US1421801A - Repeater timepiece - Google Patents

Description

E. A. MARSH".

REPEATERUMEHECE. APPLICTION FILEDJUNE 13l 192].

\ Patented July 4,1922.v

2 shams-SHEET 1.

mmm.

'Som Aq (5b E. A MARSH.

REPEATER TIMEPIECE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1921.

1,421,801 l u Patented July 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

UNITED .STATES- PATENT OFFIC.

EDWARD A. MARSH, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 WALTHAM WATCH COMPANY, OF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

REPEATER- TIMEPIECE Application filed .Tune 13,

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A lWAnsH, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Repeater Timepieces, or' which the following is a speciiication. v A

The class of timepiecetofwhich this invention relates is that of. the so called repeating watch, that-is, one by which an approximation of the presenty time may be made known otherwise thanabyvisual observation of the hands. The repeating watches heretoforemade have universally, so far as I am aware, `given their time indications by audible signals, and have also been so built that the necessary so called repeating mechanismf7 is superimposed on the time train. Such mechanisms also have been unable to give an exact time indication.v Some repeating mechanismshave `means for indicating hours only, and others for indicating fractional parts of the hour to as small `a fraction as five minute intervals, but none, so :tar as I am aware, yhave been able to indicate the time to intervals oi` one minute.

The prior practice of locating the repeating mechanism in a-superimposed position over the time train or mechanism, has caused watches of this-type to be excessively thick; On the other hand the development ot' pocket watches, and the taste of users thereof, has been in the direction of thinness; .and all possible expediente have been used to make watches as thin as possible consistent with satisfactory timekeeping qualities. Thinness lf eing"such an important consideration, the extrathickness caused by the superimposed repeating mechanisms of `the prior repeat-ing watches has greatly decreased the desirability of such watches;

My object in makingthe present invention has been, first, to produce arepeating watch equally thin and having equally good timekeeping qualities with the best, watcheskof other types; second, to produce a repeating mechanism whichgives its signals indicating time to the sense of touch,- and inaudibly, thus enabling deaf and blind persons to tell the time for themselves as accurately asis usually done by normal persons; and third, to provide means for renderingk time indications with. a. much closer approximation to Speccatcn of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4; 1922.

1921. serial No; 477,046.

the present actualtime than is accomplished by the mechanisms heretofore used.

The manner in which these. objects have been accomplished, and thenature and characteristics of the present invention, are fully explained in `connection with the following description of apparticular watch embodying the invention, to which reference will now be directed. f

In'the drawings, Figure lis an elevation on amuch enlarged-scale of the back o'fa pocket,watchembodying my invention, the rear coverof the watch case havingbeen removed.`

Figure 2 is ay section on the line 2-*2 of Figure l looking lin* theV direction of the arrow onV said line.

Figure'B isa section on line 3-3 looking in the direction ofthe arrow on said line.

Figure 4 is asect-ion on line L /l, Figure l, showingcin plan view part of the repeating. mechanism and particularly the means for placing and holdingthe swing frame in operative positionwith relation'to the time indicating elements;

Figure 5 is a cross sect-ion on line 5 5 of Figure l. y

Figure 6 is an elevation` of one of the time indicating elements or disks of the repeatinginechanism.

Figure 7 is a view generally` similar to Figure 5 but showing the feed pawl in the unlocked position and showing also the stop whichnormally'locks the ieeler and driving pawl, f

Figure 8 is arview similar to Figure 4 but showing the swing frame in the minuteiudicating position.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the assemblage ot time disks by itself as `viewed from the iront-of the watch.

Like. reference characters designate the same partsin. all the. figures.v

rlhe first of the before namedv objects is accomplished i by placing the repeating mechanism `-in the watch case beside the time mechanism,. andv in, what` may be roughly called, forlthe purpose of this description, the same plane with the time train; meaning by same plane inV this connection that th'e repeating mechanism is substantially included within an extension of the space betweenV the plates ofl the watch movement wherein the time trainis confined. The case of the watch is appropriately shaped to contain the time and repeating mechanisms in this relation. A case having a rectangular outline is suitable for this purpose, as shown in the drawing, since it is adapted to contain the mechanisms handily, is adapted to the pocket of the wearer and has a pleasing appearance esthetically. The central or trame part ot the case (case center) is indicated at 1, the front cover at 2, and the back cover at 3. lt is to be understood that, although the drawings do not show it, a suitable openiup` is made in said lront cover, over which is set a crystal, through which the hands of the watch may be seen.

Brief mention only need be made olt the time train and the other usual parts oit the watch since these require no modification in principle, or in any other manner than possibly slight changes from common designs in the arrangement oli some ot the wheels of the train. f1 represents the pendant, 5 the winding and setting crown and 6 the guard ring' swivelled to the pendant, all accordingto any common or satisfactory arrangement. represents the main spring barrel, and 8 a winding wheel meshing therewith for winding the spring and adapted to be driven by the winding` stem in any usual way. 9 represents the main wheel, 10 the center pinion driven thereby, 11 the center wheel, secured to the center pinion either directly or by means of the center stall, 12 the third wheel, 13 the lourth wheel, 11i the escape wheel, and 15 the balance wheel. Ot these parts only the center stall, center wheel, and center pinion are shown in detail (Figure 2), for any showing' et said parts, further than indication of their positions. is not needed to enable the present invention to be understood and to be pnt in practice by those skilled in the art.

Referring` to Figure 2, there is shown in association with the center stall 1G, the usual cannon pinion 117 for the minute hand, dial train 18, 19, and hour wheel 20; the latter terminating` in a sleeve or hub 21 which carries the hour hand. The time disks or in dieating elements ot the repeater mechanisn'l are driven trom, the dial train, rather than directly from the time train, in order that they may be moved in exact synehronism with the hands when the latter are set; and for so driving them, the intermediate wheel 1S of the dial train meshes with a. wheel 22, staked on a pinion 23 which turns about a stud 2,4t lixed in the pillar plate 25. T he elements just referred to as time disks are preferably three in number, designated 2G, 27, and 28. The lirst ol these controls the hour indication for the repeater mechanism1 the second controls the indications for shorter intervals, for instance, live minute intervals, and the third controls the indications for the shortest intervals, which are preferably minutes. On account of the 'functions which these disks perform as abo-vc stated they may be called for convenience oit the present description, respectively, the hour disk, thevFive minute disk, and the minute disk. The designation live minute disk tor the disk 27 is not to be construed as a limitation in the function ol.1 this disk, however, Ator` instead ot' controlling the indications tor live minute intervals, it may equally well be designed to control other intervals, such as those ot ten minutes, quarter hours, and so forth, wherefore il'or the purpose oit a broader functional definition it may be termed an intermediate time disk. F or similar reasons the third disk 2S may be called the short interval disk. One or the other of the last two disks may be omitted il desired and the remaining` disk be designed to cause indication olI any desired time intervals less than an hour.

These disks are driven trom the wheel and pinion combination 22-23 in the *following manner. A stall' 29 mounted to turn in bearings in the pillar plate 25 and top plate J 30, and, is made in one piece with a pinion 31, or equivalently so combined with this pinion that it will be rotated when. the piuion-is driven. The wheel 22 meshes with said pinion, and the disks 27 and 2S are made 'tast to a sleeve 32 which is made, fast on the stall, as by fitting friction tig-ht there on, or otherwise engaged to rotate with the stall". The disk 2G, on the other hand, is made fast to a hub or sleeve 33 which turns treely on the stall and to which there is also made 'tast a ATear wheel 234i meshingr with the pinion 23. The wheels 18 and 22 are equal. to one another, the gear ratio between 22 and 81 is equal to that between 18 and the cannon pinion 17, and the gear ratio between 23 and 34- equal to that between 1) and 20, whereby the disks 27 and. 2S are rotated completely once in each hour and the disk, 26 once in twelve hours. lrimvcver, other specilic sizes and gear ratios may be adopted 'For this particular n'iechanism, provided the same result is accomplished.

The peripheries olf' all the disks are cut into steps ot equian gula r extent, those ot the hour and intermediate disks beine' twelve in number, corresponding to the hour and to the .live minute indications of the watch dial, and spaced progressively at different distances from the center, with all steps ot equal radial height. The steps ot the minute disk are sixt-y in number, but, unlike the hour and intermediate disks, are arranged in repeated groups or recurring' similar series ot steps, substantially as shown in the drawing'. Each group ot live steps on this disk has an angular extent equal to that of any one oli the steps on the intermediate disk, and the individual steps of the group are at progressively ditl'erent distances from ate disk.

Instead of the precise numben and arrangement of stepsin theintermediate and minute disks, other formsmay conveniently be provided, as by` ,riving` the intermediate disk sixV steps, eachcorresponding to a-time. intervall often minutes, and arranging thef` steps of the minute disk in groups of ten;`

or by making the number of steps in the intermediate disk any other devisor ofthe number of shortest interval units in the val steps equal to the complemental divisor;

But, having.` regard to the customary man-V ner of telling time, Vthe A arrangement shown is `preferred to others.

Cooperating with the thusdescribed,

is a plunger 35 whichl isfcarried in a swing frame 36 and is adapted to move endwisei in said frame, toward and away from the axis of the disks, preferably in linevvith` a radius thereof. The frame is conveniently.

made as a plate formedlin any suitable way with a part 37 ofeXtra thickness at: or near one edge, in which is a guideway, 38 forwthe` plunger, and with asleeve 39 atorgnear the opposite edge, which provides a bearing fora stem 40.' Said stem 40, besidesihaving anv important function, later. described, is one of'two pivotsabout whichithe swing frame may turn, and passesthrough a block 41' which issecuredgfby4v screws 421 tothe back,

of the pillar plate, and has ai tubulareX- tension 48 passing through the ease center. The other, andA alined, pivot whichA aids-in mounting the swing frame (and has; another:-

function, `later described) is: apinAt` seated iny a'block 45, securedito the` pillar plate, and` projecting-into a bearingformed partly in the body bf the swing. frame and partly in a complemental bearing block 46secured toy the frame body. Boththe stem /lO'iand pin 44 are capable of sliding endwise, and the pin is pressed against the adjacent, end of lthestem. by a. springhelix 47, which occupies the bottom of the socket. in block, 45

wherein the pin is seated, and is partly contained in alrecess inthe pin., Thisdis` position of thespring allows a: long spring tobe: used; at this point with ,economyA of space.

By virtueof itsk capacity forroscillativeH movement, the swing framek may.v be displaced or shifted to bring thel plunger 35 over anyone of the three disks; anditA is so shifted by a shaft48` passing through and having a bearing in abushing 49 which isV screwed into the case center. Onthe-out'er end, of this shaft is a knob-50, or equivalent handle, by which it may beturned between the thumb and finger of the operator; and on its inner end is a web or plate 51 carrying avk crank pin 52. which fits freely a4 hole inacrosshead orslide 53 held in a guidewayfl in the upper edge of the swing frame. Said shaft, with its web and cra-nk pin, may be considered and called the swing frame shifter. The swing frame` is set. and retained in either one of its three operative positions by a detent 55 shapedto enter each of three notches 56, 57, andr 58 in the web 51, which notchesare soy spaced that when notch 56 is brought by rotationof the shaft to receive the detent,'the plunger is placed over thehour disk; whennotch 57 is brought to receive the detent, the plunger is placed over the intermediate disk; and when notchy 58' is rbrought to receive` the detent, the` plunger is placed over the minute, or short interval disk. This detent is spring actuated, being formedor mounted on aspring arm 59 which is` secured at one. end' by screws 60 in a recess in the edge of the pillar plate; and its faces, as'alsothe complemental faces of the not-ches, are so much inclined tothe line of pressure application by and-'tothese faces when the shaft is turned in either direction, that'the detent is thereby displaced from any notch which it mayv occupy at suchtimes, although it opposes sufficient resistance to prevent any accidentalk displacement of the shifter or swing frame. Conveniently the plunger ismade of a flat thin bar sliding in the'groove or guideway 38y of the swing frame. That end of the plunger which engages the disks is reduced in width to a narrow projection 61 in order that itmay make contact with only theparticular point of any disk which'is in the position for giving a time indication.

A- bowed spring rodor wiref62 is attached at one end to astud'63, fixed on the forward face of the swing frame, and-at its other end Saidholdingpawl is formedon the end of a spring arm 7 Owhich is rigidly securedl at the opposite end by screws 71 to the rearv side of the swing frame, wherefore the holding pawl is constantly pressed yieldingly toward the plunger.v

The pawl 661sfpivoted` by means of a pivot stud -72to a. spring `arm or bracket 73 which is securedrby screws 74 tothe back of the swing frame, the two spring arms and 73 being somewhat similar in character and each being adapted to be so flexed as to withdraw the pawls G6 and G9, respectively, from engagement with the ratchet teeth of the phiinger. On the pawl 6G is a. tongue 7 5 which projects into the space between the pawl 69 and a linger 76 made as a part of the spring arm 70. The projections 7 5 and 7G are adapted to be moved in the same path, whereby when the' pawl 66 is withdrawn from the plunger in the manner pres ently described, its tongue 7 5 strikes the finger 7 6 and likewise withdraws the holding pawl 69.

Also connected with the pawl 66 is a. lever arm 77 which extends across the line of the stem 40 and pin 44 and is provided with ay knob 78 at its end, which knob is slotted both longitudinally and transversely. The longitudinal slot 79 in the lower part of this knob receives the upper end of pin tland permits the lever to be shifted endwise far enough to disengage. it from the shoulder G7 a transverse slot or notch 80 between the upper and lower parts of the knob receives two wipers 81 and 82 which project from opposite sides of the stem 40; and the notch 83 in the upper part of the knob receives the stem 40 above the wipers. The lastnamed notch permits the stem and lever to be assembled in the relation shown in the drawings and also permits the previously described endwise movement of the lever. A latch 84 is secured to the swing frame and projects over the parts 85 of the knob lying at each side of the notch 83 when the lever occupies the position shown in Figure l.

The stem l-O projects through the case center and is provided with a crown 8G on its end by which it may be rturned or moved endwise. llVhen turned by the operator in either direction, one or the other of the wipers 8l or 82 is caused to wipe across the surface 87 or 88 of the knob 78 which bounds the notch 80. and thereby to displace the lever 77 and pawl G6 away from the plunger The saine displacement of the knob shifts its jaws 85 clear of the stop 84, as shown in Figure 7.

The manner of use of the repeating mechanism thus described may now be understood; and in describing such use I will assume that the time disks 26, 27 and 28 are designed to show, respectively, hours, live minute intervals and minute intervals; and that the indications are sought in the same order. Proceeding as thus indicated, the operator will lirst turn the shifter knob 50 until the notch 5G receives the detent 55. This action will place the plunger 35 over the hour disk. Then the operator turns the crown 86 in either direction, thereby with.- drawing the pawls GG and 69 clear of the plunger 35. rllhe latter being left unsupported, is then projected by the spring G2 until the point on its lower end brings up against the part of the hour disk which directly beneath it. lf we assume that the time of day is 11.46 a. m., for example, then the part of the disk which thus arrests the plunger is some point in the next to the lowest step, which is designated 26u in the drawing.

The movement given to the pawl leveil 77 has shifted the parts 85 clear of the latch 8l, wherefore simultaneously with the descent of plunger 35, the knob 78 and stem al() are raised by spring L.t7 until the knob is arrested by the hub 39. rlhereafter the operator pushes down upon the crown 8G until the lever is arrested by the bearing block 4G, and in so doing raises the plunger through the engagement of pawl G6 with one of the ratchet teeth 68. The distance between the hub 89 and bearing 46 is so limited with respect to the length ofthe knob that the movement thus given to the plunger is equal to or greater than the length of one of the ratchet teeth and less than the length of two such teeth and such teeth are spaced equally to the radial spacing of successive steps in each of the disks. `When the crown is released after having been pressed upon, the spring 4.7 again raises the arm 77, stein 40 and crown 86, correspondingly lowering the pawl GG and causing it to `slip over the next ratchet tooth beneath, for the plunger is held stationary by the holding pawl, and enough space exists between the projections T5 and 7G to permit displacement of the driving pawl in passing over a ratchet tooth without disengaging the holding pawl. Se long as the driving pawl is engaged with any ratchet tooth above the lowest tooth or shoulder G7, the parts 85 of the pawl arm are held back clear of the latch Sil, wherefore the arm may be oscillated by the operator pushing on the crown and by the spring moving the crown outward, without hindrance` Rut when the action of spring l? at last carries the pawl over the last ratchet tooth and under the shoulder G7, the parts are pressed against the latch 8l by the spring arm 73, and when the crown is ynext pushed upon, the abutments 85 na-fs the end ol' the latch and are carried under the latter by the pressure ol' the spring 73. No further endwise movement of the crown is then possible, and the operator is thus informed that the plunger has been restored to fully withdrawn position. Having counted the number of pushes necessary to reach this condition the operator is informed of the hour; that is, in the example assumed he has counted eleven pushes and he knows that the hour is eleven oclock, or later, but not twelve oclock.

It may be noted at this point that the highest` step 2Gb of the hour disk is one space below the withdrawn position of the plunger, and that this step crosses the path of the plunger in the interval between one oclock and two oclock while the other steps are pro- Si o gressively nearer the center of the disk by equal amounts downto the twelfth or lowest step. Thus the distance of any step in the hour disk below the plunger, measured in steps of the movement of the plunger, causes an indication of the current hour in terms of the time of day.

Having thus determined the time to the correct hour, the operator turns the shift knob 50 to the mid position, which swings the plunger over the five minute, or intermediatedisk 27, and repeats the'operation of rst turning the repeater crown and then pushing it in as manytiines ashe finds that it is free to move. In the `suggested eX- ample,the ninth step, 27, 'below the highest one, 27h, of thisdisk will be in the path of `theplunger, which will make it necessary to pushthe stem nine times in order to retract the plunger fully. Since the steps here represent five minute intervals, nine steps amountto forty-five minutes; and the operator is thus informed that vthe time isbetween forty-five and fifty minutes after eleven oelock. The steps of the five minute disk are each one step higher than corresponding steps of thehourdisk, which results in the'condition that when the highest step 27h is in the path of the plunger, the latter is unable to move downward far enough to result in any time indication. This condition is necessary because each five minute indication, to be correct, must come at or after the end ofthe five minute interval which it designates, and no indication will be .given withthis disk prior to five minutes after the hour.

Finally, 'to determine the time to the nearest minute, the operator moves the shift knob further around until notch 58 receives the detent 55 (Figure 8), thereby swinging the plunger into position over the minute disk 28. A repetition of the operations performed withthe crown, first turning itn and then pushing it in as manyitimes as possible, shows the number of time intervals elapsed since theend of the last preceding five minute interval, and thisV number is added to the indication derived from ytheive minute disk. At the hour 11.46 the minute disk is in position to vpermit downward movement of the plunger by one step and restoration of the plungerby one push of the crown. i As inthe case of the intermediate disk, the highest step of each group of steps on the minute disk lies so close to the retracted position of the plunger, when in the path thereof, as not to permit any appreciable movement thereof, wherefore the impossibility of moving the crown to the f u-ll inward limit `when manipulated in connection with the minute disk, informs the operator that-less than one minute has passed since the end of the last live minute interval 5 while-ability to push the crown forward one, two, three, or four times, denotes that one, two, three or four minutes, respectively, have passed since that time point.

It `will be readilyappreciated that by making the intermediate time disk with six steps instead of twelve from the highest tothe lowest point, ten minute intervals will be designated, and that correspondingly `the minutedisk would have six groups with-ten steps or levels in each; or that other intervals maybe provided'for in the intermediate disk, and the steps ofthe minute Vdisk correspondingly grouped, all within the principle of the construction and arrangement here illustrated and described. This principle includes the vcombination of two synchronously rotating disks or equivalent counters, one of which designates intervals of a predetermined length, `and the other indicates subdivisions yof thoseiintervals.

It will be lnoted that in each disk, A.the highest step follows the lowest step abruptly, so that the beginning point of the former andthe last point of the latter arrive simultaneously at the line of action of the plunger. In the case of the yintermediate disk, which'rotates through six degrees of arcper minute of time, and havingregard to the 'fact that several seconds of time would usually be yrequired for the operator topush in the crown eleven times, alcondition is liable to occur where the `forward end of the highest step would interfere with the plunger before the latter could be `fully retracted. This might happen if the repeater mechanism were operatedwithin a few seconds before the even hour. To remove danger of the watch being-stopped or injured in any respect by such interference, yI mayfconstruct the intermediate disk substantially asshown in Figure, with means for Ysupporting"the l highest step in a yielding manner-permitting it to spring backward (with respect to the direction of rotation-of the disk). To this end the outer step 27 is formed by a sepa- 110 rate piece 90 having a narrow shank or neck 9.1 of such dimensions, and quality'that it is Vfreely yielding and resilient. Preferably this piece is madefof spring steelyand it is attached to the, diskbody in any convenient 11,5 manner, as by a dovetail joint shownat 92. The minute and hour disks may alsobe'made yielding as totheirhighest steps,lbut as the distance through which the `plunger must traveinordery to clear the higheststeps of the minute disk Iis comparatively short, and asthe movement of the hour disk is very slow, Vthis feature will ordinarily-be unnecessary in those instances. v

Various modifications in the form, construction, proportions, and placement ofthe parts and kmembers of the repeater mechanism may be made'without departing from the Vspirit of my invention. LFor instance,

the edges Tof the disks may be made with V gradual differences of radius rather than with abrupt steps or shoulders; and more or less than three time disks may be provided in proper cases within the scope of thc claims. Further the term disk, used in this specification to denote the time-indicating elements, is not necessarily confined in meaning to the precise form of the specific disks shown in the drawings; and the same may be said as to the descriptive designations of other parts of the mechanism. Referring particularly to the crown 86, this may be considered, having regard to its function and result, as a feelerf and so called, since its movements under manipulation of the user gives to his sense of touch the required time indications.

Although in the foregoing explanation I have referred in some instances to the positions of the parts in relation to one another, and to the directions of movement of movable parts, in precise terms, I have done so simply for brevity and with reference to the position in which the watch is shown in the drawings, and without intent thereby to imply any limits to my claim for protection.

A screw 94 is set into the back of the pillar plate near the free edge of the swing frame. The head of this screw is slabbed off on each side and is located in a position which enables it to be turned so as either to overlap the swing frame or to clear the frame. Vhen in the overlapping position it holds the free edge of the frame close to the pillar plate and prevents the frame from swinging wide when the movement is removed from the watch case and the swing frame thereby relieved from the restraint of the shifter.

that I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A repeating watch comprising a time movement and a repeating` mechanism operativel f mounted side by side.

2. i repeating watch comprising a time movement, a case containing said movement and being extended laterally, and a repeating mechanism occupying thelateral eX- tension of the case in the same plane with said movement.

3. In a watch, a time movement including` a hand-driving train adapted to be moved by setting the hands independently of said time movement, and a repeating mechanism beside the time movement including a time element geared to said train to be actuated in unison therewith, whether in running or in being set, and means cooperating with said element for giving invisible time indications.

4. In a watch, a time movement including a hand-driving tra-in adapted to be moved independently of the movement for sett-ing the hands, and a repeating mechanism located beside said movement and including a rotatable time indicating element, a gear train between said element and the handdriving train and in the same plane with the latter for driving and setting said element in unison with the watch hands, and means complemcntal to said element for giving invisible time indications.

o. In a repeating watch, a plurality of time elements driven synchronously lwith the watch movement, each having points differently positioned according to successive fractions of a given time period, a movable feeler operable manually with reference to the points of said time elements, and means for bringing said feeler selectively into cooperation with either of said time elements.

G. In a repeater watch, a repeating mechanism comprising a plurality of time elements driven by the watch movement and having controlling points differently positioned proportional to respectively different fractions of a given time period, mechanism operable manually in -connection with individual ones of said time elements to give time indications through the sense of touch corresponding to the positions of said elements, and means whereby said mechanism may be shifted into position -for coaction with either of said time elements successively.

7. A repeating mechanism in combination with a watch and comprising time disks rotatably mounted. to turn about the same axis, gearing driving said disks from the watch movement at respectively different rates of speed, one of said disks having controlling points differently distant from its axis and spaced to give hour indications, the other disk having controlling points differently distant from its center and spaced according to fractions of an hour, a displaceable frame or holder, a plunger carried by said holder' and adapted to be shifted by displacement of the holder into position for engaging one or the other of said disks, and being movable in the holder toward and away from the adjacent point of the disk with which it is in cooperative relation, and manually operative mechanism constructed. to withdraw said plunger step by step from its engagement with the adjacent disk to a position clear of the outermost point of the disk; the number of steps required for so moving the plunger being proportional to the distance of the point on the disk so engaged by the plunger from the outermost point of the disk.

8. In a repeater watch, a series of time disks comprising an hour disk, an intermediate disk, and a short interval disk, means driving said disks from the watch movement at such rates as to rotate the hour disk once in twelve hours and the other disks once every hour the hour disk having twelve equiangular steps at different distances from the center progressively by equal increments, the intermediate disk having similar steps, the number of which is thevdivisor of sixty, and the short interval disk having sixty steps which are arrangedin groups similar to one another and in. each group, of which the individual steps Aare progressively differently distant from the center by equal increments and the number of'such steps in each group is a divisor of sixty complemental to the number of steps in the intermediate disk, and a feeler mechanism adapted to be operated in connection with said disks for giving time indications according to the particular steps of said disks which are in position to cooperate therewith.

9. A repeater mechanism for time pieces comprising the combination of a time indicating element rotatably driven at a uniform rate of speed and having a series of equally spaced steps at distances progressively increasing by equal amounts from a base level, a plunger guided to move across the path in which such steps travel, a spring acting on said plunger tending to move it toward that part of said element which crosses its prescribed path of movement, a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and a manually operable feeler connected with said mechanism Vfor operating it, all arranged to withdraw said plunger from any position to which it may be projected by'said spring in a series of steps each substantially equal to the distances between successive steps of the time indicating element.

10. 1n a repeater mechanism for timepieces, the combination, with a time driven indicating element having a series of steps. a plunger cooperative with said element and a spring arranged to project said plunger into contact with the temporarily adjacent step of said element, of control mechanism for said element comprisinga driving pawl, a spring holder to which said pawl is pivoted and by which the pawl is pressed toward a part of said plunger, said part having a series of ratchet teeth complemental to the pawl and a shoulder of greater depth than said teeth at the end of the series, an operating arm connected to said pawl, stops arranged normally to prevent oscillative movement of said arm, one of said stops and the cooperative part of the arm being so arranged that upon displacement of the arm in the direction permitted by yielding of said holder the arm is cleared of the lastnamed stop, an oscillative and endwise movable feeler stem arranged for manual operation, and means by which said stem in one of its movements is adapted so to displace the arm,`and in another of its movements is adapted to swing the arm to causey driving of the plunger by said pawl.`

l1. In a repeater mechanism, a plunger 'normally underlying said shoulder, a spring acting on said plunger pressing the shoulder thereof toward the drivingpawl, vresilient holders for the pawls aranged to press them toward the plunger andfto permit their retractiony against yielding resistance, an` endwise movable andV oscillative feeler, said driving pawl and feeler havingv interengaging parts so` arranged that rotative Inovement of the feeler is adapted to withdraw the pawl from the plunger and endwise movement of the feeler is adapted to move the pawl in a direction for propelling the plunger, a spring acting upon said pawl tending t0 move it in the direction opposite to said propelling direction, and a stop arranged to prevent the spring induced movement of the pawl but sopositioned as to be rendered inoperative when the pawl is displaced into the driving position.

12. A repeating mechanism comprising the combination with a number of time indicating elements adapted to indicate, respectively different intervals of time and each having differently positioned steps, of a plunger, a displaceable carrier for said plunger movable to place the plunger into cooperative relation with either of said elements in turn, and mechanisms associated with said plunger for causing its end'to contact with the cooperatively adjacent element and for withdrawing it therefrom in a series of definite steps.

13. A repeating mechanism as set forth in claim 12 and having also a shifter mechanism connected with said carrier and operable to place it in either of the specified positions and a detent Varranged to retain said carried in each of said positions.

14. A repeater mechanism as claimed in claim 12 and including the combination therewith of a watch case, a shifter mounted upon the watch case and normally in engagement with said carrier for shifting it into either of its positions, `but being disconnected'therefrom when the mechanism is removed from the case with the timepiece movement, and a detent arranged to be engaged with the carrier to prevent free movement thereof relatively to the timepiece movement when the latter is removed from the case.

15. In a repeater mechanism, a time disk having a series of steps in which each successive step is farther distant than its predecessor from the center of the disk, there being an abrupt drop between the outermost and the innermost steps, combined with a reciprocating plunger arranged to be moved into and out of Contact with the steps of saiddisk :for givingtime indications, means for rotating said disk in a direction which brings the highest step of the disk into the line of action of said plunger' immediately following the lowest step, and a spring arm iixed to the disk and carrying said highest step with provision for yielding oppositely to the direction oi' rotation of the disk.

1G. A disk having its perimeter at successire equi-angularly spaced points progressively more distant from its center and having between its outermost and innermost points an abrupt drop, the outermost part of the disk being separate from the immediately adjacent part and being yieldingly mounted with ability to be displaced toward such part.

17. A time disk having its perimeter ex tending in an approximate spiral of progressively increasing diameter to its outermost part, the eXtreme outermost part oit' the disk being a separate piece having a spring shank secured to the body of the disk and adapted to yield in the plane of the disk.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

EDVARD A. MARSH

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