DE10338932A1 - Automatic mechanical clock monitoring procedure assesses winding, cover or maintenance status by comparing reference and actual rebound sounds using electronic processor - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic mechanical clock (6) monitoring procedure detects its sounds through a microphone (5) and uses a processor (3) to determine its status by comparing reference and actual rebound sounds to assess winding, cover or maintenance status.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for monitoring a clock, in particular a mechanical automatic watch whose noises are detected by means of a signal pickup be determined, which is connected to an evaluation.

To the Winding of mechanical automatic watches in particular are becoming today so-called watch winder used which these automatic watches in turn a certain direction, allowing a winding up of these clocks he follows. This is of course especially for very high quality automatic watches.

One Disadvantage of this watch winder is that these, unless they are timely to turn off the clock, raise the clock too much. Watches in one run too strongly wound state, swing in the vibrating element (usually in agitation) not harmonious, but it comes to a so-called "bouncing." This is a noise, what indicating that the common used anchor inhibitors in addition to the normal heavy load an elevated one subject to mechanical stress, as a barrel is constantly maximum force on the entire work. The barrel itself is burdened by constant "coating" to the effect that the slip clutch elevated in this condition Is exposed to friction. This is a wear of such watches elevated.

Of the The present invention is based on the object, a method the o.g. To develop kind, with which a winding up controlled and Above all, a "coating" of the clock avoided becomes.

SOLUTION OF THE TASK

to solution the task leads that from the comparison of at least two sounds on the status of the elevator and / or a coating the clock is closed.

During the Expiration of the power reserve is their value over a long time relatively constant and the vibrating element performs harmonic oscillations out. Towards the end of the power reserve, however, the driving power decreases the barrel, which affects the noise becomes. For example, over a microphone as a signal pickup the strength of certain sounds of the Clock or even the time interval between two specific sounds be determined. Both amplitudes take towards the end of the power reserve off, so this for the transmitter is a sign to start an elevator operation.

In another method, for although independently Protection is sought, which, however, preferred together with the above is applied, a bounce of the Clock determined. As described above, this bouncing sound indicates a coating the clock. As soon as the evaluation unit detects a bouncing noise, should she stop the elevator process. The bouncing sound is otherwise on it attributed to that the barrel initially, if the clock is maximally wound up, gives off more energy than in the subsequent expiration during the power reserve. In this state, the restlessness produces a bouncing noise. In a preferred embodiment of the invention are called noises used to determine the amplitude of the noise at which a Ellipse on the fuss touched a fork of an anchor of the clock, and the noise, in which an escape wheel falls on a pallet of the anchor. in the Within the scope of the invention but also other sounds be used.

The invention Procedures can can also be coupled with the input of a speed. The speed up to a maximum lift of the clock depends on the work and the specific Construction of the clock. In general, this value may be from a watch manufacturer and then entered into the transmitter in advance. In any case, the clock should at least be at the specified speed be raised. Should be an additional mounting desired up to a maximum become, so the bouncing sound the clock, to which the clock is further rotated.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the fact that a sound emitted by the clock can also be used to determine the condition of the work. Ear oils, for example, act as lubricants and absorb the abrasion of the pins and bearings. That means that Oil gradually polluted. Aging also causes many oils to stain. Overall, this makes the gear train heavier and the amplitude of the restlessness between two sounds is smaller.

Should now also a surveillance for example, the need to clean the work, so the clock is clamped on the watch winder on the signal sensor. The condition of the watch, for example, whether freshly overhauled is still preferred, is entered into the transmitter.

in the Over the course of months or years, then the average value of Amplitude between two sounds from. From a lower value to be defined on average Amplitude is then provided by the transmitter a service for cleaning recommended. This recommendation is made by a signal message in or at the transmitter. After the appropriate service the clock can be controlled and the current amplitude can be restored stored in the evaluation as a base value.

Of the Advantage of the inventive The method is thus that the clocks, which correspond to the invention Process controlled, a much lower Wear is subject. Furthermore, the watch goes through the power reserve area, So it is not permanent in the upper spring tension range. The entire durability becomes clear extended.

Further the clock is active regarding monitored their cleaning condition and thus also subject to a significantly reduced wear due to abrasion and resinification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further Advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent the following description of preferred embodiments and by reference the drawing; this shows in

1 a schematic, partial perspective view of an inventive device for monitoring a clock;

2 to 4 a plan view of the interaction of elements of a clock to generate sounds.

According to 1 is a watch winder 1 via a data line 2 with an evaluation electronics 3 connected. The watch winder 1 has a carrier 4 in which a microphone 5 as a signal pick-up for noises of a clock shown only in dashed lines 6 is arranged.

The clock 6 makes above all three sounds corresponding to three different positions of elements of the clock, which in the 2 to 4 is indicated. A restlessness 7 is an anchor 8th with a fork 9 assigned. Through the anchor 8th becomes a pallet 10 moving in an escape wheel 11 intervenes.

A first sound is generated according to 2 if an ellipse on the balance 7 the fork of the anchor 9 touched. This noise is very precise in time and therefore can be used as noise for the present method.

A second sound is generated according to 3 when lifting the pallet 10 from the escape wheel 11 , This noise is very irregular and is therefore not preferred for the present method.

The third and strongest sound is when the escape wheel 11 on the plate 10 of the anchor 8th falls. This noise can also be utilized for the present method.

The operation of the present invention is as follows:
To monitor a clock 6 this will be on the carrier 4 the clockwinder 1 spanned, leaving the microphone 5 Sounds of this clock can recognize. These sounds are then sent over the data line 2 to the transmitter 3 passed.

The transmitter uses only the first sound and the third sound according to the 2 and 4 , The transmitter calculates the time between the two noises (period or Amplitude) and determines, for example, an existing power reserve of the clock. During the expiration of the power reserve, this value is relatively constant. Towards the end of the power reserve, however, a driving force from a barrel decreases and the amplitude of the noise decreases significantly. From this, the transmitter can close to one end of the power reserve and start, for example, an elevator operation.

A different possibility, which is preferably carried out together with the former option, is that a bouncing sound the clock is determined. Watches that are running too much, do not vibrate harmoniously in the vibrating element (usually in unrest), but it comes to "bouncing". so does this for the transmitter that the clock is raised enough so that the transmitter stops the further elevator process.

In addition to the determination of the noise can also in the transmitter still a predetermined speed for one Watch winder be entered. A speed up to the elevator maximum depends on from the factory and the specific construction. A corresponding value can be learned from the movement manufacturer and accordingly in the watch winder selected become. For the transmitter means that they are mainly on the Value above the speed makes sure that bouncing sounds occur so that an ear dressing also over that of the movement manufacturer predetermined value can be done.

Position Number List

Claims (9)

Method for monitoring a clock ( 6 ), in particular a mechanical automatic watch whose noise is detected by means of a signal receiver ( 5 ), which is equipped with evaluation electronics ( 3 ), characterized in that the comparison of at least two noises to the status of the elevator and / or coating ( 6 ) the clock is closed. Method for monitoring a clock ( 6 ), in particular a mechanical automatic watch whose noise is detected by means of a signal receiver ( 5 ), which is equipped with evaluation electronics ( 3 ), characterized in that a bouncing sound of the clock ( 6 ) is determined. Method for monitoring a clock ( 6 ), in particular a mechanical automatic watch whose noise is detected by means of a signal receiver ( 5 ), which is equipped with evaluation electronics ( 3 ), characterized by the comparison of at least one noise with a stored noise to a maintenance need of the clock ( 6 ) is closed. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the time between two specific sounds of the clock ( 6 ) is determined. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the time between the noise at which an ellipse on the unrest ( 7 ) a fork ( 9 ) of an anchor ( 8th ) the clock ( 6 ), and the sound at which an escape wheel ( 11 ) on a pallet ( 10 ) of the anchor ( 8th ), determined and used as the amplitude. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that falls below a predetermined amplitude via an evaluation ( 3 ) an elevator operation is started. Method according to at least one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that when determining a bouncing noise of the Lifting process is stopped. Method according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a predetermined speed for a watch winder ( 1 ), which moves the clock, into the transmitter ( 3 ) is entered. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the signal receiver ( 5 ) the watch winder ( 1 ) assigned.