EP0871095A1 - Display device with jumping seconds - Google Patents

Abstract

The timing mechanism has a lever movement (22) pivoted at position B, on a movement plate, designed to occupy three positions and is controlled by two mechanisms. A control mechanism (26), in particular the column wheel (3), sets the first and second positions of the lever. A first 'second hand stop' position in the lever end (24a) is engaged in the circle traversed by the teeth points of the gear (8) and thus blocks the rotation of the gear and the rotation of the second hand (6). A second 'second hand working' position in the lever end (24a) is entirely disengaged from the teeth of the gear (8) and permits the gear to turn for each pulse of the escape movement and to thus drive the second hand(6). -. A second mechanism(28) sets the third ' second hand zero reset' position of the lever(22), and includes a part(50) which moves between two positions, one active the other inactive. The part(50) consists of a strip which slides over the surface of the movement. It has a first end (52) which co-operates with an exterior push-button (54) and a second end(56) whose face (56a) is designed to act on the end (24c) of the lever (22) when the button (54) is pushed. The strip (50) is guided by two pins (58) fitted in slots (60) formed in the strip.

Description

The present invention relates to a device display with a lightning second and more particularly such a device comprising a mechanism allowing the starting, stopping and zeroing a needle of a lightning second.

The term display device per second lightning a needle making one revolution per second at above a dial, this turn being split into several jumps, for example four, five or eight jumps, depending on the pendulum oscillation frequency. Such a device display is described for example in the work entitled "Complicated watches" by François Lecoultre, Editions A. Simonin in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, pages 21 to 26.

Typically, the lightning second hand is carried by a mobile comprising a pinion surmounted by two wolf tooth stars. The pinion is engaged with a cog leading to a motor barrel and providing drive energy to the second hand lightning. The lower star which is chased on the mobile shaft has the function of stopping the needle. the upper star is freely mounted on the shaft of the mobile and is placed in the same plane as a tooth wheel of wolf chased on the shaft of the escape wheel with which it cooperates with. Whenever the wheel exhaust stops on the rest of a lift of the anchor, the wheel secured to the wheel shaft exhaust immobilizes the upper star and releases it on the next oscillation. With a star greater than eight teeth, this one makes an eighth of a turn for a movement beating at 28,800 vibrations at each oscillation balance wheel. The upper star is also linked to the lower star by a pin driven into this last and crossing an oblong opening made in the upper star. The second hand lightning, integral with the lower star, also an eighth of a turn, in the example mentioned above.

According to this book, stopping the rotation of the needle is made using the end of a rocker which engages inside the circle traversed by the tip of the teeth of the lower star in response to pressure on an external pusher, in the position stop, the upper star being outside the circumference of the integral wheel which is the wheel exhaust so that it can continue its rotation. Additional pressure on the pusher outside again releases the lower star and allows the lightning needle to continue its rotation above of the dial to which it is associated until the pressure next.

No second hand reset system lightning is however described. In the absence of such system we can easily understand that it is very difficult to position the needle again in front of the index finger zero of the dial, all the more so as the hand jerks at high speed.

The main aim of the invention is therefore to remedy the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art in providing a lightning second device comprising a control mechanism enabling it to be switched on, stop and reset, this mechanism being simple and not very expensive to implement.

To this end the invention relates to a device for second lightning including a mobile having a pinion connected to a PTO, a first solidary star in rotation of said pinion and a second star mounted free to rotate relative to the first star, and cooperating with a control wheel driven by a anchor escapement so that whenever the wheel exhaust stops on the rest of a lift of the anchor, said control wheel immobilizes the second star and releases it on the next oscillation, the second star being linked to the first star by a pin chased into one of said stars and crossing a oblong opening made in the other of said stars, the device further comprising a rocker fitted with a finger and designed to occupy two positions, one first position, called stop, in which said finger is engaged in the circle traversed by the tip of said teeth of said first star and a second position, said to be walking, in which said finger is entirely released from the teeth of the first star, both positions being determined by control means.

This device is remarkable in that the first star includes at least one tooth having a length superior to that of other teeth and in that the rocker is planned to occupy a third position wherein said finger is released from said other teeth and is engaged inside the circle traversed by the tip of the longer tooth so that retain this star in a position corresponding to a device zero position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means of command include a first mechanism determining the first and second positions and a second mechanism determining the third position.

• les figures 1 à 3 sont des vues en plan montrant un mouvement d'horlogerie équipé d'un dispositif d'affichage à seconde foudroyante selon l'invention, le dispositif étant représenté respectivement en position de marche, d'arrêt et de mise à zéro; et
• la figure 4 est une coupe selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention given purely by way of non-limiting illustration, this description being made in conjunction with the drawings in which:

• Figures 1 to 3 are plan views showing a timepiece movement equipped with a flashing second display device according to the invention, the device being shown respectively in on, off and zero setting positions ; and
• Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

In Figure 1 we see a clockwork movement designated by the general reference 1 equipped with a device flashing second display according to the invention and in which only the elements of movement useful for the understanding of the invention have been shown.

Referring also to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the lightning second device comprises a mobile 2 whose shaft 4 carries a lightning second hand 6 two wolf-toothed stars 8, 10 and a pinion 12. The needle 6 moves above a dial 14 partially shown in Figure 4 and omitted in the figures 1 to 3. The pinion 12, in engagement with a wheel 16 of a train of gear resulting in a PTO such as a barrel (not shown) is integral with the shaft 4, by example chased on the latter. The barrel will be preferably an auxiliary barrel to the main barrel of the movement.

The star 8 is also chased on the tree 4. We note in this connection that star 8 has the function of stopping of needle 6, and for this purpose comprises a tooth 8a (designated long tooth below) having a length significantly higher than other teeth 8b (designated short teeth below) which have the same length.

The star 10 is freely adjusted on the shaft 4 of the mobile 2 and cooperates with a wolf tooth wheel 18 controlled by an anchor escapement. In the example described, the wheel 18 is driven onto the wheel shaft exhaust (not shown). The star 10 is by elsewhere linked to star 8 by a pin 20 fixed on the star 8 and crossing an oblong opening 23 practiced in star 10 (the function of this pin is explained in detail in the work cited above). So whenever the escape wheel stops on the rest of a lifting of the anchor, the wheel 18 immobilizes star 10 and releases it on the next oscillation. With a wheel 18 to 40 teeth, a star 10 to 8 teeth and a movement beating at 28,800 vibrations at each oscillation pendulum, star 10 rotates an eighth of turn.

The lightning seconds display according to the invention further comprises a rocker 22 pivoted at B on a movement plate and which is intended for occupy three positions respectively represented at figure 1 to 3. These three positions are determined by control means which will be described in detail below. The flip-flop 22 includes three arms 22a, 22b and 22c. A first arm extending in the plane of the star 8 comprises at its free end a finger 24a intended to cooperate with the toothing of the star 8. The arm 22b includes at its free end a spout 24b which cooperates with a first control mechanism 26. The arm 22c comprises also at its free end a spout 24c which cooperates with a second control mechanism 28. The first and second control mechanisms 26 and 28 form the control means which respectively determine the first and second positions and the third position of flip-flop 22 and more particularly of finger 24a.

The first control mechanism 26 comprises a wheel column 30 which pivots on a screw 32 secured to the movement. The wheel 30 comprises, conventionally, in its lower part a ratchet 34 whose tooth toothing wolf cooperates with a jumper spring 36 which holds the wheel 30 in a stable position. In his part upper, wheel 30 includes spaced apart columns 38 regularly along a circle. These columns define a toothing whose apex of the teeth or columns has a curved face 40. The spout 24b is substantially in the same plane as columns 38 and cooperates with them by following the profile defined by the teeth so that it sits either on one of the curved faces 40 either in a space between two columns neighbors.

It will be noted in this connection that the spout 24b of the rocker 22 is kept in engagement with the wheel 30 by means of a return spring 42 which acts in the example described on the arm 22a.

The column wheel 30 is rotated by a lever 44 articulated in L on the movement and associated with an external pusher 46 (partially shown) which can press on part 44a of the lever provided for this effect, for example a tongue raised 90 ° from at the plane of the lever 44. The lever 44 comprises a finger 44b actuator which acts on the ratchet teeth 34 for step by step wheel 30 in response to pressure manual on pusher 46. Lever 44 is also associated with a spring 48 which, in the absence of pressure on the pusher 46, recalls the lever 44 in a position in which the finger 44b is released from the teeth of the ratchet 34. The lever 44 also includes in its part upper oblong groove R which cooperates with a pin G secured to the movement in order to determine the angular stroke of the lever.

The first control mechanism 26, in particular the column wheel 30, thus determines the first and second positions of flip-flop 22, namely, a first position, called stop, in which the finger 24a is engaged in the circle traversed by the point of teeth of star 8 and thus blocks the rotation of the star 8 and therefore the rotation of the needle second lightning 6 (Figure 2); and a second so-called walking position in which finger 24a is fully disengaged from the toothing of star 8 and allows the star 8 to rotate with each pulse of the escapement and thus drive the lightning second hand (figure 1). In the needle stop position, the spout 24b is in the space between two columns 38 and the end of the spout presses against the bottom of the defined hollow between each column. In the running position the spout 24b is supported on the curved face 40 of one of the columns 38.

The second mechanism 28 which determines the third position of flip-flop 22, called zero-setting position of the lightning second hand 6, includes a control 50 mobile between two positions, one active the other inactive.

The control member 50 is formed in the example describes a blade which slides on the surface of the movement. A first end of the blade 50 comprises a tongue 52 raised 90 ° relative to the plane of the movement, this tab being provided to cooperate with an external pusher 54. The second end of the blade 50 has a nose 56 whose end face 56a is intended to act on the beak 24c of the rocker in response to an action on the pusher 54. The blade 50 is also guided to the surface of the movement through two pins 58 integral with the movement and cooperating each with an oblong groove 60 formed in the blade 50.

It should be noted in this connection that these pins limit also the stroke of the blade 50 in its movement of sliding.

Finally, the blade 50 is associated with a spring 62 which, in the absence of pressure on the pusher 54 recalls the blade 50 in the inactive position in which the nose 56 is released from the spout 24c (Figure 1).

The third position of the rocker 22 controlled by the blade 50 is an intermediate position (Figure 3) between the first (figure 1) and the second position (figure 2) and corresponds to the active position of the blade 50. In this third position the finger 24a is released from the teeth short 8b of star 8 but is engaged inside the circle traversed by the tip of the long tooth 8a. So the star 8 can be retained in a determined position which corresponds to the position in which the needle 6 is next to the zero index indicated on the dial 14 in response to actuation of the pusher 54.

Note that when movement 1 is a movement comprising a chronograph mechanism, the device display of the lightning second can be easily coupled to the chronograph mechanism and the pushers 46 and 54 can be common to the commands of these two devices.

The device described above works in the way next.

When the pusher 46 is actuated, the finger 44b of the control lever 44 pushes a ratchet tooth 34 from so that the column wheel 30 moves angularly one step clockwise. During this trip angular, the spout 24b is brought to the curved face 40 of one of the columns 38 rotating the rocker 22 in counterclockwise. The finger 24a of the flip-flop 22 is then completely free from the teeth of star 8 (figure 1). Star 8 is then released and begins its rotation driving needle 6 at the rate of one revolution per second, by jumps of an eighth of a turn in the example described.

When the pusher 46 is actuated while the device according to the invention is in the state shown in Figure 1, the finger 44b of the control lever 44 pushes a ratchet tooth 34 so that the column wheel 30 again moves angularly one step in the direction schedule. During this angular displacement, the spout 24b slides on the curved face 40 of one of the columns 38 to fall into the space following the column on which it leaned and rotated rocker 22 in the direction schedule. The finger 24a of the lever 22 is then engaged in the circle traversed by the tip of the short teeth 8b of star 8 (figure 2). Star 8 is then immobilized.

From the state of the device of the invention shown in Figure 2, there are two ways to the user.

The first way is to activate the pusher 46 and release needle 6 as it comes to be described in connection with Figure 1. This path allows for example to measure the duration of several successive periods which add up.

The second way is to bring needle 6 into look at the zero index of dial 14. To do this, we operates the pusher 54 in order to bring the blade 50 into its active position (Figure 3). During the movement of the blade, the end face 56a of the nose 56 comes into contact with the beak 24c which slides on this face until the beak passes on a lateral face 56b of the nose 56, this state corresponding to the end of the blade stroke 58. The blade 50 thus caused the pivoting of the rocker 22 in the counterclockwise by a determined angle so that the finger 24a either on the one hand free from the short teeth 8b, and on the other hand engaged inside the circle traversed by the tip of the long tooth 8a so as to retain the star 8 in a position in which the needle 6 of the lightning seconds device is next to the index zero of the dial 14.

Claims (5)

Lightning seconds device comprising a mobile having a pinion connected to a PTO, a first star integral in rotation with said pinion and a second star mounted free to rotate relative to the first star, and cooperating with a drive wheel driven by an anchor escapement so that each time the escape wheel stops on the rest of a lifting the anchor, said control wheel immobilizes the second star and releases it on the next oscillation, the second star being linked to the first star by a pin driven into one of said stars and crossing an oblong opening made in the other of said stars, the device further comprising a rocker fitted with a finger and designed to occupy two positions, one first position, called stop, in which said finger is engaged in the circle traversed by the tip of said teeth of said first star and a second position, said to be walking, in which said finger is entirely released from the teeth of the first star, both positions being determined by control means, characterized in that the first star comprises at least a tooth having a length greater than that of the others teeth and in that the scale is designed to occupy a third position in which said finger is released of said other teeth and is engaged inside the circle traversed by the tip of the largest tooth length so as to retain this star in a position corresponding to a zero position of the device. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the control means comprise a first mechanism determining the first and second positions and a second mechanism determining the third position. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first mechanism includes a wheel columns controlled by the spout of a lever and in that the second mechanism includes a movable control member between at least two positions. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the scale comprises three arms and in what the first and second mechanisms cooperate with two of the three arms of said rocker. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the lever and the control member are each associated on the one hand with an external pusher intended to be operated manually and secondly to means of recall in a position in which they do are not in contact with said arms of the scale.

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