IMPROVEMENTS. IN WATCHES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Potter Reed at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st June 1868..
I, GEORGE POTTER REED, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN WATCHES," to be as
follows:
This Invention relates to improvements in. the construction of watches
and embraces several distinct features; one of which consists in fixing the
barrel immovably to the pillar plate by means of a flange formed.
thereon and by screws inserted. in the pillar plate, whose heads overlap.
the said flange, the open end of the barrel extending through the pillar.
plate, and being covered by the main gear wheel. As by this peculiar.
mode of application of the barrel to the pillar plate the barrel is.
stationary and confined within, and is supported by the plate of the
watch, and the main or gear wheel is separated from and revolves over
or independently of such barrel there is no danger in case of breakage
of the mainspring, of injury to the main wheel teeth, or to the pinions
or teeth of any part of the train of the watch by the violent recoil of
such spring, as the force of such recoil is spent upon or arrested by the
barrel, and not by the tecth of the main gear, as is the case with.
ordinary watches. Furthermore, by arranging the barrel: within the

page_text: pillar plate, as described, it is so supported by the plate as to keep it
from spreading or bursting open by a recoil of the mainspring.
Another advantage in the application and use of the fixed as compared
with the revolving barrel is that the diameter of the spring box is
enlarged to a considerable extent, which is a very important advantage,
as it allows of the employment of a longer mainspring, so that one
more turn in winding the watch is obtained. When the force of winding
is brought up by the stop works the surplus force is exerted on the
bridge or plate and does not disturb the motions of the balance of the
watch.
Another part of my Invention consists in providing the free end of
the circular or retaining power spring disposed within the recess of the
main gear wheel with a small pin or stud, which when the wheel is in
place extends into a corresponding hole made in the retaining or main-
taining power ratchet, and thus connects such ratchet with the said
spring, such application of the retaining power to the fixed barrel
around which the mainspring is coiled serving the purpose of keeping
the watch in motion while being wound up.
- Another part of the said Invention consists in forming sectional
orifice in the pillar plate and over the maintaining power ratchet and its
pawl, such orifice enabling these parts to be reached for the purpose of
raising the pawl or click to let down the mainspring previous to
removing the top plate for the purpose of winding the watch, which
but for the said orifice would be a matter of considerable time and
trouble. The barrel is formed with a projecting flange for the purpose
of enabling it to be fastened to the pillar plate, into and through which
it extends, such pillar plate being formed with a circular aperture for
the reception of the barrel. The cap plate is made in one solid picce
with the barrel, and both are secured in place by two or more screws,
whose heads overlap the projecting flange, and these screws being
screwed into the pillar plate confine the barrel thereto. The winding
arbor steps or is pivoted into the cap plate, the upper or opposite journal
or bearing being stepped in and turning in the top plate or bridge. The
stop wheels are disposed in sunken recesses made in the top plate, the
main wheel is arranged in such a manner as to form a cap or cover to
the barrel. A retaining power device is applied to the winding arbor and
main gear for the purpose of keeping the watch in motion while being
wound up; the winding arbor and main wheel being combined in the

page_text: same manner as the main wheel and common fusee, excepting with
regard to a part of the winding arbor which is within the barrel, and
around which the mainspring is coiled. This part is stepped on the
other portion of the arbor like a collar, such part serving both as a
shoulder for the support of the main wheel and as a support to the
winding arbor. The thickness of this part should be such as to bring
the main wheel just out of contact with the rim of the barrel, in order
that such main wheel may revolve freely and serve as a cap or cover to
the said barrel. The lower or inner barrel head is formed with a recess
or space for the reception of the dial wheel, or that wheel which operates
the hour hand of the watch. This recess allows the watch to be made
thinner than would otherwise be the case. The retaining or maintaining
power spring may be arranged in an annular recess formed in the main
wheel. The free end of the spring may be provided with a small pin or
stud, which when the wheel is in place extends into a corresponding hole
made in the retaining or maintaining power ratchet, thus connecting
such ratchet with the spring. In a watch provided with a fixed barrel
the barrel arbor being turned in one direction while the watch is running
it becomes necessary in some way to apply the retaining or maintaining
power directly to the barrel, for unless this is effected the motion of the
watch will be liable to cease in the act of winding. In order to obviato
this difficulty I have made use of the retaining power which is employed
in the common fusce watch, and this I have applied directly to the fixed
barrel. The retaining power spring receives its force from the mainspring
of the watch. In the fusee it receives such power by means of a chain
which runs from the outside of a moving barrel containing the main-
spring to the outside of the fusee wheel. In my application of the
retaining power to the fixed barrel the retaining power spring receives
its force directly from the barrel arbor around which the mainspring is
coiled. To allow ready access to be had to the ratchet and its pawl I
form in the plate and over such ratchet an orifice which allows the parts
to be reached for the purpose of raising the click or pawl to let down
the mainspring previous to removing the top plate for the purpose of
taking the watch to pieces.