Year: 1885

page_text: I HEINRICH FRIEDRICH HAMBRUCH of Hamburg Germany, Teacher do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in watches and clocks driven by springs;
and the object of my improvements is to obtain a more constant driving power by
employing a special sort of springs.
I attain the object by driving the clock or watch work by a cylindrical or
conical spiral spring. Such spring may be either compressed or excessively twisted
by winding up in order to store up the power for driving.
When suitable resistance is inserted in the wheel work, the spring in both cases
either compressed or twisted will drive the work with a very regular and uniform
force, until it has expanded or unwound itself, as its tendency for expanding or for
removing the excessive twist will cause the motion of the wheel work.

page_text: I HEINRICH FRIEDRICH HAMBRUCH of Hamburg, Germany, Teacher do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND CLOCKS"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the mainsprings of watches and clocks;
and the object of my improvements is to obtain a more constant and increased
driving-power. I attain this object by employing a helical spring, which I locate
circumferentially within the case and around the works, which are encompassed by
it. I am thus able to use a very long helical spring, which will store up a con-
siderable amount of power. To wind up such a spring in order to store up the
power for driving the train, it may be either compressed longitudinally or
excessively twisted. When a suitable escapement is inserted in the wheel-work,
the spring in both cases, either of the compressed or twisted form, will drive the
works with a very regular and uniform force until it has expanded or unwound
itself.
In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I will describe it with
reference to the accompanying drawings, which shew the invention applied to
watches, and in which Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the application of a twisted
helical spring, and Figs. 3 and 4 the application of a compressed spiral spring.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several viewa
In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the helical spring a² is attached at
one end to the stem f¹ and at the other end to the beveled wheel e¹. At the lower
part of the stem there is a ratchet g¹, which is arrested by the click h¹. d' is a second
beveled wheel, with which the wheel el-engages, and which transmits the force of
the spring a¹, twisted by winding up the wheel-work. The spring can be coiled
within the clock or watch case in any way that least interferes with the watch
mechanism, and I preferably arrange the spring so that it encompasses the works;
passing clear around the watch. In this way a very long helical spring can be
used. In the present case the spring is held in its proper place by means of the
guide-pins p, the spring, commencing with the stem end, passing under the first
guide-pin, so as not to give it too great bend, and then outside of the other pins
close against the case.
In the form shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 the spring is also wound up by turning the
stem.f. To effect this a pinion e fixed to the inner end of the stem f, engages with
a gearwheel d which has a projection or finger c. The helical spring a is placed
inside an annular channel 6 through a slit of which passes the finger c, thus
abutting against one end of the spring a, the other end bearing against the bottom
plate of the annular channel. As the wheel d is connected with the main shaft
of the wheel-work by a suitable ratchet device, the wheel-work will be moved by
the compressed spring α.

page_text: 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 time-piece, a mainspring consisting of a spiral or helical spring coiled
circumferentially within the case, substantially as set forth.
2.) In a time-piece, the combination, with a spiral or helical mainspring coiled
circumferentially within the case, of mechanism for twisting or compressing the
same, substantially as set forth.
3.) In a time-piece, the combination, with a spiral or helical mainspring coiled
circumferentially within the case and operatively connected with the time-
indicating mechanism, of a revoluble stem, projecting from the said case and
connected with the said spring, for storing up the power, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
4.) In a time-piece, the combination, with a spiral or helical mainspring coiled
circumferentially within the case and operatively connected with the time-indicating
mechanism, of a winding-stem attached to one end of the said spring, and having a
ratchet or similar retaining device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5.) In a time-piece, the combination, with a spiral or helical mainspring, of the
guide-pins p, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 13th day of August 1886.
W BROOKES & SON,
Agents for the said Heinrich Friedrich Hambruch.