US3140578A - Limited automatic regulating mechanism for a timepiece - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1964 J. A. VAN HORN LIMITED AUTOMATIC REGULATING MECHANISM FOR A TIMEPIECE Filed March 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John A. Van Horn,

ATTORNEYS y 14, 1954 J. A. VAN HORN 3,140,578

LIMITED AUTOMATIC REGULATING MECHANISM FOR A TIMEPIECE Filed March 29, 1960' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H w 4440 46 Z6 IN VENTOR John A. Van Horn,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Filed Mar. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 18,425 20 Claims. (Cl. 58-855) This invention relates to a timepiece with an automatic regulator and more particularly relates to a timepiece so constructed as to automatically accomplish limited regulation thereof when the hands of the timepiece are set.

Conventional timepieces, such as watches and clocks, are ordinarily provided with a regulator which is accessible either from the inside of the case or from the back of the timepiece so that the timepiece may be regulated to keep accurate time. In certain types of timepieces, however, such as automobile clocks, the mounting of the clock makes it difficultto provide a readily accessible regulator which is not also subject to undesired tampering, as by children. In solving this difliculty, it previously has been proposed to provide an automatic regulator which is actuated to cause regulation each time that the hands of the clock are set to correct an inaccurate time indication.

In a certain type of regulator of this nature which has been proposed heretofore, it has been suggested that it is essential to proper automatic regulation that some means be provided to insure that the regulation set into the clock in a specified period of time is limited to a predetermined maximum. As one means of accomplishing this, it has been suggested to set a predetermined maximum amount of regulation which may take place at any one time that the hands of the clock are set. One such example of this type of regulator is shown in Rabinow Patent No. 2,542,430. According to another suggestion of the same inventor (Rabinow Patent No. 2,858,029), it has been proposed to utilize limit means for limiting the magnitude of change of adjustment for a change in indication within a predetermined period of time to insure that the change in regulator adjustment will at no time exceed this predetermined amount. In conjunction with such limit means this same inventor provides a regulator lock-out so that it is impossible to reregulate during the predetermined period of time.

Though structures such as are disclosed in the Rabinow patents possess certain advantages (i.e., tamperproofing; elimination of erroneous regulation for non-corrective adjustments of the timepiece; etc.), there are correspondingly a number of limitations to these structures. For example, there are innumerable instances in which it is desired to make a regulation correction of significantly larger magnitude than would be permitted at any given time by any of the structural embodiments disclosed in the above mentioned patents. In the case of a regulating mechanism such as is illustrated in Rabinow Patent No. 2,542,430, the desired correction of large magnitude could not be made by means of a single depression of the setting stem; in the case of the lock-out mechanism of Rabinow Patent No. 2,858,029, of course, this correction could not be made until the period of time for which the lock-out mechanism was set expired. In addition, the look-out mechanism of the latter patent prevents the immediate erasure of erroneous regulation resulting from erroneous setting of the timepiece, a not at all uncommon occurrence.

In applicants copending application Serial No. 840,373 filed September 16, 1959, now abandoned, applicant disclosed a novel automatic regulator for timepieces which is designed to retain many of the advantages of prior art 3,140,578 Patented July 14, 1964 "ice regulator systems such as those disclosed in the Rabinow patents above, yet, at the same time, to eliminate the disadvantages in such structures as set forth above. As opposed to the prior art concept of imposing a limitation on the maximum regulation which might be injected into the timepiece at a given or within a predetermined period of time, the invention disclosed in applicants copending application utilizes a system which provides for unlimited regulation as a non-linear function of timepiece setting. As pointed out in that application, such a system imposes no arbitrary limitation upon the amount of regulation which can be injected into the timepiece at a given setting or in a predetermined period of time, the regulation occurring at a non-uniform rate so that regulation is effective at a high rate only during the initial movement of the setting stem and subsequently at a much lower rate, or at a zero rate, until the setting stem has been twisted a certain predetermined amount. At that time, regulation again occurs at the high rate and the sequence may be indefinitely repeated.

As pointed out in. said copending application, while unlimited regulation at any given setting is permitted if this is desired, the timepiece structure disclosed therein precludes excessive regulation of the timepiece (which is the sole justification for the lock-out mechanisms of the prior art) as a practical matter. And contrary to the prior art lock-out systems, erroneous regulation of the timepiece resulting from an erroneous setting thereof may be immediately erased.

Notwithstanding the advantages of the unlimited automatic regulating mechanism disclosed in applicants copending application, however, it may be that in certain instances (as governed either by the needs of the environment in which the timekeeping mechanism is used or by the whims of the purchasing public) limited automatic regulation may be desired.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved timepiece equipped with a limited automatic regulating mechanism.

It is another principal object of the invention to provide an improved limited automatic regulator for a timepece which is simply constructed and may be inexpensively manufactured, yetwhich will provide effective service over an extended period of time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved limited automatic regulator for a timepiece which will inject a predetermined maximum amount of regulation into the timepiece at any one setting and which contains an improved lock-out mechanism to prevent tampering and over-regulation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a limited automatic regulating mechanism for a timepiece including low velocity drive between the setting and regulating mechanisms.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and claims, and appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a limited auto matic regulator constructed according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial side elevation, partially in section, of the regulator of FIGURE 1;

driving an hour hand 12. The minute pinion 14 is attached by shaft 16 to the conventional minute wheel 18 which is in turn adapted to be driven by setting pinion 20. Setting pinion 20 is attached to a setting stem 22 adapted to be rotated by a knurled setting knob 24. The position of the setting stem 22 and setting pinion 20 is established by a bent leaf spring 26 having one arm 28 secured to a post 30 which is attached to the timepiece frame in any suitable manner. The setting stem 22 has a necked-down portion 32 received in a slot 34 at the end of arm 28 of leaf spring 26. The setting stem 22 may be raised upwardly against the biasing force of the leaf spring until the setting pinion 20 engages the minute wheel 18 so that the hands of the timepiece may be set in a conventional manner. The minute wheel 18 is also connected to minute gear 25 which is connected to minute hand 11 by the shaft 23. The power for the timepiece may be provided by a source 29 which may be conventionally coupled to minute gear 25 by gear 27. Power source 29 may be either mechanical, electrical or any other well known source of power.

A double gear comprising an upper gear 36 and lower gear 38 is secured to a shaft 40 journalled in the clock frame in any suitable manner which will permit axial motion of the shaft. The position of shaft 44) is determined by leaf spring 26, which is shown to have a second 'arm 42 having an upwardly bent end portion 44 with a bifurcated end. The furcations 4.6 engage a necked down portion 48 of the shaft 40. The spring 26 determines the position of gears 36 and 38 in such a manner that in the rest position of the unit the hour wheel 10 is level with upper gear 36 and is adapted to engage its teeth when the latter is sufliciently rotated as described more fully below.

As may be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 and as is shown more particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4, upper gear 36 has a portion 50 where its teeth are cut away. Lower gear 38, on the other hand, has teeth only in the area of cut-away portion 56, the remainder of gear 33 being toothless.

Upper gear 36 also carries a pin 52 protruding from its upper surface. Thus, when the setting stem 22 is raised upwardly to put the setting pinion 20 into engagement with the minute wheel 18, the leaf spring arm 42 is also raised so that the end 44 of that arm raises gears 36 and 38 until the teeth on lower gear 38 are in mesh with the teeth of the hour wheel 10. In this position, the rotation of the hour wheel 10 by the setting action of the setting pinion 20 causes rotation of the gears 36 and 38 to cause corresponding movement of the pin.

A regulating wheel 58 is pivotally attached to the timepiece frame at 60 and has a depending regulating arm 62 adapted to engage the hairspring of the timepiece in a conventional manner. The wheel 58 is provided with teeth 64 which mesh with the teeth of a pinion 66. Pinion 66 is attached to a gear 68 pivoted at 70 and located just above the pin 52 when the gears 36 and 38 are in the rest position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. When the gears 36 and 38 are raised by the action of the bent leaf spring 26 so that the hour wheel 10 drives gear 38, pin 52 is placed in a position to drive the gear 68 and this, in turn, drives the regulating wheel 58 through pinion 66.

The operation of the regulator is as follows:

In the position of the elements shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, hour wheel 10 and minute wheel 18 are rotated by the power source of the timepiece, which may be a spring or an electric drive. Hour wheel 10 will not drive gears 36 or 38 inasmuch as the cut-away portion 50 of gear 36 is opposite the teeth of the hour wheel. When it is desired to set the timepiece, setting knob 24 is withdrawn upwardly to raise the setting pinion 20 to a position where it engages minute wheel 18, so that upon rotation of the setting knob 24, the minute and hour hands of the clock are rotated in a conventional manner through rotation of minute wheel 18, minute pinion 14 and hour wheel 10.

This same lifting motion of setting knob 24 and setting stem 22 elevates arm 42 of bent leaf spring 26 to cause gears 36 and 38 to be elevated to place the teeth of gear 38 in meshing engagement with the teeth of hour wheel 10 and to move the pin 52 into engagement with the teeth of gear 68. Thus, the same rotation of setting knob 24 which introduces setting motion into the hands of the clock also causes rotation of pin 52 with a concomitant rotation of gear 68 and regulator wheel 58 to introduce regulation into the timepiece.

Regulation is introduced at a substantially uniform rate until such time as the teeth on gear 38 are rotated clear of the teeth on hour wheel 10 or until pin 52 rides clear of gear 68, whichever occurs sooner. Since the toothless portion of gear 38 is now adjacent the teeth of hour wheel 10, further rotation of the hour wheel will not cause gear 38 to rotate and therefore no further regulation will occur, regardless of the degree to which the timepiece is adjusted. This operation is to be contrasted to that occurring in the regulator described in applicants previously mentioned copending application wherein further rotation of the hour wheel will bring the pin back into engagement with gear 68 to cause further regulation.

After the timepiece has been set and setting stem 22 released, bent leaf spring 26 returns the elements to the position shown in FIGURE 1, except that the double gear has been rotated so that the teeth of gear 36 are now in engagement with the teeth of hour wheel 10. As hour wheel 10 continues to be rotated by the power source of the timepiece, gear 36 will be caused to rotate until the cut-away portion 59 is again returned to the position shown in FIGURE 1. This returns the pin 52 to a position where it is again in readiness to engage the teeth of gear 68 to effect movement of regulator wheel 58 upon further setting of the timepiece.

In the foregoing embodiment, the amount of regulation injected into the timepiece during any one setting operation will necessarily be dependent upon the duration of engagement of pin 52 with the teeth of gear 68. If it is desired to inject a regulation of greater magnitude, the structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 will prevent such regulation. An embodiment which will provide greater flexibility of regulation, however, is illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Except for the construction and arrangement of gears 36 and 38, the structure shown in FIGURE 5 is identical to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The double gear is illustrated in FIGURE 5 as comprising the gears 36 and 38, respectively. Gear 38' is identical in construction to gear 38 of the previously described embodiment. Gear 36, while not differing from gear 36 insofar as its peripheral configuration is concerned (including teeth and a cutaway portion 50), is not provided with a pin as was gear 36. In addition, gears 36' and 38' are axially separated sufiiciently so that (1) cut-away portion 50 of gear 36' will be directly adjacent hour wheel 10 under normal running conditions and (2) the teeth of gear 36 will mesh with those of gear 68 and the teeth of gear 38' will mesh with those of hour wheel 10 in the setting position of the timepiece.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 5 and from the description of the operation of the previous embodiment, rotation of hour wheel 10 during the setting operation will cause rotation of gear 38'. Rotation of gear 38 will result in corresponding rotation of gear 36', with concomitant rotation of gear 68 and regulator wheel 58 to introduce regulation into the timepiece. In all other respects, the operation of the timepiece of this embodiment is identical to that of the previously described embodiment.

Since the quantum of regulation injected into the timc piece is no longer limited by the position of a pin, as was the case in the previously described embodiment, the amount of regulation can easily be varied by varying the extent of the toothed portion of gear 38. The greater the extent of the toothed portion, the greater the duration of engagement between gear 38' and hour wheel and thus the greater amount of rotation which may be imparted to gear 68 and regulator wheel 58. In addition, this embodiment is simpler in construction than the previously described structure in view of the elimination of pin 52.

Each of the embodiments heretofore described represents an inexpensive and eifective means to accomplish the objectives of prior art limited regulating mechanisms for timepieces. In addition to their basic construction, the embodiments of the instant invention provide effective safeguards against tampering and over-regulation inasmuch as a lock-out mechanism is provided from the time the regulation is injected into, the timepiece until such time as double gears 36 and 38 (36 and 38' in the second embodiment) rotate back to their at-rest position.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: p

1. A timepiece comprising: time measuring means including a source of power and a gear; time indicating means actuated by said time measuring means; time setting means for setting said time indicating means to any position in its time indicating range; said time setting means having time setting and non-setting positions; rate regulating means for regulating the rate of said time measuring means; automatic regulating means actuated by said time setting means for adjusting said rate regulating means; said automatic regulating means including first and second gears; said first gear being adapted to mesh with said time measuring means gear when said time setting means is moved to its time setting position; the rotation of said first gear causing said second gear to rotate for adjusting said rate regulating means; means for automatically disengaging said first gear from said time measuring means gear after said first gear has been rotated through 'a predetermined angle by said time measuring means gear when said time setting means is actuated in its time setting position; and said second gear being adapted to mesh with said time measuring means gear when said time setting means is returned to its nonsetting position after a time setting operation so tha t rotation of said second gear causes said first gear to return to its original position.

2. A timepiece as defined in claim 1 wherein said first gear is provided with teeth around only a portion of its periphery; said teeth meshing with said time measuring means gear when said time setting means is first moved to its time setting position and becoming disengaged from said time measuring means gear after said first gear has been rotated through a predetermined angle.

3. A timepiece as defined in claim 1 wherein said rate regulating means includes a gear, said second gear being adapted to mesh with said rate regulating means gear when said time setting means is in its time setting position to provide adjustment of said rate regulating means upon rotation of said second gear.

4. A timepiece as defined in claim 1 wherein said automatic regulating means includes a low velocity drive means to provide adjustment of said rate regulating means.

5. A timepiece as defined in claim 4 wherein said rate regulating means includes a gear and said low velocity drive means comprises a pin mounted on said second gear, said pin being adapted to engage said rate regulating means gear when said time setting means is in its 6 time setting position through at least a portion of the movement of said second gear.

6. A timepiece as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second gears are in superposed relationship; said first and second gears being fixed relative to one another and being rotatable about a single axis.

7. A timepiece as defined in claim 1 including means for returning said first gear back to its original position after said time setting means has been returned to its non-setting position and lock-out means for preventing readjustment of said rate regulating means when said time setting means is subsequently moved in the same direction until said first gear is returned to its original position.

8. A timepiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein said time measuring means gear is the hour wheel of the timepiece.

9. A timepiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rate regulating means cannot be readjusted after said first gear has been rotated through said predetermined angle when said time setting means is subsequently moved in the same direction until said first gear rotates back to its original position.

10. A timepiece in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second gear is provided with means to disengage it from said time measuring means gear when said first gear has been returned to its original position.

11. A timepiece as defined in claim 10 wherein said means to disengage said second gear from said time measuring means gear comprises a cut-away portion of said second gear which is adapted to be situated peripherally adjacent said time measuring means gear when said first gear has been returned to its non-setting position.

12. A timepiece comprising: time measuring means including a source of power and a gear; time indicating means actuated by said timemeasuring means gear; time setting means for setting said time indicating means to any position in its time indicating range; said time setting means having time setting and non-setting positions; rate regulating means for regulating the rate of said time measuring means; automatic regulation means actuated by said time setting means for adjusting said rate regulating means; said automatic regulating means including a pair of gears; the first of said gears being adapted to mesh with said time measuring means gear when said time setting means is moved to its time setting position; the rotation of said first gear causing said second of said gears to rotate so as to adjust said rate regulating means; said first gear being provided with teeth around only a portion of its periphery; said teeth normally meshing with said timemeasuring means gear when said time setting means is first moved to its time setting position and becoming disengaged from said time measuring means gear after said first gear has been rotated through a predetermined angle; said second gear being mounted to engage said time measuring means gear when said time setting means has returned to its non-setting position after the time setting operation; said time measuring means gear being rotated by said power source and causing said second gear to rotate; and said rotation of said second gear causing said first gear to rotate back toward its normal position.

13. A timepiece as defined in claim 12 wherein said rate regulating means cannot be readjusted after said first gear has been rotated through said predetermined angle until said first gear rotates back to its original position.

14. A timepiece as defined in claim 12 wherein said second gear is provided with means to disengage it from said time measuring means gear when said first gear has been returned to its original position.

15. A timepiece as defined in claim 14 wherein said last-mentioned disengagement means comprises a cutaway portion of said second gear which is adapted to be situated peripherally adjacent said time measuring means gear when said first gear has been returned to its original position.

16. A timepiece as defined in claim 12 wherein said time measuring means gear is the hour wheel of the timepiece.

17. A timepiece comprising: time measuring means including a source of power and a gear; time indicating means actuatedby said time measuring means; time setting means for setting said time indicating means to any position in its time indicating range; said time setting means having time setting and non-setting positions; said time measuring means gear being rotated by said power source when said time setting means is in its non-setting position; rate regulating means including a gear for regulating the rate of said time measuring means; automatic regulating means actuated by said time setting means for adjusting said rate regulating means; said automatic regulating means including first and second superposed gears; said first and second gears being fixed relative to one another and being rotatable about a single axis; said first gear having a cut-away portion; said second gear being provided with teeth only about a portion of its periphery; said teeth of said second gear being substantially aligned with said cut-away portion of said first gear; said cut-away portion of said first gear being normally peripherally adjacent said time measuring means gear when said time setting means is in its non-setting position; said first gear and said time measuring means gear being disengaged from one another when said time setting means is in its non-setting position; means for moving the teeth of said second gear into engagement with said time measuring means gear when said time setting means is moved to its time setting position; said second gear rotating when said time setting means is moved in its time setting position; said first gear rotating with said second gear and engageable with said rate regulating means gear for providing adjustment of said rate regulating means; said teeth of said second gear being disengaged from said time measuring means gear after said second gear has been rotated through a predetermined angle for preventing further adjustment of said rate regulating means; said first gear being adapted to mesh with said time measuring means gear when said time setting means has been returned to its non-setting position; said power source then rotating said first gear through said time measuring means gear for causing said second gear to rotate back to its normal position.

18. A timepiece in accordance with claim 17 wherein said time measuring means gear is the hour wheel of the timepiece.

19. A timepiece comprising time measuring means including a source of power and a gear; time indicating means actuated by said time measuring means; setting means for setting said time indicating means; said setting means having setting and non-setting positions; said measuring means gear being rotated by said power source when said setting means is in its non-setting position; rate regulating means including a gear for regulating the rate of said time measuring means; automatic regulating means actuated by said setting means for adjusting said rate regulating means; said automatic regulating means including a pair of superposed gears fixed relative to one another and being rotatable about a single axis; the first of said superposed gears having a cut-away portion; the second of said gears being provided with teeth only about a portion of its periphery, said teeth being substantially aligned with said cut-away portion; said cut-away portion being normally peripherally adjacent said measuring means gear in the non-setting position of said setting means, whereby said first gear and said measuring means gear will be disengaged from one another in said nonsetting position of said setting means; means for moving the teeth of said second gear into engagement with said measuring means gear in the setting position of said setting means, so that said second gear will be rotated upon adjustment of said setting means; said first gear rotating with said second gear and cooperating with said rate regulating means gear to effect adjustment of said rate regulating means; the teeth of said second gear becoming disengaged from said measuring means gear after said second gear has been rotated through a predetermined angle, whereby further adjustment of said rate regulating means will cease; said first gear being adapted to mesh with said measuring means gear after said setting means has been returned to its nonsetting position; said first gear then being rotated by said power source and causing said second gear to rotate back to its normal position.

20. A timepiece as defined in claim 19 wherein said measuring means gear is the hour wheel of the timepiece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,542,430 Rabinow Feb. 20, 1951 2,554,029 Holdman May 22, 1951 2,858,029 Rabinow Oct. 28, 1958 2,933,883 Giger Apr. 26, 1960 2,941,349 LuX June 21, 1960 2,949,728 Dicke et a1. Aug. 23, 1960 2,976,673 Potters et al Mar. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 787,002 Great Britain Nov. 27, 1957

Claims (1)

1. A TIMEPIECE COMPRISING: TIME MEASURING MEANS INCLUDING A SOURCE OF POWER AND A GEAR; TIME INDICATING MEANS ACTUATED BY SAID TIME MEASURING MEANS; TIME SETTING MEANS FOR SETTING SAID TIME INDICATING MEANS TO ANY POSITION IN ITS TIME INDICATING RANGE; SAID TIME SETTING MEANS HAVING TIME SETTING AND NON-SETTING POSITIONS; RATE REGULATING MEANS FOR REGULATING THE RATE OF SAID TIME MEASURING MEANS; AUTOMATIC REGULATING MEANS ACTUATED BY SAID TIME SETTING MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID RATE REGULATING MEANS; SAID AUTOMATIC REGULATING MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND GEARS; SAID FIRST GEAR BEING ADAPTED TO MESH WITH SAID TIME MEASURING MEANS GEAR WHEN SAID TIME SETTING MEANS IS MOVED TO ITS TIME SETTING POSITION; THE ROTATION OF SAID FIRST GEAR CAUSING SAID SECOND GEAR TO ROTATE FOR ADJUSTING SAID RATE REGULATING MEANS; MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGING SAID FIRST GEAR FROM SAID TIME MEASURING MEANS GEAR AFTER SAID FIRST GEAR HAS BEEN

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