CH718144A2 - Isothermal watchmaking device. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an isothermal horological device (1) for mechanical and/or functional components (2) of a watch (3), said device (1) being provided with a strap and a case (4) comprising an enclosure (5) in which a case (6) of said watch (3) can be arranged and a reversible fixing device (7) fixing said case (6) of a watch (3) in said enclosure (5) of the box (4) by keeping it away from all the elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the box (4) defining this enclosure (5), said fixing device (7) comprising at least one two connecting members ( 9a) each connected to an attachment zone (13) of said box (6) from at least one telescopic bar (9b, 9c).

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to an isothermal watchmaking device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, in particular adapted to operate under extreme temperatures. Such a device can also be called Dewar timepiece device or more simply Dewar device.

Technology background

[0002] An electronic watch conventionally comprises a bracelet and a watch case comprising several electrical or electronic components. It is known in the state of the art that some of these components cannot withstand extreme temperatures, and cease to operate correctly at these temperatures. Typically, LCD liquid crystal displays using light-emitting diodes or quartz tolerate temperatures not exceeding approximately 80°C (degrees Celcius), and not dropping below 0. °C. However, in particular environments such as for example space or lunar missions, the temperatures can frequently reach values of the order of substantially −150° C. to +125° C.

[0003] There is therefore a need to be able to use a watch, in particular an electronic watch, in environments where such extreme temperatures can prevail.

Summary of the invention

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, said device being provided with a bracelet and a case comprising an enclosure in which is capable of be arranged a case of said watch and a reversible fixing device fixing said watch case in said enclosure of the case by keeping it away from all the elements of the case defining this enclosure, said fixing device comprising at least one two connection each connected to an attachment zone of said box from at least one telescopic bar.

[0005] Thanks to the Dewar device formed by the case and the watch case, the mechanical and/or functional components of the watch are protected from any extreme temperatures between -150 and +125 degrees Celsius that may prevail outside said device. In addition, said at least one connecting element ensuring the fixing of the watch case to the case participates in ensuring very good thermal insulation of the case by preventing any heat loss from this case 6 of the watch, in particular by radiation. Thus, such a Dewar device makes it possible to use mechanical and/or functional components in contexts and environments where the temperatures can be extreme, such as for example during space exploration missions such as the exploration of the planet Mars. or the moon. This also makes it possible to ensure the rationalization of costs as well as to maintain a reasonable complexity for the components used in watches requested for such missions.

In other embodiments: each member comprises a contact zone capable of cooperating with a first pointed end of each strip; each strip comprises a second end capable of being connected to the attachment zone, in particular to a horn of this attachment zone; each bar comprises a first part comprising a first end of the bar and a second part comprising a second end of this bar, the first and second parts being interconnected by an elastic member, in particular a spring; the first part is able to slide in a housing defined in the second part; the elastic member is included in the housing defined in the second part; the contact zone is made of a material having a hardness of between 7 and 10 on the Mohs scale, preferably a hardness of 9 on this same scale; the contact area is made of a material with a Vickers hardness index between 1200 and 3500 kgfmm<-2>; said fastening device performs a reversible fastening of the watch case to a bottom of the case; said enclosure is under vacuum or quasi-vacuum; the case comprises a crystal whose surface is substantially greater or strictly greater than a crystal of the watch case; a crystal of the watch case is arranged opposite a crystal of the case when the watch case is arranged in said enclosure; the device comprises a middle part on which said bracelet is fixed; said set of case elements forming said enclosure comprises a crystal, an inner peripheral wall of a middle part and a bottom of this case; each connecting member is arranged on an inner peripheral wall of the enclosure of the box facing the attachment zone.

Brief description of figures

Other features and advantages will emerge clearly from the description given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a schematic representation of a Dewar device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a case of the Dewar device through which is made visible a case of said watch mounted reversibly in an enclosure of said case, according to the embodiment of the invention, and Figure 3 is a view on a larger scale of a connecting member of a reversible fixing device of the watch case in the enclosure of the case of the Dewar device, according to the embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figures 1 and 2 show an isothermal timepiece device 1 for mechanical and / or functional components 2 of a watch 3 also called Dewar timepiece device or more simply in the following description "Dewar device". Such a Dewar device 1 for mechanical and/or functional components 2 of a watch 3 is capable of participating in conferring good thermal insulation on mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3, a case 6 of which is arranged in this case 4 of the device 1 in order to provide such insulation to these components 2. In other words, this Dewar device 1 is in particular formed by the combination of its case 4 and the case 6 of the watch 3 in order to achieve thermal insulation suitable for these mechanical and/or functional components 2. In this configuration, the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in an enclosure 5 of the case 4 while being kept remote or at a distance from all the elements 10a to 10c of the case 4 defining this said enclosure 5, namely a crystal 10a, an inner peripheral wall 12 of a middle part 10c and a bottom 10b of this case 4. It will be noted that this inner peripheral wall 12 is also that of said enclosure 5.

[0009] This distance or this distance or even this spacing is configured from a fixing device 7 of the case 6 of the watch 3 in the case 4. In other words, such a fixing device 7 is able to configure a spacing between said box 6 and all of the elements 10a, 10b, 10c of the box 4 forming said enclosure 5 of this box 4. This fixing device 7 which we describe later, participates in reducing or even eliminating any conduction between the inner peripheral wall 12a of the middle part 10c and/or the back 10b and/or the crystal 10a with the case 6 of the watch 3 in particular with an outer global face of this box 6. This outer global face comprises an upper face comprising crystal 11 of case 6 of this watch 3, a lower face comprising a bottom of said case 6 and an outer peripheral wall of a middle part of this case 6. It is understood that the lower and upper faces are opposite one at the other D.

[0010] It will be noted that such a box 6 is included in a watch 3 which can be an electronic watch, for example a quartz watch, or even a mechanical watch.

[0011] The mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3, mentioned above, include in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: a watch movement, a dial, hands, rings, seals and/or electronic components and/ or electrical 2. It will be noted in particular that such electronic and/or electrical components include, for example, a display device, a processor, a memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator , etc...

It is therefore understood that in this configuration, this Dewar device 1 has the same properties and characteristics as a well-known Dewar tube/vase in the state of the art. As we have previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of this Dewar device 1 participate in giving it good thermal insulation with regard to particularly extreme temperatures that may prevail in the external environment in which such a device 1 can be located.

In this context, this device 1 therefore comprises the case 4 which comprises the middle part 10c on which is mounted a bracelet allowing a user of this device 1 to wear it. This box 4 also includes the glass 10a and the bottom 10b mentioned above. In this device 1, it will be noted that crystal 10a preferably comprises a surface which is substantially greater or strictly greater than crystal 11 of case 6 of watch 3.

As we have seen, the glass 10a, the middle part 10c and the bottom 10b of this device 1 together define the enclosure 5 of this case 4 which is capable of receiving the box 6 of the watch 3. These three elements 10a to 10c of the case 4, namely the middle 10c, the crystal 10a and the back 10b can be separate elements which are joined together to build this enclosure 5. Alternatively, the middle 10c and the back 10b of the case 4 can together form a one-piece piece, said one-piece piece defining an opening opposite the bottom 10b which is capable of being closed by the crystal 10a and this, in a reversible and sealed manner. Alternatively, middle 10c and crystal 10a of watch case 3 3 may together form a one-piece piece, said one-piece piece defining an opening opposite crystal 10a which is capable of being closed by bottom 10b and this, too. reversibly and tightly.

The middle part 10c and the bottom 10b are preferably made in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner of a metallic material, of glass or of thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resins reinforced with carbon or glass fibers or even of ceramic materials. It will be noted that when caseband 10c and back 10b are transparent or semi-transparent, for example being made of glass, peripheral wall 12 of caseband 10c and the inner face of back 10b can be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating, such as for example a layer of silver.

[0016] In addition, the device 1 may comprise an interferometric filter arranged on an outer overall face of the case 4, namely on an outer peripheral wall of the middle part 10c and/or the outer faces of the crystal 10a and of the bottom 10b of this box 6 of watch 3. This interferometric filter can be a grid or a lattice forming a coating on this external overall face of the case 4. This grid or lattice has a mesh whose dimensions are such that they only allow certain lengths to pass predetermined wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically the wavelengths of the visible domain.

[0017] Furthermore in this device 1, when the box 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in the enclosure 5 of the case 4, the space defined between this box 6 and the inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle part 10c, the bottom 10b and the glass 10a is empty of material or almost empty. In other words, enclosure 5 is under vacuum or almost under vacuum.

[0018] In order to ensure the maintenance of the case 6 of the watch 3 in this enclosure 5, the Dewar device 1 and in particular the case 4 comprises the fixing device 7 performing a reversible fixing of the box 6 of shows 3 on the inner peripheral wall 12 of this box 4. This fixing device 7 which is also called "reversible fixing device" comprises at least two connecting members 9a visible in Figures 1 to 3 which are each connected to a zone attachment 13 of said box 6 from at least one telescopic strip 9b, 9c.

In the embodiment visible in Figures 1 to 3, the fixing device 7 comprises two connecting members 9a and four telescopic strips 9b, 9c. In this configuration, these two connecting members 9a are able to cooperate each with two telescopic bars 9b, 9c in order to ensure the fixing of the case 6 of the watch 3 in the enclosure 5 of the case 4 from attachment zones 13 of this box 4. Each connecting member 9a is arranged on the inner peripheral wall 12 of the enclosure 5 of the box 4, being arranged facing the attachment zone 13 with which it is brought to cooperate within the framework of this fixation. This arrangement of each connecting member 9a on the inner peripheral wall 12 can be achieved by clipping, interlocking, welding, gluing or even screwing.

When this attachment zone 13 comprises a pair of horns as shown in Figure 2, the body of each member 9a is then wholly or partly arranged in the space defined between the two horns 16 preferably equidistant from these horns 16. More specifically in the context of the realization of this fixing of the case 6 of the watch 3 in the case 4 each connecting member 9a comprises two contact zones 17 which are arranged in this member 9a opposite one to the other. the other, each being arranged on a side wall of this member 9a. The arrangement of each contact zone 17 on a side wall is made so that it is positioned opposite or even aligned with an opening included in the horn 16. As will be seen later, this opening is intended to be connected with this contact zone 17 via a telescopic bar 9b, 9c. In this fixing device 7, the contact zone 17 is capable of receiving a first end 18a of the bar 9b, 9c and the opening present in the horn 16 which is preferably blind, is itself configured to receive a second end 18b of this said bar 9b, 9c.

[0021] The contact zones 17 of each of these bodies are made of a material having: a hardness between 7 and 10 on the Mohs scale, preferably a hardness of 9 on this same scale, or a Vickers hardness index of between 1200 and 3500 kgf.mm-2. In this context, such a material can be, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, corundum, a ruby, a sapphire or even ceramic. It will be noted in addition that this material can also have low thermal conductivity properties.

In this fixing device 7, each telescopic bar 9b, 9c comprises a body formed from first and second parts 14a, 14b which are interconnected in particular by an elastic member 15, for example a spring positioned in this second part 14b of this body of the strip 9b, 9c. The first part 14a of this bar 9b, 9c which is able to slide in the second part 14b, comprises the first end 18a of the bar 9b, 9c which is capable of cooperating with the contact zone 17 of each connecting member 9a. The second part 14b of this bar 9b, 9c therefore comprises the second end 18b of the bar 9b, 9c which is intended to be placed in the opening of the corresponding horn 16.

Referring to Figure 3, in each strip 9b, 9c, the first end 18a is pointed. In other words, this first end 18a ends with a very acute angle helping to minimize a contact interface between this first end 18a and the contact zone 17. In this context, the surface of this first end can be between 10 and 10.10<6>µm<2>. Such a small contact interface contributes to greatly reducing or even eliminating the thermal conductivity of the fixing device 7 and therefore to improving the thermal insulation of the components 2 with respect to the external environment of the Dewar device 1.

In this configuration, when the case 6 of the watch 3 is placed in the enclosure 5, the first and second ends 18a, 18b of each bar 9b, 9c are respectively arranged in the contact zone 17 each connecting member 9a and in the opening of the corresponding horn 16. To achieve this arrangement of these ends 18a, 18b, the spring 15 included in the second part 14b of the bar 9b, 9c is then compressed by the sliding of the first part 14a of the body of the bar 9b, 9c in this second part 14b . Thus, each bar 9b, 9c is placed between the contact zone 17 of the member and the opening of the horn 16 with a spring which is then constrained. It will be noted that in this configuration, the spring 15 of each bar 9b, 9c participates in maintaining/fixing the box 6 in the enclosure 5 in particular by participating in absorbing any possible movement of the box 6 relative to the box 4 which may result an acceleration, a deceleration and/or a sudden (e)/violent (e)/sudden change of direction undergone by the Dewar device 1.

[0025] Note that in an alternative, the fixing device 7 may comprise more than two connecting members. For example, it may comprise two pairs of connecting members each arranged in whole or in part between the horns 16 of an attachment zone 13 of the box 6. In this configuration, only the side wall of the member of the pair which is arranged opposite the opening of a horn 16 of the attachment zone 13 comprises a contact zone 17 in order to participate in the fixing of the box 6 in this enclosure 5.

[0026] In addition, such a fixing device 7 contributes to arranging the case 6 of the watch 3 in this case 4 so that the crystal 11 of this case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged facing the crystal 10a of the case 4 so that the information included on the dial and/or the display interface of this watch 3 can be perceived through the transparent crystal 10a of the case 4 by the user carrying the Dewar device 1.

Thus, such a Dewar device 1 provides the mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3 with very good thermal insulation vis-à-vis the external environment by preventing heat loss from the watch case 6 by radiation. Thus, when the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, typically of the order of −125 to +125° C., the temperature inside the enclosure 5 remains substantially equal to the temperature present in case 6 of watch 3 during its arrangement in case 4, typically around 20°C. It will be noted that whatever the temperature conditions prevailing in the environment of the Dewar device 1, the temperature present in the case 6 of the watch 3 is a temperature which does not hinder the correct operation of the watch. This temperature is maintained over a period which is 5 to 18 times longer than the period during which such a watch case would be capable of preserving an operating temperature of its components 2 by being located directly in such an environment where such temperatures prevail. in particular extreme (that is to say by being located outside the housing of the Dewar device). It is thus conceivable that such a configuration makes it possible to protect the mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3, as well as to participate in ensuring their operation in an optimal manner under extreme outside temperature conditions.

Claims (15)

1. Dewar device (1) for mechanical and/or functional components (2) of a watch (3), said device (1) being provided with a strap and a case (4) comprising an enclosure ( 5) in which is capable of being arranged a box (6) of said watch (3) and a reversible fastening device (7) fixing said box (6) of watch (3) in said enclosure (5) of the case ( 4) by keeping it away from all the elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the box (4) defining this enclosure (5), said fixing device (7) comprising at least one two connecting members (9a) each connected to an attachment zone (13) of said box (6) from at least one telescopic strip (9b, 9c). 2. Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each member (9a) comprises a contact zone (17) capable of cooperating with a first end (18a) pointed to each strip (9b, 9c). 3. Dewar device (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each strip (9b, 9c) comprises a second end (18b) adapted to be connected to the attachment zone (13) , in particular to a horn of this attachment zone (13). 4. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each bar (9b, 9c) comprises a first part (14a) comprising a first end (18a) of the bar (9b, 9c) and a second part (14b) comprising a second end (18b) of this strip (9b, 9c), the first and second parts (14a, 14b) being interconnected by an elastic member (15), in particular a spring. 5. Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first part (14a) is able to slide in a housing defined in the second part (14b). 6. Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elastic member (15) is included in the housing defined in the second part (14b). 7. Dewar device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the contact zone (17) is made of a material having a hardness of between 7 and 10 on the Mohs scale, preferably a hardness of 9 on this same scale. 8. Dewar device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the contact zone (17) is made of a material having a Vickers hardness index of between 1200 and 3500 kgf.mm <-2>. 9. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing device (7) performs a reversible fixing of the case (6) of the watch (3) to a bottom of the case (4 ). 10. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chamber (5) is under vacuum or near vacuum. 11. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (4) comprises a glass (10a) whose surface is substantially greater than or strictly greater than a glass (11) of the box (6) watch (3). 12. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a crystal (11) of the case (6) of the watch (3) is arranged opposite a crystal (10a) of the case (4) when the case (6) of the watch (3) is arranged in said enclosure (5). 13. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a middle part (10c) on which said bracelet is fixed. 14. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said set of housing elements (4) forming said enclosure (5) comprises a glass (10a), an inner peripheral wall (12 ) of a middle part (10c) and a bottom (10b) of this case (4). 15. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each connecting member (9a) is arranged on an inner peripheral wall (12) of the enclosure of the housing (4) facing the attachment zone (13).