IMPROVEMENTS IN INVISIBLE CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM WITH PERMANENTLY LOCATED KEYS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Etienne Mathurin Léon Maxant, of the City of Paris, in
the Republic of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVISIBLE
CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM WITH PERMANENTLY LOCATED KEYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Etienne Mathurin Léon
Maxant at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March
1879.
ETIENNE MATHURIN LÉON MAXANT, of the City of Paris, in the Republic of
France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVISIBLE CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM WITH PER-
MANENTLY LOCATED KEYS."
The object of this Invention is to wind the striking and going parts of clocks, and
to regulate them in such a manner that the clock face is not disfigured by the cus-
tomary winding places, as visible on clocks at present manufactured.
This is effected by concealing the keys (which are permanently located) beneath
the door of the clock case.
The improvements requisite for carrying this into effect are as follow:-
1st. As regards the winding of the spring barrel of the striking part, a toothed
wheel is fixed on the shaft or arbor of the barrel spring; this wheel is actuated by
another, and this again by a pinion; this pinion is pierced in the centre with a
square hole, which is traversed freely by the shaft of a key whose head rests eccen-
trically on the dial beneath the door of the clockcase, which conceals it; its end
terminates square, and is of the same dimensions as the square aperture in the
pinion, so that in winding up, the head of the hidden key is first drawn forward,
which causes its square end to fix in the square of the pinion, and so renders it solid
with it; the key is then turned in the usual way for winding.
2nd. In winding the spring barrel of the going part in a similar manner by
having a toothed wheel fixed to the axis of the spring, gearing with an intermediate
wheel which gears with a pinion fixed on the shaft of the key; when this key is
drawn forward and when the head rests on the face of the clock, the pinion is
ungeared, and the wheel is liberated.

page_text: 3rd. In regulating the balance by a key entering and withdrawing like the pre-
ceeding, which becomes solid with the regulating rod, terminating square for the
purpose.
4th. In winding barrels and regulating clocks by mechanical combinations, the
result of the three above named methods, leaving, as described, the heads of the keys
invisible and the dials freed from the customary holes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Etienne Mathurin Léon Maxant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th September 1879.
ETIENNE MATHURIN LÉON MAXANT, of the City of Paris, in the Republic of
France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVISIBLE CLOCK WINDING-MECHANISM WITH PER-
MANENTLY LOCATED KEYS."
The object of this Invention is to wind the striking and going parts of clocks, and
to regulate them in such a manner that the clock face is not disfigured by the cus-
tomary winding places, as visible on clocks at present manufactured.
This is effected by concealing the keys (which are permanently located) beneath
the door of the clock case. The improvements requisite for carrying this into effect
are as follow:
}
1
1.
1st. As regards the winding of the spring barrels of the striking part, a toothed
wheel is fixed on the shaft or arbor of the barrel spring; this wheel is actuated by
another, and this again by. a pinion; this pinion is pierced in the centre of its
axis with a square hole, which is traversed freely by the shaft of a key whose head
rests eccentrically on the dial beneath; the door of the clock case conceals it, and its
end terminates square and is of the same dimensions as the square aperture in the
pinion, so that in winding up, the head of the hidden key is first drawn forward,
which causes its square end to fix in the square of the pinion, and so renders it solid
with it; the key is then turned in the usual way for winding.
2nd. In winding the spring barrel of the going part in a similar manner by
having a toothed wheel fixed to the axis of the spring, gearing with an intermediate
wheel which gears with a pinion fixed on the shaft of the key; when this key is
drawn forward and when the head rests on the face of the clock, the pinion is
ungeared, and the wheel is liberated.
3rd. In regulating the balance by a key entering and withdrawing like the pre-
ceding, which becomes solid with the regulating rod, terminating square for the
purpose.
:
4th. In winding barrels and regulating clocks by mechanical combinations, the
result of the three above named methods, leaving, as described, the heads of the keys
invisible, and the dials freed from the customary holes and axes.
Having so far described my Invention, I will now proceed to explain the mode of
carrying it into effect by aid of the accompanying Drawings, at the same time indi-
cating the claims and modifications of which it is susceptible.
1.
W.T!i

page_text: Fig. 1 represents in external elevation a clock movement with invisible winding
and regulating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan section of the same, illustrating the new
parts; Fig. 3 is an external view of the movement, the door of the case removed;
Fig. 4 is an external view of the movement in front of the large plate, with the glass
removed; Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are the keys shown in detail.
When the glass door or front is closed, as shown, Fig. 1, neither axis nor hole are
visible on the dial; the lines and figures denoting the hours can thus occupy the
room they require, leaving space for ornamentation and design.
The convex dial a, placed, as usual on the seat b of the case, leaves this seat pro-
jecting all round in a crown completely masked by the metal and covering part of
the frame of the door c. In this crown are pierced the holes for the passage and
play of three keys d, e, f, whose heads rest on the seat b, embracing its circular
form; those d, e, are for winding the barrels, and that f for regulating the balance,
Fig. 3.
When the door c with glass is closed, the heads of the keys d, e, f, are con-
cealed and held in a circular groove c¹ of this door. Screws d', e', f¹, for each
key head admit of screwing them more or less to prevent the least play of these
organs.
In winding the barrels or regulating the balance the door is opened, the heads of
the keys are then drawn forward, and are then turned as usual, which effects, as
will be explained, the winding and regulating under precisely the same conditions
as usual,
On the Drawing I have shown the three modes of construction explained above.
The winding mechanism of the left barrel or striking movement G consists in
mounting on the axis g of this barrel a toothed wheel h, and on a bridge borne by
the great plate jan intermediate wheel k. This bridge i by its projection also
serves as support to the pinion m of the key d. This pinion is pierced throughout
with a square hole. The key d comprises a cylindrical part d² fixed to the head d
and a square portion d³ of the same square as that of the pinion m. Fig. 5.
In drawing forward the key d by the head its square end d³ fits into the square
hole of the pinion m, and so becomes solid with it. The click h' drops into the
teeth of the wheel h, and prevents its turning in a contrary direction to the arrow,
Fig. 4.
The winding mechanism of the barrel P of the going part consists of a toothed
wheel o fixed at the square end of the axis p of the spiral or main spring to gear
with the intermediate wheel n, whose lengthened axis turns in the bridge q borne
by the great plate j, and the key e with cylindrical shaft e² supplied with a
pinion 7.
A small plate 8 fixed to the small pallet plate t serves to guide the shaft e³ in
its drawing forward movement, which motion is necessary to cause the teeth of the
pinion fixed to the key shaft to gear with the teeth of the intermediate wheel n,
Figs. 4 and C.
The toothed wheel o can only turn from right to left, being checked by the click
ol, Fig. 4.
For the regulating mechanism, Figs. 2, 3, and 7, the shaft u, which by the pinion
u governs the toothed wheel u of the regulating screw, terminates square x, and
works freely in the hole or socket f2, which constitutes the body of the key f, and
which becomes solid with the square socket when the key is drawn forward. The
letters A, R, engraved on the key indicate the directions to turn the key for making
the clock fast or slow, Fig. 3.
In conclusion it should be observed, 1st, that the wheel work and the general
movement is unaltered, and may be arranged or disposed according to any of the
usual methods known in the trade; 2nd, that the winders of the barrels may be
constructed as shown, Figs. 5, 6, 7, 2, and 4; 3rd, that whilst disposing the heads
of the keys e, d, f, as shown, Figs. 1 to 4, they can be rendered solid with the
organs governing the wheels of the axes of the barrels or the regulating shaft by

page_text: any appropriate mechanical combinations, and differing only a little from those
described and represented by the Drawings.
I claim, 1st, the construction of clocks on the principle herein explained, whose
object is to conceal the winding and regulating apertures on a clock face by the
method herein described of hiding them by means of the door of the clock case, so
leaving the dial free for decoration or ornamentation; 2nd, the winder and
mechanism, shown in detail, Fig. 5; 3rd, the winder and mechanism, shown in
detail, Fig. 6; 4th, the regulator, as shown, Fig. 7. I also claim the same
mechanism for winding and regulating clocks, the winders being unconcealed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Etienne Mathurin Léon Maxant, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
E MAXANT. L.S.)