CH716424A2 - Clockwork limiting device for a watch comprising at least one tourbillon or one carousel. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clockwork limiter device for a watch comprising an oscillator. The device comprises means for stopping this oscillator on board a tourbillon cage (300) or carousel, and comprises a rod (3) arranged to push axially into an active blocking position, a lifting finger (9) against a first spring tending to return it axially towards a rest position resting on a cage wheel (6). The elevator finger (9) comprises a ramp radially pushing back a stop finger (11) against a second spring (12) tending to move it radially away from the cage axis. The stop finger (11) is away from the axis when the elevator finger (9) is in its rest position, and, in the active locking position of said elevator finger (9), the stop finger (11 ) can interfere with a stop cam (14) secured to a moving part of the oscillator, in an angular position remote from the neutral position of the oscillator.

Description

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a timepiece limiting device, for a watch, comprising an oscillator and comprising means for limiting the rate deviation of this oscillator in the different positions of said watch in space, said device comprising at least one tourbillon or a carrousel, which comprises a cage which is pivotally mounted about a cage axis with respect to a plate, which carries a fixed wheel when the said limiting device comprises a tourbillon, which cage carries said oscillator and comprises a cage wheel designed to be driven by a source of energy from the watch or by a movement through a gear train, and which cage carries an escapement mechanism designed to cooperate with said oscillator, and comprising an escapement pinion meshing with said fixed wheel when said limiter device comprises a tourbillon or else meshing with an average wheel or a second wheel, which said gear train comprises, when said limiter device comprises a carousel.

[0002] The invention also relates to a watch comprising a timepiece movement comprising energy storage means, an oscillator, time-setting means, and such a limiting device.

The invention relates to the field of high-precision chronometric mechanical watches equipped with tourbillons or carousels, and so-called stop-second or stop-cage mechanisms for performing fine adjustment of the state of the watch.

Background of the invention

The document GB674764 in the name of HEPTINSTALL describes a finger-spring for locking a pendulum.

[0005] The document EP1617305B1 in the name of MONTRES BREGUET describes a stop control, manual by the stem, of levers with pads for locking a balance wheel.

[0006] The document EP2787400B1 in the name of CHOPARD describes a stop element, integral in rotation with a cage, and which is a disc coaxial with this cage, moved axially for axial friction with a pendulum.

[0007] The document EP2085832B1 in the name of FREDERIC PIGUET describes a friction clutch mechanism, by radial plating of clutch elements at the ends of star-shaped arms in a cylindrical surface of a drive plate, under the axial action of a clutch spring.

Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention proposes to stop a tourbillon or carousel cage when setting the time in order to be able to adjust a watch to the nearest second.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece limiting device for limiting the deviation of the rate of an oscillator that comprises a watch, according to claim 1.

[0010] The invention also relates to a watch comprising a timepiece movement comprising energy storage means, an oscillator, time-setting means, and such a limiting device.

Brief description of the drawings

[0011] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, where:

- Figure 1 shows, in a schematic, partial way, and in perspective, a clockwork limiting device for limiting the variation in rate of an oscillator, this oscillator here with balance-spring being carried by the cage of a tourbillon, which cage is integral with a cage wheel for its drive; the oscillator is pivoted between a lower cage bridge and an upper cage bridge; the limiter device comprises a stop mechanism, controlled by an engagement rod driven by a control device of the watch, here constituted by a winding and time-setting stem; this engagement rod is arranged to move radially, with respect to the axis of the cage, a pusher mechanism, comprising a lifting finger with a stroke perpendicular to that of the engagement rod and recalled by a first spring, and which is arranged to operating a stop finger which is perpendicular to it, against a second spring; FIG. 1 represents the assembly visible from below, on the side opposite to that usually visible to the user; the rod is in a rest position, in which the stop finger does not hinder the operation of the oscillator;

- Figure 2 shows schematically, partially, and in perspective, in top view, the mechanism of lafigure 1, the cage bridges not being represented, nor the balance rim, nor the balance spring; only are visible the engagement rod, the elevator finger and its first spring, the stop finger and its second spring, the double balance plate integral with a stop cam, with which the stop finger can cooperate to biorate the oscillator;

- Figure 3 shows, in a schematic fashion, partial and in plan in bottom view, the plate of the watch carrying the control rod, the pull tab, the engagement rod, and the inner end of the elevator finger;

- Figure 4 shows, in a schematic way and in section passing through the cage tax, the entire pusher mechanism described above, in the rest position;

- Figure 5 shows the same mechanism, schematically, partially, and in perspective, in top view, in the rest position, where we see the stop finger at a distance from the stop cam, with which it cannot interfere, this position corresponding to the lowest position of the elevator finger visible in FIG. 4;

- Figure 6 shows, similarly to Figure 4, the same mechanism, in an active position, in which the elevator finger is raised, and whose ramp pushes the stop finger towards the cage fax to lock the cam of stop;

- Figure 7 shows, schematically and similar to Figure 5, the same mechanism, in the active position of the control rod, with the stop finger blocking the stop cam;

- Figure 8 shows, schematically and in plan view from above, a detail of the cooperation of the elevator finger and the stop finger in the rest position T1;

- Figure 9 shows, schematically and in plan view from above, a detail of the cooperation of the elevator finger and the stop finger in the active position T2;

- Figure 10 is a block diagram representing a watch comprising a clock movement comprising energy storage means, an oscillator, time-setting means, and such a limiting device.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0012] The invention relates to the field of mechanical watches with high chronometric performance.

To improve the insensitivity to the positions of a watch 1000, it is known to equip it with a timepiece limiting device 100, comprising an oscillator 200, comprising means for limiting the rate variation of this oscillator 200 in the different positions of the watch 1000 in space.

[0014] This device 100 comprises at least one tourbillon 300 or a carrousel, which, in one or the other case, comprises a cage 4 which is pivotally mounted around a cage axis D with respect to a plate 900.

This plate 900 carries a fixed wheel 210 when the limiter device 100 includes a tourbillon 300.

The cage 4 carries the oscillator 200, and comprises a cage wheel 6, which is arranged to be driven by an energy source 400 of the watch 1000 or of a movement 800 that the watch comprises, through of a cog. This energy source 400 may in particular comprise at least one barrel or the like.

Cage 4 also carries an escapement mechanism 700, which is arranged to cooperate with oscillator 200, and which comprises an escapement pinion 201. Cage 10 comprises a lower bridge 7 and an upper bridge 8. The cage upper bridge 8 simultaneously protects the oscillator 200, the escapement mechanism 700, and the mechanism according to the invention.

[0018] This escapement pinion 201 meshes with the fixed wheel 210 when the limiter device 100 comprises a tourbillon, or else meshes with an average wheel or a second wheel, which the gear train comprises, when the limiter device 100 comprises a carousel.

[0019] The mechanism according to the invention makes it possible to stop the tourbillon or carousel cage during the time-setting operation.

[0020] According to the invention, the device 100 is capable of stopping the oscillator 200 and comprises a control rod 3, which is arranged to cooperate with a control member external to the tourbillon 300 or to the carousel.

This control rod 3 is arranged to axially push a lift finger 9, in the direction of cage fax D, in an active locking position. This thrust imparted by the control rod 3 is applied to this lift finger 9 against a first elastic return means 90, which tends to axially return the lift finger 9 to an axial position of rest resting on the wheel. of cage 6, according to the direction of fax of cage D.

[0022] More particularly, the first elastic return means 90 is a foil cut by stamping or the like.

[0023] More particularly, the control rod 3 comprises a thrust surface 39, which is arranged to cooperate with the elevator finger 9, and which is a surface substantially orthogonal with respect to the axis of the cage D, or which comprises a slight slope. to facilitate its insertion under the elevator finger 9. More particularly, the end of the elevator finger 9, which cooperates with this thrust surface 39, is locally spherical or radiated.

[0024] This elevator finger 9 comprises a ramp 99 which is arranged to push back a stop finger 11, radially with respect to the cage axis D, against a second elastic return means 12 which tends to move radially this stop finger 11 of cage tax D.

[0025] More particularly, the second elastic return means 12 is fixed on the cage lower bridge 7, and is a spring of substantially circular shape, open, so as to release the axial space around the cage axle D, and in particular the space for accommodating a balance pivot, a double balance plate, a balance, or the like.

This stop finger 11 is in its furthest radial position from cage tax D when the elevator finger 9 is in its rest position.

According to the invention, in the active locking position of the elevator finger 9, the stop finger 11 is arranged to interfere with a stop cam 14, which is integral with a moving part of the oscillator 200, and to lock this stop cam 14 in an angular position remote from the neutral position of oscillator 200.

[0028] More particularly the stop pin 11 constitutes the distal end of a fork 110 guided on the lower cage bridge 7 in a radial direction with respect to the cage axis D, by the cooperation of oblongs 111 and pawns 112, some integral with the lower bridge 7 and the other with the fork 110, or vice versa.

More particularly the stop finger 11 comprises, at its contact surface with the stop cam 14, a tip 113 or a tapered surface.

More particularly the stop cam 14 comprises, at its contact surface with the stop finger 11, a tip 143 or a tapered surface.

[0031] More particularly, the device 100 comprises time-setting means 500 which constitute or which control the control member, which is arranged to move the control rod 3 in a first direction of activation when passing time-setting means 500 from a rest position T1 to an activated position T2, and for moving the control rod 3 in a second direction contrary to the first direction when the time-setting means 500 pass from the activated position T2 to the rest position T1.

[0032] In a variant, the control rod 3 is further arranged to, under the action of the external control member, push, substantially radially with respect to the axis of the cage D, an elastic blade 66 which is arranged to take support substantially tangentially on the cage wheel 6, to stop the cage 4 during a passage of the control member from a rest position to an active position, and to remain at a distance from the cage wheel 6 when the the control member is in its rest position.

[0033] More particularly, the control rod 3 is arranged to, in a first race bioquer mobile oscillator, then, in a second race bioquer the cage, or vice versa.

More particularly, the elastic blade 66 is more flexible than the first elastic return means 90, and is also more flexible than the second elastic return means 12.

More particularly, the oscillator 200 is a balance-spring assembly.

The invention also relates to a watch 1000 comprising a clock movement 800 comprising energy storage means 400, an oscillator 200, time-setting means 500, and such a limiting device 100.

More particularly, the tourbillon 300 or carousel constitutes a display member of the watch 1000 or is arranged to drive at least one display member of the watch 1000, and the time-setting means 500 constitute or control the control device.

[0038] In the non-limiting variant illustrated by the figures, time-setting means 500 constitute or control the control member, and comprise a conventional winding and time-setting stem 1, and the mechanism comprises in particular a pull rod 2, a control rod 3, a tourbillon cage 4, a tourbillon bearing 5, a cage wheel 6, a lower tourbillon bridge 7, an upper tourbillon bridge 8, a lift finger 9, a elevator finger shim 10, a stop finger 11, a stop finger spring 12, a balance spring 13, a stop cam 14, and a double plate 15 of the balance.

[0039] Operation is as follows:

- in position T1, the mechanism occurs under the following conditions:

The control rod 3 is held in place by the pull tab 2. On the tourbillon, the elevator finger 9 is in the rest position, pressed against the tourbillon cage wheel 6 by the elevator finger shim 10. The stop finger 11 is in the rest position on the lower tourbillon bridge 7, pressed against the elevator finger 9 by the stop finger spring 12. The sprung balance 13 oscillates freely between the upper tourbillon bridge 8 and the lower tourbillon bridge 7.

- in position T2, the mechanism occurs under the following conditions:

Winding stem 1 is pulled and pulls pull rod 2 with eile. The pull rod 2 moves the control rod 3 which comes into contact with the elevator finger 9 and raises it. The elevator finger 9 is guided in the tourbillon cage wheel 6. As it rises, the elevator finger 9 compresses the elevator finger shim 10 against the lower tourbillon bridge 7 and pushes the stop finger 11 forwards. then mehre in the circular trajectory of the balance-spring 13 and through the intermediary of the stop cam 14, which is integral with the balance, it stops the movement of the balance in a preferential position, outside the dead center zone of the double plate 15. This makes it possible to guarantee a restart of the oscillator 200 during the transition from T2 to T1. The stopper finger spring 12 tends to push the stopper finger 11 against the elevator finger 9 which guarantees that the stopper finger 12 returns in place during the passage from T2 to T1.

[0040] The System is designed to stop the tourbillon, or respectively the carousel, when setting the time.

Claims (7)

[0041] The system rests on the cage wheel with a leaf spring which exerts sufficient pressure to stop the cage. In short, the invention makes it possible to: - instantly stop a tourbillon or carousel cage; - set the time to the nearest second - guarantee a restart of the oscillator following the setting of the time; [0043] Moreover, the System is, with the exception of the control rod, essentially integrated into the tourbillon cage, which gives space to the movement. [0044] This mechanism is compact, its manufacture is based on standard technologies, and its cost is therefore moderate. Claims 1. Timepiece limiting device (100) for a watch (1000), comprising an oscillator (200) and means for limiting the variation in rate of said oscillator (200) in the different positions of said watch (1000) in space, said device (100) comprising at least one tourbillon (300), or a carrousel, which comprises a cage (4) which is pivotally mounted around a cage axis (D) with respect to a plate ( 900) carrying a fixed wheel (210), which cage (4) carries said oscillator (200) and comprises a cage wheel (6) arranged to be driven by an energy source (400) of the watch (1000 ) or a movement (800), and which cage (4) carries an escapement mechanism (700) arranged to cooperate with said oscillator (200) and comprising an intermediate escapement pinion (201) meshing with said fixed wheel (210), characterized in that said device (100) is capable of stopping said oscillator (200) and comprises a control rod (3) arranged to cooperate with a control member external to said tourbillon (300) or carousel, to push axially along the direction of said cage axis (D) in an active locking position, a lifting finger (9) against a first elastic return means (90) which tends to return axially, along the direction of said axis of cage (D), said elevator finger (9) towards an axial position of rest resting on said cage wheel (6), which elevator finger (9) comprises a ramp (99) which is arranged to push radially, relative to said cage axis (D), a stop finger (11) against a second elastic return means (12) which tends to radially separate said stop finger (11) from said cage axis (D ), which stop finger (11) is in its radial position farthest from said cage axis (D) when said elevator finger (9) is in its rest position, and characterized in that, in the active position of blocking of said elevator finger (9), said stop finger (11) is arranged to interfere with a stop cam (14) secured to a moving part of said oscillator (200) and block said stop cam (14) in an angular position remote from the neutral position of said oscillator (200). 2. Limiter device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said device (100) comprises time-setting means (500) which constitute or control said control member, which is arranged to move said (3) in a first direction of activation when said time-setting means (500) pass from a rest position T1 to an activated position T2, and to move said control rod (3) in a second direction contrary to said first direction during passage of said time-setting means (500) from said activated position T2 to said rest position T1. 3. Limiter device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said stop finger (11) constitutes the distal end of a fork (110) guided on a lower cage bridge (7), that comprises said cage (4), in a radial direction with respect to said cage axis (D), by the cooperation of oblongs (111) and pins (112), some integral with said lower bridge (7) and the others of said fork (110), or vice versa. 4. Limiter device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said stop finger (11) comprises, at its contact surface with said stop cam (14), a tip (113) or a tapered surface. 5. Limiter device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said stop cam (14) comprises, at its contact surface with said stop finger (11), a tip (143) or a tapered surface. 6. Limiter device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said oscillator (200) is a balance-spring assembly. 7. Watch (1000) comprising a clock movement (800) comprising energy storage means (400), an oscillator (200), time-setting means (500), and a limiting device ( 100) according to one of claims 1 to 6 comprising said oscillator (200), characterized in that said tourbillon (300) or carousel constitutes a display member of said watch (1000) or is arranged to drive at least one display of said watch (1), and in that said time-setting means (500) constitute or control said Control Unit.