. Their
form may vary and the sole part thereof which is claimed in connection with the
present invention is the projection of the rack L, the same being intended to be
acted upon by means of the stopping-lever K as described below.

page_text: There is further provided a locking device K formed of a lever having a spring
portion and being fixed to the plate D by means of a screw . The free end
of the locking-lever K engages the projection or nose of the hour-rack L, when
the sounding main-spring has caused the said rack L to return to its "rest
position" as shown in Figure 1, the said sounding main-spring being stronger
than the spring L', which tends to throw the hour-rack L into the position shown
in Figure 2. This throwing action of the spring L' upon the rack L, takes place
as soon as the projection fixed to the rack J engages the edge of the locking-
lever K as shown in Figure 2, the said edge being curved eccentrically with
regard to the fulcrum g of the rack J, the hour-rack L being at the same time
made independent of the main-spring axis by any of the well-known unlocking
devices used in sounding-watches.
The operation of the above described mechanism is as follows:-
The crown As being depressed by the finger it causes the bell-crank-lever E', E³
to be rocked from the position shown in Figure 1 to that of Figure 2. The said
bell-crank-lever E, E being connected to the radial lever G by the curved rod F,
the lever G is also rocked and carries with it the screwfixed to the rack J which
is rocked on its pivot g. The main-spring of the sounding or striking mechanism
is wound up by means of the usual gearing which does not form part of the present
invention. When the rack J arrives at the end of its stroke, the projection
of the same lifts the locking-lever K out of engagement with the nose of the
sounding-rack L, which is then thrown by the spring L' against the usual "snail",
limiting its stroke so as to sound the hours; quarters or minutes, in the well-
known manner.
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: -
1. In a repeating watch, the combination of the crown A³ having a 'sleeve A¹
engaged on a square portion of the stem A, with a rocking-lever B acting upon
a pin C pivotally connected to one arm of a bell-crank-lever E, E³, the rocking
movements of which are transmitted by means of an external curved rod to a
lever G pivoted to the pivot y of the usual rack J and bearing against a screw
or projection fixed to the said rack J, for the purpose of causing the said rack J
to be rocked with the said lever G when the pin C is depressed by the action of
the crown A³, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a repeating watch having a rack J to act upon the main-spring and a
sounding-rack L to act upon the sounding-hammers, the combination of a projec-
tion or nose on the sounding-rack L with a-locking-lover K for engaging said
projection or nose when the sounding or striking mechanism is at rest, the rack J
bearing a screw or projection intended to act upon the excentrically curved
edge of said locking-lever K for the purpose of unlocking the same wlien the
rack J is rocked, substantially as shown and described.
Dated the 2nd. day of September 1897.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.