Improvements in the Winding and Setting Arrangements and Mechanism of Keyless Watches.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Winding and Setting Arrangements and
Mechanism of Keyless Watches.
We FREDERICK JOHN GARDNER of 159 Villa Street Aston in the County of Stafford
Works Manager and JOHN COLLETT of 335 Summer Lane Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Watch Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the watches known as keyless or stem-winding as commonly made, the winding
button can also be used to set the position of the hands on the watch face, but to bring
it into operation for this purpose it is necessary to press upon a projection passing
through the case and so move a rocking bar. By so doing the pinion moved from the
winding button is caused to operate the intermediate wheel which in its turn operates
the motion wheels and so changes the position of the hands. This method has the
disadvantage of requiring a separate movement of the rocking bar as well as the rotation
of the winding button to set the hands and is also somewhat complex in construction.
The object of our invention is to arrange the winding and setting mechanism in such
a manner that the watch can be wound and set by acting on the winding button only,
and also to simply the arrangements necessary for effecting the double purpose of
winding and setting. In a watch constructed according to our invention the winding is
accomplished by turning the winding button in the usual manner; but when it is
desired to change the position of the hands, the winding button is first pushed in and
then rotated in whatever direction it may be necessary to change the position of the
hands. The arrangements are such that the pushing in of the winding button dis-
connects from the winding mechanism and connects to the motion wheels, and so allows
the hands to be rotated.
Our invention may be carried out in several ways, but the construction which we
prefer is as follows.
"
The winding button is mounted upon the end of a pinion, and attached to it in any
convenient manner; upon the lower end is formed or attached a " contrate or star
wheel the teeth of which engage in the teeth of another wheel whose axis is at
or about right angles to the axis of the pinion. This second wheel is mounted upon a flat
sliding plate, which carries another or third wheel gearing into the second. The sliding
plate has underneath it two projecting bosses, one fitting into a slot formed. in the
metal of the watch and the other passing through a loose hole; a screw with a large
head fitting into one of the bosses, attaches the plates to the watch, but still allows it to
slide freely within limits. The upper end of the sliding plate is pressed downwards by
a portion of the winding pinion projecting from the centre of the "contrate" or star
wheel, and the lower end is pressed upwards by the action of a spring of any
convenient form. The sliding plate can be pressed downwards by pressing in the
winding button, which is suitably recessed to allow of the required movement.
Under the action of the spring the sliding plate naturally assumes its upper position
and then the third wheel gears into the teeth of a wheel upon the watch inain spring.
barrel or the fusee.
In this position the watch can be wound by means of the winding button, by turning
it in the correct direction; if it is turned in the wrong direction, then the third wheel
teeth lift out of the spring wheel by the motion of the sliding plate.
If the winding button be pressed in, then the plate slides and carries the second and
third wheels with it, the third wheel then leaves the main spring wheel and engages
the teeth of the intermediate wheel, which in its turn is geared to the motion wheels.
If the button is now rotated the hands move as desired.
"
The "contrate or star wheel always remains correctly in gear with the second wheel
as the guiding slot of the sliding plate is arranged for that purpose and the projecting
會

page_text: end of the pinion passes against the end of the plate so as to prevent the teeth of the
star and second wheel being pressed together and so lock or wear unduly. The motion
of the plate is also restricted so as to prevent the third wheel being pushed too deeply
into gear with the intermediate wheel.
We sometimes require the sliding plate to move to one side or the other
from the direct line of motion communicated by pressing the winding button
and obtain such direction of motion by giving a part of the sliding plate such shape
that when its shaped surface presses against a pin or another suitably shaped surface
it acts like a cam and moves in a restrained path as desired, or a pin and suitable
slot may be used for this purpose. In somo watches the positions of the wheels to be
geared into varies and necessitates such a deviation of motion.
The winding pinion may have a bevel wheel gearing into another bevel wheel
driving the second wheel and other mechanical equivalents may be used for the various
parts with advantage.
Dated this 18th day of December 1888.
MARKS & CLERK,
Agents for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Winding and Setting Arrangements and
Mechanism of Keyless Watches.
We FREDERICK JOHN GARDNER of 159, Villa Street Aston in the County of
Stafford, Works Manager, and JOHN COLLETT of 335, Summer Lane Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, Watch Maker, 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 :-
In the watches known as keyless or stem winding as commonly made, the winding
button can also be used to set the position of the hands on the watch face, but to bring
it into operation for this purpose it is necessary to press upon a projection passing
through the case and so move a rocking bar. By so doing the pinion moved from the
winding button is caused to operate the intermediate wheel which in its turn operates
the motion wheels and so changes the position of the hands. This method has the
disadvantage of requiring a separate movement of the rocking bar as well as the
rotation of the winding button to set the hands and is also somewhat complex in
construction.
The object of our invention is to arrange the winding and setting mechanism in such
a manner that the watch can be wound and set by acting on the winding button only
and also to simplify the arrangements necessary for effecting the double purpose of
winding and setting.
In a watch constructed according to our invention the winding is accomplished by
turning the winding button in the usual manner, but when it is desired to change
the position of the hands, the winding button is first pushed in and then rotated in
whatever direction may be necessary to change the position of the hands. The arrange-
ments are such that the pushing in of the winding button disconnects from the winding
mechanism and connects to the motion wheels, and so allows the hands to be rotated.
Our invention may be carried out in several ways but the construction which we
prefer is as follows: The winding button is mounted upon the end of a pinion, and
attached to it in any convenient manner; upon the lower end is formed or attached a
" contrite
or star wheel the teeth of which engage in the teeth of another wheel
whose axis is at or about right angles to the axis of the pinion. The second wheel is
mounted upon a flat sliding plate, which carries another or third wheel gearing into
the second. The sliding plate has underneath it two projecting bosses one fitting into
a slot formed in the metal of the watch and the other passing through a loose hole;
a screw with a large head fitting into one of the bosses, attaches the plate to the watch
.but still allows it to slide freely within limits.
"

page_text: The upper end of the sliding plate is pressed downwards by a portion of the winding
pinion projecting from the centre of the contrite or star wheel, and the lower end is
pressed upwards by the action of a spring of any convenient form.
The sliding plate can be pressed downwards by pressing in the winding button, which
is suitably recessed to allow of the required moveinent.
Under the action of the spring the sliding plate naturally assumes its upper position
and then third wheel gears into the teeth of a wheel upon the watch main spring
barrel or the fusee.
In this position the watch can be wound by means of the winding button, by turning
it in the correct direction: if it is turned in the wrong direction, then the third wheel
teeth lift out of the spring wheel by the motion of the sliding plate.
If the winding button be pressed in, then the plates slides and carries the second
and third wheels with it, the third wheel then leaves the main spring wheel and
engages the teeth of the intermediate wheel, which in its turn is geared to the
motion wheels. If the button is now rotated the bands move as desired.
The "contrite" or star wheel always remains correctly in gear with the second
wheel as the guiding slot of the sliding plat is arranged for that purpose and the
projecting end of the pinion passes against the end of the plate so as to prevent
the teeth of the star and second wheel being pressed together and so lock or wear
unduly. The notion of the plate is also restricted so as to prevent the third
wheel being pushed too deeply into gear with the intermediate wheel.
We sometimes require the sliding plate to move to one side or the other from
the direct line of motion communicated by pressing the winding button and obtain
such direction of motion by giving a part of the sliding plate such shape that when
its shaped surfaces passes against a pin or another suitably shaped surface it acts
like a cam and moves in a restrained path as desired, or a pin and suitable slot
may be used for this purpose. In some watches the positions of the wheels to
be geared into varies and necessitates such a deviation of motion.
The winding pinion may have a bevel wheel gearing into another bevel wheel driving
the second wheel and other mechanical equivalents may be used for the various parts
with advantage.
In order that our invention and the manner of performing the same may be fully
understood and readily carried into effect we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 shows a front and Figure 2 a back elevation of our invention of winding
and setting mechanism as applied to a watch. Figures 3 and 4 show another arrange-
ment of our invention applicable under certain circumstances and Figures 5 and 6
show its application to another watch motion. In these drawings the same reference
letters are used to mark the same or similar parts wherever they are repeated.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a front elevation with the watch face
removed and the motion and other wheels shown in dotted lines.
The winding button A is pressed outwards by the spring B and is attached to the
pinion C which carries on its lower end the "contrite" or star wheel D the teeth of
which engage another wheel E whose axis is or about at right angles to the axis of the
pinion C. The second wheel E is mounted upon a flat sliding plate F which carries
another or third wheel G. The sliding plate F has underneath it two projecting
bosses a, b, shown in dotted lines Figure 1 and in full lines figure 2; a fits into a slot c,
and 6 into a slot d in the watch plate. A spring H thrusts against the lower part of
the plate F and causes it to remain in its upper position when the winding button A
is not pressed inwards.
When in the position shown in Figure 1 the wheel G is in gear with the spring
barrel or fusee wheel I, and when the button is turned in the proper direction the
watch can be wound up; but if it be turned in the opposite direction the pawl
shown at e prevents the wheel I from moving, and G then slips out of gear with I by
the side movement of the plate F which carries it along with the wheel E. If how-
ever the button A be pushed inwards then the wheel G leaves I and engages the
intermediate wheel K as in Figure 2 and thereby communication is made with the

page_text: motion wheels and the hands of the watch may be set as required by rotating
the winding button. A pin or boss f upon the plate F is pressed upon by a projecting
portion of the pinion and serves to prevent the star wheel D from being too
deeply thrust into gear with the wheel E which might lock the teeth or cause unduly
rapid wear. The plate is secured to the watch plate by a broad headed screw into
the boss b or in any other convenient way.
Sometimes we use an inclined cam piece fixed upon the watch plate under the flat
plate F to give it direction when pressed downwards instead of the slot d or in con-
junction with it.
Figure 3 shows a front and Figure 4 a back elevation of another arrangement of
our invention in which the flat plate F carrying the wheels E and G is pivoted on the
pin L and is held upwards by the spring H acting on the pin f.
In Figure 1 the winding button is shown as not pressed in and the wheel G is in
gear with the wheel I and in position for winding. In this case the motion wheels
are in direct line with the pinion C and the wheel E gears into M when thrust down-
wards by the winding button while G leaves I as is seen in Figure 4. A pin h in the
plate F working in a slot in the watch plate limits the downward motion and prevents E
from being thrust too deeply into gear with M.
The star wheel D is prevented from gearing too deeply with E by the same means
as we have described in the first case and the wheel G slips out of gear with I when
the button is turned backwards as already described.
Figure 5 shows a front and Figure 6 a back elevation of another modification of
our invention in which the plate F also pivots on a pin and three wheels are carried
on F instead of two.
Suitable stop pins and slots are arranged as herein before described to limit the
motion of the plate F and the action is similar to that in the first two modifications.
The spring H in this case is in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6. The object
of the added wheel is to adapt our improvements to the type of watch motion shown.
To provide against the position of the watch hands being changed accidentally while
it is in the pocket by the thrusting in and turning round of the winding button A we
form a groove K in the pinion C into which a pin from the watch cover projects. So
long as the cover is closed the watch may be wound up but the button cannot be
pushed in and therefore the hands cannot be accidentally shifted; when the cover is
opened however the projecting pin is withdrawn and the button can then be pressed in
to put the wheels in gear for setting the hands.
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 combination of the sliding plate F with the star wheel D and the wheels E
and G together with the pin or projection g as shown in the accompanying drawing
Figures 3 and 4 substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of star wheel D and the swivelling plate F with the wheels E
and G together with the pin or projection g as shown in the accompanying drawings
Figures 3 and 4 substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
3. The use of a pin on a watch back or cover to project into a groove K as shown
in the accompanying drawings Figures 1 to 6 substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
T111 1
Cr
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicants.