CH719313A2 - Nice watch including a clutch device. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sympathetic watch comprising a horological movement comprising a finishing gear train (20), a display gear train (30) connected to at least one display of a time value, a sympathetic time-setting mechanism and a time-setting mechanism by means of a crown, the sympathetic time-setting mechanism comprising a clutch device (40) interposed between said going train (20) and display (30), said clutch (40) being configured to adopt a disengaged state in which it separates the going train (20) from the display train (30) so as to allow the time setting of the display by means of the mechanism sympathetic time-setting, and a engaged state in which it establishes a kinematic connection between said cogs, said connection allowing sliding enabling the time setting of the display by means of the time-setting mechanism by the crown.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and in particular sympathetic watches.

More particularly, the invention relates to a sympathetic watch comprising a clutch device.

Technology background

[0003] There are so-called "sympathetic pendulums" clocks for winding, setting the time and adjusting watches, called "sympathetic watches", with which they are intended to cooperate, without any other constraint than placing the watch in a dedicated receptacle arranged on the clock.

[0004] These three functions, called "sympathetic functions", are performed for example simultaneously at a time defined by the construction of the clock, generally once or twice a day.

[0005] Sympathetic watches have a very complex watch movement insofar as it must include mechanisms specific to performing sympathetic functions, and mechanisms specific to performing similar functions, but under the solicitation of the user of the watch, and not the clock.

The present invention aims to simplify the design, and consequently, the manufacture of a watch movement of a sympathetic watch.

Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a sympathetic watch comprising a watch movement comprising a finishing gear train, a display gear train connected to at least one display of a time value, a sympathetic time-setting mechanism and a time-setting mechanism via a crown.

[0008] The sympathetic time-setting mechanism comprises a clutch device interposed between the going train and display, said clutch device being configured to adopt a disengaged state in which it separates the going train from the display gear train so as to allow the time setting of the display by means of the sympathetic time-setting mechanism, and to adopt a clutched state in which it establishes a kinematic connection between said gear trains, said connection allowing sliding allowing the time setting of the display by means of the mechanism for setting the time by the crown.

[0009] The watch, thanks to the characteristics of the invention, therefore does not include any lanterning of the roadway, nor a friction drive wheel, necessary in watches of the state of the art to carry out the display time.

This results in a simplification of the design of the watch movement of the watch according to the invention.

[0011] It should be noted that, in the present text, reference is made to a time-setting mechanism by a crown to designate a time-setting mechanism intended to be actuated by a user. Thus, the term “crown” tends to cover any actuator equivalent to a crown, such as push buttons or correctors well known to those skilled in the art.

[0012] In particular embodiments, the invention may also comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations.

[0013] In particular embodiments, the going train comprises a center mobile and the display train comprises a roadway, the clutch device being configured so that when it is in the engaged state, it secures said center mobile and said rotating roadway.

[0014] Advantageously, the center mobile and the roadway are arranged concentrically, which contributes to simplifying the assembly of the watch movement.

[0015] In particular embodiments, the center wheel set comprises a center pinion pivotally mounted around a center rod, the floor being arranged around the center rod according to a sliding pivot connection.

[0016] In particular, the roadway can be fitted directly onto the center rod or can be fitted onto a tubular portion of the center pinion inside which the center rod is engaged.

[0017] In particular embodiments, the watch movement comprises a flange intended to constitute an axial stop of the roadway.

[0018] In particular embodiments, the roadway is arranged so that, when the clutch device is in the disengaged state, it has an axial displacement and is able to rest against the center wheel set.

[0019] In particular embodiments, the clutch device comprises a disk fixed to the roadway, a friction spring carried by the center mobile, and a flange interposed between the disk and the friction spring so that said friction spring applies to said flange a force tending to force the flange into abutment, by a friction surface, against the disc.

[0020] In particular embodiments, the disc and the flange are configured so that, when the clutch device is in the engaged state, the friction torque generated at the interface between the friction surface of the flange and said disc is approximately 80 g.mm.

[0021] In particular embodiments, the clutch device comprises a gripper comprising two arms movable relative to each other and arranged on either side of the flange, said arms being adapted to cooperate with said flange so as to cause the change of state of the clutch device.

[0022] In particular embodiments, the flange has an internal periphery opposite an external periphery, one being configured to cooperate with the friction spring and the other being configured to cooperate with the clamp.

[0023] In particular embodiments, the flange is configured so as to bear against a structure of the watch movement by a bearing surface opposite the friction surface, when the clutch device is in the state disengagement.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 schematically represents a sectional view of a part of a watch movement of a sympathetic watch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 2 shows a front view of the watch of Figure 1 - Figure 3 schematically shows the watch movement of Figure 1, according to another embodiment.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention relates to a sympathetic watch 10 comprising a watch movement, part of which is shown in the sectional view of Figure 1 and part of which is visible in the front view of Figure 2.

[0026] The watch movement comprises a gear train 20 and a display train 30 connected to at least one display of a time value. FIGS. 1 and 2 represent at least one display of a time value in the form of an hour display 31 and a minute display 32 in the form of hands.

[0027] The watch movement also comprises a sympathetic time-setting mechanism and a time-setting mechanism by a crown 13. It is naturally understood here that these time-setting mechanisms are two distinct mechanisms , one of which is intended to be activated by a sympathetic clock and the other of which is intended to be activated by a user of the watch 10.

The sympathetic time-setting mechanism comprises a clutch device 40 interposed between the finishing 20 and display 30 cogs. The clutch device 40 is configured to adopt a disengaged state in which it disengages the finishing gear train 20 of display gear train 30, and a clutched state in which it establishes a kinematic connection between said cogs, said kinematic connection allowing sliding between said cogs.

In other words, the clutch device 40 allows, when it is disengaged, the rotation of the hour 31 and minute 32 displays independently of the going train 20, and when it is engaged the drive of the gear train display 30, and therefore of said displays, by the going train 20, while allowing said display train 30 to be driven independently of said going train 20, as described in detail below.

[0030] Advantageously, when it is in the disengaged state, the clutch device 40 allows the time setting of the hour 31 and minute 32 displays by means of the sympathetic time-setting mechanism, and when it is in the engaged state, it ensures the driving of the displays by the finishing and it allows, thanks to the sliding, the time setting of the said displays by means of the mechanism for setting the time by the crown 13.

[0031] The sympathetic time-setting and time-setting mechanisms by the crown 13 are known from the state of the art and are within the reach of those skilled in the art, as such. The watch movement may include sympathetic time-setting mechanisms and time-setting mechanisms using the crown 13 having any design known from the state of the art or within the reach of a person skilled in the art, and n is not exclusive to mechanisms having a particular design. These sympathetic time-setting mechanisms and by crown 13 are therefore not described in detail below, but only briefly, in particular embodiments.

The sympathetic time-setting mechanism may comprise a mechanism for resetting the hour 31 and minute 32 displays, a mechanism 50 for stopping a resonator of the watch 10 and means for hour 60.

The clutch device 40, the reset mechanism and the stop mechanism 50 can be connected to a first sympathetic actuator 11 of the watch 10 intended to cooperate with a first sympathetic actuator of the clock, so to receive from said first sympathetic actuator of the pendulum stresses and to transmit them to the clutch device 40 and to the reset and stop mechanisms 50.

The time-setting means 60 can be connected to a second sympathetic actuator 12 of the watch 10 intended to cooperate with a second sympathetic actuator of the clock, so as to receive from said first sympathetic actuator of the pendulum of the requests and to transmit them to the time-setting means 60. When they receive these requests, the time-setting means 60 are configured so as to act on the display train 30 in order to drive the rotating 31 hour and 32 minute displays.

[0035] The mechanism for setting the time by crown 13 (not shown in the figures) comprises an adjustment rod connected to crown 13, a sliding pinion arranged on said adjustment rod, a pull rod integral with said adjustment and arranged so as to drive the sliding pinion by means of a rocker. When the crown 13 is arranged in a time-setting position, the sliding pinion meshes with a transmission connected kinematically to the display wheel 30 preferably by the timer wheel set.

As shown in Figure 1, the going train 20 comprises a center mobile, in the form of a center pinion 21 connected, in a manner known per se, to a source of energy, such as a barrel 22.

The display train 30 comprises a roadway 33 to which is connected a timer wheel set 34 and around which is arranged in a rotatable manner an hour wheel 35 meshed with the timer wheel set 34.

In a manner known per se, the roadway 33 carries the minute display 32, and the hour wheel 35 carries the hour display 31, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The floor 33 and the center pinion 21 are arranged concentrically with respect to each other, which facilitates the assembly operations of the watch movement.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the center pinion 21 is pivotally mounted around a center rod 23 fixed to a structure of the watch movement.

The center rod 23 is also engaged through the floor 33 and arranged so that said floor 33 is free to rotate around said rod.

[0042] Furthermore, the floor 33 is advantageously configured so as to present axial mobility along the center rod 23 when the clutch device 40 is in the disengaged state.

[0043] These degrees of freedom contribute to favoring the mechanical play and therefore to reducing the friction generated in particular when setting the time of the hour 31 and minute 32 displays.

[0044] Preferably, the axial displacement is imperceptible to the naked eye.

[0045] When the clutch device 40 is in the disengaged state, the roadway 33 is capable of resting against the center mobile, and in particular against the center pinion 21, which thus constitutes a first axial stop of the roadway 33.

Advantageously, the center rod 23 comprises, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a collar 24 intended to form a second axial stop of the floor 33, opposite the first axial stop. More specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the collar 24 can be arranged at one of the ends of the center rod 23 emerging beyond said floor 33.

By its other end, that is to say the end close to the center pinion 21, the center rod 23 is fixed, for example by interference fit, in a housing 25 made in the structure of the watch movement , as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 1, the center pinion 21 bears against the structure of the watch movement; said structure being formed by a bridge 26 in this embodiment of the invention. In other embodiments not shown in the figures, the center rod 23 may be provided with a radial lip arranged to be interposed between said structure and the center pinion 21 and to separate them from each other. .

As shown in Figure 1, the reset mechanism comprises a hammer 14 adapted to cooperate with a heart cam 15 arranged to move in rotation around the floor 33 and fixed to the hour wheel 35. The means time setting 60, partially shown in Figure 2, are adapted to drive the floor 33, the timer mobile 34 and the hour wheel 35 in rotation, according to a predetermined angular stroke. It should be noted that no example of a sympathetic time-setting method is described in this text insofar as this method is not the subject of the present invention and is as such , within the reach of those skilled in the art.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the clutch device 40 comprises a disc 41 fixed to the floor 33, a friction spring 42 carried by the center mobile, in particular by the center pinion 21, and a movable flange 43, interposed between the disc 41 and the friction spring 42. Thus, the friction spring 42 applies to the flange 43 a compressive force tending to force a friction surface of said flange 43 to rest against a disc friction surface 41.

[0051] In particular, the flange 43 has an outer periphery opposite an inner periphery. The flange 43 has a bevel on its outer periphery, and has, on its inner periphery, a shoulder forming an abutment against which the friction spring 42 rests. Preferably, the flange 43 and the friction spring 42 are made integral in rotation only thanks to the friction torque resulting from the compression force.

[0052] In order to allow sliding between the going train 20 and the display train 30 when the clutch device 40 is in the engaged state, the disc 41 and the flange 43 are configured so that the torque of friction generated by the bearing of the flange 43 on the disc 41 is sufficiently high for the center pinion 21 to be able to drive the roadway 33 in rotation, but low enough for a user to be able, by the stress of the crown 13, to go beyond this friction torque and thus drive the roadway 33 in rotation by means of the time-setting mechanism by the crown 13.

Preferably, the friction torque at the interface between flange 43 and disk 41 is substantially 80 g*mm, which can also be noted as 0.8 Nmm, when clutch device 40 is in the engaged state.

It should be noted that for this purpose, the clutch device 40 is configured so that the friction torque resulting from the compression force exerted by the friction spring 42 on the flange 43 is greater to the friction torque generated at the interface between the flange 43 and the disc 41.

In order to drive the clutch device 40 between its disengaged state and its engaged state, and vice versa, the latter comprises two arms 44 forming a gripper arranged to cooperate with the flange 43. The engaged and disengaged states are defined by the angular separation of the arms 44 relative to each other, the arms being spaced apart from each other to cause the engagement of the clutch device 40 and being brought together to cause the clutch device 40 to disengage.

The two arms 44 are urged into a position in which they are separated from each other by a spring 440, so that the clutch device 40 is in the engaged state by default. Furthermore, the arms 44 are configured to be able to be urged into a position in which they are brought closer to each other, against the forces generated by the spring 440, upon urging of the first sympathetic actuator 11 of the watch 10, so as to drive the clutch device 40 in the disengaged state.

Advantageously, as shown in Figure 1, the arms 44 are arranged to cooperate with the outer periphery of the flange 43 when they are close to each other, in order to oppose the compression forces generated by the friction spring 42, and thus moving said flange 43 away from the disk 41, and consequently, driving the clutch device 40 in the disengaged state.

More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2, the sympathetic time-setting mechanism comprises a lever 70 arranged to receive requests from the first sympathetic actuator 11 of the watch 10, and to transmit them to the arms 44 via a pin 71.

[0059] In particular, in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the pin 71 is adapted to bear against one of the arms 44, itself kinematically connected to the other arm 44, so as to be able to bringing said arms 44 closer to each other, and thus driving the clutch device 40 into the disengaged state.

In other words, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pin 71 bears against a side of one of the arms 44 and is capable, during the movement of the lever 70, to cause the movement of said arm 44 against the force of the spring 440.

The arms 44 cooperate with each other at an interface zone through which the arm 44 against which the pin 71 rests can force the other arm 44 to move against it. of the force generated by the spring 440, and by which the arm 44 subjected to the force generated by the spring 440 transmits this force to the other arm 44.

It goes without saying that, in other embodiments of the invention, the arms 44 can be individually subjected to the force of a spring which is specific to them.

[0063] Also, the spring or springs can be constituted by an elastic portion of one or each arm 44.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the gripper is in one piece, the two arms 44 then having elastic properties, at least at the level of the interface zone, so as to be able to move one by one. relation to the other.

Advantageously, the flange 43 is configured so as to bear against the structure of the watch movement by a bearing surface opposite the friction surface, when the clutch device 40 is in the disengaged state.

More generally, it should be noted that the modes of implementation and embodiment considered above have been described by way of non-limiting examples, and that other variants are therefore possible.

[0067] In particular, in another exemplary embodiment of the invention, as represented by FIG. 3, the center pinion 21 may comprise a tubular portion engaged in the roadway 33, said roadway 33 then being arranged to move in rotation around of said tubular portion and being free to slide along the latter. Furthermore, the center pin 23 does not extend beyond the tubular portion of the center pinion 21 and does not include a collar. Indeed, the tubular portion receives at its free end, a tenon comprising a flange intended to constitute an axial abutment of the floor 33. The tenon is then fixed to the tubular portion of the center pinion 21, in which it is engaged.

Furthermore, a lever has been described in the present text on which a pin is arranged to transmit a request from the first sympathetic actuator 11 of the watch 10, but in other exemplary embodiments, the mechanism for setting the time may include any other transmission element suitable for transmitting a request received by said first sympathetic actuator 11 of watch 10.

Claims (10)

1. Sympathetic watch (10) comprising a watch movement comprising a finishing gear train (20), a display gear train (30) connected to at least one display of a time value (31, 32), a setting mechanism sympathetic time and a mechanism for setting the time by a crown (13), the watch movement being characterized in that the sympathetic time-setting mechanism comprises a clutch device (40) interposed between the said cogs gear train (20) and display (30), said clutch device (40) being configured to adopt a disengaged state in which it disengages the gear train (20) from the display train (30) so as to allow the time setting of the display by means of the sympathetic time-setting mechanism, and to adopt a clutched state in which it establishes a kinematic connection between the said cogs, the said connection allowing a sliding allowing the setting the time of the display by means of the mechanism for setting the time by the crown (13). 2. Watch (10) according to claim 1, in which the going train (20) comprises a central mobile and the display train (30) comprises a roadway (33), the clutch device (40) being configured so that when it is in the engaged state, it secures said mobile center and said roadway (33) in rotation. 3. Watch (10) according to claim 2, in which the center wheel set comprises a center pinion (21) pivotally mounted around a center rod (23), the roadway (33) being arranged around the center (23) according to a sliding pivot connection. 4. Watch (10) according to claim 3, wherein the watch movement comprises a collar (24) intended to constitute an axial stop of the floor (33). 5. Watch (10) according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the floor (33) is arranged so that, when the clutch device (40) is in the disengaged state, it has an axial displacement and is able to rest against the center mobile. 6. Watch (10) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the clutch device (40) comprises a disc (41) fixed to the floor (33), a friction spring (42) carried by the movable center, and a flange (43) interposed between the disc (41) and the friction spring (42) so that said friction spring (42) applies on said flange (43) a force tending to constrain the bearing flange (43), by a friction surface, against the disc (41). 7. Watch (10) according to claim 6, in which the disc (41) and the flange (43) are configured so that, when the clutch device (40) is in the engaged state, the friction torque generated at the interface between the friction surface of the flange (43) and said disc (41) is substantially 80 g*mm. 8. Watch (10) according to claim 7, wherein the clutch device (40) comprises a clamp comprising two arms (44) movable relative to each other and arranged on either side of the flange (43), said arms (44) being adapted to cooperate with said flange (43) so as to cause the change of state of the clutch device (40). 9. Watch (10) according to claim 8, in which the flange (43) has an internal periphery opposite an external periphery, one being configured to cooperate with the friction spring (42) and the other being configured to cooperate with the gripper. 10. Watch (10) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the flange (43) is configured so as to bear against a structure of the watch movement by a bearing surface opposite the friction surface, when the device clutch (40) is in the disengaged state.