US1547733A

US1547733A - Device for timing timepieces

Info

Publication number: US1547733A
Application number: US723228A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willard E Chamberlain
Original assignee: NEW HAVEN CLOCK CO
Current assignee: NEW HAVEN CLOCK CO
Priority date: 1924-06-30
Filing date: 1924-06-30
Publication date: 1925-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1942-07-28

Description

July as, 1925.

W. E. CHAMBERLAIN v DEVICE FOR TIMING TIME-PIECES 'F'i led June 50 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 28,1925. 1,547,733

W. E. CHAMBERLAIN DEVICE FOR TIMING 'I'IMEPIECES Filed June 50 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I" n H. "L ii" i O Ma 1M w Wg;

so positioned upon the said board, their balance-wheels 17 are brought into the paths of a corresponding number of yielding movement-stopping-andestarting fingers 27 consisting of light, sheet-metal strips, secured by screws 18 to the flattened upper faces of collars 19 adjustably attached by set-screws 20 to parallel rods 2121 having sliding bearing in brackets 22 mounted in the lower.

edge of the superimposed socket-mounting plates 10. A- coupling-bar 23, uniting the rods 21, provides for moving them simultaneously in both directions. The opposite ends of the said rods are provided with special collars 2d limiting their movement in one direction, while the coupling-bar'23 limits it in the other direction. The fingers 27 collars 19, rods 21 and coupling-bar 23 together constitute the multiple, movementstopping-and-starting unit of my device. Preferably, this unit is shifted to the limit of its movement .from right to left, prior to installing the clock-movements upon the inclined board or platform of the multiple, movement-mounting unit.v Prior to any test, two previously-regulated master movements of the same type as those to be tested are mounted upon the installation board, such as the movements specially designated herein as 25 and 26. 7

Let it be supposed that a plurality of clock-movements have been installed upon the mounting-board 5, as well as the two master time-pieces 25 and 26, and that all of them are, set to the same time and that all are held at rest by the engagement of thespring-fingers of 'the multiple, movement-stopplng-and startingunit with the respective balance-wheels of the several movements, includmg the master movements. Now a shiftlng movement of the 'stopping-and-starting unit, by using the coupling-bar 23 asa handle, from right to left, will simultaneously start all of the movements, including the master movements, the wiping engagement of the respective fingers with the respective balancewheels giving the necessary starting ime pulse, after which the movements will run under their own spring power, the described movement of the stopping-and-starting unit from right to left being suificient to clear the springs 21 from the balance-wheels 16, as shown in broken lines at the left in Fig. 2. All of the movements, having thus been simultaneously started, are allowed to run a predetermined length of time and are then simultaneously stopped by the operator (called the timer), who slides the stopping-and-starting unit in the opposite direction, i. e., from left to right, so as to re-engage the several fingers 27 with the several balance wheels 21.v In this way, all of the clocks, including the master clocks,-are started together and all of the movements, including the master movements, are stopped together, which has not been possible under any prior practice. The length of time allotted to running the movements will depend upon their character and the degree of accuracy desired, but it is very brief, compared with the length of time found necessary under the present practice of individual timing. After the movements have been stopped, they are compared with the master movements and their hair-springs taken up or let out proportionately, as they are shown to have run slower or faster than the master movements, this regulation of the hair-springs being done individually, by shifting the reg: ulators, whatever their character, with which the movements are provided. I

The operation of actually regulating the movements may be done before or after their removal from thedevice as may be found convenient and. expedient. In the device illustrated, I have shown. only two rows of movements, but it is apparent that the rods 21 may be lengthened or increased in number, the capacity of any individual device depending upon the character and size of the movements to be regulated.

I would, therefore, have'it understood that I do not limit myself tothe. device shown and described, my invention being characterized by a device in which aplurality of similar time-pieces, of whatever character, may be stopped and started simultaneously, with one or more master time-pieces. v r

I claim: V

1. A device for timing time-pieces having a multiple mounting-unit, providing for the installation upon it of a plurality of time-pieces, and having a multiple, movement-stopping-and-starting unit furnished with a plurality of stopping-and-starting members positioned tosimultaneously start a plurality of time-pieces installed upon the said mounting-unit by engaging a member of their balance mechanisms with a wiping action, whereby the several time-pieces are simultaneously given a starting impulse.

2. In a device for timing time-pieces, a multipl mounting-unit having a plurality of similar groups of sockets arranged in accordance with the arrangement of the pillars of the time-pieces to be regulated,

and also having a multiple, movementstopping-and-starting unit comprising a reciprocatable bar carrying yielding fingers positioned upon it, so as to be simultaneously engaged with and disengaged from corresponding moving parts of the timepieces installed upon the mounting-uhit.

3. In a device for timing time-pieces, the combination with an inclined installation board, ofa plurality of similar groups of sockets mounted thereupon for'the reception of the pillars of the movements to be regulated, and a multiple, movement-stopping-and-starting unit consisting of a plurality of parallel rods coupled together at their ends and carrying a plurality of similar stopping-and-starting springs positioned to engage with moving parts of the time-movements so mounted and positioned.

WILLARD E. CHAMBERLAIN? Witnesses:

CHAS. E. CORNELL, LUGY,A. SULLIVAN.