US783018A - Winding and setting mechanism for watches. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED FEB. 21., 1905.

F. GHEVILLAT. WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES.

APiLIOATION FILED DBO. 31, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANOOIS OHEVILLAT. OF BIEL. SVIITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SOCIETFI ANONYME LOUIS BRANDT & FRERE, OF BIENNE, SIVITZERLAND, A COR- PORATION OF SWITZERLAND.

WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,018, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed December 31, 1903. Serial No. 187,273.

To (,LZZ whom, an vncty concern:

Be it known that I, FRANcoIs OHEVILLAT, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Biel, canton of Berne, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Winding and Setting Mechanisms, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvementin watch winding and setting mechanisms, and

IQ especially to such as are operated from the stem of the watch.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of such devices.

My invention will be pointed out in the claims terminating this specification.

- A preferred form of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows in plan the watch-winding position of the parts. Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1 on the line of the stem. Fig. 3 is a plan showing the setting position of the parts, and Figs. 4: and 5 are details showing the parts 5 of the compound or yielding lever separated from the other parts.

All the above figures are on an enlarged or exaggerated scale.

In fitting stem winding and setting move- 3 ments into cases it has usually been necessary to carefully fit or adjust the connection of the winding and setting mechanism with the stem to guard against straining or breaking the parts by a relatively too great travel of the Stem.

One object of my invention is to so construct the parts that an excess of travel of the stem or any part actuated thereby will be automatically compensated or allowed for, so that 4 an excess of travel can cause no trouble, thereby obviating the necessity for accurate fitting and adjustment of the parts. I accomplish this result by inserting an automatically-yielding or spring member in the train of mechanism connecting the stem and the shifting-clutch or equivalent member, thereby providing for the harmless absorption of any excess motion or overtravel of the stem. With such a construction it is not necessary to adjust the travel of the stem accurately to the movement of 5 the shifting mechanism, it being sufiicient that the travel be enough to insure shifting of the clutch, any slight travel over this amount being absorbed by the spring or yielding memher.

1 will now describe the construction of the preferred form of my invention herein illustrated, from which the principles of my in vention will appear, and the same will be evident when embodied in other forms.

6 represents the stem, which has a squared or angular end 6 fitting within a similarlyshaped socket in the outer end of the sleeve or false stem (0, the latter being free to turn in the frame and supported at its inner end by a bearing in a bracket f, carried by the frame. This sleeve is preferably fixed; but I do not limit myself to a construction in which the sleeve cannot move longitudinally. Upon the sleeve (4 is loosely mounted a wheel 0, which is adapted to connect with the watch-winding mechanism and has a set of teeth adapted to be engaged by a corresponding set upon a double-faced shifting clutch member (Z, the latter sliding freely upon but rotated by the squared portion of the sleeve (0. A wheel 11. connected with the watch-setting mechanism is in position to be engaged and turned by the clutch member when in the position shown in Fig. 3;

The shifting clutch member (Z is moved by a lever on, which has an end lying within a circular groove in the clutch member (Z. The end 3 of a second lever Z engages with a notch in the first lever m, thereby actuating the lat 8 5 ter. The lever Z? turns upon a pivot 71, which is preferably fixed, and has lugs or contactsurfaces 1 and 2, one at each side of its pivot, adapted to engage similar surfaces upon a third lever 2', which is mounted to turn about 9 the same pivot.

The pivot-opening in the sleeve i is of an oval shape, being longest transversely of the length of the lever, or rather of the line connecting the contact-points 1 and 2, whereby the lever 2' may be rocked so as to separate one of the said set of contact-points. The two levers l: and 2' are held together or in their normal position by means of a spring 70. two levers may be considered as a compound or two-part lever having a spring or yielding connection. device these parts would be maintained in fixed relation to each other by the action of the spring, except when an overtravel of the stem occurs.

The stem Z) is connected with the above set of levers by means of a longitudinally-moving part, preferably a pin g, which lies within the hollow of the sleeve a. By its upper end this pin is engaged and actuated by the stem 7) and by its lower end engages and actuates the lever vi.

The spring 7b in addition to holding the two levers t' and Z: together acts to rock them upon their pivot, and thereby to shift the mechanism to the setting position or that shown in Fig. 3, in which the pin 5 is raised and the clutch (Z lowered.

\Vhen in the operation of the device the stem 6 is pushed in farther than is necessary to shift the clutch into its proper position, the spring IL and pivot-slot 5 permits the lever "I to continue its movement after the lever Z: has stopped, the lever rocking upon the contact-points 1 and separating the contact-points 2. This is permitted by the slotted or elongated character of the hole 5 in this lever through which the pivot c" passes. No damage is thus caused by overtravel of the stem or the pin g, and consequently an accurate adjustment of their travel relative to that of the clutch is not necessary.

It will be observed that when the parts are moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1 the left end of the lever '1' is fulcrumed upon the part 1 of the lever 71:, and that this lever 2' therefore moves or shifts transversely of this fulcrum and also transversely of the line connecting the contactpoints 1 and 2.

1t is evident that the particular construction shown and above described may be replaced 'by numerous others which will as well accomplish the desired result. The detailed illustration and description of other forms does not seem to be necessary to a complete disclosure of my invention, and therefore I have not herein illustrated them. ldo not by reason of such omission wish to be understood aslimiting my invention to the form shown, as I am aware that many variations may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as claimed.

What I claim is 1. Ashifting mechanism for watches comprising a reciprocating shifting device, a

clutch adapted to engage alternately with the winding and setting trains, an actuating mechanism between said shifting device and clutch and comprising two levers, one of which has These 5 In the normal operation of the a floating pivot between its ends, and a spring pressing one end of said lever against said shifting device and adapted to resist the movement of said lever, the other end of said lever engaging said other lever.

2. A shifting mechanism for watch winding and setting devices comprising two lovers mounted upon a common pivot and having a yielding actuating connection with each other, and contacting with each other on opposite sides of said pivot, one of said levers being capable of shifting transversely of its fulcrum and of the line eonnecti ng their contact-points, and a spring holding said points in contact.

3. A shifting mechanism for watch winding and setting devices containing two levers one fixedly mounted upon a pivot, the other lever being adapted to engage with the lirst lever at points on either side of its pivot, and a spring holding said levers in engagement and permitting relative rocking upon their contacting points.

at. A shifting mechanism for watch winding and setting devices containing two lovers mounted upon a common pivot, the pivotopening of one of said levers being slotted to permit rocking movement transversely of the lever, said levers having contact-points upon opposite sides of their pivots, and a spring holding said points yieldingly in contact.

5. A winding and setting mechanism for watches comprising a longitudinally-movable part constituting the primary member of a shifting device, a clutch adapted to be engaged alternately with the watch-winding and with the watch-setting mechanisms, and an actuating mechanism connecting said longitudinallymovable part and cl utch and comprising a lever having a floating pivot and a spring acting to resist the movement of said floating pivot caused by overtravel of said longitudinallymovable part.

6. A shifting mechanism for watch winding and setting devices comprising a pin constituting the primary actuating member, a clutch adapted to be alternately engaged with the watch-winding and with the watch-setting mechanisms, and an actuati ngtrain connecting said pin and clutch and containingtwo levers, and a spring binding said levers together to act as one and yielding to overtravel of the pin.

'7. A shifting mechanism for watch setting and winding devices comprising two members connected respectively with the watch-winding and with the watch-setting mechanisms, a clutch device adapted for alternate engagement with both of said members, a lever engaging said clutch to shift it, a second lever actuating said first-named lever, a third lever actuating the second lever, a stem or pin engaging the third lever and adapted to be actuated by the watch-stem, and a yieldingmember controlling the connection between the second and third levers.

8. In a Winding and setting mechanism in combination, a longitudinally-movable member adapted to be engaged and moved by a Watch-stem, a shiftable clutch adapted to engage alternately With the Winding and With the setting train, a plurality of levers adapted to transmit motion from said longitudinallymovable member to said clutch to shift the same, one of said levers having afloating pivot and a spring attached to the Watch-plate and bearing on said lever and adapted to cause it to move said clutch into the said position.

9. In a Winding and setting mechanism in combination, a reciprocating part, two levers moved in at least one direction thereby, one of said levers being mounted on a fixed pivot, said levers being adapted to contact With each other on each side of said pivot, said other lever being adapted to yield and be fulcrumed on said first lever at one side of said pivot, and a spring resisting the yielding of said lever.

10. In a Winding and setting mechanism in combination, a reciprocating part, two levers moved in at least one direction thereby, one of said levers being mounted on a fixed pivot, said levers being adapted to contact with each other on each side of said pivot, said other lever being adapted to yield and be fulcrumed on said first lever at one side of said pivot, and a spring resisting the yielding of said lever and also pressing said yielding lever against said reciprocating part.

Signed at Biel (Bienne) this 7th day of December, 1903.

FRANCOIS CHEVILLAT. itnesses:

L. A. LUTZ, F. H. BERIL.

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