Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B23/00—Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
  • G04B23/02—Alarm clocks
  • G04B23/12—Alarm watches to be worn in pockets or on the wrist
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B23/00—Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
  • G04B23/02—Alarm clocks
  • G04B23/021—Controls (winding up the alarm; adjusting and indicating the waking time)
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B23/00—Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times
  • G04B23/02—Alarm clocks
  • G04B23/025—Signal triggering
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
  • G04F3/00—Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals with driving mechanisms, e.g. dosimeters with clockwork
  • G04F3/02—Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals with driving mechanisms, e.g. dosimeters with clockwork with mechanical driving mechanisms
  • G04F3/022—Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals with driving mechanisms, e.g. dosimeters with clockwork with mechanical driving mechanisms using mechanical signalling device

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a mechanism for triggering a striking mechanism fitted to a timepiece, the latter comprising a striking mechanism actuated by a barrel.
• Timepieces fitted with a mechanism for triggering a striking mechanism from a striking mechanism actuated by a barrel are well known in the state of the art. They are mainly timepieces striking the time, half hour and quarter hour at the request of the wearer when the latter actuates a pusher with the part fitted. In more complicated pieces said repeatedly, it is even possible to ring the minute.
• a bell has never been proposed which warns the wearer of the timepiece of the end of a countdown of a period memorized in a timer.
• the present invention is characterized in that the ringing trigger mechanism is arranged between a timer allowing countdown to countdown and the display on a dial of a predetermined time interval, and the ringing train. to hear the said ring when the timer reaches the end of the countdown.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of the timepiece containing the invention
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of the triggering mechanism according to the invention, a mechanism located between a timer and a striking train
• - Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a rocker constituting the main part of the trigger mechanism
• Figure 4 is a view according to arrow IV shown in Figure 3.
• Figure 1 is a plan view of the part timepiece 10 containing the invention. This piece includes timepiece hands, namely an hour hand 30, a minute hand 31 and a small second hand 32. A calendar with large aperture 33 completes the timepiece.
• the timepiece taken here as an example also includes a chronograph function with a second hand 34 and a timer counter 1.
• the starting and then stopping of the hand 34 and of the counter 11 are carried out by means of a first push-button 35, while a second push-button 36 enables said indicators 34 and 11 to be reset to zero.
• crown 37 allows, depending on the axial positions to which it is brought, to wind the timepiece, to bring the calendar up to date and to set the time of the timepiece hands.
• the minute counter 11 is also used as a timer or countdown timer 11, the setting of the period to be counted down being entrusted to the crown 37.
• the start of the timer and the winding of a barrel actuating a ring signal indicating the end of the countdown is effected by pressing on a third pusher 38.
• the timer-counter 11 comprises a dial 13 containing three concentric scales of ten minutes each and traversed each by a needle of different length 19, 20 and 21.
• the timepiece comprises a striking train 14 actuated by a barrel 7.
• the barrel 7 is wound up by a rack 39 made on a bar 40 leading (see FIG. 1) to the pusher 38.
• the assembly of the barrel 7, which will not be described here in detail, carries spikes 42 which actuate a striking hammer (not shown).
• This assembly drives the striking train 14 which here comprises three mobiles, including the terminal mobile 5.
• a striking mechanism 9 is arranged between the timer 11 allowing the countdown and the display on the dial 13 (see Figure 1) of a predetermined time interval and the cog train 14 for sound the said ring when the timer 11 reaches the end of the countdown.
• the triggering mechanism 9 comprises a rocker 1.
• This rocker comprises a pivot shaft 15 and first and second portions 16 and 17 located on either side of the shaft 15.
• the first portion 16 is arranged to be activated by the timer 11 when the latter reaches the end of countdown.
• the second portion 17 is arranged to block the ring train 14 during countdown and to unlock said train when said timer reaches the end of said countdown.
• the timer 11 essentially comprises a minute wheel 8 making one revolution in thirty minutes. This wheel is set to the time desired by the crown 37 of the timepiece according to a process which will not be described here. On the shaft 18 of the wheel 8 is fitted the set of needles 19, 20 and 21 which display the chosen time interval, as already mentioned above.
• the third pusher 38 is pressed (see FIG. 1), the barrel 17 is raised and the countdown is initiated, the wheel 8 then engaging with the movement carried by the timepiece, according to a mechanism which is not shown in Figure 2.
• the wheel 8 then rotates in the direction of arrow A which is a countdown direction. It will be observed here that the mechanism shown in FIG. 2 is seen under the timepiece, which explains why the direction of the arrow A is found to be the reverse of the downcounting direction shown in FIG. 1 where the timepiece is seen. On top.
• the wheel 8 carries a plate 22 provided with a spout 6 and the first portion 16 of the rocker 1 carries a leaf spring 3, one end 23 of which can be touched by the spout 6 of the plate 22.
• the second portion 17 of the rocker 1 carries a stone 2 cooperating with a notch 24 formed in a terminal mobile 5 of the striking train 14.
• the striking mechanism is thus released and the tips 42 forming part of the barrel assembly 7 begin to rotate, which actuates the striking hammer as described above. It will be noted here that a single tip would be sufficient to emit a single sound. However, we preferred to have three points generating three short and close sounds. It will also be noted that the force necessary to trigger the mechanism is very low thanks to the proposed device.
• the terminal mobile 5 of the striking train 14 is a centrifugal regulator which limits the speed of rotation of the train and which acts as a brake on the kinematic chain.
• the mobile 5 carries two weights 43 and 44 which move apart when the mobile 5 is rotated.
• the plate 22 carrying the spout 6 can be adjusted angularly relative to the minute wheel 8. This adjustment can be done by means of a screw 26. It will be understood that an orientation of the trigger-beak 6 relative to the teeth 27 of wheel 8 is necessary if the timing of the the bell is triggered with the zero indication shown on dial 13 of the timer.
• Figures 3 and 4 show an enlargement of the rocker 1 presented in Figure 2 in context.
• the leaf spring is mounted in abutment against a shoulder 29 formed in the first portion 16 of the rocker 1 and held in this position by a pin 45.
• the end 23 of the leaf spring end representing the place touched by the spout 6 associated with the minute wheel 8. Thanks to this arrangement of the leaf spring, it will be understood that the minute wheel 8 can play two roles: that of timer allowing a countdown countdown triggering a bell at the end of this counting and that of the minute counter of a chronograph.
• counting backwards drives the minute wheel 8 and the spout 6 which is associated with it in a direction A (clockwise).
• the spout touches the leaf spring 3, and more precisely the end 23 of this leaf spring, the latter cannot flex when pressed against the shoulder 29 of the rocker 1, which drives the rocker in rotation and triggers the striking mechanism.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
• Measurement Of Predetermined Time Intervals (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

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ID=8164346

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (9)

• 2001
  • 2001-03-21 DE DE60111273T patent/DE60111273T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-03-21 WO PCT/EP2001/003345 patent/WO2002077722A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-03-21 US US10/472,471 patent/US7070320B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-03-21 EP EP01927793A patent/EP1373989B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-03-21 JP JP2002575716A patent/JP4759217B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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