CH719613A2 - Control mobile for watch display device, corresponding display device and watch movement. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control mobile (1), for a display device (20) intended to equip a watch movement, comprising a drive member (6), intended to cooperate with a drive mobile of the watch movement to ensure the driving of the control mobile (1), as well as the first and second guide surfaces, integral in rotation with the drive member (6) and intended to fulfill the functions of first and second respective cams, in cooperating with respective first and second feelers (22, 32) of the display device (20), the control mobile (1) comprising a board (2) in which first and second grooves (8, 10) are dug, of which each defines a closed loop of which at least part of a wall defines one of the guide surfaces.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a control mobile, for a display device intended to equip a watch movement, comprising a drive member, intended to cooperate with a drive mobile of the watch movement to ensure the training of the mobile control, as well as first and second guide surfaces, integral in rotation with the drive member and intended to fulfill the functions of first and second respective cams, cooperating with first and second respective feelers of the device display.

State of the art

[0002] Numerous timepieces comprising a display device whose operation implements the association between a cam and a feeler are already known. Timepieces in which several cams are used are also known.

[0003] Thus, for example, the utility model DE20008791 U1 describes and illustrates a display device comprising two cams, arranged side by side, each of which is associated with a feeler to allow simultaneous display of the lifting times and sunset.

[0004] Patent EP1922591B1 describes, in relation to its Figure 6, a display device comprising a mobile control of two indicator members comprising a pair of cams superimposed and secured to each other in rotation, a feeler being associated with each of them. A toothed wheel is also attached to the two cams to enable them to be driven by a drive wheel of the corresponding watch movement. Each probe is carried by a rocker also carrying a toothed sector arranged in engagement with a pinion secured to a display disk. One disk is dedicated to the display of units (0 to 9) and the other to the display of tens (0 to 5), the display device being thus arranged to allow a display of 00 to 59.

[0005] This patent presents several alternative embodiments, some of which include more than two cams and it can be seen that, of course, each time an additional cam is added to the display device, the thickness of the latter increases. In the case of the embodiment of Figure 6, it appears that the transition from a display device with a single cam to a display device with two cams induces an increase in the thickness of the order of 50 % of the corresponding control wheel (considering that the thickness of the drive board is close to the thickness of a cam). Going from two cams to three cams would result in a further increase in thickness of 33%, and going from three cams to four cams would result in a further increase of 25%.

[0006] Thus, it may be useful to propose a construction of a control mobile for a display device of the type described above, making it possible to control at least two display mobiles in a synchronized manner, preferably three or even four, without provided that this has a significant impact on its thickness and therefore on the overall size of the display device, in particular in the direction of its thickness.

Disclosure of the invention

[0007] A main aim of the present invention is to propose a control mobile, for a display device intended to equip a watch movement, of alternative construction to the constructions known from the prior art, making it possible to control at least two organs display in a perfectly synchronized manner while having a reduced thickness compared to known control mobiles.

[0008] For this purpose, the present invention relates more particularly to a control mobile of the type mentioned above, characterized in that it comprises a board in which first and second grooves are dug, each of which defines a closed loop of which at least part of a wall defines one of the guide surfaces.

[0009] Thanks to these characteristics, it is possible to produce two cams in such a way that they together have a size equivalent to that of a single cam according to the prior art.

[0010] According to a particular alternative embodiment, it is possible for the first and second grooves to be provided on either side of the board in the direction of its thickness. Such a characteristic makes it possible to offer greater flexibility in the production and installation of the rockers carrying the feelers associated with the cams, given that there is no risk of collision between the feelers when they follow the cams.

[0011] In general, it can be provided that the board comprises at least a third groove defining a closed loop of which at least part of a wall defines a third guide surface intended to fulfill the function of a third cam by cooperating with a third probe of the display device. Thanks to the advantageous characteristics of the invention, the thickness of the corresponding control wheel does not vary with the number of cams it comprises.

[0012] Furthermore, it is advantageous for the drive member to be made in the form of a set of teeth on the board. Thus, the size of the control mobile is further reduced with reference to previous constructions since the cams and the teeth can be made at least partially at the same level depending on the thickness of the board.

[0013] The present invention also relates to a display device, for a watch movement, comprising a control wheel according to the preceding characteristics, as well as a feeler per groove that the control wheel comprises, each feeler comprising a finger housed in the less partially inside the corresponding groove.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, each sensor can be carried by a rocker intended to pivot on a frame element of the corresponding watch movement, the rocker comprising a toothed sector intended to present a kinematic connection with a mobile d display of a predefined indication.

[0015] It can advantageously be provided that at least one of the toothed sectors is arranged directly in engagement with the associated display mobile, and that at least this associated display mobile is coaxial with the control mobile. Thus, the bulk of the display device can also be reduced in the plane of the watch movement.

[0016] According to a preferred alternative embodiment, it is possible for the display device to be arranged to allow the simultaneous display of at least two pieces of information taken from the group comprising: the time of sunrise, the time of sunset, the difference between solar and civil hours, the height of the Sun in the sky (or elevation). Of course, the control mobile according to the present invention can allow the implementation of a simultaneous display of three of this information, or even all four.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a display device according to the above characteristics as well as a drive mobile having a kinematic connection with the drive member of the corresponding control mobile, the mobile d training preferably having a period of rotation such that the board of the control mobile makes a complete revolution in approximately one tropical year.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a watch movement.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which : – Figures 1 and 2 represent simplified perspective views, respectively of a first face and a second face, of a control mobile according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; – Figure 3 represents a simplified perspective view of a construction detail of a display device comprising the control mobile according to Figures 1 and 2, and – Figures 4 and 5 represent simplified perspective views, respectively of a first face and a second face, of a part of a display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, integrating the control mobile of Figures 1 and 2.

Mode(s) of carrying out the invention

[0020] Figures 1 and 2 represent simplified perspective views, respectively of a first face, for example on the dial side, and of a second face, on the back side, of a control mobile 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Of course, the orientation of the control mobile 1 could be reversed without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0021] The control mobile 1 comprises a board 2 having a central hole 4 intended to allow its assembly to a shaft or to a stud, in such a way that it can pivot relative to a frame element (not shown) of the corresponding watch movement.

[0022] In the present case, the board 2 is intended to be mounted freely on a stud (not visible), the latter comprising peripheral teeth defining a drive member 6 intended to present a kinematic connection with a mobile of drive (not illustrated) of the corresponding watch movement, to ensure rotational drive of the control mobile 1.

[0023] First and second grooves 8, 10 are formed in the first face of the board 2, dial side, each of them defining a loop closed on itself and guide surfaces each intended to cooperate with a feeler.

The first groove 8 is shaped so as to be able to drive a first display member intended to display the height of the Sun in the sky (also called “elevation”), for a specific predefined location on the surface of the Earth, here Geneva, as will emerge more clearly from the description of Figure 4 which follows.

The second groove 10 represents the equation of time, that is to say it is shaped so as to be able to drive a second display member intended to display the difference between the solar time and the calendar time, preferably at the same location on the Earth's surface.

Third and fourth grooves 12, 14 are formed in the second face of the board 2, on the bottom side, each of them still defining a loop closed on itself and guide surfaces intended to cooperate with additional feelers .

The third groove 12 is shaped so as to be able to drive a third display member intended to display the sunrise time, preferably at the same location on the surface of the Earth.

The fourth groove 14 is shaped so as to be able to drive a fourth display member intended to display the sunset time, preferably at the same location on the surface of the Earth.

We see in Figures 1 and 2 that certain loops defined on either side of the board 2 in the direction of its thickness intersect in projection in a plane. Also, it is advantageous in this case to provide that the sum of the depths of the grooves arranged on either side of the board 2 is less than the total thickness of the board 2. Of course, we can provide that this condition does not is not filled in the case where the grooves do not intersect.

[0030] It will be noted that according to the preferred embodiment illustrated here, all the indications whose display mobiles are intended to be controlled by the control mobile 1 present the same period, namely a tropical year, which makes it possible to group all the cams on one and the same board.

However, it is also possible, as an alternative, to provide that the training period of the board corresponds to the period of one of the quantities to be displayed, which would be an integer multiple of the period of at least one other size to display. Thus, for example, the control mobile according to the present invention could be implemented to display two-digit values, from 00 to 59, as in the case of the embodiment of Figure 6 of patent EP1922591B1 mentioned above, a first cam comprising 6 segments of constant radius to indicate the tens and a second cam comprising 60 segments to display the units six times at each revolution of the control wheel.

[0032] Figure 3 represents a simplified perspective view of a construction detail of a display device 20 comprising the control mobile 1 according to Figures 1 and 2.

[0033] In particular, the control mobile 1 is shown here near a first feeler 22 intended to cooperate with the first groove 8. The feeler 22 carries a finger 24 shaped and dimensioned so as to be able to be inserted into the first groove 8 and to travel through it when the control mobile 1 is rotated.

The probe 22 is located at one end of a rocker 26 also carrying a toothed sector 28 intended to present a kinematic connection with a mobile displaying the height of the Sun in the sky.

[0035] Figures 4 and 5 represent simplified perspective views, respectively from the dial side and the back side, of a part of the display device 20 when a feeler is associated with each of the grooves of the control mobile 1.

[0036] A second feeler 32, similar to the first feeler 22, cooperates with the second groove 10. The second feeler 32 carries a finger 34 for this purpose and is also located at one end of a second rocker 36 carrying a toothed sector 38 intended to present a kinematic connection with a second mobile displaying the equation of time.

The first and second rockers 26, 36 are pivoted along the same axis of rotation defined by a shaft 40 intended to be made integral with a frame element of the corresponding watch movement.

The toothed sectors 28, 38 mesh directly with the first and second display mobiles 42, 44, both being arranged here coaxially with the control mobile 1, by way of non-limiting illustrative example. Thus, the fixed stud (not visible) of the watch movement defining the pivot of the control mobile 1 also carries the display mobiles 42, 44. A very compact construction is thus obtained, not only in its thickness, thanks to the reduced height of the control mobile 1, but also in the plane, thanks to the compactness of the rockers 26, 36, in particular to the fact that they each have only a single arm carrying both the feeler and the toothed sector.

[0039] It emerges more particularly from the view of Figure 5 that the display device 20 further comprises third and fourth feelers 52, 62, each carrying a finger 54, 64 engaged in the corresponding groove 12, 14, and located at one end of a third rocker 56, respectively of a fourth rocker 66 also carrying a toothed sector 58, 68 intended to present a kinematic connection with a third display mobile, respectively with a fourth display mobile (not represented).

The third and fourth rockers 56, 66 are more conventional than the first and second rockers 26, 36 since each of them comprises two arms, one of which carries the feeler and the other the toothed sector, the two arms being secured to each other at the level of the axis of rotation of the seesaw. The axes of rotation of the rockers 56, 66 are here located at a distance from each other, as are the display mobiles associated with them (which can preferably be directly adjacent to the toothed sectors 58, 68).

[0041] It is understood, from the illustrations in Figures 4 and 5, that multiple configurations are possible for the implementation of the display device according to the present invention. Indeed, from a given cam shape, it is possible to play on both the shape of the rockers, the location of their axis of rotation and the location of the associated display mobiles to avoid a collision between the rockers, more particularly between the feelers. Thus, those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in modifying the present teaching according to their own needs, in particular to produce a board comprising at least two cams, on the same face or not, or even at least one cam per face. , in relation to rockers carrying feelers associated with these cams, the rockers having or not common axes of rotation, the associated display mobiles being or not coaxial.

[0042] It will be noted that sizing the feeler finger such that it has a diameter very slightly less than the width of the corresponding groove advantageously makes it possible to do without a spring which would be intended to hold the finger applied against the one of the walls of the throat. Thus, the finger is substantially guided along the loop closed by the two walls of the groove defining guide surfaces. A spring could however be preferable in the case of a loop defining a spiral shape, that is to say having a radial portion or almost.

[0043] Thanks to the preceding description, we understand how it is possible to produce a display device of at least two different sizes of small size and capable of presenting a large number of different configurations with regard to the shape and the spatial distribution of its components. In addition, the manufacture of the control mobile according to the invention is simplified compared to previous mobiles consisting of a stack of cams.

The preceding description attempts to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, such as for example the number of quantities to display and the locations of the various components (rockers, display mobiles) or their shape. For example, the board 2 could be devoid of teeth, alternatively, the drive of the control mobile 1 then being carried out by a central shaft of which the board 2 would be integral and which would itself be integral with a pinion or a toothed wheel.

[0045] The present invention is also not limited by the nature of the information displayed using the display device which has just been described. Alternatively, one could for example envisage the production of a control mobile driven to advance one step per day and comprising a first annual cam presenting twelve successive segments, of constant radius, each of which is associated with a month of the year and the length of which is linked to the number of days of the month in question, the control mobile comprising a second astrological sign cam intended to drive a display mobile for the signs of the zodiac. By providing the board of the control mobile with a set of teeth of 366 teeth, like the number of days in a leap year, such a display device would require a correction of one step at each end of the month of February in non-years. -leap to take the step corresponding to February 29. According to another alternative, one could provide for the production of a control mobile comprising at least two cams intended to control the movements of at least two display members of the same size, the values of which to be displayed extend according to a predefined range of values. In this case, each cam would be associated with the display of a given portion of the total value range, with only one cam being active at a time. Thus, each cam would comprise at least one active portion, of variable radius, and one inactive portion, of constant radius. We could for example envisage, with such a control mobile, the display of the minutes, from 0 to 60, by means of two separate display members, preferably retrograde, one of which would move opposite graduations going from 0 at 30 and the other next to graduations ranging from 30 to 60.

[0046] Generally speaking, it will be noted that, on the one hand, the first and second grooves 8, 10, and, on the other hand, the third and fourth grooves 12, 14, do not overlap in the embodiment favorite that has been described. However, it is possible to provide that two grooves formed in the same face of the board 2 intersect without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. In this case, it can advantageously be provided that the intersections between two overlapping grooves do not have a sharp edge to avoid blocking of the corresponding probes when passing through the intersections.

[0047] Generally speaking, those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the present teaching according to their own needs and producing a display device comprising a control mobile comprising a board in which are provided at least two grooves defining cams, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended main claim.

Claims (10)

1. Control mobile (1), for a display device (20) intended to equip a watch movement, comprising a drive member (6), intended to cooperate with a drive mobile of the watch movement to ensure the 'drive of the control mobile (1), as well as the first and second guide surfaces, integral in rotation with said drive member (6) and intended to fulfill the functions of first and second respective cams, by cooperating with first and second respective feelers (22, 32) of the display device (20), characterized in that it comprises a board (2) in which first and second grooves (8, 10) are dug, each of which defines a closed loop of which at least part of a wall defines one of said guide surfaces. 2. Control mobile (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second grooves (8, 10) are provided on either side of said board (2) in the direction of its thickness. 3. Control mobile (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said board (2) comprises at least a third groove (12) defining a closed loop of which at least part of at least one wall defines a third guide surface intended to fulfill the function of a third cam by cooperating with a third feeler (52) of the display device. 4. Control mobile (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drive member (6) is produced in the form of teeth that said board (2) comprises. 5. Display device (20), for a watch movement, comprising a control wheel (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, as well as a feeler (22, 32, 52, 62) per groove (8 , 10, 12, 14) that said control mobile (1) comprises, each feeler (22, 32, 52, 62) comprising a finger (24, 34, 54, 64) housed at least partially inside the corresponding groove (8, 10, 12, 14). 6. Display device (20) according to claim 5, characterized in that each probe (22, 32, 52, 62) is carried by a rocker (26, 36, 56, 66) intended to pivot on an element of frame of the corresponding watch movement, said rocker (26, 36, 56, 66) comprising a toothed sector (28, 38, 58, 68) intended to present a kinematic connection with a display mobile of a predefined indication. 7. Display device (20) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one of said toothed sectors (28, 38) is arranged directly in engagement with the display mobile (42, 44) associated, and in that at least said associated display mobile (42, 44) is coaxial with said control mobile (1). 8. Display device (20) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it is arranged to allow the simultaneous display of at least two pieces of information taken from the group comprising: the time to get up of the Sun, the time of sunset, the difference between solar and civil hours, the height of the Sun in the sky (or elevation). 9. Watch movement comprising a display device (20) according to one of claims 5 to 8 as well as a drive mobile having a kinematic connection with the drive member (6) of the control mobile (1 ) corresponding, said drive mobile preferably having a period of rotation such that the board (2) of said control mobile (1) makes a complete revolution in approximately one tropical year. 10. Timepiece comprising a watch movement according to claim 9.