EP1234218B1 - Mechanical watch movement with small second hand or central second hand - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch mechanism provides a cage and bearing structure providing simple construction of the seconds wheel. The mechanical watch movement comprises a cage provided with bearings and a mean wheel, and a second wheel at the centre of the escapement which pivots in the bearings in axes perpendicular to the plane of the cage. The cage comprises a first pair of bearings defining a first de-centred complementary pivot axis (E). This is placed such that the axis of the mean wheel (A) is at equal distances from this pivot axis and from the axis of the second wheel centred at (C). A second pair of bearing define a second de-centred complementary pivot axis (F), placed such that the axis of the escapement wheel (D) is at equal distances from the pivot axis and from the axis of the second wheel at the centre (C).

Description

The present invention relates to mechanical watch movements having a display of the second. It concerns, more particularly, a mechanical watch movement offering, on the same basis, not only the freedom to choose a display of the second in the center, at six o'clock or nine o'clock, but also the possibility of receiving a chronograph mechanism , in bridge side allowance, displaying the second, minute and hour timed.

There are two classic ways to display the second. In the oldest pocket watches and wristwatches, the second hand is usually placed next to a small off-center dial in relation to the hour circle. Such a provision, called a small second, is found in watches with certain complications, such as chronographs. In most modern wristwatches, however, the second hand is concentric with the hour and minute hands. That's why they are said to second in the center.

In recent years, many watches have come into being, equipped with different complementary functions, but performed on the basis of the same movement, the functions being provided by modules reported, mounted on or under the movement. However, depending on the additional function, the place occupied by the display of seconds can be problematic.

The difficulty is even greater for the realization of a chronograph watch because it has many needles. In this case, two solutions are generally applied. The first is to integrate the chronograph mechanism into the movement. This makes it possible to obtain a thin part but also involves the production of a complete tooling, for a production that can be limited, hence a high cost. The The second solution is to associate a chronograph module with an existing movement. The cost is certainly reduced but the extra thickness is important. In addition, the basic movement must generally be the subject of a number of adjustments that are often unsatisfactory compromises.

The present invention aims to allow the realization, on the basis of the same caliber, watches likely to be equipped or not with different complications and having a display of the second, regardless of the position of the present complications.

• une première paire de paliers définissant un premier axe de pivotement complémentaire décentré placé de manière à ce que l'axe du mobile de moyenne soit à égale distance de lui et de l'axe du mobile de seconde au centre, et
• une deuxième paire de paliers définissant un deuxième axe de pivotement complémentaire décentré placé de manière à ce que l'axe du mobile d'échappement soit à égale distance de lui de l'axe du mobile de seconde au centre.

More specifically, the mechanical watch movement according to the invention comprises, in a conventional manner, a cage provided with bearings, a winding and setting-up stem, a balance wheel and medium-second wheels in the center and exhaust, said balance and said mobile pivoting in the bearings along axes perpendicular to the plane of the cage and each having a wheel and a pinion. This movement is characterized in that the cage comprises, in addition:

• a first pair of bearings defining a first off-center complementary pivot axis placed so that the axis of the moving average is equidistant from it and from the axis of the second-to-center moving body, and
• a second pair of bearings defining a second off-center complementary pivoting axis placed so that the axis of the escapement mobile is equidistant from it from the axis of the second-to-center mobile.

• le mobile de moyenne est entraîné par son pignon,
• le pignon du mobile de seconde au centre est en prise avec la roue dudit mobile de moyenne, et
• le pignon du mobile d'échappement est en prise avec la roue dudit mobile de seconde au centre.

Advantageously:

• the average mobile is driven by its pinion,
• the pinion of the mobile from second to center is engaged with the wheel of said mobile average, and
• the pinion of the escapement mobile is engaged with the wheel of said second mobile in the center.

• les deux axes complémentaires sont sensiblement à la même distance de l'axe du mobile de seconde au centre;
• ces deux axes complémentaires se trouvent sur deux des rayons du mouvement qui sont perpendiculaires l'un à l'autre et respectivement situés à neuf et six heures;
• la distance séparant les deux axes complémentaires de l'axe de seconde au centre correspond sensiblement à la moitié du rayon du mouvement;
• la distance séparant l'axe du mobile de moyenne du premier axe complémentaire et de l'axe du mobile de seconde au centre correspond à la somme du rayon de la roue du mobile de moyenne et du rayon du pignon du mobile de seconde au centre;
• la distance séparant l'axe du mobile d'échappement du deuxième axe complémentaire et de l'axe du mobile de seconde au centre correspond à la somme du rayon de la roue du mobile de seconde au centre et du rayon du pignon du mobile d'échappement;
• l'axe du balancier est disposé dans le quadrant formé par les rayons à neuf heures et six heures sur lesquels se trouvent respectivement les deux axes complémentaires.

The movement according to the invention also comprises the following important features:

• the two complementary axes are substantially at the same distance from the axis of the mobile from second to center;
• these two complementary axes are found on two of the rays of the movement which are perpendicular to each other and respectively situated at nine and six o'clock;
• the distance separating the two complementary axes from the second axis to the center corresponds substantially to half the radius of the movement;
• the distance separating the axis of the moving average from the first complementary axis and the axis of the second movable to the center corresponds to the sum of the radius of the wheel of the moving average and the radius of the second movable pinion to the center;
• the distance separating the axis of the escapement mobile from the second complementary axis and the axis of the second mobile from the center corresponds to the sum of the radius of the wheel of the mobile from second to center and the radius of the mobile gear of exhaust;
• the axis of the balance is arranged in the quadrant formed by the rays at nine o'clock and six o'clock on which are respectively the two complementary axes.

According to a first possibility of configuration of the movement, the shaft of the mobile from second to center carries a large second hand.

According to a second possibility of configuring the movement, a pinion of second to nine hours is added in engagement with the wheel of the average wheel, pivoting about the first complementary axis and identical to the pinion of the second mobile in the center. The second gear at nine o'clock then carries a small second hand.

According to a third possibility of configuring the movement, a wheel of second to six hours is added in engagement with the pinion of the escapement wheel, pivoting about the second complementary axis and identical to the wheel of the mobile from second to center. The shaft of the second wheel at six o'clock then carries a small second hand.

Finally, according to a fourth possibility of configuring the movement, the cage comprises a third pair of bearings defining a third off-center complementary pivoting axis which is on its radius situated at three hours, substantially at the same distance from the axis of the moving member. second in the center than the other two complementary axes. In this case, a second gear is added to nine hours in engagement with the wheel of the average wheel, pivoting about the first complementary axis and identical to the pinion of the second mobile in the center and a chronograph gear train comprising a movable coaxial drive gear to said pinion and secured to it, a second chronograph mobile coaxial second mobile in the center, a chronograph minute mobile pivoting about the third complementary axis and a chronograph hour mobile pivoting about the second axis complementary.

• le mobile de seconde de chronographe porte une grande aiguille de seconde,
• le mobile de minute de chronographe porte une petite aiguille de minute,
• le mobile d'heure de chronographe porte une petite aiguille d'heure, et
• le pignon de seconde à neuf heures porte une petite aiguille de seconde.

In this fourth configuration:

• the second chronograph mobile wears a large second hand,
• the chronograph minute mobile carries a small minute hand,
• the chronograph hour mobile wears a small hour hand, and
• the second gear at nine o'clock carries a small second hand.

• les figures 1 à 3 représentent la face avant de montres ayant une aiguille de seconde placée respectivement au centre, à neuf heures et à six heures;
• la figure 4 représente la face avant d'une montre chronographe;
• les figures 5 et 6 représentent, respectivement en perspective côté fond et en coupe partielle, un mouvement selon l'invention équipant la montre de la figure 1;
• les figures 7 et 8 représentent, respectivement en perspective côté fond et en coupe partielle, un mouvement selon l'invention équipant la montre de la figure 2;
• les figures 9 et 10 représentent, respectivement en perspective côté fond et en coupe partielle, un mouvement selon l'invention équipant la montre de la figure 3; enfin,
• les figures 11 et 12 représentent, respectivement en perspective côté fond et en coupe partielle, un mouvement selon l'invention équipant la montre chronographe de la figure 4.

Other advantages and features of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

• Figures 1 to 3 show the front face of watches having a second hand placed respectively in the center, at nine o'clock and at six o'clock;
• Figure 4 shows the front face of a chronograph watch;
• Figures 5 and 6 show, respectively perspective bottom side and partial section, a movement according to the invention equipping the watch of Figure 1;
• Figures 7 and 8 show, respectively in perspective in the bottom side and in partial section, a movement according to the invention equipping the watch of Figure 2;
• Figures 9 and 10 show, respectively in perspective side bottom and partial section, a movement according to the invention equipping the watch of Figure 3; finally,
• FIGS. 11 and 12 show, respectively in perspective on the bottom side and in partial section, a movement according to the invention fitted to the chronograph watch of FIG. 4.

Figures 1 to 3 show the front of watches which each include a box 10, a dial 12 and needles 14 and 16 for indicating the hours and minutes respectively.

The watch of FIG. 1, said second in the center, further comprises a second display made by means of a needle 18 coaxial with the needles 14 and 16.

The watches of Figures 2 and 3 are said to small seconds. More precisely, in FIG. 2, the display of the seconds is ensured by a small hand 20 arranged at nine o'clock, whereas in FIG. 3 the seconds are displayed by means of a small hand 22 placed at six o'clock.

The chronograph watch of FIG. 4 displays, like that of FIG. 3, the seconds by a small hand at nine past eight, but it also indicates the second, the minute and the hour timed by, respectively, d a needle in the center 24, a small needle at three hours 26 and a small hand at six hours 28.

According to the present invention, each of the four configurations presented above can be made from the same basic movement, making call to a very limited number of complementary parts, likely to be put in place or not to allow these different configurations.

Reference will firstly be made to FIGS. 5 and 6 which represent a first configuration of the movement according to the invention with a second hand in the center. Note that Figure 6 is a section of Figure 5 along the line VI-VI. The movement comprises, in a conventional manner, a cage formed of a plate 30 and bridges that have not been shown, in order to facilitate the reading of the drawing, with the exception of the finishing bridge 32 (visible only in the figure 6). The cage carries a plurality of bearings 34 intended to receive the pivoting parts of the movement and, more particularly, a finishing gear 36, an escapement 38 and a balance wheel 40. The finishing gear train 36 comprises several mobiles and among them, visible in the drawing. , a mobile average 42, a second mobile center 44 whose pinion meshes with the wheel of the average mobile 42 and an escapement mobile 46 whose pinion meshes with the wheel of the second mobile center 44. The latter comprises a shaft 44a whose end disposed on the dial side is provided with a rod 44b on which is driven the second hand to the center 18 (Figure 1).

In a conventional manner also, the energy is stored in a spring housed in a barrel which drives the average wheel 42 via a wheel of high average. In order not to overload the drawing, the barrel and the wheel of great average were not represented in the drawing.

The bearings 34 define, in pairs, axes perpendicular to the plane of movement, identified by capital letters, A for the average mobile 42, B for the balance 40, C for the center mobile 44 and D for the mobile d exhaust 46.

The cage also carries a time setting rod 48 which is at three o'clock and is aimed at the center of the movement.

The present invention relates primarily to the manner of positioning the motions of the movement so that it offers complete freedom to choose the implantation of the second hand among three positions: second in the center (Figures 5 and 6), second at nine (Figures 7 and 8), second at six (Figures 9 and 10).

For this purpose, and still referring to FIG. 5, the cage comprises two additional pairs of bearings 34 defining an axis E for a small second hand at nine o'clock and an axis F for a small second hand at six o'clock. as will be shown later.

In order to describe the relative positions of the axes A, B, C, D, E and F, reference is made more particularly to FIG. 5, on which a horizontal axis X corresponding to the diameter of three hours - nine hours and a vertical axis Y corresponding twelve hours in diameter - six hours.

The E axis of small seconds at nine o'clock is arranged on the X axis at a distance a from the center of the movement which corresponds substantially to the middle of its radius. The axis F from small seconds to six hours is disposed on the Y axis substantially at the same distance a from the center.

The axis A of the wheel of the average wheel 42 is placed between the axes C and E equidistant from them, this distance corresponding to the sum b of the radius of the wheel of the moving average 42 and c of the radius of the pinion from the second mobile to the center 44. More precisely, the axis A is on a radius of the movement making with the axis X an angle α such that cosα = a / 2 (b + c). In FIG. 5, it can be seen that, advantageously, this angle is approximately 30 °.

The axis D of the escapement wheel 46 is placed between the axes C and F at an equal distance from them, this distance corresponding to the sum of the radius of the wheel of the second mobile at the center 44 and e of the radius of the pinion of the escape wheel 46. More precisely, the axis D is on a radius of the movement making with the Y axis an angle β such that cosβ = a / 2 (d + e). In Figure 5, we see that, advantageously, this angle is zero.

It will be noted, finally, that the axis B of the balance 40 is disposed in the quadrant formed by the rays at nine hours and six hours on which are respectively the two complementary axes E and F.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 7 and 8, which represent a second configuration of the movement according to the invention with a small second hand at nine o'clock. Note that Figure 8 is a section of Figure 7 along the line VIII-VIII. The elements common to these two figures and to Figures 5 and 6 bear the same reference numbers.

In this case, the two bearings 34 which define the axis E serve to rotate a mobile 50 which is engaged with the wheel of the average mobile 42 and has the same module and the same number of teeth as the pinion of the mobile of second center 44. This and the mobile 50 rotate in the same direction and at the same speed.

The shaft 50a of the mobile 50 has, on the dial side, a tigeron 50b on which is driven the small second needle 20 (Figure 2). Of course, the second hand at the center 18 of the configuration of FIGS. 5 and 6 has been removed as well as the tigeron 44b of the center wheel 44.

It can thus be seen that the mere implantation of the mobile 50 into the bearings 34 of the E-axis has made it possible to modify the basic movement to give it a small second hand at nine o'clock.

Figures 9 and 10 show a third configuration of the movement according to the invention with a small second hand to six hours. Note that Figure 10 is a section of Figure 9 along line X-X. The elements common to these two figures and to the preceding figures bear the same reference numbers.

In this case, the two additional bearings 34 which define the axis F are used to rotate a mobile 52 whose wheel is in engagement with the pinion of the escapement wheel 46 and which is identical to the wheel of the center wheel 44. This and the mobile 52 rotate in the same direction and at the same speed.

The shaft 52a of the mobile 52 has, on the dial side, a tigger 52b on which is driven the small second hand 22 (Figure 3). Of course, the needle of second to the center 18 and the tigeron 44b of the configuration of Figures 5 and 6 are deleted.

It can thus be seen that the mere implantation of the mobile 52 into the bearings 34 of the axis F has made it possible to modify the basic movement to give it a small second hand at six o'clock.

Figures 11 and 12 show a watch movement provided with a chronograph mechanism for measuring times in seconds, minutes and hours, this information being respectively displayed by means of the needles 24, 26 and 28, as illustrated in Figure 4 It will be noted that FIG. 12 is a section of FIG. 11 along the line XII-XII.

The chronograph mechanism is mounted on the movement shown in Figures 7 and 8, that is to say with a small second display at nine o'clock. It thus comprises, on the axis E, a mobile 54 in engagement with the wheel of the mobile of average 42 and having the same characteristics as the mobile 50 of FIGS. 7 and 8. The shaft 54a of the mobile 54 has, on the dial side, a tigeron 54b on which is driven the small second needle 20. The end of the shaft 54a opposite the tigeron 54b is extended by a tigeron 54c whose function will be specified later.

The chronograph mechanism essentially comprises a gear train and a control device for starting, stopping and resetting its three needles 24, 26 and 28.

The chronograph gear train is mounted essentially on the bridges and, more particularly, on a three-quarter bridge 56 and on a cock 58. It comprises a drive wheel 60, a clutch mobile 62, a mobile of a second chronograph 64, a first intermediate mobile 66, a chronograph minute movable 68, two referrals 70a and 70b, a second intermediate mobile 72 and a chronograph hour mobile 74.

The drive wheel 60 is driven on the shaft 54c of the axis E. It rotates permanently with the mobile 54, that is to say at a speed of one revolution per minute. The second chronograph mobile 64 is on the central axis C.

The chronograph minute wheel 68 is on an axis G, not yet mentioned, which is arranged at three hours on the X axis at the same distance a as that separating the axes C and E. Finally, the time mobile of chronograph 74 is on the F axis.

A rocker 76, provided with a bridge 78, is pivotally mounted on the cock 58 and held axially by means of an eccentric 80. The clutch mobile 62 is mounted, free to rotate, between the rocker 76 and the bridge 78 It is permanently engaged with the driving wheel 60.

The pivot point of the rocker 76, defined by the position of the eccentric 80, is chosen so that the variation of the distance between the movable 60 and 62 is as small as possible, while allowing the engagement and the triggering the link between the clutch mobile 62 and the second chronograph mobile 64. The three mobiles 62, 64 and 66 each comprise a wheel provided with a triangular profile toothing. The modulate of the first two is the same while that of the third is a submultiple. In this way, the start timing can be done accurately and the meshing between the first two mobiles is assured, despite the variation in the distance of the centers.

The second chronograph wheel 64, disposed in the central axis C and driven by the clutch mobile 62, comprises a shaft 64a forming, at its end disposed on the dial side, a rod 64b intended to receive the large second hand of chronograph 24. The mobile 64 further comprises a pinion 64c engaged with the first intermediate wheel 66 and carries a heart 82 for resetting the chronograph second hand 24 at the end of a measurement . It can be seen that the mobile 64 is coaxial with the second mobile at the center 44. Since the latter is interposed between the mobile 64 and the dial, it must comprise a tubular shaft 44a through which the shaft 64a of the mobile 64 passes.

The first intermediate wheel 66 comprises a wheel 66a and a shaft 66b, the latter being provided with a pinion 66c which drives the minute wheel 68.

A bridge 84 (visible only in Figure 12), fixed on the bridge 56, pivots the mobiles 64, 66 and 68 on the side opposite the dial. The mobile 66 pivots, in addition, in the bridge 56 and the mobile 68 in the plate 30.

The chronograph minute wheel 68, which is arranged on the axis G, comprises a wheel 68a engaged with the pinion 66c and a shaft 68b provided with a pinion 68c. Its end end dial form a tigeron 68d for receiving the minute hand of chronograph 26. The shaft 68b carries, in addition, a heart 86.

The second intermediate mobile 72 is kinematically connected to the pinion 68c via the two referrals 70a and 70b. It comprises a wheel 72a engaged with the reference 70b and a shaft 72b provided with a pinion 72c which drives the mobile of the chronograph hours 74. The latter, which pivots about the axis F, comprises a wheel 74a and a shaft 74b whose end end dial defines a rod 74c for receiving the chronograph hour hand 28. The shaft 74b further carries a heart 87.

It should be noted that the wheel 74a must necessarily be of a diameter smaller than that of the wheel 52a, so that there is no meshing with the pinion of the escapement mobile 46.

The control device of the chronograph mechanism comprises, in addition to the rocker 76, and as can be seen in FIG. 11, a control lever 88, a column wheel 90, a jumper 92, a hammer 94 and a spring 96 which cooperate with each other in a conventional manner and which will not be described in more detail because they are not part of the invention.

It will be simply noted that an action on the pusher at two hours visible in FIG. 4 causes the chronograph gear train to be clutched or disengaged by the movement of the lever 76 and that an action on the pusher at four hours ensures, only to the extent that the gear train is disengaged, setting the chronograph hands to zero. This zeroing is effected by the action of the hammer 94 on the cores 82, 86 and 87.

In a conventional manner, the chronograph gear train has, on some of its mobiles, friction enabling the needles to be zeroed independently of one another. Such friction being well known to those skilled in the art, they will not be described in more detail.

Thus, from the basic movement, it is possible to display the second at the center (figures 5 and 6), at nine o'clock (figures 7 and 8) or at six o'clock (figures 9 and 10). , a chronograph watch displaying the current second at nine o'clock, the second timed in the center, the minute timed at three o'clock and the hour timed at six o'clock.

Claims (15)

1. Mechanical watch movement including a frame provided with bearings, a winding and time-setting stem, a balance and third, centre seconds and escapement wheel sets, said balance and said wheel sets pivoting in said bearings along axes perpendicular to the plane of the frame and each including a wheel and a pinion, characterised in that the frame further includes:

   - a first pair of bearings defining a first off-centre complementary pivoting axis (E) placed such that the axis of the third wheel set (A) is at an equal distance from it and from the axis of the centre seconds wheel set (C), and

   - a second pair of bearings defining a second off-centre complementary pivoting axis (F) placed such that the axis of the escapement wheel set (D) is at an equal distance from it and from the axis of the centre seconds wheel set (C).
2. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that:

   - the third wheel set is driven by its pinion,

   - the pinion of the centre seconds wheel set is meshed with the wheel of said third wheel set, and

   - the pinion of the escapement wheel set is meshed with the wheel of said centre seconds wheel set.
3. Movement according to claim 2, characterised in that the two complementary axes (E, F) are located at substantially the same distance from the axis of the centre seconds wheel set (C).
4. Movement according to claim 3, characterised in that the two complementary axes (E, F) are on two of its radii which are perpendicular to each other and respectively located at nine and six o'clock.
5. Movement according to claim 4, characterised in that the distance separating the two complementary axes (E, F) from the centre seconds axis (C) substantially corresponds to half of its radius.
6. Movement according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the distance separating the axis of the third wheel set (A) from the first complementary axis (E) and from the axis of the centre seconds wheel set (C) corresponds to the sum of the radius (b) of the wheel of the third wheel set and the radius (c) of the pinion of the centre seconds wheel set.
7. Movement according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the distance separating the axis of the escapement wheel set (D) from the seconds complementary axis (F) and from the axis of the centre seconds wheel set (C) corresponds to the sum of the radius (d) of the wheel of the centre seconds wheel set and the radius (e) of the pinion of the escapement wheel set.
8. Movement according to claim 4, characterised in that the axis of said balance (B) is arranged in the quadrant formed by the radii at nine o'clock and at six o'clock on which the two complementary axes (E, F) are respectively located.
9. Movement according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the arbour of the centre seconds wheel set carries a seconds hand.
10. Movement according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that it includes a seconds pinion at nine o'clock meshed with the wheel of the third wheel set, pivoting about the first complementary axis (E) and identical to the pinion of the centre seconds wheel set, and in that said seconds pinion at nine o'clock carries a small seconds hand.
11. Movement according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that it includes a seconds wheel at six o'clock meshed with the pinion of the escapement wheel set, pivoting about the second complementary axis (F) and identical to the wheel of the centre seconds wheel set, and in that the arbour of said seconds wheel at six o'clock carries a small seconds hand.
12. Movement according to any of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that the frame includes a third pair of bearings defining a third off-centre complementary pivoting axis (G), which is on its radius located at three o'clock, at substantially the same distance from the axis of the centre seconds wheel set (C) as the two other complementary axes (E, F).
13. Movement according to claim 12, characterised in that it includes a seconds pinion at nine o'clock meshed with the wheel of the third wheel set, pivoting about the first complementary axis (E) and identical to the pinion of the centre seconds wheel set and a chronograph gear train including a drive wheel set coaxial to said pinion and secured thereto, a second chronograph wheel set coaxial with the centre seconds wheel set, a chronograph minute wheel set pivoting about the third complementary wheel set (G) and a chronograph hour wheel set pivoting about the second complementary axis (F).
14. Movement according to claim 13, characterised in that:

    - the chronograph seconds wheel set carries a large seconds hand,

    - the chronograph minute wheel set carries a small minute hand, and

    - the chronograph hour wheel set carries a small hour hand.
15. Movement according to claim 14, characterised in that said seconds pinion at nine o'clock carries a small seconds hand.

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