US3421312A - Electric timepiece - Google Patents

Electric timepiece Download PDF

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Publication number
US3421312A
US3421312A US562825A US3421312DA US3421312A US 3421312 A US3421312 A US 3421312A US 562825 A US562825 A US 562825A US 3421312D A US3421312D A US 3421312DA US 3421312 A US3421312 A US 3421312A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
wheel
lever
pawl
winding shaft
pawls
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
US562825A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gaston Raval
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.)
Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
Original Assignee
Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
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 Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA filed Critical Omega Louis Brandt and Frere SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3421312A publication Critical patent/US3421312A/en
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
    • G04C3/08—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 mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork, e.g. electrostatically
    • G04C3/10—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 mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork, e.g. electrostatically driven by electromagnetic means
    • G04C3/101—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 mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork, e.g. electrostatically driven by electromagnetic means constructional details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B11/00—Click devices; Stop clicks; Clutches
    • G04B11/02—Devices allowing the motion of a rotatable part in only one direction
    • G04B11/04—Pawl constructions therefor, e.g. pawl secured to an oscillating member actuating a ratchet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B27/00—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means
    • G04B27/004—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means having several simultaneous functions, e.g. stopping or starting the clockwork or the hands
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electric timepiece comprising a resonator and means for electrically sustaining oscillation of this renoator, a pawl coupled with said resonator and engaging a ratchet-wheel, a stop pawl for said ratchet wheel and means for disengaging said pawls from the ratchet-wheel.
  • the timepiece according to this invention is broadly characterized in that said means for disengaging the pawls comprise at least one magnet adapted to disengage said pawls by magnetic attraction.
  • the magnet or magnets for disengaging the pawls by magnetic attraction may be disposed outside the pawls where the available space is less limited.
  • a single magnet may be used for disengagement of both pawls whereby the disengaging mechanism may be simplified. Since the pawl springs are attracted by the magnet or magnets and automatically leave the magnet when the latter is retired to its inoperative position, only the operating position of the magnet or magnets, for which the pawls are attracted must be determined and limited with some accuracy.
  • the pawl springs are attracted against the magnet or magnets 3,421,312 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 by a magnetic force slightly exceeding the force of the springs so that the pressure of the springs against the magnet and consequently friction between such elements is relatively low and is determined by the difference of the above forces. Moreover, since the ratio between the magnetic force in the direction of magnetisation of the magnet and the force in the transversal direction is very high, the frictional froce in transversal direction is accordingly low.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view of the disengaging mechanism in its rest position
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of the disengaging mechanism in its operative position
  • FIG. 3 is a section along line III-III in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a section along line IVIV in FIG. 1.
  • the timepiece comprises a ratchet-wheel 1 mounted on the shaft '2 of the second wheel.
  • the ratchetwheel 1 replaces the second wheel of usual mechanical timepieces.
  • FIG. 3 also shows the center-wheel 3 and the hour wheel 4 driven from the shaft 2 by wheels not shown in the drawing.
  • a driving pawl 5 and a stop pawl 6 engage the toothing of the ratchet-wheel 1, such pawls being mounted on leaf springs 7 and 8 respectively.
  • the spring 7 of the driving pawl 5 is fixed at the one end of an arm 9 of a lever 10 mounted on a pivot pin 11.
  • the fork 12 of the lever 10 may be oscillated by an eccentric member mounted on the shaft of the balance wheel not shown.
  • the pawl spring 8 is fixed in a stud 13 pressed into a sliding stud 14.
  • the sliding stud .14 has an elongated recess 15 with inclined surfaces 16 (FIG. 4).
  • Two adjusting screws 17 engage the inclined surfaces 16 of the sliding stud. By displacement of the screws in opposite direction the sliding stud 14 may be displaced in lonitudin-al direction for fine adjustment of the position of the stop pawl 6.
  • the free ends of the pawl springs 7 and 8 are disposed substantially in a common plane near a permanent mag-- net 19 of cylindrical form arranged between two lpolo pieces 20 and 21 of soft iron.
  • the magnet 19 and the pole pieces 20 and 21 are fixed on a lever 22 mountedon a pivot pin 23.
  • the lever 22 has a stud 24 loaded by the one end of a spring 25 whereby the lever 22 tends to rotate in clockwise direction round its pivot pin 23.
  • a surface 26 of the lever 22 engages a stud 27 fixed in a two-armed lever 28.
  • the lever 28 is mounted on a pivot pin 29.
  • a stud 30 of the lever 28 engages into a slit or fork 31 of a locking slide 32.
  • the operating positions of the locking slide 32 are determined by engagement of its nose 33 into notches .34 and 35 respectively of a locking spring 36.
  • the locking slide is mounted on a pivot .pin 37.
  • a Stud 38 of the locking slide 32 engages into an annular groove 39 of the winding shaft 40.
  • the winding shaft 40 has a thin and flexible portion 41 carrying at its inner end a cylindrical member 42 of larger diameter and a cylinder or mantle 43 of soft resilient material such as rubber or plastics.
  • the centerwheel 3 has an annular clot 44.
  • the lever 28 has a lower arm 45 with an inclined actuating surface 46 at its free end. In the rest position of the mechanism the winding shaft 40 is in its inner end position and the arm 45 of lever 28 supports the portion 42 of the winding shaft in such a position that the cylinder 43 of resilient material is disengaged from the clot 44 and the flexible portion 41 of the winding shaft 40 is bent upwardly as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the driving pawl 5 is usually oscillated 3 from the balance wheel (not shown) through the fork 12, the lever 10, the arm 9 and the pawl spring 7.
  • the ratchetwheel 1 is advanced by the pawl and the stop pawl 6 avoids backward rotation of the ratchet-wheel.
  • the balance wheel oscillates at a frequency of five c.p.s. and the ratchet-wheel 1 has 300 teeth and consequently is rotated once in a minute.
  • the winding shaft 40 is pulled at the right.
  • the locking slide 32 is thereby rotated in anticlockwise direction and the outer end position of the winding shaft is determined by the position of the winding shaft when the nose 33 of the latter engages the notch 35 of the locking spring 36.
  • the Winding shaft 40 is pressed into its inner end position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
  • the locking slide 32 and the lever 28 are returned to the initial positions shown in FIG. 1.
  • the arm 45 of the lever 28 lifts the portion 42 of the winding shaft by engagement of its inclined surface 46 below the portion 42.
  • the stud 27 of lever 28 engages the surface 26 of lever 22 which is thus returned into its rest position illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the magnet 19 and the pole pieces 20 and 21 are displaced towards the right from the position shown in FIG. 2, the increasing force of the pawl springs 7 and 8 soon exceeds the magnetic attraction acting onto such springs and the pawls 5 and 6 are returned into engagement with the ratchet-wheel 1.
  • the driving pawl 5 now continues to advance the ratchet-wheel 1.
  • a separate magnet may be associated to each of the pawl springs 7 and 8 respectively.
  • a winding shaft having a flexible portion a usual winding shaft and the wheels of the timepiece for handdisengageable coupling may be provided between the setting.
  • An electrical timepiece comprising a resonator and means for electrically sustaining oscillation of this resonator, a pawl coupled with said resonator and engaging a ratchet-Wheel, a stop pawl for said ratchet-wheel and means for disengaging said pawls from the ratchet-wheel, said means including at least one permanent magnet adapted to directly act onto and to disengage said pawls by magnetic attraction.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1, comprising at least one permanent magnet mounted for displacement substantially in the direction of the disengaging and engaging movement of said pawls.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1 comprising two springs carrying said pawls, the free ends of such springs being disposed near one single magnet.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1 comprising a friction coupling between said winding shaft and the wheels of the timepiece, and means for disengaging said friction transmission.
  • a timepiece according to claim 1 comprising a locking slide determining the axial position of the winding shaft, said means being operable by said locking slide.
  • a timepiece according to claim 2 comprising a lever controllable by the winding shaft and carrying a permanent magnet.
  • a timepiece according to claim 3 comprising pole pieces of magnetizable material on opposite sides of the permanent magnet, air gaps being formed between said magnet and pole pieces respectively near said free ends of the springs.
  • a timepiece according to claim 4 comprising a center-wheel having a slot, said winding shaft carrying a cylinder of resilient material adapted for engagement with said clot.
  • a timepiece according to claim 5 comprising a lever controllable by the winding shaft and carrying a permanent magnet, said lever being operable from said locking slide through a rocking lever having an arm adapted to lift said winding shaft for disengagement of said friction transmission.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
US562825A 1965-07-08 1966-07-05 Electric timepiece Expired - Lifetime US3421312A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH960365A CH434126A (fr) 1965-07-08 1965-07-08 Pièce d'horlogerie électrique

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3421312A true US3421312A (en) 1969-01-14

Family

ID=4353706

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US562825A Expired - Lifetime US3421312A (en) 1965-07-08 1966-07-05 Electric timepiece

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3421312A (en))
CH (2) CH434126A (en))
DE (1) DE1523993A1 (en))
GB (1) GB1128849A (en))
NL (1) NL6609584A (en))

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3762153A (en) * 1971-07-12 1973-10-02 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Time-setting device for an electronic timepiece
US3813873A (en) * 1972-03-21 1974-06-04 Seiko Instr & Electronics Switching device for electronic watch

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB422750A (en) * 1933-03-21 1935-01-17 Gustav Schoenberg Improvements in and relating to regulation devices for clocks
US3059413A (en) * 1959-01-02 1962-10-23 Hamilton Watch Co Pallet fork contacting and indexing means for electric watch
US3129554A (en) * 1961-03-06 1964-04-21 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electric timekeeper

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB422750A (en) * 1933-03-21 1935-01-17 Gustav Schoenberg Improvements in and relating to regulation devices for clocks
US3059413A (en) * 1959-01-02 1962-10-23 Hamilton Watch Co Pallet fork contacting and indexing means for electric watch
US3129554A (en) * 1961-03-06 1964-04-21 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electric timekeeper

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3762153A (en) * 1971-07-12 1973-10-02 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Time-setting device for an electronic timepiece
US3813873A (en) * 1972-03-21 1974-06-04 Seiko Instr & Electronics Switching device for electronic watch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6609584A (en)) 1967-01-09
GB1128849A (en) 1968-10-02
DE1523993A1 (de) 1969-09-04
CH434126A (fr) 1966-11-30
CH960365A4 (en)) 1966-11-30

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