US3016685A - Electric watch - Google Patents

Electric watch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3016685A
US3016685A US792014A US79201459A US3016685A US 3016685 A US3016685 A US 3016685A US 792014 A US792014 A US 792014A US 79201459 A US79201459 A US 79201459A US 3016685 A US3016685 A US 3016685A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
index
wheel
tooth
balance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US792014A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James H Reese
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hamilton Watch Co
Original Assignee
Hamilton Watch Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hamilton Watch Co filed Critical Hamilton Watch Co
Priority to US792014A priority Critical patent/US3016685A/en
Priority to CH1230162D priority patent/CH1230162A4/xx
Priority to CH117560D priority patent/CH117560A4/xx
Priority to CH1230162A priority patent/CH404558A/fr
Priority to CH117560A priority patent/CH402744A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3016685A publication Critical patent/US3016685A/en
Priority to CH1230262A priority patent/CH470018A/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/04—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance
    • G04C3/06—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance using electromagnetic coupling between electric power source and balance
    • G04C3/061—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance using electromagnetic coupling between electric power source and balance the balance controlling contacts and mechanically driving the gear-train
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/18—Mechanical movements
    • Y10T74/1856—Reciprocating or oscillating to intermittent unidirectional motion

Definitions

  • the balance wheel serves as the source of motive power and it is necessary to provide an indexing mechanism which receives power from the oscillating movement of the balance wheel and transforms these oscillations into rotary movement in one direction.
  • this has been accomplished by means of a toothed wheel which is advanced step by step by means of a periodic contact with a camming member carried by the balance Wheel.
  • the very energy which is required to advance the toothed index wheel is also utilized to provide an electrical contact without any requirement for the expenditure of additional energy. Because of the unique arrangement of the contact system, adjustment is entirely eliminated, thereby obviating the criticality previously mentioned. Fewer parts are required in that the entire spring-type contact system is done away with, thereby permitting a space reduction which makes possible a thinner watch movement. In addition to this, it is found that the contact which is obtained is more reliable than that which is possible with the spring-type contact system.
  • FIGURE 1 is a partial vertical section of an electric watch showing the combined contact and index system of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the commencement of the index and contact cycle
  • FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the termination of the index and contact cycle
  • FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the return movement of the balance stat: wherein neither contacting nor indexing occurs;
  • FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic plan view showing another embodiment of the contact and index system.
  • a pillar plate 10 which, in conjunction with a bridge, not shown, carries a balance staff 12.
  • the balance staff 12 carries a balance wheel on which there is mounted a coil of the general type shown in the aforementioned Van Horn et al. Patent No. 2,806,908.
  • an index roller 14 which may comprise a split collar of the type shown in the Van Horn et al. patent.
  • semi-cylindrical jewel pin 16- is mounted in the index roller and extends downwardly below the lower surface thereof as seen in FIGURE 1.
  • a contact 18 is attached to the jewel pin 16 in any suitable manner, such as by means of an adhesive.
  • This contact 18 has a cutaway diagonal edge 20 and a vertical end 22.
  • the portion of the contact attached to the jewel pin 16 has a semi-circular extension 24 which extends around the balance staff 12 out of contact therewith and passes up through an aperture 26 insulation 28 is provided between the contact and the index roller and may consist of an insulating adhesive or a synthetic resin.
  • the contact itself preferably consists of a precious or semi-precious alloy compound having good conductivity characteristics and may, as an example, be formed of a gold alloy.
  • the pillar plate 10 and a train bridge 30 support bearings 32 and 34 and an index assembly shown generally at 36.
  • This index assembly consists of an index pinion 38 and staff 40, an index wheel collet 42, and a contact pivot 44.
  • the index pinion staff 40 may be frictionally received in the metal collet 42 and this is brazed or welded to the pivot 44 which extends through the bearing 34.
  • the pivot is preferably formed of a precious or semi-precious metal alloy and engages a similar precious or semi-precious alloy contact pad 46 carried by a battery lead 48 mounted below the pillar plate and secured thereto in any suitable manner, not shown.
  • the collet 42 carries a composite index wheel indicated generally at 50 consisting of an upper toothed alloy contact wheel 52 and a lower toothed magnetic index Wheel 54.
  • the teeth on both wheels are in alignment with one another and extend into the path of movement of the jewel pin 16 and contact 18 carried by the balance staff 12.
  • a small cylindrical index magnet 56 is frictionally carried by the pillar plate 10 beneath the index wheel 50 and acts upon the magnetic index wheel 54 to pull the index assembly 36 downwardly so that the pivot 44 maintains continuous electric contact with the pad 46 on the battery lead i8.
  • This magnet also serves a detent and drive function as presently will be explained.
  • the balance staff is shown rotating or oscillating in the direction indicated by the arrow A and the jewel pin 16, contact 18, index wheel 50 and index magnet '56 are shown in greatly magnified size.
  • the position of the index wheel 50 seen in FIGURE 2 is an at rest position wherein a tooth 58 is centered over the index magnet 56 and is held by magnetic attraction between the magnet and the underlying magnetic tooth of the index wheel 54.
  • the teeth of the composite index wheel 50 are provided with edges 60 which lie on diameters of the center of the index wheel.
  • the trailing edges 62 of the teeth form acute angles with these leading edges.
  • the contact drives the index wheel against the holding force of the index magnet 56 until the index wheel reaches the position shown by the broken lines at 66 in FIGURE 2 and as illustrated in FIGURE 3.
  • the contact 18, index jewel 16 and index wheel 50 are shown in the positions represented by the broken line 66 in FIGURE 2. This represents the end of the contact period whereupon further movement of the balance staff and index roller in the direction of the arrow A will cause termination of the contact between the tooth 64 and diagonal edge 20 of contact 18.
  • FIGURE 4 there is seen the return swing of the balance staff and index roller. With the index roller moving in this return direction, the jewel pin 16 will completely pass by the tooth held in equilibrium by the index magnet '56 as may be seen from FIG- URE 2 and a comparison of the path of movement of the jewel pin indicated at C and the equilibrium tooth '58. Referring back to FIGURE 4, the jewel pin 16 strikes the acute angle edge 62 of a tooth in the relative position of the tooth 64 in FIGURE 2 and moves that tooth to the broken line position shown at 68 in FIGURE 4.
  • the total movement of the index wheel 50 during this engagement with the jewel pin on back swing is indicated by the arrow D in FIGURE 4 and is less than the movement of the index wheel on engagement with the contact during forward swing as is indicated by the arrow E in FIGURE 2.
  • the larger movement E in FIGURE 2 is suflicient to bring the tooth being moved into a position over the index magnet where the magnet draws the tooth forward.
  • the movement is insufiicient to cause the index magnet to advance the wheel and therefore when the jewel pin clears the tooth, the tooth merely returns to its position of rest over the magnet.
  • the oscillation of the balance staff imparts a one-way rotary motion to the index wheel.
  • FIGURE 5 there is shown another embodiment of the invention wherein similar parts are provided with the same reference numerals.
  • the contact comprises a flat strip 70 adhesively secured to the jewel pin 16 in place of the diagonal shaped contact of FIGURES 1 through 4. It is believed apparent that the operation of this embodiment of the invention is identical to that previously described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 through 4.
  • a contact-indexing device for an electric watch comprising an oscillating balance staff, a toothed index wheel adapted to be driven by said balance staff, contact-index means carried by said balance staff, said contact-index means engaging said index wheel as said balance staff oscillates to advance said index wheel in one direction and to establish periodic electric contact between said index wheel and said contact means, a permanent magnet mounted at one side of said index wheel and imparting an axial thrust thereto, an electrically conducting staff carrying said index wheel, and a contact member engaging one end of said staff to establish electrical contact therewith, said magnet thrusting said statf against said contact member to provide contact therewith as said index wheel rotates.
  • a contact-indexing device as set out in claim 1 wherein said contact-index means comprises an index roller mounted on said balance staif and a jewel pincer-- wheel adapted to 'be driven by said balance staff, a roller on said balance staff, an index and contact means mounted on said roller and including an electrically insulating cam member and an electrically conducting contact, said index and contact means engaging said index wheel as said balance staff oscillates to impart step by step advancement thereto in one direction, said contact electrically engaging said index wheel during at least a portion of the oscillation which causes said advancement, said cam engaging said index wheel during the reverse oscillation which causes no net advancement, a detentedrive means holding said index Wheel in pre-established rest positions and imparting drive thereto during each step by step advancement, said detent-drive means comprising a 6 permanent magnet imparting an axial thrust to said index wheel, a staff carrying said index wheel, and a contact member engaging one end of said staff, said magnet thrusting said staff against said contact member to provide contact therewith as said index wheel rotates.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US792014A 1959-02-09 1959-02-09 Electric watch Expired - Lifetime US3016685A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US792014A US3016685A (en) 1959-02-09 1959-02-09 Electric watch
CH1230162D CH1230162A4 (fr) 1959-02-09 1960-02-03
CH117560D CH117560A4 (fr) 1959-02-09 1960-02-03
CH1230162A CH404558A (fr) 1959-02-09 1960-02-03 Dispositif de contact d'une montre électrique
CH117560A CH402744A (fr) 1959-02-09 1960-02-03 Dispositif de contact électrique d'une montre électrique
CH1230262A CH470018A (fr) 1959-02-09 1962-10-19 Dispositif de contact d'une montre électrique

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US792014A US3016685A (en) 1959-02-09 1959-02-09 Electric watch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3016685A true US3016685A (en) 1962-01-16

Family

ID=25155534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US792014A Expired - Lifetime US3016685A (en) 1959-02-09 1959-02-09 Electric watch

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3016685A (fr)
CH (4) CH117560A4 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3130537A (en) * 1961-10-20 1964-04-28 Hamilton Watch Co Contact index system
US3147583A (en) * 1960-08-05 1964-09-08 Hamilton Watch Co Contact and indexing mechanism
US3158988A (en) * 1962-01-31 1964-12-01 Hamilton Watch Co Electrical contact-magnet index system
DE1296768B (de) * 1963-07-10 1969-06-04 Automated Building Components Verfahren zur Herstellung von Verbindungen zwischen Stoessen von Holzbauteilen
US3949547A (en) * 1973-10-31 1976-04-13 Ebauches S.A. Escapement or counting mechanism for a timepiece having a balance-wheel

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US750492A (en) * 1904-01-26 Half to henry bauer
US1752446A (en) * 1927-11-26 1930-04-01 Marti Fritz Electromagnetic impulse timepiece
US1964857A (en) * 1930-11-03 1934-07-03 Max Abraham Halle Electrically driven clock
US2195311A (en) * 1936-11-27 1940-03-26 Gen Electric Novelty pendulum mechanism
US2577703A (en) * 1947-10-31 1951-12-04 Hamilton Watch Co Electric watch

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US750492A (en) * 1904-01-26 Half to henry bauer
US1752446A (en) * 1927-11-26 1930-04-01 Marti Fritz Electromagnetic impulse timepiece
US1964857A (en) * 1930-11-03 1934-07-03 Max Abraham Halle Electrically driven clock
US2195311A (en) * 1936-11-27 1940-03-26 Gen Electric Novelty pendulum mechanism
US2577703A (en) * 1947-10-31 1951-12-04 Hamilton Watch Co Electric watch

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3147583A (en) * 1960-08-05 1964-09-08 Hamilton Watch Co Contact and indexing mechanism
US3130537A (en) * 1961-10-20 1964-04-28 Hamilton Watch Co Contact index system
US3158988A (en) * 1962-01-31 1964-12-01 Hamilton Watch Co Electrical contact-magnet index system
DE1296768B (de) * 1963-07-10 1969-06-04 Automated Building Components Verfahren zur Herstellung von Verbindungen zwischen Stoessen von Holzbauteilen
US3949547A (en) * 1973-10-31 1976-04-13 Ebauches S.A. Escapement or counting mechanism for a timepiece having a balance-wheel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH404558A (fr) 1965-08-31
CH1230162A4 (fr) 1965-08-31
CH117560A4 (fr) 1965-05-15
CH402744A (fr) 1965-05-15

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