US3492808A - Watch construction with spacer block as assembly aid - Google Patents

Watch construction with spacer block as assembly aid Download PDF

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Publication number
US3492808A
US3492808A US699823A US3492808DA US3492808A US 3492808 A US3492808 A US 3492808A US 699823 A US699823 A US 699823A US 3492808D A US3492808D A US 3492808DA US 3492808 A US3492808 A US 3492808A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
spacer block
watch
bridge
wheel
staff
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
US699823A
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English (en)
Inventor
Paul Wuthrich
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.)
United States Time Corp
US TIME CORP
Original Assignee
US TIME CORP
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 US TIME CORP filed Critical US TIME CORP
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3492808A publication Critical patent/US3492808A/en
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • G04B29/00—Frameworks

Definitions

  • a watch mechanism construction includes an oscillator, time indicating hands and a series of gears mounted on staffs. One end of the staffs rotates in a frame plate and the other end of at least one of the staffs rotates in a spacer block.
  • the spacer block acts as a bridge and, in addition, functions as a jig during the assembly operation and separates and correctly spaces the frame plate and a bridge.
  • the present invention relates to horology and more particularly to the construction of a watch.
  • the manufacture of pocket watches and Wrist watches is one of the oldest industries. For hundred of years the watches invariably included a number of gears. Such gears are used to transmit power and to reduce the rapid movement of the oscillator, a balance wheel or vibrator, to the relatively slow rotation of the time indicating hands.
  • the gears are mounted on staffs (shafts). The ends of the staffs rotate in bearings, which may be jewels. One end of each of the staffs usually rotates in a frame plate and the other end in a second frame plate or in a bridge.
  • a bridge is a supporting structure filed to a frame plate. The frame plates are separated by pillars and held to the pillars by screws.
  • a watch can be designed using fewer parts, it may result in a saving in the cost of the parts themselves and also a saving in the time and money involved in the assembly process.
  • a watch construction which is designed for ease and accuracy of assembly.
  • the watch includes an oscillator and a plurality of gears mounted on staffs. One end of each of the staffs rotates in a bearing in a frame plate.
  • the watch has a novel spacer block. This block has bearings for the other ends of some of the staffs. The spacer block,
  • the spacer block as one of its functions, replaces one or more of the conventional bridges.
  • the spacer block during assembly, is positioned on the frame plate.
  • the block as another of its functions, ha one or more holes which are adapted to temporarily position staffs during the assembly opera tion and act as a replacement for a jig or fixture.
  • the holes are sufficiently large so that the staff does not contact its wall after final positioning of the staff. It performs the function of a jig or fixture, but without the trouble of removing it from the watch.
  • the spacer block, after assembly, is left in place in the watch.
  • the spacer block in the Watch as a third of its functions, acts to correctly separate and position the frame plate from one or more bridges. In this last function it replaces a plurality of pillars or the expense of machining a solid block of material.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are side sectional views of the watch movement utilizing the spacer block of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bottom side (underside) of the train bridge and balance bridge shown at the top of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the spacer block mounted on the frame plate, the figures 11 and 22 indicating the views (but without the train bridge and the balance bridge) of FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively;
  • FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the frame plate (lowest figure), the spacer block (center figure), and the train bridge and balance bridge (upper figure).
  • the watch movement as shown in FIG. 1, is mounted on a frame plate 1.
  • the frame plate is preferably stamped from a sheet of brass or other metal, avoiding an expensive machining processing such as milling.
  • a plurality of jewel bearings 2, 3, 4, 4b, 5 and 5a are pressed into, and held in a series of, holes drilled through the frame plate 1.
  • a spacer block 6, having outer portions 7 and 8, is positioned on frame plate 1.
  • the spacer block 6 is stamped and machined from metal.
  • the outer portions 7 and 8 of spacer block 6 are thicker than its interior parts.
  • a train bridge 9 is positioned on the spacer block 6. Thick portions of the spacer block 6 act like pillars, to accurately determine the separation between the frame plate 1 and train bridge 9.
  • Thespacer block 6 has a number of holes into which jewel bearings 10 and 34 are press-fitted.
  • the train bridge 9 also has a number of holes into which jewel bearings 4a, 12, 13 and 14 are press-fitted, see FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • a separate balance bridge 15 holds the balance staff bearing 2a, see FIG. 1.
  • the balance wheel 16 is carried by balance wheel staff 17.
  • the balance wheel staff rotates between balance jewels (bearings) 2 (in the frame plate) and 2a (in the balance bridge).
  • the balance wheel 16 has attached to it one end of the watch hairspring.
  • the ' forked lever pallet 18 is carried by pallet lever staff 19 which rotates between pallet staff jewels 3 (in the frame plate) and 10 (in the spacer block).
  • the pallet lever 18 has a safety lever (dart) which cooperates with a safety roller.
  • the pallet levers pins, or jewels receive the impulse and time the movement of escape wheel 20, which is carried by escape wheel staff 21.
  • the staff 21 rotates between escape pinion jewels 4 (in the frame plate) and 4a (in the train bridge).
  • Theescape wheel staff 21 also carries escape pinion 22.
  • the escape pinion 22 meshes with the fourth wheel (seconds wheel) 23.
  • the escape wheel staff 21 may rotate freely in the hole 24 within spacer block 6.
  • the fourth wheel 23 is fixed to the seconds staff 24a which also carries the fourth pinion 25 and the seconds 3 hand 26, see FIG. 2.
  • the fourth pinion 25 meshes with the third wheel 27.
  • the third wheel 27 and third pinion 28 are carried by the third wheel staff 29 which rotates between third pinion jewels (in the frame plate) and 12 (in the train bridge).
  • a third pinion 28 may freely rotate within hole 41 of spacer block 6, the hole 41 being larger than the pinion 28.
  • the walls of the hole 41 hold pinion 28, and its staff 29, upright during the assembly process.
  • the walls of the hole 41 do not perform any further function after assembly.
  • the third pinion 28 meshes with the center wheel 30, which is carried by the center arbor 31.
  • the center arbor 31 is frictionally fit within the minute wheel tube 32.
  • the minute hand 33 is carried by the minute wheel tube 32.
  • the bottom of the center arbor 31 rotates in the center arbor jewel 34 pressed into and held by the spacer block 6.
  • the spacer block acts like a bridge member in that it holds a jewel in position, the jewel acting as a bearing for a staff.
  • the bottom portion of the seconds staff 24a rotates in the fourth pinion endshake jewel 1'1.
  • Jewel 11 is positioned next to jewel 34.
  • the center arbor 31 has external gear teeth 35 which mesh with the external gear teeth 36 of the mainspring barrel 37.
  • the mainspring 38 in the barrel 37 is wound up to power the watch.
  • One end of the mainspring 38 is attached to the barrel 37 and the other end to the mainspring arbor 39.
  • One end of arbor 39 rotates in jewel 14 (in the train bridge) and the other end in hole 40 .(in the frame plate).
  • the bottomof the minute tube 32 has external gear teeth which form the cannon pinion 42.
  • the cannon pinion 42 meshes with the minute wheel 43 which is fixed to the minute pinion stud 44.
  • the minute pinion 45 also fixed on the minute pinion stud 44, meshes with the hour tube 46.
  • the hour tube 46 carries, at its end, the hour hand 47.
  • the various functions of the spacer block 6 are also illustrated by a description of the assembly process of the watch.
  • the assembly commences by placing the frame 1, with its dial side down, in a fixture.
  • the staffs for the center wheel, pallet lever, escape wheel and barrel are inserted through their respective holes and jewels in the frame.
  • the spacer block 6 is then positioned on the frame.
  • the third wheel assembly, i.e., pinion 28, wheel 27, and their staff 29, is placed within the hole 41 in spacer block 6 and in jewel 5.
  • the endshake jewel 11 is then positioned and the fourth wheel 23 and its staff 24a are placed in hole 50 of the center arbor 31.
  • the spacer block 6 acts as a jig to temporarily hold the escape wheel staff 21 and the third wheel staff 29 upright.
  • the train bridge 9 is then assembled to the spacer block 6 by screws such as screw '51, which passes through the block.
  • the watch is then assembled with the remainder of its components.
  • One of the last of the assembly steps is the locationand fixing of the balance bridge 15.
  • the spacer block hole 52 has a tubular insert 53 which protrudes upward and locates the balance bridge 15 by being positioned in hole 55 of the bridge, see FIGS. 1 and 5.
  • a screw 56 passes through holes 55 and 52 and is threaded in hole 57 in frame plate 1.
  • a spring 58 completes the balance bridge adjustment arrangement.
  • the spacer block is made slightly smaller, in its outer dimensions, than the frame plate.
  • An edge of the frame plate 1 protrudes to form ledge 58 of the plate 1 (see FIG. 1) which provides a seat for the case. This eliminates a milling operation, conventionally performed, of the frame block to provide a ledge for the seating of the case.
  • the spacer block may be used only for the functions of spacing the frame plate from bridge members or to act as a jig to hold parts temporarily, or both.
  • the spacer plate may be injection molded from plastic.
  • a watch movement construction including a frame plate having a plurality of bearing means, a bridge having at least one bearing means, a spacer block positioned between and separating said plate and said bridge, means to secure said frame plate, spacer block and bridge together, a plurality of gears mounted on staffs with the ends of said staffs rotating in said bearing means, and an oscillator and means to power said oscillator, wherein said spacer block also has at least one bearing means in which a staff rotates.
  • said spacer block has at least one hole in which a staff freely rotates without touching the wall of said hole, said wall acting as a jig during assembly of said movement.
  • the power train includes a mainspring, a mainspring barrel, a pallet lever, an escape wheel and an escape wheel pinion, and wherein the pallet lever is mounted on a staff one end of which rotates in a bearing means fixed in said spacer block.
  • a watch movement construction including a frame plate having a plurality of bearing means, a bridge having at least one bearing means, a spacer block positioned between and separating said plate and said bridge, means to secure said frame plate, spacer block and bridge together, a plurality of gears mounted on staffs with the ends of said staffs rotating in said bearing means, and an oscillator and means to power said oscillator, wherein said spacer block has at least one hole in which a staff freely rotates without touching the wall of said hole, said hole wall acting as a jig during assembly of said movement.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Gears, Cams (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)
US699823A 1968-01-23 1968-01-23 Watch construction with spacer block as assembly aid Expired - Lifetime US3492808A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US69982368A 1968-01-23 1968-01-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3492808A true US3492808A (en) 1970-02-03

Family

ID=24811056

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US699823A Expired - Lifetime US3492808A (en) 1968-01-23 1968-01-23 Watch construction with spacer block as assembly aid

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3492808A (OSRAM)
CH (2) CH85669A4 (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE1901961C3 (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR1602075A (OSRAM)
GB (1) GB1187005A (OSRAM)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3577876A (en) * 1968-06-17 1971-05-11 Paolo Spadini Watertight alarm wristwatch
US3706196A (en) * 1970-07-29 1972-12-19 Suwa Seikosha Kk Consturction of thin timepiece
JPS4828466U (OSRAM) * 1971-08-12 1973-04-07
US3754390A (en) * 1971-05-27 1973-08-28 Seiko Instr & Electronics Watch movement construction
US3834155A (en) * 1974-02-19 1974-09-10 Timex Corp Offset pallet lever for watch escapement
US3881312A (en) * 1973-05-11 1975-05-06 Ebauches Bettlach Sa Mechanical watch movement
US3945197A (en) * 1973-05-10 1976-03-23 Ebauches S.A. Timepiece
US4074517A (en) * 1975-07-14 1978-02-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Gear train for a wrist watch
US4351040A (en) * 1979-05-16 1982-09-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Quartz crystal wristwatch

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS51137459A (en) * 1975-05-23 1976-11-27 Seikosha Co Ltd Timepiece
DE2632303C3 (de) * 1976-07-17 1982-09-16 Gebrüder Junghans GmbH, 7230 Schramberg Batteriebetriebene elektronische Uhr

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH321577A (de) * 1952-07-09 1957-05-15 Junghans Helmut Dr Ing E H Uhrwerk für Armbanduhren

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH321577A (de) * 1952-07-09 1957-05-15 Junghans Helmut Dr Ing E H Uhrwerk für Armbanduhren

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3577876A (en) * 1968-06-17 1971-05-11 Paolo Spadini Watertight alarm wristwatch
US3706196A (en) * 1970-07-29 1972-12-19 Suwa Seikosha Kk Consturction of thin timepiece
US3754390A (en) * 1971-05-27 1973-08-28 Seiko Instr & Electronics Watch movement construction
JPS4828466U (OSRAM) * 1971-08-12 1973-04-07
US3945197A (en) * 1973-05-10 1976-03-23 Ebauches S.A. Timepiece
US3881312A (en) * 1973-05-11 1975-05-06 Ebauches Bettlach Sa Mechanical watch movement
US3834155A (en) * 1974-02-19 1974-09-10 Timex Corp Offset pallet lever for watch escapement
US4074517A (en) * 1975-07-14 1978-02-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Gear train for a wrist watch
US4351040A (en) * 1979-05-16 1982-09-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Quartz crystal wristwatch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1901961B2 (de) 1973-04-12
CH85669A4 (OSRAM) 1972-05-15
FR1602075A (OSRAM) 1970-10-05
DE1901961C3 (de) 1973-10-25
DE1901961A1 (de) 1969-08-14
CH528769A (de) 1972-05-15
GB1187005A (en) 1970-04-08

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331