Improvements in Watches.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1890-Accepted, 14th June, 1890
Improvements in Watches.
I, HEINRICH ALBERT of 413 Natrona Street, San Francisco, in the State of
California, United States of America, Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object the construction of a watch which, for one
winding up, shall go for more than the usual 24 or 30 hours, without any increase in
the number of the wheels, and without the employment of a stronger mainspring than
usual.
To this end, I make use of a mainspring having the strength of the ordinary
spring, but which is of such a length, that it will admit of eight or more turns. Such
a spring, however, requires a larger barrel," and an excentric position for the centre
or minute wheel becomes necessary.
"
In consequence of this, only a small figure plate could be employed. I avoid
this disadvantage, however, by arranging the special figure plates, which lie
excentrically one above the other, and one of which shows the hours and the other
the minutes.
This arrangement is carried out in such a manner that the hour whoel, which carries
the hour indicator in ordinary watch mechanism, is entirely dispensed with, as is also
the pinion and change wheel, for driving the hour wheel.
In lieu of the ordinary differential gear, the hour figure plate is secured upon a
spur wheel, and is rotated by means of a pinion fixed upon the axis of the centre or
minute wheel, underneath a fixed hour indicator, while the minute indicator, situated
on the axis of the minute wheel, turns around and over a minute figure plate situated
excentrically over the hour plate.
Intermediate wheels and pinions are interposed between the mainspring barrel
and the minute wheel, upon the arbor of one of which is mounted the seconds
indicator, which rotates around a dial, let into the face of the minute dial, in the
usual way.
The teeth carried by the various wheels and pinions are so proportioned as to give
correct timing to the rotating parts.
D
1
CAL 1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watches.
1 HEINRICH ALBERT of 413 Natrona Street, San Francisco, in the State of
California, United States of America, Watchmaker, 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:-
The present invention has for its object the construction of a watch, which, for
one winding up, shall go for more than the usual 24 or 30 hours, without any increase
in the number of the wheels, and without the employment of a stronger main-spring
than usual.
To this end I make use of a main spring having the strength of the ordinary
spring, but which is of such a length that it will admit of eight or more turns. Such
a spring, however, requires a larger "barrel," and an excentric position for the
centre
or minute wheel becomes necessary. In consequence of this, only a small
figure plate could be employed. I avoid this disadvantage, however, by arranging
1112

page_text: "
two special figure plates which lie excentrically one above the other, and one of which
shews the hours and the other the minutes.
This arrangement is carried out in such a manner that the hour wheel which
carries the hour indicator in ordinary watch mechanism, is entirely dispensed
with, as is also the "pinion and change wheel" for driving the hour wheel.
The arrangement of the watch will be seen from the accompanying Drawing.
Fig. 1 shews the finished watch in front view.
Fig. 2 shews the figure plate or face alone.
Fig. 3 shews the watch after the face has been removed, thus exposing the "pillar
plate.'
Fig. 4 shows the general arrangement of the back of the "pillar plate."
Fig. 5 the back of the works; and
Fig. 6.a cross section through the pillar plate and the "
connected therewith.
upper plate" of the works
In the case a (Fig. 1) is fitted the metal plate (Fig. 2), which contains, in a
recess or depression thereof, the figure plate c for the minutes. Over the latter
moves the pointer f. Upon the minute figure plate c, somewhat depressed below the
surface, is arranged the figure plate for the seconds d, above which moves the seconds
indicator e. According to this arrangement, it is not possible for the minute indicator
to come in collision with the seconds indicator. Centrally over the minute figure
plate, an opening is made in the plate 6, under which opening the hour figure
plate i, and the upper end of the indicator attached thereto, are visible.
The indicator y remains fixed, whilst the figure plate i, which is arranged upon the
wheel i, Fig. 3 (or may be made in one piece therewith), turns with the wheel 7.
The latter is mounted upon a pin or stud affixed to the "pillar plate" m, and has
120 teeth; it is set in motion by a pinion K, having 10 teeth, and fitted upon an
axlo passing through the plate m, which axle carries, at the other side of the plate m,
a second pinion. K. This latter pinion engages with the spring barrel o, Fig. 4,
having 120 teeth. Upon the axis of the pinions K and K' is fitted also the minute
wheel A, having 80 teeth, and the "third wheel" B engages with the pinion B.
The pinion B has 10, and the third wheel, B, 75 teeth. The latter, in turn, engages
with the pinion C" of the "fourth wheel" C. The pinion ( has 10, and the "fourth
wheel," C, 80 teeth. In connection with C are the escapement wheel and anchor,
which are pivotted at I and II, Fig. 4, but, for the sake of clearness, are not shewn in
the Drawing.
From this arrangement of wheels, it results, that when the minute wheel A- (in
the course of an hour) has made one revolution, the "third wheel" B has made
8 turns, and the seconds wheel C has made 60 turns. The spring barrel o, however,
has, in the same time made th of a revolution. Therefore, a complete revolu-
tion of the spring barrel o corresponds with twelve turns of the minute wheel A, and
as the spring of the barrel is made of such a length that, for one winding up, the
barrel will be capable of making at least 8 full rotations, the minute wheel, and
therefore the whole train of wlieels, will go for 8 × 12 96 hours, or 4 days.
:. The train of wheel work K¹ A B B CC is closed in, at the back of the watch, by
the plate n, Fig. 5, which is connected to the " pillar plate m by means of three
pillar screws, as clearly shewn in Fig. 6. Two of these screws serve, at the same
time, for the fastening of the "barrel bridge" p, Fig. 5,. above which are arranged
the ratchet wheels, the pawl t, and the retaining spring u. Upon the platen also is
fixed the "balance bridge" y, for the reception of the balance wheel.
=
"
Fig. 7 shews the hour indicator g, which is fastened onto the upper portion
of the pin or stud 1, Fig. 8, upon the lower portion of which the wheel i
turns...
Watches of the construction above described can be made in all sizes, and any
approved escapement may also be employed.
The advantages which this construction offers are the following:
-
It goes longer than an ordinary watch; it does not therefore require to be opened
'so often; and therefore remains more free from dust. Further, the winding up

page_text: mechanism does not wear out so easily, and the going of the watch is more regular,
because the longer spring works the more regularly. As the hour wheel and the
pinion of the minute wheel" are entirely dispensed with, no mistake can be made
thereby; the so-called stay spring is also dispensed with, which, when employing an
hour wheel, serves to hold the same down.
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
i
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A watch, which, without increase in the number of wheels, and without the employ-
ment of a stronger main spring, will go for more than the usual 24 or 30 hours, and
in which the hour wheel and the " pinion of the minute wheel are dispensed with,
by securing the hour figure plate upon the change wheel, and which hour figure
plate is set in motion by means of a pinion K fitted upon the axis of the minute
wheel A, underneath a fixed hour indicator g, whilst the minute indicator f, situated
upon
the axis of the minute wheel, turns around and over a special minute figure
plate c, substantially as shewn and described.
1000
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.