IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP- WATCHES AND TIMEKEEPERS, AND IN INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING ACCURATELY SHORT INTERVALS OF TIME
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphe Nicole, of 14, Soho Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Watchmaker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-
WATCHES AND TIMEKEEPERS, AND IN INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING ACCURATELY
SHORT INTERVALS OF TIME."
Sealed the 31st October 1862, and dated the 14th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphe Nicole at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
May 1862.
I, ADOLPHE NICOLE, of 14, Soho Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STOP-WATCHES AND TIMEKEEPERS, AND IN INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING
ACCURATELY SHORT INTERVALS OF TIME," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stop-watches and time-
keepers, and in instruments for measuring accurately short intervals of time.
My improvements in stop-watches and timekeepers consist in so arranging.
the same that by pressure on a detent, an extra seconds hand may be caused
to start from a zero point on the dial, and may continue to run, marking
seconds and fractions thereof until the same detent is again pressed on, when
the extra seconds hand is stopped, and so remains until the detent is a third
time pressed upon, when it flies back to the zero point from which it started.
I also, according to my Invention, mount the extra seconds hand, having the

page_text: power of starting, stopping, and flying back to zero as above mentioned, on a
separate axis from that which carries the ordinary seconds hand, and at a
distance therefrom, by which means I am enabled conveniently to bring the
extra seconds hand to the centre of the watch, whilst at the same time the
extra seconds hand and its mechanism, when out of action can be entirely
separated from the moving parts of the watch, thus avoiding an increase of
friction which would otherwise result. I prefer to arrange the watch as
follows: I cause a wheel, conveniently one on the axis of the ordinary
seconds hand to drive another wheel, the axis of which is carried by
an arın capable of rocking a short distance; this arm is pressed on by a
spring, constantly tending to throw the wheel it carries into gear with a
wheel on the axis of the extra seconds hand, but this it is prevented doing
except at certain times by a tail on the arm, which rests on the periphery
of a small notched disc or wheel, having on its axis a ratchet wheel, which
is moved a step forward by each depression of the detent, so that the extra
seconds hand is brought into gear only at such times as the tail of the arm
falls into one of the notches in the disc. Bearing on the same notched disc or
wheel is a projection carried by a spring, which projection also at times falls
into the notches in the disc, and then the spring comes against a collar on the
axis of the extra seconds hand, and by pressing thereon, holds it still (it being
then out of gear) there is also pressing on the same notched disc or wheel a
projection from another spring, which similarly at times falls into the notches,
and when this happens, its end comes against a heart-shaped wheel on the
axis of the extra seconds hand, and by pressing thereon brings the hand
back to the zero point. The action then is as follows:-The first action of
the detent throws the extra seconds hand into gear, and causes it to start into
motion; the second action of the detent throws it out of gear, and by causing
the friction spring to descend on the collar on its axis stops it at onco; and the
third action of the detent takes off the friction spring, and causes the other
spring to press on the heart wheel, and bring the extra seconds hand back to
zero. In place of employing a separate depression of the detent for each
action, the apparatus may be so arranged that the depression of the detent
shall move the ratchet wheel one step, and the rising of the detent another;
then the first depression starts the extra seconds hand as before; the first
return of the detent causes the ratchet wheel to move a step, but produces no
action; the second depression stops the extra seconds hand, and the second
return of the detent causes it to fly back to zero. When producing (separate
from a watch) an apparatus for measuring accurately short intervals of time, I
employ a train of wheel's capable of running for a few minutes only, and which

page_text: actuates an extra seconds band, capable of starting, stopping, and flying back
to zero as already explained, and I cause one of the actions of the detent, it
may be conveniently that which produces the fly back, to wind up the spring
which maintains the motion of the train of wheels, and in some cases I employ
in combination with the seconds band also a minute hand, starting, stopping,
and flying back simultaneously.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Adolphe Nicole in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADOLPHE
NICOLE, of 14, Soho Square, in the County of Middlesex, Watchmaker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Adolphe Nicole, Her special licence, that I, the said Adolphe Nicole,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Adolphe
Nicole, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOP-WATCHES
AND TIMEKEEPERS, AND IN INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING ACCURATELY SHORT INTER-
VALS OF TIME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Adolphe
Nicole, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within-six calendar months next, and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adolphe Nicole, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stop-watches and time-

page_text: keepers, and in instruments for measuring accurately short intervals of time.
My improvements in stop-watches and timekeepers consist in so arranging
the same, that by pressure on a detent an extra seconds hand may be caused
to start from a zero point on the dial, and may continue to run, marking
seconds and fractions thereof until the same detent is again pressed on, when
the extra seconds hand is stopped, and so remains until the detent is a third
time pressed upon, when it flies back to the zero point from which it started.
I also, according to my Invention, mount the extra seconds hand, having
the power of starting, stopping, and flying back to zero, as above mentioned,
on a separate axis from that which carries the ordinary seconds hand, and at
a distance therefrom, by which means I am enabled conveniently to bring the
extra seconds hand to the centre of the watch, whilst at the same time, the
extra seconds hand and its mechanism, when out of action, can be entirely
separated from the moving parts of the watch, thus avoiding an increase of
friction, which would otherwise result.
I prefer to arrange the watch as follows:-I cause a wheel, conveniently one
on the axis of the ordinary seconds hand, to drive another wheel, the axis of
which is carried by an arm capable of rocking a short distance; this arm is
pressed on by a spring, constantly tending to throw the wheel it carries into
gear with a wheel on the axis of the extra seconds hand; but this it is
prevented doing except at certain times by a tail on the arm, which rests on
the periphery of a small notched disc or wheel, having on its axis a
ratchet wheel, which is moved a step forward by each depression of the detent,
so that the extra seconds hand is brought into gear only at such time as the
tail of the arm falls into one of the notches in the disc. Bearing on the same
Dotched disc or wheel is a projection carried by a spring, which projection also
at times falls into the notches in the dise, and then the spring comes against a
collar on the axis of the extra seconds hand, and by pressing thereon holds it
still (it being then out of gear). There is also pressing on the same notched
disc or wheel a projection from another spring, which similarly at times falls
into the notches, and when this happens its end comes against a heart-
shaped wheel on the axis of the extra seconds hand, and by pressing thereon,
brings the hand back to the zero point. The action then is as follows:-The
first action of the detent throws the extra seconds hand into gear, and causes
it to start into motion; the second action of the detent throws it out of gear,
and by causing the friction spring to descend on the collar on its axis, stops
it at once; and the third action of the detent takes off the friction spring, and
causes the other spring to press on the heart wheel, and bring the extra seconds
hand back to zero. In place of employing a separate depression of the detent

page_text: for each action, the apparatus may be so arranged that the depression of the
detent shall move the ratchet wheel one step, and the rising of the detent
another; then the first depression starts the extra seconds hand as before; the
first return of the detent causes the ratchet wheel to move a step, but produces
no action; the second depression stops the extra seconds hand, and the second
return of the detent causes it to fly back to zero. When producing (separate
from a watch) an apparatus for measuring accurately short intervals of time,
I employ a train of wheels capable of running for a few minutes only, and
which actuates an extra seconds hand, capable of starting, stopping, and flying
back to zero as already explained; and I cause one of the actions of the detent,
it may be conveniently that which produces the fly back, to wind up the spring
which maintains the motion of the train of wheels, and in some cases I employ
in combination with the seconds hand also a minute hand, starting, stopping,
and flying back simultaneously.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
'
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of a watch or timekeeper to which, according to my
Invention apparatus is applied for actuating an extra seconds hand, starting,
stopping, and flying back to zero when a detent is pressed, as herein-before
set forth. The hands and dial of the watch or timekeeper are removed, so that
the parts only appear to which my Invention applies; the apparatus is shown
about double the size I usually make it. a is an axis, which by the ordinary
train of the watch or timekeeper is caused to rotate once; b is a spur wheel
mounted on the axis a; it gears with a wheel c of half the size, mounted on
the lever d, which has a centre at d; e is a small wheel fixed to the wheel c,
and when the parts are in the position in which they are shown in the
Drawing, it rests against the periphery of the wheel f, on the axis of which is
the seconds hand. I cut on the peripheries of the wheels e and f very
fine teeth, which, when bigbly magnified, appear as is shown at Figure 2.
Usually I cut 150 such teeth in the wheel e, and 300 in the wheel f, so that
the wheelf may revolve once in a minute and make one step forward for
each beat of the escapement, which it is preferred to arrange so that it shall
make five beats per second as is usual. The tail of the lever d is caused by
its spring d to bear against the disc g, which is fixed on the ratchet wheel h,
and has five notches cut in it as is shown, and it is only when the tail of the
lever d is in one of these notches that the wheels e and fare in gear, and the

page_text: extra seconds hand on the dial moves forward. The ratchet wheel his
capable of being rotated by depressing a deteut i projecting from the side of
the watch or timekeeper; the piece which carries the detent turns on a centre
cat, and it has jointed to' it the driving pawl, which by its spring is
caused to bear against the teeth of the ratchet wheel h, so that the.depressing
the detent moves this wheel one tooth round. I will suppose that the motion
resulting from the last depression of the detent i has brought a notch in the
.disc 9 under the tail of the lever d, then the next depression of the detent will
lift the wheel e out of gear with the wheel f, and so stop the hand which at
the same time is secured from over-running by the spring k, which then
descends on to the wheel f'in consequence of a projection upon it entering
-a notch in the disc g. The next depression of the detent again lifts the spring
k and allows the spring to descend, the projection l' upon it entering a notch
in the disc g; the end of the spring then comes against the heart m fixed on
the axis of the wheel f, and brings it back to the point from which it started,
and the hand or pointer on the same axis back to the zero of the dial; this it
does in consequence of the heart yielding under the pressure of the spring and
turning until the end of the spring rests on the V at the top of the heart.
Another pressure of the detent will now again place the wheels e and fin
gear. As before mentioned, the apparatus may readily be modified so that
the depression of the detent shall move the ratchet wheel one step and the
-rising of the detent another; I prefer, however, the arrangement shown. The
minute hand of the watch or timekeeper I prefer to bring to the centre of
the watch, the axis of the wheelf being made tubular to allow it to pass.
The ordinary seconds hand I mount on the axis of the wheel a with a
graduated circle of its own, and the hour hand I also mount on an axis
excentric to the dial and with a separate graduated circle.
When constructing, according to my Invention, apparatus for measuring
short intervals of time, separate from a watch or timekeeper, I employ a train
of wheels with maintaining spring and escapement similar in principle to those
of a watch, except that the maintaining spring is arranged only to drive the
train for a few minutes, and is wound up when required for use by depressing
a detent at the side of the instrument. The arrangement is such, however, that
the spring cannot be overwound; the stop seconds hand with its mechanism
is arranged similarly to the corresponding parts of the watch or timekeeper
already described.
Figure 3 shows a train of wheels and other parts arranged suitably for such
an instrument, the other portions of the instrument which may be considered
as represented in Figure 1 being on the under side of the plate or frame on

page_text: which the train of wheels is mounted. On the axis of the ratchet wheel h
(Figure 1) is fixed another ratchet wheel n, Figure 3, between the teeth of
which the pointed end of the curved spring o enters; this spring o is fixed to
the toothed wheel p, hence when the ratchet wheel n is rotated it tends to
carry the toothed wheel p with it, but the spring o yields; after, however, it
has been deflected to the extent that a few depressions of the detent i will
carry it, it will have been brought into such a position that the ratchet wheel
n is unable to carry it further, and if this wheel continues to rotate, the spring
allows the teeth to pass. The teeth of the wheel p gear with a pinion on the
axis q, on which is also a toothed wheel gearing with a pinion on the axis r,
and this in turn has a wheel upon it gearing with a pinion on the axis 8, on
which is also the escapement wheel; t is the balance wheel of the escapement,
which conveniently is made to give five oscillations per second. If it be
desired that the instrument should mark minutes as well as seconds and
fractions thereof, an ordinary tooth pinion is mounted on the axis of the wheel
e, and this, when the wheels e and f are in gear, is also caused to gear with a
wheel mounted loosely on the axis of the wheel f, and having connected with
it a hand which indicates minutes on a suitably divided scale of the dial. In
connection with this wheel and hand is also another heart wheel, which the
spring presses on so as to bring the minute hand back to zero at the same
time as the seconds hand returns. If desired, watches and timekeepers may
be similarly arranged, one train of wheels doing the ordinary work of the
watch or timekeeper, and another being employed for the extra seconds hand.
I
In witness whereof I, the said Adolphe Nicole, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
ADOLPHE NICOLE. (L.S.)