Improvements in Watches, Clocks, Chronometers, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watches, Clocks, Chronometers, and the like.
I, PAUL RAOUL DE FAUCHEUX D'HUMY of 136 Prince's Road, Liverpool in
the County of Lancaster, Civil and Naval Engineer, do her by declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in timepieces, and while it is more
especially applicable to watches, yet it can be applied to chronometers and clocks,
and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangenient, and
operation of the various parts of the instrument, as will be hereinafter more fully
set forth.
The object of my invention is to provide a means for protecting the movement of
watches, clocks, chronometers and the like from the deleterious effects of magnetic
or electric currents, and I attain this result, first by strongly magnetizing the
movement of the watch or instrument; that is to say, any part thereof that can be
magnetized; and second, by converting the balance-wheel into a magnet, with as
many poles, as desirable, and to place to these poles a magnet, which will present
its opposite poles to those of the balance-wheel, so as to have a constant action of
repulsion and attraction.
One way in which this invention may be carried into effect is as follows:-
The balance wheel is formed of four segments of steel or other suitable material,
provided with arms or spokes, which converge at the centre of the segments to
form a hub for the axle or staff. Around these segments which are separated, is
placed a continuous band or ring of brass, or other suitable material, which is
secured to the segments, by means of small compensating screws, which are for the
purpose of preventing or counter-acting the expansion and contraction of the
balance wheel. In this construction of the balance wheel, it is obvious that
the four segments will be as many magnets, and as the screws or pins, which secure
the unbroken band or ring, thereto, project somewhat from the periphery of said
band, they will prevent a separate hereinafter described magnet, which is secured
to the backing and cup or barrel plate, from being placed near enough to the
balance wheel to effectually influence the same, and for this reason I re-inforce the
four segments or magnets by means of a number of circular pieces of steel or other
suitable material, which pieces are fastened at one of their ends to the ring or band
aforementioned, at or near the end of each of the segments, and extend outside and
around the compensating screws to the other end of each of said magnets or segments.
This construction not only re-inforces said segments or magnets, but also permits
of the magnet which is secured to the watch being placed very close thereto. This
latter magnet is of substantially a horse shoe shape or is forked, and is pivotally
secured at the juncture of its two forks to the backing of the watch, one of which
forks being provided with an arm or extension, which extends through the watch
casing in order that the said forks may be adjusted in relation to the balance
wheel.
The interior or operating mechanism of the watch, is of the ordinary or
any preferred kind, and for this reason, I have not deemed it necessary to
describe it.
Another way of carrying out this invention consists in a modification in the
construction of the balance wheel of the watch, and in the manner of securing the

page_text: magnet to the plate of the watch; that is to say, the magnet instead of being placed
on the external surface of the barrel plate, is placed thereunder. The balance
wheel in this case is made in two segments, joined together by means of spokes or
arms, having in the centre of the circle formed by the segments, a hub for the staff
or spindle. The spokes or arms are united to the segments near their openings, and
on this account I have found that it is difficult to create a balance wheel so formed
into artificial magnets, but by securing a circular piece of steel or other suitable
material, at one of its ends, to the outer surface of one of the segments, so that the
said piece will lie in alignment with the segments, and overlap the opening or space
therebetween, that two magnets may be created.
In some cases I construct a watch, in which two balance wheels are used, the
same being mounted on the same staff or spindle and influenced by the magnet
secured to the watch in the same manner, as the other constructions herein-
described.
One of these balance wheels is constructed of two segments, which are of brass.
On each of these segments is placed and secured two other segments which are
united by means of spokes, and around said steel and brass segments is placed a
ring or band of steel or other suitable material, which is secured to the segments,
by means of compensating screws. This construction of the balance wheel is
particularly advantageous, for the reason that it prevents warping and counteracts
expansion and contraction and may be used on a watch of any construction.
The inner and smaller balance wheel is of the ordinary or any preferred
construction, and is only mentioned to disclose the fact that my invention may be
applied to any kind of a watch, without altering or moving any of its parts.
In another modification, the balance wheel employed is an ordinary one,
such as
is used in the Elgin movement, and has just above been described, with the addition
of the re-inforcing pieces. This portion of the wheel is formed of two segments,
united by arms, and is secured on the same staff with the lower part of said balance
wheel, which is of the same construction, as that last described, with the exception
that the ring or band of steel is omitted.
It will be evident that numerous other forms of construction may be adopted
without departing from the spirit of the invention, it must therefore be distinctly
understood that I do not bind myself to any one form, the main object of this
invention being to place multi-polar magnets inside the watch itself so arranged
and operating one on the other as to protect the watch, clock or the like from the
deleterious effects of magnetic or electric currents.
Dated this 20th day of June 1895
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Watches, Clocks, Chronometers, and the like.
I, PAUL RAOUL DE FAUCHEUX D'HUMY of 136, Prince's Road, Liverpool in
the County of Lancaster, Civil and Naval Engineer, 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 improvements in timepieces, and while it is more
especially applicable to watches, yet it can be applied to chronometers and clocks,
and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and
operation of the various parts of the instrument, as will be hereinafter more fully
set forth.
By the present invention a watch, clock, chronometer or the like is constructed
in such a way that the oscillatory action now usually attained by the action of the

page_text: "
hair spring on the vibrating balance is wholly or partially replaced by a magnetic
oscillatory action. It is well known that a pivoted magnet placed near a fixed
magnet or magnets, and then pushed aside and left to itself will execute a series
of oscillations, the magnetic forces there acting like a spring. In clocks, gravity
is usually the "force of restitution" which governs the oscillations. In small
portable clocks and in watches, the "force of restitution" governing the oscillations
is that of a coiled spring or hair spring. In the present invention the "force of
restitution is due to the mutual action of magnets. It may be due to magnets
alone, or it may be due to magnets along with a hair spring, or to magnets in
combination with gravity. So far as I am aware this idea of constructing
timepieces wherein the "force of restitution" is a magnetic force in whole or in
part is entirely novel. I have furthermore discovered that these combinations
make the time-keeping qualities of the time-piece in great measure or entirely
independent of external magnetic or electric influences, thus if for example the
main spring or the steel of the balance, or other steel part of a watch fitted with
my invention be brought within the influence of an outside magnet, the latter
will have little or no deleterious effect upon its operation and time-keeping
qualities.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a rear face view of a watch embodying my invention, the balance
wheel in this figure only being omitted to show the parts more clearly;
Figure 2 a side view thereof with a portion of the case broken away to show the
interior;
Figure 3 a portion of the same on an enlarged scale;
Figure 4 an enlarged face view of that portion of the watch depicted in
Figure 3;
Figure 5 a view of a four segment permanent magnet detached from the watch
shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 6 a view of the balance wheel detached from the said watch;
Figure 7 a rear face illustrating a slight modification in the construction of the
watch;
Figure 8 an enlarged side view of Figure 7;
Figure 9 a view of the balance wheel as employed in the construction shown in
Figure 7;
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of a balance wheel with my invention applied
thereto;
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 detail views of certain varieties of permanent magnets
with multiple poles exposing a large magnetic field;
Figures 15 and 16 the same, but having a regulator applied to them for accurately
adjusting the magnet in relation to the balance wheel;
Figures 17, 18 and 19 rear face views of watches showing still other modifications
in the construction ;
Figure 20, an enlarged view of the magnet and balance wheel detached from the
watch depicted in Figure 19.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the
drawings.
A represents the casing of the watch, B the cock forming a bearing for the pivot
of the balance wheel, C a multipolar magnet, D the hair spring, E the balance wheel
aud F the staff therefor. As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 6 the balance wheel is
formed of four segments e of steel or other suitable material, which are provided
with arms or spokes e united to the segments near their openings, and which
converge at the centre of the segments e to form a hub for the axle or staff F.
Around these segments, which are separated as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing,
are placed segments of brass or other suitable material, which are secured to the
seginents e by means of small compensating screws f¹ which are for the purpose of
preventing or counteracting the expansion and contraction of the balance wheel.

page_text: In this construction of the balance wheel, it is obvious that the four segments e will
be as many magnets, each with two poles, or by dividing it into a greater or lesser
number of segments, the balance wheel can be converted into a magnet or magnets
with as many poles as desirable. In close proximity to the balance wheel E,
I introduce a stationary magnet C with any desired number of poles which will
present its opposite poles to those of the balance wheel so as to have a constant
action of repulsion and attraction. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, this magnet is
made in four segments e to correspond with the number of segments of the balance
wheel. They are joined together by means of spokes or arms c¹ having in the
centre of the circle formed by the segments a hub c² for the staff F. The interior
operating mechanism of the watch is of the ordinary or of any preferred kind, and
for this reason I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate or describe it. From
the foregoing it will be understood that the oscillatory action hitherto usually
attained by the action of the hair-spring on the vibratory balance, is partially
replaced by a magnetic oscillatory action. The forces of restitution are due to the
mutual action of the magnets, under the influence of which the said balance wheel
oscillates when driven by the usual driving train. They may be due to the balance
alone, or, as depicted in the present Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, to magnets along with
the hair-spring D, or in clocks or the like, to magnets along with gravity. Thus
it will be seen that the force of restitution is a magnetic force in whole or in part.
These combinations, I have found, have the peculiar property of making the time-
piece practically independent of external magnetic influences.
The remaining figures in the drawings show my invention applied to a watch in
slightly modified forms, the principle of converting the balance wheel into a magnet
with as many poles as desirable and introducing in combination therewith a magnet
with a similar number of poles, which will present its opposite poles to those of the
balance wheel being however precisely the same. Thus in Figures 7 and 8 of the
drawing I have shown a watch in which the permanent magnet is of a somewhat
different shape to that depicted in the preceding figures. It is placed upon the
external surface of the cock B, instead of being placed thereunder, and has the end
of the hair-spring connected to it at D'. G is a regulating pointer for regulating
the time-keeping of the watch by magnetic adjustments. Thus by moving the
pointer G by hand to the right or to the left, the poles of the magnet can be
adjusted in relation to the poles of the balance wheel. The balance wheel is
mounted on the same staff as the magnet and is influenced by the magnet in the
same manner as the other constructions herein shown. The balance wheel depicted
in Figures 7 and 8 is again illustrated in detail in Figure 9 detached from the
watch. This wheel is constructed as before of four segments which are of brass.
On each of the segments e is placed and secured the segments f of steel or other
suitable material which are secured to the segments by means of compensating
screws f¹. This construction of the balance wheel is particularly advantageous
for the reason that it prevents warping and counteracts expansion and contraction,
and may be used on a watch of any construction. In Figure 10 the construction is
somewhat similar, the main difference being that the screws f, which are of steel,
are brought to sharp points and form the poles N. S.
Figures 11 to 14 inclusive illustrate by way of example, some of the various
forms which the magnet may take, and Figures 15 and 16 depict the magnets with
a regulator applied thereto, whereby by turning it to the right or the left, the poles
of the magnet may be adjusted in relation to those of the balance wheel and the
time keeping qualities of the watch thus regulated by adjusting the proximity of
the fixed and moving magnets.
In Figure 18 I have shown a modification in the construction of the invention
and in the manner of securing the magnet C, that is to say, the magnet C instead
of being mounted on the external or internal surface of the cock B, is of substantially
horse-shoe shape or is forked and is pivotally secured to the backing B' at the
juncture of its two forks, one of which forks is provided with an arm or extension C¹
which extends through the watch casing A, as is clearly shown in this figure,

page_text: in order that the said forks may be adjusted in relation to the balance wheel..
E is the balance wheel which is made in any ordinary manner, but with this
difference, that on the staff F is fitted the steel segments H joined together by
means of the spokes or arms having in the centre a hub ' for the staff F. These
two segments, which oscillate with the balance wheel, by reason of their being
secured to the staff F, are in reality magnets each with two poles N. S.; N. S.
I are brass segments secured to the steel segments H by screws. The poles of the
stationary permanent magnet C are located in close proximity to the segments H,
and as the balance wheel oscillates with said segments, the magnet will present its
opposite poles to those of the balance wheel so as to have a constant action of
repulsion and attraction.
In Figure 17, a somewhat similar construction is shown, but in this case steel
segments H are applied direct to the balance wheel so as to make said balance in
reality into two magnets, each with two poles N. S.; N. S,; the poles of the
stationary permanent magnet C being located in close proximity to the segments H.
In Figures 19 and 20 the same principle is shown, E being the balance wheel
which is made in the ordinary manner, F the staff, H steel segments, joined together
by meaus of the spokes or arms h having in the centre a hub h' for the staff F..
These two, being fixed on the staff with the balance wheel, revolve therewith and
are in reality magnets with poles N. S.; N. S. The poles of the stationary permanent
magnet C are located in close proximity to the segments H and as the balance
wheel oscillates with the segments, the magnet will present its opposite poles to
those of the balance wheel as previously described.
It will be evident that numerous other forms of construction may be adopted
without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it must therefore be distinctly
understood that I do not bind myself to any one form, the main object of this
invention being to combine with the balance wheel or governor of a watch,.
chronometer or other like time-keeping instrument, magnet or magnets producing
forces of restitution, under the influence of which the said balance wheel or governor
oscillates when driven by the usual driving train, and protecting the moving parts.
from being affected by external magnetic influences.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a watch, chronometer, or like time-keeping instrument, the combination of
a balance wheel or governor having moment of inertia, with magnets producing
forces of restitution, under the influence of which the said balance wheel or governor
oscillates when driven by the usual driving train.
2. In a watch, chronometer, or like time-keeping instrument, the use in com-
bination therewith of magnets producing forces of restitution, along with a spring
which also tends to produce forces of restitution substantially as described.
3. In clocks, or like time-keeping instruments, the use of permanent magnets
jointly producing along with gravity, forces of restitution, substantially as
described.
4. In a watch, chronometer, or like time-keeping instrument, the use of regulating
mechanism for regulating the time keeping qualities of the timepiece by magnetic
adjustments substantially as described.
5. In a watch, or like timepiece, the combination of a balance wheel composed
of a magnet having poles and a magnet located in proximity to said wheel,.
substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In a watch, or like timepiece, the combination of a multipolar balance wheel
having four or any suitable number of segments united by radial arms or spokes,.
and a multipolar magnet so arranged as to present its opposite poles to those of the
balance wheel, and means for adjusting the poles of the magnet in relation to the
poles of the balance wheel substantially as described.
7. In a watch, or like timepiece, the combination of a multipolar balance wheel,.

page_text: and a bifurcated magnet pivotally secured to the watch in proximity to said wheel
substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. In a watch, the combination of a balance wheel, a segmental band or ring
encircling said balance wheel and oscillating therewith, and a bifurcated magnet
pivotally secured to the watch in close proximity to said segmental ring, substantially
as described.
9. In a watch, chronometer, or like time-keeping instrument, the use of fixed
magnets for the purpose of acting to produce forces of restitution, and at the same
time protecting the moving parts from being affected by external magnetic
influences.
10. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts substantially
as described and shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, Figures 7, 8 and 9, Figure 10,
Figures 11 to 16 inclusive, and Figures 17 to 20 inclusive for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 14th day of April 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.