US2867078A

US2867078A - Self-winding mechanism for watches

Info

Publication number: US2867078A
Application number: US314314A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles G Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-10-11
Filing date: 1952-10-11
Publication date: 1959-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 1976-01-06

Description

Jan. 6, 1959 c. e. scoTT SELF-WINDING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES Filed Oct. 11, 1952 INVENTOR. cg mps G. SCOTT ATTORNE Y United States Patent 9 2,867,078 SELF-WINDING MECHANISM F'on WATCHES Charles G. Scott, Kingsport, Tenn. Application October 11, 1952, Serial No. 314,314

6 Claims. (Cl. 58-82) This invention relates to a winding mechanism for timepieces, and more particularly to a self-winding mechanism for watches and clocks.

In the past, numerous forms of mechanism have been designed to wind automatically the main. spring of a timepiece. jectiouable for one or more reasons, including high .cost, complication, thus making them difiicult to repair and replace, and large size, thus making watches including self-winding mechanisms-of too large size to be worn on the wrist. The apparatus of the present invention is designed to avoid all of the above-mentioned objections to previously-proposed. self-Winding mechanisms; is designed to be manufactured and assembled at small expense; is relatively uncomplicated so as to make it fairly simple to repair and replace the elements of the mechanism; and is of small and compact size so as to make it possible to provide even tiny womens watches with selfwinding mechanisms.

Another objection to some of the previously-proposed self-Winding mechanism for timepieces has been that the windingtrain of the mechanism was only engaged with the train of gearing connected tothe main spring when the Weight used to provide the windingenergy was moved in one direction. If the weight was moved in some other direction during-movement of the timepiece, the weight was disengaged from the train of gearing, so that'winding of the main spring only took place when the timepiece was moved in one direction. In contrast, the mechanism of the present invention is designed so that the winding train is always positively engaged with the winding gear and so that the winding gear is rotated in such direction as to wind the mainspring to store they necessary energy to operate the timepiece, no matterin what direction the timepiece is moved.

The mechanism of the present invention comprises generally a winding gear mounted on the arbor of the main spring adjacent two other arbors supported, for instance, onthe main plate of the timepiece, a weight movable in opposite directions or rotatable, and so connected to the arbors as to cause them to move in opposite directions when the weight is moved in one direction, and means for transmitting movement of the two arbors into rotation of the winding gear in the same direction no matter in which direction the weight is moved. The apparatus further includes a pinionmounted on each of the arbors and rotatable independently thereof, the pinions being connected to the winding gear, and one-way clutch means for each pinion connected between the arbor on which the pinion is mounted and the pinion, so that the pinions are only positively rotated by the arbors when the arbor are rotated in such dircction that the clutch means are engaged.

The apparatus of the present invention is particularly designed for use with wrist watches, but it may just as well be used wtih clocks mounted, for instance, on the shaft of the steering wheel of an automobile or mounted in a boat, for the apparatus is adapted to Wind the main However, such mechanisms have been obenergy to operate the timepiece.

did spring of atimepiece whenever it is attached to'some mechanism that is moving sufiiciently to wind the mainspring.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be more fully described in conjunction with the. accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan View of one form of the automatic winding mechanism of the present'invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view ofthe apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is aplan view of another form of the apparatus of the invention; and.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the apparatusof Fig. 3.

The apparatus of' thefirst form of the invention is mounted on the usual main plate 1 of a timepiece having a winding gear 2 mounted on an arbor 3 extending into thetispring barrel/3 and connectedto the mainspring (not shown). Rotation of the winding gear 2in one direction, as shown in' Figs. 1 and 2 the clockwise direction, causes the main-spring to be wound to store up The automatic winding mechanism includes a bridge 5 supported above the main plate 1 bybridge screws 6. A pair of arbors 7 and 8 have their lower ends bearing in the main plate 1 and extend through the bridge 5. A rotatable or oscillatable driving member or weight 9 has a sleeve 10 attached by means of a screw 1;. to the arbor 8 so as to rotate the arbor when the weight is moved.

Rotation of the arbor- S in response to movement of the weight is transmitted to the arbor 7 by means of meshing-gears Hand 13 secured to the respective arbors.

A-one-way clutch-is mountedon the arbor 8 audiocludesan-upper'ratchet member 14 attached'to the gear 12: and alower ratchet member 15 urged into engagementwith-the upperratchet member 14 by a spring 16;

. the lower ratchetmember l5 being rotatable independently. of the. arbor 8. A similar one-way clutch is mounted on the arbor 7 and includes an upperratchet member 18 secured to the gear 13, and a lower ratchet member 19urged into engagement with the upper ratchet member 18' by a spring 26, the lower ratchet member 19, like the lower ratchet member 15, being rotatable independently of its arbor.

Each of the one-way clutches is designed so that its upper and lower ratchet members engage tocause the arbor to rotate positively. the lower member when its arbor is-r-otating in a counterclockwise direction. When the arbor isrotatingin a clockwise directiom'the lower member of the clutch is free for movement independently of the arbor. I

The means for transmitting movement of the

gears

12 and 13 int-o rotation of the winding gear Zincludes a pair ofpinions 21 and- 22, mounted on the lower members .15 and '19, respectively, of the two one-way clutches. A fourth gear or idler wheel 23 is rotatably mounted on 'a' 'stud '24 having its lower end secured in the main plate 1, the: fourth gear engaging with both pinion 21 and pinion 22. The winding gear 2 engages only with the pinion= 22.

In operation of the form oftheinvention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when the driving member or weight 9 ismoved in the clockwisesense or direction by reason of movement of the timepiece, the arbor 8 moves in the same direction, but that direction of rotation does not cause engagement of the members 14 and15 of the oneway clutch means, so that the pinion 21 is not rotated by the clockwise movement of the arbor 8. However,

v thegear 12 meshes with the gear13 and the clockwise movement of'the former gear causes a counterclockwise movement of the lattergear so that theratchet members 18 and 19 of the one-way clutch on the arbor 7 are engaged." The pinion Z2 consequently rotates in "a 3 counterclockwisedirection with the gear 13, and since the. pinion 22 is engaged with the winding gear 2, the winding gear is rotated in a clockwise direction.

When the weight 9 moves in a counterclockwise sense .oridirection, the. arbor 8 and the gear 12 are moved in 'a' similar direction; and theratchetimembers' 14 and 15 of the one-way clutch mounted on the arbor .8 .engage, thus causing rotation of the pinion-21 in a counterclockwise direction. Rotation of -the pinion 21 in a counterclockwise direction causes the rotation of the fourth gear or idler wheel 23 in a clockwise direction, and since the gear 23 is engaged with the pinion 22, the pinion is moved in a counterclockwise direction. Again, the counterclockwise movement of the pinion 22 causes a clockwise movement of the winding gear 2, since the winding gear is engaged with the pinion. Consequently, it will be seen that the winding gear is always rotated in the proper direction to wind the main spring of the timepiece whenever the weight moves, no matter in which direction it moves.

It will be seen that the fourth gear or idler wheel 23 and the winding gear 2 always rotate in the same direction, so that it would be possible to dispense with the fourth gear merely by having the winding gear engaged with both pinion 21 and pinion 22. However,

the provision of the fourth gear or idler wheel makes it easier to dismantle the winding mechanism of the timepiece, since the winding gear is only engaged with one pinion, thus rendering access thereto and its removal more simple.

Most of the elements of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are identical with the corresponding elements shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and such elements will not be further described but are indicated in Figs. 3

and 4 with the same numerals primed as used in Figs. 1

and 2. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a driving member or weight 25 which is rectilinearly movable in opposite directions is utilized instead of the rotatable or oscillatable weight 9 of Figs. 1 and 2. The weight 25 is reciprocable along a slot 26 in a bridge 27 mounted by means of screws 29 and sleeves 30 above the main plate 1' of the timepiece. A cap screw 31 carrying a washer 32 guides the weight 25 along the slot 26 and holds the weight against the bridge 27. To

transmit movement of the weight 25 into movement of the winding mechanism, the weight carries a rack 33 which engages with the gear 12 of the winding train. The cap screw 31 is fastened to a block 25' which is fixed to the weight 25 against movement with respect thereto. is of approximately the same width as the slot, so as to prevent movement of the weight transversely of the trackway.

In operation of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the driving member or Weight 25 moves towards the left, the gear 12 is rotated in a clockwise direction because of its engagement with the rack 33. The arbor 8' is then rotated in the same direction and the gear 13' and arbor 7' are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The ratchet members 18 and U of the one-way clutch mounted on the arbor 7 then engage, causing counterclockwise rotation of the pinion 22' with the arbor 7'. Since the pinion 22 is engaged directly with the winding gear 2', the winding gear rotates in a clockwise direction.

When the weight 25 is moved towards the right, the gear 12 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, thus causing rotation of arbor 8' in the same direction. The ratchet members 14' and 15' of the one-way clutch mounted on the arbor 8' are engaged to cause movement of the pinion 21 in the counterclockwise direction with the arbor 8'. Rotation of the pinion 21' in a counterclockwise direction causes rotation of the fourth gear or idler wheel 23 in a clockwise direction, and since this gear is engaged with the pinion 22', the latter pinion The block 25' projects into the slot 26 and rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Counterclockmovement about an axis in opposite directions, or oscillatory movement, and rectilinear movement in opposite directions. r

The embodiments of the invention described above are only illustrative of the present invention and it is obvious that many changes could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not restricted to the specific embodiments shown and described but only by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a winding mechanism for a timepiece having a mainspring and a winding gear for the mainspring, the improvement which comprises a pair of spaced rotatable arbors, a reciprocatory driving member so connected to one of said arbors that movement of said driving member in one sense causes rotational movement of said one of said arbors in one direction, and movement of said driving member in the opposite sense causes rotational movement of said one of said arbors in the reverse direction,

a pair of meshing gears secured to the respective arbors for rotation therewith, a pinion mounted on each of said arbors for rotation independently of the arbor on which it is mounted, a fourth gear, distinct from said winding gear, mounted for rotation about its axis and meshing with each of said pinions but not meshing with said winding gear, and one-way clutch means between each pinion and the gear mounted on the same arbor therewith, each of said one-Way clutch means being engaged when its respective arbor is rotating in the same direction, only one of said pinions meshing with the Winding gear, whereby movement of said driving member in either of said senses causes rotation of the winding gear in the same direction.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said driving member is movable oscillatively to rotate said arbors.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said driving member is movable rectilinearly in opposite directions to rotate said arbors. V

4. In a winding mechanism for a timepiece having a mainspring and a winding gear for the mainspring, the improvement which comprises a pair of spaced rotatable arbors, a pair of meshing gears secured to the respective arbors for rotation therewith, a pinion mounted on each of said arbors for rotation independentlyof the arbor upon which it is mounted, only one of said pinions on one of said arbors meshing with said winding gear, one-way clutch means between each pinion and the gear mounted on the same arbor therewith, a driving member mounted on said timepiece for rectilinear movement in opposite senses, whereby movement of said driving member in one sense causes rotation of said arbor in one direction and rotation of said winding gear in one direction only, a fourth idler gear, distinct from said winding gear, said fourth gear meshing with each of said pinions but not meshing with said winding gear, whereby movement of said driving member in the opposite sense causes rotation of the other arbor in the one direction of said one arbor and, through said fourth gear and the pinion mounted on said one arbor, the rotation of said winding gear in said one direction only.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a rack mounted on said driving member, said rack meshing with the gear on one of said arbors. I 6. An automatic winding mechanism for a timepiece having a mainspring comprising a Winding gear for the mainspring, a pair of spaced rotatable arbors, a pair of meshing gears secured to the respective arbors for rotation therewith, a pinion mounted on each of said arbors for rotation independently of the arboron which it is mounted, only one of said pinions on one of said arbors meshing with said winding gear, one-way clutch means between each pinion and the gear mounted on the same arbor therewith, an oscillatory driving member mounted on an arbor of said pair, whereby movement of said driving member in one sense causes rotation of the said one arbor in one direction and rotation of said winding gear in one direction only, a fourth idler gear, distinct from said winding gear, said fourth gear meshing with each of said pinions but not meshing with said winding gear, whereby movement of said driving member in the opposite sense causes rotation of the other arbor in the one direction of said one arbor and, through said fourth gear and the pinion mounted on said one arbor, the rotation of said winding gear in said one direction only.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS St. Mary Mar. 30, 1909 Jenkins Mar. 9, 1915 Lorarn Apr. 23, 1929 Annen May 2, 1933 Payne Nov. 6, 1934 Vikhman Dec. 31, 1940 Bolsey Dec. 22, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Denmark Mar. 24, 1899 France July 9, 1928 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1930 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1948 Switzerland Sept. 1, 1951 Switzerland Dec. 17, 1951