US1853637A

US1853637A - Self winding watch

Info

Publication number: US1853637A
Application number: US334173A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reiner Max
Original assignee: PERPETUAL SELF WINDING WATCH C
Current assignee: PERPETUAL SELF WINDING WATCH C; PERPETUAL SELF WINDING WATCH Corp
Priority date: 1929-01-22
Filing date: 1929-01-22
Publication date: 1932-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 1949-04-12
Also published as: CH137510A; DE518490C

Description

April 12, 1932. REINER 1,853,637 SELF WINDING WATCH Filed Jan. 22, 1929 M INVENTOR.

A TTO EYS.

Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAX BEINER, 0]? NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PERPETUAL SELF WINDING WATCH CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SELF WINDING WATCH Application filed January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,173.

This invention relates to watches and more especially to wrist watches or the like provided with a self-winding movement, whereby movement of the watch is eifeotive, to wind the main spring.

An object of this invention is a. self-winding watch or the like provided with improved and eflicient means for effecting winding of the main spring by movement of the watch while being worn and preventing overwinding of the said spring.

According to this invention, the winding of the main spring is effected by means of a weighted pendulum, which may be mounted on a pivot for free oscillation ,in every are about said pivot. Oscillation of the pendulum or weight is caused by motion of the watch usually effected by movement of the wrist of the wearer of the watch. There is also provided a wheel to which rotation in one direction only is imparted by the weight. This wheel is connected to the winding train of the watch by means of spring actuated click mechanism, which transmits spring pressure from the wheel to the winding train whereby the rotation of the weight is effective to wind the main spring. The spring pressure exerted by the click mechanism exceeds the normal resistance to winding of the main spring. However, when the main spring approaches its winding limit its resistance to winding increases and overcomes the spring pressure of the click mechanism. Under such conditions, the click yields and the wheel continues to be rotated by the weight, but is ineffective further to wind the spring. As soon as the main spring unwinds enough so that the spring pressure again exceeds the resistance of the winding train,

movement of the weight effects winding of the spring. When the watch is being worn, the sprin is normally kept about two-thirds or threeourths wound up due to the movements of the wearer.

The click mechanism connecting the wheel and winding train preferably consists of a spring actuated pawl, dog or the like carried by the wheel and which engages oblique surfaces on a. wheel of the winding train. The spring pressure exerted by the click on the oblique surfaces exceeds the resistance of the winding train except when the spring is nearl v wound up and movement of the weight is eifective to wind the spring. However, when the main spring is wound to a predetermined extent, its resistance to further winding exceeds the force of the click mechanism and the click slides over the oblique surfaces without effecting operation of the winding train. Means are provided for varying the tension applied to the click, thus permitting variations in extent to which the main spring can be wound up. By this arrangement, the main spring is prevented from being overwound, although the weight is freeto rotate at all times.

By having the operating weight mounted for complete rotation, the weight swings through the longest possible arc and produces the maximum winding effect. The weight is always free to swing regardless of the arrangement of the watch on the wrist of the wearer. Moreover, as there are no stops to interfere with the swing of the weight, there is complete absence of the objectionable shocks which would occur should there be stops to limit the path of the weight. The free rotation of the weight permits advantage to be taken of any motion of the watch tending to swing the weight and this feature insures maximum winding efliciency.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a rear view of a watch movement embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the tension adjusting means.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modi fied form of the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 10 is the back plate of a watch to which is attached one end of bridge 11, the other end of which extends over the plate 10 to the center thereof. A. pin 12 extends from the plate 10 to the free end of the bridge 11. A

gear wheel 13 and a ratchet wheel 14 have a common hub 15 through which the pin 12 extends. A second ratchet wheel 16 of lar er diameter than either the gear wheel 13 or te ratchet wheel 14 is rotatably mounted on the hub 15 between the wheels 13 and 14. An arm 17 is rotatably mounted at one end on the pin 12 and is provided with a weight at the other end. The arm 17 carries a spring actuated pawl 18, which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 16 to rotate the latter in counter-clockwise direction. A click 19 is pivoted to the ratchet wheel 16 and is arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 14. A bowed resilient member 20 is pivoted near one end of the ratchet wheel 16 and has its other end bearing against the click 19 to force the latter against the teeth of the ratchet wheel 14. The force exerted by the spring 20 on the click 19 is varied by means of the regulator 21, which is in the shape of a regular polygon, and is eccentrically mounted on a pin 22. One face of the regulator 21 bears against the free end of the spring 20 and determines the tension exerted by the spring on the click 19. By bringing different faces of the member 21 into engagement with the free end of the spring 20, the tension of this spring may be varied. The gear wheel 13 is connected through a winding train with the main spring gear 23 so that rotation of the gear wheel 13 is effective to wind up the main spring. A pawl 24 permits operation of the winding train in one direction only. The click 19 is held in contact with the sloping faces of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 14 and the pressure thus established is sufiicient normally to cause counter-clockwise rotation of the wheel 14 with the ratchet wheel 16. Thus rotary motion imparted to the ratchet wheel 16 by the arm 17 is communicated through the click to the wheel 14. As the gear wheel 13 is permanently connected to the wheel 14, it is caused to rotate therewith and effect operation of the winding train.

The pressure exerted by the click 19 on the wheel 14 exceeds the normal resistance of the main spring of the watch. However, as the main spring is wound up, this resistance to winding increases, and when the main spring becomes nearly wound up, the resistance of the winding train exceeds the force applied by the click to the wheel 14. Under such circumstances, the click slides along the sloping faces of the teeth of the wheel 14 without effecting rotation of the same. By varying the pressure between the click and its cooperating wheel, the extent to which the main spring will be wound up may be varied. Such pressure may be varied by regulating the tension on the spring 20 through the medium of the member 21. The arm 17 is free, however, to swing at all times and its swinging movement either clockwise or anti-clockwise is unimpeded.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, 10 designates the rear plate of a watch movement, which is provided with a bridge 11 and a pin 12. On the pin 12 are rotatably mounted a gear wheel 33, a ratchet wheel 36 and an arm 37 provided at its free end with a. weight 37. A spring actuating pawl 38 is carried by the arm 37 and engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 36 to effect counter-clockwise rotation thereof. The wheel 33 is provided on its upper face with an annular row of teeth 34 having sloping faces. A pin or click 39 is carried by one end of a spring 40 pivotally mounted on studs 41 and has in its opposite end an adjusting screw 42. The click 39 extends through an aperture in the wheel 36 to engage the teeth 34 of the wheel 33. A pawl 43 permits operation of the winding train in one direction only. The wheel 33 is connected through the usual winding train with the main spring gear 23 whereby rotation of the wheel 33 is effective to wind up the main spring in the manner previously described. The arm 37 imparts counter-clockwise rotation to the wheel 36 through the pawl 38. The wheel 36, through the medium of the click o9 pulls the wheel 33 with it counterclockwise and thus effects winding of the main spring. \Vhen the resistance to winding of the main spring exceeds the force applied by the click 39 to the sloping surfaces on the wheel 33, the click ride's over the teeth without effecting rotation of the wheel 33. This arrangement prevents overwinding of the spring and this condition exists until the resistance of the spring equals or is less than the force applied by the click to the wheel. This force may be adjusted by means of the screw 42.

Although in the embodiment of the invention above described, tlie operating pendulum is disclosed as being capable of complete rotation, it is apparent that such a pendulum although desirable is not essential and that a pendulum having a limited oscillation may be used instead.

It is of course understood that various structural changes may be made in the device above described, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a self-winding watch, a weighted arm supported at one end for oscillation, a wheel, co-acting means on said arm and wheel to impart uni-directional rotation from said arm to said wheel, a second wheel having a circular row of radially oblique surfaces, a spring actuated member carried by said first wheel and engaging said surfaces to transmit rotation from the first to the second wheel, and a winding train operated by said second wheel.

2. In a self-winding watch, a weighted arm pivotally supported at one end, a ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by said arm and engaging said ratchet wheel, a second wheel, a click carried by said ratchet wheel and engaging radially oblique surfaces formed on said second wheel, and a winding train operated by said second wheel.

3. In a self-winding Watch, an oscillatory weight, a wheel, means to impart uni-directional rotation to said wheel from said weight, a ratchet wheel having radially obique teeth, a click carried by said first wheel and engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a pivoted resilient member exerting pressure on said click, and means to vary the tension of said resilient member.

4. In a self-winding watch, an oscillatory weight, a wheel, means to impart un i-directional rotation to said wheel from said weight, a ratchet wheel, a click carried by said first wheel and engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a bowed resilient member pivoted near one end to said wheel and having its other end engaging said click and a member for adjusting the tension of said resilient member, said member having a plurality of faces, each of which is adapted to engage the free end of said resilient member.

5. In a self-winding watch, a pivot, a weight mounted for free oscillation in every are about said pivot, a wheel, means to impart uni-directional rotation from said weight to said wheel, a second wheel, click mechanism connecting said first and second wheels, and a winding train operated by said second wheel.

6. In a self-winding watch, a pivot, a Weight mounted for free oscillation in every are about said pivot, a wheel, coacting means on said weight and wheel to impart uni-directional rotation from said weight to said wheel, a second wheel having a circular row of oblique surfaces, a spring actuated member carried by said first wheel and engaging said oblique surfaces to permit rotation from the first to the second Wheel, and a winding train operated by said second wheel.

7. In a self-winding watch, a pivot, a pendulum supported by said pivot for free oscillation in every are about said pivot, a ratchet wheel, a pawl carried by said pendulum and engaging said ratchet wheel, a second wheel, a click carried by said ratchet wheel and engaging sloping surfaces provided on said second wheel, and a windin train operated by said second wheel.

8. In a self-winding watch, an oscillatory weight, a wheel, means to impart uni-directional rotation from said weight to said wheel, a ratchet wheel having radially oblique teeth, a click carried by said first Wheel and engaging the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a bowed resilient member pivoted near one end to said wheel and having its other end engaging said MAX REINER.

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