CH713384B1 - Process for taking mechanical information in a watch movement, in particular for a power reserve indicator. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for taking mechanical information in a watch movement (1), said movement comprising a cage having a determined casing diameter, said cage comprising a plate (2) and bridges (3) on and between which are arranged at least one barrel (4) movable in rotation around a shaft (41), a winding gear, coupled in rotation with a winding rod (5) on the one hand and with the shaft (41) barrel on the other hand, a finishing gear coupled in rotation with the barrel (4) on the one hand and with at least one regulating member comprising an escapement cooperating with an oscillator. This method consists in coupling a return device (8) to a peripheral field of the cage so that a first movement transmission member (82) of the return device (8) is in engagement with a mobile (4). of movement at least in said peripheral field, said first movement transmission member (82) cooperating with a countershaft (83) arranged to transmit a displacement force of said transmission member (82). The object of the present invention is to provide a power reserve indicator which - through the coupling of the return device (8) does not require any modification or machining of a movement (1) from a pre-existing review.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates more particularly to a method for taking mechanical information in a watch movement, in particular for a power reserve indicator.

[0002] In the context of the invention, by taking mechanical information is meant in particular the recovery, via a mechanical coupling on at least part of a watch movement, of information on the state and / or the position of one or more components of the movement. The invention aims in particular to allow such taking of mechanical information to add a power reserve indicator to an existing timepiece movement without it.

State of the art

[0003] It is known practice to provide, among the various displays of a mechanical timepiece such as a wristwatch, a power reserve indicator. This indicator thus informs the user of the watch on the state of winding, respectively of unwinding, of the mainspring of the timepiece, usually consisting of at least one barrel supplying the energy necessary for the cogs of the mechanical movement. for the proper functioning of the watch. Thus, the user can know when it is necessary to reset the mainspring to avoid stopping the oscillator of the mechanical movement allowing the time counting.

[0004] Conventionally, the power reserve indicator mechanisms comprise an indicator member such as a hand movable in rotation about an axis facing an index located in the dial of a timepiece. This hand and this index form the visible part of the indicator, giving the power reserve information to a user.

[0005] Under the dial the axis of the needle is mechanically coupled, directly or indirectly to the output of a differential mechanism, a first input of which is coupled to the barrel shaft, for example via a ratchet wheel, in order to receive information on the winding of the mainspring of the mechanical movement, and a second input is coupled to the barrel teeth in order to receive information on the unwinding of the mainspring contained in the barrel. Thus, the output of the differential directly transmits to the indicating member mechanical information on the state of winding of the mainspring, measured between the two inputs of the differential, which makes it possible to display the state of winding of said spring. motor on the dial.

[0006] The implementation of a power reserve indicator device can prove to be somewhat tricky when it comes to adding such a device to a standard mechanical movement, not necessarily intended to provide information of power reserve. Indeed, it is then necessary to disassemble the movement in order to machine the plate in order to allow the integration of the differential mechanism and / or the connection of the indicator member to the output thereof if it is pre-existing. Such a modification of the series movement can prove to be tedious, even negative on the overall smooth running of the movement thus modified.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is thus to provide a solution for acquiring mechanical information on a serial mechanical watch movement, in particular for the purpose of providing a power reserve indicator, which does not require any modification or machining. of the series movement.

Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The object of the invention is thus achieved by means of a method of taking mechanical information in a watch movement, said movement comprising a cage having a determined casing diameter, said cage comprising a plate and bridges on and between which are arranged, in a conventional manner in a mechanical timepiece at least: a movable barrel rotating around a shaft, a winding gear, coupled in rotation with a winding rod on the one hand and with the barrel shaft on the other hand, a finishing gear wheel coupled in rotation with the barrel on the one hand and with at least one regulating member comprising an escapement cooperating with an oscillator.

The method according to the invention is advantageous in that it consists in coupling a return device to a peripheral field of the cage such that a first movement transmission member of the return device is engaged with a movement mobile at least in said peripheral field, said first movement transmission member cooperating with a return shaft arranged to transmit a displacement force of said transmission member.

[0010] Thus, in accordance with the method according to the invention, it becomes particularly practical and simple to take mechanical information within the movement, in particular at the level of a barrel teeth and / or a ratchet wheel. for example, without modifying or disassembling an existing production watch movement. It suffices to add to the movement, on a lateral field of the cage thereof, a return device configured to be engaged with a mobile of the movement.

Such a solution certainly has the drawback of somewhat increasing the total casing diameter of the movement and its associated return device relative to the nominal casing diameter of the movement. However, this drawback is easily compensated for by a concurrent adjustment of the case in which the movement is intended to be integrated, which represents a much lower adaptation cost than that of modifying and / or dismantling-reassembling a movement. series.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the return device is attached by screwing onto the plate projecting laterally on the cage. In particular, the return device can be integrated into a caliper or a flange screwed or clipped onto the plate of the watch movement, for example, as in a way a lateral “bridge”.

In a particular implementation of the invention, the return device transmits said information to another component of the movement via the return shaft.

In this configuration, it is conceivable that the return device transmits said information to another component of the movement via the return shaft in a transmission ratio of 1.

One can also of course in the same way consider that the return device transmits said information to another component of the movement via the return shaft in a transmission ratio other than 1.

[0016] Alternatively, the return device can also transmit said information to a display device, said display device then comprising a movable indicator element in direct or indirect engagement with the return shaft.

In all cases, a preferred embodiment of the return device of the invention is such that the first movement transmission member comprises at least one pinion, said pinion being integral with the countershaft or mechanically coupled to this one.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the return device may further comprise a second transmission member coupled in rotation to the return shaft and with a mobile of the watch movement or a display device. .

[0019] In this embodiment, the second movement transmission member may also include at least one pinion, said pinion being integral with the countershaft or mechanically coupled to the latter.

Brief description of the drawings

Other details of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 represents a top view of a watch movement with which is associated a return device for taking mechanical information in accordance with the method according to the invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 each represent an isometric view of FIG. 1 with an offset of 90 ° in rotation of the movement between the two figures, in which the method according to the invention is implemented to transmit status information of disarming of the movement barrel to a power reserve differential. Figure 4 shows a partial sectional view of Figures 2 and 3 along a vertical plane passing through the barrel shaft and the shaft of the return device through which the information for unwinding the barrel and transmitted to the differential of power reserve.

Embodiment of the invention

The present invention provides a method of recovering mechanical information in a watch movement in the form of a mechanical torque in order to exploit said torque, constituting said information, for example for the purposes of transmission to another module or gear train. associated with the watch movement or else for display purposes on a dial by means of indicator member (s) such as hands and / or indexes.

The method according to the invention is of very particular interest in the context of constructions of timepieces on the basis of “series” watch movements, that is to say of watch movements produced and marketed by “series” watch movements. motorists ”watchmakers, that is to say specialists in the construction of such movements (we can cite here the ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse or the SELLITA manufacture for example) for use as original equipment by the various watch brands or watch creators more generally, the latter then either modifying the movement to add functions or integrating and dressing the movement within their products.

[0023] The modification of series watch movements to add functions thereto by means of additional modules, although usual, is not without drawbacks. Indeed, it is regularly necessary to proceed with the disassembly of the series movement, or even the machining and modification of some of its components to allow the association and cooperation with the movement of one or more additional modules which must be mechanically coupled to the series watch movement without disturbing its smooth running.

[0024] These additional operations prove not only delicate but also costly, in particular when it comes to performing them for the production of timepieces in small and medium series.

The method according to the invention thus provides a simple solution to this problem as described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4, which represents, in a non-limiting manner, the implementation of the method according to the invention for the addition of a power reserve mechanism on a series 1 watch movement.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the watch movement 1 comprises a cage of determined casing diameter, for example and without limitation a casing diameter of the order of 25.6 mm (also called of 11 1⁄2 ”'in the field of watchmaking). Said cage comprises, conventionally, a plate 2 and bridges on and between which are arranged, in a conventional manner known per se, at least: a barrel 4 movable in rotation around a shaft 41 a winding gear, coupled in rotation with a winding rod 5 on the one hand and with the barrel shaft 41 on the other hand, a finishing gear, coupled in rotation with the barrel 4 on the one hand and with at least one regulating member comprising an escapement cooperating with an oscillator.

For the sake of clarity, the winding train as well as the regulating member and the oscillator, which do not participate in the invention in the example presented, are not shown in the figures.

In order to achieve a power reserve mechanism it is necessary to provide a differential gear 6, a first input 61 of which is kinematically connected to the barrel shaft 41 by a mobile 7 driven in rotation during the winding of the mainspring via the winding stem 5. A second input 62 of the differential gear 6 must also be connected to a peripheral toothing 42 of the barrel 4 to receive the information for unwinding the mainspring. An output 63 of the differential is finally connected to a power reserve indicator device, not shown in the figures, but usually arranged in a timepiece dial or in a window fitted in the case of such a timepiece. containing the watch movement 1. Conventionally, the indicator is then capable of traversing a given angle between two extreme positions, the first of which is occupied when the mainspring is armed and the second, defined by a stop, when the spring -engine is disarmed.

When it is desired to add such a power reserve mechanism to a watch movement while being devoid of it, it is usually necessary to drill or rearrange certain bridges 3 in order to be able to mechanically couple the inputs of the differential 6 to the barrel shaft 41 and the barrel teeth 42. Advantageously, the method according to the invention makes it possible to dispense with such modifications.

In fact, this consists of coupling a return device to a peripheral field of the cage so that a first movement transmission member of the return device is engaged with a movement mobile at least in said peripheral field, said first movement transmission member cooperating with a countershaft arranged to transmit a displacement force of said transmission member.

In the example shown, a return device 8 mounted on a peripheral field 21 of the plate 2 makes it possible to take the information for unwinding the mainspring of the barrel 4 at the level of the peripheral teeth 42 of the latter for transmit it to the second input 62 of the differential 6, positioned in the upper part of the watch movement 1 as an additional functional module.

The return device 8 is thus composed of a flange 81 for fixing to the peripheral field 21 of the plate 2, said flange 81 supporting a toothed wheel 82 of return, constituting a said first movement transmission member of the device 8, integral with a first end of a return shaft 83 pivotally mounted on a pivot or bearing 84 housed in a recess countersunk in the flange 81, said toothed wheel being engaged by its toothing 821 with the toothing 42 of the barrel 4 through a side opening of plate 2.

The return shaft 83 furthermore comprises at a second end opposite the first along its longitudinal axis of rotation a return pinion 85 adapted to transmit the information on the unwinding torque taken at the level of the teeth 42 of the barrel 4 by the toothed wheel 82 towards the second input of the differential 6 by gear on a first mobile 91 of a train 9 meshing with a toothed wheel 62 forming said second input of the differential 6. The latter also comprises as a first input another toothed wheel 61 superimposed and coaxial with the wheel 62 and meshing by its toothing with the mobile or pinion 7 integral with the barrel shaft 41 to transmit to the differential 6 the winding information of the mainspring. The two wheels 61, 62 of the differential 6 are kinematically linked with an output mobile 63 forming the output of the differential, coaxial with the inputs 61, 62 by any suitable structure, such as epicyclic gear or coaxial ball differential structure for example, the output mobile 63 being able to be coupled directly or indirectly to one or more power reserve indicator members (not shown) in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, for example by a rake.

According to the method according to the invention is thus carried out the information taking of the unwinding torque of the mainspring in the barrel 4 by the lateral return device to the cage of the watch movement 1, without modifying the latter, simply by a lateral extension of the order of a few millimeters in practice with respect to the casing diameter d of the watch movement 1, and which can easily be taken into account by an appropriate case design to accommodate the watch movement 1 during its integration into a timepiece.

The return device 8 can be attached very simply by screwing onto the plate 2 projecting sideways on the cage of the watch movement 1 or a module attached to the plate and of diameter greater than the plate 2.

Of course, the return device 8 can also be used in variant implementations of the method according to the invention not to enter a power reserve differential but to transmit any torque information or more generally of displacement of a moving body in the watch movement 1 towards another component of the watch movement via the transmission members formed by toothed wheels 82, 85 or the like (toothed sectors, friction wheels for example) and the countershaft 83. L The returned mechanical information can also be transmitted directly to a display device, in particular for a lateral display in a watch dial for example or a perforated box for example.

Of course, the return device 8 can be configured or arranged to transmit said information to another component of the movement in a transmission ratio of 1 or different from 1, in particular by means of intermediate trains engaged with the bodies transmission 82, 85 for example.

The invention thus proposes a simple method for taking information from a standard mechanical watch movement and for returning said information to an additional module or a display device without modifying the basic watch movement or removing it. here, for an improved operating flexibility and customization of said movement at reduced cost.

Claims (9)

1. Method for taking mechanical information in a watch movement (1), said movement comprising a cage having a determined casing diameter, said cage comprising a plate (2) and bridges (3) on and between which are arranged at least : - a barrel (4) movable in rotation around a shaft (41), - a winding gear, coupled in rotation with a winding rod (5) on the one hand and with the barrel shaft (41) on the other hand, - a finishing gear wheel coupled in rotation with the barrel (4) on the one hand and with at least one regulating member comprising an escapement cooperating with an oscillator, characterized in that it consists in coupling a return device (8) to a peripheral field of the cage such that a first movement transmission member (82) of the return device is engaged with a mobile (4 ) movement at least in said peripheral field, said first movement transmission member cooperating with a countershaft (83) arranged to transmit a displacement force of said transmission member (82). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the return device (8) is attached by screwing onto the plate (2) projecting laterally on the cage or on a module attached to the cage. 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the return device (8) transmits said information to another component of the movement via the return shaft (83). 4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the return device (8) transmits said information to a display device. 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the return device (8) transmits said information to another component of the movement via the return shaft (83) in a transmission ratio of 1. 6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the return device (8) transmits said information to another component of the movement via the return shaft (83) in a transmission ratio other than 1. . 7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first movement transmission member (82) comprises at least one mobile, in particular pinion or a toothed wheel, said mobile being integral with the return shaft. (83) or mechanically coupled to it. 8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the return device (8) comprises a second transmission member (85) rotatably coupled to the return shaft (83) and with a mobile of the watch movement or display device. 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the second movement transmission member (85) comprises at least one mobile, in particular a pinion or a toothed wheel, said mobile being integral with the countershaft or mechanically coupled to that. -this.