US3154912A

US3154912A - Means for mounting and regulating the outer end of a spiral spring

Info

Publication number: US3154912A
Application number: US253122A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pinkas David
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-01-22
Filing date: 1963-01-22
Publication date: 1964-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-03
Also published as: CH413731A; CH46564A4; DE1299253B

Description

Nov. 3, 1964 D. PINKAS 3,

MEANS FOR MOUNTING AND REGULATING THE OUTER END OF A SPIRAL SPRING Filed Jan. 22, 1965 I mvpmoa Dd UL aZ Parvkas 97' TOENEY3 United States Patent 3,154312 MEANS FOR MGUNTING AND REGULATING THE OUTER END 9F A SPIRAL SPRING David Pinkas, 51 Wall St., Norwalk, Conn. Filed Jan. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 253,122 12 Claims. (Cl. 58-113) The present invention relates to means for mounting and controlling the outer end portion of a spiral spring in an instrument, timepiece or the like, and particularly to the provision of readily releasable means for securing the outer end of the spring to a support and for connecting a regulator means to the spring.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to secure the outer end of a spiral spring to a support by means of pins, wedges, clamps or set screws. This has required machining, drilling and/ or tapping of the support and the securing means have been tedious to operate when it was desirous of securing or releasing the spring due to the requirement of the use of small punches, screw drivers or the like. In most instances the securing means is on the side of the support and in a position which is not convenient to reach. Also, the connection between the regulator arm and spring has been diflicult to operate due to the use of small tools. This has been particularly true in connection with the mounting and controlling of hairsprings in small watches.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these difficulties by providing simplified means for securing the outer end of a spiral spring to a support or bridge which is readily accessible and does not require the use of small tools to secure or release the spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel regulator arm and harness means for controlling the effective length of the spring, which means is simple to construct, readily accessible, and easy to operate to connect or release the spring therefrom. a 1

This is accomplished by providing a clip secured to the outer end portion of the spring which is adapted to be slidably received in a slot formed in the side edge of the support or bridge, which spring is held therein by easily accessible and readily releasable means. The 'clip secured to the end of the spring can be provided with a portion by which it can be gripped, preferably by tweezers or the like tool, to facilitate its handling during the insertion and removal thereof from the slot in the support. Also, the end of the regulator arm is provided with means for embracing the spring and harnessing it to the arm to control the length of the spring, which means includes an operating lever overlying the top of the regulator for moving a keeper means into and out of harnessing relation with the spring.

A feature of the invention resides in the simplicity of the elements employed in the present invention and in their ease of manufacture and operation which permit the spring to be quickly released from the support or bridge without the removal of the support or bridge from the instrument or timepiece.

Another feature of the invention resides in the size and the position of the regulator arm to the side of the bridge adjacent the connection of the spring thereto which gives a better view of the other portion of the instrument or the usual escapement mechanism in a watch.

' Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

} FIGURE 1 shows a plan view of a bridge or cock for a balance wheel of a Watch showing the connecting means and harnessing means of the present invention.

' FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the end of the regulator arm.

FIG. 3 is a view of the arm looking in a direction of the arrows on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the keeper means on the end of the regulator arm.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the clip secured to the outer end of the spring.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

While the present invention is useful in mounting the outer end of a spiral spring in any instrument having a rotor to which the inner end of the spring is connected, it has particular utility in the mounting of a hairspring in a watch and will be described in this use.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, there is a supporting member 10, usually called a bridge or cock which is secured to the works or plate of a watch (not shown) by a screw 11. The bridge pivotally supports a balance wheel 12 of the watch for rotation or oscillation. The balance wheel has the inner end of a hairspring 13 secured thereto.

The present invention provides a novel means for securing the terminal or outer end portion 13a of the hairspring to the bridge. This is accomplished, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 6, by providing a clip 14 formed of a strip 15 of sheet metal or the like material. The clip is folded around the end portion 13a of the hairspring which, as shown in FIG. 6, is of rectangular cross-section. The strip has the upper ends 15a bent outwardly to form locating flanges. Preferably, the flanges have a plurality of cross'notches 16 for cooperating with a retaining means, if desired, as will be explained.

The strip also has a portion 15b which is wrapped around the spring to effectively secure the clip in place. This means also forms a gripping portion whereby the end of the spring can be gripped, preferably by a tweezer or the like, to be manipulated in its insertion into a slot 17 formed in the side of the bridge 10. The clip can be applied to the spring at the factory or can be applied by any jeweler by the use of pliers to press the preformed clip into clamping relation with the outer portion of the spring at a desired point thereon.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slot 17 is of such a size and is positioned so as to easily and slidably receive the clip without producing any abnormal curvature in the end portion of the spring. When the clip is inserted in the slot it will be noted that the flanges 15a overlie the upper surface of the bridge 10- and properly and accurately locate the position of said end portion. A detent means 18 is provided for cooperating with the flange to releasably retain the end of the hairspring against moving out of the slot. This means comprises a spring 19 secured to the bridge, as by a screw 20, and having a finger portion 1% extending over the flanges and lying in the notches. Thiseffectively holds the end in position; yet merely by lifting the end of the finger portion, the clip is released for removal from the bridge.

The bridge also carries a regulator arm 21 which is pivoted to move about the axis of rotation of the balance wheel. The arm 21 has a narrow end portion, the outer end 20a of which projects from the bridge. Preferably, the outer end projects from the side of the bridge as shown in FIG. '1. Depending from the arm adjacent the outer end thereof is a post 21a which is to be positioned on one side of the portion of the hairspring adjacent thereto ,as shown in FIG. 2. A keeper means- 22 is provided for harnessing the spring to the arm for adjustments thereby. While this may take many forms, in the illustrated form of the invention the keeper means comprises a member cooperating with the post and rotatable on the arm by an operator and having a portion extending under the spring. In the preferred form of the invention the keeper means comprises a flat, substantially L-shaped member 23, preferably lator. The bearing surfaces of the L-shaped member adjacent the post engage the undersurface of the arm as shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with the present invention a novel operator for the keeper means for rotating the same for releasing the spring is provided. This comprises a lever or operator 27 having a square hole 28 press-fit over the squared end of the projection to overlie the top of the arm and hold the keeper in position on the arm; The lever can be engaged by the sides or, if desired, can have surfaces 27a, 27b at the end thereof whereby it can be readily rotated so that the lateral projection 23b extending under the spring can be moved into and out of harnessing relation with the spring. It will be noted that the lever, which overlies thetop of the regulator arm, can be readily engaged from the top and moved from operative to released position without first removing the bridge. 7

Further, with the regulator arm extending from the side of the bridge'as shown in FIG. 1, there is an unobstructed view of the instrument or the usual escapement mechanism (not shown) in the watch.

Thus, it will be seen that the present invention provides an extremely simple, yet effective means for anchoring the terminal or outer end portion of a spiral spring and the regulating thereof by means which are exposed from the upper surface of the watch so that the hairspring can be released from the bridge and regulator quickly to enable the bridge and regulator to be removed and access had to the hairspring and balance Wheel. It will be noted that it is unnecessary to use any punches, screw drivers or the like, with their attendant danger of damage due to slipping of the tool, for the operation of the release of the end-of the springor the release of the regulator arm from the spring.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements maybe used without others.

I claim:

1. Means for mounting and controlling a spiral spring in an instrument having a rotor connected to the inner end of said spring comprising a bridge supporting the rotor and having a slot therein, opening in the top sur- 7 4 lator arm mounted on the bridge to pivot about the axis of the rotor, said arm having a portion projecting from the side of the bridge and having a readily releasable means having a portion depending from the underside of the arm for embracing a portion of the spring for regulating the eflective length of said spring and an actuator connected to said readily releasing means and overlying said arm, said clip and said actuator being exposed and accessible to release said spring from thebridge and arm prior to the removal of said bridge and regulator arm from the instrument.

3. Means for mounting the outer end of a spiral spring in an instrument having a. rotor connected to the inner end of said spring comprising a clip secured to the outer end, portion of said spring, a mounting'support having a slot opening in the top surface thereof to slidably receive the clip, said clip having flange means overlying the support, and keeper means on the top of the support face thereof, a clip on the outer endportion of said i spring disposed in said slot in said bridge, and a regulator arm mounted on the bridge to pivot about the axis of the rotor, said arm having a portion projecting from the side'of the bridge and having a readily releasable means having a portion depending from the underside of the arm for embracing a portion of the spring for regulating the elfective length of said spring and an actuator connected to said readily releasing means and overlying said arm, said clip and said actuator being exposed and accessible to release said spring from the bridge and arm prior to the removal of said bridge and regulator arm from the instrument. V I

' v 2. -Means for mounting and controlling a spiral spring in an instrument having a rotor connected to the inner end of said spring comprising a bridge supporting the rotor, a clipsecured to the outer end portion of said spring, said bridge having a slot opening in the top; sur face thereof. to slidably receive the clip and said clip having flange means overlying the support, keeper means on the supportengaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot, and a reguengaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot. 1

4. Means for mounting the outer end of a spiral spring in an instrument having a rotor connected to the inner end of said spring comprising a clip formed by a strip of metal folded around a portion of the outer end of said spring and having the ends of the strip bent outwardly to form flange means, a mounting support having a slot opening in the'top surface thereof to slidably receive the clip with the flange means overlying the support, and keeper means carried by the top of the support engaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot. a

5. Means for mounting the outer end of a spiral spring in an instrument having a rotor connected to the inner end of said spring comprising a clip formed'by a strip of metal folded around a portion of the outer end of said spring andhaving the ends of the strip' bentoutwardly to form flange means and having a portion of the strip wrapped around the spring to secure the strip thereto and to provide a gripping portion t'ofacilitate the handling of the end of the spring, a mounting support having a slot to slidably receive the clip with the flange means overlying the support, and keeper means on the support from moving out of the slot.

6. Means for mounting the outer end of a spiral spring in an instrument having a rotor connected to the inner end of said spring comprising a clip formed by a strip of metal folded around a portion of the outer end of said spring and having the ends of the stripbent outwardly to form flange means having keeper-receiving notches therein, a mounting support having a slot to slidably receive the clip with the flange means overlying the support, and keeper means on the support engaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot, said keeper comprising a spring wire carried by the support and having a portion disposed in said notches in the flanges on said clip. 7 7. Means for controlling a spiral spring in an instrument having a rotor connected to the inner end of said spring and a bridge supporting therotor and having the outer end portion of said spring connected thereto, comprisinga regulator arm mounted on the bridge to pivot about the axis of the rotor, said arm having a portion projecting from the side of the bridge and having a readily releasable means for embracing a portion of the spring for regulating the effectivelengthof said spring, said releasable means comprising a post carried by the arm and disposed on one side of the spring, a flat sheet metal stamping having a square portion extending through a circular hole in the arm to be rotatably carried by the .arm in spaced relation to the post and located on the other side of the spring, said spring having a rectangular cross-section, said stamping having a laterally extending I engaging the flange means on theclip to prevent the clip the spring in the space between the post and metal stamping to the arm, and a flat metal strip overlying the top of the arm and secured to the square portion of the metal stamping for rotating the stamping to move the laterally extending portion from under the post and spring to release the spring.

8. In a timepiece having a balance Wheel and a bridge for supporting the same, said bridge having a slot formed therein and opening in the top surface thereof, a spiral hairspring having the inner end thereof secured to said wheel, readily releasable means for connecting the outer end of said spring to said bridge, said means comprising a clip secured to the outer end portion of said spring and adapted to be slidably inserted into said slot in said bridge, said clip having flange means overlying the top surface of the bridge, and keeper means on the bridge engaging and interlocking with means on the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot.

9. In a timepiece having a balance wheel and a bridge for supporting the same, said bridge having a slot formed therein and opening in the top surface thereof, a spiral hairspring having the inner end thereof connected to said Wheel, readily releasable means for connecting the outer end of said spring to said bridge, said means comprising a clip formed by a strip of metal folded around a portion of the outer end of said spring and having the ends of the strip bent outwardly to form flange means adapted to be slidably inserted into said slot in said bridge with said flange means overlying the top surface of the bridge, and keeper means on the bridge including a resilient member engaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot.

10. In a timepiece having a balance wheel and a bridge for supporting the same, said bridge having a slot formed therein and opening in the top surface thereof, a spiral hairspring having the inner end thereof connected to said wheel, readily releasable means for connecting the outer end of said spring to said bridge, said means comprising a clip formed by a strip of metal folded around a portion of the outer end of said spring and having the ends of the strip bent outwardly to form flange means adapted to be slidably inserted into said slot in said bridge with said flange means overlying the bridge and having a portion of the strip wrapped around the spring to secure the strip thereto and to provide a gripping portion to facilitate the handling of the end of the spring, and keeper means on the bridge engaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot.

11. In a timepiece having a balance wheel and a bridge for supporting the same, said bridge having a slot formed therein and opening in the top surface thereof, a spiral hairspring having the inner end thereof connected to said wheel, readily releasable means for connecting the outer end of said spring to said bridge, said means comprising a clip formed by a strip of metal folded around a portion of the outer end of said spring and having the ends of the strip bent outwardly to form flange means adapted to be slidably inserted into said slot in said bridge with said flange means overlying the bridge and having keeperreceiving notches therein, and keeper means on the bridge engaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot, said keeper comprising a spring wire carried by the support and having a portion disposed in said notches in the flanges on said clip.

12. In a timepiece having a balance wheel and a bridge for supporting the same, said bridge having a slot formed therein opening in the top surface thereof, a spiral hairspring having the inner end thereof connected to said wheel, readily releasable means for connecting the outer end of said spring to said bridge, said means comprising a clip formed by a strip of metal folded around a portion of the outer end of said spring and having the ends of the strip bent outwardly to form flange means adapted to be slidably inserted into said slot formed in said bridge with said flange means overlying the bridge and having keeper-receiving notches therein, keeper means on the bridge engaging the flange means on the clip to prevent the clip from moving out of the slot, said keeper comprising a spring Wire carried by the support and having a portion disposed in said notches in the flanges on said clip, and a regulator arm having one end pivotally mounted on the bridge to pivot about the axis of oscillation of the balance wheel and having the other end projecting from the side of the bridge and having a readily releasable means for harnessing the hairspring thereto for regulating the eflective length of said spring, said releasable means comprising a post carried by the arm and disposed on one side of the spring, a flat sheet metal stamping having a square portion extending through a circular hole in the arm to be rotatably carried by the arm in spaced relation to the post and located on the other side of the spring, said spring having a rectangular cross-section, said stamping having a laterally extending portion disposed below the spring and the post to harness the spring in the space between the post and metal stamping to the arm, and a flat metal strip overlying the arm and secured to the square portion of the metal stamping for rotating the stamping to move the laterally extending portion from under the post and spring to release the spring, said keeper, flanges on the clip and sheet metal strip overlying and being accessible from the upper surface of the bridge and regulator arm to release the spring from the bridge and arm before removal of said bridge and arm from the timepiece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 224,793 Peabody Feb. 24, 1880 772,106 Lange Oct. 11, 1904 2,047,188 Bechler July 14, 1936 2,637,970 Kocher May 12, 1953 2,724,946 Von Aesch Nov. 29, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,681 Switzerland July 25, 1903 1,184,152 France Feb. 2, 1959

Claims

1. MEANS FOR MOUNTING AND CONTROLLING A SPIRAL SPRING IN AN INSTRUMENT HAVING A ROTOR CONNECTED TO THE INNER END OF SAID SPRING COMPRISING A BRIDGE SUPPORTING THE ROTOR AND HAVING A SLOT THEREIN, OPENING IN THE TOP SURFACE THEREOF, A CLIP ON THE OUTER END PORTION OF SAID SPRING DISPOSED IN SAID SLOT IN SAID BRIDGE, AND A REGULATOR ARM MOUNTED ON THE BRIDGE TO PIVOT ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE ROTOR, SAID ARM HAVING A PORTION PROJECTING FROM THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND HAVING A READILY RELEASABLE MEANS HAVING A PORTION DEPENDING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ARM FOR EMBRACING A PORTION OF THE SPRING FOR REGULATING THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH OF SAID SPRING AND AN ACTUATOR CONNECTED TO SAID READILY RELEASING MEANS AND OVERLYING SAID ARMS, SAID CLIP AND SAID ACTUATOR BEING EXPOSED AND ACCESSIBLE TO RELEASE SAID SPRING FROM THE BRIDGE AND ARM PRIOR TO THE REMOVAL OF SAID BRIDGE AND REGULATOR ARM FROM THE INSTRUMENT.