IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME-PIECES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City
of Westminster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME-PIECES."
A communication from abroad by William Edson Doolittle, of West Haven,
in the County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, United States of
America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th December 1881.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 7, Whitehall Place, in the City of Westminster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME PIECES." A communication from abroad by William
Edson Doolittle, of West Haven, in the County of New Haven and State of
Connecticut, United States of America.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clock embodying this Invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the train separated from the casing.
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the time train, the rear plate being removed.
Fig. 4 is a like view of the reducing train.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame of the movement prepared to receive
the train supporting plates.
Figs. 6 and 7 are like views of the rear and intermediate plates separated from
the frame, and
Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section of the movement, excepting the time
train.
Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the Figures.
The design of the Invention is the production of a time-piece, in which, from tho
small number of the operative parts, wheels and pinions having large teeth may be
employed, and the mechanism inay be contained within a case much smaller than
bas heretofore been practicable when such wheels and pinions were used, to
which end
It consists principally in a time piece, in which the main spring is placed
immediately in rear of the dial and the time train is journalled in rear of said

page_text: main-spring, whereby cach may occupy substantially the entire space Interally
between the pillars or within the enclosing frame and actuate the hands through
the axis of said main-spring, substantially as and for the
specified.
,purpose hereinafter
It consists farther in a time piece, in which the main spring and time train are
separately and in the order named placed between stationary plates directly in rear
of the dial, and occupy each substantially the entire space laterally between the
pillars or frame, and actuate the hands without the intervention of the usual
central or minute arbor, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.
It consists farther in a time piece, substantially as described, the combination
and relative arrangement shewn of the main spring, time train, dial, and hands,
with the intermediate mechanism, whereby said hands are actuated without use of
the ordinary central or minute arbor, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
after set forth.
It consists finally in the construction of the frame and its combination with the
operative parts of the movement, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter
shown and described.
In the annexed Drawings A represents the front plate of the frame of the time-
piece, which frame has any desired peripheral form, and at its centro is provided
with a hollow hub B, that is provided upon or within its periphery with a hook b
for engagement with the inner perforated end of a main spring. At suitable points
around the periphery of the plate A are provided pillars A', which pillars are
permanently attached to and form part of said plate, being blanked out of or cut
from the same sheet of metal and then bent to position.
At points near the longitudinal centres of the pillars A' are two plates C and D,
which are arranged parallel with the front plate A, and are secured in position
by means of two notches a cut in the oppoiste corners of each post and corresponding
in width to the thickness of one of said plates, and a notch c or d, which is
provided within the periphery of each of said plates at the point of its intersection
with each pillar, and corresponds in width and in radial dimensions to the width
and thickness respectively of metal between said notches a.
When said plates are pressed downward between said pillars, the latter are
moved radially apart until the plates reach position, when said pillars spring
inward, and the notched or recessed portions of said parts engage the solid portion
of one part, fitting into and closely filling the notches of the other part.
A third plate E corresponding in size and shape to the like features of the
plates A, C, and D, is placed between the rear ends of the pillars A', and is secured
in place by means of notches a and e, as heretofore described, or, in addition
thereto, is provided with a stud, which passes radially outward through a suitable
opening in each pillar, and is bent side wise or rivetted down as desired. To the
hook is secured the inner end of a main spring F, the outer end of which spring
is attached to or upon a study that projects forward from the face of a winding
wheel G, which is placed between said spring and the plate C. Said wheel is
journalled upon one end of a hollow hub H, the opposite end of which projects
through the said plate C, and has secured thereon a toothed wheel I. Between the
winding wheel G and the plate C the hub H is enlarged and its periphery provided
with teeth h so as to form a ratchet, which is engaged by means of a pawl K that
is pivotted upon the rear face of said wheel, and is held in engagement with said
teeth by means of a spring, the arrangement being such as to cause said pawl to
pass over said teeth without engagement, when said wheel is rotated in the
direction necessary in order to wind or coil the spring F, and to engage with
said teeth and cause said ratchet wheel to revolve with said winding wheel as said
spring uncoils all in the usual manner.
The wheel I meshes with and rotates a pinion L, which is secured to and revolves
with a toothed wheel M, and said second wheel in turn meshes with and revolves
a second pinion N that is secured upon an arbor O, which passes outward through
the ratchet hub H and the hub B, and at its outer end receives a minute band P.

page_text: An hour hand Q is secured upon one end of a sleeve q, which has its opposite end
contained within the outer end of said ratchet hub, as seen in Fig. 8. The wheels
and pinions I, L, M, and N, are graduated so as to give twelve revolutions of the
last for one revolution of the first, the number of teeth on each being preferably
thirty two teeth for the first wheel I, eight teeth for the first pinion L, twenty four
teeth for the second wheel M, but it will be apparent that any other arrangement
of numbers which preserve the same ratio will secure the same result.
This reducing train enables me to make use of a short strong spring, and to bring
the works within such compass as to enable them to be contained within a small
case, a result that would not be practicable otherwise, or by the use of other forms
of mechanism.
The rear end of the arbor O extends through the plate D, and has secured
thercon a toothed wheel R, which meshes with a pinion 8 that is secured upon the
first wheel S of the time train and causes the same to revolve. The first wheel S
imparts motion to the pinion t of the second wheel T, the latter through the
pinion to the third wheel U, and said third wheel through the pinion v to the
escape wheel V, said wheels being arranged between the plates D and E, and
having such size as to cause them to practically occupy laterally the whole of the
space between the pillars and overlap each other at the centre as shown, a result
that would not be possible if the usual centre shaft passed through the time train
and obstructed the central portion of the space.
A verge W provided with a pendulum rod wand bob X, and arranged to engage
with the teeth of the escape wheel V, completes the movement, which, when
provided with a dial and enclosed within a case, is ready for use.
The arrange-
ment of the time train at the rear of the clock enables me to dispense with the
usual centre arbor, whereby much larger and more coarsely constructed wheels can
be used for the time train than would otherwise be possible.
The employment of the reducing train renders practicable the use of the best
form of spring for the purpose, while the utilization of said reducing train for
moving the hands enables me to dispense with the usual dial wheels, the result of
the said improvements being the production of a strong, efficient, and durable clock
at a smaller cost and within a smaller compass than has heretofore been
practicable.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
it, as communicated to me as aforesaid, I would have it understood that what is
claimed as new is,-
First. A time piece in which the main spring is placed immediately in rear of
the dial, and the time train is journalled in rear of said main spring, whereby each
may occupy substantially the entire space laterally between the pillars, or within
the enclosing frame, and actuate the hands through the axis of said main spring,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. A time piece, in which the main spring and time train are separately
and in the order named placed between stationary plates directly in rear of the
dial, and occupy each substantially the entire space laterally between the pillars
or frame, and actuate the hands without the intervention of the usual central or
minute arbor, substantially as and for the purpose shewn.
Third. In a time piece substantially as described, the combination and relative
arrangement shown of the main spring, tine train, dial, and hands, with the
intermediate mechanism, whereby said hands are actuated without use of the
ordinary central or minute arbor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The frame, composed of the plate A, provided with the pillars A' and
the plates C, D, and E, having peripheral engagement with said pillars in combination
with the operative parts of the movement, substantially as and for the purpose
shown and described.
Fifth. In a time piece, the several plates dividing the movement into three
separate divisions, with a plate on each side thereof, one of which divisions bears
the main spring and winding wheel, the second a set of wheels, which perform the

page_text: double functions of dial wheels and reducing train, and the [third the time train,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Sixth. An improved time piece, consisting of the parts and their arrangement,
substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Lloyd Wise, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. LLOYD WISE. (L.S.)