EP1254399A1

EP1254399A1 - Analog indicator device for timekeeping clock and use thereof

Info

Publication number: EP1254399A1
Application number: EP01951173A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hugues Jolidon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-07
Filing date: 2001-02-06
Publication date: 2002-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-06
Also published as: JP4815088B2; EP1254399B1; DE60143077D1; US6987711B2; EP1254399B9; JP2004506175A; AU2001228253A1; US20030021190A1; WO2001059530A1; ATE481661T1; ES2349460T3

Abstract

The invention concerns a timekeeping clock wherein on the axis of a mobile counter completing a cycle in 11 seconds is mounted a transparent disc ( 42 ) bearing ( 11 ) radial markers ( 44 ). The dial positioned beneath the disc ( 41 ) provides a marking in the form of a marker circle ( 40 ) with ( 10 ) radial markers ( 41 ) numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. At each step of the mobile disc successive alignments occur between a marker of the disc ( 42 ) and a marker of the ring ( 40 ) thereby enabling tenths of seconds elapsed to be displayed anticlockwise.

Description

ANALOG INDICATOR DEVICE FOR A TIMEPIECE AND USE OF THIS DEVICE

The present invention relates to an analog indicator device for a timepiece according to the preamble of claim 1 and the use of this device.

Chronographs and chronograph watches have so far been produced in many forms which differ from each other mainly by the mode of presentation of the control and display members, the materials used, the appearance, etc. These timepieces generally comprise a so-called second hand driven with a period of one revolution per minute, and which can be stopped at will to read the timed time. In general, the dial has divisions marking sub-periods corresponding to seconds. The sub-period fractions can be read approximately to the fifth of a second if the balance-spring system oscillates at 18,000 vibrations. For optical reasons, higher reading accuracy is hardly possible, even with timepieces having a frequency higher than the usual frequency. In certain cases the chronograph comprises, in addition to the second hand indicating the number of seconds passed, counters, for example a minute or hour counter, totaling the minutes or the hours passed.

A device using the principle of the vernier in order to display the hours and minutes using only the hours mobile is described in patent DE 39 07 873 A. The purpose of this device is to reduce the number of indicators, in particular to remove the minute hand, which reduces the energy consumption of the movement. To do this, the dial presents five areas in the form of concentric circular crowns on each of which are distributed eleven equidistant landmarks, so as to obtain 55 equal circular sectors, each of the landmarks on a defined range being offset from the nearest landmark located on the (or both) adjacent area (s) by an angle of 6.5 °. A disc-shaped hour mobile surmounting the dial also has five concentric circular areas on each of which are distributed twelve equidistant slots, so as to obtain 60 equal circular sectors, each of the slots on a defined range being offset from the nearest slot. located on the adjacent beach (s) at an angle of 6 °. The arrangement of the device makes it possible to read, clockwise, coincidences separated by 65.45 seconds from each other. To obtain separate coincidences of 60 seconds, the hour mobile should be trained with a period of one revolution in eleven hours, which would distort the reading of the hours.

EP 0 365 443 A2 describes a time display system composed of a movable disc and a concentric fixed disc which also makes it possible to read the hour and the minute on the hour mobile only. Reading coincidences is done by juxtaposition of successive marks clockwise according to the vernier principle. This system imposes a numbering of the hour markers on the hour mobile counterclockwise. In addition, the user must be familiar with the handling of a vernier and with its reading, while the reading of the hours is atypical, but above all difficult and inconvenient.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks which the known devices present, more particularly in an adaptation of the vernier principle to allow a precise and easy reading of the fractions of sub-periods clockwise or counterclockwise, independently of the direction of rotation of the mobile indicator and requiring, at the user, no knowledge of said principle of vernier.

This object is achieved by the means defined in the characterizing part of independent claim 1, while the specific means defined in the dependent claims allow the invention to be carried out cheaply and according to preferential modes.

Various embodiments and different variants of the subject of the invention will be described below, by way of examples, with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 are top plan views of the fixed member, of the movable member and of the superposition positions of these two members in a reading pair according to the first variant of the first embodiment,

fig. 4, 5, 6 are similar views of the organs of a reading pair according to the second variant of the first embodiment,

fig. 7a is a schematic sectional view of a chronograph using one or the other of the variants of the first embodiment,

fig. 7b and 7c are top plan views on an enlarged scale of the fixed member of the first and second variants of the first embodiment

fig. 8, 9, 10 are views similar to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 showing a first variant of a second embodiment of the device, fig. 11, 12, 13 are views similar to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, showing a second variant of the second embodiment,

fig. 14, 15, 16 are views similar to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, showing a third variant of the second embodiment and

fig. 17, 18, 19 are views similar to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, showing a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In the examples which will be described, the indicating device is incorporated into an analog chronograph with mechanical movement which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7a. The visible upper face of this chronograph comprises a circular dial on which is mounted a flange 16 which can be seen in FIG. 1, the marking consisting of a crown 1 centered on the axis of the needles, of constant width over its entire periphery. Between the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions, the dark crown 1 has an alternation of light and dark ranges which divide the arc of the circle from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. into 10 pairs of alternately dark and light elements ( 2). The ratio between the widths of the ranges of each pair gradually varies from one end to the other of the arc of a circle. The details of this arrangement will be described later in connection with FIG. 7b.

Fig. 2 represents a transparent disc 3 intended to be mounted on the axis of the chronograph seconds hand so as to be superimposed on the crown 1 of the flange 16. It carries a radial marking line 4 representing the seconds hand and at its periphery an opaque crown 5 formed of 60 distinct elements separated by transparent spaces 6 drawn radially and having a width of 0.6 degrees of arc, ie one tenth of the space traversed by the disc 3 in one second. Preferably, the markings 5 and 6 will be made by screen printing on the underside of the disc 3, while the marking 4 may be made on the top or the bottom of the disc.

Fig. 3 shows the 10 successive positions of the disc 3 on the crown 1 of the flange 16 during the second following the engagement of the chronograph from the zero position. At the start an element 6 is visible in front of the first clear area of the elements 2 on the flange, but every tenth of a second a new element 6 is placed in front of a clear area of the flange so that if the needle is stopped at during the first second it is possible to read the number of tenths of seconds that have passed. The details of the operation of this system will be explained later (fig. 7b). Note here that with the system of figs. 1, 2, 3, the marking of the tenths of successive seconds develops in the dextrorsum direction, like that of the seconds.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 represent in the same way as FIGS. 1, 2, 3 the crown 1 of the flange 16 of a chronograph with a dark circular marking 7 and on the arc of a circle between 11 a.m. and 1 a.m. a series of alternating elements 8 forming light and dark areas. A second disc 9, transparent, has a linear radial marking 10 representing the second hand and a crown of opaque elements 11 separated by transparent radial spaces 12 identical to those of the disc 3 of the first variant. The various relative positions of the two components of the reading pair 7, 9, shown in FIG. 6, show that the display of tenths of seconds expands in the sense senestrorsum even as the seconds disc rotates in the normal dextrorsum direction.

Fig. 7a shows the chronograph in schematic section. The movement 13 carries a dial 14 fixed by feet 15 which project beyond the upper face and center the flange 16 having a flat upper face which forms the crown 1. Hour 17 and minute 18 hands are mounted on the barrels of their mobiles respectively. They extend in the space limited by the flange 16 while the disc 3 of the seconds unit extends by its periphery immediately above the upper face of the flange 16 so that the parallax is reduced to the minimum . A tube 19 and a washer 20 secure the disc 3 on the shaft of the seconds mobile. The means for engaging, stopping and returning the disk 3 to zero are usual means and are not shown in FIG. 7a.

In fig. 7b and 7c we can see again, in more detail, the arrangement of the part of the crown 1, 7 on the arc between 11 h and 1 h for the first and the second variant of the first embodiment. In fig. 7b, which corresponds to FIG. 1, this arc covers 60 degrees and is divided into 10 elements 21 of 6 degrees each, each element itself being divided into a pair of alternately light and dark ranges. The light areas decrease in width when traversing the circular arc clockwise, and go from 6 to 0.6 degrees while the dark areas increase in proportion, from 0 to 5.4 degrees. Under these conditions, the progressive displacement of the crown 5, 6 of FIG. 2 above the crown 1 of FIG. 1 shows the succession of markings as shown in FIG. 3, every second. Fig. 7c corresponds to fig. 4. The arc elements 22 6 degrees wide are each formed by a dark range and a light range, the dark ranges passing from 5.4 degrees to zero from the 11 o'clock position to the 1 o'clock position. It is understood that the displacement of the crown 11, 12 of the disc 9 seen in FIG. 5 produces the succession of appearances of FIG. 6, with the appearance of marks developing counterclockwise, every second.

Figs. 8 to 19 are partial views which illustrate a second and a third embodiment of the device. This is applied to a chronograph equipped with one or more counters, this or one of these counters being provided for counting tenths of seconds while the second hand normally moves above the dial. The tenths counter can be placed in any of the four usual positions: 3 a.m., 6 a.m., 9 a.m. or 12 p.m. Figs. 8, 11 and 14 show the marking of the reading member, FIGS. 9, 12 and 15 that of the display member and FIGS. 10, 13 and 16 the superposition of the two bodies, this in the first, second and third variants of the second embodiment.

In the variant of FIGS. 8 to 10, the fixed crown 23 comprises 10 dark elements 24 each covering a little less than 36 degrees separated by light elements 25 whose width makes the complement to 36 degrees. The exact width of these clear elements can be chosen at will so as to have an easy reading. Likewise the transparent disc 26 shown in FIG. 9 carries a crown 27 formed of 11 arc elements 28 of a little less than 360/11 degrees, of opaque color, separated by narrow spaces 29 of the same width as the spaces 25. In this variant the movement of the chronograph will include a mobile rotating at the speed of one revolution in 11 seconds, connected to the second mobile so as to be engaged, stopped and brought to zero at the same time as the chronograph hand. The superposition of the members 27 and 23 will then give the appearance of the various reading positions shown in FIG. 10. The tenths are read clockwise.

The fixed crown 30 of FIG. 11 is exactly the same as that of FIG. 8, unlike near marking directions (which are reversed with respect to each other). It is divided into 10 arc elements 24 of dark color separated by narrow elements 25 of light color. It cooperates as a locating member with a movable reading member 31 which is a transparent disc mounted on a counter axis rotating in this variant at a speed of one revolution in 9 seconds. The disc 31 carries a crown formed by 9 dark arc elements 32 covering each, with the clear intermediate element 33 which follows an arc of 40 degrees. As in the previous variant, the width of the elements 33 will be equal to that of the elements 25. The superposition of the elements 30 and 31 produces the succession of the positions of FIG. 13: we see that the marking of tenths of a second develops counterclockwise.

Other arrangements are also possible. Thus figs. 14 to 16 show a third variant of the second embodiment. The fixed locating member is here a crown 34 divided into 9 arc elements 35 of dark color separated by light narrow elements 36, while the movable reading member is a transparent disc 37 with a crown of the same diameter and width as the crown 34 formed of 10 dark elements 38 separated by transparent spaces 39 of the same width as the elements 36. The disc 37 will be mounted on an axis of mobile counter rotating at the rate of one revolution in 9 seconds and the superposition of the positions of the two organs of the reading pair will give the appearance of a marker moving clockwise at the speed of one revolution per second, thus marking the counting of tenths of seconds.

Finally the display of tenths of seconds can also be obtained as shown in figs. 17 to 19 by means of a fixed circular marking member 40 carrying 10 marks 41 spaced 36 degrees apart and by means of a transparent reading member 42 rotating above the member 40, carrying a crown of marks 43 surrounding the crown 40. In fig. 18 the crown 43 is divided into 11 segments by 11 radial marks 44 regularly spaced from 360/11, ie approximately 32.7 degrees. At each step of the moving disc, 10 successive coincidences occur between a mark 44 on the disc 42 and a mark 41 on the crown 40, which makes it possible to locate the tenths of seconds elapsed.

The position of coincidences between a mark 44 and a mark 41 gives the tenth of a second, as seen in fig. 19. These coincidence positions develop counterclockwise.

We have seen that the base period Pb (for example the minute) is divided into sub-periods (for example in seconds) and that these are themselves divided into fractions of N sub-periods (N being for example equal at 10, the fraction of the sub-period then being a tenth of a second). We have also seen that an object of the invention is to allow an accurate reading; this precision is equivalent to at least one time interval corresponding to a fraction N of sub-period elapsed since the last coincidence between the position of the reference mark and a mark of the marking graduation. However, taking the first embodiment as an explanation, if the reading accuracy is to be at least equal to the value of said fraction of sub-period (therefore a reading accuracy to the nearest N-th), the transparent spaces drawn radially on the mobile disc must extend over a defined angular distance: the latter must in fact be at most equal, from on the one hand, at the angular distance covered by the movable disc in 1 / N th of a sub-period and, on the other hand, at the step of progression (1 / N) of the light or dark areas on the disc of the fixed member presenting a division of N sub-periods. Thus, by setting for example N = 10, the device makes it possible to carry out a reading to the nearest 1/10 of a second.

The same reasoning is applicable by analogy with regard to the second and third forms of execution.

The various arrangements presented in particular in FIGS. 8 to 16 allow a succession of coincidences clockwise regardless of the direction of rotation of the mobile. This characteristic is interesting when the tenth of a second is read on a separate counter. Indeed, depending on the construction, the system for returning from the central seconds hand to the mobile for reading fractions of sub-periods, the direction of rotation of the latter can be counterclockwise, in which case it will then be necessary to add a mobile . However, the aforementioned characteristic of the invention precisely makes it possible to avoid such addition and, consequently, all the drawbacks that it would entail for the device (increases in cost, size and energy consumption).

To avoid excessive jolts of the movable member, which could cause reading errors, it is advantageous to choose a balance-spring couple oscillating at least 28,800 vibrations. The duration of the alternation of such a balance-spring assembly being 1/8 of a second, the error it generates never exceeds a value greater than half a fraction of a tenth of a second subperiod.

It is understood that it is possible to imagine still other arrangements for the pairs of reading elements described, in particular as regards the colors or the general appearance of the opaque or dark areas and their superposition on the visible face of the timepieces.

Finally, it will be noted that an indicator device as described above can be integrated into a standard watch with or without a second hand for the sole purpose of creating an evolving decorative effect.

Claims

claims

1.- Analog indicating device for a timepiece, comprising at least one reading assembly formed by a pair: fixed marking member with a marking graduation comprising equidistant marks, and mobile indicating member with at least one mark moving by relative to the fixed locating member with a base period Pb defining a given number and duration of sub-periods by passing the marker opposite said marks of the marking graduation, the two members of the pair each carrying a graduation of reading of sub-periods, these two graduations being arranged according to the vernier principle, characterized in that the reading graduations of sub-periods are arranged so that when the movable member stops in any position, they allow a precise reading of a time interval corresponding to a fraction of sub-period elapsed since the last coincidence between the position of the reference re and a mark of the marking graduation, and in that the arrangement of the graduations for reading sub-periods on the two members authorizes a reading of successive coincidences in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction independently of the direction of rotation of the member mobile.

2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a reading pair with a movable indicating member moving in rotation with the period Pb, around an axis, in front of a fixed reading member, the member mobile bearing on the one hand a main reference mark making it possible to read the sub-periods and on the other hand a number of auxiliary reference marks corresponding to the number of the sub-periods, and in that the fixed member of the pair has a graduation s' extending over an arc of a circle with a number of fixed auxiliary marks corresponding to a number of sub-period fractions which it is desired to be able to read, each mark of the movable member traversing the graduation of the fixed member so that when stopped the position of an auxiliary reference in front of the fixed graduation makes it possible to read the fraction of under period elapsed.

3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said reading pair comprises on the movable member an opaque circular crown, subdivided into elements of lengths equal to the sub-periods, by transparent radial marks whose width corresponds to the fraction of the sub-period to be read and in that the fixed member of said pair comprises a crown arranged under that of the movable member and comprising a portion of arc divided into pairs of alternately dark or opaque and light elements each pair of which covers an arc corresponding to the sub-period identified by the movable member, the ratio between the sober and clear elements varying from one pair to the next by an amount which corresponds to the fraction of sub-period to be read .

4.- Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the graduation of the fixed member of the pair fixed member-movable member extends over an arc corresponding to the product of the number of sub-period fractions that is desired read by the step of a sub-period on the mobile indicating member, and the number of pairs {light element-dark element} also corresponds to the number of fractions of sub-period that one wishes to read in each sub-period.

5.- Device according to claim 1 in the case where the sub-period fractions are indicated on an auxiliary reading pair distinct from the main reading pair, characterized in that the period of rotation of the indicator member of the auxiliary pair is chosen to be equal to the product of the duration of the subperiod of the main pair by the number of subperiod fractions that it is desired to read plus one or minus one.

6.- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the organs of the auxiliary reading pair each comprise a crown divided by radial elements into regular segments whose number is equal for one of the organs to the number of fractions of sub -period to read and for the other at this number increased or decreased by one, the arrangement being such that in each stop position the superimposed and non-coincident elements are made invisible by superposition of opaque or dark and clear or transparent parts whereas only two coinciding elements, one transparent and located on the mobile disc the other clear and located on the fixed disc are visible and indicate by their position the duration of the fraction of sub-period to be read.

7.- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the width of the clear or transparent elements corresponds to the duration of the sub-period fractions to be read.

8.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pair of main reading indicator member-reading member for the division of the period Pb into sub-periods, of which the indicator member bears a single marker, and an auxiliary reading pair indicator-reading unit for dividing the sub-periods into fractions, the period of which corresponds to the sum of the number of sub-period fractions, and making it possible to read when stopped during a sub-period , the time elapsed since the last coincidence between a reference mark of the fixed member and the reference mark of the movable member in the pair of main reading, thanks to the arrangement of reading ticks for sub-periods on the auxiliary reading pair.

9.- Use of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in a mechanical chronograph, characterized in that the balance-spring system is constructed to operate at at least 28,800 vibrations.

10.- Use of the device according to claim 9, characterized in that the chronograph comprises a second hand rotating at one revolution per min. and in that the indicating device is arranged to allow the reading of the 10th of a second.

11.- Use of the device according to claim 10, characterized in that the indicator device is of the type according to claims 3, 6, or 7, in that the movement comprises a drive mechanism for a mobile making a turn in 9 or in 11 seconds and in that the auxiliary reading pair forms in the dial a counter situated at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock or 12 o'clock.

12.- Use of the device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is incorporated into a usual analog watch, the said pair or pairs of fixed and mobile members having a decorative function.