IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES OR TIME-KEEPERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES OR TIME-KEEPERS." A communication from
abroad by Frederick Fitt, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Watchmaker.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES OR TIME-
KEEPERS. [A communication from abroad by Frederick Fitt, of Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada, Watchmaker.]
This Invention relates to watches or time-keepers, and comprises a novel manner
of mounting and applying the escapement, whereby it may be readily removed and
exchanged or replaced; an automatic stop or detent to lock the train when the
escapement is removed, and release the same when the escapement is replaced;
means for speedily and accurately adjusting the escapement, and other details
hereinafter explained.
The objects of this Invention are to render the removal and replacement of the
escapement easy and speedy, even by inexperienced persons; to permit the ready
substitution of one escapement for another, either of the same or a different grade;
to obviate the existing necessity of unwinding the watch in order to permit such
removal;
and to adjust the parts with perfect accuracy and in a short time, whereby
the escapement is rendered. capable-of-universal application, regardless of the
particular make or grade of the movement.
Watches as usually constructed bave the escapement and balance between the
plates or on the pillar plate, and hence much difficulty is experienced in gaining
access to or observing the action of the escapement, which latter also is made for a
special style or grade of movement, and cannot therefore be exchanged for another.
No means are provided whereby the train may be locked during the removal or
detachment of the escapement, and it is therefore necessary either to unwind the
watch (which in some cases can only be done by "taking down") or to allow it to
run down.

page_text: It is often desirable to remove the escapement of a watch and substitute for it
another of more perfect workmanship or higher grade, or for the purpose of
repairing, in which latter case the watch is rendered useless while the repairing is
being effected.
By the present improvements, however, I am enabled quickly and easily to
remove the escapement and balance, to replace it or substitute another, to apply
and adjust it to any watch without unwinding or taking down, and this without
previous experience.
To accomplish these results I mount the escapement and balance wholly on one
and the same bed, which bed is secured to the pillar-plate preferably by a single
screw, and in order that the watch may not run down when the escapement is
removed, or need to be previously unwound, I provide a detent or stop pin which,
upon the removal of the fastening screw, automatically engages one of the wheels
of the train, and upon the replacing of said screws automatically releases it.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide an escapement platform,
having at one end a projecting lip and carrying the balance cock, the cock-prop
being secured in place by a screw, preferably formed with a polygonal head, to
facilitate its removal by pliers or tweezers; the pallet and escape-wheel bracket
are mounted upon the escapement platform and secured thereto. The several parts
being thus mounted and secured upon the platform it will be seen that in order to
remove the escapement it is only necessary to detach the platform from the pillar-
plate, when all may be lifted off. The manner of securing the platform to the pillar-
plate is susceptible of modification, but in practice the following arrangement is
preferred: The platform is furnished on its under face with three small projecting
studs which serve as steadying pins; one of these pins serves to ensure and maintain
the proper depthing of the teeth in the escape wheel pinion. These studs serve to
prevent the shifting of the escapement platform, which is firmly secured to the
pillar plate by a single screw. In order that there may be no possibility of the
platform rocking or tipping a flanged screw is screwed into the pillar-plate in such
position that when the platform is in place its edge or lip shall extend under the
flange of the screw. The screw need not be removed from the pillar plate in
detaching the escapement platform, as a very slight backward turn is sufficient
to release its hold upon the lip; to remove the escapement it is only necessary to
loosen the flanged screw and remove the other screw, when the platform with all
its attendant parts may be lifted off.
In order that the connection with the fourth wheel may be easy the edge of the
platform is recessed to fit or pass thereunder, a similar recess being formed on the
other face of the platform to accomodate the centre wheel, while a projection or lip
at the inner side of the platform serves as a convenient hold for the fingers in
handling.
The stop or locking device which locks the train automatically upon the detach-
ment of the escapement is controlled in its action by the screw which holds the
platform in place. While it is preferred to thus control the action of the stop it is
apparent that other means for actuating the same may be employed. The stop or
detent consists of a pin passing through a slot or opening in the pillar plate, and
arranged to engage with or be disengaged from the teeth of the fourth wheel, said
pin being carried upon a pivoted or swinging lever. This lever is free to swing
or turn upon a shouldered pivot screw, and has its outwardly projecting end
shouldered and arranged to work into or through a recess in the outer rim or edge
of the pillar-plate, said end being urged outward by a spring; the screw by which
the escapement platform is held in place is formed with a tapering or pointed end;
this pointed or tapered end is passed through the pillar plate almost exactly over
the outer edge of the long arm of the lever, so that as the screw is turned to its
seat the point is caused to press inward the long arm of the lever, thereby causing
the short arm to move outward and disengage the pin from the teeth of the fourth
wheel and to hold it away therefrom, while the withdrawal of said screw permits

page_text: the aforesaid swinging lever, pressed by the spring, to move in the reverse direction
and to lock the fourth wheel. It will thus be seen that it is impossible for any
injury to occur to the train in removing the escapement.
By arranging the end of the swinging lever to work in the recess in the rim it is
prevented from being pressed outward from the face of the pillar plate, while the
shoulder prevents the lever from being moved too far.
Either a straight line or angular escapement may be with equal facility used in
my construction, and the same is true with reference to pocket chronometers,
whether the escapement be of the English or the Swiss pattern.
In practice watchmakers and repairers will need to keep but two sizes of escape-
ment, and but five or six grades, while the number of grades of movements greatly
exceeds this number. As the escapement is readily interchangeable from one
watch to another, and applicable to any style or grade of movement, it will be seen
that the dealer or repairer is enabled to keep a large assortment of movements in
stock, cased and ready for sale, with the exception of the escapement, which latter
may be applied in a very short time and whatever grade desired, thus enabling
him to present a large assortment without incurring the usual heavy outlay.
Again, in the case of injury to the escapement, it may be removed for repair and
another temporarily substituted, thereby enabling the owner of the watch to use
his own time piece while the injured part is being repaired.
While I have described the construction and arrangement which I deem most
desirable, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details
described and shewn. The chief novel feature of the said Invention consists,
broadly, in so mounting the escapement that it may be bodily removed, readily
applied to any watch, and detached without the unwinding of the watch.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th September 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES OR TIME-
KEEPERS. A communication from abroad by Frederick Fitt, of Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada, Watchmaker.
وو
This Invention relates to improvement in watches or time-keepers, and
comprises a novel manner of mounting and applying the escapement, whereby
it may be readily removed and exchanged or replaced; an automatic stop or
detent to lock the train when the escapement is removed, and release the same
when the escapement is replaced; means for speedily and accurately adjusting
the escapement, and other details hereinafter described.
The objects of this Invention are, to render the removal and replacement of the
escapement easy and speedy, even by inexperienced persons; to permit the ready
substitution of one escapement for another, either of the same or a different grade;
to obviate the existing necessity for unwinding the watch in order to permit such
removal; and to adjust the parts with perfect accuracy and in a short time, whereby
the escapement is rendered capable of universal application regardless of the
particular make or grade of the movement.
Watches as usually constructed have the escapement and balance between the
plates or on the pillar plate, and hence much difficulty is experienced in gaining
access to or observing the action of the escapement, which latter also is made for a
special style or grade of movement, and cannot therefore be exchanged for another.
No means moreover are provided whereby the train may be locked during the
removal or detachment of the escapement, and it is therefore necessary either to
unwind the watch (which in some cases can only be done by "taking down") or
to allow it to run down.
It is often desirable to remove the escapement of a watch and substitute for it
another of more perfect workmanship or bigher grade, or for the purpose of
repairing, in which latter case the watch is rendered useless while the repairing is
being effected.
By the present improvements however I am enabled to quickly and easily remove
the escapement and balance, to replace them or substitute others, and to apply and
adjust them to any watch without unwinding or taking down.
To accomplish these results I mount the escapement and balance wholly on one
and the same bed, which bed is secured to the pillar-plate preferably by a single
screw; and in order that the watch may not run down when the escapement is
removed, or need to be previously unwound, I provide a detent or stop-pin, which
upon the removal of the fastening screw automatically engages one of the wheels of
the train, and upon the replacing of the said screw automatically releases it.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 is a face view of the watch movement.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the escapement removed.
Figure 3 represents the escapement detached from the movement.
Figure 4 shews the escapement-platform with the escapement removed there-
from.
Figure 5 shews the reverse or back face of the escapement-platform.
Figure 6 is a face view of the dial side of the pillar plate shewing the automatic
stop and adjacent parts.
Figure 7 is a cross section on the line x, x, Figure 1, shewing more clearly the
action of the automatic stop.

page_text: Figure 10 is a view of the escapement-platform provided with a straight-line
escapement detached.
A represents the pillar-plate, and B the escapement platform, having at one end
a projecting lip or thin edge a and carrying the balance-cock b, the cock-prop being
secured in place by a screw c preferably formed with a polygonal head to
facilitate its removal by pliers or tweezers; d represents the pallet and escape-
wheel bracket also mounted upon the escapement-platform and secured thereto;
e indicates the balance-wheel; f, the pallets, and g the escape-wheel. The several
parts being thus mounted and secured upon the platform B, it will be seen that in
order to remove the escapement it is only necessary to detach the platform from the
pillar-plate when all may be lifted off.
The manner of securing the platform to the pillar-plate is susceptible of
modification, but in practice the arrangement illustrated in Figure 5 the Drawing
is preferred. The platform B is provided on its under face with three small
projecting studs h, i, j, which serve as steadying-pins, the pin or stud h being the
most important, as it serves to ensure and maintain the proper working of the
teeth in the escape-wheel-pinion. These studs serve to prevent the slipping of
the escapement-platform B, which is firmly secured to the pillar-plate by a single
screw k. This screw k is located at the rear of the balance-cock, which is thus made
to serve as a guard to protect the parts of the escapement against injury through
the slipping of the tool by which the screw is inserted. This location of the screw
however is especially important, as it permits the use of an angular or a chrono-
meter escapement. In order that there may be no possibility of the platform B
rocking or tipping, a flanged screw is screwed into the pillar-plate in such a
position that when the platform is in place its edge or lip a will extend under the
flange of the screw, as shewn in Figure 1. The screw / need not be removed from
the pillar-plate in detaching the escapement-platform, as a very slight backward
turn is sufficient to release its hold upon the lip a.
From the above description it will be seen that to remove the escapement it is
only necessary to loosen the screw and remove the screw k when the platform B
with all its attendant parts may be lifted off.
In order that the connection with the fourth wheel may be easy the edge of the
platform B is recessed, as at m, to fit or pass thereunder, a similar recess n being.
formed on the other face of the platform to accommodate the centre wheel, while a
projection or lip o at the inner side of the platform B serves as a convenient hold
for the fingers in handling.
The stop or locking device which locks the train automatically upon the
detachment of the escapement is represented in position in Figures 6 and 7, and
detached in Figure 8, it being controlled in its action by the screw k which holds
the platform B in place. While it is preferred to thus control the action of the
stop, it is apparent that other means for actuating the same may be employed.
The stop or detent consists of a pin p passing through a slot or opening q in the
pillar plate A, and arranged to engage with or be disengaged from the teeth of the
fourth wheel C, the said pin being carried upon a pivoted or swinging lever D, as
shewn in Figures 6 and 8. The lever D is free to swing or turn upon a shouldered
pivot screw r, and has its outwardly projecting end shouldered and arranged to
work into or through a recess in the outer rim-or-edge of the pillar-plate, the said
-end being forced outward by a spring, the spring 8, which also serves as a click
spring, being preferably employed for this purpose. As more clearly shewn in
Figure 9, the screw k by which the escapement-platform is held in place is formed
with a tapering or pointed end, and as shewn in Figures 6 and 7; this pointed or
tapered end is passed through the pillar-plate almost exactly over the outer edge
of the long arm of the lever D, so that as the screw is turned to its seat the point
is caused to press inward the long arm of the lever, thereby causing the short arm
to move outward and disengage the pin p from the teeth of the fourth wheel C and
to hold it away therefrom, while the withdrawal of the said screw permits the
lever D pressed by the spring a to move in the reverse direction and to lock the

page_text: fourth wheel. It will thus be seen that it is impossible for any injury to occur to
the train in removing the escapement.
By arranging the end of the lever D to work in the recess in the rim it is
prevented from being pressed outward from the face of the pillar-plate, while the
shoulder y prevents the lever from being moved too far.
By referring to Figures 3 and 10 it will be seen that either a straight-line or
angular escapement may be used with equal facility, and the same is true with
reference to pocket chronometers, whether the escapement be of the English or of
the Swiss pattern.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
-
the
First. In combination with the pillar-plate provided with the flanged screw,
platform having the lip and the stud h, and secured to the pillar-plate by a screw k,
as above described.
Second. The combination of the lever D, the click-spring, and the screw k,
substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Third. In combination with the pillar-plate having a recess in its rim, the
lever D having its end shouldered and working in the said recess, and the screw k,
all arranged and operating substantially as above described and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. The escapement-platform provided with the lip a, the recesses m, n, and
the projection o, substantially as shewn in the accompanying Drawing, and for the
purpose specified.
Fifth. In combination with the pillar-plate of a watch, a detachable escapement-
platform and a fastening screw located at the rear of the balance-cock, which is
thus made to protect the escapement and permit the use of an angular or
chronometer escapement, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
117M DODT
W. RODT. LAKE. (U.S.)