GB1411452A - Timepiece with digital time display - Google Patents

Abstract

1411452 Digital timepieces EBAUCHES SA 8 March 1973 [15 March 1972] 11300/73 Heading G3T [Also in Division G4] In a digital timepiece having a plurality of coaxial time-indicating drums which each drive the next in succession via rotary members on an axis spaced from and parallel to the drum axis, at least two of the drums have their driving and driven members on their outer sides only, and their other sides placed closely adjacent. As shown the timepiece is an electric watch 1, Fig. 1, driven by a cylindrical battery 13, Fig. 2, which is coaxial with display drums 4, 6, 8, 10 and with a driving balance (14) Fig. 3 (not shown). A pin 17 on the balance advances a ratchet wheel 18 carrying a pinion 19 which meshes with a wheel 20 loosely mounted on shaft 12. Toothings 21a, b fixed to the wheel 20 drive a wheel 22 and, at a slightly different speed, a partly toothed drum 4 carrying a design 3 and loosely mounted on shaft 11. The wheel 22 and drum 4 are coupled by a spring (23) so that rapid intermittent motion of the drum 4 is produced, to show that the timepiece is operating. Pins 25 on the drum 4 engage pinion teeth 26a to advance a wheel 27 and thus a wheel 28 fixed to minutes drum 6 by one step per minute. The drum 6 is immediately adjacent tens of minutes drum 8 which it drives intermittently via pins 30, pinion teeth 31a, wheel 31d and teeth 8a. In a similar manner, the drum 8 drives hours drum 10 via two diametrically opposed sets of pins 34, a pinion 35, and teeth (10a) on the drum 10. Except during their advance, the pinions 26, 31, 35 are held by their enlarged teeth 26b, 31b, 35b. If setting stem 36 is pulled a switch 42 is opened to stop the balance and the stem may be turned to rotate the drum 6 via stem wheel 37, pinion 38 and wheel 39, an intermediate wheel 40, and a wheel 41 which is loose on the pinion 26 and meshes with teeth 28b of the wheel 28. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1346071.