IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF ALARMS TO WATCHES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of G, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF ALARMS TO WATCHES." A com-
munication from abroad by Frederick Dessert, Watchmaker, residing at
Besançon, in the Department of Doubs, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1877.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION of
ALARMS TO WATCHES." A communication from abroad by Frederick Dessert,
Watchmaker, residing at Besançon, in the Department of Doubs, in the Republic
of France.
The improvements herein referred to can be applied to all kinds of watches; tho
mechanism comprising them consist of a shaft traversing the frame of the works;
this shaft is adjusted the same as a barrel shaft and held like it by a cap or disk at
the side of the case; its end is square, and by which the hand of the alarm is set at
the hour it is intended to be heard, the dial for this purpose being made on the
watch face in the same manner as the seconds dials of watches.
A barrel wheel of the same dimensions and number of teeth as the barrel wheel of
the hour hands turns freely on its shaft and ascends and descends alternately in its
course by the impulsion it receives from the regular movement of the watch. This
barrel wheel is normally raised by the pressure of a spring; it is furnished with a
catch or stop, and is set in motion by a pinion of the minute work, consequently it
makes a turn in 12 hours, the same as the hour wheel. Above the barrel a rundle is
screwed, bearing a notch which is intended to allow the wheel to rise when solicited by
the spring, and the catch encounters this notch. In this ascending motion of the
barrel wheel the pin fixed to the spring giving the impulsion liberates the alarm wheel
work which it had previously retained and the alarm is heard. The hammer of the
alarm is placed in a circular chamber. The motion of the barrel wheel continuing
on its union with the general works, the catch leaves the notch, and the wheel forced

page_text: to descend, causes the spring to do likewise, the pin of which again locks the alarm
works at the moment the catch meets the notch of the rundle.
In order that the hands may be moved in any direction the rundle may be fixed
with a square, a pin keeping it in place; by this means the catch can clear the two
sides of the notch, which in this case is made in form of a slope, regularly and
symmetrically formed on its two sides; thus the rundle can move in the two
directions whenever desired, and the hands turned to any hour; in effecting this a
few changes are requisite in the mechanism; for instance, a small side rim is removed
and a horizontal circle replaces it, fixed on the alarm barrel, and a slight displacement
of certain pivots necessitates the use of a forked potance and two other potances in 1
lieu of one large one which interfered with the placing in situ of the alarm wheel-
work, and finally each of the caps of the barrels are rimmed by a barret, doing
away with three screws.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th September 1877.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF
ALARMS TO WATCHES." A communication from abroad by Frederick Dessert,
Watchmaker, a person resident at Besançon, in the Department of Doubs, in the
Republic of France.
The improvements herein referred to can be applied to all kinds of watches; the
mechanism comprising them consists of a shaft A, Figs. 6 and 7, traversing the frame
of the works; this shaft is adjusted the same as a barrel shaft and held like it by a
cap or disk 1, Fig. 2, at the side of the case; its end 2 is the square end by which the
hand of the alarm is set at the hour it is intended to be heard, the dial for this
purpose being made on the watch face in the same manner as the seconds dials of
watches, see Fig. 3.
A barrel wheel B, Figs. 1, 4, 6, and 7, of the same dimensions and number of teeth
as the barrel wheel of the hour hands, turns freely on its shaft, and ascends and
descends alternately in its course x, x1, Fig. 7, by the impulsion it receives from the
regular movement of the watch. This wheel B is normally raised by the pressure
of a spring E, Fig. 2bis; it is furnished with a catch or stop 5, Figs. 1, 4, 6, and 7,
and is set in motion by the pinion G, Fig. 6, of the minute work, it consequently
makes a turn in 12 hours, the same as the hour wheel. Above the wheel Ba
rundle D is screwed, bearing a notch 6, Fig. 5, which is intended to allow the
wheel B to rise when solicited by the spring E, and the catch 5 encounters this notch.
In this ascending motion of the wheel B the pin 7, Figs. 2bis, 6, and 7,-fixed to the
spring E, giving the impulsion, Fig. 7 liberates the alarm wheelwork which it had
previously retained, Fig. 6, and the alarm is heard. The hammer of the alarm is
placed in the circular chamber M. The motion of the wheel B continuing its
movement in union with the general works, the catch 5 leaves the notch G of the
rundle D, and the wheel B forced to descend causes the spring E to do likewise, the
pin of which, 7, again locks the alarm works at the moment the catch 5 meets the
notch of the rundle D.
This system has the advantages over others,―
1st. It is not requisite to open the glass to set the alarm hand at the hour desired,
which would expose the glass to breakage and scratching of the face, and perhaps
derrange the hour and minute hands.
2. The alarm hand instead of being in the centre is in a small independent
dial.
"3. This arrangement of the alarm hand allows of fixing the hour hand and
minute hand more solidly and less raised on the face.

page_text: 4. The alarm hand instead of being set by hand is turned like the other hand
with a key at the back of the watch, the square for the purpose being placed at the
side of the case in the same manner as the ordinary watchwork.
Modifications. In order to have a practical and convenient method of regulating
the hands in any direction, it has been observed that the rundle D, Fig. 8, fixed by
screws acted only in one direct manner. The notch made in it to receive the
catch 5, Fig. 4, was arranged for a sudden stoppage without capacity of returning
when the rotation was completed; this rundle should be fixed with a square, a pin
keeping it in place. By this novel disposition the catch 5, Fig. 9, can clear the two
sides of the notch, which in this case is made in form of a slope, regularly and
symetrically formed on its two sides; thus the rundle can move in the two directions
whenever desired. This retrograde motion is effected independently, since the
wheel B, Fig. 9, turns freely on its axis or shaft. It is as well to repeat that this
barrel wheel is of the same dimensions and number of teeth as the barrel wheel of watch
hands, and that both are removed by the same pinion G, Fig. 6. Set the hands at
any hour no matter which way you turn them, this is the object to be attained,
and is effectually secured. To effect this a few changes in the parts are necessary;
for instance, a small side rim is removed and a horizontal circle H replaces it,
Fig. 10, fixed on the alarm barrel; again the slight displacement of certain pivots
necessitated for gaining space requires a forked potance P, Fig. 10, and two other
potances P1, P1, Fig. 10, replacing a large potance which interfored with the
placing in situ of the alarm wheelwork, and finally each of the caps of the barrels
are rimmed by a barret Br, Fig. 10, doing away with 3 screws.
The appearance of the watch by the modifications, whose object as described is to
turn the hands of the dial in any direction, is pleasing to the eye; D, Fig. 5, is
the principal piece which is altered.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.