EP0884660B1 - Safety valve for timepiece - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a safety valve for a watch according to the preamble of claim 1.

From CH 682 199 is known a watch with a Safety valve to equip yourself against the Ambient pressure under special conditions To prevent overpressure inside the watch.

An overpressure inside the watch can have the following origin to have:

If a watch, based on a situation, at which the internal pressure initially corresponds to the external pressure, exposed to a higher ambient pressure it is possible for some fabrics through sealing devices diffuse into the inside of the watch and so one Pressure increase inside the watch, or a pressure adjustment bring about. Is this clock then inside a relatively low ambient pressure again in a relatively short time exposed, it can now be exposed to the environment existing overpressure in the watch, for example, that the watch glass is blown off and sensitive Components of the watch are damaged.

Such pressure changes can, for example, at occur during a dive, be it that the watch is in a gaseous environment, like a diving bell is the case, or is located directly in the water. Among the Fabrics that pass through seals into the inside of the watch diffuse, is above all the element helium to call its small atomic size. helium does not only penetrate the clock if it is one for Diving bells is exposed to the usual helium atmosphere, but dissolves in greater depths, i.e. at high Pressure, even from the water.

The one shown in the above-mentioned document CH 682 199 Safety valve has two O-rings and one screwable Cover to close the valve. When unscrewed Lid is just one of the two seals in Function, while with the lid screwed on both in a row arranged to ensure a better seal. The lid is screwed on before the dive and that Valve closed so that when diving down under increasing Ambient pressure the entry of substances with greater atomic size, such as water and dirt particles, can be prevented. Then a quick one Dismantling of in the event of a sudden partial ascent to enable positive pressure inside the watch unscrew the cover before climbing and the valve to be exposed so that helium can escape.

If the lid is not screwed down before the dive small amounts of water and dirt particles get inside the watch and the sealing properties of the safety valve deteriorate.

• bei Umgebungsüberdruck ausgezeichnet abdichtet,
• bei Umgebungsunterdruck einen raschen Druckausgleich ermöglicht,
• sowie Schmutzpartikel vom Dichtungsbereich und vom Uhreninnern fernhält.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of creating a safety valve which

• seals excellently at ambient pressure,
• enables rapid pressure equalization at ambient negative pressure,
• as well as dirt particles from the sealing area and from the inside of the watch.

The inventive solution to this problem results themselves from the features of claim 1.

The fact that the safety valve according to the invention is equipped with a lip seal that is so oriented is that the concentric, apron-shaped lip The lip points from the interior of the watch to the surroundings with increasing ambient overpressure to the pressed cylindrical surface surface area, from which excellent sealing results.

The lip is reversed when there is overpressure in the watch advantageously deformed in such a way that they are cylindrical in shape Surface area is pushed away and forms a passage for an effective pressure reduction.

The lip seal therefore works without additional, displaceable Elements as automatically operating Valve.

Opposite an O-ring is the lip seal yet another advantage of great importance: O-rings have a circular seam due to the manufacturing process on the site of the largest perimeter located. This seam is low with seals Dimensions, as is the case in the watch industry, due to striking surface irregularities marked, which their sealing quality essential affect. In contrast, with a lip seal at the sealing points, i.e. in those areas that are in contact with the drilling wall, no seams available. This also contributes significantly to improvement the tightness.

The CH-237 996 has an actuator in shown a watch that has a lip seal, that separates the interior of the clock from the surroundings. This Seal that has a base area as well as a has rotationally symmetrical lip, lies between a housing-fixed element and a movable Element. This lip that starts from the base area and points towards the surroundings, leads conically to one cylindrical surface area of the housing-fixed element and is below Preload on this cylindrical jacket Surface area.

Although with this solution an overpressure reduction in the Clock is also possible, the interior pressure must be remarkable since the seal is already very is deformed and under considerable tension is applied.

The construction of this seal further demands that Use a washer to the said Keep seal in place.

According to the advantageous embodiment of the invention according to claim 1 is an additional seal provided the interior of the lip seal is arranged, for example, for the Submerge to form another water barrier.

Next has a lip seal in the proposed targeting the advantage that they are considered Dirt deflector works and therefore the access of Dirt particles to the sealing area and The inside of the watch is prevented. This keeps the Sealing area always clean and the risk of Water entry is significantly reduced. Then the additionally provided O-ring remains on this Also clean and its sealing quality, especially against water, is preserved.

Contact areas of the seal are under the sealing area as well as the parts of the Safety valve or the clock, i.e. Surface areas of the seal as well Surface areas for example the exterior and Inner walls of the sleeve, the lid, the Watch case, etc., depending on the embodiment of the inventive safety valve.

The sealing properties of the lip seal of the inventive safety valves are, however, of this type excellent that even without an additional seal satisfactory results would be achieved.

This additional seal is preferred Embodiment of the invention at ambient pressure automatically compressed by retreating the Lip seal towards the interior is used, a movable valve piston on which the lip seal is fixed on the to allow additional seal to act. Vice versa is the valve piston in the interior pressure opposite direction what a Relief of the additional seal means. The Lip seal has the additional advantage that it acts as a drive to add an extra Sealing element, such as an O-ring, at Seal overpressure increasingly and with interior overpressure to put in open position.

This additional seal can be a preferred one Embodiment of the invention in the upcoming Ambient overpressure additionally compressed by hand by placing the safety valve over a screwable cover, which when screwing the Displacement of the valve piston towards the interior back and compression of the additional Sealing element allows.

The sealing properties of the lip seal of the inventive However, safety valves are so excellent that when diving down there’s no Water enters when the lid is not was screwed on.

A spring can advantageously be arranged in this way be that the additional sealing element too without the influence of external pressure or the cover is in a pre-compressed state.

By an advantageous embodiment according to the Invention has that lying outside the middle part External thread of the sleeve on an annular groove, which at first screwing on the lid a deformation allows a threaded section so that the lid can no longer be lost.

• die Figur 1 eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemässen Sicherheitsventils im Axialschnitt.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to a drawing. It shows:

• 1 shows an embodiment of the safety valve according to the invention in axial section.

An embodiment of the invention is as follows explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, wherein FIG an embodiment of the safety valve according to the invention 10 shows in axial section.

This is essentially rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis 11 Safety valve 10 has a continuous hollow sleeve 12, which is only partially in one shown middle part 14 or a housing of a clock is screwed in. In the clock there is one in the drawing interior 16 defined below that of the in the Drawing above surrounding 18 hermetically sealed is.

The sleeve 12 has a shoulder 19 on the outside with respect to the axis 11 circular, the housing 14 facing bearing surface 20. Between this contact surface 20 and a corresponding one on the housing 14 provided, annular support surface 22 is a Metal sealing ring 23 is used, on this Place the interior 16 from the environment 18 seals.

To screw in the sleeve 12 or Safety valve 10 in the middle part 14 by means of, for example of an assembly key has the sleeve 12 a flange pointing outwards with respect to the axis 11 24 with a toothing 25. On the housing 14 facing side of the flange 24 is an annular Stop surface 26 provided in the screwed Condition of the sleeve 12 or the safety valve 10 firmly on a likewise annular stop surface 27 of the middle part 14 rests, in this State of the sealing ring 23 is compressed.

On the inside, the sleeve has 12 holes of different sizes Diameter on, being on one, the environment 18 facing side of the sleeve 12 with a bore 28 a cylindrical wall 29 up to one inwards Directed flange 30 brings up an annular Has bearing surface 31, which inside a bore 32 is limited. On the other, the interior 16 facing side of the sleeve 12 is also a Bore provided, which is designated 34 and itself also extends to the inward flange 30, whereby also on this side of the flange 30 circular, limited internally by the bore 32 Support surface 35 is provided.

In the sleeve 12, on the other hand, is axially movable Piston 36 arranged in the region of the bores 32nd and 34 has a cylindrical shaft 38 which extends up to protrudes the area of the bore 28 and there conical in the direction of the housing and the axis 11 extends almost to the wall 29 of the bore 28 and a bearing surface 39 in the form of a truncated cone forms. In other words, the truncated cone jacket so oriented that the extent towards the environment 18 increases, between the axis 11 and this Truncated cone is an angle 40 of, for example, 60 °.

Between the two contact surfaces 31 and 39, one in the region of the flange 30 part 41 of the Bore 28 and a protruding into the bore 28 Part 42 of the shaft 38 is a concentric space 43 provided for receiving an O-ring 44.

Further in the direction leading away from the housing 14 follows in with respect to the axis 11 on the outside on the bearing surface 39 short, cylindrical jacket-shaped area 46, which by an annular support surface 48 is completed. Following this bearing surface 48 leads a relative short, cylinder jacket-shaped area 50 to another Support surface 52 which extends radially outwards and again has the shape of a circular ring.

One through the two contact surfaces 48 and 52 as well defined by the cylindrical jacket-shaped area 50 annular free space 54 receives a lip seal 56, which has an elastic, rotationally symmetrical lip 58, which is conical in the direction of the housing 14 and from the axis 11 to the wall 29 of the bore 28 expands and rests there under tension. The lip seal 56 can also be referred to as a cuff.

This is rotationally symmetrical lip 58 or apron in other words, and in relation to the Axis 11 oriented so that the outer dimension in Direction away from the housing 14 substantially continuously increases and essentially the surface of a Has truncated cone. Between this surface, the first surface area is called 60, and the Wall 29 is a rotationally symmetrical free space 62 a substantially wedge-shaped cross section and one defined acute angle 64 of 10 °, for example.

The interior space 16 shown at the bottom in FIG. 1 leads to the O-ring 44. Between the O-ring 44, the lip 58, the sleeve 12 and the cover 82 is an intermediate area 65 included. Regarding the function of the lip seal 56 this gap 65 can, however Interior 16 can be assigned to the clock.

In addition to the first surface area 60, the Lip seal 56 a second, rotationally symmetrical Surface area 66, which is also conical Approaches bore 28 in the direction away from the housing 14. Accordingly, both surface areas 60 and 66 point into one similar direction, i.e. towards the housing 14 and the axis 11 away. Between the second surface area 66 and the wall 29 is an angle 68 smaller 90 °, i.e. for example 45 °. Thus the lip is 58 wedge-shaped at an angle of, for example, 35 ° formed and has in the contact area with the wall 29 an approximately pointed edge area 67.

Furthermore, the lip seal 56 has a base area 70 on the one under tension between the one opposite bearing surfaces 48 and 52 is arranged and on the other hand on the cylinder-jacket-shaped area 50 sitting.

An arched transition zone 72 leads from of the bearing surface 52 initially in the direction of the interior 16 and with increasing distance from the axis 11 a curve descriptive towards environment 18 to finally in the second, rotationally symmetrical surface area 66 to pass.

Towards the surrounding area 18 and following the The bearing surface 52 is the piston 36 by itself tapered head 74 completed, one after externally convex end face 76 which has a stop forms. The head 74 is therefore conical, so that the lip seal 56 is placed over it in a simple manner can be.

On the outside, the sleeve 12 has a 78 interrupted external thread for receiving one with a short internal thread 80 provided, screwable protective cover 82, the external thread 78 according to FIG. 1 above the middle part 14, i.e. above the toothing 25 is arranged. This can be, for example trade a metric fine thread.

The external thread 78 has a first, annular groove-shaped Break point 84, which is slightly longer than that Internal thread is 80. In the direction of the environment 18 in the external thread 78 a second, ring-shaped break point 86 provided that a length 88 of for example half a pitch of the external thread 78 has.

In Figure 1 to the right of axis 11 is the protective cover 82 shown in the unscrewed position, in which its internal thread 80 within the first break point 78, i.e. in which the internal thread 80 not in engagement with the external thread 78 of the sleeve 12 is.

One above the second break point 86 Threaded section 90 of the external thread 78 leads about the end of the sleeve 12 facing the environment 18 for example, half a thread pitch so that the sleeve 12 at this end one with respect to the axis 11 has concentrically protruding bead 92, which corresponds to an elongated core of the threaded portion 90. The height of the bead 92 can also be approximately one correspond to half the thread pitch.

To the left of the axis 11 is the protective cover 82 in or screwed position shown, the threaded portion 90 by screwing the protective cover 82 in the second break point 86 is shown pushed in and only a small free space 94 of the second Interruption point 86 left.

On the other side of the flange 30, the Interior 16 is facing, is a preload around the shaft 38 arranged compression coil spring 96 with at one end 98 on the bearing surface 35. you the other end 100 extends to the interior 16 facing end of the sleeve 12. This end 100 is in Contact with a pressure ring 102, which in turn in Contact with a circlip 104, which is in an annular groove 106 of the shaft 38 is arranged. Depending on the required Compressive force is a correspondingly strong spiral spring 96 provided.

If the cover 82 is transferred to the User completely screwed onto the sleeve 12 for the first time, as shown to the left of axis 11 this on the bead 92 and moves, respectively squeezes the threaded portion 90 into the free space 94 second interruption point 86. Because of this deformation of the threaded portion 90, the user can probably Screw cover 82 on and off, but it cannot are removed and are therefore no longer lost. In this lid position there can be overpressure inside the watch 16 can be balanced within a very short time.

The lid 82 can be screwed shut before submerging be a first by thread engagement To form a dirt barrier, and on the other hand the O-ring 44 by means of a movement of the piston 36 in the direction of Interior 16 in addition to the compression effect of the Compression coil spring 96 to compress as it left the Axis 11 is shown.

If the ambient pressure exceeds the internal pressure of the watch, so on the one hand the lip 54 on the wall 29 of the Bore 28 pressed, on the other hand, the piston 36 in Driven towards the interior 16, whereby the O-ring 44th compressed by the conical bearing surface 39 of the piston 36 and at the four support areas 31, 39, 41 and 42 is tight. This effect is due to the conical Design of the head 74 of the piston 36 supports. At external pressure, the sealing effect of the invention Valves 10 thus increased twice by lip 58 closes on the one hand and on the other hand the O-ring 44 is compressed more. But it is express noted that the effect of Lip seal 56 alone is sufficient to meet the requirements as they occur, for example, when diving become. As mentioned, the lip seal 56 in the proposed installation orientation the advantage of that the system pressure of the tapering, for example apron-shaped lip 58 with increasing ambient pressure increases.

Conversely, lip 58 becomes overpressure in the watch deformed so that they from the bore wall 29 to Axis 11 is pushed away and a quick one Relaxation of the interior 16 of the clock allows.

Because the lip seal 56 that of the environment 18 closest sealing element and it as Dirt scraper works, dirt particles do not advance towards interior 16.

The angles 64 and 68 entered in FIG. 1 do not have to correspond to the selected 10 ° or 45 °. The angle 64 of the wedge-shaped free space 62 is decisive for the opening behavior of the lip seal Internal pressure and must therefore always be less than Be 90 °. The angle 68, however, is crucial for that Closing and sealing behavior of the lip seal Outside overpressure and therefore must also be fundamentally be less than 90 °. So the lip itself has one Angle that is between 0 ° and 90 °, mentioned here must be that the shape of this lip is not one of those must correspond to Figure 1. For example the two surfaces 64 and 68 also parallel to each other run instead of in a pointed edge area 67 to flow. The edge area 67 also does not have to be pointed be trained, but can be according to requirements be relatively thick on the lip seal. The Dirt deflector function is however from a tapered Edge area 67 met particularly well. According to the Figure 1 is the lip 58 on the surface 29 of the sleeve 12 essentially only in their edge area 67. Of course, the contact area between lip 58 and surface 29 also be much larger and the Take the shape of a cylinder jacket.

According to Figure 1, the lip seal 56 on the Piston 36 fixed. In principle, however, it is also possible the base area of the lip seal in an inside in the Sleeve provided to fix groove while holding the lip leads conically to the axis and rests on the outside of the piston. outgoing of the figure 1 would have the cross section of the lip seal 56 therefore mirrored on a vertical axis become.

It is also possible to use the lip seal on the outside to be provided on the sleeve, i.e. for example between Sleeve and cover, the lip in this case to the clock is directed. Starting from FIG. 1, the Cross section of the lip seal 56 for this purpose on one horizontal axis are mirrored. Here, too the lip seal in either the sleeve or the lid be fixed while her lip is each on the other component is applied.

It is crucial that the lip closes when the External pressure is greater than the pressure inside the watch, and that it opens when there is internal pressure.

It is generally advantageous to act as a dirt barrier acting lip seal as far outside as possible Safety valve as shown in Figure 1, i.e. to arrange the transition between environment and interior so that all components of the safety valve are not exposed to the environment. In this The intermediate area 65 no longer belongs to the senses Environment 18, since it is from this by means of the lip seal 56 is sealed off. According to this, dirt particles get Embodiment of the invention does not even have access to the various components such as O-ring, thread etc.

It should also be mentioned that the protruding bead 92 of Figure 1 are of course not provided if the cover is, for example, an annular Has projection that axially on the threaded portion 90th acts.

Basically, the arrangement of the lip seal is on the various places of the inventive safety valve possible, but its orientation is from vitally important. As stated several times, the elastic lip should be directed so that it closes when the external pressure is greater than the pressure in the The inside of the watch is and that it opens when there is internal pressure is present. One is generally sufficient for this extremely slight deformation of the lip.

Of course, several can, regarding their effects lip seals connected in series are provided become.

Claims (16)

1. Safety valve (10) for a timepiece, which comprises an element (12) rigid with the housing (14), a further element (36) as well as a seal (56) arranged between the two elements (12, 36), the seal delimiting the timepiece inner space (16) from the surroundings (18),
      the seal (56) being a lip seal which comprises a base region (70) as weft as a rotationally symmetric lip (58),
      the base region (70) being arranged stationarily in a first (36) of these elements (12, 36),
      the lip (58) bearing on a cylinder jacket shaped surface region (29) of a second (12) of these elements (12, 36) with pretensioning,
      in order on the one hand to release itself from the surface region (29) for the purpose of pressure compensation between the inner space (16) and the surroundings (18) given an inner space excess pressure, and
      in order on the other hand to be more strongly pressed on the surface region (29) for the purpose of sealing the inner space (16) with respect to the surroundings (18) given an excess pressure of the surroundings, characterised in that:

   the safety valve (10) comprises a further seal (44), and

   said further seal (44) is arranged on the inner space side of the lip seal (56) and forms, between it (44) and the lip seal (56), or between the inner space (16) and the surroundings (18), an intermediate space (65).
2. Safety valve according to claim 1, characterised in that the lip (58) comprises two rotationally symmetric surface zones (60, 66), of which a first (60) of these surface zones faces the timepiece inner space (16) and the second (66) of these surface zones is in contact with the surroundings (18).
3. Safety valve according to claim 2, characterised in that the first surface zone (60) essentially, proceeding from the base region (70) and facing in the direction of the surroundings (18), leads conically to the cylinder jacket shaped surface region (29), that between the first surface zone (60) and the cylinder jacket shaped surface region (29) there is provided a rotationally symmetric free space (62) which in cross section is formed essentially wedge-shaped and is delimited from the surroundings (18) by the lip (58), and that the second surface zone (66) essentially, proceeding from the base region (70) and facing in the direction of the surroundings (18), leads conically to the cylinder jacket shaped surface region (29).
4. Safety valve according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the two rotationally symmetric surface zones (60, 66) run substantially parallel to one another.
5. Safety valve according to claim 3, characterised in that the two surface zones (60, 66) approach in the direction towards the cylinder jacket shaped surface region (29) and open into an essentially pointedly formed lip edge (67).
6. Safety valve according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the second surface zone (66) blends into a curving (72) at the base region (70).
7. Safety valve according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the further element (36) is movable at least in the direction of one axis (11) with respect to the element (12) rigid with the housing.
8. Safety valve according to claim 7, characterised in that the movable element (36) is at least partly enclosed by the element (12) rigid with the housing.
9. Safety valve according to claim 8, characterised in that the base region (70) is arranged in a stationary manner in the movable element (36) and in that the cylinder jacket shaped surface region (29) is provided on the inner side on the element (12) rigid with the housing.
10. Safety valve according to claim 8, characterised in that the base region (70) is arranged in a stationary manner in the element (12) rigid with the housing and in that the cylinder jacket shaped surface region (29) is provided on the outer side on the movable element (36).
11. Safety valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the further seal (44) is an O-ring.
12. Safety valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the element (36) is a piston which is displaceable with respect to the element (12) at least in the direction of one axis (11) and on which the base region (70) is mounted in a stationary manner, and in that the piston (36) can compress the further seal (44).
13. Safety valve according to claim 12, characterised in that there is provided a lid (82) which can be screwed onto the element (12), in order to permit the displacing of the piston (36), for the purpose of compressing the further seal (44).
14. Safety valve according to claim 13, characterised in that the element (12) rigid with the housing comprises a threaded section (90) which is separated from the remaining thread (78) by an interruption location (86), so that on screwing on the lid (82) for the first time, a deformation of the threaded section (90) is possible.
15. Safety valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that there is provided a spring (96) which pretensions the further seal (44).
16. Timepiece with a safety valve according to any one of the preceding claims.

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