EP1220057A1 - Timepiece with grand guichet calendar - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch includes a large date display including an indicator for the units (9) and an indicator for the tens (10), with a date control ring (14) situated between indicator driving mechanisms (17,18). The mechanisms drive their corresponding indicators when required and are each provided with a see-saw type locking arm (30) that prevents untimely displacement of the indicators when an external shock is applied to the watch and when the indicators are not being driven.

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising hands moving on a dial and a calendar made up of first and second indicators with numbers appended to them respectively and the tens of said date, this date appearing through a large aperture pierced in the dial, said date being driven by a crown of calendar going around in thirty-one days at the rate of one step per day, this crown being arranged to step the first indicator at the end of all the days except at the end of the thirty-first day on which he is not trained, and the second indicator at the end of the ninth, nineteenth, twenty-ninth and thirty-first days of the month, said first and second indicators each being provided with a device allowing them to maintain a defined angular position when they are not trained.

We have already proposed a timepiece with a large window meeting the generic description above. This timepiece includes a crown of calendar arranged to take a tour in thirty-one days at the rate of one step at the end of every day. This crown has two distinct teeth.

A first set of teeth has thirty active teeth equally distributed over a sector occupying the thirty-first parts of the periphery of the crown so that a thirty-first part of this periphery is devoid of teeth. This first set of teeth is engaged with a first star carrying a disc on which are affixed the date units. It will be understood that this disc is not entrained when the sector devoid of tooth of the crown is presented in front the star. We then arrange for this lack of training to take place between the thirty-one of the month and the first day of the following month. It follows that the disc of units displays the number 1 for two consecutive days, that is, the 31st of the month ending and the 1 of nascent month.

A second toothing carries four active teeth. This second set of teeth is in engagement with a second star carrying a disc on which are affixed the tens of the date. These four active teeth are arranged around the periphery of the crown so as to drive this disc tens of steps at the end of ninth, nineteenth, twenty-ninth and thirty-first days of the month, the disc tens then displaying 1, 2, 3 and 0 respectively.

The discs of the units and tens are arranged side by side and the numbers they wear appear in a large window pierced in the dial and located on a six o'clock midday line of the timepiece. To properly index the figures of each of the discs when they are at rest, there is a jumper acting on each of the teeth of the corresponding star, these necklaces allowing a position defined angularity of the disks in question when the system is at rest.

Since these are small diameter discs, the pressure exerted by the long necklaces on the respective stars need not be raised to maintain these discs in place, even in the event of shocks applied to the timepiece.

If one wishes however to show the date at three o'clock in the timepiece or in the vicinity of this point (for example between one hour and seven hours), the construction proposed above is not suitable and one must have use of at least one large diameter indicator in the form of a ring covering an area on the periphery of the timepiece, a construction preferred residing in the use of two large diameter mobiles located concentrically with each other.

In this case, the simple necklaces proposed above, if they fulfill the function expected of them in normal use, prove to be totally insufficient if shocks are applied to the timepiece because, in such circumstances, the indicators, due to their large size, can move forward or backward untimely and even in a disorderly manner so that the synchronization which must exist between these indicators can be broken and that no classic date setting by the rod will fail to correct. It will then be necessary to open the timepiece to restore lost synchronization.

To avoid this drawback, we could of course increase the pressure that the necklaces exert on the indicators. However, such measures would have for the effect of considerably increasing the torque to be supplied by the drive member of the timepiece, so that the autonomy of walking would be strongly scaled down.

The present invention has found a remedy for this drawback by proposing a system of locks acting on the mechanisms involved, these locks do not consuming little or no energy while blocking date indicators when they are not normally driven by the movement of the workpiece watchmaking.

For this purpose, the timepiece of the invention in addition to meeting the definition given above in the first paragraph of this description, is remarkable in that a first mechanism is interposed between the crown and the first indicator and that a second mechanism is interposed between the crown and the second indicator, these first and second mechanisms each being provided with means ensuring both the rotation of the corresponding indicator from the crown and the locking of said first and second indicators when these are not driven by said crown.

• la figure 1 est une vue montrant l'aspect général, selon l'invention, de la pièce d'horlogerie à quantième comportant un grand guichet dans lequel apparaissent un indicateur des unités et un indicateur des dizaines du quantième,
• la figure 2 montre le mécanisme d'entraínement de l'indicateur des unités dans une phase où il est verrouillé,
• la figure 3 montre le mécanisme d'entraínement de l'indicateur des unités dans une phase où il est entraíné,
• la figure 4 montre le mécanisme d'entraínement de l'indicateur des dizaines en phase de fin de verrouillage,
• la figure 5 montre le mécanisme d'entraínement de l'indicateur des dizaines en phase d'entraínement.
• la figure 6 présente à gauche une coupe selon la ligne VIa-VIa de la figure 3, et à droite, une coupe selon la ligne Vlb-Vlb de la figure 5, et
• la figure 7 présente une coupe selon la ligne VII-VII de la figure 2,

The invention will now be described in detail on the basis of the description which follows, a description illustrated by the appended drawings given by way of example of an embodiment and among which:

• FIG. 1 is a view showing the general appearance, according to the invention, of the timepiece with date comprising a large aperture in which an indicator of the units and an indicator of the tens of the date appear,
• FIG. 2 shows the mechanism for driving the indicator of the units in a phase when it is locked,
• FIG. 3 shows the mechanism for driving the indicator of the units in a phase in which it is trained,
• FIG. 4 shows the mechanism for driving the tens indicator in the end of locking phase,
• Figure 5 shows the drive mechanism of the tens indicator in the drive phase.
• FIG. 6 presents on the left a section along the line VIa-VIa of FIG. 3, and on the right, a section along the line Vlb-Vlb of FIG. 5, and
• FIG. 7 presents a section along line VII-VII of FIG. 2,

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a timepiece 1 according to the invention. This timepiece includes hour indicator hands 2, 4 and 5 evolving on a dial 3 and a date 6 displaying the date of the month. The date consists of first 9 and second 10 indicators on which are affixed numbers respectively indicating the units 11 and the tens 12 of this calendar, this the latter appearing through a large window 13 pierced in the dial 3.

As is apparent in the following figures, the date, that is to say the indicators 9 and 10 which compose it, is driven by a date crown 14 who travels one lap in thirty-one days and that at the rate of one step per day and this by a finger 20 actuated by a movement that comprises the timepiece, this finger being engaged on an internal toothing of the crown, this toothing being composed of thirty-one teeth 19.

The crown 14 is arranged to drive one step a day the first indicator 9 at the end of every day except at the end of the thirty-first day when it is not not trained. This same crown 14 is arranged to drive the second indicator 10 at the end of the ninth, nineteenth, twenty-ninth and thirty-first days of the month. How to train the indicators will be described in detail below.

As is usually the case and as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the first and second indicators 9 and 10 are each provided with a device, referenced 15 and 16 respectively, allowing them to maintain a position angular defined when they are not trained.

That said, and as is very apparent in FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention is remarkable in that a first mechanism 17 is interposed between the crown 14 and the first indicator 9, this first mechanism being provided with means ensuring at the same time the rotation of the first indicator 9 from the crown 14 and locking this indicator when it is not driven.

In the same way, and as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the invention is remarkable in that a second mechanism 18 is interposed between the crown 14 and the second indicator 10, this second mechanism being provided with means ensuring both the rotation of the second indicator 10 from the crown 14 and the locking of this indicator when it is not driven.

We will now describe in detail a preferred embodiment first and second mechanisms interposed between the date crown 14 and the first and second respective indicators. First we see (see more particularly the section of Figure 7) that on the crown 14 is fixed a ring 21 to drive the first mechanism 17. We also see (right part of Figure 6) that on the crown 14 is fixed a plurality of studs 22 to 25 of which only the stud 22 is visible in FIG. 7, the other studs being visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, these studs being arranged to actuate the second mechanism 18. We will now describe successively how to train and lock the indicators of the units and tens.

Drive and lock unit indicator

Reference is made here to FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7. The outer edge 26 of the ring 21 carried by the crown 14 includes thirty particular teeth 27 also distributed on a sector occupying the thirty-first parts of the periphery of the ring. Each tooth is preceded by a flank having an abrupt ramp 29 and then followed of a side having a gentle ramp 28 to form an outer cam to which a tooth is missing (see reference 60 in Figures 4 and 5).

The first mechanism 17 is made of a rocker 30 pivoting on a shaft 31 secured to the movement plate. The first end 32 of this seesaw is fitted with a first pin 34 which is applied, under the effect of a spring 35 acting on the rocker, against the outer edge 26 of the ring 21. When the ring 21 is rotated, the pin 34 follows the outer edge 26 of the ring like a sliding finger on a cam. The flip-flop 30 is then moving back and forth, this movement occurring at the end of all the days of the month, except at the end of the thirty-first day on which the said movement has not place, the pin then follows a tooth-free path (reference 60 mentioned more high). The back and forth movement is reflected at the second end 33 of the rocker 30 which in turn drives, by a first spout 36 which it is provided with, a mobile 37 in rotation, this mobile being arranged to drive the first indicator 9.

Figures 2 and 3 also show that the first end 32 of the rocker 30 is fitted with a second pin 38 arranged to follow the inner edge 39 of the ring 21, this inner edge 39 also carrying thirty particular teeth 40 also spread over a sector occupying the thirty-first parts of the perimeter of the ring to form an inner cam with a tooth hollow missing (see reference 61 in Figures 2, 3 and 4). The orientation of the inner cam is arranged so that its sector 61 lacking a tooth recess is located opposite the sector 60 missing tooth on the outer cam. In addition, we arrange the first and second pins 34 and 38, as well as the teeth 27 and 40 arranged on the edges outside and inside 26 and 39 of the ring 21 so that when the ring is not not driven, the first pin 34 is located at the bottom of the steep ramp 29 of a teeth 41 of the outer edge of the ring, while the second pin 38 is positioned substantially at the top of one of the teeth 42 of the inner edge of the ring. This situation is presented in FIG. 2. Under these conditions, the flip-flop 30 is locked and it is impossible for it to inadvertently activate the mobile 37 and thereby the first indicator 9 if a shock is applied to the timepiece.

The mobile 37 disposed between the first spout 36 of the rocker 30 and the first indicator 9 includes a star 43 profiled to be rotated by the first spout 36. The mobile 37 also includes a pinion 44 mounted coaxially with and secured to the star 43. The pinion 44 is engaged with a crown 45 provided with a internal toothing 46. This crown 45 supports the first indicator 9 on which are affixed the numbers 11 indicating the units of the date.

Figures 2 and 3 finally show that the scale 30 is provided with a device 15 comprising a second spout 47 arranged to cooperate with the toothing 46 of the crown 45. When the first indicator 9 is not driven, the device 15 ensures on the one hand a defined angular position of the first indicator 9 and on the other hand the locking of the same first indicator. This situation is explained in Figure 2 where we see the second spout 47 introduced between two teeth 62 and 63 of the toothing 46 of the crown 45. It is understood here that the device 15 pursues two goals, that of indexing the indicator of the units 9 first, then that of positively locking this same indicator to prevent it from turning unexpectedly if a shock were applied to the timepiece.

Figure 3 shows the indicator units 9 at the start of his training. The finger 20 driven by the movement of the timepiece begins to drive a tooth 19 of the date crown 14 which rotates with the ring 21 which is attached to it associated clockwise referenced by arrow A. The pin 34 of the rocker 30 climbs on the steep side of tooth 41 of ring 21 by actuating the rocker in the direction of the arrow B. The first spout 36 of the rocker 30 came into contact with the star 43 and slides along one of its flanks to rotate it counterclockwise referenced by arrow E. A wing 64 of the pinion 44 associated with the star 43 is coming into contact with a tooth 46 of the crown 45 which begins to rotate in the counterclockwise direction referenced by the arrow F, which leads to the indicator 9, which is associated with the crown 45, in the same direction F. Meanwhile, the second spout 47 of the rocker 30 is released from the teeth 62 and 63 of the crown 45 leaving the indicator units move forward one step in complete freedom.

It will be observed here that the gear ratio between the star 43, the pinion 44 and the teeth 46 of the crown 45 are chosen in such a way that the numbers 11 affixed to the indicator for units 9 are twenty in number, or two series of ten digits from zero to nine.

Driving and locking the tens indicator

For this description, reference is made to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The crown of date 14 carries four pads 22, 23, 24 and 25, these pads also serving means for fixing the ring 21 to the crown 14. These studs are arranged and angularly arranged on the crown 14 so as to rotate the second mechanism 18 at the end of the ninth, nineteenth, twenty-ninth and thirty and first day of the month. The second mechanism is in the form of a intermediate mobile 18 on the one hand driven by one of the four studs 22 to 25 and on the other share arranged to be in engagement with the second tens indicator 10.

The intermediate mobile 18 comprises a first wheel 48 arranged to be advanced in rotation by the studs 22 to 25 of the date crown 14 and a second wheel 49 mounted coaxially with and integral with the first wheel 48. The second wheel 49 is engaged with a plate 50 provided with teeth 51. The plate 50 supports the second indicator 10 on which are affixed the numbers 12 indicating the tens of the date. Figures 4 to 6 also show that the intermediate mobile 18 comprises a lock 52 which prevents rotation of said mobile, and consequently that of the plate 50 which is linked to it, when this mobile is not driven by one of the studs 22 to 25 of the date crown 14. The main purpose of this lock is to block the tens indicator 10 and prevent it from moving unexpectedly if a shock is applied to the timepiece.

We can consider here several forms of lock to block the mechanism. We have retained here a hexagonal cutting board 52 mounted integrally on the mobile intermediate and coaxially to it. When the mobile 18 is not driven by the pin 22, FIG. 4 shows that two neighboring vertices 53 and 54 of the board 52 abut against a flange 55 which comprises the crown 14. On the other hand, when the mobile 18 is driven by the pin 22, the top 54 of the board 52 can pass in a clearance 56 made in the rim 55 of the crown as is illustrated in Figure 5. The situation illustrated in Figure 5 shows the passage of the twenty-ninth on the thirtieth day of the month. We will understand that there are as many clearances 56 only studs on the crown 14. The next clearance 56 is located opposite of the stud 25 will unlock the mobile 18 during the passage of the thirty-first day to the first day of the following month.

As already mentioned in the above paragraph and as we can see in Figure 5, the finger 20 driven by the movement of the timepiece begins to drive a tooth 19 of the date crown 14 which rotates with the pads 22 to 25 which are associated with it in the clockwise direction referenced by the arrow A. The stud 22 drives the first wheel 48 then the second wheel 49 which is linked to it in the direction of arrow M, this second wheel in turn driving the plate 50 and the indicator 10 which is associated with it in an anti-clockwise direction referenced respectively by arrows N and P. The tens digit appearing in the window before the change was three (Figure 4). During the change (Figure 5), the number of tens appearing in the window is the end of the number three and the beginning of the number zero, if the counter is at three o'clock.

It will be observed here that the gear ratio between the wheel 48, the wheel 49 and the tray 50 is chosen in such a way that the numbers 12 affixed on the indicator of tens 10 are twelve in number, that is to say three series of four digits going from zero at three. Indicator 10 thus turns around in three months.

It was mentioned above that the second indicator 10 is provided with a device 16 allowing it to maintain a defined angular position when it is not causes. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, this device consists of a wheel 57 fixed under the plate 50, this wheel having teeth 58 on which a long necklace 59 whose illustrated form is only one example of embodiment.

Final remarks

In addition that it comprises between the date crown 14 and each of the unit indicators 9 and tens 10 an original mechanism referenced 17, respectively 18, the calendar with large aperture which has just been described is remarkable for the security it presents when it is insensitive to various shocks who can reach the timepiece. This insensitivity is ensured by means of locks that block the mechanisms when they are not driven. These locks advantageously replace long chains which we have seen are expensive in energy. The locks described are positive ways to block a mechanism and not elastic means, like necklaces, certainly effective for indexing an indicator with precision (see jumper 59 which indexes the tens indicator 10) but powerless to prevent displacement nuisance due to shocks exerted on the timepiece.

Claims (11)

Timepiece (1) comprising hands (2, 4, 5) indicating the time changing on a dial (3) and a calendar (6) consisting of first (9) and second (10) indicators on which are affixed numbers indicating respectively the units (11) and the tens (12) of said date, this date appearing through a large window (13) pierced in the dial, said date being driven by a date crown (14) making one turn in thirty-one days at the rate of one step per day, this crown being arranged to drive the first indicator (9) with one step at the end of all days except at the end of the thirty-first day on which it is not driven, and the second indicator (10) at the end of the ninth, nineteenth, twenty-ninth and thirty-first days of the month, said first and second indicators each being provided with a device (15, 16 ) allowing them to maintain a defined angular position when they are not ent thin, characterized in that a first mechanism (17) is interposed between the crown (14) and the first indicator (9) and that a second mechanism (18) is interposed between the crown (14) and the second indicator (10), these first and second mechanisms being each provided with means ensuring both the rotation of the corresponding indicator from the crown and the locking of said first and second indicators when the latter are not driven by said crown. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the crown (14) carries a toothing having thirty-one teeth (19), toothing by which this crown is driven one step per day by a finger (20) actuated by a movement that comprises the timepiece and that on the crown (14) are fixed a ring (21) for moving the first mechanism (17) and a plurality of studs (22, 23, 24, 25) arranged for activate the second mechanism (18). Timepiece according to claim 2, characterized in that the outer edge (26) of the ring (21) carries thirty particular teeth (27) also distributed over a sector occupying the thirty-first parts of the periphery of the ring, the sides of each tooth having respectively an abrupt ramp (29) and a soft ramp (28), and that the first mechanism (17) consists of a rocker (30) pivoting on a shaft (31) integral with the movement, the first end (32) of the rocker being equipped with a first pin (34) being applied, under the effect of a spring (35) acting on the rocker, against the outer edge (26) of the 'ring (21), the rocker then being moved back and forth when the ring is rotated, this movement occurring at the end of every day of the month, except at the end of the thirty-first day, said back and forth movement reverberating at the second end (33) of the rocker which in turn drives, by a first spout (36) which it is provided with, a mobile (37) in rotation, this mobile being arranged to drive the first indicator (7). Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the first end (32) of the lever (30) is equipped with a second pin (38) arranged to follow the inner edge (39) of the ring ( 21), this inner edge also carrying thirty particular teeth (40) also distributed over a sector occupying the thirty and thirty-first parts of the periphery of the ring, the first (34) and second (38) pins and the teeth (27 , 40) arranged on the outer (26) and inner (39) edges of the ring (21) being arranged in such a way that when the ring is not driven, the first pin (34) is located at the bottom of the steep ramp (29) of one (41) of the teeth (27) of the outer edge of the ring, while the second pin (38) is positioned substantially at the top of one (42) of the teeth (40) of the inner edge of the ring, which has the effect of locking the rocker (30) and preventing inadvertent actuation of the mobile (37 ) causing the first indicator (9). Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the mobile (37) disposed between the first spout (36) of the rocker (30) and the first indicator (9) comprises a star (43) profiled to be driven in rotation by said first spout (36), and a pinion (4) mounted coaxially with and integral with the star (43), this pinion (4) being engaged with a crown (45) provided with internal toothing ( 46), this crown supporting the first indicator (9) on which are affixed the numbers (11) indicating the units of the date. Timepiece according to claim 5, characterized in that the lever (30) is provided with a second spout (47) arranged to cooperate with the internal toothing (46) of the crown (45) to ensure an angular position defined from the first indicator (9) and to lock the latter when the latter is not driven. Timepiece according to claim 2, characterized in that the date crown (14) carries four studs (22, 23, 24, 25) arranged to cause the second mechanism to rotate in rotation at the end of the ninth, nineteenth , twenty-ninth and thirty-first days of the month, this second mechanism being in the form of an intermediate mobile (18) engaged with the second indicator (10). Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate mobile (18) comprises a first wheel (48) arranged to be advanced by the studs (22, 23, 24, 25) of the crown (14) and a second wheel (49) mounted coaxially with and integral with the first wheel (48), this second wheel (49) being engaged with a plate (50) provided with teeth (51), this plate supporting the second indicator (10) on which are affixed the numbers (12) indicating the tens of the date. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate mobile (18) further comprises a lock (52) preventing the rotation of said mobile when it is not driven by one of the studs (22, 23, 24 , 25) of the crown (14). Timepiece according to claim 9, characterized in that the latch (52) is a hexagonal cutting board secured to the intermediate mobile (18) and mounted coaxially with it, two neighboring vertices (53, 54) of the abutting board against a ledge (55) that comprises the crown (14) when the mobile is not driven, this ledge having clearances (56) in which said vertices can pass when the mobile is driven. Timepiece according to claim 8, characterized in that under the plate (50) provided with teeth (51) is fixed a wheel (57) on the teeth (58) of which acts a jumper (59) to ensure a defined angular position of said plate (50) when the latter is not driven.

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