Improvements in Chronometers and similar Time Pieces.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1891-Accepted. 24th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chronometers and similar Time Pieces.
I, NEES VON ESENBECK of No. 24 Niemannsweg, Kiel, Germany, Director of
the Royal Chronometer Observatory at Kiel, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to prevent the detrimental effects of the atmo-
sphere and moisture upon the mechanism, more particularly, of ships chronometers
and similar time pieces that are required to work very accurately, which action
results in the oxidation of the springs and other steel parts, as also of the lubri
cating oil employed, and in the formation of mildew, whereby the correct action
of the chronometer is more or less impaired, notwithstanding the more or less
frequent cleaning thereof.
My invention consists in hermetically closing the casing of the chronometer.
doing away with the usual key hole through which the air and moisture gain access
to the works, and effecting the winding up of the chronometer by providing in any
convenient part thereof a flexible or elastic diaphragm to the outside of which is
attached a suitabie handle for imparting a to and fro motion thereto, while to the
inner surface is attached one part of a mechanical device such as ratchet gear,
the movement of which is made to effect the winding up of the spring of the
chronometer.
The construction of the diaphragm and mechanism in connection therewith may
be variously modified; the arrangement which I prefer to employ is as follows.
The back of the chronometer casing is hermetically closed by a corrugated clastic
plate or diaphragm, similar to the diaphragm of an aneroid barometer, and to the
centre of such diaphragm, on the outside, is attached a ring or other handle by
which it can be drawn outwards.
To the inner face of the diaphragm is attached one end of a cord or chain which
is led over a guide pulley and has its other end fixed to the periphery of a cylinder
mounted loose on the pin of a crank arm which is carried loose on an upward
extension of the ordinary spindle by which the winding up of the chronometer
spring is effected. On this spindle, immediately below the crank arm is fixed a
ratchet wheel, and on the inner surface of the before mentioned cylinder within
which the crank arm and ratchet wheel are situated, is a pawl, which, when the
chronometer is not being wound up, is held out of gear with the ratchet wheel by
a spiral spring, one end of which is fixed to the chronometer framing while the
other end is fixed to the periphery of the cylinder, thereby holding this in a certain
position against a fixed stop.
On exerting an outward pull on the diaphragm, the cord or chain attached thereto,
in exerting a pull upon the cylinder, first turns this on the crank pin until the
pawl takes into the ratchet wheel, whereupon the further pull on the cylinder
causes this, together with the crank, to move round the axis of the spring spindle
as a centre, and at the same time to carry such spindle round with it by means of
the pawl and ratchet wheel, thereby winding up the spring to a corresponding
extent.
On releasing the pull on the diaphragm, the cylinder is turned on its centre pin
in the contrary direction by means of the spiral spring, so as to bring the pawl
out of gear with the ratchet wheel, and at the same time to bring the crank arm
and cylinder back to their original position against the stop.
The above action is then repeated until the winding is completed.
In order to insure the pawl being maintained out of gear with the ratchet, when

page_text: in a position of rest, a hinged bridge piece is provided over the diaphragm, acting
as a stop thereto and preventing it from assuming a permanent outward bulge i
the course of long usage.
The above described mechanism is carried by a bridge-shaped framing projecting
from the back of the chronometer frame, so as to prevent the above described
movements from having any disturbing action on the works. The winding spindle
may have a coupling device such as is employed with key-wound chronometers for
preventing any damage from overwinding. Instead of actuating the winding spindle
direct from the crank arm, cylinder, and ratchet motion, it may be actuated by
suitable intervening gear.
The chronometer frame is secured in position by being held against a shoulder
in the casing by means of a ring with bayonet joint fastenings, and the glass is
secured over this in an air-tight manner by a screwed ring with either caoutchouc
or other suitable packing.
The casing may be provided with two opposite stoppered nozzles through one
of which any suitable neutral gas that will not act on the works can be introduced
while the air is driven out through the other, after which both nozzles are closed.
By the above described improved improvements a greatly increased regularity
in the action of chronometers will be insured, and they can be placed with safety
in such damp localities where at present it is impossible to keep them in order;
also, the expensive operation of cleaning the works will be required much less
frequently.
Dated this 24th day of February 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chronometers and similaṛ Time Pieces.
1, NEES VON ESENBECK, of No. 24 Niemannsweg, Kiel, Germany, Director of
the Royal Chronometer Observatory at Kiel, 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:-
Chronometers and such like time pieces, more particularly when used on board
ship, are subject to the serious defect that in consequence of the access of the
moisture and oxygen of the atmosphere to the interior thereof, an oxidation of the
steel parts of the mechanism, in particular of the springs, as also of the lubricating
oil takes place, while at the same time moist deposits, and the formation of mildew
occur, which notwithstanding the regular cleaning of the chronometer, cause
various irregularities in the action of the works, and the permanent deterioration
thereof.
The prevention of these sources of defect would not only insure a perfectly
reliable action of the chronometer, but would also, greatly limit the necessity for
the expensive cleaning thereof, and the chronometer could under those conditions
be placed without risk in the dampest and most insalubrious parts of a ship.
My invention consists in accomplishing this end by hermetically closing the
casing of the chronometer and doing away with the usual key hole, through which
the air and moisture gain access to the works, and by effecting the winding up of
the chronometer by providing at any convenient part thereof a flexible or clastic
diaphragm, to the outside of which is attached a suitable handle for imparting a
to and fro motion thereto, while to the inner surface is attached one part of a
mechanical device, such as a ratchet gear, the movement of which by the diaphragm
is made to effect the winding up of the chronometer spring.
The construction of the diaphragni and mechanism in connection therewith may

page_text: De variously moumed
The arrangement which I prefer to employ is shewn on the
accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section of a chronometer the glass face and securing ring
being removed,
Fig. 2 shews a section taken at right angles to that at Fig. 1, the glass and ring
being fixed on,
Fig. 3 shews a horizontal section of the inner works, and
Fig. 4 is a plan of the back of the casing.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the chronometer is shown turned with its dial downwards, for
the purpose of winding at the back.
The actual works of the chronometer are not shewn beyond the framework
thereof, as they are the same as in ordinary chronometers; the said framework
serves to carry the new parts which effect the winding up of the spring..
This winding up is effected by the following means. a is the ordinary spindle.
of the chronometer, which with the usual construction is rotated by an external
key for winding up the clock. This spindle is extended backward somewhat and
carries a small ratchet wheel and beyond this a loose rotatable crank arm or
lever .
This carries at its other end a pin on which is rotatably mounted a
cylinder d which carries internally a spring pawl e. To the outer surface of the
cylinder is attached one end of a chain 7 which is shewn in dotted lines in Figs. 2
and 3; this chain is first led over a roller and then has its other end attached to
the corrugated elastic diaphragm g, the periphery of which is attached hermetically
to the casing, and which serves both as the hermetic closure of the back of the
chronometer and as the means of winding up the spring.
By drawing outwards the spring diaphraging by means of the ring at its centre,
the winding up of the spring is effected as will be presently explained.
In order to prevent the vibrations produced by the winding from being trans-
mitted to the clockwork, the winding-up mechanism is mounted on a special bridge
plate i, having feet that are secured by the screws of the casing pillars. This
bridge plate also serves for the neck bearing of the spindle a, and for the
attachment of the inner end of a spiral spring k, the outer end of which is attached
to the cylinder d. This spring is in tension so as to tend to turn the cylinder and
bring a projection thereon against a fixed stop l.
If now the diaphragm be drawn outwards as stated, the chain, in being drawn
with it, will effect the rotation of the cylinder d firstly round its pivot m, thereby
bringing the pawle in gear with the ratchet wheel b, and then, as the cylinder
cannot revolve farther on its pivot, the continued pull on the chain will cause the
crank arme together with the cylinder to turn round the axis of the spindle a,
and as the cylinder is connected to this spindle by the pawl and ratchet, it follows
that the spindle will be rotated and the main spring will be wound up to a certain
extent. Upon releasing the pull on the diaphraging, this will spring back into
its normal position, thereby releasing the pull upon the chain and consequently
allowing the spiral spring & to draw back the arm cand cylinder d into their
original position until the latter comes against the stop again.
The above operation is then repeated a certain number of times until the main
spring is completely wound up.
In order to prevent injury to the mechanism or breaking of the mainspring by
overwinding, the spindle a may be provided with a ratchet joint of known
arrangement that will give way when excessive force is applied in turning it.
If required, instead of rotating the spindle of the mainspring directly by the
mechanism as described its rotation can be effected through intermediate gearing
in any well known manner for effecting the winding in a shorter time.
As the diaphraging will, after long continued use, have the tendency to assume
a permanent set outwards, whereby the cylinder d would be drawn round so as to
keep the pawl e permanently engaged with the ratchet wheel b, and thus prevent
the mainspring from working the clockwork, there is provided on the screw ring
that secures the diaphragm g, a bar n pivotted to the ring at one end, while the

page_text: other end can be secured by a catch or pin to the opposite side of the ring. The
middle of the bar is cranked as shewn so as to bear against the knob of the ring
of the diaphragm, and thus keep this always depressed in the normal position for
keeping the pawl e out of gear with the ratchet wheel b. The bar presses the
diaphragm down until the central plate thereof comes in contact with a stop r
fixed upon the bridge i.
For winding the chronometer, the bar n is unfastened and turned up on its hinge.
The casing is provided with two stoppered openings o and p, through one of
which a neutral or non oxidising gas can be forced in so as to drive out the air
through the other, after which both openings are hermetically closed, and thus
prevent all oxidation of the works.
The two eyes ss serve for attachment to the gimbal rings in the ordinary
manner.
The framing of the clockwork is secured in position by a ring w held by bayonet
joints on the pins t.
The hermetic closure of the glass of the casing can be effected by suitable
cementitious packing at a, and by a caoutchouc ring at y.
The hermetic fixing of the diaphragmny can also be effected in the same way or
by means of soldering. The casing only requires to be opened for cleaning or
fresh oiling, which will of course be very seldom required, and for stopping the
movement in the case of ordinary transport.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In chronometers and such like time pieces, effecting the hermetic enclosure
of the works and providing at some part of the casing a flexible or elastic
diaphragm, on the outer side of which is an appliance for imparting thereto a
to and fro motion, while the inner side is connected to the mainspring of the works
by mechanism so arranged that by the said to and fro motion of the diaphragm
the winding up of the spring is effected, substantially as described.
2. In chronometers and such like time pieces, the combination of a flexible or
spring diaphragm such as g, to which a to and fro motion can be imparted, a
ratchet wheel b and crank arm c on the spindle of the mainspring, a cylinder d
carried by the crank arm, a pawle on the cylinder capable of gearing with the
ratchet wheel b, a chain or cord f attached at one end to the cylinder and at the
other end to the elastic diaphragm so that by the outward motion of the latter
the turning of the cylinder and winding up of the mainspring is effected, and a.
spring acting on the cylinder & so as to effect its return motion, substantially
as described.
3. In combination with the diaphragm g referred to in the preceding claim, the
use of a pivotted bar such as n for retaining the diaphragm in its normal position
when it is not operated for winding up the mainspring, substantially as described.
4. In a chronometer or other time piece constructed as set forth in the first
claim, the provision of stoppered openings, such as o, p on the casing, whereby the
air can be expelled from the time piece, and replaced by a non-oxidising gas,
substantially as described.
5. An hermetically closed chronometer or similar time piece provided with
external means for winding up the mainspring, constructed and operating as herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 24th day of November 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.