CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME- KEEPERS
Year: 1853

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Boreham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st January 1853.
(Void by reason of notice to proceed not having been given within
the time prescribed by the Act.)
I, SAMUEL BOREHAM, of Henry Street, Pentonville, in the County
of Middlesex, Watch and Clock Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN TIME-
KEEPERS" to be as follows: -
This Invention consists in a new mode of constructing chrono-
ineters or watches, so that may beat distinct seconds or half seconds,
and to strike at the minute or 60th second, so that seconds and
minutes may be counted by the ear, while the eye is otherwise
engaged, as in looking through a telescope or quadrant in taking
astronomical observations.
The distinct seconds or half seconds is gained by a new and
original escapement peculiarly adapted for the purpose (called the
detached spring lever), which embraces the fine actions of the
present chronometer escapement and the strength and durability

page_text: of the lever escapement. The impulse is communicated to the
balance by the escapement wheel, the teeth of which act against a
pallet which is fixed upon the balance staff (and turns upon the
same centres as the balance); the wheel then locks upon a detent
which is fixed upon a lever, and turns upon the same centres as the
lever. When the balance is so impelled, and has performed the first
part of its vibration, it is then brought back by the force of the
balance spring. In so doing the unlocked pallet, which is also fixed
on the balance staff, passes a small spring called the discharging
spring, which is fixed on the lever at any angle which may be
desired, and being so placed it will not effect the unlocking of the
escapement. The balance having so performed the other part of
its vibration or its backward motion, it is again brought forward
by the force of the balance spring, and the unlocking pallet again
acts upon the point of the discharging spring, which point rests
against a pin in the lever upon which it is fixed, which prevents
any motion in the said spring while being acted upon in unlocking
the escapement wheel. It therefore is the same only as a point to
the lever, and consequently the lever is moved, and the detent
being upon the same centres as the lever, the detent is moved with
the lever, and the escape wheel unlocked. The escape wheel being
unlocked gives the impulse to the balance, but while so doing. the
said wheel acts upon an inclined plane, which is upon the lever at
the opposite end to that where the locking pallet is placed. The
wheel by so acting upon this plane conveys the locking detent in,
ready to receive and lock the tooth that has now become due. In
this action it is assisted by a small spring, which is fixed to the
arbor of the lever, and to the plate of the movement. The minute
stroke is gained by having a small hammer raised by a wheel with
sixty teeth, which wheel is placed upon the centre wheel of the
movement, and moves round once in an hour. The hammer is thus
raised by each tooth of this wheel acting upon it within the space
of a minute, and the hammer thus locked upon the end of a lever.
The other end of the lever is acted upon by a small pallet which is
placed on the fourth or seconds wheel; and when this pallet has

page_text: arrived at a given point which indicates the sixtieth second it has
moved this lever sufficiently to unlock the hammer, and the hammer
is immediately impelled against a bell spring by the force of a small
spring acting upon
it.