US3004382A

US3004382A - Stem winding and setting watch movement

Info

Publication number: US3004382A
Application number: US817750A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar R Petters
Original assignee: PREC TIME CORP
Current assignee: PREC TIME CORP; PRECISION TIME Corp
Priority date: 1959-06-03
Filing date: 1959-06-03
Publication date: 1961-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-17
Also published as: CH1168860A4; CH1168760A4; CH370709A; GB928731A; FR1294127A; CH370015A

Description

O. R. PETTERS Oct. 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1959 5. F Y R.F E 0. N u Wn 02K ma, m M MR. .vmv R MLV QT km, M w/ o 7 E www" W w m 2H Oct. 17, 1961 o. R. PETTERS 3,004,382

STEM WINDING AND SETTING WATCH MOVEMENT Filed June 5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. IO.

1N V EN TOR.

BY y

AfTR/VEX 0564/? R, PETTES.

Oct. 17, 1961 o. R. PETTERS 3,004,382

STEM wINDING AND SETTING WATCH MOVEMENT Filed June I5, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. OSC/4l? :BETH-W5.

FGJS. *I5 BY y ATTORNEK Oct. 17, 1961 o. R. PETTERs 3,004,382

STEM WINDING AND SETTING WATCH MOVEMENT Filed June 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -f I 70C INVENTOR. k f 0504/? @Pfr/"fw,

United States Patent() This invention'y relates tti-time` pieces. and; more par'- ticularly, toan operating mechanism. therefor.

Ordinarily', the large number o f; parts; andl assemhly ope-rations addconsideraibly tothejcost of manufacture of time pieces', such as watches) especially "in the manufacturefof the low price type of time pieces.y Itis; there-l fore; anV objectof4 the present invention to provide an operating assembly for'time pieces thatiis extremely simple 1n construction; includes, a fewer number ofv parts than convention-al mechanisms, andv which may be more. economically assembled',l to reduce the overall cost of manufacture' thereof.. f

Another objectof the .present invention is to provide a settingjrnechanism for time pieces havinga reduced' num.- ber' of parts whichl are of basically simple construction and can be manufactured by means of economical processes and manufacturing techniques.

An additional object `of the present invention is to provide mounting plates.. for time 'piecesi of` the type described: that can .be manufactured' by. progressive, dies, and

which will eliminate all" profiling and recessing operaf tions.

` All of the foregoing and', still further. objects.v and advantages .of this invention will become. apparentifrom a study ofthe following specificatiomtakenin connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:A

FIG. l] is anenlarged panoramic crossfsectionalf view Patented Oct. 17, 1961V 2 y '153-1'5-1 ofi FIG t4; showing the contour of the face plate: i

FIG. 16'isV an enlarged fragmentary plan viewofcertain parts of the present invention, with-the parts' ina bandi-setting position. A

y FIG; 17 -is' aview similar to FIG.v l6, withv theL stem and related parts'inv a winding position. n FIG; 118l is a bottom plan view of the train plate and .windingleverfassociated'therewith. n

- FIG. l9is-an explodedperspective' view of the various operating: parts with they gear' train and main spring removed: l n "In accordance with the, present invention',- ati'me. piece operating. assembly is provided". that includes a` dial pl'ate and ajtrain plate' supported in spaced: apart para'll'elrela'- tionship, andbetween which a geartrain is operatively supported'whichincludes a main springatone end and a setof timerindi'cating hands at the" opposite ends. A manually operated stem andassociatedwindi-ng and' seting levers are provided for alternately winding themain spring and" setting the hands, as may be. desired; How'- lever;A as will be morefully explained, all of thesev functions are attained by an assembly havinga relatively few number -ofpartsv and which may be assembled by means .Offlow cost manufacturing techniques.

` j Referring now. to the drawing, and more particularly taken along line, 1---1N of'FIGI.. 9;, slowingfthe4 relation-` l ship between many of' the Operating.partsofthe` present lnventlon.

FIG. la is a view similar to FIG.` lytaken along; line 1a-1a of FIG. 9.

yFIG. 2 is an enlarged' fragmentary crossfsectional' view taken along.' line 2"-2 of FIG. 9.2

FIG. 3 is.l an enlarged top` planview of a train plate forming apartof the present' invention. I i

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryA cross-sectional, View taken along-line44- of FIGS 3'. f

FIGC 5 isfanA` enlarged fragmentary-crossasectionall view taken alongy line 5 5 of FIGE 3.

FIG; 61isa bottom plan-` view4 of" a face plateforme ing another parteofrthey present' invention.

7 is a transversecross-sectionali-view takenal'ong 8I is la fragmentary end elevationalrview'of'the face -plate shown-'in'FIGl 6. y

FIG. 9' is al fragmentary perspective view ofa. time piece operating mechanism made in accordance with they present invention. y

FIG. 10 isa fragmentary hottomperspectiveview of .other parts' of the assembly shown` in. 9j

include a dialplate 27. of' generally circular coniigurationv having various cutouts and' openings for. accommod'ating other associatedV parts of the time piece'.` This dial pl'ate 27. is formed into three. different" levels, a main level 28,1 an` offset' level 29,and"an intermediate. level 3U. The offset level 29i'nc1udes a centralr openingl through which apinion. post 32 extends. A sleeve 3`3'is rotatably supported upon the. pinionv postv 32. and has ascannonpinion. 34fwhich is in meshing ,engagement wtih a minute wheelcarriedupon a. minute wheel' shaft' 412' from the intermediate, levell) of the. dial plate., together witha pinionfl. A. minute. hand secured fto the outer end. oflthe sleeve.. 33'. for rotation. by the `minute wheel. 36 actingJ through the cannon, pinion` 34. v

Afliarrelt wheel 39. is. frictionally snpp'orted upon the. barrel. 40'. oa. main spring, 41. to form a, slip, coupling therewiththe, barrel.. 4.0. being. rotatably carriedA upon the barrel arbort?.v rEhe-barrel wheel3'9` is inmeshing, driving engagement with. the: cannon. pinion 34. for. operating the.minute=wheel.3`6 underfthedriving, action. of..tl1e main spring, the.. rspeedY of which iscontrolledlby an escapement gear.` train, as. will' be hereinafter more( fully. described; The. driving, of vthe minute: wheel36.I drives the` hour.l wheel 44 through the pinion 37, and thus rotates the noun handA canried upon thehoun handsleeve. Swith the minute, hand138, ata. ratiorof. one to. twelve..

' A.sweep1v second.: .hand 46, issecuredtto. the. outermost endofk a sweep, second hand shaft 47 thatis. rotatably supported. within. the pii1ion-post`3`24 and. has asweep second pinion 481in.` me'slngengagement with a thirdl wheel 504 carriedL upon the thirdlwheel' shaft 52 together with, the third'pinion; 51j upon the intermediate level' 3.0. of'ith'e face plate.A Thisthird' wheel shaft 52. isj'ournalled in-J jewels or other hearings within an* opening 53 in" the intermediatelevel 130 oftfthe'face-'plate andwith an-a1i`gned opening SS-iin'tlietrain plate 56'?.

" As moi-efclearlyshownh in* FIG; 34 of theV drawing;

ter wheel 58 is mounted upon a center shaft 60 with an associated pinion 59 by means of jewels disposed within aligned openings 61, 62 in the dial and train plates, the pinion 59 being in meshing engagement with the barrel gear 64, While the center wheel 58 is in meshing driving engagement with the pinion 51 of the third wheel 50. The third wheel 50 is in meshing engagement with the sweep second pinion 48 and the pinion 81 of the fourth wheel 80 that is mounted upon a shaft 82 within bearings carried within aligned

openings

83, 84 in the dial and train plates. The fourth wheel 80 is, in turn, in driving engagement with an escapement pinion 86 carried upon the shaft 87 with an escapement wheel 88, upon bearings mounted within lined

openings

90, 91 in the dial and train plates. The escapement wheel 88 is, in turn, engaged with the pallet pinion 93 which is journalled within aligned

openings

94, 95 in the dial plate and an inwardly offset tab 96 of the train plate. r1`he speed of rotation of the escapement wheel 88 is controlled by a balance unit 100 mounted within openings 101, 102 in the dial and train plates, a jewel screw 103 being provided for adjusting the end shake of the balance unit 100 during the assembly of and later adjustment of the time piece. The escapement mechanism thus controls the rate of rotation of the barrel 40 by the main spring 41 which, in turn, limits the speed at which the barrel wheel 39 rotates the cannon pinion 34 and the minute and hour hands.

It will also be recognized that the balance unit and escapement, control the speed at which the barrel gear 64 is permitted to rotate the sweep second hand 46, di'- rectly, through the engagement of the third wheel 50 with the sweep second pinion 48. However, the barrel wheel 39 meshes with the cannon pinion 34 to supply the driving action to the minute and hour hand 38, 45, under the control of the escapement and balance unit, through the connection of the center wheel pinion 59 with the barrel gear 64.

The dial and train plates are provided with three stake holes 68a, 68b, 68e; 69a, 69b, 69e, for receiving the opposite ends of

individual stakes

70a, 70b, 70e, respectively, which Amaintain the plates in spaced apart parallel relationship. The barrel 43is rotatably received within aligned

openings

65, 66 in the dial and train plates. A ratchet wheel 72 having a non-circular central opening 71 that slidably receives a correspondingly shaped terminal portion 49 with a flat 73 at one end of thebarrel 43, is mounted upon the barrel at the exterior side of the train plate by means of a spring plate 74 having a T-slot 75 which lits over and lockingly engages a shoulder 78 formed .in the non-circular end of the barrel 43. A depending tab 76 at the outer periphery of the spring plates 74 is received within an opening 77 in the ratchet wheel 72, thus releasably locking the spring plate 74 in overlying assembled relationship with the ratchet wheel As is more clearly shown in FIG. 9 of the drawing, a click and sweep second pinion spring 105 is mounted upon stakepost 70b by means of a bolt 106 which extends through an opening 116 in the spring. The free end 107 of the spring portion yieldably engages behind a detent 108 of a click 109 that is pivotally mounted upon arshoulder 110 of stake post 70a (see FIG. 13). The detent 112 at the opposite end of the click 109 extends-upwardly through an opening 114 in the train plate 56 and is in ratchet engagement with the ratchet wheel 72, thus preventing backward rotation ofthe ratchet wheel 72 when the main spring 41 is wound. I'he free end of the click and sweep second pinion spring 105 overlies the adjacent end of the pinion shaftf47, and thus tends to damp the uneven or vibrating movement of the sweep second shaft as the sweep second hand is rotated. A depending lug 1170i the click and sweep second pinion spring 105 is received within an opening 118- in the train plate, thus locking the spring portion 4 107 and the sweep second pinion spring 105 against pivotal movement about the bolt 106.

With further reference now to FIGS. 13 through 19 of the drawing, a stem block 120 is shown to be mounted between the facing sides of the dial and train plates by means of a bolt121. One end of the stem block 120 is bifurcated and includes a pair of spaced apart parallel arms 122 that have aligned openings 123 within which avstem 125 is rotatably and slidably supported. A drive pinion slidably carried upon a flat 126 of the stem 125 is rotatably supported within the slot 128 between the bifurcated arms 122.' Because of the non-circular opening through the `drive pinion 127 and the correspondingly shaped flat portion 126 of the stem, the stem may be moved axially,`while being drivingly connected to the drive pinion. Both the dial and train plates are provided with aligned

slots

130, 131 through which the diametrically opposite sides of the drive pinion 127 are received.

A winding wheel 133 rotatably supported upon a shaft 134 that extends through an arcuate slot 135 inthe train plate is carried upon the free end of a winding lever 136 that has an opening 137 at its opposite end for rotatably receiving one of the stake posts 70b. This winding lever is mounted on the netrior side of the train plate and a winding wheel 133 is normally urged into meshing engagement with the ratchet wheel 72 by a spring extension 139 that abuts againsta downwardly struck stop portion 140 of the train plate. Also, the adjacent side of the drive pinion 127 is in constantly meshing engagement with the winding wheel 133, whereby rotation of the stem 125 in the normal winding position shown in FIG. 17, will effect rotation of the winding wheel 133 and the ratchet wheel 72 to wind the spring 41, when the stem 125 is rotated in the winding direction illustrated by the arrow shown in FIG. 9. Back winding of the stem 123 is permitted by an arcuate slot 143 in a setting lever that slidably receives the free end of a winding lever pickup pin142.Y Thus, when the stem 123 is backwound, the inability of theuratchet wheel 72 to rotate in a reverse direction allows thewinding lever .136 to move against theactionv of the associated spring portion 39 in a direction away from the ratchet wheel 72, such movement being accommodated by the slot 143 into which the pin 142 is extended.

The setting lever 14S, having a spring portion 148, is also pivotally mounted upon the stake post 70b adjacent to the inside surface of the face plate 27. The free end of the setting lever 145 is provided with a follower tip that is in sliding engagement with a circular cam 152 secured upon the stem 125. Thus, as the stem is retracted from the normally inwardly extending winding position shown in FIG. 17 to the outwardly extended time, setting position illustrated in FIG. 16, the came152 engages the follower tip 150 and rotates the setting lever 145 against the action of the spring portion 148 that is in abutment at its free end with another stake post 70a. During this movement, a setting wheel 155 rotatably carried upon a shaft 156 of the setting lever 145 is drawn intoy meshing engagement with an intermediate setting wheel 158 carried upon the shaft 159 and which is in constantly meshed engagement with the minute wheel 3-6. Thus, because of the slippage between the barrel-wheel 39 and the barrel 40, rotation of the stem 125 in the outwardly extended time-setting motion shown in FIG. 16, permits the setting wheel to rotate the intermediate setting wheel 158 to effect rotation, of both the minute and hour hands through the v minute wheel pinion, 37, the cannon pinion 34, and associated minute and

hour wheels

36, 34. Outward movement of the stem 125 is limited by a stop cock'153 carried upon' the train plate and projecting into the path ofmovement of the cam 152.

The trainplate is also provided with a terminal 161 for one end of the hair spring associated with the balance unitv100, and with a pivotally mounted time adjust-ment plate 162 connected to the opposite end of the hair spring, in a well known manner.

It will now be recognized that the winding wheel 133 carried upon the winding lever 136 is normally maintained in meshing engagement Awith the winding ratchet wheel 72, while the setting wheel 155 is normally maintained out of meshing engagement with the intermediate setting wheel 158 by the spring action of the associated spring arm 148 ofthe setting lever 145. However, when the stem 125 is moved from a normally inwardly extended position to the outwardly extending time-setting position, the cam 152 acting against the follower tip 150 urges the setting lever 145 toward the intermediate setting Wheel 158, thus effecting the meshing engagement of the setting wheel 15S with the intermediate setting wheel 158. Simultaneously, the pin 142 engaged with the end of the slot 143., is drawn in the same direction, thus disengaging the winding wheel 133 wardly disposed position acting upon said follower to from the winding ratchet wheel 72 of the spring assembly.

Because ofthe various levels of each of the face and train plates, additional shim blocks, forming, or adjustment are unnecessary to obtain the proper gear levels for the entire gear system. Also, the entire gearing may be assembled upon the face plate immediately prior to the attachment of the train plate, after which, the enlarged bushing 103 permits the balance unit 100 to be inserted and adjusted.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, `what IA claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A time piece comprising, in combination, a dial plate, a train plate, spacer posts securing said dial and train plates in spaced apart parallel relationship, a gear train mounted between said plates, a spring mounted between said dial and train plates having a set of spring winding gears drivingly engaged with said gear train, a set of hands mounted outwardly upon said dial plate having a set of hand setting gears drivingly connected to said gear train, a manually operable stem carried by said plates selectively engageable with said gear train to actuate one of said set of spring winding gears and said hand setting gears, selector rmeans disconnecting said manually operable stem from one of said set of gears in response to connection of said manually operable stem with the other of said set of gears, said selector means comprising a winding lever and a setting lever pivotally supported at one end `between said plates, a drive pinion secured upon said stem, a winding wheel rotatably carried upon the opposite end of said winding lever in meshing engagement with said drive pinion, spring means urging said windingl wheel into meshing engagement with said spring winding gears, a setting wheel rotatably carried upon the opposite end of said setting lever in meshing engagement with said drive pinion, and spring means normally urging said setting wheel out of meshing engagement with said hand setting gears. n

2. A time piece as set forth in claim 1, wherein said winding gears are disposed adjacent to said train plate, and said setting gears are disposed adjacent to said dial plate, said winding lever being pivotally supported upon effect engagement of said hand setting wheel with said hand setting-gear.

4. A time piece as set forth in claim 3, further comprising an interlock between said winding lever and said setting lever displacing said winding lever to yieldably disengage said winding wheel and said spring winding gears in response to movement of said setting lever by said cam to effect engagement of said setting wheel and said hand setting gears.

5. A time piece as set forth in claim 4, wherein said winding lever and said set-ting lever are in spaced apart parallel relationship, and said interlock comprises a pin carried at one end by said winding lever and a slot dened by said setting lever, said slot slidably receiving the opposite end of said pin, said slot slidably accommodating reciprocating movement ofsaid pin during back winding movement of said winding lever by reverse winding rotation of said stem, and one end of said slot abutting with said pin to rotate said winding lever and said winding wheel out of engagement with said spring winding gears in response to movement of said setting lever and said setting wheel into meshing engagement with said hand setting gears by said cam acting upon saidk supporting said dial and train plates in spaced apart said train plate, and said setting lever being pivotally parallel relationship, each of said dial and train plates having uniformly spaced apart main levels rotatably supporting a spring actuated gear train, said dial plate having a cannon pinion supporting level offset inwardly from said main level of said train plate and an intermediate winding lever and setting lever supporting level oiset inwardly toward saidmain level of said train plate, said train plate having a pallet shaft supporting level offset inwardly toward said main level of said dial plate, a torsion spring mounted between said main levels ofsaid dial and train plates, a spring winding gear connected to said spring and rotatably mounted upon the outside of said main level of said train plate, a set of hands supported upon the exterior side of said cannon pinion supporting level of said dial plate, the hand setvting gear connected to said set of hands and rotatably interlock means acting between said stern and said winding and setting levers alternately engaging and disengaging said winding and setting wheels with said respective winding and setting gears in response to sliding movemtlcnt of said stem from one extreme position to the o er.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS `France Dec. 5, 1934