IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND OTHER TIMEKEEPERS." A communication
from abroad by Victorien Bousset, of Morez-du-Jura, Jura, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND OTHER TIME-
KEEPERS." [A communication from abroad by Victorien Bousset, of Morez-du-Jura,
Jura, France.]
This Invention relates to watches and other timekeepers, and is designed to
provide an improved "dead beat" escapement, the said Invention being capable of
adaptation to all kinds of simple movements in watches and clocks.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I arrange the spiral or hair spring
on the spindle or arbor of a wheel gearing with a pinion, upon which is fixed a
balance wheel which is consequently operated alternately to and fro by the
contracting and expanding movement of the spiral or hair spring, and thus forms a
balance wheel similar to those ordinarily used. The to-and-fro movements of the
said spring operate a double anchor similar to those used in what are known as
English escapements, which anchor actuates an escapement wheel furnished with
thirty teeth, the pivot of which wheel carries the seconds hand.
"
The arms of the anchor embrace between them four teeth, and the arrangement
is such that, as is the case with "English" escapements, each movement of the
anchor corresponds to a half tooth of the escapement wheel, which, at each
progressive movement, has a very distinct period of stoppage. The spindle or
arbor of this wheel passes through the dial plate to carry the seconds hand, which
advances by a jerking or sudden movement at each second, one-sixtieth part of a
revolution.
It will therefore be understood that without adding other parts to the usual
mechanism of a watch or clock I can obtain simply by the above-described arrange-

page_text: ment an actual chronometer in which the seconds hand gives a dead stroke at each
movement equally as well as if this effect were produced by separate mechanism
more or less complicated.
In the accompanying Drawing I have represented as a specimen my said Inven-
tion applied to an ordinary watch in which the bars a, b, c, d, e, are higher than the
plate. The barrel is not sunk in the plate but is placed upon the same and
provided with a spindle or arbor which is adjusted to the plate by means of a
strong plug or pivot, upon which is adjusted squarely and fixed with three screws a
great ratchet wheel with rounded teeth, and which gears with the other wheels of
the winding-up mechanism operating under the dial plate if the watch has this
mechanism. A click or pawl acts against the said ratchet wheel when the winding
up is effected.
The great centre wheel g is sunk in the plate and passes underneath the barrel
which gears with the pinion h mounted on its spindle or arbor.
The small centre wheel i is on one side of the barrel and gears with the pinion
which is at the centre of the movement.
The pivot which carries the escapement wheel and the pinion placed at the
centre is long enough to pass through the dial plate and carry the seconds hand.
The wheel is, as shewn on the Drawing, cut with thirty pointed teeth similar to
those in what are known as "English" escapements, and acts on the anchor in
the same manner as an ordinary escapement. As herein-before explained, each
tooth gives two impulsions, and each revolution of the wheel k produces the beating
of sixty dead seconds marked by the hand in a manner as clear as if the seconds
movement were entirely distinct.
The spindle or arbor m which carries the spiral or hair spring and the escapement
bearing or supporting plate carries also a wheel with ordinary teeth which acts
alternately to and fro under the action of the spiral or hair spring, and which
transmits its motion to a pinion on which is rivetted a balance wheel o forming an
ordinary balance.
I prefer to arrange the anchor and the fork in front of the wheel & instead of
placing them at the side, and the arms of the anchor are inclined in an opposite
direction to those of an ordinary anchor.
I desire to remark that my said Invention may also be readily applied to the
movements of watches whose barrels pass through the plate, and whose bars are of
the same height as the plate, even when winding-up mechanism is added to the
pendant above the bars.
I desire also to remark that if in employing my Invention it should be desired
to place the great centre wheel g in the centre of the watch the seconds would then
be indicated on a small dial placed at the lower part of the large dial opposite the
part where six o'clock is indicated; and if, as shewn in the Drawing, the said
wheel g is not in the centre the spindle or arbor of the seconds hand is placed in
the centre of the large dial.
With regard to escapements designed for clocks, and more particularly for carriage
or travelling clocks, they are maintained or kept in place by a plate and bars.
The escapement wheel, the wheel which carries the spiral or hair spring, the
anchor, and the balance wheel are the same in all respects excepting with regard to
dimensions, which are greater than in watches.
In clocks the escapement is placed above the movement and fitted in the top of
the plates used for the latter, so that the escapement pinion may gear with the
crown wheel, whose teeth are arranged to gear as is usual with this kind of time-
pieces.
The centre wheel gears with a pinion without a wheel which is carried by a long
pivot coming level with the dial plate to carry the seconds hand.
Instead of the anchor above described I may use any other suitable device for
effecting the same object.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
February 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings,' London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCHES AND OTHER TIME-
KEEPERS. A communication from abroad by Victorien Bousset, of Morez-du-Jura,
Jura, France.
"
This Invention relates to watches and other timekeepers, and is designed to
provide an improved "dead seconds" escapement, the said Invention being capable
of adaptation to all kinds of simple movements in watches and clocks.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I arrange the spiral or hair spring
on the spindle or arbor of a wheel gearing with a pinion, wheroon is fixed a regu-
lating fly, which is consequently moved to and fro by the contracting and expanding
movement of the said spiral or hair spring, and thus forms a balance wheel similar
to those ordinarily used. The to-and-fro movements of the said spring actuate a
double anchor similar to those used in "English" escapements, and which acts on
an escapement wheel furnished with thirty teeth, and whose pivot carries the
seconds hand.
"
The arms of the anchor include between them four teeth, and the arrangement
is such that, as is the case with "" English escapements, each movement of the
anchor corresponds to a half tooth of the escapement wheel, which, at each
progressive movement, has a very distinct stoppage. The spindle or arbor of this
wheel passes through the dial plate to carry the seconds hand, which advances by a
jerking or sudden movement at each second, one-sixtieth part of a revolution.
It will therefore be understood that without adding other parts to the usual
mechanism of a watch or clock I can obtain simply by the above-described arrange-
ment an actual chronometer in which the seconds hand gives a dead beat at each
movement equally as well as if this effect were produced by separate mechanism
more or less complicated.
In the accompanying Drawing I have represented an example of the said Inven-
tion applied to an ordinary watch, in which Figure 1 is a face view of the said
watch, and Figure 2 is an interior view drawn to an enlarged scale.
The cocks or bars a, b, c, d, e, are higher than the plate. The barrel f is not sunk
in the plate but is placed upon the same and provided with a spindle or arbor
which is adjusted to the plate by means of a strong centre piece, upon which is
adjusted squarely and fixed with three screws a large ratchet wheel with rounded
teeth which gears with the other wheels of the winding-up mechanism operating.
under the dial plate if the watch has this mechanism. A click or pawl is arranged
to engage with the said ratchet during the winding up of the watch.
The wheel g termed the centre wheel is sunk in the plate and passes underneath
the barrel which gears with the pinion h mounted on its arbor.
The wheel i, which is the second wheel, moves at one side of the barrel and gears
with the third pinion which is at the centre of the movement.
The pivot which carries the escapement wheel k and the pinion placed at the
centre is, as above specified, long enough to pass through the dial plate and carry
the seconds hand. The wheel & shewn in the Drawing is cut with thirty pointed
teeth similar to those in an "English" escapement, and acts on the anchor in the
same manner as in an ordinary escapement. As herein-before explained, each tooth
gives two impulses, and at each revolution of the wheel k the mechanism beats
sixty dead seconds marked by the hand in a manner as clear as if the seconds
movement were entirely distinct.
The spindle or arbor m which carries the spiral or hair spring and the escapement
or supporting roller carries also a wheel with ordinary teeth which moves
alternately to and fro under the action of the said spiral or hair spring, and which

page_text: transmits its motion to a pinion whereon is rivetted a fly o forming an ordinary
balance.
I prefer to arrange the anchor and the fork in front of the wheel instead of
placing them at the side, and the arms of the anchor are inclined in an opposite
direction to those of an ordinary anchor.
The said Invention may also be readily applied to the movements of watches
whose barrels pass through the plate, and whose cocks are of the same height as
the plate, even when keyless winding mechanism is added above the cocks.
Moreover, if in employing this Invention it should be desired to place the centre
wheel in the centre of the watch the seconds would then be indicated on a small
dial placed at the lower part of the large dial opposite the part where the hour of
six is indicated; and if, as shewn in the Drawing, the said centre wheel is not in
the centre the spindle or arbor of the seconds hand is placed in the centre of the
large dial.
With regard to escapements designed for clocks, and more particularly for
carriage or travelling clocks, they are supported or kept in place by a plate and
cocks.
The escapement wheel, the wheel which carries the spiral or hair spring, the
anchor, and the balance wheel are the same in all respects as above described
excepting with regard to their dimensions, which are greater than in watches.
It will be understood that in clocks the escapement is placed above the movement
and sunk in the top of the plates used for the latter, so that the escapement pinion
inay gear with the crown wheel, whose teeth are arranged to gear as is usual in
these timepieces.
The centre wheel gears with a third pinion without a wheel which is carried by
a long pivot extending to a plane level with the dial plate to carry the seconds
hand.
Instead of the anchor above described I may use any other suitable device for
effecting the same object.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I do not limit this Invention to any particular kind of watch or timekeeper, as
the same is applicable to watches and clocks of all kinds, and particularly carriage
clocks, as above specified, and to those in which the escapement is supported by a
plate or by cocks, or by both combined; and I claim the improved arrangement or
system for effecting or producing a dead seconds action, as above described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, and which consists essentially in fixing
the spiral or hair spring upon the axis or arbor of a toothed wheel controlling a
regulating fly, whose effect is to check or retard to a great extent the to-and-fro
movement of the said spiral or hair spring in such a manner that the escapement
wheel controlled by an anchor or other suitable device marks or beats a full second
instead of one-fifth of a second as in ordinary watches.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.