IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF KEYLESS WATCHES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Matthew Robottom, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF KEYLESS WATCHES."
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 17th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Matthew Robottom
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1876.
HENRY MATTHEW ROBOTTOM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF KEYLESS WATCHES."
"
"
'IM-
This Invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of watches whereby
the watch is wound, regulated, and its hands set by means of a knurled, knob
from the pendant.
My plan is as follows:-
1st. By turning the knob when in it is in its ordinary position the watch is wound;
by pressing the knob in and then turning it in that position the watch may be regu-
lated; by pulling the knob out and turning it while so pulled out the hands can be set.
For the purpose of more accurately regulating the watch, and to prevent any excuse
for opening it, the regulator hand and scale are placed in the dial of the watch,
and the action is so regulated that should the owner attempt to wind the regulator
handle beyond the end of the scale the bevil wheel, hereafter described, or other
portion of the train mechanism no longer gears into the motion for regulating,
though it instantly comes into gear if the motion of the knob be reversed.
2nd. A bevil wheel connected with the shaft which goes through the pendant
remains in gear with the wheel on the barrel arbour until the knob is pulled out
or pushed in; the 1st of these motions causes the bevil wheel to go into action
with the whels connected with the hands, while pressing in the knob brings it
in connection with the regulating train of wheels.
The advantages of this watch 1st, that it need never be opened except for
repair, so can be made dust and water tight; 2nd, far greater accuracy in regulating
is attainable than by the old method.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed- by
the said Henry Matthew Robottom in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th January 1877.
HENRY MATTHEW ROBOTTOM, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF KEYLESS WATCHES.'
"IM-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of watches whereby
the regulation of the same may be worked from the pendant or button as well as
the winding up and setting.
1st. By turning the knob when in its ordinary position the watch is wound; by
pressing the knob in and then turning it in that position the watch may be
regulated or set; while by pulling the knob out and turning it when so pulled out
the hands can be set; it being immaterial on which side the two trains are
respectively arranged. For the purpose of more accurately regulating the watch,
and to prevent any excuse for opening it, the regulator or hand and scale are
placed on the dial of the watch, and the action can be so regulated that should
the owner be tempted to wind the regulator beyond the scale the bevel wheel,
hereafter described, or other portion of the mechanism, no longer gears into the
motion for regulating, though it instantly comes into gear if the motion of the
knob be reversed.
A bevel wheel connected with the shaft which goes through the pendant remains
in gear with the wheel on the barrel arbor (or as in Fig. 9 direct with the wind-
ing wheels X) until the knob is pulled out or pushed in. It is kept in gear
at other times for winding up by one or more springs. Pulling the knob out
causes the bevel wheel to go into action with a wheel connected with the hands,
while pressing in the knob brings it into connection with the regulating train
of wheels.
I have already worked out numerous arrangements effecting this action, some of
them differing widely from others.
The plan or plans, however, which I prefer as best and simplest, are shown in
Figs. 1 to 8 of the accompanying Drawings. In these Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 are
natural size. Fig. 5 and 6 enlarged views double size. Similar letters refer to
similar parts in all.
Fig. 1-5 show apparatus for setting and winding only; 6, 7, and 8 for regu-
.lating also..
Fig. 9 another method which, however, I consider for most purposes inferior to
the others, so it is needless to describe it further.
In Figs. 1 to 5, C is a bevelled wheel attached to plate A by means of washer B
Screwed to the plate. Inside the bevelled wheel C is a circular ratchet D (on the
principal of a tipsy key). On barrel arbor square is another ratchet F, so that
when the mechanism is allowed to remain in its normal condition the two circles of
rack teeth D & F clutch each other, and the watch can be wound up by turning
the button G. When the hands require setting the button G must be pressed
down, the end of the shaft then comes in contact with the screw of the washer and
thus presses the bevel wheel C down into connection with a pinion geared into
the cannon pinion. The inner edge of the stationary washer B then comes against
the bevelled end of the pipe J of the upper rack on barrel arbor and lifts the said
upper rack clear from the lower one. At other times the upper rack is held against
the lower one Diby means of spring K. The bevel wheel C on being pressed down
gears into a small pinion L connected with the cannon pinion, as shown in the
Drawing.
Fig. 2 show the connection between button G and bevelled wheel C by means
of shaft H.
Fig. 3 shows the slots in which the pin and screw of washer B work for guiding
the bevelled wheel C into set hand pinion L.
Fig. 4 shows the inside of pillar plate A, the screw and spring M abutting against
the screw of washer B for keeping the bevelled wheel in position for winding.

page_text: Fig. 5 shows the bevel wheel washer and upper ratchet, the latter being with-
drawn entirely away from the former so as to show the details better.
Figs. 6 & 7 shows an addition to the foregoing apparatus so as to enable one to
set, wind, and regulate from the button. Attached to dovetail end of button shaft
His a slide P working in a hollow cut in plate A accurately fitting the sides of
said slide.
This slide has a hole in the centre which acts in its upward motion upon tube J
of the upper rack in the manner of washer B already described, which washer is
still used to perform this function in the downward stroke when the bevel wheel C
is required to come in contact with the set hand pinion L. By the side of the
slide P is a small wheel R'in connection with the bevel wheel and attached to a
lever working on screw S for a fulcrum and notched into slide P. By pulling out
button G (and consequently slide P) the lever is moved till the wheel R is brought
into gear with wheel T connected with another wheel on arbor U that is connected
with the regulator, as shown in Fig. 7.
Fig. 8 shows the top plate of the watch showing regulator with pinion on arbor U
working into sector V.
The regulator cannot be pushed beyond the index by this
mechanism, for as soon as the pinion on U comes to the end of the sector it has no
further control over it till the motion is reversed.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carry-
ing it into effect, I wish it to be understood I do not claim the principle of winding
and setting a watch by means of the button, this being old and well known, nor
yet the individual wheels or parts taken separately, but what I believe to be new,
and claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is-
1st. The construction of watches in such manner that they can be wound, set,
and regulated from the pendant or button.
2nd. The mode of regulating watches, as described, by means of the button.
3rd. The arrangement of mechanism for keyless watches, substantially as
described and shown in Figs. 1 to 5, in which the watch is wound and set from the
button, one of these operations being effected by pulling out or pushing in the
button.
4th. The arrangement of mechanism for regulating watches, substantially as.
described and shown in Figures 6 & 7.
5th. The general arrangement of mechanism, substantially as described, for
winding, setting, and regulating watches.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Matthew Robottom, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord,
HENRY MATTHEW ROBOTTOM. (L.S.)
Witness,
WM P. THOMPSON,
British and Foreign Patent & Trade Mark Agent,
6, Lord St.,,
Liverpool.