Improvements in Watchmen's Clocks or Time Checks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1900-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watchmen's Clocks or Time Checks.
I, EMIL EPPNER, of Konigstrasse 3A, Breslau, in the Empire of Germany,
Clock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention relates to watchmens' clocks or time checks.
In watchmens' clocks or time checks as heretofore constructed a complex trans-
mitting gear is used to drive the hands or pointer whilst the arbour of the latter
is necessarily of weak construction; also difficulty is experienced in fastening
and connecting up the check wheel and the pointer.
It is the object of this invention to overcome these defects and to greatly simplify
and strengthen the construction of these instruments and to render the same more
easy of manipulation.
To this end according to my invention I dispense with the separate driving
gear for the pointer and 1 mount the latter upon the record or check wheel so
as to move therewith, the said check wheel is also provided with a centrally
disposed spring locking head for mounting it upon the central arbour for which
purpose the latter is provided with a groove or the like.
In one such arrangement the check wheel which surrounds the dial carries
the pointer on its outer edge so as to project inwards over the dial beneath, the
latter being divided on its inner edge for ease in reading the position of the
pointer. The said check wheel is connected by arms extending across the dial,
to the central locking head which secures it upon the central arbour by means
of a sliding spring catch having an aperture of somewhat larger diameter than
the arbour and adapted when released to engage a groove or notch therein. The
check wheel can thus be readily put in place or removed by pushing back the slide
out of engagement with the arbour.
By the above construction a very simple set of wheels is required between the
spring case and the arbour of the check wheel whilst the arbour may be of any
suitable strength. The setting of the pointer is also more readily accomplished
than with such time checks at present in use.
Dated this Twelfth day of December 1899.

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to watchmens' clocks or time checks.
In watchmens' clocks or time checks as heretofore constructed a complex trans-
mitting gear is used to drive the hands or pointer whilst the arbor of the latter
is necessarily of weak construction; also difficulty is experienced in fastening
and connecting up the check wheel and the pointer.
It is the object of this invention to overcome these defects and. to greatly
simplify and strengthen the construction of these instruments and to render the
same more easy of manipulation.
To this end according to my invention I dispense with the separate driving
gear for the pointer and I mount the latter upon the record or check wheel so
as to move therewith, the said check wheel is also provided with a centrally
disposed spring locking head for mounting it upon the central arbour for which
purpose the latter is provided with a groove or the like.
One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the record or check wheel and its connecting
parts. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 on line A-B. Fig 3 is a cross-section
on line CD of Fig. 1 showing the locking head released, and Fig. 4 is a separate
view of the locking head.
In this arrangement the check wheel a which surrounds the dial carries the
hand or pointer 6 on its outer edge so as to project inwards over the dial
beneath, the latter being divided on its inner edge for ease in reading the position
of the pointer. The said check wheel a is connected by arms a¹ extending across
the dial, to the central locking head which secures it upon the central arbor d.
This locking head consists of a hub c of sufficient length to receive a sleeve e
formed with a head and pressed outwards by a spring k. The sleeve e is prevented
from slipping off the hub c by means of a set screw e engaging a slot in the
hub. The sleeve e secures the wheel upon the central arbor by means of a sliding
spring catch f having a hole g of somewhat larger diameter than the arbor d and
so arranged that when the slide f is released it is pushed forward by its spring h
until the edge of the hole g engages a groove or notch i in the arbor.
The arrangement of the spring catch f and its spring is shown clearly in
Fig. 4, the said spring being of circular form secured as at h¹ to the sleeve and
at its free end 2 to the catch f; the latter has a milled or roughened projecting
end f¹ for ease in manipulation.
b
In order to mount the check wheel a with the hand or pointer 6 upon the arbor d
it is first necessary to push the slide f to one side so as to free the central opening
for the arbor head. The wheel a is then placed upon the arbor d and pressed
downwards a sufficient distance against the actions of springs to enable the
slide to engage the groove i in the arbor as described when the wheel is at once
secure thereon as shown in Fig. 2. The record wheel can be readily removed
from the arbor by pressing the slide f to one-side when the spring k presses up
the sleeve e and brings the hole g in the said slide above the groove i as shown in
Fig. 3 and the wheel a can be removed.
By the above construction the central position of all the parts is ensured and
a very simple set of wheels is required between the spring case and the arbor of
the check wheel, whilst the arbor and all the parts may be made stronger than
is possible with existing constructions. The setting of the pointer is also more
readily accomplished than with such time checks as hitherto made.
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 watchmens' clocks or time checks, a record or check wheel adapted to
carry the hand or pointer and having a centrally disposed locking head comprising

page_text: a spring pressed slide provided with a hole adapted to engage a groove in the
central arbor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In watchmens' clocks or time checks the combination with the central arbor
having a groove i therein and a check wheel adapted to carry the hand or pointer,
of a locking head comprising a sleeve movable upon the hub of said check, wheel
and pressed upward by a spring k; and a spring pressed slide f in the head of
said sleeve adapted to engage said groove i in the arbor, all substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
3. The improvements in watchmens' clocks or time checks comprising the com-
bination of arbor, record or check wheel and locking head, all constructed
arranged and adapted for operation substantially as set forth in reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of July 1900.
For the Applicant,
J. C. CHAPMAN & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.