EP0537617B1 - Timepiece provided with an unit fitted on a motor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

This timepiece includes in combination a chronograph unit (MC) and a motor unit (MM) which are assembled, the motor unit (MM) comprising a third-wheel (57), a first power take-off consisting of a toothed wheel (49) solid with the canon-pinion and a second power take-off consisting of a pinion (51) fixed on the centre of the seconds shaft (53), the chronograph unit (MC) comprising a chronograph hand (17), a minute-counter hand and an hour-counter hand (9), this timepiece being characterised in that it comprises a third power take-off consisting of a wheel (55) fixed on the third-wheel (57), these three power take-offs being accessible from the same side via the upper face of the motor unit (MM) and the chronograph unit (MC) being placed against the said upper face of the motor unit, and in that the chronograph hand (17), the minute-counter hand and the hour-counter hand (11) are respectively driven in an independent manner by the said second, third and first power take-offs (51, 55, 49). <??>Application to chronographs used as a wristwatch. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a chronograph module intended to be mounted on a watch movement or conventional motor module. The invention also relates to a chronograph watch fitted with such a chronograph module.

In order to rationalize the production of chronograph watches, it may be desirable to use a standard or only slightly modified motor module and to add a chronograph module which can be easily mounted on this motor module.

Patent CH 647,125 describes a chronograph watch built on this principle. In this watch, the chronograph module is driven from two concentric power take-offs from the engine module. The display of the current time (hour hand and minute hand) is controlled by a first PTO formed by the floor of the engine module, while the display of the elapsed time (central second hand, minute counters and d 'hours) is controlled by a second PTO formed by the seconds axis in the center of the engine module. In other words, the train of the chronograph is built according to a system known as "in series", where only one power take-off (the second) makes it possible to realize all the functions of the chronograph.

However, this type of arrangement has two main drawbacks.

First, there is a loss of amplitude at the balance. Indeed, the second PTO must drive many wheels and is therefore very sensitive to all losses due to friction which accumulate in a series of cogs. The last wheels of this gear train in series may lose speed and the display of the minute and hour counters may be disturbed.

Secondly, in a series connection, it is necessary to carry out very many adjustments, during the assembly of the parts. Indeed, the different workings of the seconds, minutes and hours counters need to be adjusted with respect to each other.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising in combination a chronograph module and an engine module assembled, the engine module comprising a small wheel, a first power take-off constituted by a toothed wheel secured to the road and, a second PTO constituted by a pinion fixed on the center seconds axis, the chronograph module comprising a chronograph hand, a minute counter and an hour counter.

According to the characteristics of the invention, this timepiece comprises a third PTO constituted by a wheel fixed on the small average, these three PTOs being accessible from the same side by the upper face of the engine module and the chronograph being placed against said upper face of the engine module, and in that the chronograph hand, the minute counter and the hour counter are driven respectively and independently by said second, third and first power take-offs.

Thanks to these characteristics of the invention, the various workings of the chronograph are driven in parallel, which makes it possible to improve the precision of the time display on the counters, to reduce the losses in amplitude of the balance wheel and to limit the settings.

In addition, according to other characteristics of the invention, the timepiece comprises a first clutch lever for the chronograph hub, a second clutch lever for the minute counter and a third clutch lever for the d counter. 'hours, these three levers being controlled by a single piece forming the clutch control.

Thus, the three seconds, minutes and hours counters are engaged or stopped simultaneously and this avoids possible angular shifts at the end of the gear train series.

• la figure 1 représente une vue de dessus d'une montre chronographe dans laquelle est incorporé un exemple de construction selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe axiale illustrant le principe de montage du module de chronographe selon l'invention sur le module moteur,
• les figures 3, 4 et 5 représentent des vues de dessus du module de chronographe, respectivement dans les positions de mise en marche, d'arrêt et de remise à zéro,
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues en coupe selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 13, représentant respectivement deux positions extrêmes pouvant être occupées par une roue d'embrayage,
• les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues en coupe selon la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 14, représentant deux positions extrêmes pouvant être occupées par une autre roue d'embrayage,
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne X-X de la figure 14 montrant le centre du module selon l'invention,
• les figures 11 et 12 sont des vues en coupe selon la ligne XI-XI de la figure 15, représentant respectivement deux positions extrêmes pouvant être occupées par une roue d'embrayage.
• les figures 13, 14 et 15 sont des vues de détail agrandies de la figure 3 représentant des portions du module de chronographe,
• la figure 16 représente une vue agrandie selon la flèche XVI de la figure 11;
• la figure 17 représente une vue en coupe axiale selon la ligne XVII-XVII de la figure 16;
• la figure 18 est une vue agrandie d'une partie de la vue de la figure 15.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example and the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a top view of a chronograph watch in which an example of construction according to the invention is incorporated,
• FIG. 2 represents a view in axial section illustrating the principle of mounting the chronograph module according to the invention on the engine module,
• FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 represent top views of the chronograph module, respectively in the start, stop and reset positions,
• FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views along line VI-VI of FIG. 13, respectively representing two extreme positions which can be occupied by a clutch wheel,
• FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 14, representing two extreme positions which can be occupied by another clutch wheel,
• FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line XX of FIG. 14 showing the center of the module according to the invention,
• Figures 11 and 12 are sectional views along the line XI-XI of Figure 15, respectively representing two extreme positions which can be occupied by a clutch wheel.
• FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are enlarged detailed views of FIG. 3 showing portions of the chronograph module,
• Figure 16 shows an enlarged view along arrow XVI of Figure 11;
• Figure 17 shows an axial sectional view along the line XVII-XVII of Figure 16;
• FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of part of the view in FIG. 15.

In the following description, the terms 3 hours, 6 hours, 9 hours, 12 hours, top, bottom, top and bottom are used with reference to a chronograph seen from above, that is to say seen from the side. dial.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the timepiece according to the invention constitutes, according to an exemplary embodiment, a chronograph watch. This conventionally comprises a winding crown 1, a first 2H push button controlling the start and stop of the chronograph and placed approximately at 2 o'clock and a second 4H push button controlling the reset of the chronograph and arranged substantially at 4 o'clock. This watch allows the current time to be displayed, using an hour hand 3, a minute hand 5 and a small second hand 7 positioned at 3 o'clock. It also makes it possible to display an elapsed time, using a twelve-hour counter 9, placed at 6 o'clock and provided with a hand 11, a thirty-minute counter 13, placed at 9 o'clock and provided a hand 15, and a central chronograph second hand 17. For simplicity, the twelve-hour counter 9 and the thirty-minute counter 13 will be referred to below as the counter of hours 9 and minute counter 13. The graduations of these different counters are carried on a dial 19. It will be noted that the hour counter 9 has, between each of the 12 hour graduations, intermediate graduations making it possible to display half an hour.

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the association of the two modules constituting the chronograph watch. Certain parts of the watch have been enlarged to clarify this figure 2 and their dimensions do not correspond to reality.

This watch includes a motor module MM and a chronograph module MC assembled inside a watch case 21. Conventionally, this watch case 21 includes a middle part 23 on which a crystal 25 and a back 27 are fixed. Between the middle part 23 and the bottom 27 is placed a seal 29. This structure is of course given only for information and the invention is not limited thereto. In the example shown, the motor module is mechanical, and with automatic winding. It therefore comprises an oscillating mass 31. However, one could also use a quartz motor module.

The chronograph module MC has in its lower part two feet 33 (only one is shown in FIG. 2). Each foot 33, substantially cylindrical, is designed to be engaged in an orifice 35 provided in the upper part of the motor module MM. These two feet 33 are used to angularly position the two modules relative to each other. It will be noted that each foot comprises a prepositioning stud with a diameter smaller than the main diameter of the foot to facilitate the penetration of the teeth during the positioning of the chronograph module MC on the motor module MM.

Furthermore, the motor module MM and the chronograph module MC are each provided at their periphery with three holes 36, respectively 37 (a single pair of holes is shown in Figure 2), the holes 37 being partially tapped. Three screws 39 are engaged in these holes 36, 37 to allow the assembly of the two modules.

All of these two modules are fixed inside the watch case 21 as follows. The middle part 23 has an annular groove 41 on its internal face. The chronograph module MC has at its periphery two additional tapped holes 43 (only one is shown in FIG. 2). Opposite each of these holes 43, a casing flange 45 is fixed to the underside of the chronograph module MC, by means of a screw 47 screwed into the hole 43. After assembly, this casing flange 45 protrudes of the diameter of the chronograph module MC and is engaged inside the annular groove 41.

The MM motor module is slightly modified compared to a conventional watch movement in that it comprises, instead of the needles, a toothed wheel 49 integral with the pavement of this module and constituting a first power take-off, a pinion 51 fixed on the axis 53 of the seconds in the center and constituting a second PTO coaxial with the first and a toothed wheel 55 fixed on the small medium 57 and constituting a third PTO.

All of the chronograph cogs are actuated by these three power take-offs 49, 51, 55 according to a so-called "parallel" system which will now be described in more detail.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate top views of the chronograph module MC in which the wheels are simply shown diagrammatically by dotted lines and the dial and the hands have been omitted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the chronograph module MC conventionally comprises, in its center, a chronograph wheel 59 provided with a heart 61. It further comprises on its periphery, respectively at 6 o'clock and at 9 o'clock, a wheel 63 of the hour counter provided with a heart 65 and a wheel 67 of the minute counter provided with a heart 69.

The hearts 61 and 69 (FIGS. 6 and 8) are arranged respectively above the chronograph wheel 59 and the wheel 67 of the minute counter. On the contrary, the core 65 is arranged below the wheel 63 of the hour meter (Figure 11).

As explained above, the timepiece does not have, for the display of the current time, indications of the second in the center, but, this display is made using the small seconds hand 7, arranged at 3 o'clock and driven by means of a small second wheel 71 (FIG. 6). This small second wheel 71 is fixed on an axle 73 mounted in an upper bearing 75 and a lower bearing 77. The upper bearing 75 is mounted in the chronograph bridge 79, while the lower bearing 77 is mounted in the chronograph board 81.

The small second hand 7 is driven out on the axis 73.

The small seconds wheel 71 is driven from the center seconds axis 53 by the pinion 51 constituting the second power take-off and by an intermediate seconds wheel 83 freely rotating around an axis 85 mounted on bearings 87 and 89 which are driven in their turn respectively in the chronograph bridge 79 and in the chronograph board 81.

The second PTO 51 is placed directly below the chronograph wheel 59. Assuming that the engine module is mechanical with balance wheel, the wheels 51 and 71 rotate at the rate of one step by oscillation of this balance wheel. In the case of a quartz motor module, they rotate for example at the rate of one step per second.

The wheels 51, 59, 63, 67, 71, 83 and the hearts 61, 65, 69 previously described are conventional and a skilled person in the art of watchmaking will be able to produce and assemble them without the need to describe them further here.

Above and coaxially with the intermediate seconds wheel 83 is arranged a chronograph hub 91 (FIG. 6) which has an annular groove 93 forming an engagement groove for a disengaging lever 95 which will be described later. This hub 91 has at mid-height an annular shoulder 97 against which is pressed a clutch wheel 99 surmounting a clutch ring 101. The hub 91 is capable of sliding along the axis 85 in order to take two positions.

In the engaged position (low position shown in FIG. 6), the clutch ring 101 comes into contact with the intermediate seconds wheel 83 which drives it in friction rotation and this ring 101 transmits this rotational movement to the wheel clutch 99 which meshes with the chronograph wheel 59. Consequently, in the engaged position, the chronograph wheel 59 rotates at the same speed as the wheel 51 constituting the second PTO. The chronograph wheel 59 is driven on an axis 103 which carries the central chronograph second hand 17. The latter is therefore driven at the rate of the axis 53 which constitutes the output of the motor module MM.

In the disengaged position (high position shown in FIG. 7), the clutch ring 101 is released from the intermediate seconds wheel 83, but the clutch wheel 99 remains engaged with the chronograph wheel 59.

The clutch ring 101 is permanently urged against the intermediate seconds wheel 83, thanks to the action of an elastic washer 105 fixed on a plate 107 driven out on the axis 85. This elastic washer 105 exerts pressure on the top of the hub 91 in the direction of the clutch, against the action exerted, if necessary, by the lever 95.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, and in particular 13, the clutch release lever 95 has a generally elongated shape and has at one of its ends an oblong orifice 99 beyond which extends an inclined plane 111 directed towards the top. This lever 95 has at its other end a lateral fixing lug 113 and it is fixed to the chronograph board (not shown) by two studs 115, 117. The outline of the oblong orifice 109 has two lugs 119 (FIG. 13) facing each other and designed to enter the engagement groove 93 of the hub 91 (FIG. 6) so as to allow the latter to be displaced vertically.

The vertical movement of the free end of this declutching lever 95 is ensured by a declutching control 121 which will be described later and which acts on the inclined plane 111.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the axis 123 of the small mean 57 of the motor module MM is extended in the direction of the chronograph module MC. The intermediate gear 55 of the minute counter is driven on this axis 123 and constitutes the third PTO previously described. This toothed wheel 55 meshes with the wheel 67 of the minute counter. The latter is freely mounted on an axis 125 of the minute counter carrying the hand 15.

This axis 125 is mounted in two bearings 127, 129 provided respectively in the chronograph bridge 79 and in the chronograph board 81. The wheel 67 of the minute counter is surmounted by a hub 131 driven out of a barrel of the heart 69 of the counter of minutes mounted sliding on the axis 125.

In its upper part, the core 69 also has a bearing surface 133 around which a disc 135 is engaged. The hub 131 has an annular groove 137 forming an engagement groove for a disengaging lever 139 which will be described later. The core 69, the hub 131 and the disc 135 are capable of sliding along the axis 125, under the action of the declutching lever 139 in order to assume two positions.

In the engaged position (low position shown in FIG. 8), the minute counter wheel 67 is tightened and locked by friction between a plate 141 provided on the axis 125 and the hub 131 and it transmits its rotational movement to the axis 125 which drives the hand 15 of the minute counter.

In the disengaged position (high position, shown in FIG. 9), the hub 131 is slightly displaced upwards, but the minute counter wheel 67 continues to be engaged with the intermediate minute counter wheel 55 without transmitting its movement at the axis 125 and therefore at the needle 15. In fact, in this case the wheel 67 rotates freely around the axis 125.

It will be noted that the hub 131 is urged elastically downward to be in contact with the minute counter wheel 67, by virtue of an elastic washer 143 clamped between a plate 145 driven out on the axis 125 and the disc 135, so that normally the hub 131 and the wheel 67 are engaged.

The hub 131 is actuated by the clutch lever 139 of the minute counter which best appears in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 14. This lever 139 has an elongated shape and has at its ends two legs 147 and 149 which are provided with orifices intended to receive two studs 151 and 153 riveted in the chronograph board 81. The clutch release lever 139 is therefore positioned by these two studs 151 and 153 and is clamped between the bridge of chronograph 79 and plate 81 (see figures 8 and 9). It also has at its other end a pallet 155 and in its middle part a fork 157 side. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, this fork 157 penetrates into the engagement groove 137 and makes it possible to lift the hub 131. The pallet 155 is moved vertically by the clutch control 121, as will be described later.

The minute hand 5 (FIG. 10) is fixed on a road 159 of the chronograph module MC pivotally mounted on a fixed barrel 161 carried by the bridge 79. This road 159 has in its lower part a pinion 163 which meshes with a wheel 165. The latter is integral with an axis 167 pivoted in a socket 169 fixed in the chronograph board 81. This axis 167 carries at its lower end an intermediate road wheel 173 which meshes with the wheel 49 constituting the first grip by force. This wheel 49 is integral with the carriageway 175 of the motor module MM. Furthermore, the carriageway 175 of the motor module MM is engaged with the small medium wheel 57, as appears in FIG. 9, by means of a board 176.

In addition, the hour hand 3 is fixed to the barrel 177 of the hour wheel 179 concentric with the pavement 159 of the chronograph module. The hour wheel 179 meshes with a pinion 181 secured to the timer wheel 165.

As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the wheel 63 of the hour counter is driven from the hour wheel 179 by a return wheel 183 freely rotating around an axis 185 driven into the chronograph board 81. The hour meter wheel 63 rotates freely around an hour meter axis 187 pivotally mounted in bearings 189, 191. These bearings 189, 191 are driven respectively into the chronograph bridge 79 and into the chronograph board 81.

The resetting core 65 of the hour counter is slidably mounted on the axis 185 and has on its upper face a barrel 193 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) around which a hub 195 is engaged. The core 65 still has , on its underside, a bearing 197 around which is engaged a notched disc 199 The wheel 63 of the hour counter is placed above the hub 195 and is retained by a plate 201 formed on the axis 187. The hub 195 has an annular groove 203 in which is engaged a clutch lever 205 which will be described later (Figures 11 and 12).

The core 65, the hub 195 and the disc 199 are slidably mounted on the axis 187, under the action of the clutch release lever 205 in order to assume two positions.

In the engaged position (high position shown in FIGS. 11 and 17), the hour meter wheel 63 is locked by friction between the plate 201 and the hub 195 to transmit its rotational movement to the axis 187 which drives hand 11 of the hour counter.

In the disengaged position (low position shown in FIG. 12), the hub 195 is moved slightly downwards, but the hour counter wheel 63 continues to mesh with the idler wheel 183, without however transmitting its movement of rotation to the axis 187 since it then rotates freely around it.

The assembly is normally engaged under the action of an elastic plate 207 retained on the axis 185 by a notched stop washer 208. The elastic plate 207 comprises two drive pins 209 folded up and engaging in the notches 210 of the disc 199. It also includes two lugs 211 folded down and engaged in the notches 212 of the locking washer 208. In this way, the core 65 is integral in rotation with the shaft 187, while being able to slide axially with respect to it when the lever declutching 205 moves the hub 195 downwards against the elastic action of the plate 208.

In addition, thanks to the arrangement of the elastic plate 207, the plate 201 and the means 195 are integral in rotation. This guarantees a safe and precise drive of the wheel 63 associated with the clutch shown in FIG. 17. It will therefore be noted that the elastic plate 207 performs a triple function, namely a first function ensuring the mobility of the means 195 and enabling the function clutch, a second function ensuring the solidarity in rotation of the two parts 195 and 201 used to tighten the wheel 63, and a third function ensuring the solidarity in rotation of the reset core 65 with the axis 187 carrying an indicator analog.

The declutching lever 205 appears clearly in FIGS. 3 and 15. It has an L-shape and is fixed to the chronograph board 81 by its small branch using two screws 213. In its middle part is provided a fork lateral 215 which penetrates into the engagement groove 203 and makes it possible to vertically move the hub 195. At its free end 217, this clutch lever 205 has an inclined plane 219 directed downwards which cooperates with the clutch control 121 like this will be described later.

The chronograph wheel 59, the minute counter 13 and the hour counter 9 are brought to zero by means of their respective hearts 61, 69, 65 on which a chronograph hammer 221 acts.

FIG. 14 shows that this chronograph hammer 221 comprises two parts assembled together. The first part 223 has two control branches 225, 227 arranged in a V. The first branch 225 has at one of its lateral edges a notch 229 and ends in an incline 231 intended to cooperate with the heart 65 of the counter. hours. The second branch 227 carries to its free end the second part 233 of the chronograph hammer forming a hammer breakdown. The first part 223 is articulated around a pivot 235 and further has in its central part a beak 237 oriented downwards. The hammer tip 233 is disposed below the first part 223 and fixed to the latter by a rivet 239 which gives it a certain freedom of rotation relative to the first part 223. The hammer tip 233 has a first inclined 241 intended to cooperate with the heart 61 of the chronograph wheel and a second inclined 242 intended to cooperate with the heart 69 of the minute counter.

In addition, the hammer tip 233 comprises an opening 243, while the first part 223 comprises a spout 245 directed vertically downwards, this spout 245 being introduced into the opening 243, when the two parts 223, 233 are assembled ( see figure 15). The spout 245 has a width less than that of the opening 243 so as to provide a slight lateral clearance between the parts 223 and 233, which allows them a small angular clearance relative to each other around the rivet 239 in order to catch up with the game when resetting.

The chronograph hammer 221 can take two positions. In the first position illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 14, the hammer 221 is in a rest position. It is held in this position by a hammer spring 247 fixed on the board 81 by two screws 249, 251 and having a substantially V-shaped, that is to say two elastic branches 253, 255. The branch 253 of this hammer spring cooperates with the spout 237 and is provided at its end with a retaining head 257. The branch 255 passes over the chronograph hammer 221 and prevents it from being lifted.

In the second position illustrated in FIG. 5, the chronograph hammer 221 has rotated around the pivot 235 and the inclines 231, 241 and 242 support respectively on the hearts 65, 61 and 69 to bring them back to their original position. The chronograph hammer 221 is moved to this second position by a reset lever 259.

This is articulated at one of its ends around a pivot 261 (Figure 15) placed at 3 o'clock and includes on its outer edge (facing outwards from the chronograph module) a pallet 263 (Figure 18) folded at a right angle downwards and on which the push button 4 can act. It also includes on its inner edge, substantially opposite this pallet 263, a spout 265. At its free end is provided a control head 267 ( Figures 3 to 5) designed to cooperate with the notch 229 of the chronograph hammer 221.

The declutching lever 95 of the chronograph hub 91 and the declutching levers 205 and 139 of the hubs 195 and 131 of the hour and minute counters are actuated by the declutching control 121 formed in a single piece, as illustrated in the Figures 3, 4 and 5, the details of which appear best in Figure 15.

The declutching control 121 is articulated around a pivot 269 and has roughly the shape of a V. A first branch 271 of this control 121 has a free end oriented at right angles to the interior of the V where it has an inclined plane 273 directed upwards. This inclined plane 273 is designed to cooperate with the end 155 of the minute counter clutch lever 139.

The second branch 275 (see FIG. 18) of this clutch control 121 is slightly bent inwards and its free end 277 formed in question mark cooperates with the end 217 of the clutch lever 205 of the hour counter . This second branch 275 has protrusions 279, 281 on either side. The first 279 forms an arm for controlling the disengaging lever 95 of the chronograph hub 91 and the second 281 forms a control spout intended to cooperate with a cam 283 which will be described later.

Finally, this declutching control 121 has at the tip of the V a spout 285 (FIG. 15) subjected to the action of a spring 287 which appears best in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and which will be described later. This spring angularly biases the clutch control 121 so that the control spout 281 is in contact with the cam 283.

The cam 283 (FIG. 18) is a mobile pivoting about an axis 293 and it is provided with six bearing surfaces 295. A ratchet 297, coaxial and integral with the cam 283 is fixed under the latter. This ratchet 297 comprises twelve triangular teeth 299 and it is subjected to the action of a jumper 301.

The cam 283 is rotated by a control member 303 which acts on the ratchet 297. It is itself subjected to the action of an on and off rocker 305. This part 303 is held vertically by the cam 283.

The on and off rocker 305 (see also FIG. 15) is articulated around a pivot 307 and has three arms. A first arm 309 has one end folded at a right angle downwards so as to define a pallet 311 on which the push button 2H can act. A second arm 313 is directed towards the center of the chronograph module and passes under the clutch control 121. This second arm 313 has on its upper surface a pin 312 directed upwards. This pin 312 passes through a circular orifice 314 provided in the chronograph board (not visible in FIG. 15). This pin 312 and this orifice 314 make it possible to limit the angular displacement of the on and off rocker 305 against the action of the spring 287. A third arm 315 is provided at its end with a guide head 317 ( Figure 18) cooperating with the part 303 forming rotation control.

The on and off rocker 305 is also subjected to the action of spring 287, described later.

The part 303 forming rotation control comprises three arms, a first arm 319 having a curved end which surrounds the guide head 317, a second arm 321 forming a hook and acting on the triangular teeth 299 of the ratchet 297 to drive the latter in rotation and a third arm 323 subjected to the action of a return spring 325. This spring 325 comprises an elastic blade fixed in the board 81 or in the rocker 305 at one of its ends and the other end of which is press on arm 323.

The spring 287 is visible in Figure 13. It has two elastic tapered arms 327 and 329. The arm 327 acts on the spout 285 of the declutching control 121, while the arm 329 acts on the first arm 309 of the rocker on and off 305.

The operation of the chronograph watch according to the invention will now be described in more detail and by the description of the three successive stages of a complete control cycle.

STARTING THE CHRONOGRAPH

This start-up is obtained when the user presses the 2H push button. The elements of the chronograph which were in the position shown in FIG. 4 pass to the position shown in FIG. 3.

The user exerts a pressure on the push button 2H, which has the effect of rotating the on / off rocker 305, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3, so that the guide head 317 (FIG. 18) moves the part 303 forming a rotation control. The hook 321 then drives the cam 283 in rotation (Figure 18). Control spout 281 of the declutching control 121 which was initially between two adjacent spans 295 is raised on one of the spans 295 (FIG. 18). This causes the disengagement control 121 to pivot about the axis 269.

The end 277 of the control 121 which pressed on the end 217 of the clutch release lever 205 (Figure 4) departs from the latter (Figure 3). However, as illustrated in FIG. 12, this lever 205 is released so that the elastic washer 207 can act and engage the hub 195 against the hour meter wheel 63 (see FIG. 11). Hand 11 of the hour counter begins to rotate.

Simultaneously, the protrusion 279 of the declutching control 121 which was under the inclined plane 111 of the declutching lever 95 (Figure 4) deviates therefrom (Figure 3).

However, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the hub 91 on which the disengaging lever 95 acts is subjected to the action of the elastic washer 105. When the end of the disengaging lever 95 is no longer supported, the hub 91 is lowered under the action of the elastic washer 105 so that the clutch wheel 99 engages with the intermediate seconds wheel 83. The central second hand 17 begins to rotate.

Also simultaneously, the inclined plane 273, the upper end of which was under the end 155 of the declutching lever 139 while maintaining the latter in the high position (position shown in FIG. 4) engages under this lever 139, which allows its end 155 to lower (position shown in Figure 3).

This has the effect of lowering the hub 131 which moves along the axis 125 and leaves the position shown in FIG. 9, to pass to that shown in FIG. 8. The minute counter is then started and the needle 15 begins to rotate.

STOPPING THE CHRONOGRAPHER

The operations which will now be described also take place simultaneously. The chronograph is in the operating position shown in FIG. 3. When the user exerts a second press on the push button 2H, the elements of the chronograph will move to come again into the position represented in FIG. on and off rocker 305 had returned to its initial position (position shown in solid lines) after the first pressing of the push button 2H, thanks to the branch 329 of the spring 287 (see FIG. 13).

Under the action of the push button 2H, the on and off rocker 305 moves as before so that the hook 321 advances the cam 283 by one step. The control spout 281 of the declutching control 121 then falls into the hollow between two adjacent bearing surfaces 295 (FIG. 18). This has the effect of causing the clutch control 121 to pivot and return it to the position in FIG. 4. The active ends of the clutch levers 205, 139 and 95 move in the opposite direction to that previously described, the wheels of the different counters are disengaged and the hands 11, 15 and 17 are stopped.

RESETTING THE CHRONOGRAPH

During this operation, the chronograph elements pass for a short time from the position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5, then return to the position of FIG. 4. The reset is carried out by a pressure exerted on the push button 4H which acts on the reset lever 259. The latter moves angularly around the pivot 261 and its free end forming the control head 267 acts on the notch 229 of the chronograph hammer 221. This notch 229 requires the crossing of a hard point which is perceived by the user. The chronograph hammer 221 then rotates around the pivot 235. At the end of the stroke, the hammer 235, or more precisely the inclines 241, 242 and 231 fall respectively on the hearts 61, 69 and 65 (see FIG. 14) which return in their original position. The central second hand 17, the minute counter hand 15 and the hour counter hand 11 are thus brought back to zero.

The return to zero of the hearts is caused by the force exerted by the user on the 4H push button. On the other hand, as soon as the user releases the pressure on this push button 4H, the branch 253 of the spring 247 returns the chronograph hammer 221 to the position shown in FIG. 4, the latter returning the lever 259 to its initial position.

It should be noted that in the running position of the chronograph (FIG. 3), it is not possible to carry out the reset since the spout 265 of the reset lever 259 is located opposite a span 295.

Note that all the levers and other control members of this chronograph module, such as hammers, clutch control, toggle on and off, etc. are made from stamped metal sheets, the operation being, if necessary, supplemented by a folding operation.

Claims (5)

1. Timepiece comprising a combination of a chronograph module (MC) and a motor module (MM), the motor module (MM) comprising a third wheel (57), a first power take off composed of a toothed wheel (49) integral with the cannon-pinion (175) and a second power take off composed of a pinion (51) fixed to the seconds axle in the centre (53), the chronograph module (MC) comprising a chronograph hand (17), a hand (15) for the minute counter (13) and a hand (11) for the hour counter (9), said timepiece being characterized in that it comprises a third power take off composed of a wheel (55) fixed to the third wheel (57), these three power take offs being accessible from the same side by the upper face of the motor module (MM) and the chronograph module (MC) being placed against said upper face of the motor module and in that the hand of the chronograph (17) the hand (15) for the minute counter (13) and the hand (11) for the hour counter (9) are driven respectively and in independent manner by said second, third and first power take offs (51, 55, 49).
2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the chronograph wheel (59) driving the chronograph hand (17) is mounted in series with a coupling wheel (99) and an intermediate seconds wheel (83) driven by the second power take off (51).
3. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the wheel (67) of the minute counter driving the hand (15) of the minute counter (13) is mounted in series directly with the third power take off (55).
4. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wheel (63) of the hour counter is successively mounted in series with a return wheel (183), the hours wheel (179), a dial-train mobile (181, 173) and the first power take off (49).
5. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a coupling mechanism (195, 205; 91, 95; 131, 139) is interspersed in each kinematic chain leading from said first, second and third power take offs (49, 51, 55) respectively to the corresponding hands (11, 17, 5) and in that each of these coupling mechanisms has an uncoupling lever (205, 95, 139) simultaneously actuated by one and the same control organ (121) when the chronograph is put into operation.

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