US163981A - Improvement in regulating chronometers, watches - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets--Sheet 1.

L. EATON. Regulating Chronometers, Watches, &c. N0, 163,981I Patented June1,1875.

THE GRAPHIC CG PHOT()l.ITH.39&41PARK PLACLNAY.

"" 3Sheets--Sheet2 L. EATON.

Regulating Chronometers, Watches, &c. N0. 163,98L Patentedluneh.

THE GRAPHIC C6.PHOT0 `LHNu'iQBuH PARK PUGEJLY.

3 Sheets-Shee 3` L. EATN.

Regulating Chronometers, Watches, &c. No. 163,981.. Patentedlunema.

THE GRAPHIC CU.PH'0T0-LITH.39&41 PARK PLACEJLY,

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEANDER EATON, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN REGULATING CHRONOMETERS, WATCHES, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,981, dated June l, 1875 application tiled March 8, 1875.

. To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, LEANDER EATON, of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference heilig had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of 'my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a device for regulating chronometers, watches, and clocks, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a plan view, showing my invention in position on a watch. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the lineman. Fig. 3 shows the hair-spring holder in detail. Fig. 4t shows the regulator-frame and hair-spring lock in detail.

A represents the regulator-frame, which is provided with two arms, f j', one on either side of the cut h. These arms preserve the rigidity of the frame while allowing the cut h to open when being sprung upon the bridge.

One end, z, of the regulator-frame is provided with the hair-spring lock, which consists of a plate, B, provided with the jaw u, said plate being secured to the under side of the regulator-frame by a screw at either end. D is a bolt passed through an opening, d, in the end z ot' the regulator-frame, and is held in position by a projecting jaw, e, on the lever E. The boltD is provided with a rounded point upon one side, and it is made concave on the opposite side, having a narrow bearing upon the extreme edges.

Then the hair-sprin g is in position it is held firmly between the jaw n of the plate B and the narrow bearing of the bolt D.

The rounded point ofthe bolt D bears upon the projecting jaw e ot' the lever E, and, being freely movable upon it, it adjusts itself perfectly to the hair-sprin g. The lever E is held and operated by means ot' a lever, o.

The index a, of the regulator A, is provided with a sight, I, which is placed upon the timetable G. A frame, H, is placed upon the time table Gr, and is secured to it by screws, which pass through either end and into the bridge B. Upon the frame and over the sight I is placed a washer, K, on which is pivoted a lever, L, for fastening the index to the timetable.

The adjustable hair-spring holder consists of a sliding plate, t, provided with a jaw, n,A

which plate is placed on the projecting part w of the bridge and fastened to it by means of a washer, d, and lever Through the plate t is passed a movable jaw, b, held in position by a lever, y. The hair-spring is held in position between the jaw q and the movable jaw b.

By the construction of the regulator-frame A, as described, each move ofthe regulator will always be true to the movement indicated by the index.

The hair-spring lock takes hold of the hairspring with the gripe of a vise while working, giving the hair-spring always one permanent and firm base of action. There is no trembling or changing ot' base of action of the hairspring, thereby causing it tov establish` an exact proportional relation on the timetable between time and distance, thus measuring time mathematically when locked, and measuring like any other watchthat is, irregularlywhen unlocked. The point of accurate measurement of time can thus always be found on the timetable.

Another advantage of the lock is that the hair-spring is held irml y in place, and is prevented from being thrown out of position, as frequently occurs in the regulator now in use.

The index a can be locked, as described, to the bridge during the locking or unlocking of the hair-sprin g.

The adjustable hair-spring holder is used as an auxiliary to the regulator in obtaining the proper adjustment of the hair-spring for mathematical measurement of time, the advantage being in its ready and easy adaptan tion to any position; whether it be desired to change it to the right or left, forward or back, to or from the center. It takes hold of the hair-spring without bending or turning it, and always holds it at right angles to the center pinion otthe balance-wheel. It is also a quicker and easier method ot' obtaining aperi'ect adjustment, and facilitates the labor of getting the watch in heat.

In the operation ot' regulating` a watch with this device the hairspring locl: is iirst unlocked by means of the lever c. rlhe index is then unlocked by means of the lever L, and then moved the required distance and locked by the washer K and lever L, so as to beheld iirmly in place that it cannot slip during the subsequent locking of the hair-spring.

In the ordinary regulator the hair-sprin g is held firmly in the hair-spring stud, and vibrates freely between two pins attachedto an adjustable arm, which is moved back and forth in a circle, at will, alternately striking cach pin. \\`hen the springis impinged upon either pin the movement ot' the watch is faster than during the vibration of the spring. It will be seen that a watch must alternately run faster and slower than the correct time. Practice has shown that the regulation ofthe movement of a watch by these means is simply guess-work, and requires several weeks of close observation to secure accurate time. In my invention the hair-spring is attached at both ends (though by diii'erent means, yet upon the principle of an ordinary regulator.) Instead of the two pins upon an arm I use a locking device, which holds the spring fast and gives a ixed base oi' action, rendering it possible to malle an accurate calculation, and in accordance therewith to adjust and regulate the movement. Each watch, or rather each hair-spring, requires a separate calculation for regulating the same. For instance, if the'index is placed at one end of the timetable, and it is found that the watch gains thirty (30) seconds per hour, and it is then placed at the other end ot' the time-table, and it is found that the watch loses twenty (20) seconds per hour, we have a total dit'terence between the two extremes ot titty (50) seconds. It will then be manifest that thirty-liftieths ofthe time-table will represent the fast time, and twenty-tiftieths represent the slow time. Suppose the time-table to be divided into twenty parts, twelve ot' these parts will represent fast, and eight will represent slow, time. Now, move the index twelve parts from the fast end ofthe time-table, lock the hairspring, and the regulation ofthe movemcntis instant and correct.

It will be noticed that in the construction of my regulator I employ no screw-heads in fastening any of the movable parts to the regu latoeframe, but I use screws with levers to hold the various parts, thereby preventing all displacement or injury to the bridge.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Ina regulator for watches, a hairspring lock for holding or lockin g the hair-spring to give it a single, permanent, and iirm base ot' action, for the purposes herein set forth.

2. In a watch-regulator, the levers for fastening the movable or adjustable parts thereof', for the purposes herein set forth.

3. In a watch-regulator, the combination of a lock with the index of the regulator for the purposes herein set forth.

4. The regulator-frame A, constructed as described, with the arms f j' and cut It, substantially as and for the purposes herein sct forth.

5. The hair-spring lock consisting of the plate B with jaw n, bolt D, lever E with jaw c, and lever c, all constructed as described, and attached to the regulator-frame A, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

6. The adjustable hair-spring holder, consisting of the plate c with jaw g, movable jaw b, and levers x y, all constructed substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

7. -The combination of the regulatorframe, hair-springlock, adjustable hair-sprin g holder, and the sight I, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

LEANDER EATON.

Vitnesses U. K. BABCOCK, E. H. WHITNEY.

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