CH712265B1 - Timepiece movement and timepiece comprising such a movement. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a timepiece movement (10) comprising an energy source (11) arranged to supply components forming two separate kinematic chains (12, 30). Each of these kinematic chains comprises a regulating system (24, 33), these regulating systems being substantially coplanar. The regulating systems include an exhaust, these escapements each comprising an escape wheel (25, 35) and an anchor (27, 36). These escape wheels (25, 35) rotate in opposite directions. The escape wheel of one of the regulating systems has teeth having a first orientation while the escape wheel of the other regulating system has teeth having a second orientation opposite to said first orientation. The escape wheels have a symmetrical shape with respect to each other. The shapes of the anchors are adapted accordingly and therefore also have a symmetrical shape with respect to each other. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a movement.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a mechanical clockwork movement and more particularly a clockwork movement comprising two regulating systems. These regulating systems are in particular vortices.

In more detail, the present invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising an energy source arranged to supply components forming two separate kinematic chains, each of these kinematic chains comprising a regulating system, these regulating systems being substantially coplanar , regulating systems including an exhaust.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a movement. Such a timepiece can in particular be a watch such as a wristwatch.

PRIOR ART

Clock movements comprising at least one tourbillon or carousel type regulating system have been known for a long time. These regulating systems have been developed with the aim of improving the isochronism of the watch movement by making this movement less sensitive to its position. More particularly, the regulating system has the effect of moving the pendulum over time, so as to make it take different positions. The average of the isochronism defects as a function of the position of the movement is in principle closer to zero than the isochronism defects in a particular position of the movement.

Different movements have been developed on the basis of vortices, to further reduce isochronism defects. Such systems include for example several vortices, operating either in resonance, or kinematically linked together.

Among the existing movements, patent CH 695 196 describes a timepiece movement comprising two tourbillons. These two vortices are driven in opposite directions of rotation from a single barrel and via a differential.

The solution proposed in this patent uses a satellite comprising a pinion engaged with one of the vortices, and a planetary wheel engaged with the other vortex.

This solution is an extremely complex implementation, given the size available to make the satellite and the planetary wheels.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alternative solution for making a timepiece movement comprising two tourbillons or more generally two regulating systems, rotating in opposite directions. This alternative solution is simpler than the solutions of the prior art and allows better operation and simpler adjustment. This results in a better isochronism of the movement.

The object of the invention is achieved by a clockwork movement as defined in the preamble and characterized in that the escapements of the regulating systems rotate in opposite directions of rotation and in that the escape wheel of the one of the regulating systems comprising teeth having a shape symmetrical with respect to the teeth of the escape wheel of the other regulating system, according to a plane of symmetry perpendicular to said regulating systems.

It may be advantageous to use two regulating systems rather than just one, in particular because the possible isochronism faults in one of the regulating systems can be compensated for by the other regulating system. As a result, the precision of the movement is further improved. Having two regulating systems rotating in opposite directions avoids a synchronous rotation of these regulating systems. Thus, gravitation does not have the same effect on each of the regulating systems and the isochronism is improved. In addition, the rotation in two opposite directions of the regulating systems produces an original aesthetic effect.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention and its advantages will be better understood with reference to the appended figures and to the detailed description of a particular embodiment, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of part of a timepiece movement according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a back view of the part of the timepiece movement illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view, from above, of a first regulating system used in a timepiece movement according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view, from below, of the first regulating system illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view, from above, of a second regulating system used in a timepiece movement according to the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view, from below, of the second regulating system illustrated in Figure 5

WAYS TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, the invention relates to a clockwork movement 10 intended to be placed in a watch, in particular a watch of the wristwatch type. This movement contains a source of energy. In the illustrated embodiment, the energy source is mechanical and comprises a barrel 11. This barrel supplies two separate kinematic chains. Each of these kinematic chains has a regulating system. This regulating system can be a tourbillon or a carousel for example.

A first kinematic chain 12 begins with the barrel 11 which generates a center mobile 13. This center mobile 13, like the barrel 11, is part of the two kinematic chains. A center wheel 14 of the center mobile 13 generates a pinion (not shown) of a first torque stabilizer 15. This torque stabilizer, in the illustrated embodiment, is formed by a wheel 16 and a pinion . These two elements are capable of pivoting around the same axis 17, the wheel 16 being mounted idly on this axis. The pinion of the torque stabilizer is integral with an internal disc 18 and engages with the center mobile 13. The internal disc 18 further comprises two pivots 19 whose function is explained below. The internal disc 18 is integral with a spiral spring 20 responsible for transmitting the torque of the pinion of the torque stabilizer to the wheel 16. This spiral spring 20 can be fixed by one of its ends to the internal disc 18, for example by means of one of the pivots 19. The spiral spring 20 is also fixed to the wheel 16 so that the wheel and the internal disc 18 are kinematically linked to each other by means of the spiral spring 20.

The wheel 16 of the first torque stabilizer 15 has a transverse arm 21 disposed substantially along a diameter of this wheel. The pivots 19 of the torque stabilizer are arranged in such a way that they exceed the transverse arm 21 in height. In this way, the pivots 19 play the role of a member for limiting the stroke of the internal disc 18 relative to the wheel 16. This function of limiting the stroke makes it possible to avoid breaking of parts, in particular of the spiral spring. 20, in the case of too large a stroke. The function of limitation of the pivots 19 is also useful to prevent the hairspring 20 from being wound up or unwinding completely, its turns being in contact with each other and that it therefore no longer has elastic properties. The pivots 19 also facilitate the adjustment of the angular displacement of the internal disc 18. In fact, after an ideal adjustment, the pivots should undergo an angular displacement as large as possible, without however beating against the transverse arm. The movement of the internal disc 18 relative to the wheel 16 can be adjusted first by selecting a suitable spiral spring 20. In a second step, this adjustment can be made by means of a movable piton holder if such a piton holder is provided, or by moving a ferrule in which the spiral spring 20 is fixed.

The wheel 16 of the first torque stabilizer 15 engages with a first intermediate mobile 22. This first intermediate mobile 22 engages with a second intermediate mobile 23 which in turn engages with a pinion (not shown) of a first regulating system 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the regulating system 24 of the first kinematic chain 12 is of the tourbillon type and includes a Swiss lever escapement, this escapement being formed by an escape wheel 25 and a pinion d 'exhaust 26. This regulating system 24 further comprises an anchor 27, shown here as a Swiss type anchor, and a balance-spring 28 cooperating with the anchor 27 so as to regulate its displacement. The escape wheel 25 has teeth which are oriented in a first orientation. The anchor 27 has input and output pallets whose shapes and dimensions are adapted to the shape, dimensions and orientation of the teeth of the escape wheel.

The anchor and the exhaust are mounted on a pivoting cage 29 integral and coaxial with a mobile which can be a seconds wheel. As in a conventional tourbillon, according to an advantageous embodiment, the escapement performs a complete rotation in one minute. Other rotational speeds could be provided.

The second kinematic chain 30 is similar to the first kinematic chain 12 and includes a torque stabilizer 31 driven with the center mobile 13. This second torque stabilizer 31 is identical or similar to the first torque stabilizer 15.

The second torque stabilizer 31 drives with a third intermediate mobile 32 which is identical to the intermediate mobile 22, 23 of the first kinematic chain 15. This third intermediate mobile 32 drives with a pinion of a second regulating system 33. As in the first kinematic chain, the second regulating system is produced in the form of a vortex. However, it could also take the form of a carousel.

The vortex forming part of the first kinematic chain 12 comprises, conventionally, a balance spring 28, an escape wheel 25 and an anchor 27. The escape wheel 25 and the anchor 27 cooperate in such a way the exhaust turns clockwise when the movement is seen from above. This movement is that of a conventional tourbillon.

The tourbillon forming part of the second kinematic chain 30 comprises substantially the same components as the first tourbillon, namely in particular a balance spring 34, an escape wheel 35 and an anchor 36. The escape wheel 35 and the anchor 36, however, has a different shape from the escape wheel 25 and from the anchor 27 of the first regulating system 24. In fact, the escape wheel 35 of the second regulating system 33 has teeth which are oriented in a second orientation, opposite to said first orientation of the teeth of the escapement wheel 25 of the first regulating system 24. These teeth of the escapement wheel 35 of the second regulating system 33 are therefore symmetrical with respect to the teeth of the escapement wheel 25 of the first regulating system 24, this symmetry taking place in a plane of symmetry coplanar with the escape wheel 35. In other words, one of the escape wheels 25, 35 e st the mirror image of the other escape wheel.

The anchor 36 also has a symmetrical shape with respect to the anchor 27 of the first regulating system. This symmetry is also made along a plane coplanar with the escapement wheel 35. The anchor 36 also includes input and output pallets whose shapes and dimensions are adapted to the shape, dimensions and orientation of the escape wheel teeth.

As is well known, the balance spring 34 of the second regulating system performs a back-and-forth movement around a rest position. The rotation of the escape wheel 35 is controlled by the anchor 36 which authorizes a rotation corresponding to a tooth of the escape wheel during each half-cycle of the balance spring. Due to the shape and orientation of the teeth of the escapement wheel 35 and of the anchor 36, the escapement will rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first regulating system.

Unlike the mechanism described in the prior art, in the present invention, it is not necessary to use a planetary gear to generate the rotation in two opposite directions, of two vortices. Due to the shape of the escapement and the anchor, the direction of rotation of the vortices is imposed. Indeed, during the back-and-forth movement of the spiral spring of each of the regulating systems, one of the directions of rotation of the escapement wheel is prevented by the anchor while the other direction of rotation of this escape wheel is allowed. The authorized and prevented directions of rotation are defined by the shape and orientation of the teeth of the escape wheel and of the anchor and not, as in the prior art, by a gear train. As a result, the watch movement is simpler to carry out. It will also be less prone to manufacturing defects. In addition, the fact of not using a gear train to impose a direction of rotation reduces the number of horological components used, which has the effect of minimizing the energy losses due to friction. This increases the power reserve of the movement.

Conventionally, the tourbillons are intended to count the oscillations and to "control" the movement of a mobile of the watch. In the present case, the two vortices rotate in opposite directions of rotation and control the same mobile. Therefore, one of the kinematic chains includes one more mobile than the other kinematic chain or more generally, an odd number of additional mobile compared to the other kinematic chain. In this way, although the two regulating systems rotate in opposite directions, they can both be used to act on the same watch mobile.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the shapes, the dimensions, the number of cogs used can be adapted according to the constraints imposed for the production of the watch. The regulating systems can be of the tourbillon type, as illustrated by the figures, or carousel. The two regulating systems do not need to be of the same type. In addition, the two regulating systems can have identical or, on the contrary, different frequencies of rotation.

Claims (8)

1. Clock movement (10) comprising an energy source arranged to supply components forming two distinct kinematic chains, each of these kinematic chains (12, 30) comprising a regulating system (24, 33), these regulating systems being substantially coplanar, the regulating systems (24, 33) comprising an exhaust, characterized in that the exhausts of the regulating systems rotate in opposite directions of rotation and in that the escape wheel (25, 35) of one of the regulating systems (24, 33) comprising teeth having a shape symmetrical with respect to the teeth of the escape wheel (25, 35) of the other regulating system, according to a plane of symmetry perpendicular to said regulating systems. 2. Clock movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating systems (24, 33) are vortices. 3. Watch movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the escapements are Swiss lever escapements. 4. Clock movement according to claim 3, characterized in that the anchor (27) of the exhaust of the first regulating system (24) is symmetrical with respect to the anchor (36) of the second regulating system (33) , according to a plane of symmetry perpendicular to said regulating systems. 5. Clock movement according to claim 1, characterized in that each kinematic chain (12, 30) comprises a torque stabilizer (15, 31) disposed between the energy source and said regulating system (24, 33). 6. Clock movement according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the kinematic chains (12, 30) has an odd number of additional mobiles relative to the other kinematic chain. 7. Clock movement according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the kinematic chains (12, 30) has one more mobile than the other kinematic chain. 8. Timepiece characterized in that it comprises a timepiece movement according to any one of the preceding claims.