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NO MAINSPRING: no winding, less torque, less wear to mainplates ISOCHRONISM: constant amount of arc for balance wheel for better timekeepingTIMEXES OBJECTIVE: TIMEX inventors were creative in their simplification of an electric watch for mass production at minimal cost. I hope to pique interest in the neat design functions of this collectable electric watch while teaching basic horological concepts.
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REGULATOR
The hairspring passes through the regulator. When the regulator is moved it lengthens or shortens the active length of the hairspring. The active length of the hairspring is where it TOUCHES the brass regulator pins or in this case the KEY SLOT. The actual length of the hairspring stays the same and is the distance from where the hairspring is attached to the balance staff collet to the point where the hairspring STUD is attached to the balance cock bridge. Moving the regulator causes the active length (where the hairspring TOUCHES the key slot A) or working length of the hairspring to be lesser or greater. To shorten the active length by moving the regulator to the right, in this case, causes the watch to run FASTER or vibrate more times; however, moving the regulator to the left will cause the watch to run SLOWER or vibrate fewer times when counting the oscillation of the balance.
For more information on regulating a watch click here.
TIMEX INNOVATION:TRIANGULAR ARM---KEY SLOT Point "a" and "b" of Timexes KEY SLOT replaced the regulator pins found in many watches. When setting up a hairspring in a traditional watch, the hairspring is closely centered between the brass regulator pins without touching them. If the hairspring moves by gravity from point "a" (inside)to "b" (outside) then it will cause the watch to loose or gain time as the ACTIVE LENGTH of the hairspring has changed in the hairspring's motion from point "a" to "b" or "b" to "a".
Timex built a triangular shaped arm (see above picture for a better view)into their regulator. The taper of this ARM enabled it to be bent to PUSH and HOLD the hairspring against the inside wall of the key slot "a", keeping the hairspring from moving by gravity to "b" of the key slot which would alter the active length of the hairspring.
"A" is the terminal spring (conductor). The negative part of the cell (battery) touches this spring. The negative portion of the cell must not touch any other part of the watch or it will cause a short. The spring is insulated from the main plate by "b." "B" is positioned between the frame and train bridge. It functions as a pillar to space them apart. The two dowels or pins locate the contact assembly in the plate without the need for a costly bridge or screws. "C" is a L-shaped arm that may be adjusted to change where "d" makes contact with the metal contact pin "e" (above). When "d" touches "e" the switch is closed and the coil is energized. The polarity of this electromagnet kicks the balance wheel around until it is drawn back by the hairspring. Contact is made two times in one oscillation of the balance assembly.
HAMILTON ELECTRIC: PACER
