CH714309A2 - Security valve for watch. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety valve (1a) for a timepiece, particularly for a diving watch, comprising an evacuation channel arranged to be in fluid communication with the inside of a housing of said piece of equipment. timepiece when this valve (1a) is in an open configuration to discharge an excess of fluid, in particular a gaseous fluid, said valve (1a) comprising: a tube (3a) intended to be fixed in the housing (20) of the timepiece and a valve head (2a) provided with a cover (4) and an axial skirt (5) which is adapted to be placed in different axial positions with respect to said tube (3a) ; a pressure regulating module (6a) dissociated from the valve head (2a) arranged inside a fluid duct (10) formed in the tube (3a) as well as sliding axial guide elements (15). defined in the valve head (2a) and the tube (3a) involved in controlling the displacement of the valve head (2a) relative to the tube (3a) in the different axial positions, said safety valve (1a) comprising elements blocking device (12a) preventing disengagement between the valve head (2a) and said tube (3a), which locking elements (12a) are included in an outer or inner wall (18a, 18b) of the tube (3a) and in the valve head (2a).

Description

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a safety valve for a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch and more specifically for a wristwatch intended for scuba diving. The present invention also relates to the timepiece provided with said valve.

Technological background [0002] Helium valves, also called helium valves, are present on certain diving watches to evacuate the helium infiltrated in the watch case during so-called saturation dives where the divers breathe a gaseous mixture containing helium and oxygen. This allows them to stay for several days inside a bell or underwater station. During this time, helium can seep into the watch. In the absence of such a valve, the internal overpressure generated by the infiltrated helium can during the decompression phase generate damage to the watch, such as for example the loss of the glass which loses its focus or breaks.

In the prior art, manual helium valves are known which operate simply by tightening / loosening a sealing element such as a valve head, in the manner of a crown screwed onto a driven or screwed tube. on the middle. Such valves conventionally include a piston connected to the valve head which is capable of exerting pressure on a seal by cooperating with a spring in order to regulate the pressure inside the watch case.

However, one of the major drawbacks of such manual valves lies in a possible deterioration of the sealing of the watch case when these valves are in an opening configuration in which the valve head is loose. Indeed, in such a configuration, as soon as a radial or substantially radial force, which may result from an impact, is applied to the valve head, it then has the effect of causing an offset of the piston causing a reduction in the pressure exerted by the piston on the seal and therefore a loss of sealing of the watch case.

Summary of the invention [0005] An object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a valve in which the piston is dissociated from the valve head while providing means ensuring a joining of the head valve with the tube, such a valve head can be easily manipulated during tightening / loosening operations.

To this end, the present invention relates to a safety valve for a timepiece, in particular for a diving watch, comprising an evacuation channel arranged to be able to be in fluid communication with the interior of a housing. of said timepiece when this valve is in an open configuration in order to discharge an excess of fluid, in particular a gaseous fluid, said valve comprising:

- a tube intended to be fixed in the case of the timepiece;

- A valve head provided with a cover and an axial skirt which is able to be placed in different axial positions relative to said tube;

- a pressure regulation module separate from the valve head arranged inside a fluid conduit formed in the tube;

- axial sliding guide elements defined in the valve head and the tube participating in the control of the movement of the valve head relative to the tube in the different axial positions, said safety valve comprising blocking elements preventing separation between the valve head and said tube, which blocking elements being included in an internal or external wall of the tube and in the valve head.

Thanks to these characteristics, it eliminates in particular the effect related to the application of a radial or substantially radial force on the valve head and therefore the risks of loss of sealing of the valve and therefore of the watch case .

In other embodiments:

the blocking elements comprise a stop included in the internal wall of the fluid conduit of said tube and a member for controlling the stroke of the valve head designed to cooperate with said stop when the valve head is moved relative to the tube in particular in order to prevent a separation between the valve head and said tube;

- The valve head stroke control member is an element attached to the body of the valve head by being mechanically connected to an inner wall of a central connecting element of the valve head;

- The stop came integrally with the internal wall of the fluid conduit of said tube;

the blocking elements are included in the external wall of the tube and in the axial skirt of the valve head;

- the locking elements comprise at least one elastic fixing element and at least one corresponding first hooking zone capable of cooperating with each other in order to avoid the separation of the valve head from the tube;

CH 714 309 A2

- Said at least one elastic fixing element is included in a housing of complementary shape defined in the axial skirt when said first attachment zone is included in the external wall of the tube;

- Said at least one elastic fixing element is included in a housing of complementary shape defined in the external wall of the tube when said first attachment zone is included in the axial skirt;

the axial guide elements comprise first and second guide zones defined in whole or in part respectively in an external wall of a central connecting element included in the cover of the valve head and in the internal wall of the fluid conduit of the tube in particular in an upper compartment of this conduit;

- The first and second guide zones are able to cooperate with each other by sliding for an open or closed configuration of said valve;

- The fluid conduit comprises a locking element of the valve head on the tube when the safety valve is in an open or closed configuration;

- The valve comprises an elastic return element arranged between a shoulder included in the internal wall of the tube and the member for controlling the stroke of the valve head;

- the pressure regulation module comprises a piston and an elastic member, said piston being housed inside the fluid conduit of the tube and the elastic member being arranged in said fluid conduit in order to cooperate with the piston, which piston is configured to move axially according to pressure variations inside the housing;

the pressure regulation module comprises a sealing element situated in the fluid conduit between first and second fixing elements, said sealing element comprising a membrane arranged to be permeable to gases and to establish a fluid communication from the interior from the housing outward when said internal pressure exceeds a predetermined value and impermeable to liquids flowing from the exterior of the housing towards the interior of the housing, and

- The valve comprises a visual indicator of an axial position of the valve head relative to the tube, in particular of a first or a second axial position of this valve head.

The invention also provides a timepiece comprising such a safety valve.

Brief description of the figures [0010] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the embodiments of the invention given solely by way of nonlimiting example and described with reference to the appended drawings in which:

fig. 1 is a half-section view of a safety valve capable of being mounted on a middle part of a watch case in a closed configuration comprising a pressure regulation module provided with a piston, according to a first mode of realization of the invention;

fig. 2 shows a view similar to FIG. 1 in which the safety valve is in an open configuration, according to the first embodiment of the invention;

fig. 3 is a sectional view of a safety valve capable of being mounted on a middle part of the watch case in a closed configuration comprising a pressure regulation module provided with a piston, according to a second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 4 shows a view similar to FIG. 3 in which the safety valve is in an open configuration, according to the second embodiment of the invention;

fig. 5 is a half-section view of a safety valve capable of being mounted on a middle part of a watch case in a closed configuration comprising a pressure regulation module provided with a sealing element comprising a membrane , according to a third embodiment of the invention;

fig. 6 shows a view similar to FIG. 5 in which the safety valve is in an open configuration, according to the third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of the safety valve visible in FIG. 4 which is crossed by a fluid flowing in a discharge pipe, according to the third embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 8 shows the timepiece comprising such a safety valve.

Detailed description of the invention The present invention relates to a valve making it possible to discharge an excess of fluid F, preferably gaseous, such as helium present in a case of a timepiece 22 illustrated on the fig. 8. Such a valve is also called a helium valve or a safety valve for a timepiece 22 and in particular for a diving watch. This valve is designated by the general reference 1a, 1b, 1c, in the drawings.

CH 714 309 A2 In the three embodiments of the safety valve 1a to 1c shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, this valve 1a to 1c comprises a tube 3a, 3b, 3c intended to be fixed on the watch case by screwing or driving in the middle part 20 of this case. When this tube 3a to 3c is screwed to the middle part, it has a threaded zone 21 defined in a lower portion included in this middle part 20. This tube 3a to 3c has in its middle part a bulge provided with a groove in which is housed an O-ring 23 ensuring its tightness at the middle part 20. In the example illustrated, the tube 3a to 3c is terminated by an upper portion emerging from the middle part 20, intended to be capped by a valve head 2a, 2b, 2c. It goes without saying that according to an alternative embodiment the tube 3a to 3c can be embedded in the middle part 20. In the first and second embodiments of the safety valve 1a, 1b, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7, the tube 3a, 3b comprises a fluid conduit 10. This fluid conduit 10 is provided with an inner surface 24 delimiting an upper compartment 13a of a lower compartment 13b of this conduit 10, the lower compartment 13b comprising a channel connected inside the housing. It will be noted that this bearing 24 has come in one piece with an internal wall 18b of the tube 3a, 3b. Alternatively, such a scope 24 may be an insert.

In the various embodiments of the valve 1a to 1c, the valve head 2a to 2c has a body of generally cylindrical shape. This valve head 2a to 2c comprises a cover 4 and an axial skirt 5 having a symmetry of revolution about an axis of rotation A of this valve head 2a to 2c. This cover 4 and the axial skirt 5 define a cavity 25 in the valve head 2a to 2c.

In this valve head 2a to 2c, the cover 4 comprises a central connecting element 16 projecting from an internal face of this cover 4 extending axially in this cavity 25 in a direction of the axis A In this configuration, such a central connecting element 16 is therefore secured to the cover 4 and preferably has a cross section perpendicular to the axis A which is circular. In fig. 1,2, 5, and 6 relating to the first and third embodiments of the valve 1a, 1c, this central connecting element 16 can form a central barrel in the form of a hollow cylinder intended for mounting in the valve head 2a, 2c of a control member 17b of the stroke of this valve head 2a, 2c. Such a control member 17b is an element attached to the body of this valve head 2a, 2c. This control member 17b is mechanically connected to an inner wall 19a of the central connecting element 16 at one of its ends, for example by screwing. Note that in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 relating to the second embodiment, the central connecting element 16 has one end having a frustoconical shape in order to facilitate its insertion into the upper compartment 13a of the tube 2b.

The safety valve 1a to 1c also includes a seal 26 interposed between the axial skirt 5 of the valve head 2a to 2c and the tube 3a to 3c so as to guarantee the tightness of this valve security 1a to 1c. In this context, this seal 26 is an O-ring. In fig. 1, 2, 5 and 6 relating to the first and third embodiments of this safety valve 1a, 1c, this seal 26 is held axially between a spacer 29 positioned against an interior wall of the axial skirt 5 of the head valve 2a, 2c and a retaining ring 28. This retaining ring 28 of annular shape is fixed, for example by driving, in a groove 42 of corresponding shape located towards the base of the axial skirt 5 opposite the wall outer 18a of tube 3a, 3c. According to a variant, the spacer 29 and / or the retaining ring 28 can come in one piece with the axial skirt 5. In FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 relating to the second embodiment of the safety valve 2b, such a seal 26 is arranged between a circular shoulder 40 produced in the axial skirt 5 and a retaining ring 28 of annular shape.

In these different embodiments, when the safety valve 1a to 1c is in a closed configuration visible in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the seal 26 is overcompressed by a bulge 30 of the tube 3a to 3c so that the sealing properties are the best possible.

In this valve 1a to 1c, the valve head 2a to 2c can be configured in first and second axial positions. More specifically, in the first axial position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the valve 1a to 1c is then in a closed configuration, with a valve head 2a to 2c hermetically closing the fluid conduit 10 of the tube 3a to 3c so as to thus prevent any circulation of fluid F in the safety valve 1a to 1c. In the second axial position shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the valve 1a to 1c is in an open configuration with the valve head 2a to 2c which no longer closes this fluid conduit 10.

The safety valve 1a to 1c also includes axial guide elements 15 making it possible to control the axial displacement of the valve head 2a to 2c relative to the tube 3a to 3c in order to configure this head 2a to 2c in one either of its axial positions. These guide elements 15 comprise first and second guide zones 11a, 11b defined in whole or in part respectively in an outer wall 19b of the central connecting element 16 included in the cover 4 of the valve head 2a to 2c, and in the internal wall 18b of the fluid conduit 10 of the tube 3a to 3c. In the first and second embodiments, this second guide zone 11b is included in the internal wall 18b of the upper compartment 13a of the fluid conduit 10. These first and second guide zones 11a, 11b are able to cooperate with each other by sliding during movements of the valve head 2a to 2c between the different axial positions. In this context, the safety valve 1a to 1c can be configured from the closed configuration to the open configuration by pulling the valve head 2a to 2c, a pushing operation of this valve head 2a, 2c having to be carried out for the change from open configuration to closed configuration.

CH 714 309 A2 This safety valve 1a to 1c also includes blocking elements 12a, 12b preventing separation between the valve head 2a to 2c and the tube 3a to 3c especially when the valve head 2a to 2c is in the second axial position. In this valve 1a to 1c, the blocking elements 12a, 12b are included in an external or internal wall 18a, 18b of the tube 3a to 3c as well as in the valve head 2a to 2c.

More specifically, in the first and third embodiments, the blocking elements 12a include a stop 17a otherwise called "limit stop of the valve head stroke". This stop 17a is included in the internal wall 18b of the fluid conduit 10 of the tube 3a, 3c. These blocking elements 12a also include the control member 17b of the stroke of the valve head 2a, 2c mentioned above and which is designed to cooperate with the stop 17a when the valve head 2a, 2c is moved relative to the tube 3a , 3c to be in the second axial position in order to configure the valve 1a, 1c in its open configuration. It will be noted that in the first and third embodiments, this stop 17a has come integrally with the internal wall 18b of the fluid conduit 10 of the tube 3a, 3c. In the second embodiment of this safety valve 2b illustrated in figs. 3, 4 and 7 the locking elements 12b comprise at least one elastic fixing element 17c of the clipping element type and at least one first attachment zone 17d compatible with the elastic fixing element 17c. The first attachment area 17d is also called "attachment attachment area" because it participates in keeping the valve head 2b secured to the tube 3b when the safety valve 1b is in its open configuration. The elastic fixing element 17c is included in a housing 41 of complementary shape formed in the axial skirt 5 and the first attachment zone 17d is defined in the external wall 18a of the tube 3b. This first attachment zone 17d can form a groove formed in this external wall 18a of the tube 3b. The fixing element 17c preferably has the shape of a "U" being formed of two branches, a connecting branch and a positioning rod in said housing 41. When the elastic fixing element 17c is located in the housing 41, the positioning branch is then arranged in contact with a bottom of this housing 41 so that a free end 44 of the connecting branch projects from this housing 41. This free end 44 of the branch of connection has a shape which is complementary to that of the attachment zone 17d. In a variant of this second embodiment, the elastic fixing element 17c can be included in a housing of complementary shape managed in the external wall 18a of the tube 3b and the first attachment zone 17d in the axial skirt 5.

Note that in this second embodiment, the outer wall 18a of the tube 3b may include at least one second hooking area 17th called "locking hooking area" which is provided to cooperate with said at least one elastic fixing element 17c in order to keep the safety valve 1b in its closed configuration and therefore the valve head 2b in its first position. Thus in this second embodiment, the valve 1b can be parameterized in one or other of the open and closed configurations according to a manipulation of the valve head 2b allowing it to be parameterized in a first or second axial position, by a manipulation of this valve head 2b aimed at pulling or pushing it. In this context, the free end 44 of the elastic fastening element 17c can be arranged in the first attachment zone 17d or the second attachment zone 17e.

In the first and third embodiments of the safety valve 1a, 1c visible in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the fluid conduit 10 is also provided with a locking element 43 of the valve head 2a, 2c on the tube 3a, 3ec when the safety valve 1a, 1c is in an open configuration or closed. This locking element 43 comprises a protrusion protruding into the internal wall 18b of the fluid conduit 10. Such a locking element 43 is able to cooperate with a free end 27 of the control member for the stroke 17d of the valve head 2a, 2c when the safety valve 1a, 1c is in a closed configuration in order to maintain the valve head 2a, 2c in a locked state to the tube 3a, 3c. In a variant, this locking element 43 can also cooperate with this free end 27 of the stroke control member 17d in order to keep the valve head 2a, 2c at a distance from the tube 3a, 3c and in a locked state and this, when the safety valve 1a, 1c is in an open configuration. In these two embodiments, this free end 27 of the stroke control member 17d has a shape complementary to that of this locking element 43 in order to maintain the valve head 2a, 2c in these states locked on the tube 3a, 3c in the closed and / or open configuration of the valve 1a, 1c.

Such a locked state of the valve head 2a, 2c on the tube 3a, 3c in the first and second axial positions, contributes to ensuring the maintenance of the valve 1a, 1c in a blocked opening or closing configuration . In this context, the passage from this locked state to an unlocked state prior to a passage from one configuration to another of the valve 1a, 1c then requires the application on the valve head 2a, 2c of a force which must be greater than the friction force present between the locking element 43 and the free end 27 of the stroke control member 17d.

In these first and third embodiments, the safety valve 1a, 1c also comprises an elastic return element 39, for example a spring of the helical type, arranged between a shoulder 38 included in the internal wall 18b of the conduit 10 of the tube 3a, 3c and the free end 27 of the stroke control member 17b of the valve head 2a, 2c. This shoulder 38 and the free end 27 of the stroke control member 17b of the valve head 2a, 2c being able to apply a stressing force to said elastic return element 39 in order to compress it when the valve 1a, 1c goes from a closed configuration to an open configuration. In this context, the elastic return force resulting from this compression of the elastic return element 39 is provided to participate in the passage of the valve head 2a, 2c from the second axial position to the first axial position where the valve 1a, 1c is in a

CH 714 309 A2 closed configuration when additional force is applied to this valve head 2a, 2c. Such an elastic restoring force allows the application of an additional force of low intensity which contributes to facilitate the implementation of the transition from the open configuration to the closed configuration of the valve 1a, 1c.

In these embodiments, such a safety valve 1a to 1c comprises a discharge channel arranged to be able to be in fluid communication with the interior of the housing when the valve 1a to 1c is in its open configuration in order to evacuate the excess fluid F. This evacuation channel comprises the fluid conduit 10 defined in the tube 3a to 3c and a fluid passage comprised between the external wall 18a of this tube 3a to 3c and an interior wall of the axial skirt 5 from valve head 2a to 2c. This discharge channel comprises an inlet 31a included at an opening defined in the lower portion of the tube 3a to 3c and an outlet 31b comprised between the inner wall of the base of the axial skirt 5 and the outer wall 18a of the tube 3a to 3c.

In addition, in these embodiments, the safety valve 1a to 1c also includes a pressure regulation module 6a, 6b which is dissociated from the valve head 2a to 2c. In particular, in the first and second embodiments, the pressure control module 6a of the safety valve 1a, 1b, 1c comprises a piston 7, an elastic member 8 and a member for activating the piston 9. In this pressure regulation module 6a, the piston 7 is housed in the fluid conduit 10 defined in the tube 3a, 3b. This piston 7 which is slidably mounted in this tube 3a, 3b, has an essentially cylindrical shape and comprises two parts 32a, 32b. The first part 32a comprises a head of the piston which is arranged in the upper compartment 13a of the fluid conduit 10 of the tube 3a, 3b and which is able to cooperate with the internal wall 18b of this compartment 13a in order to contribute to guiding the piston 7 during of its movements in this conduit 10. With regard to the second part 32b, it is positioned both in a central opening formed in the internal bearing 24 and in the lower compartment 13b of the fluid conduit 10. This second part 32b of the piston 7 comprises a free end designed to receive the activation member 9 of the piston 7.

Such an activation member 9 is intended to be in contact with the fluid F. It comprises a connecting component 33 making it possible to secure it to the free end of the second part 32b of the piston 7. This component link 33 may have a cylindrical shape and comprise on its internal wall a threaded part screwed into a threaded part of this free end of the second part 32b of the piston 7. This activation member 9 comprises a bearing face 34 on which the fluid F from the housing is likely to exert a pressing force. This support face 34 is able to partially or even completely block the inlet 31a of the evacuation channel.

In this pressure regulation module 6a, the elastic member 8, for example a compression spring of the helical type, is capable of being traversed by the second part 32b of the piston 7 while being arranged in the lower compartment 13b of the fluid conduit 10 of tube 3a, 3b. In this lower compartment 13b, the spring comprises first and second ends which are respectively supported on the inner surface 24 and on a support face 35 of the activation member 9 which can be parallel to the support face 34 In this lower compartment 13b, the spring is mounted axially compressed between the inner bearing 24 and the support face 35 so that the head of the piston 32a can pinch an O-ring 36 against the inner bearing 24 in order to ensure the sealing of the safety valve 1a, 1b. Thus in this configuration, in the presence of an overpressure inside the housing, the fluid F, in this case the gaseous helium comes into contact with the bearing face 34 of the activation member 9. Insofar as the pressure force exerted on the bearing face 34 is greater than or equal to a pressure force activating threshold of the safety valve 1a, 1b, 1c, the activating member 9 causes a displacement of the piston 7 going against an elastic restoring force of the spring then causing its deformation and a passage of the fluid F from the lower compartment 13b to the upper compartment 13a via the central opening of the seat 24 for evacuation of this fluid F through the outlet 31b of the evacuation channel. This threshold pressure force which induces the activation / triggering of the safety valve 1a, 1b can be adapted to the circumstances of use of the valve 1a, 1b this adaptation being carried out by the choice of a stiffness of the spring. compression and / or a configuration of the dimensions of the surface of the bearing face 34 of the activation member 9 of the piston 7.

In this configuration, it will be noted that in the first embodiment, the top of the first part 32a of the piston 7 forming the head of this piston can have a shape complementary (for example a square) to that of a part of a free end 27 (hollow) of the control member 17b arranged opposite this vertex in order to be temporarily secured in rotation, in order to facilitate the mounting of this control member 17b and of the piston 7 in the safety valve 1a during assembly of such a valve 1a.

In the third embodiment visible in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pressure regulation module 6b comprises a sealing element 14 located in the fluid conduit 10 near or even in the inlet 31a of the evacuation pipe. This sealing element 14 is arranged in this fluid conduit 10 so as to close the latter. This sealing element 14 comprises a membrane 14 which is interposed between first and second fixing elements 37a, 37b which connect it to the internal wall 18b of the fluid conduit 10. In other words, this membrane 14 is clamped between these two elements of fixing 37a, 37b. Such a membrane is designed to be:

- permeable to gases and establishing fluid communication from inside the housing to the outside when the pressure inside the housing exceeds a predetermined value, and

- impermeable to liquids flowing from the outside of the case to the inside of the case.

CH 714 309 A2 Thus in this configuration, in the presence of an overpressure inside the housing, the fluid F, in this case the gaseous helium comes into contact with the membrane 14 which is permeable to gases which which allows the fluid F to pass through it to circulate in the fluid conduit 10 as well as the fluid passage of the evacuation channel in order to be evacuated outside the housing. Note that thanks to the presence of this membrane, the liquids are stopped and the sealing of the housing remains ensured. In addition, such a membrane is composed of a polymer film which is waterproof and gas permeable. Typically the polymer film is carried by a porous gas substrate. Advantageously, this membrane can be a membrane sold by the company Gore under the reference "Acoustic vent GAW331".

Thus, in these different embodiments, the pressure regulation module 6a, 6b of this valve 1a to 1c makes it possible to regulate the pressure variations inside the watch case caused for example by the ascent of the diver on the surface.

In addition, the valve 1a to 1c may include a visual indicator of an axial position of the valve head 2a to 2c relative to the tube 3a to 3c, in particular of a first or a second axial position of this valve head 2a to 2c. Such a visual indicator may be a ring which is arranged in a housing of complementary shape defined in the external wall 18a of the tube 3b. This visual indicator which preferably has a color which is different from that of the external walls 18a of this tube 3b and of the valve head 2b, is positioned in this external wall 18a so as to be covered / uncovered by the base of the skirt axial 5. Thus, such a visual indicator may be obscured by the base of this axial skirt 5 when the valve head 2b is in the first axial position and made visible when the valve head 2b is in an axial position different from this first position, in particular when it is in the second axial position, being discovered in whole or in part by this base of the axial skirt 5.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 7, when the safety valve 1a to 1c is set from the closed configuration to the open configuration by the application of an axial direction force on the valve head 2a to 2c then in the first position axial aiming to pull it or move it axially relative to the tube 3a to 3c, the discharge channel of this valve 1a to 1c is then placed in fluid communication with the interior of the housing. In this context, the valve head 2a to 2c is kept stationary in particular radially thanks to the blocking elements 12a, 12b and / or to the axial guide elements 15. In this configuration, the excess fluid F is then discharged through the channel discharge. This evacuation of this excess fluid F is described below by way of example for the embodiment of the valve 1b visible in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. More specifically, in fig. 7, during this evacuation, this excess fluid F leaves the housing to enter the valve 1b at the inlet 31a included in the opening defined in the lower portion of the tube 3b, in the direction of the arrow referenced 45a. This fluid F then exerts a pressure force on the bearing face 34 of the activating member 9 then generating compression of the elastic member 8 and therefore a lifting of the piston 7. In this configuration, the fluid F circulates then in the lower compartment 13b of this conduit 10 in the direction of the arrows referenced 45b before entering the upper compartment 13a through the central opening formed in the inner bearing 24. Subsequently, in the direction of the arrows referenced 45c and 45d, this fluid F leaves the upper compartment 13a to pass through the fluid passage between the outer wall 18a of this tube 3b and the inner wall of the axial skirt 5 of the valve head 2b to the outlet 31b of this channel evacuation between the inner wall of the base of the axial skirt 5 and the outer wall 18a of the tube 3b.

Advantageously, the tightness of such a safety valve 1a to 1c is improved by the fact that the valve head 2a to 2c is dissociated from the pressure regulation module 6a, 6b thus making the handling of this valve head 2a to 2c without impact on the sealing element 14 or the axial positioning of the piston 7. In fact, the prior art valves are often subject to modifications of the axial positioning of the piston during manipulations of the head valve causing fluid leakage even when the pressure force of this fluid is less than the threshold pressure force.

Claims (15)

claims 1. Safety valve (1a, 1b, 1c) for a timepiece (22), in particular for a diving watch, comprising an evacuation channel arranged to be able to be in fluid communication with the interior of a housing said timepiece when this valve (1a, 1b, 1c) is in an open configuration in order to discharge an excess of fluid (F), in particular of a gaseous fluid, said valve (1a, 1b, 1c) comprising: - a tube (3a, 3b, 3c) intended to be fixed in the case of the timepiece (22); - a valve head (2a, 2b, 2c) provided with a cover (4) and an axial skirt (5) which is capable of being placed in different axial positions relative to said tube (3a, 3b, 3c) ; - a pressure regulation module (6a, 6b) dissociated from the valve head (2a, 2b, 2c) arranged inside a fluid conduit (10) formed in the tube (3a, 3b, 3c); - axial guide elements (15) by sliding defined in the valve head (2a, 2b, 2c) and the tube (3a, 3b, 3c) participating in the control of the movement of the valve head (2a, 2b, 2c ) relative to the tube (3a, 3b, 3c) in the different axial positions, said safety valve (1a, 1b, 1c) comprising blocking elements (12a, 12b) preventing separation between the valve head (2a, 2b , 2c) and said tube (3a, 3b, 3c), which locking elements (12a, 12b) being included in an external or internal wall (18a, 18b) of the tube (3a, 3b, 3c) and in the head of valve (2a, 2b, 2c). CH 714 309 A2 2. Valve (1a, 1c) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking elements (12a) comprise a stop (17a) included in the internal wall (18b) of the fluid conduit (10) of said tube (3a, 3c ) and a control member (17b) of the stroke of the valve head (2a, 2c) provided to cooperate with said stop (17a) when the valve head (2a, 2c) is moved relative to the tube (3a, 3c ) in particular to prevent separation between the valve head (2a, 2c) and said tube (3a, 3c). 3. Valve (1a, 1c) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control member (17b) of the stroke of the valve head (2a, 2c) is an element attached to the body of the valve head ( 2a, 2c) by being mechanically connected to an inner wall (19a) of a central connecting element (16) of the valve head (2a, 2c). 4. Valve (1a, 1c) according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the stop (17a) came integrally with the internal wall (18b) of the fluid conduit (10) of said tube (3a, 3c ). 5. Valve (1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking elements (12b) are included in the external wall (18a) of the tube (3b) and in the axial skirt (5) of the valve head ( 2b). 6. Valve (1b) according to one of claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the blocking elements (12b) comprise at least one elastic fixing element (17c) and at least one first attachment zone (17d) corresponding able to cooperate with each other in order to avoid the separation of the valve head (2b) from the tube (3b). 7. Valve (1b) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one elastic fixing element (17c) is included in: - a housing (41) of complementary shape defined in the axial skirt (5) when said first attachment zone (17d) is included in the external wall (18a) of the tube (3b), or - a housing of complementary shape defined in the external wall (18a) of the tube (3b) when said first attachment zone (17d) is included in the axial skirt (5). 8. Valve (1a, 1b, 1c) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the axial guide elements (15) comprise first and second guide zones (11a, 11b) defined in whole or in part respectively in an outer wall (19b) of a central connecting element (16) included in the cover (4) of the valve head (2a, 2b, 2c) and in the inner wall (18b) of the fluid conduit (10 ) of the tube (3a, 3b, 3c) in particular in an upper compartment (13a) of this conduit (10). 9. Valve (1a, 1b, 1c) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second guide zones (11a, 11b) are able to cooperate with each other by sliding for an open or closed configuration of said valve (1a , 1b, 1c). 10. Valve (1a, 1c) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 8 to 9, characterized in that the fluid conduit (10) comprises a locking element (43) of the valve head (2a, 2c) on the tube (3a, 3c) when the safety valve (1a, 1c) is in an open or closed configuration. 11. Valve (1a, 1c) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 8 to 10, characterized in that it comprises an elastic return element (39) arranged between a shoulder (38) included in the wall internal (18b) of the tube (3a, 3c) and the stroke control member (17d) of the valve head (2a, 2c). 12. Valve (1a, 1b, 1c) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the pressure regulation module (6a) comprises a piston (7) and an elastic member (8), said piston (7) being housed inside the fluid conduit (10) of the tube (3a, 3b, 3c) and the elastic member (8) being arranged in said fluid conduit (10) in order to cooperate with the piston (7), which piston (7) being configured to move axially according to pressure variations inside the housing. 13. Valve (1c) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the pressure regulation module (6b) comprises a sealing element (14) located in the fluid conduit (10) between first and second elements fixing (37a, 37b), said sealing element (14) comprising a membrane arranged to be gas permeable and to establish a fluid communication from the inside of the housing towards the outside when said internal pressure exceeds a predetermined and impermeable value liquids flowing from the outside of the case to the inside of the case. 14. Valve (1a, 1b, 1c) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a visual indicator of an axial position of the valve head (2a, 2b, 2c) relative to the tube (3a , 3b, 3c), in particular of a first or of a second axial position of this valve head (2a, 2b, 2c). 15. Timepiece (22) comprising a valve (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.