Category: Watchmakers

In tools of this character hitherto used, great difficulty has been experienced in preventing loss of the hands after their removal from their arbors, As after removal from its arbor va hand is only supported on the jaws at one end,its projecting end tends to overbalance it and cause it to drop from the jaws always causing inconvenience and sometimes loss. By my invention, I have provided a retainer which presses against a hand held by the jaws and continues to maintain it in contact with the jaws until it can be deposited where required. rI`his retainer consists of a baror rod p having a head on its lower end, and partly contained within a central chamber of the lower operating rod section b. Between the end of the bar and the end of the chamber is a spring g tending to press the head of the retainer against the jaws or against a hand supported upon them. Total ej ectment of the retainer bar when the jaws are separated is prevented by a pin r passing through the bar into slots s in each side of the operating rod, said pin being prevented from passing out oi’ the ends of said slots by the links j. In order to permit the presence of the presser rod, these links are separated from-one another and pivoted by separate pins, but they are not far enough apart to allow the detent pin r to pass between them. In order to apply the pressure of the operating spring Z to the links at some distance from the pivots of the latter, and thereby obtain sufficient leverage for the purposes required, the links are widened at their upper ends to provide curved protuberant corners y, and between the lower end of the sleeve m and the upper ends of the links is an annular disk t which has its bearing on the links a considerable distance beyond the outer circumference of the sleeve.

. ,.1 POISING-CALIPERS.
Application filed October 23, 1907.
To. all whom it may concern:
Be it known that l, FRANK R. CUNNING- HAM, of Medt’ord, in the county oi’ Middlesex and State o’t Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Poising-Calipers, o’tl which the following is a specification.
The present invention consists in a tool for holding balance wheels oi’ watch or clock movements while being poised.
The objects are to provide a tool of this character permitting more rapid insertion and removal of work than in the poising tools heretol’ore used, lto permit an accurate adjustment ot’ the bearings tor the stattl ot’ ay balance wheel, to hold the same without looseness and also without end pressure, to provide a novel form of jewel bearing t’or the ends et’ a statt constructed with two jewels made separable so that they may be cleaned, and to provide other improved details oit’ construction which will be hereinafter more particularly described.
Of the accompanying cliavings,-Figiii’e 1 represents an elevation ot a tool embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. Q represents a sectional view of the same on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 represents a crosssection on .line 3—3 ot Fig. 2. lF it represents an enlarged section through the bearings, illustrating in detail the construction thereof.
The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The instrument consists ot’ a frame 1 carried by a handle 2, and having arms 3 and 4l. These arms are separated somewhat and are absolutely rigid. having no relative movement of approach or recession whatever. In one of the arms, as. 4, is set a pin 5 passing entirely through the arm and having a threaded shank G on the inner side of the arm, to which shank is attached a stationary bearing 7. On the other arm is a tubular guide 8 in which is slidably contained a bar 9 carrying a movable bearing l0. The pin 5, bar 9 and bearings are all in line, and the movable bearing reciprocates on this line toward and from the fixed bearing. For so moving the bearing 10, l. provide an actuating lever 11 contained in a slot 12 in the arm 3, and pivoted upon a pin 18 in the caliper loody at the base of this arm. Connec- Speeieaton of Letters Patent.
Patented Feb. 14, 1911.
serial No. 398,760.
tion is made between the lever and slide 9 by means ota pin t-‘lon the latter, and resilient lingers l5 ,ttt on the end ot’ the lever. These fingers are separated by a slot 1G which, when the lever is free of the pin. is ot less width than the diameter et’ the latter. Consequently the insertion of the pin into this slot spreads the lingers apart somewhat, causing` them to embrace the pin and thus absolutely preventing any lost motion between they level.’ and slide.
ln the base ol” the caliper Yframe is formed a passage containing a plunger 17, a spring 1S pressing said plunger outward, and an abutment screw itt). The plunger bears against the lever 1l on the opposite side of its pivot ‘from the slide 9. and so tends to press the slide and the bearing carried thereby toward the fixed bearing 7. Threaded into the aliper -trame is a screw Q() which projects toward the lever 11 on the, opposite side o’t` the pivotV ,13 trom the sjn’ing-pressed plunger. This screw is in the path of the lever and serves as a stop to limit the approach ot the niovable bearing toward the fixed one. By turning the outer end of the screw, its position can be altered, and the distance between the bearings when brought to restv` adjusted. ly means o’tE this adjustment, the bearings can be separated so as to remove all t’rietion-producing pressure from the ends ot the sta tll held between them, and at the same time retain the stati without looseness. AV spring Q1 bears against the stop screw and holds one side ot its threads in engagement with the eomplemental thread oi the socket, wherein it is contained, thereby taking up any looseness which there may be. This stop is designed to limit the approach ot the mo vable bearing 10 toward the tixed one, and to adjust the space between the bearings so exactly that the statil ot’ a wheel may be held between them without friction-causing pressure on its end, and also without too great looseness. The actuating lever causes the movable bearing to be advanced toward and withdrawn from the fixed bearing rapidly so that wheels may be inserted and removed with the greatest convenience, while the adjustable stop serves to tit’y the bearings tor staffs ot all sizes. The connection between the lever and slide consisting ot the pin 14 in the slot 16, allows the slide to move. rectilinearly, while the resilience of the spring fingers causes them to bear with the same pressure on each side of the pin and so eliminate lost motion. This result, elimination of looseness, is further forwarded by the spring-pressed plluiger 1T’, which normally presses the b arings together’ and tends to hold the lever in contact with the stop 20.
One of the important innirovements of my invention is the constuction of the bearings. These are provided with jewels against one of which the end of the statt bears, while the other surrounds the staff and holds it against sidewise movement, and are separable so that they may be easily cleaned and polished. The bearing ‘T consists of a main holder which has a base in the form of a nut, and is screwed upon the threaded end of the pin 5. n its tip this holder provided with a. socket in which is set an end-thrust bearing jewel 22 which has preferably a plane, or at least unrecessed, surface against. which the end of the balance wheel statt is adapted to bear. The holder’ 7 is threaded externallj7 and receives a screw cap Q4 constituting the holder for the second jewel 25 of the bearing. This jewel is annular, having a central hole through which projects the reduced pivot of the staff. The movable bearing l0 is essentially similar, consisting of the main holder to which the numeral l0 is applied, carrying the end bearing ewel 2Q, and being threaded to receive the cap 24k which holds the annular bearing jewel It differs from the other bearing, however. in this, that the main holder l0 is symmetrical withA respect to its ends, being threaded into a socket in the slide 9, and capable of being turned end for end. In its opposite end it carries a jewel 221 similar to the jewel 22, which can be put into use by simply reversing the holder l0 in the socket and applying the cap 2st to the other end. rlhis capability doubles the life of the bearing, permitting replacement of a defaced or unsuitable jewel without necessitating’ delay for repairs.
In using the instrument for poising a balance wheel, the staff of the latter is first set in the bearings and adjusted so that there will be no end shakeor friction. The weights of the screws which are set into the rim of the balance are then varied in the usual way until the center of gravity is eX- aetly in the axis of the staff. In order to determine if the wheel is perfectly poised, it is set. into rotation b v vibrating the ltool through rubbing upon a portion of it, thetool being held against the edge of a bench. T he rubbing is done by an instrument which has suflicieut friction to set the tool vibrating, thus causing the balance to be rotated. lf it is perfectly poised. it will continue rotating as long as the rubbing is kept up, but if not so poised, it will of course come to rest with its heaviest portion downward. It is for the purpose of it’urnishing a convenient member to take the rubbing without injury to the apparatus as a whole that l lprovide the detachable projecting pin After considerable use, the part of the apparatus which is rubbed upon will become worn a ‘ay, and if no provision were made for replacing the worn part, it would become unfit for use. lVhen, however, the pin 5 is worn away, no harm is done, because a new pin can readily be substituted.
l claim:-
1. fr poising caliper, comprising a pair of rigid arms, opposed bearings mounted on said arms, one of which bearings is movable in a guide on its respective arm, an actuating lever for the movable bearing having spring lingers. and a pin on said movable bearing grasped between said lingers, whereby the bearing is enabled to move rectilinearly and lost motion is prevented.
poising caliper, comprising a pair of rigid arms, opposed bearings mounted on said arms, one of which bearings is movable in a guide on its respective arm, an actuating lever for the movable bearing pivoted to the body of the caliper, a spring-pressed plunger bearing on said lever on one side of its pivot tending to move it so as to press the movable bearing toward the other, an adjustable stop threaded into the caliper bodjY on the other side of the lever pivot from said spring-pressed plunger so as to limit the approach of the lever and movable bearing toward the other, and a spring arranged to press the threads of said stop in one direction against its complemental engaging threads to take up looseness between them.
3. A poising caliper, including a frame, a socket supported thereby, a reversible holder adapted to have either end detachably inserted and held in said socket, end-thrust bearing jewels set in both ends of said holder, a. cap detachably fastened on the outer end of the holder, and an annular lateral-bearing jewel set in said cap.
Lt. A, poising caliper comprising av frame having an intermediate space to receive a balance wheel, a bearing rigidly secured to said frame at one side of said space for one of the pivots of the balance statt, a bearing for the other pivot of said staff mounted at the other side of said space, with provisions for moving toward and from said fixed bearing. a` lever pivoted to the frame engaging said movable bearing and having a finger piece by which it may be engaged to retract the bearing, a spring-pressed pin mounted in said frame. and bearing` on said lever at one side of the pivot thereof to urge the movable hearing toward the fixed bearing, and an adjustable stop threaded into the frame in the path of said lever on the opposite side of the the movable bearing toward the fixed bezu’- secured to Suid ring approxmmtely conxiully ing. therewith.
5. A poising Caliper comprising u. frame ll CSHOHX WhCl’COf I 111W@ IIHXCCl my 5 and Separated bem-ings for the pivots 0f a s1g1mt1lre,1n presence of two Wltnesses.
b alance Staff Set upon said frame and rela- FRANK R CUNNINGHBL tlvely movable together and apart for admitpivot thereof for limiting the movement of 1 holder, und :111 annular lateral bearing jewel ting and holding such pivots, each bearing lftnesses: lneludmg a holder having an end thrust; ARTHUR H. BROWN,
10 jewel, :L ring detaohably threaded upon said l. NV. lmzzlc’r’rl.

Specification.

This invention relates to screwdrivers and has for its object to enable fractions of a rotation of a screw-driver to be indicated and measured.

The principal application for which this tool is designed, is in connection with watch making, especially during the adjustment of the balance wheel. Most watch balances are provided with mean time screws, sometimes called simply timing screws, which are used to bring’ the watch approximately to the time when the regulator is at the center of its arc. These screws, being in some cases two, and in others four in number, are threaded into the rim of the balance approximately in line with the arms which connect the rim to the hub, and, when there are four, midway between such arms, and are given sufficient friction so that they will remain in any position with their heads clear of the rim. 

To make the watch run faster, the screws are turned inward, thereby reducing the moment of inertia of the balance, while to make it run slower, they are turned outward. The effect is analogous to the raising and lowering of a pendulum bob. To insure a uniform rate of oscillation of the balance in all positions of the watch, the balance must be perfectly poised. Unequal changing of the timing screws, subsequent to the poising of the balance wheel, is liable to destroy such poise unless diametrically opposite screws are turned precisely the same angle. It is primarily to enable the timing screws thus to be so turned that l have devised the present invention which have illustrated as applied to a watchmakers screwdriver, and having an index capable of measuring minute fractions of a rotation, and thereby still  distances through which the timing screws are advanced or retracted. By the use of the index, the diametrically opposite screws can be turned by exactly the same amount.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a sectional elevation of a watchmakers screwdriver embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the lower part of the same, showing the micrometer. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the screw-driver blade reversed. Fig. 1 is a perspective of one of the elements of the screw-driver. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a modification. Fig. 7 is a plan view of another’ modification. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 7, the section being taken on the line 8-8 of said figure. Fig. 9 is a view showing the manner of use of the micrometer screw-driver.

The same numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The tool shown in the drawings has externally substantially the same form as the ordinary watchmakers or jewelers screwdriver, having the shank 1 and the button 2, which by endwise pressure may be applied, and the blade 3 detachable secured in the opposite end of the shank by means of chuck jaws 4l, and a tapered sleeve 5. The chuck jaws are connected with the shank 1 through the medium of the sleeve 6 which tits tightly over the end of the shank, and the end of a hub 7 on which the chuck jaws are formed. The sleeve 6 tits so tightly over the parts which it surrounds that they are securely held together and caused to rotate in unison. Surrounding the hub 7 between a disk or image 8 formed in the latter and a flange 9 on the sleeve 6, is a ring 10 which is loosely confined between the flanges 8 and 9 and is held stationary when the screwdriver is turned. This ring 10 has engraved upon it an index mark 11 which cooperates with a series of graduations 12 marked on the periphery of the disk 8, these marks constituting the cooperating or complemental indices by which fractions of a rotation of the screwdriver blade are indicated and measured. The ring or band 1() is held stationary by a ringer ring 13 which is adapted to surround the middle finger of the user’s hand, while the screw-driver is turned by his thumb and forefinger. The ends of the inner ring are snapped into a socket 14 which is swiveled upon a stud 15 secured in a stem 16 which projects from one side of the band 10. Thus the finger ring can be turned about three axes at right angles to each other, having universal motion with respect to the screwdriver.

The manner of use will be readily understood. The tool being held as shown in Fig. 9, the end of the blade is then inserted into the slot of the screw which is to be turned, and the index marks noted. The tool is then turned by the thumb and forefinger, while the band is held absolutely stationary, and at the end of the turning movement the number of graduations 12 which have passed the stationary mark 11 is noted. When the tool is used for setting the timing screws of a watch balance, both of the diametrically opposite screws are turned through precisely the same angle which is measured by the graduations 12. As shown in the drawings, the screwdriver blade is detachable from the body of the tool. It is formed upon a stem 17 of which the end opposite of the blade is slaved 0H to make a flat face. Rehearsals end passes through the bore of the hub 7, abuts against the shoulder 18 of the latter, as shown in Figs. 3 and e. This shoulder is formed owing to the fact that the bore at the upper end of the hub is of less diameter than at the lower end. Above the shoulder, the hub 7 is partly cut away leaving shoulders 19. When the stain 17 is rotated until it slabbed off side comes into the same plane with the shoulders 19, it can be slipped by into engagement with these shoulders, the end of the stem then lying in the open space indicated at 20. The shoulder 19 then prevent relative rotation between the body of the tool and the blade. Then not in use, the blade can be turned end for end being caused to enter a recess 21 in the shank of the tool as shown in Fig. 3, being thereby preserved from injury.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the band 10 is omitted and the button replaced by a fork 22 of which the shank 22 is freely rotatable in a sleeve 24, being headed over at the end to prevent it-withdrawal. The sleeve 24 is fitted tightly into the shank 1 of the tool and has a disk 25 lying beside a disk 26 secured to the fork. Release disks have complemental graduations which serve, instead of the disk 8 and band 10, to measure the rotation of the screw-driver.

In Figs. And S is shown a substitute for the finger ring 13. Instead of a divided ring, there here shows a partial fork 27, the arms of which are curved toward each other forming nearly a complete ring. A stem 2S on the ring has a ball 29 which is contained and has a universal movement within a socket 80. This Socket has an internally tapered and externally threaded sleeve 31 fitting on the tapered stud 161 which extends from the band 101. This threaded sleeve is split and is clamped upon the stud by a nut 52. v

It is to be understood that although I have  illustrated one embodiment of my invention and described one of the modes of its use, the invention is not limited to strict embodiment or such use, but may have many other forms and may be used in any relation where it would be necessary or desirable to measure the angles through which a screw-driver is rotated.

Claim 1. In combination with a screw driver, cooperating index devices, one of which is arranged to be rotated and the other held stationary by the hand of the user, graduated to indicate fractions of a rotation.
2.v A screw-driver having a rotary blade and a relatively stationary index for showing the angle through which the blade is turned.

3. A screw-driver, comprising a rotary blade, and a member constructed, arranged Y and mounted so as to be held stationary by the hand of the user while the blade is being turned by the fingers of the same hand, by reference to which the amount of rotation of the blade is indicated.

4. A screw-driver, comprising a rotary blade, a disk or barrel connected to rotate therewith and having an index, and a relatively stationary member having a complemental stationary index by reference to which the amount of rotation of the blade is indicated.

5. Screw-driver, comprising a shank, a blade connected to said shank, a disk having a series of graduation marks and attached to said shank so as to turn simultaneously therewith, and with the blade, and a member beside said disk mounted upon said shank with provisions whereby it may be held stationary by the user While the blade is turned, and being provided with a complemental index mark by which, with reference to the aforesaid graduation marks, the angular movements of the blade are measured.

6. A screw-driver having a blade for actuating a screw and relatively rotary and stationary indices capable of indicating fractions of a rotation of said blade and minute advancements or retractions of a screw driven thereby. 

7. A screw-driver having relatively rotary and stationary indices capable of indicating fractions of a rotation, whereby to measure minute amounts of advancement or retraction given by the driver to a screw.

8. A screw-driver comprising an index adapted to rotate simultaneously with its blade and a complemental index adapted to be held stationary while the blade is turned, whereby movements of the latter may be measured. y

9. A screw-driver comprising a shank, a blade and a hub, all connected to rotate hub and adapted to be held stationary and a disk or Harige on the hub beside said band, the disk and band having con’iplen’iental in- my Dixie marks for measuring the relative rotation thereof”.

l0. il rotatable screw-driver, a member mounted thereon with capability of relative rotation, and provisions whereby said member may be held stationary by a finger of the user While the screw-driver turned, the member and driver having complemental indices for measuring rotation.

ll. A rotatable screw-driver, a member mounted thereon with capability of relative l rotation, and a projection from, said member adapted to be engaged and held stationary by the user of the tool while the screw driver itself is turned, said member and an adjacent surface of the screw-driver bearing index marks.
l2. A rotatable screw-driver, a member l mounted thereon with capability of relative rotation, and a finger ring,` jointed to said member and adapted to be slipped over the finger of the user to hold the Said member stationary while the screw-driver is being turned.
In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A. H. BROWN, C. F. BROWN.