US1373005A - Combination timepiece and indicating device - Google Patents

Description

G. E. HUNTER.

COMBINATION TIMEPIECE AND INDICATING DEVICE.

APPUCATION FILED MAR.20,1916- 1,373,005. Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

G. E. HUNTER.

COMBINATION TIMEPIECE AND INDICATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1916.

1,373,005. Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

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Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

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GEORGE E. HUNTER, or ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

STEWART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIS, A coa- POBATIQN OF VIRGINIA.

COMBINATION TIMEPIEGE AND INDICATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application filed March 20, 1916. Serial No. 85,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRcE E. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, iii the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Timepieces and Indicating Devices, of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to the mounting, construction, and arrangement of timepieces, and to the combination thereof with other indicating devices.

The principal object of the invention is to combine a timepiece, such as a watch or clock, with another indicating device, such,

for instance, as a speedometer, so that the readings of the two instruments so combined may be readsimultaneously for purposes of comparison. To this end the dial of the timepiece is combined'with the face or cover plateof the other indicating 'device, and means are provided for setting and winding the timepiece from a position ad jacent the face of the indicating device. This feature is of particular importance, since it is desirable usually to mount a speedometer flush with the dash or other part of the automobile or other vehicle by which it is carried, whereby parts associated with the speedometer at the rear of its face are ordinarily inaccessible to the operator. Another object is to provide operating means for setting and winding the watch, which means are rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis or rotation of the hands of the watch. A further object is to. provide a rotatable element of the watch mechanism with an angularly disposed extension, which is accessible adjacent the face of the indicating device with which the watch is associated. A further object is to provide means for transmitting the rotating and reciprocatory movements of the pendant arbor to an angularly disposed member. is to provide the pendant arbor of the watch with an angularly disposed extension, to which it is geared, in combination with means for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the pendant arbor through the extension thereof without disengaging the gears. Still another object is to provide means for transmitting the motion of the A further objectcenter staff of the watch located adjacent the rear of the speedometer casing to the hands of the watch, which are movable in a plane adjacent the face of the speedometer. A Still further object is to combine a watch with a speedometer casing, so that the watch movement will actuate the hands of the watch located adjacent the face plate of the speedometer without interference w th the parts of the Speedometer mechan sm. A further object is to provide a de vice of the class referred to in which the various parts of the mechanism are readily detachable for purposes of inspection and repairs. Other objects relate to features of construction and arrangement, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly described.

These and other objects of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a speedometer embodying the principles of my invention, showing the dial of the watch located within the face plate of the speedometer.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the pendantblock through which a connection is made between the pendant arbor and the extension thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the bell crank lever, by means of which a reciprocatory movement is imparted to the pendant block.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail elevation of the watch dial showing the hands of the watch and the hour train through which the hands are connected.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the speed- V ometer casing with parts thereof broken away, showing the watch casing carriedby the speedometer casing, with means for winding and setting the watch from a position adjacent the front of the speedometer.

Fig. 6 shows a partial side elevation of a modified form, in which the pendant head projects outwardly parallel to the plane of the watch casing.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view through the pendant block and a part of the watch casing, showing the means for transmitting motion to the pendant arbor from the angularly disposed extension thereof.

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged perspective view of the thimble and the retaining clip which cooperates with the pendant arbor.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the pendant arbor.

Fig. 10 is anenlarged side elevation of the bearing member of a watch dial with parts broken away. showing the hour train in section.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the bearing member.

-Fig. 12 is a view showing the details of the elements for connecting the center staff and connecting arbor.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing the lower portion of the spacing ring which separates. the face plate from the bearing member.

Referring to the drawings The numeral 15 designates the cylindrical or cup-shaped casing of a speedometer, or the like, which is provided at its open end with an enlarged annular flange 15, the peripheral surface of which forms a seat for the inwardly. directedannular flange 16 of the face plate or bezel flange 16. The casing is adapted to engage an aperture 17 in a suitable frame member 18, which may be the dash of an automobile, or the like. The

' annular flange 16 of the face plate is adapted to fit closely the aperture, and the plate seats preferably upon the outer-face of the instrument board 18, being secured thereto by screws, or the like, engaging the apertures 19 in the' plate. The bezel 20 is formed integrally with or carried by the plate 16, and serves to hold the cover plate 21 in position against the flange 15 of the casing.

' The cover plate of the speedometer is preferably'made of glass and provided with a suitable coating which renders the body portion of the plate opaque, and the plate is provided with a suitable transparent aperture 22, which reveals the floating dial 23 by which the speed of the vehicle is indicated. Beneath the opening 22, the cover plate is provided with other transparent openings through which the indicating devices 24 and 25 are visible, these indicating devices showing the gross number of miles traveled, and the number of miles traveled on the trip being taken, respectively. At the right of the cover plate are the adjusting devices 26, by means of which the indicating elements25 can be adjustedto the zero position, or other desired setting.

As above indicated, it is the preferred practice in some instances in the construction and assembly of automobiles to place the speedometer and other indicating devices in position adjacent the dash orother suitable part of the automobile, so that the they are not readily accessible to the opera-- tor. In this invention a watch is'combined with the speedometer, so the two form substantially one instrument, the dial of the watch being located within the bezel of the speedometer casing, so that the readings ofthe speedometer and watch may be noted simultaneously by the operator, and thereby easily observed or compared for the purpose of checking the readings or accuracy ofthe instrument without the necessity of glancing from one part of the vehicle to another.

The casing 30 for the watch movement is mounted upon the speedometer casing 15, preferably at the rear end thereof, and means are provided for registering the indication of the watch on the cover'plate of the speedometer, and for winding or setting the watch from a position adjacent the cover plate, or forwardly of the dash or other frame member in which the speedometer is mounted. The watch casing is provided with a detachable cover 31, which has screwthreaded engagement with the casing, and

this casing,'as suggested above, is adapted to contain the time train and other usual parts of the watch mechanism. The center staff 32, which actuates the hour train and the hands of the watch, is extended through the pillar plate 30 and the watch casing 30 is provided with the usual or regular cannon-pinion, having a toothed portion 33 engaging with the minute wheel 33, which latter wheel is arranged to be operated by the hand-setting mechanismnot shown. The cannon pinion is provided with the usual tubular bearing portion 34, by which a drivingengagement is formed with the apertured plug 35. This plug, which has a non-circular periphery, engages a recess of similar cross section 36, which is formed in the end of the connecting arbor 37. The connecting arbor is, in effect, a continuation of the center staff. and it serves to transmit the motion of said staff to the forward end of the speedometer casing, where the arbor is provided with a tapered recess adapted to be frictionally engaged by the tapered projection on the supplementary center staff 38. This center staff is journaled in the bearing member 39, carried by the bearing ring 10. which seats within the annular flange 15 of the casing 15, being prevented from relative rotation with respect to the casing by means of the slot 40, which is engaged by a projecting pin fixed on the flange 15*. The bearing member 39 is recessed at 39 to receive the extremity ofthe connecting arbor 37. ,The bearing member forms a support for the dial 41 of the watch, which is located between the bearing ring 10 and the cover plate 21, and which is secured to the bearing member by screws, or the like, engaging the apertures 39 The face of the dial is located just inwardly of the cover plate, and opposite to a transparent portion of said cover plate,.so that indications on the dial are visible therethrough. The bearing ring is spaced from the cover plate by the annular spacing ring 42, which is split, or notched, at 42 to accommodate the downwardly projecting dial. The supplementary center staff 38 projects through the dial and carries at its end the minute hand 43, which moves over the dial with the same rate of rotation as the center staff. The hour hand 43 also moves over the dial 41 in the wellknown manner, but its speed of rotation is stepped down from that of the center staff by means of the usual dial train, which is contained within suitable recesses 45 formed in the'body of the dial. The dial train, in this instance, comprises the cannon pinion 46, which is mounted upon the center staff and which meshes with the minute wheel 47. The minute pinion 48 is mounted upon the same bearing as the minute wheel, and is movable therewith, and the minute-wheel in turn meshes with the hour wheel 49. The hour wheel which rotates upon the supplementary cannon pinion comprises the forwardly projectin sleeve 50, by which the hour hand is carried. These gears and pinions are so selected that the speed of rotation of the hour hand is one-twelfth of that of the minute hand, as is well known in the art.

It will be seen that by the foregoing construction the motion of the center staff of the watch is transmitted through the speed- 'ometer casing to the hour and minute hands,

whichare movable over a dial located just within the cover plate. The connecting arbor is thus the only part which projects within the speedometer casing to any considerable degree, and it has been found that this member does not interfere with any of the working parts of the speedometer mechanism. In fact, it will be seen that this arrangement, i. 6., the location and attachment of the movement or time train of the watch to the speedometer casing at one portion thereof, and the arrangement and attachment of the dial and its train to the face of the speedometer, with the use of a connecting arbor between the main center staff and the supplementary center staff, prac-" tically leaves the chamber of the speedome-- ter casing free and unencumbered, sothat a designer or manufacturer does not have to change the arrangement or size of his speedometer mechanisms.

In the foregoing description, construction and operation, it will be seen that the arrangement and location of the three indicating devices in close adjusted position is decidedly advantageous, First, the floating dial which gives the speed or miles per hour, is so arranged that it can be checked by the watch at the end of each fraction of a mile, mile, or hour, or it can be checked at the end of each minute, ten minutes, or any other unit of time; second, the arrangement of the watch close to the trip indicator, and preferably below it, is such that the miles, or fractions of the miles as they are registered can be checked by the time indicated on the watch. At the present time, in any known device, this cannot be done, for the reason that the driver has to depend on some associate holding a watch and checking these parts for him, or on some other inconvenient and unreliable procedure.

In addition to providing means for transmitting the motion of the center staff to the forward part of the speedometer casing, it is desirable to provide means for setting and winding the watch, which means may be manipulated from a position adjacent the cover plate. Fig. 6 of the drawings shows a modified construction in which the pendant stem 55 projects downwardly from the watch casing in the usual manner, carrying the knurled pendant head 56, which may be manipulated to wind the watch or to set the hands thereof. It is well known that the winding of the watch is effected by rotating the pendant head, in some instances after pushing inwardly thereon, and the setting of the watch is effected by rotating the pendant head in a similar manner after it has been pulled outwardly to render the winding elements inoperative. But although the construction shown in Fig. 6 may be adopted in connection with the other features of this invention in many cases, the knurled head 56 is, in a great many instances, inaccessible to the operator on the forward side of the dash, or other frame member, 18, and means have therefore been provided for transmitting motion to 'the pendant arbor from an angularlv dis posed member which projects through the dash or frame member.

This winding and setting mechanism comprises the pendant winding arbor 60, located within the pendant sleeve 61, which has a screw-threaded engagement with the watch casing. The pendant sleeve is thus normally fixed with respect to the watch casing, and it serves as a bearing for the reciprocatory pendant block 62, through which a connection is made to the right angularly disposed extension 63 of the pendant arbor. This extension extends forward beneath the speedometer casing through the frame member 18, and forms a screw-threaded connection at its forward end with the knurled pendant head 64.

The winding arbor 60 carries at its lower end the bevel gear 65, which, in turn, meshes with a bevel gear 66, both of which ATL- gears are mounted within the chamber of the pendant block, which chamber is closed by the inset covers 62 The gear 66 is provided with a hub portion 66, which is journaled in the pendant block, and which is provided with a central aperture or square, or other non-circular cross section, adapted to form a non-rotative slidable engagement with the projection which has a similar cross section and which is carried by the extension arbor 63. In this manner a connection is made for transmitting motion of rotation from the extension arbor 63 to the winding arbor 60, and in order to effect the necessary reciprocation of the winding ar- .bor without disengaging the gears and 66, means are provided for eHecting a reciprocatory movement of the pendant block and the winding arbor by a corresponding reciprocation of the extension arbor. A bracket 67 is secured preferably to the watch casing by a stud 68, or the like. and a bell crank lever 69 is pivotally mounted on this bracket. This bell crank lever comprises two downwardly extending arms 69* and two transversely extending arms 69', each of said arms terminating in a circular extremity 69, as clearly shown, for instance, in Fig. 3. The downwardly extending arms are adapted to pass on opposite sides of the grooved collar 70, carried by the extension arbor, and from which the part 63 projects, and the circular extremities of the lever arms engage the flanges 71 of the grooved collar, so that when the extension arm is given areciprocatory movement, a pivotal movement will be imparted to the bell crank lever, which movement will be transmitted through the arms 69 to the pendant block. The upper part of the pendant block is provided on opposite sides with grooves 72, which are engaged by the circular extremities of the arms 69", so that as the lever 69 rotates the extremities 69 will slide in the groove 72, and at the same time move the pendant block upwardly or downwardly, which movement will be permitted by the arms 69, since the collar 70 may move freely in a vertical plane between the lastmentioned arms.

It will beseen that the bevel gear 65, fixed on-the winding arbor rests in a washer which engages the annular shoulder 73 of the pendant block, and the lower end of the winding arbor is adapted to engage the pin 74 which extends transversely through said block, sothat the reciprocatory movement imparted to the block will be transmitted to. the winding arbor. Thus the winding arbor may be pushed upwardly to cause the actuation of the winding Inechanism, or it may be pusheddownwardly to render the winding mechanism inoperative,

and to effect the operation of the setting mechanism all of which will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In order that the winding arbor may be retained'in either of these positions d ning the necessary rotation of the arbor. a him-- ble 75is provided, which thirnble forms a screwf thre'aded engagement with the inner wall of 'the pendant stem and carries the split retaining clip 76. This split spring clip surrounds the winding arbor, seating upon the tapered portion 77 thereof, and the extremity of the clip is adapted to pass in either direction over the annular shoulder 78, which is formed on the winding arbor, and which is provided with oppositely beveled surfaces adapted to permit the necessary relative movement of the clip and arbor when the latter is reciprocated. Thus, when the arbor is pushed inwardly to effect the actuation of the winding mechanism. the bevel flange 7 8 will pass out of engagement with the spring clip 76, and will be retained in the necessary position by the coaction of said clip with the lower surface of the flange. lVhen the arbor is pulled downwardly, the spring clip will be forced apart and pass over the flange 7 8, and thus operate to hold the arbor in the necessary position for the purpose of setting the watch.

From the foregoing description it willbe seen that this invention permits the setting and winding of the watch from points located adjacent to, or forwardly of the plane of, the cover plate of the speedometer, so that these operations can be readily performed even though the speedometer is located with the body portion thereof at the rear of the dash or other supporting member. \Vhen the operator desires to wind the watch he may grasp the knurled head 64 and impart a. rotary motion'to the extension 63 of the winding arbor. This rotary motion will be transmitted through the bevel v gears 65 and .66 to the main winding arbor 60, thereby effecting the winding operation, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. lVhen it is desired to set the watch, the operator pulls outwardly on the knurled head 64, thereby imparting av sliding movement to the extension arbor, which "movement will operate the bell crank lever 69 and thereby etfect a downward movement of the pendant block. This downward movement of the pendant block will cause a corresponding movement of the main winding arbor 60 and at the same time the arms of the relatively fixed retaining clip 76 will pass over the annular flange 78 on the winding arbor and serve to hold the arbor downwardly in a position adapted to permit the setting of the watch while preventing the operation of the winding mechanism. It will be seen that the reciprocatory movement of the pendant block takes place without causing a disengagement of the gears and 66, so that after the pendant block has been moved downwardly, as above described,

a rotary motion may be imparted to the extension arbor 63, in order to cause the rotation of the main winding arbor and the desired movement of the hands of the watch. After the watch has been set, the extension arbor is pushed inwardly, thereby causing a reverse movement of the pendant block 'and a corresponding upward movement of tremitiesof the bell crank lever have a relative sliding movement with respect to the pendant block and grooved collar 70, as above described.

It will be noticed, by those skilled in the art, from the foregoing description and an inspection of the accompanying drawings that I have disclosed my invention in connection with the usual pendant setting and winding watches of American manufacture, and that I have not illustrated either the winding or the hand-setting mechanism. I have left out all detailed description of these mechanisms, for the reason that they are so well known to those skilled in the art, and as they do not form any material part of my invention I deem it unnecessary so to do, as further description or illustration might tend to prolixity and confusion. Again, it will be understood that I contemplate the use of my invention or improvements in connection with watch movements of foreign particularly Swissmanufacture, where the pendant arbor is directly engaged or connected with the watch movement, instead of being a part of the watch case as is usual in watches of American make.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, a watch comprising a pendant arbor, an extension arbor, gears for connecting said arbors, and means for preventing relative linear movements of said gears and for imparting reciprocatory movements from said extension arbor to said first-named arbor.

2. In a device of the class described, a pendant arbor, an extension arbor disposed at an angle to said pendant arbor, gears permanently connecting said arbo-rs, and means for imparting reciprocatory movements from said extension arbor to said pendant arbor without disengaging said gears.

3. In a device or the class described, a watch comprising a pendant arbor, a pendant block movable with said arbor, an extension arbor engaging said block, and means for connecting said extension arbor to said pendant arbor within said block.

I 4. In a device of the class-described, a Watch comprising apendant arbor, a pendant block movable bodily with said arbor, an extension arbor engaging said block and operatively connected to said first-named arbor, and means to effect the reciprocation of said block and said pendant arbor upon corresponding movement of said extension arbor.

5. In combination with a watch having a casing and a pendant arbor, a. pendant sleeve mounted on said casing and containing said pendant arbor, an angularly disposed extension arbor geared to said pendant arbolg', and means operated by said extension arbor for efiecting reciprocatory movements of said pendant arbor while permitting con tinuous rotation thereof by said extension arbor.

6. In combination, a watch having a pendant arbor and a pendant sleeve, a pendant block reciprocably mounted on said sleeve, said pendant arbor being movable with said pendant block, a transversely-extending ex tension arbor, gears mounted in said pendant block for operatively connecting said pendant arbor and said extension arbor,

said extension arbor having a sliding engagement with one of said gears, said extension arbor bemg adapted to efi'ect the rotation of said pendant arbor through said gears, and means actuated by said extension arbor for effecting reciprocatory movements of said pendant block.

7. In combination, a watch having a pendant arbor and a pendant sleeve, a pendant block reciprocably mounted on said sleeve, said pendant arbor being movable with said pendant block, a transversely-extending extension arbor, gears mounted in said pendant block for operatively connecting said pendant arbor and said extension arbor, said extension arbor having a sliding engagement with one of said gears and being adapted to effect the rotation of said pendant arbor through said gears, and a bell crank lever operatively connected to said pendant block and said extension arbor, whereby reciprocatory movements of the latter will effect corresponding movements of said block.

8. In combination, a watch having a pendant arbor and a pendant sleeve, said pendant arbor being reciprocably mounted in said pendant sleeve, means for retaining said pendant arbor in either of two positions, an extension arbor disposed at an angle to said pendant arbor, gears secured to said arbors and meshing with each other, means for re taining said gears in engagement with each other, and means cotiperating with said lastnamed means for effecting reciprocatory' arbor being reciprocably mounted in said pendant stem, means for retaining said pendant arbor in either of two positions, an extension arbor disposed at an angle to said pendant arbor, gears secured to said arbors and meshing with each other, a pendant block inclosing said gears and maintaining them in mutual engagement, and a bell crank lever having one arm connected to said extension arbor and the other arbor connected to said pendant block, whereby reciprocatory movements of said extension arbor are imparted through said pendant block to said pendant arbor.

10. In a device of the class described, a main winding and settin arbor, a supplementary winding and setting arbor disposed at an angle thereto, a block axially fixed relative to said main winding and setting arbor, gears carried by said block for rotaoperated by reciprocation of said supple-v mentary winding and setting arbor for imparting movement to said block axially of said main winding and setting arbor for the purpose of imparting axial movement thereto.

In testimony whereof I subscribe my name.

/ GEORGE E. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

H. E. SPnowLs, F. L. CORY.

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