Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 28th Sept, 1888
We, JOSEPH AUGUSTE CLEMENCE of 11 Southampton Row in the County of
Middlesex and JOSEPH EUGÈNE CLEMENCE of Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Watch
Manufacturers trading as Clemence Frères, 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 invention relates to a novel arrangement and combination of chronograph
mechanism whereby great simplicity and facility of construction are obtained.
The invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
represents the chronograph mechanism upon the top plate and Figure 2 represents
the mechanism under the dial for acting upon and shifting the register minute hand
of the chronograph dial.
We will first describe the chronograph mechanism represented at Figure 1.
A is the axis of the lever a, which is in communication with, and operated at its
end a¹ by, a pusher connected with the stem winder, or by a separate pusher situated
at other convenient position. This lever a carries at the other end a click or driver a²,
which is kept in gear with the teeth of the ratchet wheel b by a spring a³; this same
spring acts on the lever a and maintains it in a given position.
B is the axis of the ratchet wheel 6, which is provided with 18 teeth, and of, the
star wheel 6' fixed thereto; a regulating spring 63, the free end of which is in
communication with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, holds these two wheels in a given.
position.
C is the axis of the chronograph wheel c carrying the chronograph indicating hand.
and the heart shaped cam c; the shaft of this wheel passes through the hollow arbor,,"
in which it is adjusted cylindrically and freely..
D is the axis of the seconds wheel, upon which is fixed the chronograph-wheel-d,
this latter consequently makes one revolution per minute.
E is the axis of the arm or lever e, one end of which is in communication with the
star wheel; this arm or lever is acted upon by a spring e¹ and carries the chronograph
wheel f

page_text: F is the axis of the chronograph wheel f formed with a serrated edge, as usual,
which effects communication between the wheels c and d ; this wheel is adjusted
cylindrically and freely upon a pivot.
G is the stop lever of the chronograph wheel c, which is constructed so as to be
always capable of holding itself against the star wheel.
H is the axis of the readjusting lever h of the cam; this readjusting lever is held
in communication with the star wheel by a spring h¹.
Kis the cock or bridge of the chronograph mechanism. In order that the parts of
the chronograph mechanism may be more readily seen we have represented the outline
of said cock or bridge only in dotted lines.
L is the stop screw of the piece e.
M is a break which regulates the motion of the chronograph hand.
The above described mechanism has for its object,
First. To put in motion the chronograph hand, which travels round the dial in a
minute and makes five beats per second.
Second. To effect the stoppage of this hand in any given position.
Third. To return the hand to its starting point, which is 60.
These three effects are obtained by pressing upon the pusher and thus operating the
lever a three times, the angular motion of which is regulated so as to produce each
time the passage of one tooth of the ratchet wheel b.
The angular distance of three teeth of the ratchet wheel b corresponds to that of
one tooth and one space of the star wheel b¹.
The arms of the pieces e. G. h. are placed in such manner that two of them are
pressed upon teeth whilst the third is within a space of the star wheel.
The succession of effects is obtained as follows, taking as the starting point the
position of the arm e within a space, that is to say, the wheel f in contact with the
wheel c and consequently the chronograph hand in motion.
First effect. By pressing upon the end a¹ of the lever a the ratchet wheel b is
caused to turn the distance of one tooth in the direction indicated by the arrow,
causing a tooth of the star wheel to encounter the arm e, which puts the wheels f and c
out of gear.
At the same instant the nose g of the. stop lever G enters one of the spaces of the
star wheel and the end of this same lever at the same time presses against the
circumference of the wheel c, by which action the chronograph hand is stopped.
Second effect. A second stroke of the pusher turns the ratchet wheel b one tooth,
which causes the stop lever G to recede from the wheel c and moves the readjusting
lever against the heart shaped cam, which will be rotated by the angle of the
readjusting lever until the latter comes against and rests upon those parts of the two
curves which are nearest to the axis thereof.
This position corresponds with that of the chronograph hand when at rest at 60.
Third effect. A third stroke of the pusher causes the readjusting lever to recede
from the heart shaped cam and the gearing together of the wheels f and c and
consequently the starting of the chronograph hand.
These three effects succeed each other at each stroke of the pusher.
We will now describe the mechanism represented at Figure 2 for registering each
minute completed by the chronograph hand.
N is the axis or face of the pinion n of 18 teeth fixed on the arbor of the small
wheel and gearing with the wheel o.
O is the axis of the wheel o of 72 teeth; o¹ stop disc; o³ heart shaped cam; these
two latter parts are fixed together by two screws and are adjusted cylindrically and
freely on the shaft O.
o³ is a flexible blade fixed to the heart shaped cam and one end of which enters the
groove formed in the shaft 0%; the pressure of this blade against the shaft is
sufficiently strong to enable the cam, and consequently the disc, to participate in the
rotary motion of the shaft O; the cam carries a cannon shaft on which is adjusted
the minute hand for registering each minute completed by the revolution of the
chronograph hand.

page_text: P is the axis of the readjusting lever p of the cam ; this axis is the same as that
of the readjusting lever h of the chronograph.
The readjusting lever h of the chronograph and that (p) of the minute register are
fixed on the same shaft and cannot move independently of each other.
Qis the axis of the stop lever 9 of the disc o¹; this lever is operated upon by the
spring g', which constantly tends to separate it from the circumference of the disc.
The readjusting lever carries a pin p¹, against which the stop lever q can bear; it is
by means of this pin that the readjusting lever compels the stop lever to press
against the circumference of the disc, causing it to be arrested and with it, the register
minute hand.
This mechanism has for its object,
First. To put in motion the register minute hand, which is carried round the small
dial or circle arranged on the ordinary dial, in 30 or 60 minutes, according to the
proportions of the gearing.
Second. To effect the stopping of this hand in any position.
Third. To return the hand to its starting point, which is 60.
These three effects are obtained by operating the lever a of the chronograph as
described with respect to Figure 1.
The action is effected as follows, assuming as the starting point, the register
minute hand to be stopped at 60, coinciding with that position of the chronograph
hand, the nose of the readjusting lever being in one of the spaces of the star
wheel.
First effect. By pressing on the end a¹ of the lever a the ratchet wheel b is
turned the distance of one tooth in the direction indicated by the arrow; a tooth
of the star wheel 61 encounters the nose of the readjusting lever of the chronograph
and compels it to recede from the centre B a certain distance (this position is the
one represented in the drawing), the readjusting lever of the minute register also
participates in this motion, and consequently recedes from the cam o², no longer
impeding its motion; thus the starting of the register minute hand will be effected.
In this position the pin p¹ is in contact with the lever q.
Second effect. A second stroke of the pusher, causes the ratchet wheel b to turn
the distance of one tooth and consequently gives a further motion to the tooth of
the star wheel, against which the nose of the readjusting lever of the chronograph
was resting, which compels it to recede again a further distance from the centre B;
the readjusting lever p also participates in this motion and the pin p¹ compels
the lever q to bear against the circumference of the disc; thus stopping the minute
register.
Third effect. A third stroke of the pusher causes the nose of the readjusting
lever to enter one of the spaces of the star wheel; the readjusting lever p then
bears against the cam o² causing it to rotate until the lever p arrives at, and
rests upon, those parts of the two curves of the cam which are nearest to the axis
thereof, which position corresponds with that of the hand of the minute register when at
rest at 60.
These three effects succeed each other at each stroke of the pusher.
We would here remark that we do not claim, broadly considered, the employment
of star wheel, ratchet wheel, pawl, and regulating lever, trains of chronograph gearing
for communicating motion from parts of the watch movement to the seconds hand and
minute hand of the chronograph, and readjusting levers and heart shaped cams for
readjusting the chronograph hands to their starting points, as such have been
previously employed of different construction and arrangement from our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The peculiar arrangement and combination of parts of chronograph mechanism
herein shown and described.
2. In chronograph mechanism the star wheel and ratchet wheel fixed together

page_text: and mounted on the top of the back plate and operated upon by a pawl lever
which is acted upon at one end by a pusher and at the other by a spring substantially
as herein shown and described.
3. In chronograph mechanism the employment of an intermediate serrated edged
wheel mounted on a pivotted arm or lever acted upon in one direction by the star
wheel and in the opposite direction by a spring to cause such intermediate wheel,
whilst always remaining in gear with the chronograph wheel on the seconds axis of
the watch movement, to be carried into and out of gear with the chronograph wheel
on the axis of the chronograph seconds hand substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
4. In chronograph mechanism the employment of gearing for giving motion from
the watch movement to the chronograph minute hand and of mechanism for starting,
stopping and readjusting the same to the starting point simultaneously with the
chronograph seconds hand substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 22nd day of Lun 1000
JOSEPH AUGUSTE CLEMENCE.
JOSEPH. EUGÉNE CLEMENCE.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.