US1181510A - Hair-spring compensator and regulator for watches. - Google Patents

Description

. G. F. EBERHARD & H. M. GROFF.

HAIR SPRING COMPENSATOR AND REGULATOR FOR WATCHES.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. 16, 1914. 1,181,510. r Patented May 2,1916.

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- HAIR SPRING COMPENSATOR AND REGULATOR FOR WATCHES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 19I4. 1, 181,510, Patented May 2, 1916.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed January 16, 1914, Serial No. 812,500.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that we, G OR F. EBER- HARD and HOWA D M. GEOFF, citizens of the United States, residing at Trenton, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hair-Spring Compensators and Regulators for Watches, of which the followingis a specification.

It is the object of our invention to provide a simple and efiective organization for facilitating the assembling of the hair spring and its stud to a movement, and which will also enable quick and accurate adjustment of the watch into. the proper beat to be secured.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a, balance bridge having our improvements combined therewith; Fig. 2 is a sideview of Fig. 1 with parts in section; Fig. 8 represents the compensator of Figs. 1 and 2. in plan and side elevation, this formof compensator being adapted to watches of middle grade; Fig. 4: shows another form of compensator in plan and in side elevation adapted to watches of low grade; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a balance bridge having associated therewith a regulator and a compensator; Fig. 6 is a sec tional view substantially on the line 66 of Fig 5; Fig. 7 shows in plan and in elevation the regulator member; Fig. 8 shows in plan and in edge view the compensator member of Figs. 5 and 6.

In these drawings, 1 indicates a balance bridge of substantially ordinary form. In Fig. 1 aportion of the hair spring is indicated at 2, and at 3 is shown a regulator having the curb-pins t to engage the hair spring, said regulator having a pointer moving over a scale and also having a spht ring 5 snapped into connection with a tapered shoulder on the balance sheet. This regulator is on the upper side of the balance bridge, whereas the compensator now to be described is located on the under side of said bridge. This compensator shown in detail in Fig. 3 may assume difierent forms, but in the construction shown it comprises an arm" 6 having a split rin 7 provided with a tapered interior, an snapped on the tapered shoulder 8 of the adapted to, be,

balance bridge, on which shoulder the compensator may be turned. The compensator carries the hair spring stud 9 which" is held frictionally in the opening 10 formed in the split end of the arm 6. This hair spring stud has the hair spring pinned or secured thereto in any ordinary way, the upper end or the stud projecting into a groove or recess on the under side of the balance bridge, which groove is on a curve concentric with the center of the balance bridgev dome or tapered shoulder.

It will be observed that the organization just described can be quickly assembled, the regulator being snapped onto the tapered shoulder of the balance bridge or balance bridge dome, and on the upper side of the balance bridge, while the compensator 6 can be snapped into connection with the tapered shoulder of the balance bridge or balance bridge dome on the under side 01": the balance bridge, and by simply turning the compensator 6 about its mounting the hair spring can be adjusted or compensation made for irregularities in its lengthto thereby bring the watch into proper beat.

In case of repairs being necessary, the compensator can be turned from the position shown in dotted lines at X in Fig. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines at Y, which will carry the hair spring stud from under the balance bridge into eXposed posi tion, so that a new spring can be readily inserted.

In Fig. 4: we show a form of compensator adapted for low grade watches in which, instead of having a hair spring stud formed separately and inserted in the compensator arm, we provide the compensator with an integral hair spring stud, as shown at 9. This may be formed by stamping the compensator from sheet metal, together with the stud 9, and bending the lug or stud into the relation shown. The hair spring may be pinned in an opening in this stud in the ordinary way.

In Figs. 5 to 8 we show an organization for high grade watches comprising a regulator 10 having a split ring to be snapped onto the tapered shoulder 11 carried by the balance bridge, the said regulator having a segment 12 which is toothed or serrated and engages a toothed or serrated disk or wheel 13 connected rigidly to a star wheel 14 which is journaled at 15 in the balance bridge. By

turning this star wheel the serrated or toothed wheel or disk 13 will turn by way of the segment 12, the regulator arm 10, and as this arm carries the curb pins 4L regulation of the beat may be obtained in the usual manner. This regulator is on one side of the balance bridge. On the other side of said bridge we arrange a compensator 6' having a split ring 7 beveled on its interior and adapted to be sprung onto a beveled shoulder 8 of the balance bridge or balance bridge dome. This compensator carries the hair spring stud 9 which is held by the clamping effect of the split portion 16 of the compensator, the hair spring stud being thrust into the opening at this split portion until its shoulder 17 comes against the under side of the compensator, which thereby determines the proper position of the opening in the stud which is to receive the hair spring, indicated at 2. The balance wheel is indicated at 18. For adjusting the compensator it is provided with a segmental. face or edge 19 engaged by a serrated disk or wheel 20, this disk being formed or provided with a journal portion 21 bearing in the bridge and having at its upper end a star wheel 22, which is accessible from the upper side of the bridge, and for this purpose the regulator arm is provided with an opening as shown in Figs. 5 and 7 at 23. The two star wheels, the center of the balance bridge or dome, and the screw 2i for holding the bridge in place have their centers in the same line. Both adjustments, 2'. 6., the regulator and the compensator ad justment, can be effected from the upper side of the bridge, and suitable scales are provided at a and b so that the amount of adjustment may be determined accurately. The star wheel 14 is arranged in a socket of the balance bridge.

In Fig. 7 we show spring portions 25 connecting the main portion of the regulator arm with the segmental toothed portion, the purpose being to keep the segment in mesh with the toothed adjusting wheel 13.

In Fig. i the compensator is provided with an extension 26 which may be used as a handle to adjust the compensator. Such a handle may also be formed on the compensator of Fig. 8. Furthermore, the compensator of Fig. 8 may be formed with an integral lug to serve as a hair spring stud should this be desired.

lVe claim 1. In a watch movement, a balance bridge, a hair spring, a compensator on the underside of the bridge movably mounted and a hair spring stud carried by said compensator and moved by the movement thereof to a position under said bridge or to an exposed position to one side of said brid said hair spring stud projecting from t e compensator, and the said bridge having a groove to receive the projecting end of the hair spring stud, substantially as described.

:2. In combination a balance bridge, a compensator carrying a hair spring stud mounted to move under said bridge, a regulator mounted on the other side of the bridge, and means for adjusting the regulator and the compensator from the same side of the bridge, substantially as described.

3. In combination a balance bridge, a compensator carrying a hair spring stud mounted to move under said bridge, a regulator mounted on the other side of the bridge, and means for adjusting the regulator and the compensator from the same side of the bridge, said means comprising two star wheels connected respectively to the compensator and regulator, substantially as described.

at. In combination a balance bridge, a compensator carrying a hair spring stud mounted to more under said bridge, a regulator mounted on the other side of the bridge and means for adjusting the regulator and the compensator from the same side of the bridge, said regulator having an opening to permit access to the adjusting means of the compensator.

5. In combination a bridge, a regulator on one side thereof, a compensator carrying a hair spring stud on the other side of the bridge, two star wheels located on the same side of the bridge with the regulator, a connection extending from one star Wheel through the bridge to the compensator, and a connection between the other star wheel and the regulator, said regulator having an opening through which access may be had to the star wheel of the compensator, substantially as described.

6. In combination a balance bridge, a regulator mounted on one side of the bridge and carrying the curb pins for engaging the hair spring and a compensator mounted on the underside of the bridge and carrying a. hair spring stud movable to a position under the bridge or to an exposed position according to the adjustment of the said compensator, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. F. EBERHARD. HOWARD M. GROFF.

lVitnesses:

CHARLES H. MARGERUM, JoI-IN BATES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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