Improvements in Repeating Attachments to Watches.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Repeating Attachments to Watches.
I, JOHN GARRETT TONGUE of 34 Southampton Buildings London in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents (a communication to me from
Prosper Nordmann of the City, County and State of New York United States of
America) 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
This invention relates to an improved repeating attachment to watches, and has for
its object to simplify the construction of the repeating mechanism and to reduce the
liability of the same getting out of order.
The invention consists of a repeating attachment to watches in which two ratchet-
levers are pivoted to a common pivot and returned by a single spring in actuating the
striking devices. One of the ratchet-levers is oscillated by a spring-actuated lever
while the other ratchet-lever is operated, after being unlocked, by an independent
spring. On the return of the ratchet-levers to their normal position, the ratchet-ends
of the same actuate spring actuated clicks, which cause the sounding of the striking
devices. The oscillating motion of both ratchet-levers is limited by an hour and minute
snail the position of which regulates the striking of the corresponding hour and minute
devices. A moderating gear retards the return motion of the ratchet levers and pro-
duces the striking of the hour and minutes at even intervals. The invention also
consists in the construction and combination of parts and details as will be fully
described and set forth hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front view of my improved repeating
attachment to watches in which the bridge or plate above the moderating gear is
removed and all the parts in a normal position.
Figure 1 is a vertical central section drawn on a larger scale of the spring by which
the ratchet-levers are returned to their normal position of rest.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the bridge above the moderating gear in place
and the parts in position for action.

page_text: Figure 3 is a similar view the two ratchet-levers being removed.
Figure 4 is a front view of a modified construction of the spring for returning the
ratchet-levers.
Figure 5 is a front view of part of another modification showing a different arrange-
ment of said spring.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
My repeating attachment consists essentially of a ratchet-lever A for striking the
hours, a second ratchet lever a for striking the minutes, a motor-spring Y for working
both levers and returning them to their normal position of rest, a speed moderating
gear Z, and an actuating lever W, by which motion is imparted to the ratchet
levers A. a.
The ratchet lever A is mounted on a square pivot Y³, which is connected to the
motor-spring by a square sleeve Y², shown in Figure 1. The lever A is curved
and provided at its outer end with a segmental ratchet B, which acts upon one arm of
a bell-crank shaped click C, the other arm of which acts on a pin D, at one end of a
hammer that strikes a circular steel-rod which serves as a bell. The hammer and bell
are of the same construction as in the repeating attachments heretofore in use, and are
not shown in the drawings, they being located below the bottom plate of the movement
and covered by the same. A spring E is fastened to the frame of the movement and
presses against the pin D and moves it in the opposite direction to that in which it is
pressed by the click C when the same is actuated by the ratchet B of the lever A. To
the pivot. Y of the ratchet-lever A is applied the pivot A¹ of the second or minute
ratchet lever a which is mounted thereto above the ratchet-lever A, said lever a being
also provided at one end with a ratchet which acts on one arm of a second bell-crank
click 6; the other end of which bears against a pin d that projects from one end of a
second hammer of the usual construction, which hammer strikes a curved wire or bell
located at the underside of the bottom-plate in the same manner as the hammer and
bell of the click C.
A spring e fastened to the frame of the movement presses the pin d in the reverse
direction to that in which it is pressed by the click c. A spring F fastened to the
frame of the movement presses against straight cheeks of both clicks Cc and retains
them in position by bearing on laterally extending flanges as shown in Figures 1, 2, & 3.
The spring F also returns the clicks so as to engage with the teeth of the ratchets B b.
As the hammers are attached to the underside of the bottom-plate of the movement,
openings Gg are provided in said plate, through which openings the pins D d project
into the path of the clicks as shown in the drawings.
From the underside of the ratchet-lever a, projects a stop-pin H, which moves
along an arc-shaped portion of the ratchet-lever A, a notch being arranged at one
end of the arch and a shoulder 2 at the other end of the same as shown in dotted
lines in Figures 1 and 2, said arc and notch permitting the ratchet-lever a to oscillate
without obstruction while the shoulder ² serves to carry the same along and return it
with the lever A into the normal position. The ratchet-lever a is further provided
with a notch which is engaged by a locking pin or detent J that is located at the free
end of the spring K fastened at K' to the frame of the movement, said spring being
located below the ratchet-lever A. The head of the stop-pin H projects above the
upper surface of the ratchet-lever a and is acted upon by the free end of a lever I
which is fastened to the frame of the movement at I said spring causing the lever a to
oscillate as soon as released from the detent .J.
To the underside of the ratchet lever A is. pivoted an abutment L which is provided
at one end with a pin L' that passes through an opening M in the ratchet lever A, by
which opening the play of the same is confined. The abutment L bears on the
spring K which carries the detent J, and releases the same from the ratchet lever a at
the proper moment. The latch L is provided at the end opposite to that to which the
pin L is applied with a projection m which bears against one of the steps of the cam-
shaped hour-snail N that is actuated in the usual manner by a pin n' of a minute-snail n
keyed to the arbor of the minute-hand, said pin n' engaging the teeth of a spur-wheel N

page_text: Pn the arbor of the hour-snail N. The ratchet-lever a is similarly provided with a
projection o which abuts against one of the steps of the minute snail n, when the lever a
is oscillated by its spring I.
The ratchet-lever A is provided at that end which is located opposite to the
ratchet B with a toothed segment P which meshes with a pinion Q¹ of the moderating
gear Z, said pinion being mounted on the arbor of a gear wheel Q that meshes with a
pinion R¹ on the arbor of a ratchet-wheel R. The ratchet-wheel R is engaged by a
spring pawl S attached to a gear-wheel S which latter is mounted loosely on the arbor
of the ratchet-wheel R. When the ratchet-wheel R is moved in one direction the
pawl S clears the teeth of the same without carrying the gear-wheel S along, while
when the ratchet-wheel R is turned in the opposite direction the gear wheel S is
locked to the gear wheel R by the spring-pawl S, and thereby enabled to transmit
motion to a pinion T" on the arbor of a gear-wheel T, which latter meshes with a
pinion U on the arbor of an escapement wheel U, that oscillates an escapement V,
while a spring acts on the wing shaped lever V₁ of the escapement V and moves it in
the opposite direction. The pinions, gear-wheels, ratchet-wheel and escapement form
together the moderating gear Z which serves to regulate or moderate the speed of the
ratchet-levers A a, while they are returned by the motor-spring Y.
The repeating mechanism is operated by the lever W that is pivoted to the sleeve Y²
of the motor spring Y and extended beyond the watch casing. The lever W carries a
stud or pin W which engages a shoulder W² of the ratchet-lever A. The lever Wis
provided at its inner end with a notch (shown in Figure 3) that is engaged by the
free end of a spring the opposite end of which is attached to the bottom-plate of the
movement. The spring i serves to return the lever W whenever it is released so
that it does not exert a retarding action on the return-movement of the ratchet-
levers.
The motor-spring Y is of sufficient strength to overcome the tension of the springs
1. F. E. and e. It is arranged in a fixed barrel Y¹ located below the lever W and
attached at its inner end to a sleeve Y² and at its outer end to the fixed barrel Y' as
shown in Figure 1". The sleeve Y2 has a square socket into which is fitted the square
pivot A of the ratchet lever A, said pivot carrying in a central perforation the pivot
of the ratchet-lever a. The lever W is placed loosely on the upper end of the sleeve Y
which end projects above the fixed barrel Y₁ as shown in Figure 1ª.
In place of the spiral spring Y a strong spring v may be used which is fastened at
one end to the frame of the movement and at its free end to a roller ³ of the hour-
ratchet-lever A as shown in Figure 4. In place of providing a roller u² and slot u³,
the connection of the spring v with the ratchet-lever A may be made by a link r that
is pivoted to the free end of the spring and to the ratchet-lover A as shown in
Figure 5.
The minute ratchet-lever a is provided at that end where the ratchet b is located
with a curved hook or prongs that extends when in normal position around a pin
of the click C so as to press the latter back and move it out of the path of the teeth
of the ratchet B of the lever A as shown in Figure 1. The click c is arranged to
oscillate above the ratchet-lever A so that the latter on being oscillated passes below
the same without affecting the same. Both clicks are operated by the spring F as
they are successively actuated by the ratchets of the hour and minute-levers A a.
The operation of the repeating mechanism is as follows:- -When the repeating
mechanism is to be operated, the ratchet-levers A a are moved from their normal
position of rest shown in Figure 1, into the position shown in Figure 2, by moving
the projecting end of the lever W in the direction of the arrow Figure 1. The
pin Wacts thereby on the shoulder W2 of the ratchet-lever A and moves said lever
in the direction of the arrow x Figure 1 until the projection m of the abutment L
pivoted to the underside of the lever A strikes one of the steps of the hour snail N as
shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The opposite end or heel of the abutment Lis
moved simultaneously therewith in the direction of the arrow Figure 2 so that
said heel presses the detent spring K in the direction of the arrow Figure 2, and

page_text: disengages the detent J from the recess j of the ratchet-lever a. The spring I acts
then instantly on the head of the pin or screw H of the ratchet lever a and moves the
ratchet-end b, of the same in the direction of the arrow a² until its stop o abuts
against one of the steps of the minute-snail n as shown in Figure 2. The prongs of
the ratchet-lever a releases simultaneously with the unlocking of the lever a by the
detent J the pin of the click c, so that the latter is moved by the spring F into
the path of the ratchet B of the lever A. The number of teeth of the ratchets Bb
correspond exactly to the number of steps of the hour and minute-snails N n which
steps determine the extent of motion or strokes of the levers A a and permit a
corresponding number of teeth of the ratchets Bb to be moved beyond the clicks Cc,
said teeth actuating the clicks by the return-movements of the levers A a and sounding
consequently the hour and minute-bells in accordance with the time indicated by
the watch-movement in the same manner as in the repeating watches heretofore
in use.
C
By the movement of the lever W and ratchet-lever A the spiral motor spring Y
contained in the barrel of the recess of the lever W (or the motor-spring as in
Figure 4 or Figure 5) is brought in tension and has the tendency to return the
ratchet-lever A back to its normal position. During the motion of the ratchet-lever A.
in the direction of the arrow a Figure 1, the moderating gear is not actuated, while
during the return motion of the same it is thrown into action by the spring pawl S¹
so that the speed of the levers A a is regulated and the ratchets Bb of the same
enabled to actuate the clicks Cc at regular intervals as often as required so as to cause
the striking of the hammers and bells according to the number of teeth moved past
the clicks by the action of the lever W and the relative positions of the hour and
minute-snails Mn. When the last tooth of the hour ratchet-lever A has passed the
click the shoulder h¹ of the ratchet-lever A engages the pin H of the ratchet-lever a
and carries thereby the latter along, so as to cause the teeth of the ratchet to act on
the click c and sound thereby the minute bell. The ratchet b imparts as many strokes
to the hammer of the minute-striking device as teeth of the ratchet have passed beyond
the click c, each stroke representing five minutes. When the ratchet-lever a has
completed its return movement the detent J re-engages the recess; and locks the
lever a again into its normal position. By the return movement of the lever a the
the tension of the spring 1 is re-established and the same ready for oscillating again
the ratchet-lever a, until the same is returned with the ratchet-lever A by the motor
spring Y (or ) which spring serves to turn both ratchet-levers and produce thereby
the actuating of the striking devices. When the ratchet-lever a has completed its
return movement the prong s at its outer end strikes the pin s' of the click C, whereby
the said click is moved on its fulcrum out of the path of the ratchet B, so that when
the latter is moved in the direction of the arrow a² its teeth can pass clear of the
click without engaging therewith. Only after the teeth of the ratchet B have
passed beyond the click C the ratchet-lever a is moved in the direction of the
arrow owing to the release of the detent spring.K and the action of the spring 1,
and then the prong s is disengaged from the pin s¹ of the click C so that the spring F
throws the click into the path of the ratchet ready to be engaged by the teeth of
the ratchet B when the ratchet-lever A is returned to its normal position by the motor
spring Y. In case the lever W should not move to its full extent, the ratchet-lever A
is not completely oscillated and therefore the ratchet-lever a not released from its
detent J, nor its prong s released from the click C so that consequently the ratchet
lever A is returned into normal position without actuating the striking devices.
The full oscillation of the lever W however produces the full oscillation of the ratchet-
lever A, the release and oscillation of the ratchet-lever a, and the return of both
levers A a by the action of their common motor-spring, so that thereby the striking
devices are operated and the proper time indicated by the number of the strokes of
the hour and minute hammers.
If desired, the repeating attachment may be arranged with three striking devices,
for striking the hours, quarters, and minutes, in which case a third ratchet-lever is

page_text: arranged above the second ratchet-lever and a third click by which the third striking
device is operated in the same manner as in the hour and minute striking devices
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is
:-
1. A repeating watch provided with oscillating hour and minute ratchet-levers for
operating the striking devices, an actuating lever for moving the hour-ratchet-lever
in one direction, a spring actuated detent for locking the minute ratchet-lever, means
operated by the hour-ratchet-lever for releasing said detent, a spring for moving the
minute-ratchet-lever in the same direction as the hour-ratchet-lever, and a motor spring
for returning both levers to their normal position, substantially as set forth.
2. A repeating watch provided with oscillating hour and minute ratchet-levers for
operating the striking devices, an actuating lever for moving the hour-ratchet-lever,
a spring-actuated detent for locking the minute lever, means operated by the hour
lever for releasing said detent, a spring for moving the minute-ratchet-lever in the
direction of the hour-lexer, a motor spring for returning both ratchet-levers to the
normal position, and a spring, engaging said actuating lever and returning it
independently of the ratchet-levers substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of pivoted hour and minute ratchet-levers, the hour lever having
a toothed segment opposite to the ratchet-end, an actuating lever for moving the hour
ratchet-lever in one direction, a spring-actuated detent for locking the minute-lever,
means operated by the hour-lever for releasing said detent, a spring for moving the
minute ratchet-lever in the same direction as the hour ratchet-lever, a motor spring
for returning both ratchet-levers to their normal position and a moderating gear
operated by the toothed segment for regulating the speed of the ratchet-levers during
their return movement, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of pivoted hour and minute ratchet-levers, the hour-lever having
a notch and a shoulder, and the minute-lever a pin or stud for engagement with said
shoulder, an actuating lever for moving the hour-ratchet-lever, a spring-actuated detent
for locking the minute ratchet-lever, means operated by the hour-lever for releasing
said detent, a spring for inoving the minute-ratchet-lever in the same direction as the
hour lever, and a motor-spring for returning both ratchet levers, said hour ratchet-
lever carrying the minute lever along when its shoulder engages the stud of the
minute-lever substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of two pivoted ratchet-levers for operating the striking devices,
an abutment pivoted to one of said levers, a spring-actuated detent for locking the
other lever, and step-shaped hour and minute-snails, said abutment releasing the detent
when striking against the hour snail substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of the pivoted ratchet-levers A a, the former having an
aperture M, and the latter a notch, and a projection o, an abutment L, pivoted at the
underside of the lever A, and provided at one end with a projection m, and at the
opposite end with a pin 1, that passes through the aperture M, a spring K, provided
with the detent J, and the hour and minute-snails N and a substantially as set forth.
7. In a repeating watch, the combination of the pivoted ratchet-levers A a, the
lever a having a stud H, a spring actuated detent J for the lever a, a spring I resting
against the pin or stud H, and moving the lever a in one direction and a motor
spring Y, for returning the ratchet-levers A a and re-establishing the tension of the
spring I, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination of two oscillating ratchet-levers and their actuating lever and
springs with fulcrumed clicks engaging the ratchet-ends of said levers, and a spring
that actuates both clicks substantially as described.
9. The combination of two oscillating ratchet and their actuating lever and springs,
with fulcrumed bell-crank-shaped clicks, and a spring for engaging both clicks, said
clicks engaging the ratchet-ends of the levers, and the projecting pins of the spring-
hammers of the striking devices, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 10. The combination of two oscillating ratchet-levers, and their actuating lever and
springs, one of said levers having a curved arm or hook at its ratchet-end, with
fulcruined and spring-pressed clicks, one of said clicks having'a pin or stud that is
engaged by the curved arm or hook of the ratchet-lever so as to be moved out of the
path of the other ratchet-lever, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of Avoust 1887
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentec.