CN108369400B

CN108369400B - Display mechanism with radial guide

Info

Publication number: CN108369400B
Application number: CN201680074352.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: H·施卢切特
Original assignee: Dimier 1738 Manufacture De Haute Horlogerie Artisanale Sa
Current assignee: Dimier 1738 Manufacture De Haute Horlogerie Artisanale Sa
Priority date: 2015-12-24
Filing date: 2016-12-23
Publication date: 2020-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2036-12-23
Also published as: CH711967A2; JP2019500608A; WO2017109160A1; CN108369400A; CH711967B1; HK1259417A1; JP6845857B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a display mechanism for a clockwork movement, comprising at least one display body (6), the display body (6) having substantially a gyroscopic symmetry and being designed to cooperate with a drive body (20, 22) so as to rotate according to a rotation axis X1, the display body (6) having a support surface (9), the support surface (9) being arranged to cooperate with at least three rollers (8) to be fitted to a frame element of the clockwork movement, each roller (8) having a substantially cylindrical contact surface. The support surface (9) has a slope at a predetermined angle with respect to said rotation axis X1, each roller (8) being arranged so that its contact surface is oriented substantially according to said predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis X1.

Description

Display mechanism with radial guide

Technical Field

The invention relates to a display mechanism for a clockwork movement, comprising a display device substantially having rotational symmetry and intended to cooperate with a drive device for rotation about a rotation axis X1, the display device having a bearing surface arranged to cooperate with at least three rollers intended to be assembled to a frame element of the clockwork movement, each roller having a substantially cylindrical contact surface.

Background

Clocks are known which comprise different means supported by the rollers to provide their pivoting.

By way of example, patent application publication FR2341885 describes and illustrates a timepiece comprising a cylinder whose drum is supported by three rollers. Each roller has an insert which engages in a peripheral groove arranged at the periphery of the drum to provide axial positioning thereof. With reference to the drum, such a mechanism does not require high precision in the arrangement of the rollers.

Furthermore, patent application EP1903408a2 describes a clockwork movement comprising a tourbillon, the lower frame of which is supported by three rollers. In this document, each roller is provided with a groove which cooperates with the periphery of the lower frame to provide its axial positioning. However, in this case, the precision required for the positioning of the roller with respect to the tourbillon frame position is critical, in particular in terms of limiting losses during the operations involving the meshing of the tourbillon with the forward chain.

In both of the aforementioned cases, special measures must be taken in order to provide its axial positioning when the roll is produced to allow it to cooperate with the rotating means. Moreover, the assembly of the roller on the frame is cumbersome or even problematic, especially when the assembly involves arranging the roller so that it can pivot between two jewels housed in the plate and in the mobile bar, as is the case in application EP1903408a 2.

Disclosure of Invention

A main object of the present invention is to propose a display mechanism of the above-mentioned type, with an alternative mode of cooperation to the known solutions between a display device with symmetry of revolution and three rollers providing the proper positioning thereof.

To this end, the present invention particularly relates to a display mechanism satisfying the above characteristics, characterized in that:

the bearing surface has a slope having a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis X1, an

Each roller is arranged so that its contact surface is oriented substantially along this same predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis X1.

Thanks to these features, the roller can have a conventional shape, for example made in the form of a cylindrical portion, without the need to arrange inserts or specific grooves as in the case of the aforementioned prior art.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the display device comprises a substantially spherical dome, an annular portion of the spherical dome defining the bearing surface.

In summary, it can also be provided that,

the display mechanism comprises a support intended to be assembled to a frame element of the spring movement, on which the display device rests, an

Each roller is assembled to a support.

Thus, the roller is assembled on a support supporting the display device, which ensures better accuracy of the relative positioning between the display device and the roller.

In this case, it can also be provided that the support comprises: at least one radial guide surface arranged to cooperate with a display device; and an opening defining a channel to allow the display device to be driven by the driving device.

In summary, it can be provided that each roller is intended to be fixed to the frame element of the clockwork movement by means of an eccentric arranged so that the corresponding roller can be positioned bearing against a bearing surface of the display device to eliminate any play between the roller and the display device.

Furthermore, the spherical dome may have a hole at its apex to define a channel for an additional driving device intended to drive an additional display device.

According to an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the display mechanism has a second display device, which is similar to the first display device, has a rotational symmetry and is similarly guided using rollers.

The invention also relates to a clockwork movement provided with a display mechanism satisfying the above characteristics and a timepiece equipped with such a clockwork movement.

In particular, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spherical dome carries at least a partial depiction of the earth, the drive means being arranged such that it drives the spherical dome at a rate of one complete revolution per day. In this case, the timepiece may preferably include an hour scale for extending 24 hours and arranged to face the periphery of the spherical dome. The timepiece may further comprise, in the predetermined time zone, a hour-displaying needle carried by a driver shaft arranged to pass through a hole arranged at the apex of the spherical dome to drive the display needle such that it performs one complete revolution in one day with respect to the hour scale. In this case, it can also be provided that the clock comprises an additional display device to display a geographical identification, such as the name of a city associated with the predetermined time zone.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the timepiece according to the invention comprises a display device which satisfies the above mentioned characteristics and is intended to display information of any suitable nature. Thus, for example, it can be provided that the display device comprises a spherical dome carrying N descriptions of the moon, intended to cooperate with N windows to display the phase of the moon. In this case, the spherical dome is driven by the spring movement to perform one complete revolution substantially in the N-month light cycle.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a portion of a timepiece including a display mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified perspective view, similar to the view of FIG. 1, showing the display mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention without its main display device, an

FIG. 3 shows a simplified perspective view of a portion of a timepiece including a display mechanism according to an alternative embodiment.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a portion of a timepiece including a display mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The timepiece advantageously comprises a clockwork movement, not shown for greater clarity, comprising a conventional frame intended to support the moving parts, in particular the plate and the lever.

Spring movement will not be described in detail since most of its component elements are not illustrated and have no direct effect on the practice of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment, the display means is intended to perform, as a non-limiting illustration, a primary display of global time, i.e. a graduated scale displaying hours within 24 hours, facing the earth's depiction to provide an indication of the time at each moment of any location on the earth. Furthermore, the display mechanism according to the preferred embodiment provides an auxiliary display of the time within the predetermined time zone, advantageously using a graduated scale to display the universal time.

The display mechanism comprises a support 2, support 2 being intended to be fixed to a frame element of the spring movement, for example a plate.

The support 2 has a base 4, the side walls of which 4 are inclined and support an hour scale extending for 24 hours.

A main display 6 in the form of a spherical dome is arranged on the support 2 substantially in the extension of the side wall of its base 4. Here a partial delineation of the earth is made in any suitable way (spraying, painting, etching, etc.) on top of the spherical dome.

As will be seen below, the depiction of the earth enables the definition of a display of global time, i.e. indicating the time at any time anywhere on the earth. Thus, for example, in the position of the display device 6 shown in FIG. 1, it is approximately 1PM in time zones including south Africa and approximately 9PM in time zones including Sydney.

The display device 6 is rotated about axis X1 at a rate of one full revolution for 24 hours, axis X1 passing through the apex of the spherical dome.

The display mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises three rollers 8 to hold the display device 6 in its use position while performing a guiding function during its rotation. To this end, each roller 8 has a contact surface, substantially cylindrical in shape and oriented in a direction inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis X1, cooperating with a portion of the display device serving as a bearing surface (illustrated by the annular bar indicated by reference numeral 9 in fig. 1). Advantageously and in a non-limiting manner, the rollers 8 are here regularly distributed around the substrate 4, i.e. at a 120 ° pairing interval.

Each roller 8 is directly fixed to the base 4 via an L-like support 10, a first portion of L-like support 10 being screwed in the base 4, a second portion of L-like support 10 having a hole (not visible) allowing the assembly of a crankshaft (12 in fig. 2) on the support 10, each roller 8, here in the form of a sapphire bearing of conventional type, being pivotally mounted on the corresponding crankshaft 12 via an eccentric 14.

Thanks to this configuration, each roller 8 is free to rotate about itself along a rotation axis inclined with respect to the rotation axis X1 of the display device 6, so that it exerts on the display device 6 a force on the supporting surface 9 of the display device 6 having a component oriented in the direction of the rotation axis X1.

The bearing surface 9 can have different shapes suitable for implementing the invention, in particular a spherical dome portion or a conical portion, advantageously having in each point a slope substantially corresponding to the slope of the rotation axis of the roller 8.

The fact that each roller 8 is directly fixed to the substrate 4 supporting the display device 6 ensures good accuracy in the relative positioning between the display device 6 and the roller 8. Furthermore, the use of eccentric 14 makes it possible to adjust the position of each roller 8 with respect to display device 6 more precisely and to avoid any play between them.

Fig. 1 also shows that the display device 6 has at its apex a hole defining a passage for a crankshaft 16, the crankshaft 16 supporting an hour (curved) display pin 18 for a predetermined time zone relative to a time scale arranged on the side wall of the base 4.

Advantageously, the timepiece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises additional display means (not shown) intended to provide a geographical indication enabling the identification of a predetermined time zone associated with the display needle 18. The person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in implementing such additional display devices without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, such additional display means may take the form of a disc bearing the names of cities, which may be alternately positioned in alignment with windows arranged in the dial, or of a cylindrical roller having windows or fixed markings enabling the identification of the city associated with the display pin 18.

Furthermore, the timepiece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention also comprises control means (not shown) enabling the actuation of a suitable mechanism to move the display pin 18 by one hour pitch (or even by half an hour pitch to count half a time zone) as required to change the time zone, this mechanism acting simultaneously on the additional display device to modify the displayed geographical indication associated with the position of the display pin 18. Such mechanisms are well known in the art and will not be described in detail herein, since one skilled in the art would not encounter any particular difficulty in implementing them based on their own needs, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a simplified perspective view similar to the view of fig. 1, wherein the display device 6 is not shown in order to make visible its drive mechanism arranged in the support 2.

The support 2 comprises different recesses and openings to define the position for the wheels and the passage for the driving means, which in turn are driven by the basic spring mechanism.

In particular, the 24-hour wheel 20 is arranged in the centre of the support 2, while being connected to the basic spring mechanism, so that it performs one revolution around itself in days or 24 hours.

Furthermore, the wheel 20 bears fingers 22 on its disc, which is arranged to cooperate continuously with a suitable bearing surface (not shown) of the display device 6, so that the display device 6 is driven via the fingers 22 in the same rhythm as the wheel 20.

The 24 hour wheel 20 has a barrel 24, the center of the barrel 24 defining a passage for supporting the crankshaft 16 of the display pin 18.

The drive of the crankshaft 16 can be independent of the drive of the 24-hour wheel. Alternatively, a frictional connection can be provided between the 24 hour wheel 20 and the machine shaft 16 so that the machine shaft 16 is continuously driven by the wheel 20, while enabling the position of the display hand 18 to be shifted by suitable action on the control mechanism as required to change the time zone displayed by the display hand 18.

It will also be noted that in fig. 2, the guides 26 have been arranged on the substrate 4 to define radial guide surfaces 28 of the display device 6. As for the rollers 8, the guides 26 are advantageously, but not limitatively, spaced from each other by substantially the same angle.

Due to the combined action of the rollers 8 and the guides 26, the retention of the display device 6 during operation can be optimized.

Fig. 3 shows a simplified perspective view of a portion of a timepiece including as an additional example a display mechanism according to an alternative embodiment.

The display device 60 has the form of a spherical dome with an axis of rotation X2, here intended to show the phase of the moon. To this end, the spherical vault comprises two schematical depictions 62 of the moon, the two schematical depictions 62 being arranged substantially at 180 degrees from each other to cooperate alternately with a first and a

second window

64 and 66, one window 64 being intended to represent the phase of the moon in the northern hemisphere and the other window 66 being intended to represent the phase of the moon in the southern hemisphere. The

windows

64 and 66 are stationary while being threaded in a support 68 of the display device 60 and are arranged at 180 degrees to each other.

In a known manner, the drive mechanism is able to rotate the display device 60 at a rate of one full revolution every two moon cycles, so that the depiction 62 of the moon cooperates alternately with each

window

64, 66. The driving mode of the display device is preferably similar to the driving mode of the display device 6 and will not be described in detail.

Of course, in summary, the person skilled in the art can carry out displaying the phase of the moon comprising an integer number N of depictions of the moon, without going beyond the scope of the invention. The display device 60 will then preferably be driven to perform one full revolution in a N month lighting period.

As can be seen in fig. 3, the three rollers assembled using the eccentric 14 are also arranged to hold the display device 60 in its use position, while performing a guiding function during its rotation. The structure of these rollers 8 and the assembly of these rollers 8 to the support 68 are the same as described above.

Thanks to the described features, it is possible to produce a timepiece comprising at least one display mechanism comprising a main display device with a symmetry of revolution, the central part of which is completely free. In addition to the fact that such a feature will free the surface area to display information, it is optionally possible to combine at least one auxiliary display with at least one main display in the central part of the latter.

In fact, although not limited to the embodiments described herein, the invention is particularly advantageous in case the display mechanism comprises at least one main display device having rotational symmetry and a secondary display device having a rotational axis substantially in conjunction with the rotational axis of the main display device, as this enables to release a central area of the main display device for arranging the drive mechanism of the secondary display device therein.

The foregoing description has been made in an effort to describe one particular embodiment as a non-limiting example, and the present invention is not limited to the implementation of the specific features that have been described, for example, in the form of display devices 6 and 60. In fact, other forms for the main display device are conceivable without going beyond the scope of the invention. As a non-limiting example, the main display device may have a substantially cylindrical or spherical upper portion extended by a flared lower portion, for example in an envelope cone having an apex angle corresponding to a predetermined angle of the rotation axis of the roller with respect to the rotation axis X1 of the display device, defining a bearing surface cooperating with the roller.

Of course, the present invention is also not limited to the nature of the information displayed by display devices 6 and 60, and one skilled in the art would not encounter any particular difficulty in applying the present teachings and implementing the display of other types of information.

Furthermore, it will be noted that roller 8 can be assembled directly to the frame element of the spring movement, without going beyond the scope of the present invention, even when this solution is carried out more finely in terms of the precision of their positioning with respect to display devices 6 and 60.

A person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to his own needs and implementing a timepiece that only partially satisfies the above-mentioned features including a display mechanism comprising at least one display device with gyroscopic symmetry fixed to the frame of the corresponding clockwork movement via at least three rollers having axes of rotation inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the display device, without going beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A display mechanism for a clockwork movement, comprising at least one display device (6), said display device (6) having substantially a gyroscopic symmetry and being intended to cooperate with drive means (20, 22) for rotation about an axis of rotation X1, said display device (6) having a bearing surface (9) arranged to cooperate with at least three rollers (8), said rollers (8) being intended to be assembled to a frame element of the clockwork movement, each roller (8) having a substantially cylindrical contact surface, characterized in that,

the bearing surface (9) has a slope of a predetermined non-zero angle with respect to the axis of rotation X1, an

Each of the three rollers (8) is arranged so that its substantially cylindrical contact surface is oriented substantially along said predetermined angle with respect to the rotation axis X1.

2. The display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the display device (6) comprises a substantially spherical dome, an annular portion of which defines the bearing surface (9).

3. The display mechanism of claim 1,

the display mechanism comprises a support (2), said support (2) being intended to be assembled to a frame element of the spring movement, the display device (6) resting on said support (2), and

each of the three rollers (8) is assembled to the support (2).

4. The display mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the support (2) comprises: at least one radial guide surface (28) arranged to cooperate with said display device (6); and an opening defining a channel to allow the display device (6) to be driven by the drive device (20, 22).

5. The display mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the three rollers (8) is intended to be fixed to a frame element of the spring movement by an eccentric (14), the eccentric (14) being arranged so that the corresponding roller (8) can be positioned bearing against the bearing surface (9) of the display device (6).

6. A display mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the display device (6) has an aperture at its apex to define a channel for an additional drive device intended to drive the additional display device.

7. The display mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one second display device (60), said second display means (60) substantially having a symmetry of revolution and intended to cooperate with additional drive means to rotate about an additional axis of rotation X2, the second display device (60) has an additional bearing surface arranged to cooperate with at least three additional rollers (8), said additional rollers (8) being intended to be assembled to a frame element of said spring movement, each of said additional rollers (8) having a substantially cylindrical contact surface, said additional bearing surface having a slope with a predetermined non-zero angle with respect to said additional rotation axis X2, each of said three additional rollers (8) is arranged so that its substantially cylindrical contact surface is substantially oriented at said predetermined angle with respect to said additional rotation axis X2.

8. A power spring movement comprising a display mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A power spring movement including a display mechanism according to claim 7.

10. A power spring movement comprising a display mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the display device (6) comprises a substantially spherical dome, the annular portion of which defines the bearing surface (9), characterized in that,

the substantially spherical dome carries at least a partial depiction of the earth, the drive means (20, 22) being arranged such that it drives the substantially spherical dome at a rate of one complete revolution per day, or

The substantially spherical dome carries N depictions of the moon, the drive means being arranged such that it rotates the substantially spherical dome at a rate of one full revolution in N month's photoperiod.

11. A timepiece including a case housing a clockwork movement according to claim 8.

12. A timepiece including a clockwork movement according to claim 10, when said substantially spherical crown carries a depiction of the earth, characterized in that it includes an hour scale extending for 24 hours and arranged facing the periphery of said substantially spherical crown.

13. Timepiece according to claim 12, further comprising an hour display hand (18) related to a predetermined time zone, said hour display hand (18) being supported by a driver shaft (16), said driver shaft (16) being arranged to pass through a hole arranged at the apex of said substantially spherical dome to drive said hour display hand (18) such that said display hand (18) performs one complete rotation within one day with respect to said hour scale.

14. The timepiece of claim 13 including an additional display device to display the name of the city associated with said predetermined time zone.