Improvements in Watches or Clocks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 1805
Improvements in Watches or Clocks.
I, NOWMAN MICAH SAATI, of No. 40 Vernon Street, Providence, County of
Providence, State of Rhode Island, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 object of my invention is to dispense with the ordinary train of gearing
between the actuating spring or weight, and the escapement wheel, and to simplify
and cheapen the construction of the operating mechanism of a watch or clock, and
my invention consists in the employment of a spiral groove or worm, and suitable
engaging members for imparting the desired rotary movement to the escapement
wheel. It also consists in the combination with the escapement wheel, of an
improved device for reducing the rate of movement between the axle of the escape-
ment wheel, and the minute or hour hands. It also consists in an improved
combination of time indicating hands, with the winding barrel and the driving axle
of the time piece.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, represents a back view of the movement of a watch embodying my
invention.
Fig. 2, represents a section taken in the line 2, 2, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, represents a section taken in the line 3, 3, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, represents a detail view, showing the lever for one of the engaging
members and its connected catch, from the engaging side.
Fig. 5, represents a detail view, showing the lever for the opposite engaging
member, and its connected catch, from the engaging side.
Fig. 6, represents an edge view of the lever and catch, shown in Fig. 5, and a
face view of the supporting disk from the side of the attaching plate.
Fig. 7, represents a view of the front side of the watch movement, showing the
gears for operating the minute and hour hands.
Fig. 8, represents an under view of the device for operating the minute hand by
means of an excentric upon the axle of the escapement wheel.
Fig. 9, represents a section taken in the line 9, 9, of Fig. 8, showing also a
detail section of the attaching plate of the watch.
Figs. 10 and 11, represent different forms of the engaging lever, for operating
the minute hand, from the excentric according as the movement of the escapement
wheel is in one direction, or the other.
Fig. 12, represents a modification in the device for operating the minute hand,
by means of an excentric upon the axle of the escapement wheel.
Fig. 13, represents another modification of the same.
Fig. 14, represents a section taken in the line 14, 14, of Fig. 13.
Fig. 15, represents a view of the face of the watch, showing two sets of hands;
one upon the axis of the escapement wheel, and the other upon the axle of the
driving wheel.
Fig. 16, represents a plan view, showing a modification in the mechanism for
imparting motion to the escapement, wheel.

page_text: Fig. 17, represents an inside view of the lever for one of the engaging members,
and its pivoting disk, at one side of the toothed driving wheel.
Fig. 18, represents an inside view of the lever for the engaging member at the
opposite side of the toothed wheel.
Fig. 19, represents an enlarged end view of the operating worm, and an edge
view of the engaging end of the lever, provided with a flattened loosely held
engaging member.
Fig. 20 represents an enlarged side view of a portion of the operating worm,
showing an end view of the lever and an edge view of the flattened loosely held
engaging member.
Fig. 21, represents a section taken through the main-spring barrel.
Fig. 22, represents a detail plan view showing a modification, adapted for a clock
movement, in which a single lever is employed for both engaging members.
Fig. 23, represents a detail side view of the same and
Fig. 23 represents a view of the inner side of the guide bar.
Figs. 24, and 25, are views representing a sliding carriage for the engaging
members.
Figs. 26, 27, and 28, are detail views, showing a modification in the worm of the
escapement wheel.
Fig. 29, represents a modification in which the engaging members have a sliding
instead of a swinging movement.
Fig. 30, represents a modification in which a pallet lever is employed to operate
the engaging members.
Fig. 31, represents an inner side view of a lever provided with two engaging
members, which pass one after the other through the coils of the worm.
'
In the accompanying drawings, A represents the supporting plate of a watch
movement, and B the dial, which is supported by the rim C. The barrel D is
held loosely upon the axle a of the toothed wheel E, which axle is supported by
the bridge A, and provided with a squared hub b, upon which is placed the ratchet
wheel F, the said ratchet wheel being provided with a spring actuated click c.
The main spring G is secured at its outer end to the wall d of the barrel D, and
at its inner end to the arbor e which is attached to the axle a of the wheel E, so
that when the barrel is held in a fixed position by means of the ratchet wheel and
click, rotary motion will be imparted to the wheel E by the resilience of the
spring G. The axle f, of the escapement wheel H, is provided with a screw
thread or worm g, adapted to receive the engaging members h, h, of the levers I, I',
which levers are firmly attached to their pivot axles J, J', supported in the bearing
standards i, i, which project from the side of the pivoted disks K, K. Upon the
pivot axle J, is placed the spiral spring j, one end of which is fastened to the pivot
axle, and the other end to the adjacent standard i, so that the torsion of the said
spring will tend to throw the lever I toward the side c² of the escapement wheel H.
The cylindrical enlargement k of the pivot axle J, is bored transversely of the axis
of the axle, to receive the shank 1, of the adjustable arm L, which projects from
the side of the axle toward the disk K, the said arm being held in position by
means of the set screw ; and to the arm L, is jointed the catch M, which
engages with the teeth of the wheel E, the said catch being forked at its outer
end n, so as to embrace the edge of the wheel E, and be supported thereby, at any
position in which the said catch may be placed, whether in or out of engagement
with the teeth of the wheel E, the engaging spur m, of the catch M, being adapted
at its inner side for engagement with the radially directed front side of the tooth e
of the wheel E. The disk K is pivoted by means of a stud o, which projects from
both sides of the disk and extends into the perforation p in the plate A, and also
into the perforation 7 in the bridge N, and to the bearing standard i, is attached
the flat disengaging spring r, the forward end of which is adapted to enter the
space between the teeth of the wheel E. To the side m² of the disk K, adjacent
to the plate A, is attached the wire spring s, which bears against the corner t7 of
the plate A and operates to slightly turn the disk K, and throw the engaging

page_text: member of the lever I, toward the side of the axle f for engagement with the
worm g, the springs being in all cases made weaker than the opposite disengaging
spring r.
The disk K', arranged at the opposite side of the wheel E, carries the lever I',
having a pivot axle J³, which is provided with the adjustable arm L', projecting
from the side of the axle J', opposite to that of the arm L upon the axle J, the
said axle J¹ and lever I', being actuated by means of the torsion spring j', to throw
the engaging member of the lever I', toward the side c² of the escapement
wheel H, to a point slightly beyond the end of the wormy, as above described for
the lever I, attached to the disk K.
To the arm L', is jointed the catch M' which is also forked at its outer end n',
as in the case of the catch M, and the spur m' is arranged to engage at its outer
side with the teeth of the wheel E, and to the standard of the plate K¹, is
attached the flat disengaging spring, the curved end of which is adapted to enter
the space between the teeth of the gear E, the said disengaging spring r', being
made stronger than the wire springs, which is arranged at the opposite side of the
disk K to turn the said disk and lever l' upon the pivot stud o' so that the engaging
member of the lever I', will be carried toward the side of the axle f, for engage-
ment with the worm g, the pivot stud o' being held by the plate A, and a bridge N',
as in the case of the disk K before described, the pivots o and o' being preferably
so arranged, relatively to the point of action of the catches M and M', upon the
teeth of the wheel E, that the natural tendency will be to preserve the engagement
of the said catches with the teeth, rather than to cause their disengagement, and
the pivotal movement of the disks K, K', will be limited by the opposite sides of
the recesses 13, 14, of the plate A, in which the said disks are placed, so that the
engaging members h, h', will not bear against the side of the axle f, to cause friction
upon the same, and also that the said engaging members will not be carried outward
to an undesirable distance from the side of the worm, and the stop pins, r, will
serve to prevent the contact of the members h, h, with the wheel H.
When the balance U, is set in motion, the consequent movement of the escape-
ment lever O will allow the escapement wheel H of 60 teeth, to revolve tooth by
tooth, the power of the main spring G being transmitted to the escapement wheel H
by means of the engaging members h, ', of the levers I, I', and the worm g, the
operation of the said engaging members being as follows: When the main-spring G
has been wound up, by turning the barrel D in the proper direction, the resilience
of the spring will tend to cause the movement of the wheel E in the same direction,
as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, and the engagement of the teeth of the gear E,
with the side of the spur m, of the catch M, will cause a pull upon the arm L,
tending to turn the pivot axle J and thus cause the pressure of the engaging
member of the lever 1, against the coils of the worm g, to produce a rotary
movement of the escapement wheel in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, and
since there are five full turns in the wormy: upon the full completion of the move-
ment of the lever I, by the pressure of the tooth of the gear E, against the
spur m, of the catch M, the escapement wheel H will have been turned five times,
subject to the regulating action of the escapement lever O, and prior to the dis-
engagement of the engaging member of the lever I, with the coils of the worm g,
the engaging member h' of the lever I will have been brought into engagement
therewith, with the spur m' of the catch M', in engagement with a tooth of the
driving wheel E, whereupon the pressure of the tooth of the wheel E, upon the
spur m¹ will cause a push upon the arm L', tending to turn the pivot axle J', and
thus cause a pressure of the engaging member of the lever L', against the
coils of the worm g, to continue the movement of the escapement wheel H, after
the disengagement of the engaging member h of the lever I from the said worm;
such disengagement being effected by the action of a moving tooth of the wheel E,
upon the disengaging spring r, to cause the turning of the disk K, and its attached
mechanism, upon the pivot o, against the weaker action of the spring s, so that, the
spur m will be thrown back out of engagement with the tooth of the wheel E,

page_text: and the engaging member h of the lever I, will be thrown back from the axle fof
the escapement wheel, and as soon as the spur m, is released from its engagement
with the tooth of the wheel E, the resilience of the torsion spring j, will cause the
movement of the engaging member of the lever I, back toward the side c' of the
engagement wheel to a point slightly beyond the end of the worm 9, preparatory
to re-engagement therewith, and as the movement of the escapement_wheel H
is being continued by the pressure exerted by the tooth of the wheel E, against
the spur m' of the catch M', which causes the outward movement of the
lever I', in engagement with the worm 9, the disengaging spring r will
become released from engagement with the tooth e³ of the wheel E. so
that the opposing spring s, can act to turn the disk K, back to its former
position, in which the spur m is again in engagement with a tooth of the wheel E,
whereupon, the movement of the wheel E, will cause the outward movement of
the engaging member of the lever I, from the side of the escapement wheel,
into engagement with the coils of the worm g, as before, and as the movement of
the wheel E continues, and the engaging member of the lever I', completes its
traverse through the coils of the worm g, a touth of the wheel E, will come into
engagement with the end of the spring r¹ and cause the turning of the disk K' and
its attached mechanism, upon the pivot o¹, against the weaker action of the
springs, so that the spur m', will be thrown back out of engagement with the
tooth e² of the wheel E, and the engaging member of the lever I', will be thrown
back from the axle of the escapement wheel: and, as soon as the spur m¹ is
released from its engagement with the tooth of the wheel E, the resilience of the
torsion spring, will cause the movement of the engaging member of the lever I¹,
back toward the side of the escapement wheel beyond the end of the worm g,
preparatory to re-engagement therewith; and as the movement of the escapement
wheel H is being continued, by the pressure exerted by a tooth of the wheel E,
against the spur m of the catch M, which causes the outward movement of the
lever I, in operative engagement with the worm g, the disengaging spring r², will
become released from engagement with the tooth of the wheel E, so that the
opposing spring s, can act to turn the disk K', back to the position in which the
spur m'
is again in engagement with a tooth of the wheel E, whereupon
the movement of the wheel E will cause the outward movement of the engaging
member of the lever I', from the side e² of the escapement wheel, into engagement
with the coils of the worm g, as before and this operation will be continuously
repeated, so that upon the movement of the wheel E for the space of a single tooth
with the engaging members and operating the coils of a worm g of five turns,
ten entire revolutions will be imparted to the escapement wheel, and a time piece
constructed upon the principle of the engaging members and worm, instead of the
ordinary train of gearing, will operate with a greatly reduced expenditure of power,
a much weaker mainspring being amply sufficient for the purpose.
The driving wheel may be provided with seventy-two teeth, and the escapement
wheel H sixty teeth, with a worm g of five turns and the gearing to operate the
hands of the timepiece, may be driven, either by the axle f, of the escapement
wheel, or by the axle a of the wheel E, or by both, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, and
when both are employed, the true time at two different places, may be kept by the
same watch, or the watch may be set for both the standard and the true time at
any given place. As the escapement wheel H of sixty teeth will make one
revolution in a minute, the second hand a may be attached to the axle f of the
said wheel, and in order to reduce the movement, for the purpose of driving the
minute hand y, the excentric t (see Fig. 8) is attached to the axle f, and covered
by circular bridge P, which is secured to the plate A, by means of the screws ", u,
and over the excentric t. is placed the eye a', of the lever arm 62, of the compound
engaging lever Q, the said lever arm being provided with the slot adapted to
receive the fulcerum pin v attached to the plate A, and also with a circular head 6³,
adapted to enter the circular socket 4, of the lever aim , the said arm being
provided with the slot ³, adapted to receive the fulcrum screw t³, and with the

page_text: curved arms t, v, having at their outer ends the engaging spurs 12, 1, adapted to
engage with the teeth of the minute wheel R of sixty teeth, which wheel is placed
loosely upon the stationary hub t¹ at the outer side of the bridge P, (see Fig. 3)
the said wheel being provided with the elongated hub w, upon the upper end of
which is placed the minute hand y, and when the escapement wheel H is in motion,
the engaging spurs P, P, of the compound lever Q, will alternately engage with the
teeth at opposite edges of the minute wheel, to cause a single revolution of the
same, when the escapement wheel has made 60 revolutions; the excentric t which
fits the eye a of the compound lever Q, serving to cause the engaging spurs 12, 13,
to impart the required rotary movement to the wheel R, by their alternate
engagement and disengagement with the teeth of the same; the compound lever Q
in this case serving to cause the rotation of the wheel R, in the proper direction
for the minute hand of the watch. But in case it is not desired to employ a second
hand, then the escapement wheel H, and its excentric t, may be caused to revolve
in the opposite direction, so that a single engaging lever Q shown in Fig. 11, may
be employed the operation of the excentric t, in that case serving to rotate the
wheel R in the proper direction.
Instead of the single lever Q, two levers Q3, Q³, set at right angles to each
other, may be arranged upon the same excentric t, as shown in Fig. 12 and in this
case a more uniform movement will be imparted to the minute wheel.
In order to apply the minute wheel R of 60 teeth to a watch the balance of
which is arranged to beat quarter seconds the escapement wheel in this case
having 120 teeth the excentric t is placed upon the axle of the escapement wheel
as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, and a pinion m³ of 6 teeth secured to the hub of the
excentric, under the bridge P, the said pinion being made to engage with a gear m³
of 12 teeth upon the axle m*, to which axle the second han is to be attached, the
minute wheel R being held loose upon the stationary hub at the outer side of the
bridge P; and to provide for the action of the single lever Q', which performs
120 vibrations per hour upon the minute wheel of 60 teeth, the engaging spurs 1, 1,
of the lever Q, are provided with the notches, which are adapted to receive the
pointed ends of the teeth o³, of the minute wheel, the said engaging members being
also adapted to enter the spaces between the said teeth, and in this case, the
excentric which fits the eye a', is made with a throw adapted to cause the
movement of the wheel R, for the space of one half a tooth, at each revolution of
the excentrict, the spurs 12, 12, first engaging with the tooth, and then coming
opposite the space, between two teeth and so on, alternately so as to impart a rotary
movement to the wheel R, in which two revolutions of the excentric t. will serve
to impart a movement of one tooth to the wheel R, and in this case, the
escapement wheel, upon the axle of which the excentric t is placed, is to be driven
in a direction contrary to that shown in Figure 1, the reversal of movement to
accommodate the second hand being effected by the action of the pinion m² and
gear m³.
When the tooth o of the wheel R is in engagement with the notch n² of
the spur, the continued revolution of the excentric t will cause the wheel R to be
turned for the space of one-quarter of a tooth, and the subsequent engagement of
the opposite spur of the lever Q with the two opposite teeth of the wheel R will
serve to turn the said wheel R through the second quarter of a tooth, and upon the
cominencement of another revolution of the eccentric, the first mentioned spur 12
will engage the teeth to move the wheel R through the space of a third quarter of
a tooth, the opposite spur 2 then engaging with top of the opposite tooth to move
the wheel R through the fourth quarter of a tooth, thus causing the proper slow
movement of the wheel R.
The hub w of the minute wheel R, is provided with the pinion w₁ of ten teeth,
which engage with the gear w² of torty teeth, and to the side of the gear *, is
attached the pinion w³, of twelve teeth, the said gear w² and pinion w³ being held
upon a stud 6, which is supported by the bridge S, and the pinion w³ of twelve
teeth engages with the geir w, of thirty six teeth, the said gear being provided
with the hub w, upon which is placed the hour hand =.

page_text: The supplementary hour hand 2' is arranged upon the axle a of the driving
wheel E, and upon the axle a at the outer side of the bridge T, is placed the cannon
gear c¹ of forty-eight teeth, the said gear being frictionally held upon the said axle,
and the frictionally held gear c¹ engages with the pinion d' of twelve teeth, which
is attached to the side of the gear e', of forty-eight teeth, the said gear and pinion
being held to revolve upon the screw stud 1, held in the bridge T, and the gear el
engages with the pinion g³ of twelve teeth, revolving upon the hub of the gear c',
the said pinion being provided with an elongated hub u upon which is placed the
minute hand y', thus readily providing two sets of time keeping hands, in the same
watch or clock. The parts of the watch movement may be differently arranged,
that is, the axle a of the driving wheel E may occupy the central position upon the
dial B, which is occupied by the axle of the escapement wheel H, the minute and
hour hands being placed upon the axle a of the wheel E, as described.
A modification of my improved time keeping mechanism is shown in Fig. 16, in
which the engaging levers 12, 13, are pivoted to the lugs p², upon the pivoted
supporting disk K, K, by means of the screws 8². The lever 1 is provided with
the catch, which is integral with said lever, the said catch being adapted for
engagement with the teeth of the wheel E, and at the rear of the catch, is placed
the light spring 13, which tends to throw the lever I back toward the side of the
escapement wheel, and also to turn the disk K2, slightly upon its pivot q, to throw
the engaging member of the lever 12, away from the axle f so as not to engage
with the worm g, upon the subsequent movement of the said engaging member
toward the side c² of the said wheel. The engaging lever I at the opposite side of
the wheel E, is provided with the short stud t2, at the back of which is arranged
the light spring, which serves to move the lever 1, toward the side c² of the
escapement wheel, and also to turn the disk K³, slightly upon its pivot q³, to throw
the engaging member of the lever 13, away from the axle thus preventing
engagement with the worm g, upon the subsequent movement of the engaging
member toward the side of the said wheel. The catch X is interposed between
the stud 2 of the lever 1, and the teeth of the wheel E, in order to provide for the
reverse direction of the movement of the teeth, at the side of the wheel adjacent to
the disk K', so that the engaging member h³, of the lever 13, will be operated to
engagement with the worm g and disengagement therefrom, in the same manner,
as in the case of the engaging member of the lever 12, the catch lever X being
pivoted to the post t³, the arm t' of the said lever resting in front of the stud 2,
and bearing against the same, and the arm t, engaging with the teeth e
of the wheel E, to produce the required movement of the catch lever to
cause the proper movement of the disk K³, and the engaging lever 13.
When the tooth e2 is in engagement with the catch, of the lever 12, as shown in
Fig. 16, the disk K2 will be first turned so as to carry the engaging member h
of the lever 12 toward the axle f of the worm g, and the continued movement of the
tooth will cause the engaging member 2 to move along the coils of the worm,
and impart the required movement to the escapement wheel, until finally the
engaging member h² will be brought clear of the worm at its opposite end, so as to
cease its action thereon, and the tooth e will pass clear of the catch r, then the
action of the spring, will serve to turn back the disk K2 on its pivot q², and
throw back the engaging member of the lever I to a point beyond the line of
the coils of the worm, and back toward the side of the wheel 11, preparatory to
re-engagement with the worm, and in the meantime the action of the tooth e
upon the arm t of the catch lever X will serve to carry the said arm forward, and
throw the arm t backward, so as to press against the stud t, to first cause a slight
movement of the disk K³ upon its pivot q³, and an inward movement of the
engaging member ³ of the lever I³, toward the axle f of the worm o̟, and then, the
continued movement of the tooth e³, will cause the engaging member ³ to move
along the coils of the worm, and thus impart the required movement to the
escapement wheel, until the said engaging member passes out of the coils, at the
opposite end of the worm, so as to cease its action thereon, and the tooth e² will

page_text: pass clear of the arm to, of the catch lever X, then the action of the spring rª, will
serve to turn back the disk K' on its pivot q, and to throw back the engaging
member of the lever 1, to a point beyond the line of the coils of the worm, and
back toward the side of the wheel H, preparatory to re-engagement with the
worm upon the subsequent engagement of a tooth of the wheel E with the arm t³ ;
and the engaging members of the levers 12, 13, will be operated alternately into
engagement with the worm g, to produce a continuous movement of the escapement
wheel H. The pivotal movement of the disks K, K³, may be properly limited, so
that the engaging members h2, h3, will not bear against the side of the axle f, to
cause friction upon the same, and also that the said engaging members will not be
carried outward to an undesirable distance from the side of the worm, by means
of the stop pins 5, f, secured to the plate A, near the opposite edges of the
disks.
The engaging members may be held loosely at the end of the engaging lever 1º,
as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, in which the engaging member 4 made of flattened
construction, and provided with a shank u³, which is held loosely in the perforation u³
in the end of the lever I thus allowing the engaging member to fit fairly against
the coils p³ notwithstanding the varying inclination of the lever I' with respect to
the axis of the worm.
Another modification of my invention adapted for a clock movement is shown in
Figs. 22 and 23 in which a single engaging lever I', is employed, the said lever
being provided with the two opposite engaging members, ³, arranged at opposite
sides of the axle f of the escapement wheel H, for action upon the right and left
hand worms g', 9, arranged upon the said axle, which may be supported in the
fixed bearings a³, a, connected to any suitable support.
The lever I is provided with the pivot axle e, which is supported in the bearing
standards e, e, upon the disk K, the said disk being pivoted upon the screw /
To the disk K, at the points d', d³, are pivoted the catch levers Y, Y', extending
in opposite directions from their pivoting points, for engagement with the teeth e
of the wheel E. The catch levers Y, Y' are each provided with a stud o³, o, which
is connected with one of the studs 0, 0, upon the disk K, and the studs o³, 0%, are
connected by means of the spiral springs, and the studs 0, 0, by means of the
spiral spring, and the movement of the engaging members h, 1, of the lever I',
toward and from the axle f of the escapement wheel H, is limited by means of the
screw stud, and the nuts, 7; the said screw stud being secured to the disk K',
and passing through a perforation in the lever 1, and by this means the said
engaging members may be so adjusted that they will not bear against the said axle,
to prevent the ready rotation of the same, and the outward movement of the catch
levers Y, Y¹, is limited by the stop pins,
To the post, is attached the guide bar, which projects toward the end of
the arm, of the lever I', so that the end of the said arm in its reciprocations may
pass along the said guide bar longitudinally, first above then below the same, and
at the opposite ends of the bar 23, are arranged the flat springs a, 7, the spring
being arranged with an upward inclination, and the spring with an opposite
downward inclination, so that as the end of the arm, passes beyond the said
springs, the said arm upon its return movement will be raised or lowered as the
case may be, to effect the proper movement of the engaging members *, *, toward
and from the axle of the escapement wheel H.
The operation of the device will be as follows: When the catch lever Y is in
engagement with the tooth of the wheel E, as shown in Fig. 22, and the
engaging member h³, is in engagement with the coils of the worm, then upon the
continued forward movement of the tooth e³, the disk K' will be turned upon its
pivot screw f' causing the movement of the lever I', and the engaging members h*, ho,
in the direction away from the side of the escapement wheel H, the engaging
member * being in engagement with the coils of the worm g¹, and the opposite
engaging member h, out of engagement with its worm g, the end of the arm
being in this case above the guide bar, and upon the continued movement of the

page_text: engaged tooth e³, the disk K', will be turned so as to draw upon the springs, until
the engaging member h, passes out of engagement with the worm g', into the
space n, between the worms g¹, y', and the end of the arm a passes beyond the
inclined spring and thereupon, the lever I being relieved from pressure,
the accumulated resilience of the spring ³, will instantly cause the outward
movement of the catch lever Y, from engagement with the tooth e²; whereupon,
the opposite tooth e', will become engaged with the catch lever Y', to reverse the
motion of the disk K', and lever I', whereby the end of the arm will be
carried along the under side of the guide bar and the resulting movement of the
engaging member 4, along the worm g³, which is cut reversely to the worm g',
will cause the axle fand wheel H to be turned in the same direction as before, the
movement of the disk K, upon its pivot, causing a pull upon the spring s*, so that
when the engaging member h passes out of the worm 9, into the space n³, and
the end of the arm a passes beyond the inclined spring 7, the accumulated
resilience of the spring st, will cause the instant outward movement of the catch
lever Y', from engagement with the teeth e: whereupon, the opposite tooth e' will
become engaged with the catch lever Y, to again reverse the motion of the disk K*,
and lever 1; and this operation continuously repeated, will serve to impart
continuous rotation to the escapement wheel H.
In order to impart a movement to the engaging members, *,, parallel to the
axis of the axle, instead of causing the same to be moved in the arc of a circle,
the said engaging members may be held upon a carriage Z, adapted to slide upon
the cylindrical rod n', supported by the standards n³, the said sliding carriage
being provided with the socket no, adapted to receive the spherical end n', of the
operating lever 1, which takes the place of the lever I', shown in Figs. 22 and 23,
and in this case, the engagement and disengagement of the engaging members
with their respective worms, will be as before, except that the engaging movement
of the carriage by rocking on the rod n', will be the reverse of that of the
lever I*.
Instead of the two worms gl and 92, a worm formed with the right and left hand
spiral grooves to and to, as shown in Figs. 26 and 27 may be employed, and in that
case, the engaging members h and h, of elongated form are set for engagement
with their respective grooves at opposite sides of the axis of the axle f, and the
application of a sliding carriage Z', provided with engaging members adapted for
engagement with the reverse spiral grooves to, and to, as shown in Fig. 28, the
lever 1, being employed to operate the carriage, as in Fig. 24.
In the modification shown in Fig. 29, the pivot axles J, J, of the engaging
members h, h, are arranged to slide in the fixed bearing standards i, i, against the
thrust action of the torsion spiral spring j, the inward sliding movement of the
said pivot axles being limited by means of the shoulder 18, which rests against
the side of the inner standard i.
The sliding movement of the pivot axles J, J', is effected by means of the
pivoted catch levers to, to, which engage with the teeth of the wheel E, and are
provided with the spring arms o', bearing against the inner ends of the pivot
axles J, J; and in this case, the engaging members h, h', and the catches M, M',
will be actuated by a sliding instead of a swinging movement.
In some cases as illustrated in Fig. 31, the levers may be provided with two or
more engaging members °, 10, which pass one after the other through the coils
of the worm, so that with a worm of a certain length, a greater number of
revolutions of the axle may be obtained, the operation of the engaging and
disengaging mechanism being in this case, as before described for a single engaging
member.
Another modification is shown in Fig. 30, in which a single pivoted lever I',
provided with the pallets a° and a' is employed, and to the outer end of the lever I'
are pivoted the reversely set engaging members 7, 8, which are held in engage-
ment with their respective worms upon the axle fof the escapement wheel H, by
means of a downwardly extending pin f, which enters the groove f³, in the

page_text: stationary guide piece f³, and moves loosely therein. The guide piece f³ is
provided with the side opening f10, through which the pin f' is caused to enter
the groove of the guide, and the engaging members h, 18, are actuated in their
movement into and from engagement with their respective worins g', g³. by means
of the spiral springs y³, y³, which are so arranged that when the lever I', has been
carried by the movement of the wheel E, to its extreme position in either
direction, one of the engaging members will be withdrawn from its worm, by the
contraction of the actuating spring at the instant of the emergence of the pin f
from the outer end of the groove 8 of the guide f, while the opposite engaging
member will be thrown into engagement with its worm, preparatory to the reverse
movement of the lever I', by the expansion of its actuating spiral spring, which
serves to throw the pin f' through the side opening f 10, into the groove f³, which
serves to guide the movement of the engaging members, while the said engaging
members are in engagement with their respective worms, the disengaged engaging
member, being held from engagement with its worm upon the backward movement
of the said member, by means of the pin f', which passes back to the opening f³
along the inner side of the stationary guide f.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular mode of.
operating the engaging members in their alternate engagement and re-engagement
with the spiral groove of the worm, and there are various methods for effecting
the required movement of the same from the movement of the wheel E, the
examples given being deemed sufficient exemplification of the principle involved.
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 :
1. In a time-piece, the combination with an escapement mechanism, the worm,
and the toothed driving wheel, of an intermediate reciprocatory engaging member
adapted to traverse the coils of the worm in one direction, and to pass outside of
the said coils in the opposite direction, and the catch or pallet engaging with the
teeth of the driving wheel to impart a traversing movement to the engaging
member, substantially as described.
2. In a time-piece, the combination with an escapement mechanism, the worm,
and the toothed driving wheel, of an intermediate engaging member adapted to
traverse the coils of the worm, an engaging catch or pallet adapted to bear
against a tooth of the wheel to operate the engaging member, and a spring adapted
to cause the disengagement of the engaging member, upon the completion of its
traversing movement through the coils of the worin, substantially as described.
3. In a time-piece, the combination with an escapement mechanism, the worm,
and the toothed driving wheel, of an intermediate engaging member adapted to
traverse the coils of the worm, an engaging catch or pallet, adapted to bear
against a tooth of the wheel to operate the engaging member, a spring adapted
to
cause the disengagement of the engaging member upon the completion
of its traversing movement, and means for carrying the engaging member back to
its starting point for re-engagement, substantially as described.
4. In a time-piece, the combination with an escapement mechanism, the worm',
and the toothed driving wheel, of the opposite engaging members, and suitable
connection with the teeth of the driving wheel, for operating the engaging members
alternately through the coils of the worm, substantially as described.
5. In a time-piece, the combination with an escapement mechanism, the worm,
and the toothed driving wheel, of the opposite alternately engaging members, and
the catches or pallets adapted for alternate engagement with the teeth of the
driving wheel, to cause the traverse of the engaging members through the coils of
the worm, substantially as described.
6. In a time-piece, the combination with the escapement mechanism, the
excentric, and the toothed minute wheel, of the spur lever operated by the

page_text: excentric and engaging with the teeth of the minute wheel, and the minute and
hour hands connected with the minute wheel, substantially as described.
7. In a time-piece, the combination with the escapement mechanism, the
excentric, and the toothed minute wheel, of the compound lever fitting the
excentric and provided with spurs adapted to engage alternately with the teeth
at opposite edges of the wheel, and the minute and hour hands connected with the
minute wheel, substantially as described.
8. In a time-piece, the combination with the escapement mechanism, the
excentric, and the minute wheel, of the pinion upon the axle of the escapement
wheel, the twofold gear provided with an axle passing through the hub of the
minute wheel, the lever fitting the excentric and having forked spurs, adapted to
engage alternately with the points and sides, of the teeth at opposite edges of the
minute wheel, and the minute and hour hands connected with the minute wheel,
substantially as described.
9. In a time-piece, the combination with an escapement mechanism, and the
minute and hour hands, of the second hand and means for driving the minute and
hour hands from the axle of the second hand, substantially as described.
10. In a time-piece, the combination with an escapement mechanism, and the
minute wheel, of the spur lever adapted to engage with the teeth of the minute
wheel, means for operating the said lever from the axle of the escapement wheel,
the minute hand attached to the hub of the minute wheel, the hour gear and hour
hand loose upon the hub of the minute wheel, and the intermediate gear and
pinion, substantially as described.
11. In a time-piece, the combination with a toothed wheel, and the reversely
directed worms. of duplicate reciprocatory engaging members adapted to alternately
traverse the coils of the worm, duplicate engaging catches or pallets connected
with the engaging members, and adapted to bear against the teeth of the wheel,
and ineans for actuating the engaging members, into alternate engagement and
disengagement with the coils of the worms, substantially as described.
12. In a time-piece, the combination with the escapement mechanism, the worm,
and the toothed driving wheel, of the pivoted disks at opposite sides of the driving
wheel, the opposite engaging members supported upon the pivot axles, the loosely
held catches for engagement with the teeth of the driving wheel, the springs for
swinging the engaging members toward the axle of the worm, and the engaging
catches toward the teeth of the driving wheel, the springs for swinging the engaging
members away from the axle of the worn, and the catches away from the teeth of
the driving wheel, and the springs for turning the pivot axles to carry back the
engaging members for re-engagement with the worm, substantially as described.
13. In a time-piece, the combination with the driving axle, the spring arbor
attached to the axle, the main-spring attached to the spring arbor, the winding
barrel loose upon the driving axle, the ratchet wheel, and the click, of the hour
hand attached to the driving axle, the gear frictionally held upon the driving axle,
the loose pinion, the minute hand attached to the hub of the loose pinion, and the
intermediate gear and pinion for driving the minute hand, substantially as
described.
Dated this 1st day of December 1893.
NOWMAN MICAH SAATI..
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.