Improvements in the Manufacture of Lantern-pinions for Clocks, Watches, and the like, and in Machinery or Apparatus for Use in such Manufacture.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1887
Specification Accepted, 29th Nov., 1887
Improvements in the Manufacture of Lantern-pinions for Clocks,
Watches, and the like, and in Machinery or Apparatus for Use
in such Manufacture.
I, ARTHUR ETHELBERT HOTCHKISS, of Main Street, Cheshire, Connecticut, United
States of America, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to the manufacture of lantern-pinions for clocks, watches and
the like, and to machinery or apparatus whereby such pinions may be very expeditiously
manufactured at a low cost.
My said invention comprises the manufacture of a lantern-pinion by first inserting
a cup or cup-shaped hub into a central hole provided for its reception in a toothed
wheel, then introducing a central arbor or shaft and the requisite number of pins or
leaves into perforations in the said cup or hub, and then uniting the several parts by
means of solder, which is introduced (preferably in a predetermined quantity) into the
said cup or hub, and is melted by means of a blow-pipe flame while the parts are
retained in their proper relative positions. By using a piece of solder of the exact
weight required, I obviate the necessity for wiping off or otherwise removing any
surplus solder. I prefer to apply the solder in the form of a ring or annular piece
adapted to fit upon the said central arbor or shaft, so that the solder can be very readily
introduced into its proper position and cannot be accidentally displaced. Such rings
or annular pieces can be advantageously made of any predetermined weight by cutting
them from sheets of solder of uniform thickness by means of suitable dies.
In some instances, instead of inserting the cup or cup-shaped hub into the toothed
wheel, I simply place it against one side thereof. In other instances, I substitute for
the said cup or hub a disc or collet having an aperture for the central arbor or shaft
and holes for the pins or leaves. In this case, similar holes are formed in the toothed
wheel the said disc or collet is placed with one of its surfaces in contact with one side
of the wheel so that its holes coincide with those in the said wheel. Then, after the

page_text: central arbor or shaft and the pins or leaves have been inserted, the parts are united
by soldering. Another disc or collet is sometimes placed upon the free ends of the
pins or leaves and soldered thereto.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a face view of a toothed wheel formed with a central hole for the
reception of the aforesaid cup or hub.
Figure 2 is a face view, and
Figure 3 an edge view of the said cup or hub.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the arbor or shaft.
Figure 5 is a face view, and
Figure 6 an edge view showing a ring or annular piece of solder such as 1 employ.
Figure 7 is a face view, and
Figure 8 an edge view of the said toothed wheel with the lantern-pinion formed
thereon.
Figure 9 is a face view, and
Figure 10 a central section showing another toothed wheel with a lantern-pinion
formed thereon.
Figure 11 is a face view of a disc or collet such as is used in making a pinion of
the kind shown in Figures 9 and 10.
Figure 12 is a front elevation, partly in vertical central section, and
Figure 13 a side elevation of a machine constructed according to my said invention
for the manufacture of lantern-pinions.
Figure 14 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figures 12 and 15.
Figure 15 is a horizontal section on the line c', ', Figures 12 and 13.
Figure 16 is a vertical central section of part of the said machine on the line y, y,
Figure 12.
Figure 17 is an underside view of the stationary cutter hereinafter described.
Figure 18 is a plan, and
Figure 19 a side elevation of the movable cutter and its stem or spindle hereinafter
described.
Figure 20 is a portion of Figure 14, drawn to a greatly enlarged scale, illustrating
a peculiar formation of the feed-rolls hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8, a is a toothed wheel which is formed with a central
hole a¹. b is a perforated cup or cup-shaped hub which is fitted into the said hole as
shown in Figures 7 and 8. c, c are the pins or leaves and d is the arbor or shaft of
the pinion. This shaft and the said pins or leaves are inserted in the perforations in
the cup or hub b, and are held in position therein in any convenient manner. A piece
of solder, such as that shown at e, is then placed upon the said shaft and melted by
means of a blow-pipe, so that it flows into and fills the cup or hub b. This solder
firmly secures the shaft d and the pins or leaves c in the said cup or hub, and firmly
unites the said cup or hub to the toothed wheel a.
By providing a toothed wheel with a pinion in the manner above set forth, I avoid
liability to buckling or other distortion of the said wheel in the manufacture of the
pinion. Moreover the wheel can be made of harder metal than heretofore. The large
hole formed in the centre of the wheel is convenient for placing a number of wheels
upon a shaft or mandrel to permit the cutting of the teeth of the said wheels.
Figures 9 and 10 show a pinion made as above described with a disc or collet 6' in
place of the cup or hub b shown in Figures 2 and 3, thus forming a strong hub
wherein the pins or leaves are firmly secured. Another disc or collet 62 is, moreover,
fitted and secured by means of solder upon the free ends of the pins or leaves b and
upon the arbor or shaft d.
I prefer to manufacture the said pinions by the aid of machinery. In Figures 12
to 20, I have illustrated a machine which is very advantageous for this purpose.
Referring to these Figures, A is the base-plate or frame of the machine, which has
formed in one piece therewith an upright or standard A. This upright or standard
is formed with arms or brackets A2, A3, A4, A5 for supporting various devices herein-

page_text: after described. B, B' are the feed-rolls whereby the wires c*, which are to form the
pins or leaves of the pinions, are fed into the machine. These rolls are formed or
fixed upon shafts B2, B3, carried in suitable bearings and connected by the gear-
wheels B'.
A ratchet-wheel C is fixed on the shaft B2, and a lever D for operating the machine
is pivoted upon the said shaft and has a pawl C₁ pivoted thereto and acted upon by a
spring which tends to hold it in engagement with the said ratchet-wheel. By these
means, the wires c* will, in each operation of the machine, be fed a short distance
through the cutters hereinafter described. A stop-pin or stud D¹ fixed in the
standard A limits the backward movement of the lever D.
To ensure the simultaneous movement of all of the said wires by the feed-rolls, the
roll B is made with a circumferential groove B for the reception of the said wires.
This groove is of such dimensions that the wires, as they pass into the space between
the rolls, will arrange themselves in two rows as shown in Figure 20, which, as above
stated, is drawn to a greatly enlarged scale, and which shows, in plan, portions of the
feed-rolls with the wires in section between them. It will be readily understood, by
reference to this figure, that, when the wires are placed between the rolls and lateral
pressure is exerted upon them by the said rolls, the said wires will assume the relative
positions indicated and the pressure will be equally exerted upon all of the said wires.
Therefore, when the feed rolls are rotated, the wires will be moved thereby simulta-
neously. The size of the groove must obviously be varied according to the number of
pins or leaves in the pinions to be manufactured.
To provide for obtaining the requisite pressure upon the wires between the feed-
rolls, I make one of the said rolls adjustable towards and away from the other roll.
In the apparatus shown in the drawings, this result is accomplished by making the
bearings for the shaft B³ separately from the base-plate A and securing them to
the bearings B7 by means of screws B. By tightening or slackening these screws,
the pressure exerted upon the wire by the feed-rolls may be regulated as required.
I find that, as the wires used in the manufacture of the pinions are very accurately
made and are very nearly of uniform thickness or diameter throughout their length,
the shaft B3 will yield sufficiently to adapt itself to any variations in the thickness of
the said wires, and the use of springs for this purpose is unnecessary. It is obvious,
however, that I might attain the same result by the use of springs instead of by the
means shown.
E is a stationary cutter which is fitted and secured in a recess in the arm or
bracket A, as more clearly shown in Figures 15 and 16, a pin E¹ being fixed in the
said arm or bracket and fitting into a hole in the said cutter, or other suitable means
being provided for effectually preventing rotation of the said cutter. F is a movable
cutter which is fitted or journalled in a cavity in the underside of the cutter E, so as
to ensure the accurate concentricity of the two cutters. The cutter F is attached to a
hollow or tubular stem or spindle F, the lower end of which is fitted or journalled in
a bush or bearing F in the arm or bracket A². To ensure the accurate concentricity
of the cutter F and its stem or spindle F¹, the said stem or spindle is made with a
socket and the cutter F is turned to accurately fit the said socket, in which it is firmly
secured by means of screws f¹. Each of the cutters E and F is made with a central
hole through which the arbor or shaft d is to be passed, and with holesƒ³ through
which the wires c* are to be passed, as shown in Figure 12.
The cutter F is kept in close contact with the cutter E by means of a spring or
elastic support consisting of a bolt which fits into a hole in the arm or bracket A³
and has formed thereon an arm or elongated head projecting beneath the stem or
spindle F, and which is provided with a nut whereby it is held within the said arm
or bracket A. By tightening or slackening the nut, the bolt f* may be adjusted to
regulate the pressure of the cutter F against the cutter E.
I prefer to make one or both of the cutters with raised cutting surfaces such as
that shown at 7, Figure 19, so that, notwithstanding wear of the said surfaces, they
may always be kept in close contact with each other by the spring support above

page_text: described, or by other suitable means. By thus providing for keeping the cutters in
close contact, I obviate entirely any liability to bending of the said wires in the
operation of cutting the same.
•
Within the tubular stem or spindle F is fitted a perforated rod or cylinder G for
guiding the wires c* from the feed-rolls to the cutters. The upper end of this rod
serves as a step or bearing for the central arbors or shafts d of the pinions. The said
rod or cylinder G has perforations or passages extending through it from end to end and
of such diameter that the wires can pass, but not too freely, through them. The said
rod or cylinder is advantageously made by inserting a longitudinally grooved rod into
a tube which accurately fits the same, the grooves in the said rod then forming the
channels or passages for the wires. It may, however, be made in any other convenient
manner. The said rod or cylinder is supported by means of a stirrup g which is
secured to the arm or bracket A2 by means of screws passing through slots in the
said stirrup and screwed into the said arm or bracket. By raising or lowering this
stirrup, the rod G may be readily adjusted to determine the position of the arbor or
shaft relatively to the toothed wheel and pinion.
The perforations in the rod G are made to coincide with those in the cutters E, F,
so that the wires c* will pass through the said rod and then through the holes f³ in
the said cutters.
An arm or lever H is fixed, by means of set-screws h, upon the stem or spindle F¹,
and is arranged to be operated by the lever D as hereinafter described to partially
rotate the cutter F for the purpose of cutting from the wires c* pieces of the required
length to form the pins or leaves of a pinion. A spring His attached at one end
to the standard A¹ and at the other end to the lever H, for automatically effecting the
return movement of the said lever. The operative movement of the lever H is limited
by a stop-pin I fixed in the arm or bracket A3, and its return movement is limited by
a stop-pin I formed with an excentric shank i, which fits into a hole in the bracket A³
and is provided with a nut for securing it therein. By slackening this nut and
turning the stop-pin I¹ more or less in one or the other direction, the position of the
lever H, at the termination of its return movement, can be very accurately determined
and the exact coincidence of the holes in the two cutters thus ensured. The movable
cutter is adjusted approximately to its proper position relatively to the stationary
cutter before the set-screws h are tightened to secure the arm H on the stem or
spindle F.
K is a rod which is fitted in bushes or bearings K', K' fixed in the brackets A', A³,
so that it is free to slide up and down in the said bearings. The said rod is provided
with a spring K³ which tends to hold it in the position indicated by dotted lines in
Figures 12 and 13. It is moreover, provided with a head K whereby it may be
conveniently depressed. The lower end of the said rod is made with a recess or cavity
to permit its engagement with the upper end of the arbor or shaft d and this recess
or cavity is made conical to ensure the holding of the said shaft concentric with the
toothed wheel a during the soldering operation. For this purpose, moreover, the
recess or cavity in the upper end of the guide-rod G is also made conical.
A ring or collar k is fitted upon the rod K. and secured thereon by means of a set-
screw k, for limiting the upward movement of the said rod. This collar may be readiiy
adjusted and secured in any desired position.
To provide for the manufacture of pinions of the same size on toothed wheels of
different sizes by means of the same machine, 1 employ a series of interchangeable
rings such as that shown at L. These rings are of such external form and dimensions
that they will fit accurately into a recess or cavity in the upper side of the stationary
cutter E. The internal form and dimensions of the various rings, however, differ
Each of
according to the sizes of the toothed wheels for which they are intended.
the said rings is made with an internal flange L' whereby the toothed wheel will be
supported around its periphery, whilst it will be unsupported at any other point. By
this means, I provide for ensuring the fixing of the arbor or shaft and the pins or
leaves in the said wheel so that they are as nearly as practicable perpendicular to the

page_text: plane in which the teeth of the said wheel rotate. Moreover I thus provide for
preventing too rapid conduction through the cutter E of the heat used in the soldering
operation.
The cutters E, F and the guide-rod G may be very readily removed and replaced
by other cutters and guide-rods to adapt the machine for making pinions of different sizes.
In manufacturing a pinion by means of my improved machine, a toothed wheel,
such as that shown in Figure 1, is placed in the ring L and a cup or hub bis inserted
in the central hole in the said wheel so that it fits upon the upper ends of the wires c* ;
an arbor or shaft d is then inserted in the central hole in the said cup or hub and in
the holes in the cutters E, F, so that its lower end rests in the recess or cavity in the
upper end of the guide-rod G. A ring of solder is then placed upon the shaft d so
that it rests upon the wires c* above the cup or hub b; the rod K is depressed into
the position shown in full lines in Figures 12 and 13, so that it will engage with the
While the said shaft is thus held down, the solder
upper end of the arbor or shaft d.
is melted by means of a blow-pipe flame. As soon as the solder is sufficiently
hardened, the lever D is drawn forward, and, in its forward movement, comes into
contact with and moves the arm or lever H, thereby partially rotating the cutter Fin
one direction and cutting or severing from the wires pieces of the required length
for the pins or leaves of the pinions. In such forward movement of the lever D, the
pawl C slides over one tooth and partially over another tooth of the ratchet wheel C;
so that, when the lever D is moved backward, the arm or lever H, under the action of
its spring H¹, will partially rotate the cutter F in the reverse direction to that above
The holes in the
referred to, before the pawl C engages with the ratchet wheel.
cutter F will, therefore, be brought into alignment with those in the cutter E before
In the continued backward movement
the wires are fed through the said cutters."
of the lever D, the feed-rolls are operated so as to bring the wires again into position for
the manufacture of another pinion, and to thrust the pinion just made partially out of
the ring so that it may be readily removed from the machine. The operations above
described are then repeated to produce another pinion and so on.
To provide for varying the length of the feed-movement according to the desired
length of the pins or leaves of the pinions, I sometimes make the ratchet wheel C
removable and employ interchangeable ratchet wheels of different pitch of teeth.
I prefer to make the upright or standard A' and the arms or brackets A², A³, A', A³
in one piece as shown, and to bore the said arms or brackets by means of a boring bar
or other suitable tool to adapt them for the reception of the various devices above
described. By these means I effectually ensure the concentricity or axial alignment
of the said devices.
It is obvious that my improved machine may, if desired, be easily adapted for
making pinions separately from toothed wheels.
The spring K³ is sometimes so arranged that it will tend to hold down the rod K,
which must, in this case, be raised to permit the introduction of a toothed wheel and
arbor or shaft into their places in the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed i wish it understood that
1 claim;
First. The improved method of manufacturing a lantern-pinion, consisting in
inserting a cup or cup-shaped hub into a toothed wheel, or placing it against one side
thereof, introducing a central arbor or shaft and the requisite number of pins or
leaves into perforations in the said cup or hub, and then uniting the several parts by
means of solder introduced into the said cup or hub, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Second. The improved method of manufacturing a lantern-pinion, consisting in
placing a disc or collet against one side of a toothed wheel, introducing a central
arbor or shaft and the requisite number of pins or leaves into perforations in the said
disc and wheel, and then uniting the several parts by means of solder, substantially

page_text: as herein before described, another disc or collet, if desired, being placed upon the
said arbor or shaft and upon the free ends of the said pins or leaves and soldered
thereto, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third. The employment, in the manufacture of a lantern-pinion, of a ring or
annular piece of solder, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Fourth. A machine for the manufacture of lantern-pinions, wherein provision is
made for automatically feeding the wires which are to form the pins or leaves,
simultaneously through the cutters, for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. The combination of the perforated cutters and means for partially rotating
one of the said cutters alternately in either direction, means for retaining the parts which
are to form the pinion in their proper relative positions, and feed-mechanism whereby,
in each operation of the machine, the wires will be simultaneously fed through the
said cutters, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
Sixth. The peculiar formation and arrangement of the feed-rolls whereby I provide
for equalizing the pressure applied thereby to the wires, as, and for the purpose,
above specified.
Seventh. The combination, with the grooved roll, of the plain or smooth roll
carried in adjustable bearings, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. The combination of parts comprising the feed-rolls connected by suitable
gear-wheels, the ratchet-wheel fixed on the axle of one of the said rolls, the lever
pivotted upon the said axle and provided with the pawl, and the stop pin or stud
fixed in the frame or standard of the machine, all substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Ninth. The employment of a movable cutter which is provided with a stem or
spindle and is journalled at one end in a stationary cutter and at its other end in a
suitable bearing, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Tenth. The combination, with the movable cutter, of a spring or elastic support
therefor, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eleventh. The provision of raised working surfaces on one or both of the cutters
to ensure close contact of their cutting edges, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Twelfth. The peculiar method or manner of fitting and securing the movable
cutter in a socket in its stem or spindle, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Thirteenth. The employment, for the purpose above specified, of a movable cutter
which returns automatically to its normal position.
Fourteenth. The combination, with the movable cutter, of the arm or lever whereby.
the said cutter is operated, and the spring for effecting the return movement of the
said lever and cutter, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fifteenth. The combination, with the movable cutter and its operating arm or
lever, of the stops for limiting its movement, one of which stops is adjustable for the
purpose of ensuring the accurate alignment of the holes in the movable and
stationary cutters when the wire is to be fed through the same, substantially as
set forth.
Sixteenth. The employment of interchangeable cutters and guiding devices to
adapt the machine for the manufacture of pinions of different sizes, substantially as
set forth.
Seventeenth. The employment of a perforated rod or cylinder for guiding the
wires to the cutters and supporting the central arbor or shaft of the pinion, and
means for adjusting the said rod or cylinder, substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
Eighteenth. The combination, with the cutters and the adjustable rod or cylinder
for guiding the wires and supporting the central arbor or shaft of the pinion, of the
rod for holding the upper end of the said shaft during the soldering, (with or without
the spring, and with or without the adjustable collar) all substantially as, and for the
purposes, above specified.

page_text: Nineteenth. The employment, in a machine for the purpose above specified, of an
upright or standard having arms or brackets formed solidly thereon and bored so as
to ensure the axial alignment of the cutters and the devices for guiding the wires
and supporting the central arbor or shaft, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Twentieth. The construction and arrangement of the feed-mechanism and the
cutting mechanism in such a manner that the operating lever, in its forward move-
ment, will operate the movable cutter and will move the pawl through a distance
greater than the pitch of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and, in its return movement,
will first permit the return of the said cutter to its normal position and will then
operate the feed-rolls, as above specified.
Twentyfirst. The provision of means for supporting the toothed wheels at their
peripheries during the operations necessary in forming the pinions, substantially as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
Twentysecond. The improved machine consisting of the parts constructed and
combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings
and operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Dated this 24th day of August 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.