CH712089B1 - Clock movement with power reserve indicator and watch comprising such a clock movement. - Google Patents

Abstract

The timepiece movement according to the invention comprises a dial (1) provided with a graduation of the hours and minutes (2), a pointer indicating the hours (3) and a pointer indicating the minutes (4) cooperating with the graduating hours and minutes (2), and a power reserve indicator (5). The power reserve indicator includes an index (5) rotatable around the dial (1) and indicating the power reserve of the movement in cooperation with the hour and minute scale (2). The invention also provides a watch comprising such a watch movement.

Description

Description: The present invention relates to a clockwork movement with a power reserve indicator.

In the field of mechanical watchmaking, the power reserve is defined as the amount of energy still available or the operating time remaining until the clockwork movement stops.

The power reserve indicators generally include a small eccentric hand associated with a graduation on the dial of the movement. The disadvantage of such indicators is that the indication of the power reserve is not very visible.

We know from patent CH 702 516 a clockwork movement comprising, at the periphery of its dial, a flange having windows. A display member and a contrasting member both of helical shape are housed in respective helical grooves of a guide member so as to be visible under the flange through the windows. The contrasting organ is retained in a fixed position. The display member is rotatable in its groove and has internal toothing which engages a drive pinion. When the power reserve is maximum, the display member is exactly superimposed on the contrasting member and is hidden by the latter. The display becomes progressively visible when the drive pinion drives it. The power reserve is thus indicated by the length of the display member visible through the windows.

The power reserve display device as proposed in this document CH 702 516 is quite complicated. It has many rooms and requires practicing windows in a flange.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and for this purpose provides a timepiece movement comprising a dial provided with a graduation of the hours and minutes, a hand indicating the hours and a hand indicating the minutes cooperating with the graduation of the hours and minutes, and a power reserve indicator, characterized in that the power reserve indicator comprises a rotary index around the dial and indicating the power reserve of the movement in cooperation with the graduation of the hours and minutes.

Preferably, the index is movable between two limit positions; in one of these limit positions the index is radially aligned with a mark of the hour and minute graduation; and in the other limit position the index is radially aligned with another mark of the hour and minute scale.

Said marker and said other marker can be part of a set of twelve marks spaced 30 ° apart and used for indicating the hours in cooperation with the hour indicator hand.

The timepiece movement according to the invention typically comprises a differential, an output of which is arranged to drive the index and of which an input is kinematically connected to a power source of the movement and another input is kinematically connected to a energy source arming device.

Preferably, the energy source comprises several barrels connected in series.

The barrels can be part of a module fixed to a movement plate. The differential can also be part of such a module.

In other words, the movement according to the invention may comprise a module fixed to a plate of the movement, this module comprising several barrels connected in series and, preferably, also a device for driving the index, this index drive device typically comprising a differential.

The module can be attached to the plate by means of a circle which surrounds the plate.

The circle can be used as a support, direct or indirect, for a rotating ring with the index finger.

The module can be connected to the rotating ring by means of a mobile, one pivot of which is located in the module and the other pivot of which is located in the circle.

The present invention also provides a watch comprising a clockwork movement as defined above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a top view of a display device equipping a clockwork movement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 is a sectional view of the clockwork movement according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken along the broken line II-II of FIG. 5;

fig. 3 is a sectional view of the clockwork movement according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken along the broken line III-III of FIG. 6;

CH 712 089 B1 fig. 4 is a sectional view of the clockwork movement according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken along the broken line IV — IV of FIG. 6;

fig. 5 shows a view from the bridge side of the cooperation of barrels and their ratchets with other mobile members of the watch movement according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

fig. 6 shows a view from the bridge side of the cooperation between a differential and other moving parts of the clockwork movement according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a timepiece movement according to the invention is equipped with a display device comprising a dial 1 carrying a graduation of the hours and minutes 2, hands indicating the hours and minutes 3, 4 pivoting above the dial 1 and directed towards the graduation 2, and an index 5 rotating around the dial 1 coaxially with the hands 3, 4. The index 5 is typically in the form of a mark carried by a ring 6 rotating around the dial 1 coaxially with the hands 3, 4. The index 5 is directed towards the graduation 2 and indicates the power reserve of the movement in cooperation with this graduation 2. The display device can also include, for example, graduations 7 and hands 8 chronograph counters, a 7 'graduation and an 8' small second hand and a window 7 for the date display.

The graduation of the hours and minutes 2 conventionally comprises twelve marks 9 spaced 30 ° for the indication of the hours in cooperation with the hour indicator hand 3 and for the indication of the fifty minutes in cooperation with the minute indicator hand 4. These markers 9 can have any desired shape, for example the shape of a line, a rectangle, a square, a trapezoid (as in the example shown) or d 'a number. The graduation of the hours and minutes 2 may also include other marks 10 dividing the spaces between the marks 9.

The index 5 is movable between two limit positions, namely a first limit position (shown in dotted lines) where the index 5 is aligned radially with the mark 9a corresponding to the zero of the graduation of the hours and minutes 2 , and a second limit position (shown in solid lines) where the index 5 is aligned radially with another mark 9b of the graduation of the hours and minutes 2 which, in the example illustrated, is the mark located at 8 o'clock. In the first limit position, index 5 indicates that the power reserve is zero, that is to say that the movement has stopped or is about to be stopped due to lack of energy still available. In the second limit position, the index 5 indicates that the power reserve is maximum, that is to say that the movement is completely or almost completely wound up. In a preferred embodiment, the space between two consecutive marks 9 between the mark 9a and the mark 9b corresponds to 24 hours of power reserve. Thus, in the example shown, the movement has a maximum power reserve of eight days.

This display device is simple and indicates the power reserve in a very readable manner. It does not require adding a specific scale on the dial. The index movement angle can be large (240 ° in the example shown). This display device is particularly suitable for a movement with a large power reserve.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the timepiece movement according to the invention comprises a frame conventionally formed by a plate 11 and bridges 12 fixed to the plate 11. The dial 1 is fixed to the plate 11. An intermediate element 13, such as 'a calendar board, can be interposed between the dial 1 and the plate 11. Between the plate 11 and the bridges 12 are mounted the movable members of the movement allowing the measurement of time. These movable members include in particular, in a conventional manner, a finishing train, an exhaust, a regulating member and a timer train. They may also include, for example, a chronograph mechanism. A date indication mechanism can also be provided between the plate 11 and the calendar board 13. In the figures, we can see the large-scale mobile 14 of the gear train. For reasons of clarity, the other movable members have not been shown.

In a conventional watch movement, the energy source consists of one or more barrels located between the plate and the bridges. In the present invention, the frame 11, 12 does not house an energy source. In place of a conventional barrel and its ratchet, the movement according to the invention comprises, around a same axis, but free in rotation relative to one another, a barrel reference 15 and a reference ratchet 16. The ratchet return 16 can be driven by a winding mechanism comprising a winding rod 17 (visible in fig. 5). The energy source of the movement according to the invention comprises several barrels 18, three in number in the example illustrated designated by 18a, 18b, 18c, forming part of a module 19 fixed to the frame 11, 12 and located on the side bridges. The barrels 18 are connected in series to obtain a large power reserve.

The module 19 comprises a barrel bridge 20, a board 21 fixed to the barrel bridge 20 and, between the barrel bridge 20 and the board 21, the barrels 18 and ratchets 22 associated respectively with the barrels 18. The ratchet 22a of the first barrel 18a meshes with a toothing 23a of a movable ratchet driver 23 (cf. fig. 5). Another toothing 23b of the ratchet driving mobile 23, integral with the toothing 23a, meshes with the ratchet gear 16 connected to the winding mechanism. A rotation of the winding rod 17 thus rotates the ratchet 22a of the first barrel 18a, which raises the energy source. A pawl 22 'acting on the ratchet 22a prevents rotation of the latter in the opposite direction to the winding direction. Barrels 18a, 18b mesh with each other, as do the ratchets 22b, 22c of barrels 18b, 18c. The last barrel 18c meshes with a toothing 24a of a mobile barrel deflection coach 24 (cf. FIGS. 2 and 5). Another toothing 24b of the mobile barrel return carrier 24, integral with the toothing 24a, meshes with the

CH 712 089 B1 barrel gear 15, to drive it, the barrel gear 15 in turn driving the high-range mobile 14 and therefore the gear train.

The module 19 further comprises, between the barrel bridge 20 and the plate 21, a differential 25. As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the differential 25 comprises, around a shaft 26, an input mobile comprising a wheel 27 and a pinion integral with one another, a planet carrier 29 and an output wheel 30 The input mobile 27, 28 and the planet carrier are free to rotate relative to the shaft 26. The output wheel 30 is itself integral with the shaft 26. The planet carrier 29 carries a satellite 31, a first toothing of which meshes with a toothing 26a of the shaft 26 and a second toothing of which, integral with the first toothing, meshes with the pinion 28 of the input mobile. The planet carrier 29 constitutes a second input of the differential and has, for its drive, a toothing 29a which meshes with the toothing 24a of the mobile barrel return carrier 24. The wheel 27 of the input mobile engages with the mobile ratchet carrier 23 by means of a differential gear 32. The output wheel 30 meshes with the wheel 33a of a reduction mobile 33 whose pinion 33b, integral with the wheel 33a, meshes with an internal toothing of the ring 6 by through a reference 35. Thus, the differential 25 receives at its two inputs forces coming respectively from the winding mechanism and from the energy source and its output drives the ring 6 which carries the index 5 indicating the power reserve.

The module 19 is fixed to a circle 36 which itself surrounds and is fixed to the plate 11. The diameter of the module 19 is thus greater than the diameter of the plate 11. The fixing of the module 19 to the circle 36 and the circle 36 to the plate 11 can be produced, for example, by means of screwed flanges (not shown). The circle 36 serves as a bearing for one of the pivots of the barrel return driving mobile 24 and to one of the pivots of the reduction mobile 33. The other pivot of the barrel returning driving mobile 24 and the other pivot of the reduction mobile 33 pivot, for their part, in the barrel bridge 20. The circle 36 also serves as a support and guide for the ring 6. The latter is in fact retained in a housing 37 of the circle 36 while being free to turn in this housing 37.

Means (not shown) are provided on the ring 6 and the circle 36 to limit the angular displacement of the ring 6 at the angle defined by the two limit positions mentioned above with reference to FIG. 1. These means comprise for example a pin carried by the circle 36 or by the ring 6 and engaged in a slot of the ring 6 or of the circle 36, respectively, the length of the slot being defined with respect to the aforementioned angle. In order to avoid a blockage of the winding mechanism or of the energy source when the index 5 is in one of its two limit positions, the wheel 33a of the reduction mobile 33 is frictionally mounted on the shaft, 33c, of this mobile and can thus disengage with respect to the ring 6. Other declutching means than friction could of course be used. In practice, the limit positions of the index 5 therefore correspond respectively to an almost completely unwound state and to an almost completely wound up state of the barrels 18.

The movement according to the invention can be achieved from an existing basic movement comprising the plate 11 and the bridges 12, by adding to this basic movement the module 19, the circle 36 and the ring 6. The module 19 can also, for example, replace an automatic winding mechanism for the basic movement.

The movement according to the invention is therefore simple to construct while offering a large power reserve and a clearly legible indication of the power reserve.

The movement according to the invention can be fixed in a watch case by the circle 36, in a conventional manner.

Claims (14)

claims 1. Clock movement comprising a dial (1) provided with an hour and minute scale (2), an hour indicator hand (3) and a minute indicator hand (4) cooperating with the hour scale and minutes (2), and a power reserve indicator (5), characterized in that the power reserve indicator comprises an index (5) rotatable around the dial (1) and indicating the power reserve of the movement in cooperation with the hour and minute scale (2). 2. Clock movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the index (5) is movable between two limit positions, in that in one of these limit positions the index (5) is radially aligned with a mark (9a) of the hour and minute scale (2), and in that in the other limit position the index (5) is radially aligned with another mark (9b) of the hour and minute scale (2). 3. Clock movement according to claim 2, characterized in that said mark (9a) and said other mark (9b) are part of a set of twelve markers (9) spaced 30 ° apart and used for the indication of hours in cooperation with the hour indicator hand (3). 4. Clock movement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a differential (25), one outlet (30) of which is arranged to drive the index (5) and one of which (29) ) is kinematically connected to an energy source (18) of the movement and another input (27) is kinematically connected to a device for arming the energy source (18). 5. Clock movement according to claim 4, characterized in that the energy source comprises several barrels (18) connected in series. CH 712 089 B1 6. Clock movement according to claim 5, characterized in that the barrels (18) are part of a module (19) fixed to a plate (11) of the movement. 7. Clock movement according to claim 6, characterized in that the differential (25) is also part of the module (19). 8. Clock movement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a module (19) fixed to a plate (11) of the movement, this module (19) comprising several barrels (18) connected serial. 9. Clock movement according to claim 8, characterized in that the module (19) also comprises a device (25) for driving the index (5). 10. Clock movement according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the module (19) is fixed to the plate (11) by means of a circle (36) which surrounds the plate (11 ). 11. Clock movement according to claim 10, characterized in that the circle (36) serves as a support for a rotating ring (6) carrying the index (5). 12. Clock movement according to claim 11, characterized in that the module (19) is connected to the rotary ring (6) via a mobile (33), a pivot of which is located in the module (19 ) and the other pivot is located in the circle (36). 13. Clock movement according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the index (5) is located on a ring (6) rotatable around the dial (1). 14. Watch comprising a clockwork movement according to one of claims 1 to 13. CH 712 089 B1