EP1333342B1 - Actuating device with a seal gasket for a watch - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an actuating means with a seal for a clock according to the preamble of claim 1.

O-rings are commonly used to seal actuators of a watch. However, since these do not always seal the interior of the clock to a satisfactory degree, extensive efforts have been underway for some time to develop seals with better sealing properties by ignoring the cross-sectional shape of O-rings.

From the CH-562 468 is a dustproof crown for watches known, which has an elastically deformable gasket with a cross-sectional S-shaped kinked shape. Although this gasket, unlike O-rings on the inside is formed differently than on the side facing the environment, this cuff acts in about the same direction in both directions, ie that it has a similar sealing behavior at overpressure in the watch interior, as at ambient pressure.

On the one hand, a cuff of such shape ensures that it can not lead to the formation of a considerable overpressure in the interior of the watch, since it has a tapered sleeve part, which separates in such a situation from the bore wall.

However, if the ambient pressure of a clock equipped with such a crown increases, for example when diving, then this sleeve also provides only little resistance to the penetration of substances into the interior of the clock due to the shaping of the cuff part mentioned.

Next, this solution has the disadvantage that when resetting the elevator shaft, from the Zeigerrichtstellung in the basic position, dirt particles from the tapered sleeve part can be transported into the clock inside. Due to the contamination of the Abdichtbereiches the risk of water ingress is much greater in consequence.

In addition, such a crown requires a precise cutting and mounting of the elevator shaft.

In the CH-453 221 an actuator is shown with an L-shaped seal having a conical sealing surface which is in contact with the outer wall of a sleeve arranged in the watch case. This sealing surface is therefore conical, so that the attachment of the crown is easy to perform on the sleeve. In the plugged state, the seal is deformed so far that the conical sealing surface merges into a cylindrical and accordingly fully fed and rests on the sleeve under a relatively large bias. For the purpose of an additional reinforcement of the contact pressure, the seal is designed such that it widens against the inside in the direction of the axis.

This solution basically implies a different sealing behavior in both directions, however, it has the effect that the penetration of substances into the interior of the clock is limited and that a rapid overpressure reduction in the clock is not possible.

According to CH-324 259 is arranged between a bore in the crown and the outer wall of the sleeve, a sealing ring with a V-shaped cross section, in the wedge-shaped annular groove, a metal ring is arranged, which is acted upon axially by a spring. By the spring pressure, the two legs of the V-shaped sealing ring are radially spread to produce a contact pressure against the outer wall of the sleeve on the one hand and the bore of the crown on the other hand.

Even with this solution, it can lead to the formation of a considerable overpressure in the clock interior.

Next shows CH-304 789 Gaskets, each deformed and biased on an annular surface.

Although with this solution, a pressure reduction in the clock is possible, the axial path of the elevator shaft narrow limits.

Next, an accurate cutting of the elevator shaft is necessary.

In the CH-237 996 an actuating means is shown in a clock having a lip seal which separates the clock interior from the environment. This seal, which has a base region and a rotationally symmetrical lip, lies between a housing-fixed element and a movable element. This lip, which extends from the base region and facing towards the surroundings, leads conically to a cylinder jacket-shaped surface of the housing-fixed element and abuts on this cylinder jacket-shaped surface under prestress.

Although with this solution, an overpressure reduction in the clock is also possible, the internal pressure must be considerable, since the seal is already very deformed and rests under considerable bias.

Further, the construction of this seal requires the use of a washer to hold said seal in place.

• bei Umgebungsüberdruck ausgezeichnet abdichtet,
• bei Umgebungsunterdruck einen raschen Druckausgleich ermöglicht,
• kein genaues Ablängen und Montieren der Welle erfordert,
• einen genügend grossen Bewegungsweg der Welle zulässt,
• sowie Schmutzpartikel vom Dichtungsbereich und vom Uhreninnern fernhält.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide an actuating means, which

• seals perfectly at ambient pressure,
• allows rapid pressure equalization at ambient pressure,
• does not require exact cutting and mounting of the shaft,
• allows a sufficiently large path of movement of the wave,
• and keeps dirt particles away from the sealing area and the inside of the watch.

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

Characterized in that the inventive actuating means is equipped with a lip seal, which is oriented so that the concentric, apron-shaped lip from the interior of the clock facing the environment, the lip is pressed at increasing magnification overpressure stronger to the cylinder jacket-shaped surface area, resulting in an excellent seal ,

Conversely, in the case of overpressure in the timepiece, the lip is advantageously deformed such that it is pushed away from the cylinder jacket-shaped surface area and forms a passage for rapid pressure reduction.

The lip seal thus acts as an automatically actuated valve without additional, sliding elements.

Next has a lip seal in the proposed orientation has the advantage that it works as a dirt deflector and thus prevents the access of dirt particles to the sealing area and the clock inside. As a result, the sealing area always remains clean and the risk of water ingress is reduced significantly. For example, an additionally provided O-ring also remains clean in this way and its sealing quality, in particular with respect to water, is retained.

By sealing area is meant contact surfaces of the gasket as well as the parts of the actuating means or the watch in contact therewith, i. Surface areas of the seal and surface areas, for example, the outer and inner walls of the sleeve, the lid, the watch case, etc, depending on the embodiment of the inventive actuating means.

Compared to an O-ring, there is another advantage of the lip seal: O-rings have a circular seam due to their production, which is located at the location of the largest circumference. This seam is characterized in seals with small dimensions, as is the case in the watch industry, by striking irregularities of the surface, which significantly affect their Abdichtqualität. In the case of a lip seal, on the other hand, at the sealing points, ie in those areas which are in contact with the boring wall are, no seams available. This also contributes significantly to the improvement of the tightness.

The inventive actuating means further has the advantage that by the use of a lip seal no accurate cutting and mounting a possibly predictable wave is required and easily a great way this wave can be provided. This may be, for example, a pointer adjusting and winding shaft or the like.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a screwed crown on another O-ring, which is compressed when screwing the lid, which gives the advantage of a further Abdicht-safety in the event of an external pressure increase, as occurs for example when diving. However, the sealing properties of the lip seal of the inventive actuating means are so excellent that even when submerged no water enters when the lid was not screwed.

The actuating means according to the invention can be, for example, a screwed or unscrewed crown, a pusher, a corrector, a switch or the like.

• die Figuren 1a, 1b und 1c eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemässen Betätigungsmittels in Form einer geschraubten Krone 10 im Axialschnitt, jeweils in verschiedenen Positionen des Kronendeckels.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Show it:

• the FIGS. 1a . 1b and 1c an embodiment of the inventive actuating means in the form of a screwed crown 10 in axial section, respectively in different positions of the crown lid.

The following is the description of the inventive screwed crown 10. For the three FIGS. 1a . 1b and 1c apply the same reference numerals for all parts shown, the entry of these reference numerals for the sake of clarity on the three FIGS. 1a to 1c is distributed.

The with respect to an axis 11 substantially rotationally symmetrical, screwed crown 10 has according to FIG. 1a a continuous hollow sleeve 12 which is pressed in a middle part or a housing 14 of a clock only partially shown. In the clock a lying in the drawing below the interior 16 is defined, which is hermetically sealed off from the overhead in the drawing environment 18.

The sleeve 12 has a respect to the axis 11 outwardly facing shoulder 20 with an annular with respect to the axis 11, the housing 14 facing bearing surface 22. Between this bearing surface 22 and a bearing surface 24 corresponding thereto of the housing 14, a sealing washer 26 is arranged, which in its outer peripheral region a Has thickening or an annular bead 28 which extends away from the housing 14 and the sealing plate 26 gives an approximately L-shaped cross-section.

The sealing washer 26 is exceptionally in the FIG. 1a only shown to the left of the axis 11 to allow on the right side a clear description of the support surfaces 22 and 24.

For pressing in the sleeve 12, or the actuator 10 in the housing 14, the sleeve 12 has a cylinder jacket-shaped shaft 30 which is arranged in a press fit in a bore 32 passing through the housing 14.

On the inside, the hollow sleeve 12 is stepped several times and has a bore 34 on the side facing the housing 14. At this bore 34 closes in the direction away from the housing 14 with respect to the axis 11 radially outwardly facing shoulder 36, from which an internal thread 38 leads up to another paragraph 40. Following this paragraph 40, which again leads radially outward from the internal thread 38, a bore 42 with a cylindrical jacket-shaped wall 44 extends further away from the housing 14. Finally, the sleeve 12 has a groove on the side 45 facing away from the housing 14 46 on. This groove 46 is formed by an annular bearing surface 48 adjoining the bore 42, a cylindrical jacket-shaped bearing surface 50 projecting therefrom and a short, conically tapered bearing surface 52 tapering towards the axis 11. In the groove 46, an O-ring 54 is arranged, which is shown only on the left of the axis 11, to allow on the right side a clear description of the groove 46 and the bearing surfaces 48, 50 and 52.

The bore 42 is arranged in the region of a shaft 56 of the sleeve 12, which protrudes from the housing 14. This shaft 56 has on the outside a cylinder jacket-shaped surface 58 and runs in the region of the upper sleeve end 45 conical to the axis 11. Between the surface 58 of the shaft 56 and the bead 28 of the sealing washer 26, a small recess 60 of the shape of an approximately wedge-shaped annular groove is provided.

In the sleeve 12 a sleeve 62 is axially movable relative to it, which is fixed in a lid 63 shown above. The tube 62 has, on the outside, a cylinder jacket-shaped surface 64, against which the O-ring 54, which is accommodated in the groove 46, bears with its inside 65 under prestress. On the lower side of the tube 62, the surface 64 merges into an external thread 66, which mates with the internal thread 38. Inside points the tube 62 has an almost completely through hole 67, which merges shortly before its lower end in a short hexagon socket 68, which does not emerge from the figures.

The following reference numerals are in FIG. 1b entered.

The lid 63 has a head 69, in which the tube 62 is pressed in a short blind hole 70, and a hollow cylindrical skirt 71, which is provided on the outside with a longitudinal edge 72 for better grip when screwing and unscrewing the lid 63. In the area between the head 69 and skirt 71, an annular bearing surface 73 for the O-ring 54 is provided inside the cover 63, which is partially also formed by the tube 62. On the inside, the skirt 71 has a bore 74, which extends from the head 69 and leads in the direction of the housing 14 to a gradation 75. This step 75 comprises an annular, relative to the axis 11 radially outwardly facing support surface 76 and forms a transition to a short bore 77, whose diameter exceeds that of the bore 74. The short bore 77 has a cylinder jacket-shaped wall or support surface 78, which extends as far as the lower, i. the housing 14 facing the end 79 of the skirt 71 extends.

Thus, the bore 77 with the step 75 forms a unilaterally open inner annular groove or an annular space 80 in which a lip seal 81 is arranged. This lip seal 81 is exceptionally in FIG. 1b not shown to the right of the axis 11 to allow a clear description of the free space 80, the bore 77 and the bearing surfaces 76 and 78.

The lip seal 81 has a rotationally symmetrical, elastic lip 82, which tapers in the direction of the housing 14 and the axis 11 and conically up to the cylinder jacket-shaped surface 58 and rests against this under bias. In other words, the rotationally symmetrical lip 82 or skirt is designed and oriented with respect to the axis 11 such that its inner dimension or inner diameter decreases continuously in the direction of the housing 14 and substantially forms the surface of a conical-surface stump. Between this surface, which is called the first surface area 83, and the surface 58 of the sleeve 12, a rotationally symmetrical free space 84 having a substantially wedge-shaped cross section and an acute angle 85 of, for example, 10 ° is defined.

The in FIG. 1a Lower interior 16 leads to the O-ring 54. Between the O-ring 54, the lip 82, the sleeve 12 and the lid 63, an intermediate portion 86 is included. With regard to the function of the lip seal 81, this gap 86 may be considered to belong to the interior 16.

In addition to the first surface region 83, the lip seal 81 has a second, rotationally symmetrical surface region 87. This second surface area 87 also approaches the surface 58 of the sleeve 12 continuously in the direction of the housing 14 and the axis 11 and forms substantially the surface of a truncated cone. Both surface regions 83 and 87 thus point in a similar direction, i. E. towards the housing 14 and to the axis 11. Between the second surface area 87 and the surface 58 of the sleeve 12 is an angle 88 which is less than 90 °, i. for example, 45 °. Thus, the lip 82 is formed in a keilring ring at an angle of, for example, 35 ° and has an approximately pointed edge region 90 in the area of contact with the surface 58.

Next, the lip seal 81, which may also be referred to as a sleeve, a base portion 91 in which an L-shaped reinforcing ring 92 is arranged, which generates the necessary bias so that the pressed-in the short bore 77 lip seal 81 remains immovably fixed therein , The rotationally symmetrical support surface 76 forms an axial stop.

A curved transition zone 93 has, starting from the end 79 of the skirt 71 radially toward the axis 11, first away from the housing 14. With approach to the axis 11, the transition zone 93 extends increasingly, describing a curve, towards the housing 14, finally to transition to the second surface area 87.

Further reference numerals are for the purpose of relieving the two FIGS. 1a and 1b exclusively in Figure 1c entered.

Inside the head 69 of the lid 63, a projection 94 for centering a compression coil spring 95 is provided. The compression coil spring 95 leads into a blind hole 96 of a pin 97. This pin 96 has on its side facing the housing 14 inside a female thread 98 for receiving a control or elevator shaft, not shown, and on the outside a hexagon socket 99 which in the FIGS. 1a to 1c left of the axis 11 is shown more clearly. The hexagon socket 99 is engaged with the hexagon socket 68 and rotatably connects the pin 97 to the tube 62, but permits relative movements in the axial direction.

In FIG. 1a the lid 63 is in unscrewed and pulled, that is shown in remote from the housing 14 position. In this position of the crown, the lip seal 81 fixed in the skirt 71 of the cover 63 rests on the cylinder jacket-shaped surface 58 in the upper region of the shank 56 of the sleeve 12, while the O-ring 54 arranged in the groove 46 is located in the lower region of the surface 64 of the cylinder Tube 62 is located. In this position, the lid 63 is the pin 97 and thus the not shown adjusting or winding shaft pulled out of the housing 14, since the upper end of the short hexagon 68 abuts the upper end of the hexagon 99.

In the FIG. 1b the lid 63 is also shown in unscrewed position, but is in the elevator position, ie in not pulled out position. Also in this crown position, the upper end of the short inner hex 68 abuts the upper end of the outer hex 99, ie, the tube 62 and the pin 97 are in the same position relative to each other as in FIG FIG. 1a , The lip seal 81 and the O-ring 54 are in FIG. 1b each in the central region of the surfaces 58 and 64 respectively.

In the Figure 1c however, the lid 63 is shown in the screwed position. The external thread 66 and the internal thread 38 are in engagement, wherein the shoulder 40 is in abutment with the unmentioned end of the external thread 66 to define the end position of the screwed cover 63. The pin 97 is in the same non-drawn position as in FIG FIG. 1b , The upper end of the short hexagon 68, however, no longer strikes at the upper end of the hexagon 99. However, the two hexagons 68 and 99 are still engaged and couple the pin 97 rotatably with the tube 62 and the lid 63. The fixed in the skirt 71 lip seal 81 is located in the lower portion of the shaft 56 of the sleeve 12 on the cylinder jacket surface 58, while the O-ring 54 in the upper region of the surface 64 of the tube 62 is located. In this screwed position of the lid 63, the support surface 73 presses against the O-ring 54 and strengthens its sealing effect between the sleeve 12 and tube 62. The annular bead 28 enters the lip seal 81 into it, ie presses on the surface 87 that the Lip 82 is pressed more strongly against the surface 58 of the tube 12 and thereby better seals. In this case, the small recess 60 provides space for receiving the pointed edge region 90 of the lip 82, so that it is not adversely deformed.

When screwed cover 63, the sealing effect of the inventive actuating means 10 is thus increased twice, by one hand, the lip 82 closes reinforced and on the other hand, the O-ring 54 is compressed more. However, it should be expressly pointed out that even the effect of the lip seal 81 alone is sufficient to meet the requirements, as they occur, for example, when diving. The cover 63 may be screwed, for example, before the immersion, in order to ensure maximum security against ingress of water and dirt into the interior 16 of the clock under extreme conditions.

As mentioned, in the case of the proposed installation orientation, the lip seal 81 has the advantage that the system pressure of the, for example, rather tapered, skirt-shaped lip 82 increases as the ambient overpressure increases.

Conversely, the lip 82 is deformed under pressure in the clock so that it is pushed away from the surface 58 and allows effective relaxation of the interior 16 of the clock.

Due to the fact that the lip seal 81 is the component closest to the environment 18 and that it functions as a dirt wiper, dirt particles can not advance further in the direction of the interior 16.

The in the Figures 1b entered angles 85 and 88 do not have to correspond to the selected 10 ° or 45 °. The angle 85 of the wedge-shaped free space 84 is decisive for the opening behavior of the lip seal in the case of internal overpressure and therefore must always be less than 90 °. On the other hand, the angle 88 is decisive for the closing and sealing behavior of the lip seal in the case of external overpressure and must therefore also be less than 90 ° in principle. Thus, the lip itself has an angle which is between 0 ° and 90 °, wherein it must be mentioned here that the shape of this lip is not that of the FIGS. 1a to 1c must correspond. For example, the two surfaces 83 and 87 may also run parallel to one another, instead of opening into a pointed edge region 90. The edge region 90 also does not have to be pointed, but can be relatively thick depending on the requirements of the lip seal. However, the Schmutzabweiserfunktion is particularly well met by a tapered edge region 90. According to the FIGS. 1a to 1c the lip 82 abuts the surface 58 of the sleeve 12 essentially only in its edge region 90. Of course, the contact surface between lip 82 and surface 58 may also be substantially larger and take the form of a cylinder jacket.

According to the FIGS. 1a . 1b and 1c the lip seal 81 is fixed in the lid 63. However, it is also possible in principle to fix the base region 91 of the lip seal 81 in a groove provided in the sleeve 12 on the outside, while the lip 82 conically leads away from the axis 11 and bears against the inside in the cover 63. Starting from the FIGS. 1a to 1c For this purpose, the cross-section of the lip seal 81 would have to be mirrored on a vertical axis for this purpose.

However, it is advantageous to put the dirt lip 81 acting as a dirt barrier respectively the surface zone 87 in contact with the environment, as shown in the FIGS. 1a to 1c is shown, ie the transition between the environment 18 and interior 16 to be arranged so that all possible components of the actuating means isolated from the environment 18 and protected. In this sense belongs according to the FIGS. 1a to 1c the gap between the surfaces 58 and 74 already no longer to the environment 18, since it is sealed off from this by means of the lip seal 81. Dirt particles get according to this embodiment of the invention not even access to columns, cracks and the various components such as O-ring, thread, etc.

Further, it is also possible to suggest a solution in which the lip 82 is not as in FIGS. 1a to 1c to the housing 14 indicating, but is arranged away from the housing 14. Based on these figures, the cross-section of the lip seal 81 would therefore have to be mirrored on a horizontal axis. Such an arrangement would be useful, for example, if the lip seal 81 is provided at a location at which in the FIGS. 1a to 1c the O-ring 54 is located. If in the groove 80 of the lid 63 no further seal is provided, the environment 18 extends in such a case into the gap 86 inside.

In principle, the arrangement of the lip seal at various points of the inventive actuator is possible, but its orientation is of crucial importance. As already stated several times, the elastic lip should be directed so that it closes when the external pressure is greater than the pressure inside the watch, and that it opens when there is an internal overpressure. In general, an extremely slight deformation of the lip is sufficient for this purpose.

Of course, several, with regard to their effect successively connected lip seals can be provided.

As mentioned, the actuating means according to the invention can be provided, for example, in the form of a screwed or unscrewed crown, pusher, switch, corrector or the like. The above mentioned in connection with the crown 10 equally applies equally to other actuating means, since the advantages of a lip seal is of course not tied to a crown. For example, since a pusher or push button is designed differently than a crown, depending on the case, a lip seal must be provided, which of those in FIGS. 1a to 1c is different, that is, for example, as mentioned above, arranged away from the housing. For a corrector, it may be useful to attach the lip seal stationary on the plunger, while the lip bears outward on the Bohrwandung the sleeve.

However the lip seal is formed and arranged depending on the actuator type, it is a matter of optimization in a particular case. Decisive, however, is their orientation, ie the orientation of the elastic lip, so that on the one hand in an interior overpressure pressure equalization between the interior and the environment can be done and on the other hand, at an ambient pressure, the interior of the environment is sealed off.

Claims (12)

1. Operating means (10) for a timepiece, which comprises an fixed element (12) rigid with a housing, an operable element (62, 63) movable with respect to said fixed element, as well as a seal (81) arranged between the two elements (12, 62, 63), which delimits the timepiece inner space (16) from the surroundings (18), said seal (81) being a lip seal which comprises a base region (91) as well as a rotationally symetric lip (82), said lip (82) comprising two rotationally symetric surface zones (83, 87), of which a first (83) of said surface zones faces said timepiece inner space and the second (87) of said surface zones, blending into a curving (93) at said base region (91), is in contact with said surroundings (18), and said base region (91) being arranged in a stationary manner in a first (62, 63) of said elements (12, 62, 63), said lip (82) bearing with pretensioning on a cylinder jacket shaped surface region (58) of a second (12) of said elements (12, 62, 63), characterized in that said curving (93) firstly faces away from the timepiece housing (14) radially in the direction of the axis (11) of said operating means, and in that said curving (93) describes a curve while approaching said axis (11), said curve running increasingly in the direction of said housing (14) in order finally to blend into said second surface zone (87), in order on the one hand to release said lip (82) itself from said surface region (58) for the purpose of pressure compensation between said inner space (16) and said surroundings (18) given an inner space excess pressure, and in order on the other hand said lip (82) to be more strongly pressed on said surface region (58) for the purpose of sealing said inner space (16) with respect to said surroundings (18) given an excess pressure of said surroundings.
2. Operating means (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said two rotationally symetric surface zones (83, 87) run in a similar direction.
3. Operating means (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first surface zone (83) essentially, proceeding from said base region (91) and facing in the direction of said surroundings (18), leads conically to said cylinder jacket shaped surface region (58) , and in that between said first surface zone (83) and said cylinder jacket shaped surface region (58) there is provided a rotationally symmetric free space (84) which in cross section is formed essentially wedge-shaped and is delimited from said surroundings (18) by said lip (82).
4. Operating means (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said lip (82) comprises, at least in the contact surface with said cylinder jacket shaped surface region (58), an essentially pointedly formed lip edge (90).
5. Operating means (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said base region (91) is arranged in a stationary manner in said movable element (62, 63) and said cylinder jacket shaped surface region (58) is provided on the outer side of said element (12) rigid with the housing.
6. Operating means (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said base region (91) is arranged in a stationary manner in said element (12) rigid with the housing, and said cylinder jacket shaped surface region (58) is provided on the inner side of said movable element (62, 63).
7. Operating means (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in said base region (91) of said leap seal (81) there is provided a reinforcement element (92).
8. Operating means (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said operating means (10) is a crown.
9. Operating means (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that said movable element (62, 63).is a crown cover (63), and said element (12) rigid with the housing is a sleeve, which is provided for the fastening in a timepiece housing (14) and is at least partially surrounded by sais crown cover (63).
10. Operating means (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said operating means (10) comprises a further seal (54).
11. Operating means (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that said further seal (54).is arranged on the inner space side of said lip seal (81) and forms an intermediate space (86) between itself and said lip seal (81), or between said surroundings (18) and said inner space (16).
12. A timepiece with an operating means according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11.

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