EP1864190B1 - Timepiece movement - Google Patents

Abstract

A timepiece movement having at least two regulating members with their escapement and elements for alternately stopping and releasing the operation of the regulating members, such that a single regulating member is thus driven at any one time by means of the energy source of the timepiece.

Description

The subject of the invention is a movement for a timepiece arranged so as to be able to use, on demand or automatically, an escapement or another escapement present in the same watch. The goal is to be able to count the time through an escapement or another in a fun and practical way, such as for two periods of twelve hours. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the proposed movement will have two regulating members with their exhaust, including two vortex cages that will operate alternately for two periods of twelve hours, that is to say, day and night.

Currently to indicate the day and the night (AM / PM), several systems are used. The simplest is an hour hand indicating the time on a twenty-four hour dial distributed on the around 360 ° of the dial. A known variant is a wicket made in the dial which indicates whether it is day or night, for example with the indication AM and PM. We can also provide animations on the dial alternately representing the sun and the moon over a period of two times twelve hours. Finally, we can display hours from one to twenty four hours digitally.

The document CH 156801 describes a timepiece comprising at least two regulating members each comprising an escapement.

The object of the invention consists in proposing a new movement which is capable, by its arrangement of counting time using one or more escapements, but at least two used alternatively.

The invention is defined by claim 1 and applies in principle to a mechanical movement of a timepiece. It can however equip an automatic movement or a clock.

Finally it can also equip an electric or electronic watch regulated by at least two control systems equipped with mechanical exhaust.

The movement for a timepiece according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least two regulating members with their escapement and means for stopping and alternately releasing the running of the regulating members, only one of the regulating members being driven to the times using a power source.

The movement can obviously include several regulating organs.

The energy source is preferably connected to the regulating members via a differential.

The mechanism alternately drives regulating members of the same type or regulating organs of different types.

In a preferred embodiment, the regulating members are vortices.

Of course, the regulating devices can lead to Swiss type exhausts, English type or other types of exhausts.

The movement will present means to ensure the passage from one exhaust to another using a manual control.

The passage from one exhaust to the other can also be provided by control means existing in the timepiece and arranged to perform the said passage for predetermined periods of time. In this case, the control of the passage from one exhaust to the other will, for example made from a gear connected to the wheel hours of movement of the watch.

The means arranged to make the passage from one exhaust to the other can act on periods of twelve hours representing the day and night.

The regulating members may support a circular sign depicting the sun or representing the moon.

Signs of the sun and the moon may be gemstones, and the moon sign may also bear diamonds. Alternatively, the regulating organ at night can be placed above a bowl covered with a fluorescent or phosphorescent material arranged to store the light during the day and return it during the night.

The regulating organs and their exhaust can be visible through a window practiced in the dial. Alternatively, the regulating members and their escapement can be alternately visible behind a cutout portion of a pivoting disc in the timepiece and arranged to be driven by a moving part of the movement to achieve a complete turn in a period of time predetermined, for example every twenty four hours.

The means for stopping and alternately driving the regulating members and their exhaust may comprise a wheel with arms or legs placed opposite the mobile seconds of the exhaust or the toothing of the tourbillon cage of each of the regulating members of the movement, the wheeled wheels being driven by a fixed return of a star wheel, itself controlled by a pin actuated by the wheel hours of movement, the positioning of the star being performed, after the advance given by the pin, by the positioning action of a jumper, so as to bring the tab in contact with the teeth of the cage or the wheel seconds of the exhaust and block said cage or wheel, while the leg of the other regulating member disengages from the toothing of the cage or the second wheel of the exhaust, after having given a pulse to the said cage or the seconds wheel of the exhaust to start the regulating organ or the vortex.

The energy source alternately driving the regulating members or vortices comprises a barrel connected to a differential in kinematic connection with all the exhausts or vortices, the differential having a plate mounted freely on a first axis and coaxial with a first gear driven by the barrel, the first pinion meshing with a second pinion freely rotating on a second axis, located on the plate being parallel to the first axis, the second pinion being integral and coaxial with a third pinion meshing with a fourth pinion fixedly secured a toothed wheel, also mounted free on the first axis, for driving one of the cages while the other cage is driven directly by the plate, the rotation of one of the third and fourth gears with respect to the first axis being locked when one of the cages is stopped and free when the latter is driven.

The drawing represents by way of example a mode of execution of the timepiece, object of the invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique de dessus du mouvement d'une pièce d'horlogerie présentant deux tourbillons actionnés alternativement durant des périodes de douze heures par un dispositif de départ et d'arrêt des cages de tourbillon,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessous du mouvement de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus du mouvement des figures 1 et 2 montrant en particulier la distribution d'énergie alternative aux cages des tourbillons,
• les figures 4 et 5 représentent des coupes selon les lignes IV-IV et V-V de la figure 3, la coupe IV-IV étant prolongée vers l'axe de la cage A et la coupe V-V vers l'axe de la cage B, et
• la figure 6 est une vue d'une variante du dispositif de départ et d'arrêt des tourbillons de la figure 1, la variante permettant d'actionner alternativement les tourbillons au moyen d'une commande manuelle.

In the drawing:

• the figure 1 is a schematic view from above of the movement of a timepiece having two vortices actuated alternately during periods of twelve hours by a starting and stopping device of the tourbillon cages,
• the figure 2 is a bottom view of the movement of the figure 1 ,
• the figure 3 is a top view of the movement of figures 1 and 2 showing in particular the distribution of alternative energy to the vortex cages,
• the Figures 4 and 5 represent sections along lines IV-IV and VV of the figure 3 , the section IV-IV being extended towards the axis of the cage A and the section VV towards the axis of the cage B, and
• the figure 6 is a view of a variant of the device for starting and stopping the vortices of the figure 1 , the variant for alternately actuating the vortices by means of a manual control.

The movement represented in the figure 1 includes a tourbillon cage A and a tourbillon cage B represented one above the other in the figure; the two vortex stands A and B will be visible through unrepresented wickets of the timepiece dial and it is assumed that cage A will represent the twelve o'clock of the day and cage B the twelve of the night. As shown in figures 3 and 6 , cages A and B are provided with a figure representing the rays of the sun, respectively a moon to indicate the day and the night. The two tourbillon cages A and B with their exhaust are all the time visible on the dial side and only stop alternately in twelve hours, thus indicating the periods day and night. As shown in figures 3 and 6 The design of these cages tourbillon can identify for one the sun and for the other a crescent moon.

Alternatively, a sector disk of about 180 ° not shown could be attached to a mobile performing a turn in twenty-four hours, pivoting coaxially to the roadway and the wheel of standard hours alternately covering one of two Whirlpool cages every twelve hours. In this case, the one from the top on the figure 1 symbolize the day and the bottom one, the night.

Irises not shown and similar to the lenses for cameras, can be integrated in the watch face to open alternately all twelve hours to reveal the tourbillon cages for periods of twelve hours.

Finally, the night tourbillon cage can be placed in a bowl covered with a fluorescent or phosphorescent material so as to be charged with light during the day when the cage is stopped and to restore it during the night by irradiating diamonds crimped in the cage .

The alternate start and stop function of the cages is controlled from the hour wheel 1 of the movement which makes a turn in twelve hours.

The hour wheel 1 of the movement of the timepiece ( Figure 1 ) drives a mobile 2 on which is fixedly secured a pin 3. This mobile 2 performs a turn in twelve hours. The pin 3 causes every twelve hours a star 7 of a step. The latter is positioned angularly by the jumper 8. The star 7 is integrally attached to the reference 6 and when the star 7 is positioned under the action of the jumper 8, the reference 6 causes the references 5a and 5b.

The wheel 4a is integrally attached to the reference 5a and the wheel 4b is integrally attached to the reference 5b.

The arms of the wheels 4a and 4b collide with, respectively, the teeth of the upper toothed bridges 9a and 9b of the tourbillon cages A and B, alternately every twelve hours.

During a jump of the star 7, the movement is transmitted to the reference 6 which meshes with the wheel 5a. At this moment, one of the arms of the wheel 4a blocks the cage A, while at the same time the wheel 5b also meshing with the return 6 releases the cage B via the movement of the arms of the wheel 4b.

In addition, when the cage is released by one of the arms of the wheels 4a or 4b, the rapid circular movement performed by the wheels 4a or 4b following the action of the jumper 8 gives alternately a momentum to the cage A or B so as to start or assist in starting the control systems.

When the movement of the timepiece is regulated alternately by two or more non-vortex regulating members as described with the help of Figures 1 to 6 4a and 4b may collide with and block the seconds wheel placed between fig.1 ) and the exhaust pinion of the regulating member. On the other hand, when the arms or lugs of the wheels 4a and 4b release the seconds wheel connected to the exhaust pinion, the action of the jumper 8 at the time of the positioning of the star 7 will give a pulse to the arms or legs 4a and 4b at the disengagement, which will restart or help restart the regulating organ.

The distribution of energy to the regulating devices is represented and described with regard to figures 2 , 3 , 4, and 5 .

The energy of the barrel 10 is transmitted to the center pinion 11, and the center wheel 12 is integrally attached to the center pinion 11. The energy is transmitted to the first pinion 13 free on the first axis of rotation a ( fig.3 ). The first gear 13 meshes with the second gear 14 rotatably mounted on the second axis of rotation b. The pinion 14 is firmly fixed to the third pinion 21 (see also fig.4 ).

These two pinions 14 and 21 pivot about the axis b eccentric with respect to the axis a of the wheel 15 and are free to rotate in the wheel plate 15 about the axis b, the plate 15 being rotatably mounted on the first axis a. The third pinion 21 meshes with a fourth pinion 22 integrally attached to the wheel 16. The mobile composed of the wheel 16 and the pinion 22 is free on the axis a.

To operate the cage A when the cage B is stopped, the wheel 16 transmits its energy and its rotational movement to the return 24, then to the cage gear 20a ( fig.4 ).

To operate the cage B when the cage A is stopped, the energy and the rotational movement are transmitted from the wheel 15 to the gear 18 and then to the gear 19 and, finally, to the cage gear 20b. Two references are necessary in this case for the tourbillon cage B to turn clockwise ( Fig. 5 ).

To understand the principle of the passage from one exhaust to the other, it must be remembered that the mechanism has only one cylinder (energy source), but contains at least two different exhausts, operating alternately.

The amplitude of a balance in a standard mechanism depends, among other things, on the energy available in the metering wheel distributed by the barrel. So we understand that if the two rockers wanted to work simultaneously, the barrel would not distribute enough energy, and if the barrel dispensed twice as much energy, one of the two rockers would receive too much energy when the other is stopped. It is therefore essential to manage the force distribution of a single barrel to one or the other of the two exhausts.

Thus, when the cage A is blocked by the arms of the wheel 4a, the cage B rotates clockwise. Transmission of the energy of the barrel 10 to the pinion 14 is carried out via the center wheel 11, the center wheel 12 and the pinion 13.

When the cage A is blocked, the return 24, the wheel 16 and its pinion 22 are fixed ( fig.4 ).

The energy transmission of the barrel 10 passes through the pinion 14 integrally attached to the pinion 21, the latter rotating around the pinion 22 which is locked in rotation, thereby driving the plate 15. The plate 15 drives the referrals 18 and 19, then the cage sprocket 20b. ( Fig. 5 ).

When the cage B is blocked by one of the arms of the wheel 4b, the cage A rotates clockwise. The references 18, 19 and the plate 15 are then fixed.

Since the mobiles 14 and 21 are integrally fixed on the plate 15, the axis b has a fixed position relative to the first axis a, but is free to rotate on itself (differential gear). The energy coming from the barrel 10 is transmitted to the mobile 13, then to the mobiles 14 and 21 driving in rotation the mobile formed of the pinion 22 and the wheel 16. The drive then passes through the return 24 and then by the cage pinion 20a .

In the figure 6 is alternatively represented the principle of the passage from one exhaust to the other on command of the user.

Instead of letting the mechanism punctuate the passage from one exhaust to another automatically, like described above in the indication of an AM / PM of Figures 1 to 5 we can imagine adapting a control button so that, manually and on demand, we can determine which exhaust receives the energy of the barrel.

It suffices to remove the return 2 and pin 3 ( fig.1 ) and to act directly with a pusher 30 ( fig.6 ), consisting of two parts 31 and 32, on the star 7.

• Premièrement, il permet de repositionner le poussoir 30 contre la goupille 34.
• Deuxièmement, de positionner la pièce 32 en butée sur la pièce 30.

The spring 33 has two functions:

• First, it allows to reposition the pusher 30 against the pin 34.
• Secondly, to position the piece 32 in abutment on the piece 30.

In this way, with each pulse of the pusher 30, one cage stops and the other starts.

The mechanism that has just been described with regard to Figures 1 to 5 allows for example every twelve hours to automatically activate sometimes a whirlpool cage, sometimes the other. We could also go from one cage to another, for example every hour, by operating a tourbillon cage every even hour and the other every odd hour.

The mechanism makes it possible to transmit the energy of the barrel from one tourbillon cage to the other without disengaging and without losing energy. In other words, when the cogwheel counter leaves one of the two cages, it already meshes with the other cage.

The final wearer of the watch will see a tourbillon cage lose its amplitude naturally (the pendulum will take more than a minute to stop itself), while in a few seconds the other cage receiving energy the barrel will take amplitude almost instantly.

As mentioned above, the mechanism makes it possible to stop and actuate all other types of escapements, for example a standard Swiss anchor escapement and a standard balance wheel, in an automatic or programmed manner or at the request of the user. .

The mechanism also makes it possible to activate a type of exhaust for a defined period of time, for example a detent escapement and then, for another defined period of time, an exhaust of another type (standard Swiss lever escapement or other ), etc.

It thus gives the possibility to realize a mechanism passing from two to X positions which can feed a true "museum of the exhausts". One could, among other things, show the escapements historically, for example by putting an English escape with a Swiss and running them alternately for a defined period of time.

• On peut tout simplement dire que le temps compté par une montre contenant plusieurs échappements est plus précis que par une montre ne contenant qu'un seul échappement puisqu'à la fin d'une période de vingt quatre heures, le temps compté est la moyenne arithmétique de tous les temps comptés par les différents échappements. L'avantage consiste aussi à provoquer une usure des composants de l'assortiment d'au moins 50% inférieure à la normale.

The mechanism that has just been described has the following advantage:

• We can simply say that the time counted by a watch containing several exhausts is more accurate than a watch containing only one escapement since at the end of a period of twenty four hours, the counted time is the arithmetic mean of all the time counted by the different exhausts. The advantage is also to cause wear of the components of the assortment at least 50% lower than normal.

Claims (16)

1. Movement for a timepiece, characterised in that it comprises at least two regulating members, each comprising an escapement, and means (1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 7) for alternately stopping and releasing the running of the regulating members, only one of the regulating members being driven at any one time by means of an energy source (10).
2. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that the energy source (10) is connected to the regulating members by means of a differential (13 to 16, 21, 22).
3. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that the said regulating members are of the same type.
4. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that the said regulating members are of different types.
5. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that the regulating members are karussels or tourbillons.
6. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that the said escapements are of the Swiss type, English type or other types of escapement.
7. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that it has a manual control (30) for controlling the change from one escapement to the other.
8. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that an element of its gear train (2, 3) is arranged to ensure change from one escapement to the other periodically with a predefined period.
9. Movement according to claim 8, characterised in that the said predefined period is twelve hours representing day and night.
10. Movement according to claim 9, characterised in that the regulating member which is active during a period of time representing the night is placed above a dish covered with a phosphorescent or fluorescent material.
11. Movement according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the regulating members supports a sign representing the sun, the other regulating member supporting a sign representing the moon.
12. Movement according to claim 11, characterised in that precious stones decorate the said signs.
13. Movement according to claim 1, or claim 5, characterised in that the means for alternately stopping and driving the regulating members and their escapement comprise a wheel with arms or lugs (4a, 4b) placed opposite a seconds mobile of the escapement or teeth (9a, 9b) carried by a frame (A, B) of the tourbillon of each of the regulating members of the movement, the wheels with lugs (4a, 4b) being arranged so as to be driven by a setting wheel (6) integral with a star wheel (7), itself controlled by a pin (3) actuated by the hour wheel (1) of the movement, the positioning of the star (7) being achieved by the positioning action of a jumper (8), so as to bring a second lug (4b) in contact with the teeth (9b) on the second frame (B) or the seconds wheel of the second escapement and lock the said frame or wheel, while a first lug (4a) is arranged so as to disengage from the teeth (9a) on the first frame (A) or from the seconds wheel of the first escapement, after having given an impulse to the said first frame (A) or to the said seconds wheel of the first escapement in order to start the corresponding regulating member or tourbillon.
14. Movement according to claim 5, characterised in that the energy source alternately driving the regulating members or the tourbillons comprises a barrel (10) connected to a differential in kinematic connection with all the escapements or tourbillons, the differential having a roller (15) mounted freely on a first spindle (a) with a first pinion (13) coaxial with the roller (15) and driven by the barrel (10), the first pinion (13) meshing with a second pinion (14) integral and coaxial with a third pinion (21) rotating freely on a second spindle (b) carried by the roller (15) while being parallel to the first spindle (a), the third pinion (21) meshing with a fourth pinion (22) firmly fixed to a toothed wheel (16), mounted free on the first spindle (a) in order to drive the first frame (A), while the second frame (B) is arranged so as to be driven directly by the roller (15), the latter being locked when the first frame (A) is driven and rotating freely when the first frame (A) is stopped.
15. Timepiece comprising a movement according to claim 1 surmounted by a dial, characterised in that the regulating members are visible through a window formed in the said dial.
16. Timepiece comprising a movement according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a disc mounted so as to pivot with reference to the said movement and arranged so as to be driven by a mobile of the movement in order to effect a complete turn according to a predetermined period of time, for example every twenty four hours, said disk having a portion cut out and arranged so that the regulating members are visible alternatively through the said cut-out part.

Images