US3765164A - Device to stop timepiece balance wheels - Google Patents

Device to stop timepiece balance wheels Download PDF

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Publication number
US3765164A
US3765164A US00322675A US3765164DA US3765164A US 3765164 A US3765164 A US 3765164A US 00322675 A US00322675 A US 00322675A US 3765164D A US3765164D A US 3765164DA US 3765164 A US3765164 A US 3765164A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
spring
cock
movement
stem
set forth
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
US00322675A
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English (en)
Inventor
F Esselborn
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Timex Group USA Inc
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Timex Corp
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Publication of US3765164A publication Critical patent/US3765164A/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
    • 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

Definitions

  • G04b 27/02, G04b 27/00 Spring is Operated y a stem and acts to bias a cock [58] Field of Search 58/63, 67, 69, 85.5 and also to Selectively Stop a balame Wheel assembly- [561 References Cited 15 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,713,764 7/1955 De Saint Yaulry 58/855 num 1 6l975 3,755,184
  • the field of the present invention is horology and more particularly a hand-setting and balance wheel stopping device for an electric or mechanical watch movement.
  • the present invention relates to a hand-setting and balance wheel control system for timepieces.
  • both electric and mechanical watches have a stem that is axially shiftable from a first inner position relative to the movement, into a second outer position. The outer position is used for setting the hands.
  • the stem coacts with a cock (a pivotable plate that carries rotatable gears) which acts as coupling means.
  • the cock has a first idling or winding position and a second hand-setting position and is pivotal against the biasing effect of a resilient spring.
  • a stem is customarily provided that can be drawn out of a normal inner position into an outer position.
  • the stem In the inner position the stem can usually be rotated by means of a crown mounted thereon, whereby over meshing gear wheels a mechanical mainspring is wound up to power the entire movement by rotation of its barrel cover.
  • a cock is shifted so that the operating connection between the barrel cover and a gear on the cock is interrupted.
  • a small cock wheel is brought into mesh with a change wheel which, in turn, is operatively connected with a gear of the dial train drive so that, upon turning the stem, the hands can be set.
  • a spring is provided against which the cock is biased and this spring normally urges the cock towards its connection with the barrel cover.
  • a separate arresting member is provided that acts at the same time that the cock is shifted to stop the balance wheel. This is sometimes called a hack feature.
  • the objective of the present invention is to substantially simplify the construction and lessen the costs of these known movements so that the connection between the spring member, acting upon the cock, and the arresting member that stops the balance, is effected in the shortest way and by direct transmission.
  • This problem is solved according to the present invention in that the cock actuating spring member is in one piece with the balance wheel arresting member and is designed and constructed as a multipurpose integral member.
  • a suitable spring can, for example, be formed from a bent wire spring or a correspondingly curved flat spring. It is of advantage if the multipurpose spring, which is anchored at one end, is normally (constantly) exerting a spring pressure with its free spring lever upon the cock member. In its hand setting position the stem movement causes the stopping of the balance wheel by means of a stop portion of the spring lever. It is of advantage in this case if the stop portion is the free end of the spring.
  • the coupling member which biases the cock ought to have a comparatively strong spring force, but such a strong spring force is not necessary for the arresting member.
  • the influence upon the balance is effected by a relatively weak spring force. This results in one preferred construction where the rear coupling section which spring biases the cock member, has a relatively strong spring force and the front arresting member, i.e., the spring lever arcuate section that holds the balance wheel, has a relatively weak spring force.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention, which embodiment is a mechanically driven timepiece, wherein the stem is in its first inner position;
  • FIG. 2 is a partially open front view of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 with the stern in its second outer position;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention, which embodiment is an electrically driven timepiece whose stem is shown in its first inner position;
  • FIG. 5 is a partially open front view of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 4 but with its stern in the second outer position.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 a mechanically driven watch or other timepiece is schematically represented.
  • the various wheels are shown, but details concerning their mountings are omitted as conventional watch construction may be utilized.
  • the movement is likewise only schematically represented and designated by 10 as a whole.
  • a winding-up and hand-setting stern (staff) 12 hereinafter referred to as the stem.
  • Stem 12 as shown in FIG. 1, is shiftable from a first inner position, relative to the watch case, to an outer position as in FIG. 3.
  • a setting lever 14 coacts with the stem 12, the lever 14 being mounted in the movement by means of setting lever screw 16.
  • Lever 14 has a nose 18 near its free end.
  • Setting lever 14 engages an annular recess in stem 12 with its .arm 20, by which the lever is correspondingly taken along and pivoted by the shifting of the stem 12.
  • a winding pinion 22 is mounted in movement so that it can be rotated by means of stem 12. Pinion 22 meshes with a large cock wheel 24, which large cock wheel 24 is rotatably mounted in a cock 26, and a turnable plate which carries rotatable wheels. Cock 26, in turn, is pivoted on a staff 28.
  • a small cock wheel 30 is also rotatably mounted on said cock 26 so that wheel 30 meshes with large cock wheel 24 and also, at times, meshes with a barrel cover 32 on the barrel housing the mainspring.
  • a second small cock wheel 34 is likewise rotatably disposed on cock 26 so that, in the position'shown in FIG. I, it meshes only with the large cock wheel 24.
  • cock wheel 34 can be brought into engagement with a change wheel 36.
  • a pinion 38 fixed to the same staff which carries change wheel 36, drives an hour wheel 40 which, in turn, carries hour pipe 42.
  • the minute pipe, which carries -the minute hand and meshes wit change wheel 36, is
  • a balance wheel assembly 44 has a balance wheel staff 46 mounted on the movement in jewel bearings 48 and 50.
  • the balance staff 46 carries a balance member 52 having a balance wheel 54.
  • the oscillatory swinging action of the balance wheel as the time regular or time standard in a timepiece is known and for this reason is not described here.
  • a multipurpose spring member 56 is anchored in the movement at slot 58.
  • the member 58 comprises a free spring lever 60 having, as sections (portions) of an integral member, a coupling section 62 adjacent slot anchorage 58 and, in continuation thereof, up to the free end, a spring lever arcuate section 64. At its free end the arcuate section has a stop portion 66 that is bent downwardly parallel to the balance staff, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • the spring lever 60 contacts a blocking member 68 (downward extending arm) of cock 26 and, as shown in FIG. 1, normally pivotally biases (urges) said cock counterclockwise.
  • a blocking member 68 downward extending arm of cock 26 and, as shown in FIG. 1, normally pivotally biases (urges) said cock counterclockwise.
  • the small cock wheel 30 is urged into mesh with barrel cover 32 by spring lever'60.
  • the blocking member 68 also acts against the nose 18 of setting lever 14, see FIG. 2.
  • the small cock wheel 30 is in mesh with barrel cover 32.
  • stem 12 is turned, by the user, an entire train of gears comprised of winding pinion 22, the large cock wheel 24, the small cock wheel 30 and barrel cover 32, will rotate with the ultimate effect of winding up the mainspring within the barrel.
  • the spring lever 60 endeavors to constantly urge the cock into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the spring lever arcuate section 64 is thus out of contact with the balance wheel assembly 44.
  • the cock 26 in this second embodiment does not have a small cock wheel 30, as this timepiece is not mechanically driven.
  • the movement has a battery 70 with which connecting spring 72 coacts, the spring 72 being secured to an insulating pad 74 and being electrically connected to a contact spring 76, which coacts with contact pin 78 on the balance wheel 54.
  • the balance wheel 54 carries a flat coil 80 of fine wire and also carries a stop projection 82 (a stop) disposed on the periphery of the balance wheel 54.
  • the multipurpose spring member is anchored in the movement at groove 92 and consists of a spring lever 94 having a coupling section 96 and a spring lever arcuate section 98.
  • the arcuate section 98 carries a stop portion 100 which, as shown in FIG. 5, is bent downward and parallel to balance staff 46.
  • the multipurpose spring in this case is a flat spring with a configuration such that the coupling section 96 which extends beyond the blocking member'68 has a larger crosssection than does the spring lever arcuate section 98.
  • the stem 12 is in its inside position where the small cock wheel 34 is out of mesh with the change wheel 36.
  • the multipurpose spring 90 endeavors to urge cock 26 into the position shown in FIG. 4 so that the spring lever arcuate section 98 is out of contact with the balance assembly, i.e., out of contact with the balance wheel 54.
  • the multipurpose spring 90 is pivoted in such a way that the stop portion 100 comes close to balance wheel 54 or touches same, but without stopping the balance assembly.
  • the balance assembly continues turning until stop projection 82 rotates counterclockwise and reaches stop portion 100.
  • the stop portion 100 then engages stop projection 82 and thereby brings the balance wheel 54 to a stop at a predetermined position in which the contact spring 76 is out of contact with contact pin 78, which breaks the electrical circuit to the coil 80.
  • the balance wheel 54 When the stem 12 is pushed in, then, in known manner, the balance wheel 54,and with it the entire movement, can run again because the balance wheel 54 has not only been stopped out of contact with contact spring 76 but, also, in such position that it is set into swinging motion by the driving effect of a magnet on coil 80 or by the hairspring (not shown).
  • the spring lever may be constructed from two originally separate spring pieces having different spring forces which are welded or otherwise joined together.
  • the spring lever may be constructed from a uniform one-piece spring lever and then the front stopping section may be machined or otherwise formed to be substantially smaller in cross-section than the rear coupling section.
  • the stop portion of the spring lever in its movement into its stopping position, moves along the periphery of the balance wheel in the direction of rotation and thereby takes along the balance wheel part of the way by frictional engagement.
  • the balance wheel will automatically re-start to oscillate, upon its release by the stop portion of the spring lever, either because its hairspring has been wound up or because of the magnetic field attraction between the coil and magnets positioned near the coil.
  • the balance wheel has a stop pin or a projection on its periphery against which the stop portion of the spring lever can strike as the balance wheel swings.
  • the stop pin on the balance wheel may be disposed at any optional point of same. lf, instead of a balance wheel, another type of vibrator or oscillator is used, thestop may be disposed thereon at any desired position. If desired, the stop may readily be provided on another section of the balance wheel assembly, for example, on a disc mounted on the balance wheel staff.
  • the present invention has been described in connection with a balance wheel assembly as the time regulator or standard, it will be understood that other types of oscillators may be alternatively employed.
  • the oscillator may move only axially and not about an axis.
  • the balance wheel assembly may be synchronized by another oscillator, for example, a quartz crystal electronic oscillator or a high rate mechanical vibrator.
  • a horological movement including a base, an oscillator mounted on said base for oscillatory motion, a hand-setting stem mounted for axial movement on said base and which is axially shiftable out of a first inner position relative to said base into a second outer position, a cock that is pivotally mounted on said base, said cock having a first position and a second hand-setting position and a multipurpose resilient member, said resilient member having a coupling section which biases said cock and a spring lever arcuate section which selectively acts against the oscillator to stop the oscillator, wherein said resilient member has one portion fixed on said base and is in contact with and movable by said hand-setting stem.
  • a mechanical watch movement including a base plate, rotatable display means, a mainspring, a barrel fixed on the plate and containing the mainspring, a rotatable and geared barrel cover covering the barrel and positioned to wind the mainspring, a cock pivotally mounted on the plate and carrying three rotatable gear wheels consisting of a center wheel in mesh with two end wheels, a dial train drive consisting of a plurality of rotatable gear wheels to rotate said display means and including a change wheel, a balance wheel assembly rotatably mounted on said plate for oscillatory movement, a hand-setting stem axially and slidably mounted on said plate and carrying a gear which is selectively meshable with the center wheel of said cock, and an integral multi-purpose spring fixed at only one of its ends to said plate, said spring acting upon said cock to normally urge one of its end wheels into mesh with said barrel cover, said spring contacting and being actuated by said stem to stop and hold said balance wheel assembly when the other end wheel of said cock is in mesh with said
  • An electrical watch movement including a base plate, rotatable display means, battery terminals to contact a battery positioned with the movement, a balance wheel assembly including a balance wheel fixed to a staff, said staff being rotatably mounted on said base for oscillatory movement, a coil fixed to said balance wheel, a stop member fixed to said balance wheel assembly, a cock pivotally fixed to said base and carrying two rotatable geared wheels, a stem mounted on said base for axial movement relative to said movement, a gear fixed to said stem and selectively meshable with the first wheel carried by said cock, a dial train drive consisting of a plurality of geared wheels rotatably fixed on said base and including a change wheel, said change wheel being selectively meshable with the second wheel carried by said cock, an elongated multipurpose spring fixed only at one end and biasing said cock, said spring contacting said stem and having a stop portion which selectively holds said stop member upon actuation of said stem.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00322675A 1972-01-21 1973-01-11 Device to stop timepiece balance wheels Expired - Lifetime US3765164A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19722202846 DE2202846A1 (de) 1972-01-21 1972-01-21 Zeigerstell- und unruh-anhaltevorrichtung

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US3765164A true US3765164A (en) 1973-10-16

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US00322675A Expired - Lifetime US3765164A (en) 1972-01-21 1973-01-11 Device to stop timepiece balance wheels

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US (1) US3765164A (ko)
JP (1) JPS4883864A (ko)
AU (1) AU464585B2 (ko)
BE (1) BE794271A (ko)
CA (1) CA959659A (ko)
CH (2) CH1851272A4 (ko)
DE (1) DE2202846A1 (ko)
FR (1) FR2168453B1 (ko)
GB (1) GB1391233A (ko)
IT (1) IT976926B (ko)
NL (1) NL7300686A (ko)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3972177A (en) * 1974-04-08 1976-08-03 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services S.A. Control mechanism for time setting and similar functions
US3987618A (en) * 1974-09-07 1976-10-26 Timex Corporation Hand setting device for small switches
US4126992A (en) * 1974-12-26 1978-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Stem mechanism for a watch
US4794576A (en) * 1988-01-29 1988-12-27 Timex Corporation Combination electrical contact member and braking member for a timepiece
US20030137902A1 (en) * 2002-01-18 2003-07-24 Mamoru Watanabe Hand motion irregularity suppressed timepiece
US20050088918A1 (en) * 2003-10-28 2005-04-28 Francois-Paul Journe Mechanical timepiece

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5086958U (ko) * 1973-12-14 1975-07-24
JPH11183649A (ja) * 1997-12-25 1999-07-09 Seiko Instruments Inc 表示修正装置付き時計
JP7135407B2 (ja) * 2018-04-26 2022-09-13 セイコーエプソン株式会社 電子時計
JP7299115B2 (ja) * 2019-09-12 2023-06-27 セイコーウオッチ株式会社 輪列規正機構、時計用ムーブメントおよび時計

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2713764A (en) * 1952-05-16 1955-07-26 Lip Horlogerie Electric watch setting mechanism
DE1094666B (de) * 1957-10-24 1960-12-08 Durowe Deutsche Uhren Rohwerke Vorrichtung zum Anhalten der Unruh einer Uhr
US3034285A (en) * 1959-02-09 1962-05-15 Hamilton Watch Co Balance wheel actuating mechanism
US3059412A (en) * 1958-11-19 1962-10-23 Hamilton Watch Co Electric watch
US3296790A (en) * 1964-08-27 1967-01-10 Suisse Horlogerie Hands setting mechanism for an electric timepiece

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2713764A (en) * 1952-05-16 1955-07-26 Lip Horlogerie Electric watch setting mechanism
DE1094666B (de) * 1957-10-24 1960-12-08 Durowe Deutsche Uhren Rohwerke Vorrichtung zum Anhalten der Unruh einer Uhr
US3059412A (en) * 1958-11-19 1962-10-23 Hamilton Watch Co Electric watch
US3034285A (en) * 1959-02-09 1962-05-15 Hamilton Watch Co Balance wheel actuating mechanism
US3296790A (en) * 1964-08-27 1967-01-10 Suisse Horlogerie Hands setting mechanism for an electric timepiece

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3972177A (en) * 1974-04-08 1976-08-03 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services S.A. Control mechanism for time setting and similar functions
US3987618A (en) * 1974-09-07 1976-10-26 Timex Corporation Hand setting device for small switches
US4126992A (en) * 1974-12-26 1978-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Stem mechanism for a watch
US4794576A (en) * 1988-01-29 1988-12-27 Timex Corporation Combination electrical contact member and braking member for a timepiece
US20030137902A1 (en) * 2002-01-18 2003-07-24 Mamoru Watanabe Hand motion irregularity suppressed timepiece
US6755567B2 (en) * 2002-01-18 2004-06-29 Seiko Instruments Inc. Hand motion irregularity suppressed timepiece
US20050088918A1 (en) * 2003-10-28 2005-04-28 Francois-Paul Journe Mechanical timepiece
US6948845B2 (en) * 2003-10-28 2005-09-27 Journe Francois-Paul Mechanical timepiece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA959659A (en) 1974-12-24
BE794271A (fr) 1973-05-16
CH569315B5 (ko) 1975-11-14
FR2168453A1 (ko) 1973-08-31
AU5118273A (en) 1974-07-18
FR2168453B1 (ko) 1976-04-30
NL7300686A (ko) 1973-07-24
JPS4883864A (ko) 1973-11-08
IT976926B (it) 1974-09-10
DE2202846A1 (de) 1973-07-26
GB1391233A (en) 1975-04-16
CH1851272A4 (ko) 1975-05-30
AU464585B2 (en) 1975-08-28

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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