EP1373990B1 - Timepiece component comprising a mechanism for interlocking a time indicating function and simultaneous winding of a barrel spring - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a timepiece component comprising a clock watch movement provided with a main barrel acting as power source for a timekeeping device of the clock watch movement and an auxiliary barrel designed to supply mechanical power to a supplementary device, and mechanical control means capable of being manually actuated to interlock said supplementary device. The invention is characterised in that said control means are designed to simultaneously interlock the supplementary device and wind the auxiliary barrel.

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a mechanism for triggering a time function and the simultaneous arming of a mainspring. More particularly, the invention relates to such a timepiece whose mechanism allows the arming of a mainspring for activating a striking mechanism on the expiry of a predetermined time interval counted by a connected timer mechanism to the timepiece device of the timepiece. By timer mechanism, there will be understood a device allowing the countdown of a predetermined time interval.

Already known in the prior art mechanical devices that sound on demand or automatically, for example to mark the hours in the case of watches with mechanisms repeating minutes, or to wake a person at a certain time in the case clock-watches. Conventionally, the energy required to activate the hammers of the striking mechanisms is provided from a ringer barrel by means of a gear train, the ringer barrel being distinct from the engine cylinder which supplies the energy to the engine. timekeeping module of the movement, and classically having its own winding device.

There are generally two types of ring drum arming devices depending on whether it is a clock watch or a minute repeater watch. In clock-clocks, the barrel is conventionally armed by means of a stem winding and setting time of its own, the striking mechanism being triggered at a time determined by a trigger that allows then the barrel to provide energy to the hammer until the barrel of the ring is completely disarmed. A disadvantage of this type of arrangement lies in the fact that the user can select a wake-up time and activate the alarm function without the barrel is necessarily armed so that it is possible that no ringing is triggered at any time. wakeup time selected if the barrel is completely disarmed. In watches with minute repetition mechanisms, the winding of the striking barrel is conventionally carried out by means of a slider which slides on the outer surface of the watch case and which is mechanically connected through an oblong opening to a slider with a rack arm cooperating with the ringer barrel. The time indication is given by tones activated by the mechanism immediately after releasing the cursor. A disadvantage of these slider mechanisms is that their construction is complex, cumbersome and generally to ensure a seal without an additional device for sealing and locking the cursor which complicates handling. Such a mechanism is for example described in the patent CH 672 868 . Another disadvantage of this type of mechanism lies in the fact that it does not allow energy to be stored in the ringer barrel for triggering the mechanism at any time.

The document CH-A-527 455 discloses a timepiece comprising a clockwork movement provided with a main barrel serving as energy source for a timekeeping device of the clockwork movement and an auxiliary barrel intended to supply mechanical energy to a watchdog device. alarm, and mechanical control means that can be actuated manually to engage the alarm device.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the abovementioned prior art by providing a timepiece comprising a mechanism for triggering a time function and the simultaneous arming of a mainspring, said mechanism having a simple and compact construction.

The invention also aims to provide a timepiece of the type described above, and in particular a wristwatch, in which the control means of the mechanism can be integrated into the watch case without affecting the seal of it.

The invention also aims to provide a timepiece of the type described above in which the control means comprise a control member of the conventional type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timepiece of the type described above comprising a mechanism that makes it possible to arm the ringer barrel simultaneously with the triggering of an additional device, for example a timer, and in particular without disrupt the operation of the timepiece device of the timepiece.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a timepiece comprising a watch movement provided with a main barrel serving as a source of energy for a timekeeping device of the watch movement and an auxiliary barrel provided for supplying mechanical energy to an additional device, and mechanical control means that can be actuated manually to engage said additional device, characterized in that said control means are arranged to simultaneously switch on the additional device and arm the auxiliary cylinder.

Thanks to these characteristics, it is ensured that the auxiliary barrel which supplies the mechanical energy to the additional device is systematically armed when it is switched on, so that the user no longer has to deal with the state of the system. arming the barrel. The use of the timepiece is thus also simplified for the user. This construction is also advantageous from the point of view of size and cost, insofar as it makes it possible to carry out the control of two functions with the aid of the same control means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the additional device comprises a ring associated with a timer mechanism connected to the timekeeping device of the watch movement, the ringing being triggered at the end of a time interval counted by the mechanism. timer.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the control means comprise a pusher. The use of a conventional pusher for arming the auxiliary barrel makes it easy to solve the sealing problems encountered with the slider-type auxiliary barrel control members of the prior art. Moreover, as the pushers are readily available commercially, it also eliminates the costs associated with the development of a new controller. Thanks to this characteristic, the manufacture of this timepiece in the form of a waterproof wristwatch is simplified.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention,
• les figures 2 et 3 sont respectivement des vues en plan détaillée des moyens de commande, représentés dans deux positions de fonctionnement et vue depuis le côté opposé au cadran, d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention, et
• la figure 4 montre une coupe partielle des moyens de guidage d'un élément des moyens de commande d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment, presented by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a top view of a timepiece according to the invention,
• the figures 2 and 3 are respectively detailed plan views of the control means, shown in two operating positions and viewed from the opposite side of the dial, of a timepiece according to the invention, and
• the figure 4 shows a partial section of the means for guiding an element of the control means of a timepiece according to the invention.

The figure 1 is a front view of a timepiece 10 of the wristwatch type classically comprising a watch movement containing the invention. This piece 10 comprises an hour hand 30, a minute hand 31 and a small second hand 32 respectively driven by a timekeeping device of the watch movement. The timekeeping device is conventionally powered by a main cylinder. A calendar with a large counter 33 complements the indications provided by the timekeeping device. The watch 10 shown also comprises a second hand 34 and a minute counter 11 providing a chronograph function. The starting and stopping of the needle 34 and the counter 11 are carried out by means of a first pusher 35, while a second pusher 36 allows the reset of said indicators 34 and 11. A crown 37 allows according to the axial positions to which it is brought, to arm a main barrel serving as a source of energy for the timekeeping device, to update the calendar and to set the timekeeping device hands on time.

The timepiece according to the invention further comprises an additional device that uses the minute counter 11, and which is powered at least in part by a BA auxiliary cylinder ( figure 2 ) arranged in the watch movement. In the example illustrated, the additional device comprises a striking mechanism associated with a timer mechanism (not shown) which is kinematically connected to the timekeeping device of the watch movement, the ringing being triggered at the end of a time interval. preselected which is counted by the timer mechanism. The auxiliary barrel BA thus provides the mechanical energy necessary for actuating the hammers of the striking mechanism, which will not be described here in more detail, while the main barrel provides the mechanical energy necessary for driving the timer. The preselection of the duration to be counted is fixed by rotation of the ring 37 which acts, via a gear train (not shown) on a needle 19 with three branches of different lengths and angularly offset by 120 °. Only one of the branches is represented at figure 1 . The three branches cooperate with a dial 13 shaped circular sector and having three concentric scales of 10 minutes each.

According to the invention, the watch 10 comprises mechanical control means MC comprising a pusher 38 located at approximately 9 o'clock and which are arranged to simultaneously switch on the additional device and arm the auxiliary barrel BA. For this purpose, the control means MC further comprises a rocker 40 pivoted at A on the movement stage (not shown) for the engagement control of the additional device and a winding bar 42 which extends through the movement between the pusher 38 and the auxiliary barrel BA to arm the latter. The pusher 38 acts simultaneously on the rocker 40 and on the winding bar 42 via an articulated lever 43 interposed between the rocker 40 respectively the winding bar 42 and the end 38a of the push rod 38 The stroke of the pusher is indicated by the length L at the figure 2 . In the example shown, the lever 43 has the shape of a blade substantially curved in the plane. The lever 43 is articulated in B on the platen of the movement by one of the ends in a known manner. The lever 43 further comprises three pins 44, 45 and 46 distributed along its length and extending perpendicular to its surface. Two of these pins 44 and 45 respectively serve as support points for the transmission of the movement of the lever 43 to the latch 40 and to the reinforcing bar 42. The third pin 46 serves as a fulcrum for a return spring 47 which tends to pivot the lever 43 in the direction of the arrow F. In the example shown, the pin 45 which acts on the arming bar 42 also forms a fulcrum for the end 38a of the rod pusher 38.

It goes without saying that, as a variant, it would be possible to eliminate the lever 43 articulated and to associate with the rod of the pusher 38 a part (not shown) comprising two fingers cooperating respectively with the rocker 40 and the winding bar 42.

The arming bar 42 has at its distal end a rack 42a which meshes with a pinion 48 connected to the shaft of the auxiliary barrel BA, while its proximal end cooperates with the articulated lever 43. The arming bar 42 is extends in a direction parallel to the movement of the pusher 38 and is preferably aligned with the longitudinal direction of the latter. To ensure a displacement in translation of the bar 42 in the direction of the arrow H during the actuation of the pusher 38, the bar 42 is associated with guide means 50 in translation. A detail of these guide means 50 is shown in FIG. figure 4 . These guide means 50 comprise in the illustrated example two oblong holes 51 formed respectively at opposite ends of the bar 42 and each associated with a pin 52 secured to the plate P of the movement. Preferably, and in order to ensure precise guidance of the bar and with a minimum of friction, the pins 52 are formed of a large-hole stone 53, for example a ruby, held flat on the plate by a screw 54. A displacement in translation of the arming bar 42 under the action of the pusher 38 via the lever 43 drives the pinion 48 in the direction of the arrow 1 which arms the spring of the auxiliary barrel BA. In the example described, once the action on the pusher 38 has been released, the bar 42 remains in place in an end position in which the spring of the auxiliary barrel BA is fully armed ( Figure 3 ).

Note in this connection that a stroke L of the order of 1 mm of the bar 42 rotates the pinion 48 of the order of 180 ° and that this rotation makes it possible to carry a sufficient armature to feed the additional device, a striking mechanism in the example described.

This armed position is maintained until the start of the buzzer, at which time the spring of the auxiliary barrel BA is released to activate the buzzer, thereby causing the pinion 48 to engage with the rack in the direction of the arrow G and thereby reducing the bar 42 in its so-called rest position in which the spring of the barrel BA is completely disarmed ( figure 2 ). The return of the bar 42 in the rest position is assisted by a return spring 55 which acts in the direction of the arrow K on a pin 49 driven in the bar 42.

The control lever 40 of the additional device comprises a body 56 from which four arms 57, 58, 59 and 60 extend. The rocker 40 is articulated in a conventional manner at the end of a first arm 57 on the plate. some movement. The free end of a second arm 58 extends opposite the pin 44 of the lever 43. A third arm 59 cooperates with a column wheel 61 controlled by a device (not shown) connected to the pushers 35 and 37 ( figure 1 ). A fourth arm 60 cooperates at its free end with a jumper spring 62 which makes it possible to index two predefined positions of the flip-flop 40. To perform this indexing, the free end of the fourth arm 60 comprises two notches 63 and 64 in which the end of the jumper spring 62 is engaged.

It should be noted in this regard that the tension of the jumper spring 63 as well as its position relative to the notches 63 and 64 are adjustable by means of a screw 65 and an eccentric 66 cooperating respectively with two oblong holes 67 and 68 formed in a end of the spring 62. The arm 60 also carries an inverting wheel 69 permanently engaged with a chronograph wheel 70 which is carried by a chronograph rocker 77 pivoted in C ( figure 2 ) and which in turn meshes with a wheel 71 whose axis carries the small second needle 32. According to the position of the rocker 40, the inverting wheel is engaged or disengaged from a wheel 72 which drives the needle of second of the chronograph counterclockwise.

Note that the free ends of the arms 58 and 60 each comprise an oblong hole 73, 74 associated with a pin 75, 76 to ensure accurate guidance of the latch 40 and a retention thereof against the platen.

Note also that in the particular example, the column wheel 61 is arranged to block the latch 40 in a position in which the inverting wheel 69 is disengaged from the wheel 72 when the chronograph function is engaged and block the chronograph rocker 77 in a position in which the wheel 70 is disengaged from the wheel 72 when the timer function is engaged. Finally, the rocker 40 cooperates with an eccentric stop 78 which allows the adjustment of the penetration depth of the teeth of the inversion wheel 69 in the toothing of the wheel 72 of the second chronograph.

Claims (15)

1. Timepiece including a watch movement provided with a main barrel acting as energy source for a timekeeping device of the watch movement and an auxiliary barrel (BA) provided to supply mechanical energy to an additional device, and mechanical control means (MC) able to be actuated manually to trigger said additional device, characterised in that said control means are arranged to simultaneously trigger the additional device and wind the auxiliary barrel.
2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional device includes a striking work associated with a timer mechanism connected to the timekeeping device of the watch movement, the striking work being triggered at the end of a time interval counted down by the timer mechanism.
3. Timepiece according to claim 2, characterised in that the auxiliary barrel supplies energy to the striking work.
4. Timepiece according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said control means include a push-button (32).
5. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterised in that said control means further include a lever (40) carrying a reversing wheel (69) meshed with a wheel (70) of the chronograph gear train and a winding bar (42) provided with a rack kinematically connected to the spring of the auxiliary barrel, and in that said push-button simultaneously acts on said lever and said winding bar.
6. Timepiece according to claim 5, characterised in that an articulated control lever (43) is inserted between said lever respectively the winding bar and the push-button, said lever being associated with a return spring (47).
7. Timepiece according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the lever is mobile in rotation between a first position in which the reversing wheel is meshed with a wheel of the timer mechanism gear train, and a second position in which the reversing wheel is released from said wheel.
8. Timepiece according to any of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the winding bar is associated with translation guide means (50).
9. Timepiece according to claim 8, characterised in that the winding bar moves along a direction parallel to the movement of the push-button.
10. Timepiece according to claim 9, characterised in that the winding bar is substantially aligned along the longitudinal direction of the push-button.
11. Timepiece according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the guide means include a pair of oblong holes (51) spaced at a distance from each other and arranged in the bar, associated with a pair of studs (52) secured to a plate of the movement.
12. Timepiece according to claim 11, characterised in that each stud is formed of a stone (53) with a large hole (54) screwed flat onto said plate.
13. Timepiece according to any of claims 5 to 12, characterised in that said lever (40) includes four arms, a first arm (57) via which it is articulated on a plate of the movement, a second arm (58) co-operating with said control lever, a third arm (59) co-operating with a column wheel (61), and a fourth arm (60) co-operating with a jumper spring (62) which allows the two predetermined positions of the lever to be indexed.
14. Timepiece according to claim 13, characterised in that the end of the fourth arm includes two notches (63, 64) in which the end of said jumper spring can be engaged.
15. Timepiece according to any of claims 4 to 14, characterised in that the winding bar and the articulated control lever are respectively associated with return springs.

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