CH718357A1 - Ringing mechanism comprising a ringing hammer and a ringing gong, said ringing hammer and said ringing gong. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a striking mechanism comprising at least a striking hammer (1) and a striking gong (2), said striking hammer (1) comprising a striking zone (8) intended to strike a striking zone ( 10) of the bell gong (2). At least the striking zone (8) of the hammer (1) is made of a first material having a Vickers hardness of between 150 HV and 550 HV, or at least one of the striking zone (8) of the hammer (1 ) and the striking zone (10) of the gong (2) is made of a second material having a Shore hardness of between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a striking mechanism comprising at least one striking hammer and one striking gong, said striking hammer comprising a striking zone intended to strike a striking zone of the striking gong.

The present invention also relates to a ringing hammer comprising a striking zone intended to strike a ringing gong.

[0003] The present invention also relates to a striking gong comprising a striking zone intended to be struck by a striking hammer.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a striking mechanism or such a striking hammer or such a striking gong.

State of the art

[0005] A striking timepiece provided with such a striking mechanism is, for example, a striking watch (such as minute repeater, grand strike, small strike, alarm clock) comprising for example at least one hammer and one gong , vibration generator, arranged to be struck by said hammer when the bell is engaged to generate vibrations in order to produce a sound. The bell hammer is a small lever ending in a mass which strikes the gong. The gong is conventionally in the form of a leaf spring wrapped around the movement. The hammer and gong are conventionally made of tempered steel, which has a Vickers hardness of approximately 750 HV. The hammers can be the same or different. In general, a large hammer (or hour hammer) is used to strike a low timbre and a small hammer (or minute hammer) to strike a high timbre.

[0006] In watches with conventional chimes, the sound of the chime is of low intensity. As a result, the sound of the steel-steel strike of the hammer on its timbre is not or very slightly audible. In addition, the metallic sound is harmonious on a standard minute repeater.

[0007] Recent developments, particularly in minute repeater watches, have proposed various systems for significantly amplifying the sound of the generated ringtone.

[0008] However, if these new systems allow the ringing to be amplified, they generally lead to an amplification of all the sounds generated in the timepiece, and in particular the impact noise during impacts between the hammer and the gong. These amplified impact noises are not harmonious and affect the sound quality.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a striking mechanism, a striking hammer or a striking gong making it possible to limit the impact noises generated when the hammer strikes its gong, while preserving the the power of the keystroke, in order to obtain a ringtone of better quality.

Disclosure of Invention

To this end, the invention relates to a striking mechanism comprising at least one striking hammer and one striking gong, said striking hammer comprising a striking zone intended to strike a striking zone of the striking gong.

[0011] According to the invention, at least the striking zone of the hammer is made of a first material having a Vickers hardness of between 150 HV and 550 HV, limits included, or at least one of the striking zone of the hammer and of the stamp is made of a second material having a Shore hardness of between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A, limits included.

[0012] Thus, the use of a striking zone of lower hardness than a hammer or a standard gong makes it possible to attenuate the sound of the hammer striking on its gong, without harming the striking power , in order to obtain better quality sound, in particular in a chiming timepiece fitted with an amplification system.

The present invention also relates to a ringing hammer comprising a striking zone intended to strike a ringing gong.

[0014] According to the invention, at least said strike zone of the hammer is made of a first material having a Vickers hardness of between 150 HV and 550 HV or of a second material having a Shore hardness of between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A, terminals included.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a striking gong comprising a striking zone intended to be struck by a striking hammer.

According to the invention, at least said strike zone of the gong is made of a second material having a Shore hardness of between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A, limits included.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a striking mechanism or a striking hammer or a striking gong as defined above.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting examples, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which : Figure 1 is an isometric view of a hammer and its gong according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a hammer and its gong according to another embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 is an isometric view from below of a hammer according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a bottom view of the hammer of Figure 3.

Embodiments of the Invention

[0019] A striking mechanism of a striking timepiece (such as a minute repeater, grand strike, small strike, alarm clock) comprises at least one striking hammer and one striking gong. Only the hammer 1 and its gong 2 are shown in the figures. The hammer 1 is a lever arranged to be pivotally mounted on the frame and comprises a body 4 forming a mass. The stamp 2 is a rod of round section which can be fixed for example on the frame by means of a stud or heel 6. The body 4 of the hammer 1 has a part 7 which becomes thinner, in the shape of a point, the edge of which constitutes a striking zone 8 intended to strike a facing surface on the body of the striking gong 2, said surface constituting the striking zone 10 of the striking gong 2. Such hammers and striking gongs in one piece striking clockwork such as a minute repeater are known to those skilled in the art, their construction and operation outside the scope of the invention not requiring a detailed description here.

According to the invention, as shown in Figure 1, at least the striking zone 8 of the hammer 1 is made of a first material having a Vickers hardness of between 150 HV and 550 HV, terminals included, or one of the striking zone 8 of the hammer 1 and of the striking zone 10 of the gong 2 is made of a second material having a Shore hardness of between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A, limits included.

[0021] Thus, at least the striking zone of the hammer or of the gong is arranged to have a low hardness, lower than that of the material of a standard hammer or gong.

The Vickers hardness test methods applicable in particular to metallic materials are defined in the following standards ASTM E384 and ISO 6507. Shore hardness, which is a material constant applicable to certain plastics and elastomers, is defined in DIN 53505 and DIN EN ISO 868. The Shore A test is indicated for soft elastomers after measurement with a blunt-tipped needle.

According to a first embodiment, the first material of the striking zone 8 of the hammer is of the metallic material type, chosen to have a lower hardness than that of the material of a standard hammer. Preferably, said first material has a Vickers hardness less than or equal to 400 HV, preferably less than or equal to 300 HV, and more preferably between 200 HV and 250 HV, limits included.

[0024] Advantageously, said first material is chosen from the group comprising gold, platinum, an unhardened steel, a brass, and a copper-beryllium (CuBe) alloy.

For example, the first material may be gold having a hardness of approximately 200 HV, or platinum having a hardness of approximately 250 HV, platinum being preferred.

According to a first example, as shown in Figure 1, the first material may be different from the material of the body 4 of the hammer 1, having a lower hardness than that of the material of said body 4. In this case, the body 4 of the hammer 1 is covered at least partially with the first material, said first material being placed on the body 4 of the hammer 1 so as to form at least the strike zone 8.

[0027] It is obvious that the first material coating can be provided over a larger area than the strike zone 8 itself.

[0028] Thus, the striking zone 8 of the hammer 1 can be constituted by a layer of the first material arranged on the edge, extending partially over the lateral zones of the tip 7 of the hammer 1 to form a thin coating, softer than the body 4 of the hammer 1. This coating can be assembled to the hammer 1 by any suitable means, such as gluing, welding or being in the form of an insert.

[0029] It is preferable that the first material only partially covers the edge and the lateral zones of the point 7, in the direction of the thickness of the hammer 1, so as to stop before reaching the face of the hammer. 1 which will be visible to the user. Thus, the coating made of the first material will be embedded in the hammer 1 and will be invisible to the user who will have the impression of seeing a standard ringing hammer.

According to another example shown in Figure 2, the hammer 1 and its striking zone 8 are made of the same first material. Preferably, the whole of the hammer 1 whose point 7 has the striking zone 8 is made of said first material.

Preferably, the first material is chosen so as to have a high density or density, in addition to the hardness criteria required according to the invention. Thus, gold and more particularly platinum are first preferred materials for producing the hammer 1 integrating the strike zone 8. In a particularly preferred manner, the hammer 1 is made of platinum, having a hardness of approximately 250 HV.

According to another embodiment, a second soft material of the non-metallic type is used for at least the striking zone 8 or 10 of the hammer 1 or of the gong 2, chosen to have a lower hardness than that of the material of a standard hammer or stamp. Preferably, said second material has a Shore hardness less than or equal to 90 Shore A, preferably between 40 and 90 Shore A, limits included, and more preferably between 50 and 90 Shore A, limits included.

Advantageously, said second material is chosen from the group comprising a polymer, an elastomer, leather, felt, fabric, and wood.

For example, the second material can be a nitrile rubber, a polychloroprene, a polyurethane (PUR), a polyoxymethylene (POM), or a polyetheretherketone (PEEK), having a Shore hardness of 50, 70 or 90 Shore A.

[0035] More particularly, one of the body 4 of the hammer 1 and of the body of the gong 2 is covered at least partially with the second material, said second material being arranged on the body so as to form at least the strike zone 8 of the hammer, or the striking zone 10 of the gong 2, respectively.

It is obvious that the second material coating can be provided over a larger area than the strike zone 8 or 10 itself.

Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the striking zone 8 of the hammer 1 can be constituted by a layer of the second material arranged on the edge extending partially over the lateral zones of the tip 7 of the hammer 1 to form a thin coating, softer than the body 4 of the hammer 1. This coating can be assembled to the hammer 1 by any suitable means, such as gluing or be in the form of an insert.

[0038] It is preferable that the second material only partially covers the edge and the lateral zones of the point 7, in the direction of the thickness of the hammer 1, so as to stop before reaching the face of the hammer. 1 which will be visible to the user. Thus, the coating made of the second material will be as if embedded in the hammer 1 and will be invisible to the user who will have the impression of seeing a standard ringing hammer.

Similarly, the strike zone 10 of the stamp 2 can be constituted by a layer of the second material placed on the stamp 2 to form a thin coating, softer than the body of the stamp 2. This coating can be assembled to stamp 2 by any suitable means, such as gluing or being in the form of an insert.

[0040] The second material can also at least partially coat the body of the gong or of the hammer, at least at the strike zone 8 or 10.

[0041] In this embodiment, the body of the hammer or the gong is not made of the second material. The body of the hammer or gong can remain metallic for example and/or be made of said first material, such as platinum. For example, a steel body with a hardness of 650 HV or a platinum body can be used for the hammer.

[0042] Advantageously, the second material has been deposited by overmolding on the body of the hammer 1 or of the gong 2 so as to form at least the strike zone. Preferably, the body of the hammer 1 is configured so that the coating in the second overmolded material is integrated into the volume of said body.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a hammer 1 having a metal body 4 (for example steel with a hardness of 650 HV or platinum) and a striking zone 8 formed by molding polyurethane (PUR) , on the edge and the lateral zones of the tip 7, stopping before reaching the visible face of the hammer 1. Thus the striking zone 8 is embedded in the hammer 1 and is invisible to the user.

[0044] The invention makes it possible to integrate at the level of the striking zone of a striking hammer or a striking gong a thin damping element making it possible to attenuate the noise of shocks during the striking of the hammer. on his stamp. The sound obtained is of better quality, more mellow, and less aggressive. The present invention is particularly suitable for amplified minute repeater mechanisms.

Claims (29)

1. Striking mechanism comprising at least one striking hammer (1) and one striking gong (2), said striking hammer (1) comprising a striking zone (8) intended to strike a striking zone (10) of the striking gong (2), characterized in that at least the striking zone (8) of the hammer (1) is made of a first material having a Vickers hardness of between 150 HV and 550 HV, limits included, or in that at least one of the striking zone (8) of the hammer (1) and of the striking zone (10) of the gong (2) is made of a second material having a Shore hardness of between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A, terminals included. 2. Striking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the first material has a Vickers hardness less than or equal to 400 HV, preferably less than or equal to 300 HV, and more preferably between 200 HV and 250 HV, limits included. . 3. Striking mechanism according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the hammer (1) comprises a body (4) covered at least partially with the first material, said first material being placed on the body (4) of so as to form at least the strike zone (8). 4. Striking mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the hammer (1) and its striking zone (8) are made of the same first material. 5. Striking mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first material is selected from the group comprising gold, platinum, unhardened steel, brass, and a copper-beryllium alloy. 6. Striking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the hammer (1) and the gong (2) comprises a body (4) covered at least partially with the second material, said second material being placed on the body (4) so as to form at least the strike zone (8, 10). 7. Striking mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the second material has been deposited by overmolding on said body (4) so as to form at least the strike zone (8, 10). 8. Striking mechanism according to one of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the body (4) is metallic and/or made of said first material. 9. Striking mechanism according to one of claims 1, 6 to 8, characterized in that the second material has a Shore hardness less than or equal to 90 Shore A, preferably between 40 and 90 Shore A, limits included, and more preferably between 50 and 90 Shore A, limits included. 10. Striking mechanism according to one of claims 1, 6 to 9, characterized in that the second material is chosen from the group comprising a polymer, an elastomer, leather, felt, fabric, and wood. 11. Striking hammer (1) comprising a striking zone (8) intended to strike a striking gong (2), characterized in that at least said striking zone (8) is made of a first material having a hardness Vickers between 150 HV and 550 HV or in a second material having a Shore hardness between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A, limits included. 12. Ring hammer (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the first material has a Vickers hardness less than or equal to 400 HV, preferably less than or equal to 300 HV. 13. Ringing hammer (1) according to one of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the first material has a Vickers hardness of between 200 HV and 250 HV, limits included. 14. Ring hammer (1) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a body (4) covered at least partially with the first material, said first material being placed on the body (4) of so as to form at least the strike zone (8). 15. Ringing hammer (1) according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that said hammer (1) and its striking zone (8) are made of the same first material. 16. Ringing hammer (1) according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the first material is chosen from the group comprising gold, platinum, an unhardened steel, a brass, and a copper alloy -beryllium, preferably platinum. 17. Ring hammer (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a body (4) at least partially covered with the second material, said second material being placed on the body (4) so as to form at least the strike zone (8). 18. Ringing hammer (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the second material has been deposited by overmolding on said body (4) so as to form at least the striking zone (8). 19. Ringing hammer (1) according to one of claims 17 and 18, characterized in that the body (4) is metallic. 20. Ring hammer (1) according to one of claims 11, 17 to 19, characterized in that the second material has a Shore hardness less than or equal to 90 Shore A. 21. Ring hammer (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that the second material has a Shore hardness of between 40 and 90 Shore A, limits included, and preferably between 50 and 90 Shore A, limits included. 22. Ring hammer (1) according to one of claims 11, 17 to 21, characterized in that the second material is chosen from the group comprising a polymer, an elastomer, leather, felt, fabric, and wood. 23. Striking gong (2) comprising a striking zone (10) intended to be struck by a striking hammer (1), characterized in that at least said striking zone (10) is made of a second material having a Shore hardness of between 20 Shore A and 100 Shore A, limits included. 24. Ringing gong (2) according to claim 23, characterized in that it comprises a body at least partially covered with the second material, said second material being arranged on the body so as to form at least the strike zone (10 ). 25. Bell gong (2) according to claim 24, characterized in that the second material has been deposited by overmolding on said body so as to form at least the striking zone (10). 26. Ringing stamp (2) according to one of claims 24 and 25, characterized in that the body is metallic. 27. Ringing gong (2) according to one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that the second material has a Shore hardness less than or equal to 90 Shore A, preferably between 40 and 90 Shore A, limits included, and more preferably between 50 and 90 Shore A, limits included. 28. Bell gong (2) according to one of claims 23 to 27, characterized in that the second material is chosen from the group comprising a polymer, an elastomer, leather, felt, fabric, and wood. 29. Timepiece comprising a striking mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 10 or a striking hammer (1) according to one of claims 11 to 22 or a striking gong (2) according to one of claims 23 to 28.