IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM FOR WINDING UP ORDINARY AND KEYLESS WATCHES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM
FOR WINDING UP ORDINARY AND KEYLESS WATCHES." A communication
from Wilhelm Gülzow, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th December
1879.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE
ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM FOR WINDING UP ORDINARY AND KEYLESS
WATCHES." A communication to me from Wilhelm Gulzow, of Hamburg, in the
German Empire
This Invention relates to apparatus and arrangement of mechanism for winding
up watches of all systems, and has for its purpose to prevent overwinding or
breakage of the watch spring.
When applied to the keys of ordinary watches, the key is made of two parts,
the body and the handle, which parts are connected to each other by means of a
screw and a spring of adjustable tension. The tension of this intermediate key
spring is sufficient to overcome the pressure required for the winding up of the
watch, whilst after the watch-spring is completely wound up, a further turning of
the handle of the key is not able to break the spring as the handle of the key then
begins to turn on the body of the key as the tension of the intermediate key spring
is too small to overcome the necessarily greater pressure of breaking the spring.
When applied to the winding up mechanism of keyless watches, the Invention is
modified in the following manner :-The above mentioned intermediate spring is
placed between the outer, winding up button of the watch, and the axle or rod
transmitting the winding up motion to the works, the tension of which inter-
mediate spring being adjustable by means of an adjusting screw. As long as
required for winding up the watch, the tension of the intermediate spring is
sufficient to overcome the pressure, but after the watch-spring is completely wound
up, the further turning of the button is not transmitted to the mechanism of the
works, as the tension of the intermediate spring between the button and axle or
rod is too small, and only allows of a loose turning of the button on the axle, in
consequence of which a breakage of the watch spring is impossible.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th June 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS AND IN THE
ARRANGEMENT OF
MECILANISM FOR WINDING UP ORDINARY AND KEYLESS
WATCHES"
A communication from Wilhelm Gülzow, of Hamburg, in the German
Empire.
This Invention relates to apparatus and arrangement of mechanism for winding
up watches of all systems, and has for its purpose to prevent overwinding or
breakage of the watch-spring.
When applied to the keys of ordinary watches, the key is made of two parts, the
body and the handle, which parts are connected to each other by means of a screw
and a spring of adjustable tension. The tension of this intermediate key-spring is
sufficient to overcome the pressure required for the winding up of the watch,
whilst after the watch-spring is completely wound up, a further turning of the
handle of the key is not able to break the spring, as the handle of the key then
begins to turn on the body of the key, as the tension of the intermediate key-
spring is too small to overcome the necessarily greater pressure which would be
adequate for breaking the spring.
When applied to the winding up mechanism of keyless watches, the Invention is
modified in the following manner :-The above mentioned intermediate spring is
placed between the outer winding up button of the watch, and the axle or rod
transmitting the winding up motion to the works, the tension of which inter-
mediate spring being adjustable by means of an adjusting screw. As long as
required for winding up the watch, the tension of the intermediate spring is
sufficient to overcome the pressure, but after the watch-spring is completely wound
up, the further turning of the button is not transmitted to the mechanism of the
works, as the tension of the intermediate spring between the button and axle or
rod is too weak, and only allows of a comparatively loose turning of the button
on the axle, in consequence of which a breakage of the watch-spring is impossible.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, wherein
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are respectively front view, transverse section, and side view of an
improved key as constructed for ordinary watches, whilst Fig. 4 represents the
modification as applied to keyless watches.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, B is the body of the key, A the handle of the key,
which said parts are connected to each other by screw C acting against the
intermediate flat steel spring r. D is a set scrow to set screw C within body B
after the pressure or tension upon the spring r between body and handle has been
regulated by screw C, according to the required action of the key for winding up
the watch.
In Fig. 4, A¹ represents the outer winding up button of a keyless watch; B¹ is
the axle or rod transmitting the winding up motion to the mechanism of the watch,
which axle is with its upper end fastened to a metal cylinder placed within the
casing E, as shown in the Drawing. C₁ is the regulating screw connecting A¹ and
B', whilst is the intermediate flat spring, the tension of which must thus be
regulated by screws C¹, so as to transmit the motion of button A¹ to rod B', as far
as necessary for the winding up of the work. It will however be seen that button
A¹ begins to slide on as soon as the resisting action of rod B¹ begins to rise,
which is the case after the watch has been wound up.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim,―
Firstly. The construction of keys for ordinary watches consisting of a handle

page_text: and body combined by an adjustable screw, and an intermediate tension spring, for
the purpose and in the manner substantially as described and as explained in
reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawings, and
Secondly. The modification showing the application of this Invention to keyless
watches by interposition of the tension spring between outer winding up button
and the mechanism for transmitting the winding up motion to the work, substan-
tially in the manner as described in reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the
annexed Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, J, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
F. H. F. ENGEL. (L.S.)