Year: 1886

page_text: I, AUGUSTE WELTER, of 24 Rue du Temple, Fleurier, Switzerland, Watch Manu-
facturer, 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:-
The object of my invention is to construct a simple cheap centre seconds watch,
the seconds hand of which can be arrested at any moment and if desired led back
to the zero position without interfering with the working of the movement, so that
the watch will really form a chronograph or instrument for denoting directly (in
seconds and fractions of seconds) the duration of any event or observation, while
the time at which such ovent or observation begins and ends will be indicated in
the ordinary way by the hour and minute hands of the watch.
اء
The method of carrying my invention into effect is illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation with the bottom plate
removed, showing more particularly the mechanism for returning the seconds hand
to the zero position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing the dial of the watch;
Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the dial removed, and Fig. 4 a rear elevation, both
showing the mechanisin for stopping and restarting the movement of the seconds
hand; Figs. 5 and 6 are both transverse sections showing respectively the
mechanism for returning the seconds hand to the zero position, and for stopping
and restarting same.
A is the centre seconds hand which is attached to the centre arbor. B, the seconds
or centre wheel or pinion C being mounted thereon so.as to be capable of turning
therewith or independently thereof as hereinafter described. This centre or seconds
wheel is driven by any suitable arrangement of gearing from the going barrel, so
as to impart any desired number of impulses to the seconds hand during a complete
revolution, in order to indicate any desired fraction of a second, a circle being
provided on the dial (preferably outside the hour and minute divisions) for reading
the position of the seconds hand, and such circle being divided to correspond to the
number of impulses imparted to the seconds hand,
The hour and minute hands are actuated by any suitable arrangement of gearing
from the going barrel.
The centre or seconds wheel or pinion O is mounted loosely on the centre arbor..B,
but so that it can normally cause such centre arbor to revolve with it by friction.

page_text: In order to enable the centre arbor B to be arrested when desired and thus stop
the movement of the seconds hand the following arrangement is employed :—
Near the rear end of the centre arbor B a stop D is fixed, and bearing against
or secured to such stop is a spring E the other end of which acts upon a sleeve F
capable of sliding on the arbor B, so as to normally force it against the side of
the centre wheel or pinion C, whereby the movement imparted to the latter is
transmitted to the arbor and consequently to the seconds hand A which it carries.
In order to arrest the movement of the seconds hand A, the push piece G is pushed
down, and forces the spring arm H inwards, the lower end of such arm engaging
with the teeth of ratchet wheel I so as to advance same to the extent of one tooth
for each depression of the push piece G. On the underside of wheel I depressions I'
are formed, the number of which is half that of the number of teeth in the wheel I.
On the opposite side of plate J to that on which wheel I is mounted, a spring
arm K is rigidly fixed at its outer end, its inner free end being situated under
the sleeve F mounted on arbor B, while at an intermediate point a pin or stud. L
passes through plate J and rests in contact with the underside of ratchet wheel I,
in the line of the depressions I', into one of which it enters when in its normal
position. In this position the arbor B revolves with the centre or seconds wheel
or pinion C, but on depressing the push piece G, the advance of ratchet wheel I
to the extent of one tooth forces the pin Lout of the depression I¹ in which it
was situated, whereby the arm K to which pin L is attached is pushed away from
the plate J, and its free end bearing against the sleeve F carries the latter with it
and out of contact with the side of centre wheel or pinion C, so that while the
latter revolves as before, it does so without carrying the arbor B with it, and
the seconds hand A consequently remains stationary. In this position the end of
pin L of arm K rests between two of the depressions I formed in ratchet wheel I,
and to enable the seconds hand to start again, another push on push piece G will
by advancing wheel I allow pin L to enter another depression I, and the parts
will return to their normal position, spring E again forcing sleeve F against
wheel C and so actuating the seconds hand again.
The
When desired to lead the seconds hand back to the zero position, before taking
an observation, this can be effected by forcing the push piece M inwards.
push piece M acts upon the arm N₁ of a pivotted lever N, the other arm N³ of
such lever being arranged to bear against a cam P mounted on the centre arbor B,
when forced down by the pressure exerted on the push piece M. The cam P is
shaped and mounted so that when acted upon by arm N2 of lever N it will cause
the arbor B to revolve and carry the seconds hand A back to the zero position.
Arm N is fitted with a roller Ns to bear on cam P, and a spring O is provided to
act upon the lever N to return the parts to their normal positions when the pressure
is removed from push piece M.
The power of returning the seconds hand to a given position will be of great
advantage when it is desired to ascertain the duration of any observation or event,
and further it may be utilized to set the seconds hand in the same position as that
of a standard time piece when it is desired to test the watch, in which case a
gradual pressure must be exerted on push piece M until the seconds hand A is led
back to the desired position.
It will be seen that the mechanism for arresting the movement of the seconds
hand and returning it to a given position is independent of and in no way interferes
with the going train of the watch.
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. The method of actuating the seconds hand of centre seconds watches, con-
sisting in mounting such hand on a centre arbor, upon which the seconds or centre
wbeel is loosely mounted and driven by any suitable arrangement of gearing, its
movement being transmitted to the centre arbor by the frictional contact of a

page_text: sleeve or part secured to the latter and forced into contact with the side of the.
seconds wheel, all substantially as specified.
2. Arranging the seconds or centre wheel of centre seconds watches loosely on
the centre arbor carrying the seconds hand, and enabling such arbor to revolve
with such centre wheel or to remain stationary while the wheel revolves, by means
of a sliding sleeve or piece mounted on the centre arbor and normally forced into
frictional contact with the side of the centre wheel, but capable of being forced
away from such wheel by means of a push piece arranged in the case of the watch,
all substantially as specified.
3. The means for returning the seconds hand of centre seconds watches, such
hand being on the centre arbor (which is actuated so as to be capable of turning
independently of the centre or seconds wheel), back to any desired position
without interfering with the ordinary watch movement, such means consisting in
a pivotted lever actuated by a push piece and having an arm provided with a
roller which when the lever is forced inwards acts upon a cam mounted on the
centre arbor, all substantially as specified.
1 1
ALLISON BROS,
Agents for the Applicant.