US1199730A - Horological instrument. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. BORRESEN.

HOROLOGICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION men MAY 27. 1913.

1 ,1 99,730. Patented Sept. 26,1916.

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HELGE A. BORRESEN, 0F MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MAX W. ZOBEL, TRUSTEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HOROLOGIGAL INSTRUMENT.

Original application filed April 14, 1911, Serial No. 620,965.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1913- Serial No. 770,185.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, HELGE A. BORRESEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marquette, in the county of Marquette and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Horological Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to horological instruments and has for its object the provision of improved instruments of this character greatly simplified and capable of rendering a more highly eflicient service.

My present application is a divisional application of my application Serial No. 620,965, filed April 141, 1911, in which parent application I am claiming certain features therein set forth, reserving for this application other features as will be apparent from the appended claims.

This invention has for one of its objects the provision of means to increase the available dial space. Y

My invention furthermore has for its object the provision of improved guide tracks for hands of time pieces, and in one of its forms provides a dial with raised concentric tracks for the different hands, the elevation of the respective tracks being toward the center. This provides improved dial facilities and at the same time increases the space within which is available for the working mechanism.

My invention has for a further object improved means for fastening a dial, and also improved means for fastening the movement within the case.

It is a prime object of my invention to provide improved hand mounting mecha nism, and the cooperating parts in connection therewith so that I may'incorporate the second hand concentrically and between the hour and minute hands, and my invention further contemplates improved dial arrangements applicable to these constructions and arrangements. Improved bearing facilities are one of the results of this rearrangement.

' My invention in one of its forms likewise contemplates a separate and distinct'bea-ring mechanism independen of the c nter arbor for one of the concentrically mounted driving sleeves.

My invention further contemplates improved facilities for guiding the hands over raised pyramid-like dial tracks.

With-these and other objects in view, my lnventlon consists in the improved arrangement and construction of the parts as will all appear more clearly hereinafter in the description thereof which I will now set forth in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a horological instrument constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of an instrument constructed in accordance w1th my invention; Fig. 3 is'a detail view of a portion of the operating mechanism illustrating features of construction; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the hand guiding mechanlsm; Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating my improved frictional driving mechanism; Fig. 6 is a top view of a portion of my improved frictional driving mechanism set forth in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail view of the movement holding device; Fig. 8 is a detail view of my improved bearing or supporting device; Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the structure set forth in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detail view of a modified form of dial holding means; Fig. 11 is a modified form of the structure set forth in Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is a view of my improved detachable minute pinion and associated mechanism.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I provide an improved dial 14, which dial is formed pyramid-like of concentric raised portions sloping downwardly toward the periphery. I provide three tracks respectively 15, 16 and 17 in different planes, and two of these tracks are surrounded con.- centrically by rails respectively 18 and 19. The track 15 is designed for cotiperation with the hour hand 20 and the track 16 is designed for cooperation with the second hand 21. The track 17 is designed for cooperation with the minute hand 22. The hour hand is preferably guided upon the track 15 and is safeguarded against interference from the second hand 21 by virtue of the rail 19. Similarly the second hand cooperates with the track 16 and the rail 18 serves as a guard. It will be app n r m tending from the rail 19. In this manner the hand may be guided by the rail in such a way as to not only limit its downward movement, but also its movement away from the dial. I show further in Fig. 2 improved means for supporting the dial 14, which means consists of pins 26 fastened to the dial 14, which pins have screw threaded extremities 27. These pins project through the front plate 28 and are engaged at their screw threaded extremities by means of nuts 29 passing through the rear plate 30. These nuts are interiorly threaded to engage the pins 26 and to draw the dial tightly into position. The nuts 26 are provided with flaring shoulders 31 which prevent them from falling out of the plate 30 when they are disengaged from the pins 26. These shoulders 31 are preferably provided after the nuts 29 have been inserted through the plate 30. In this manner I am enabled to provide a structure by means of which the dial may be readily removed, and as readily replaced a great many times without removing the movement from the case. In order that the drawing stress exerted by nuts 29 on pins 26 shall not be communicated to the dial 14, I provide the shoulders 26 on the pins 26. These shoulders 26 rest against the movement plate 28 and in this manner the tension is on the shoulders 26 and not on the dial.

In Fig. 10 I set forth a modified structure in which the nut 29 is provided directly in the front plate 28 within a cylindrical aperture 32 provided therein.

In Fig. 11 I set forth a nut 29 which is similar to the nut 29 except that its screw threaded portion is split so that the said screw threaded portions may be adjusted to the wear of the screw 26, and proper gripping efi'ort maintained in order to prevent the nut 29 from accidentally working loose.

As stated in connection with Fig. 1, the second hand is designed to operate preferably between the hour and minute hands, and this is accomplished by means of the improved structure and associated apparatus as set forth in Fig. 5. In this figure the driving spring 33 carries the customary gear wheel 34 which operates the center pinion 35. The center pinion 35 carries fixedly secured thereto the center wheel 36 which engages the pinion 37 to thereby drive the gear wheel 38 and therewith the concentric second hand pinion 39, the advantages Iof which will be detailedhereinafter. The center pinion 35 is mounted upon the center or minute arbor 40 which is provided with bearing surface both in the plate 28 and the plate 30 as illustrated here in. This center pinion carries the minute hand 22 at its upper extremity and carries as before stated the center pinion 35. In order to provide motion transmitting mechanism between the arbor 40 and the pinion 35, I utilize frictional devices, one embodi ment of which is set forth more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6 and consists in this embodiment of a U-shaped spring 41 whose heel portion 42 rests against the topof the center pinion 35 and center wheel 36 and whose arms 43 extend beyond the hub edge of the center wheel 36 and are held in place by the spokes 44 thereof. The arms 43 are rounded as shown in Fig. 5 and engage the upper inner surface of an annular groove 45 provided in the center arbor 40, the spring action ofthe arms 43 being sufficient when thus engaging the various parts to transmit the rotary motion of the center pinion 35 to the center arbor 40. The arms 43 are also so proportioned that they exert an inward radial gripping stress against the center arbor 40 to provide additional frictional effort. The center arbor 40 carries a gear wheel 46 which meshes with wheel 47 carrying the pinion 48. The gear wheel 48 drives the gear wheel 49 which carries the hour hand 20. This gear wheel 49 has a bearing disk 50 as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 which is superposed in a bridge 51 and rotatably mounted therein. The bridge 51 is held in place by means of two screws 52, 52 as more clearly illustrated in 'Fig. 3. Super-posed on top of the gear wheel 49 'to suitably hold the same within the bearing provided by the bridge 51 is the cap 53 through which the center arbor 40 passes and this cap is held in place upon the bridge 51 by means of the lugs 54 which engage the eyes 55 provided upon the bridge 51. By thus providing the bridge structure for the hour wheel so that it is independently mounted, this hour wheel is prevented from wabbling and can thus guide the hour hand perfectly in a parallel plane of the dial, and at the same time provide the proper end play of the hour wheel. It will thus be apparent that the concentric hour hand driving sleeve carried by the gear wheel 49 is independently mounted, and thus is relieved from any association with a concentric be'aring. This is of great advantage in permitting a centrally located concentric second hand driving sleeve 56 to be free from any contact with the said hour Wheel mechanism.

On account of the great ratio of gearing between the second hand and the main spring the power available to drive the second handisfveryrslight and therefore this second hand sleeve must be free from interference and must be mounted to rotate very freely. This is accomplished by operating the concentric second pinion 89 directly upon the extremely small pivotal portion of arbor 40, and to further improve the bearing qualities of the pinion 39 the jewel bearing 57 may be incorporated therewith as shown clearly in Fig. 5.

The gear wheel 46 is fastened to the center arbor 40 in an improved manner so that it is readily removable and the structure by virtue of which I obtain this result is indicated more clearly in Fig. 5 where the said arbor 40 has a cone shaped portion 58 where said gear wheel is to be mounted, which cone shaped portion is provided with a slot 59. The gear wheel 46 itself is slotted at 60 and has inwardly projecting ears 61 conforming in general outline to the outline of the slot 59. This gear wheel 46 is made of springy material so that it can be sprung into position about the arbor 40 by virtue of the split character of the said gear. The spring action of the said gear serves to hold the same in position and also permits of ready removal of the said gear wheel for purposes of inspection and repair. The ears 61 are also of particular advantage when the hands are being set so that these ears may be against the sides of the groove 59 when the said gear wheel 46 is being turned to set the hands, the said ears preventing any undue movement between the adjoining portions of the gear where they are split, as shown at 60. Of course if the ears are absent and pressure is exerted against the gear teeth to rotate the gear, the adjoining portions of the gear at 60 might separate.

In Fig. 7, I set forth an improved construction for holding the movement in place within the watch case. To this end the back plate of the movement 8'is provided with a recessed portion 65 which is adapted to receive a T shaped plate 66 having a slot 67 therein. A screw 68 provided in the lowest plate serves to hold the plate 66 in place. This plate 66 is adapted to be moved toward the left so that the movement can be removed from the case. After the movement has been inserted, and it is desired to fasten the same, the plate 66 is moved radially outwardly to engage the flange 69 in the case and the screw 68 is then fastened down to hold the movement in place. In this way the movement can be fastened without entirely removing the screw 68. The plate 66 is rounded slightly and has a roughened top surface at 70 so that this plate may respond automatically to the movement of the screw, the loosening of the screw drawing the said plate inwardly and the fastening of said screw moving the said plate outwardly. The roughened surface of course is provided only on one side of the slot 67 so that the plate 66 follows the movement of the screw. The movement track of recess 65 guides the innermost portion of plate 66 and prevents plate 66 from revolving when screw 68 is being turned. The serrated portion 70 of plate 66 also prevents screw 68 from accidentally working loose.

In thus describing my invention, I have described of course in detail one embodiment of each of the various features of my invention, without of course in any way tending thereby to limit myself to such embodiment or to any specific portion of the specification, as such specific description is merely given to illustrate one complete embodiment of the invention. Having however thus described specifically one such complete structure, what I broadly claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A timepiece having a minute hand, an hour hand, and a second hand operating between said hour and minute hands.

2. A timepiece having a minute hand, an hour hand, and a second hand operating between said hour and minute hand, all of said hands operating about a common axis.

3. A system of time indication comprising a watch having a dial and concentrically arranged hour, minute and second hands, said dial having indicia corresponding to said hands, and said second hand being shorter than said minute hand and operating between the hour and minute hands.

4:. A system of time indication comprising a watch having a dial, and concentrically arranged hour, minute and second hands, said dial having indicia corresponding to said hands, and said second hand being shorter than the minute hand but longer than the hour hand and operating between the hour and minute hands.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of May, A. D., 1913.

HELGE A. BORRESEN. Witnesses:

DOLL WHEATON, E. A. BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,199,730,

granted September 26, 1916, upon the application of Helge A. Borresen, of Marquette, Michigan, for an improvement in Horological Instruments, was erroneously written and printed as Max W. Zobel, whereas said name should have been written and printed as Max W. Zabel, as shown by the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D, 1916.

[SEVAL] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,199,730, granted September 26, 1916; upon the application of Helge A. Borresen, of Marquette, Michigan, for an improvement in Horological Instruments, Was erroneously Written and printed as Max W. Zobel, Whereas said name should have been 'Written and printed as Max W. Zabel, asjshown by the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D, 1916.

[SEAL] I F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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