Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 9th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th July, 1887.
I, JOHN ESHELBY, 5 Eden Quay, Dublin, Chronometer Watchmaker, Optician and
Yacht Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To simplify and reduce the cost of present elaborate repeating motion work, I mount
a disc on the centre arbour, below the cannon-pinion, having a small notch in its
perifery coincident to the minute hand; and fixed to plate underneath a little smaller
in diameter a saw toothed wheel.
Outside and concentric with these, and kept in position by a circular groove in plate
or studs, I place a ring or band having 60 saw shaped teeth on its perifery and a
travelling pawl on inner edge with a spring sufficient to keep its point against the
disc.
The normal position of pawl would be at 0 minutes, and the band would be banked
by a pin or projection preventing more than one full revolution.
On the band being turned round in the same direction as the hands, it would travel
freely, until the pawl dropped into the notch, and came in contact with the teeth of
the ratchet underneath, which while preventing its further progress, would also save
the disc from being moved; the band on being turned backwards would travel freely
until it assumed its first position; and by placing a hammer lifter so that each saw
tooth in the band would be engaged by it, the number of minutes indicated by the
hand would be struck.
To save repitition of such a large number as may occur, I place a shunt piece, that
would be put into action and lift the hammer piece out of gear, by contact of either
quarters of the band with a trigger on its return only (which would be disengaged
again on its return to 0,) pins in each quarter would then lift the usual ding dong for
each quarter, as it passed.
An independant similar arrangement would be made for the hours from a hour wheel
conveniently placed.

page_text: When the minute hammer would be ungeared a break arrangement may be applied
to prevent the band slapping back with force, or a friction pinion &c. run continuously.
I would actuate the movement of the band, by a slide push or chain on the outside
of the case, and an intermediate wheel and rack if necessary, and back springs
sufficient to cause one full revolution of the band; or for indicating the time to the
touch, I would connect the minute hand with one bezzle, (without any hammer
arrangement) having a pip at the top by the stem, and raised marks round the edge
of the case, indicating hours & minutes, and the hour hand connected with the other
bezzle; the wearer would then turn each bezzle by the pip, and when it stopped,
judge the time by coincindence with the marks on the edge, and either return the pip
to top of the dial or allow it to fly back.
The raneating arrangement would annly either to watches or clocks.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating Mechanism, Partly Applicable to
Mechanism for Indicating the Time to the Touch in Watches
or Clocks.
I JOHN ESHELBY, 5 Eden Quay Dublin, Chronometer Watchmaker, Optician and
Yacht Agent, 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 :-
To simplify and greatly reduce the cost of the present elaborate, and delicate repeating
mechanism in watches or other timepieces and to produce at the same time a cheap
and effective mechanism whereby, the time may be ascertained by the sense of the
touch, with precision hitherto unattainable, and without any risk of damage to the
watch by its operation.
I would class the following invention under three heads viz.:-1st. a mechanism for
indicating the time to the touch without any striking as shown in Fig. 1 2 & 3—
secondly a mechanism for repeating the last minute, qr. & bour, by striking on gongs
but entirely by pressure of the fingers on the bezills without permanent springs as
shown in figs. 3 & 4.
And thirdly the repeating mechanism as arranged for and actuated by small main-
springs, and train of wheels previously wound and brought into position by movement
of slides, or in case of clocks by a push or cord pulled, or other mechanical motor--
(as shown in Fig. 5).
I shortly sum up the difference between my principle, and the hitherto accepted
form of repeating mechanism, that mine searches round the centre of the dial work
by a circular movement until the position of the hands is ascertained, and in such
progress or returning to the normal position the numbers indicating the time shown
by the hands is struck off and being composed of very few and comparatively large
parts, nearly all being train wheels, needs no particularly skilled handling, and is not
easily injured. The old form lets fall a rack on to steps or snails regulating the count
by the depth the rack recedes; it is when well made about the masterpiece of
mechanical art and has worked very well, but especially in a minute repeater becomes
bewilderingly elaborate and a masterpiece of complication, with its surprises, detents,
racks, pallets, &c. &c., and is alike expensive to clean, as liable to almost irreparable
disaster if not handled skillfully.
The main feature of my invention is shown in Fig. I, representing under the dial
of a watch or the centre of a clock upper plate. A is a ratchet wheel of fine teeth,
screwed firmly to the centre of the plate concentric to the centre wheel, having a pipe
in its centre, through which passes the centre arbour, and outside this pipe fits the
socket of wheel C so that it will travel freely, the disc B is then fitted on the centre
arbour tightly and comes down close to the socket of C only allowing freedom, the
erection is shown in section Fig. I (2) in the plan, the position of the underneath
ratchet is indicated by a faint outline, though of course could not be seen through the

page_text: others ; on the perifery of the disc B is a small notch and through the edge of
wheel C is a short arbour with a pawl P P rivitted on each side both fixed together
but moving freely on the wheel and so adjusted that when a slight spring keeps the
point of the upper pawl against the perifery of the disc B the under pawl clears the
ratchet but would travel just around the edge of the teeth until the upper pawl P
came into the notch N then the under one would immediately engage the teeth of the
ratchet, preventing any further motion forward of the wheel C. This notch N is
adjusted coincident to the minute hand. Motion is communicated from the bezil of
the watch, by a pin S Fig. 3, into a circular band D D D Fig. I, the inner edge of
which is divided into teeth say 240 which gears into wheel E of 60 teeth & pinion 20
into wheel F 20 which gears into wheel C of 60, or any number of teeth which would
communicate the same rate of motion in D as C. It is obvious the same motion
could be communicated by direct attachment of D & C but the disadvantages curtailed
in fixing motion work & dial would outweigh it completely. This arrangement would
securely stop the bizel at the position indicated by the minute hand supposing the top
or normal position at 0 m. were represented by a pip or dot on bizel P fig. 3
Figs. 1 & 2 and the relative position of this pip with the outside formation of the case
preferably a poligon, of 12 angles those of 3 & 6 & 9 hrs. being cut circular with
acute angles as Fig. 3 or simple poligon or with other distinguishing marks on the
outer edge as circumstances required and taste dictated.
P
To find the position of the hour hand I lead off from the minute wheel nut to a
convenient place, an auxiliary hour wheel H Fig. 2 on the axis of which I mount the
disc b, and swing wheel arrangement sinking it below the level of the centre swing
wheel & ratchet which might be raised on a slight platform to accomodate it or vice-
versa, or both swing wheels made of a size to clear each other as in Fig. 4. I rotate
the second (or hour) indicator swing wheel in the same manner as the first by a
toothed band M fig. 2, which would gear into it by the wheels & pinion K K fig. 2
these wheels being arranged with the right proportion of teeth to give the swing wheel
exactly a reciprocal motion to the toothed band which would fit as a flat ring under-
neath the bezil and project slightly beyond the outer rim of the case as shown R fig. 3
with a pip at O normal position and would be fitted on the case before placing the
bezil, and to keep it down independently a rim shown in section T fig. 3 would be
screwed on; a portion would be cut out of the case to allow the wheel K to gear
properly into the toothed band. Its action would be identical to the first described, a
recapitulation of which would be unnecessary. And in action the 2 raised pips on
hour rim and bezil would be normally together at the pendant of the case and on the
finger being placed on both and turned in the same direction as the hands whichever
first stopped would be relatively judged by the edge of the case (hour or minute) and
the other moved around alone until it stopped when the alternative would be shown,
consequently (both hour and ininute,) and the rims returned to normal position.
Fig. 4 represents the same arrangement, but with the addition of striking to the
indication of time to the touch; on the hour side a 12 toothed cam wheel C. Fig. 4 is
added to the swing wheel and hammer pallet HP fig. 4 which engages the cam wheel
as it is pressed forward striking a blow each hour it passes or it can be arranged vice-
versa by reversing the cam wheel when it would strike on its return instead. The
minute rim is provided with 3 quarter pieces or pins Q Q Q fig. 4, which engage with
hammer lever (or levers if 2 bells) at S P fig. 4, for each completed quarter, ringing
off bell or ding dong, and on the return of rim after the stop acts the number of
minutes after the completed quarter or quarters would be struck off from 1 to 14 by
a minute cam wheel V fig. 4. On the minute swing wheel, divided into 15 equal spurs
but having the one at rest in its normal position cut off leaving 14 effective for striking
the minutes. A slide is (XXX Fig. 4) fitted into a groove in the plate and furnished
with a spring click (a) pump piece for minute pallet (b) and pin for shunt (c) Fig. 4.
A slot-working over a pin prevents it getting out of action. On the return of the
minute rim, all or either of the qr. pins QQQ that had passed S. P. & struck off qr.
or qrs. in forward action, would now engage the opposite side of hammer pallet SP
fig. 4 now acting as a shunt lever would cause the slide to be moved forward, sufficient

page_text: b
for the pump 6 fig. 4 to lift up out of action the minute hammer pallet when it would
be at the missing tooth of the cam wheel, keeping it so until the rim would be restored
to its normal position, when a check projecting from it would engage the click a and
carry the slide back to rest umpumping the minute pallet. I have not described the
action of the hammers and their springs and gongs, as I should adopt those now in
use and preferably fixed between the plates; in the drawings I have placed a dot
representing the lever stud from the hammer piece, as indicating the direction of the
blow.
The speed of the blows would entirely depend on the rate of the rims moved.
Fig. 5. represents the same system but, actuated by slides on the edge of the case,
which on being drawn forward, wind up the mainsprings in boxes S & SH Fig. 5
respectively and at the same time moved round the respective swing wheels, until
checked by the stop and on being released would be pulled back again by the main-
spring striking the respective numbers indicated, by the hands of the slide pulled.
In this case on the minute side for the convenience of position, especially of the
hammers, I separate the swing wheel and the toothed wheel for striking the hammers,
operating both by a general wheel G Fig. 5 which also acts to gear both into the
spring barrel. For striking the minutes I divide the striking wheel into 60 teeth
cutting off one at each quarter, commencing from the normal position at rest or 0 m.
and this wheel only makes one complete revolution to one full turn of the minute
hand a similar arrangement for pumping the minute pallet, is used as in fig. 4, and
marked X Fig. 5 the pumping taking place on the qrs. when no tooth would be
engaged. There is a short friction train to steady the striking which on the first
wheel beyond is made with clicks so in drawing the slide forward this train does not
run, the pallet of friction wheel is also shut off from the wheel by the side engaging
a detent over X fig. 5 when the minute pallet is pumped this allows the qrs. to come
on quicker or the qrs. may strike as in fig. 4, on the slide being drawn forward,
leaving the minutes for its return, in which case no pump for the train is needed. The
qrs. are in any case struck off three pins marked on cam wheel A fig. 5 and whether
forwards or backward would depend on placing the haminer pallets springs. The hour
side is as before only actuated by spring and train a detent may be put to prevent the
hour train striking until the minutes and qrs. were completed if required. I have not
given the numbers of the teeth of the wheels A & C. Fig. 5 should be equal the
gearing and barrel sufficient to give at least one full turn to C for full draw of the
slide. And also the hour slide should be capable of at least giving full revolution to
the swing wheel by its full draw Fig. 6 gives enlarged plans of (a) the ratchet to be
secured to the plate the guard dise (b) the swing wheel (c) the minute cam wheel (d)
showing a section of 14 teeth.
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. In a watch or timepiece for indicating time to the touch, the arrangement of
moveable rims, and reciprocating swing wheels, with the stopping arrangement at
indicated time, substantially as described.
2. The above arrangement in combination with the repeating of hours, quarters, and
minutes substantially as described.
3. The same repeating action as arranged for slides, pushes or otherwise, without
moveable rings substantially as described.
4. The circular slide for pumping out the minute hammer, substantially as
described.
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