EP2241943B1 - Chronograph mechanism and timepiece equipped with such mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a chronograph mechanism, in particular a column wheel, comprising a first wheel integral with a first core and a first hammer cooperating with said first core.

US 3,495,397 discloses a chronograph mechanism comprising a chronograph wheel on which are fixed a heart of seconds and a seconds indicator, a minute counter wheel carrying a heart of minutes and cooperating with a meter jumper, and a hammer seconds and a minute hammer cooperating with the corresponding hearts; the seconds and minutes hammers are pivoted coaxially independently of each other and each subjected to a single hammer spring tending to rotate them towards their respective cores; a connecting member connects the hammer minutes to the seconds hammer while allowing them to move angularly relative to each other by a predetermined value, all arranged so that in position surrender to zero performed, said hammers are both in contact with the base of their respective heart.

In existing chronograph mechanisms, such as the one illustrated as an example in the figure 1 , the hammers of seconds 1 and 2 minutes came from a single piece which is driven on a hammer gun 7 pivoted on a pin 3 cylindrical or conical fixed on a bridge or plate 10 of the movement. In such mechanisms, the height adjustment of the hammers of the seconds 1 and minutes 2 relative to the heart of the seconds 5 of the chronograph wheel 8 and at the heart of the minutes 6 of the minute counter wheel 9 is carried out by a qualified watchmaker when assembling hammers. This adjustment can be long and complicated and requires a highly qualified workforce.

In fact, when the hammers of the seconds 1 and 2 are pivoted on a cylindrical pin 3, the height of the hammers of the seconds 1 and 2 is adjusted via the barrel of the hammers 7, the watchmaker liming this one. to reach the proper height. When the hammers of the seconds 1 and 2 are pivoted on a conical pin 3, the height is adjusted by retouching the hammer hole and if necessary the height of said hammer gun 7. In both cases, the watchmaker uses the file to adjust the height of the hammers seconds 1 and minutes 2, the operation creating chips and asking for considerable time and skill.

The object of the present invention is to provide a chronograph mechanism, in particular a device for pivoting the hammer or hammers of said mechanism, for which the height adjustment of said hammers relative to to their respective heart is facilitated, free of retouching of parts and economical in working time of the watchmaker.

The present invention relates to a chronograph mechanism comprising a first integral wheel of a first core, and a first hammer cooperating with said first core. This mechanism is distinguished by the fact that the first hammer is driven on a pivot axis pivoted freely between two bridges or between a bridge and the plate of movement and each end of which constitutes a pivot which is pivoted freely in a stone driven into a housing said bridges or platinum; and in that the first hammer as well as the stones in which the pivots of the pivot axis are freely pivoted are driven respectively on the pivot axis and in the corresponding housings so that the watchmaker, on assembly of the mechanism, can adjust in situ the height of the first hammer relative to its respective core only by changing the axial position of the first hammer on its pivot axis and / or by pushing said stones in their housing.

• Une première pierre d'un pallier inférieur est chassée en position haute dans un logement d'un pont ou de la platine du mouvement ;
• Une seconde pierre d'un palier supérieur est chassée en position haute dans un logement d'un pont ;
• Un premier marteau est chassé dans une position préétablie sur un axe de pivotement comportant deux pivots ;
• Le pivot inférieur de l'axe de pivotement est placé dans la première pierre du palier inférieur ;
• Si le premier marteau est trop haut par rapport à son premier coeur, l'horloger enfonce la première pierre du palier inférieur dans son logement ;
• Si le premier marteau est trop bas par rapport à son coeur respectif, l'horloger relève le premier marteau sur l'axe de pivotement ;
• L'horloger place le pivot supérieur de l'axe de pivotement dans la seconde pierre du palier supérieur et fixe le pont portant ce palier supérieur;
• L'horloger règle l'ébat axial de l'axe de pivotement en enfonçant la seconde pierre du palier supérieur dans son logement.

The present invention also relates to a method for adjusting the height of the first hammer relative to its first core of a chronograph mechanism, characterized in that it comprises the following operations:

• A first stone of a lower landing is driven upwards in a housing of a bridge or platinum movement;
• A second stone of an upper bearing is driven up into a housing of a bridge;
• A first hammer is driven into a pre-established position on a pivot axis having two pivots;
• The lower pivot of the pivot axis is placed in the first stone of the lower bearing;
• If the first hammer is too high compared to its first heart, the watchmaker pushes the first stone of the lower bearing into its housing;
• If the first hammer is too low compared to its respective heart, the watchmaker raises the first hammer on the pivot axis;
• The watchmaker places the upper pivot of the pivot axis in the second stone of the upper bearing and fixes the bridge carrying this upper bearing;
• The watchmaker adjusts the axial frustum of the pivot axis by pressing the second stone of the upper bearing into its housing.

The other features of the mechanism according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The first wheel can refer to the chronograph wheel. In this case, the first heart is the heart of seconds and the first hammer means the hammer of the seconds cooperating with its heart of seconds. Alternatively and without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first wheel may designate the minute counter wheel, the first heart then being the heart of the minutes and the first hammer the minute hammer.

As specified in the dependent claims, the chronograph mechanism according to the invention may also comprise a second wheel secured to a second core and a second hammer cooperating with said second core. As noted above, the second wheel can indifferently designate the chronograph wheel or the minute counter wheel, the second cores and second hammers respectively designating the heart of the seconds and the seconds hammer and the heart of the minutes and the hammer of the minutes. minutes.

• La figure 1, commentée précédemment, illustre un dispositif de pivotement des marteaux des minutes et des secondes d'un mécanisme de chronographe de l'art antérieur.
• La figure 2 est une vue de dessus d'un mécanisme de chronographe selon l'invention mettant en évidence notamment les marteaux des secondes et des minutes, la roue de chronographe et la roue de compteur des minutes, le mécanisme étant à l'arrêt.
• La figure 3 est une vue en coupe du mécanisme de chronographe illustré à la figure 2, mettant en évidence notamment l'axe de pivotement des marteaux de secondes et de minutes.

The accompanying drawings illustrate schematically and by way of nonlimiting examples one embodiment of a chronograph mechanism according to the invention.

• The figure 1 , commented previously, illustrates a device for pivoting hammers minutes and seconds of a chronograph mechanism of the prior art.
• The figure 2 is a top view of a chronograph mechanism according to the invention highlighting in particular the hammers seconds and minutes, the chronograph wheel and the minute counter wheel, the mechanism being stopped.
• The figure 3 is a sectional view of the chronograph mechanism shown in figure 2 , highlighting in particular the pivot axis of the hammers seconds and minutes.

In the preferred embodiment which will now be described, the chronograph mechanism according to the invention comprises a first wheel integral with a first core, a second wheel secured to a second core and a first and a second hammer. cooperating with the first and the second heart respectively.

More precisely, in what follows, the first wheel designates the chronograph wheel, the first heart, the heart of the seconds and the first hammer the hammer of the seconds; and the second wheel designates the minute counter wheel, the second heart the minute heart and the second hammer the minute hammer. It is obvious that the first wheel could have indifferently designated the minute counter wheel and the second wheel, the chronograph wheel with their respective hearts and hammers.

The chronograph mechanism that is the subject of the present invention comprises, in particular, a chronograph wheel 11 integral with a heart of seconds 12, a minute counter wheel 13 integral with a minute heart 14 and a seconds hammer 23 separate from each other. 'a cooperating minute 24 hammer with their respective hearts. These elements are traditional of a chronograph mechanism and will not be described in more detail. Likewise, the column wheel or chronograph mechanism cam, as well as the clutch rocker, the drive wheel and the chronograph wheel stopper are all traditional and will not be illustrated or described in detail.

In the following, the qualifiers indicating the position and orientation of the pieces, in particular the lower and higher qualifiers, are given with reference to the figure 2 which is a top view of the chronograph mechanism according to the invention.

The present chronograph mechanism also comprises a pivot axis 15 having a central portion 15a, on which is driven a ring 16, and two upper ends 17 and lower 18 in the form of a pivot. The upper ends 17 and lower 18 of the pivot axis 15 are pivoted between two bridges 19, 20 or between a bridge and the plate of the movement.

A first stone 22 is driven into a housing 22a of the lower deck 20. Similarly, a second stone 21 is driven into a housing 21a of the upper deck 19. The upper 17 and lower 18 ends of the pivot axis 15 are respectively rotated in the second and first stones 22, 21.

In a first variant illustrated in the drawing of the chronograph mechanism according to the invention, the seconds hammer 23 and the minute hammer 24 form two separate and independent parts of each other.

The seconds hammer 23 is driven on the central portion 15a of the pivot axis 15 between the ring 16 and the upper bearing 19. Traditionally, one end of the second hammer 23 ends with a failure 25 intended to cooperate with the heart of seconds 12.

The minutes hammer 24 has at one of its ends a bore 27 for freely rotating said minute hammer 24 around the central portion 15a of the pivot axis 15 between the seconds hammer 23 and the ring 16. The other end of the minute hammer 24 terminates in a traditional manner by a failure 26 intended to cooperate with the minute heart 14.

A connecting member 28 connects the seconds hammer and the minutes hammer to maintain them in a given angular position with or without angular play.

In a second variant of the present invention not illustrated, the minutes hammer 24 can be driven on the central portion 15a of the pivot axis 15 between the ring 16 and the second hammer. The angular position of the minute hammer 24 and seconds hammer 23 is then set during the driving of the latter on the pivot axis 15 and the connecting member 28 is no longer necessary.

In a last variant of the present invention not illustrated, the hammers seconds and minutes can be formed by a single piece in one piece. In this variant, said piece forming the hammers seconds and minutes is driven on the central portion 15a of the pivot axis 15. As in the previous embodiment, the connecting member 28 is no longer necessary.

The operation of a chronograph mechanism having a second and minute hammer pivoting device as described above is in all respects similar to the operation of a conventional chronograph mechanism and is not described here.

When assembling the movement comprising a chronograph mechanism according to the invention, the first stone 22 is driven upwards in its housing 22a of a bridge 20 or the plate 20. Similarly, the second stone 21 is driven in the high position in its housing 21a of a bridge 19. The second hammer 23 is driven on the central portion 15a of the pivot axis 15 in a specific position. Preferably, this position corresponds to the actual height of the seconds hammer 23 with respect to its second core 12 once the mechanism is assembled.

The lower end 18 of the pivot axis 15 is then placed in the first stone 22.

According to the variants previously described, the ring 16 is also driven on the axis 15 and the minutes hammer 24, if it is independent of the seconds hammer 23, is either pivoted freely on the pivot axis 15 is chased on said axis.

The watchmaker then controls the height of the hammers seconds 23 and minutes 24 relative to their respective heart 12, 14.

If the hammers are placed too high, the watchmaker adjusts their height by depressing the first stone 22 in its housing 22a.

If the hammers are too low, as for example in the case where the watchmaker has sunk too much the first stone 22 in its housing 22, the watchmaker adjusts the height of the hammers by raising the latter on their pivot axis 15.

The watchmaker then places the upper end 17 of the pivot axis 15 in the second stone 21 and fixes the bridge carrying the second stone 21.

Finally, the watchmaker adjusts the axial frustum of the pivot axis 15 by pressing the second stone 21 into its housing 21a.

All of these operations can be performed using conventional tools of the watchmaker and does not require at any time to disassemble the mechanism or to file or shape a part.

It will be noted that the first stone 22, the second stone 21 as well as the second hammer 23 must be driven so as to allow a possible adjustment by the watchmaker while guaranteeing the resistance necessary for the proper functioning of the chronograph mechanism which contains them, as in a finishing gear.

Thus, thanks to the device for pivoting the hammers and the method of adjusting the height of the hammers relative to their respective heart according to In the invention, the watchmaker no longer needs to use file and chip removal to adjust the height of the hammers.

In addition, the actual height can be adjusted during the pre-assembly already, the watchmaker having then only to verify that the height is correct and possibly achieve final retouching according to the method above.

In another embodiment of the present invention not illustrated, the chronograph mechanism may comprise only a first wheel secured to a first core cooperating with a first hammer. The first wheel can then indifferently designate the chronograph wheel or the minute counter wheel, the first heart and the first hammer then designating the heart of the seconds and the seconds hammer and the minute heart and the minute hammer respectively. The realization, operation and in particular the adjustment of the height of the hammers of this embodiment are in all respects similar to the embodiment described above.

The present invention, in particular the device for pivoting the hammers and the method of adjusting the height of the hammers relative to their respective core makes it possible to avoid any machining, filing, etc. when adjusting the mechanism and to reduce the working time provided by the watchmaker for the said adjustment. The present invention thus has significant advantages over the prior art.

Claims (11)

1. Chronograph mechanism comprising a first wheel (11) fixedly attached to a first heart-piece (12) as well as a first hammer (23) cooperating with said first heart-piece, characterised in that the first hammer (23) is driven onto a pivot spindle (15) freely pivoted between two bridges or between a bridge and the plate of the movement (19, 20) and of which each end (17, 18) constitutes a pivot which is freely pivoted in a jewel (21, 22) driven into a housing (21a, 22a) of said bridges or of the plate: and in that the first hammer (23) as well as the jewels (21, 22) in which the pivots (17, 18) of the pivot spindle (15) are freely pivoted are driven respectively onto the pivot spindle (15) and into the corresponding housings (21a, 22a) so that the clockmaker, during assembly of the mechanism, can, in situ, adjust the height of the first hammer (23) with respect to its respective heart-piece merely by modifying the axial position of the first hammer (23) on its pivot spindle (15) and/or by inserting said jewels (21, 22) into their housing (21a, 22a).
2. Chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the chronograph mechanism further comprises a second wheel (13) fixedly attached to a second heart-piece (14) and a second hammer (24) cooperating with said second heart-piece, the first hammer (23) and the second hammer (24) being formed of one and the same piece driven onto the pivot spindle (15).
3. Chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the chronograph mechanism further comprises a second wheel (13) fixedly attached to a second heart-piece (14) and a second hammer (24) cooperating with said second heart-piece, the first hammer (23) being independent of the second hammer (24), said second hammer (24) thus being freely pivoted on the pivot spindle (15) between the first hammer (23) and a ring (16) driven onto the pivot spindle (15), a linking member (28) connecting it to the first hammer (23) with or without angular clearance.
4. Chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the chronograph mechanism further comprises a second wheel (13) fixedly attached to a second heart-piece (14) and a second hammer (24) cooperating with said second heart-piece, the first hammer (23) being independent of the second hammer (24), said second hammer (24) thus being driven onto the pivot spindle (15) in an angular position determined relative to the first hammer (23).
5. Chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first wheel is a chronograph wheel, the first heart-piece is a seconds heart-piece and the first hammer is a seconds hammer.
6. Chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first wheel is a minute-counter wheel, the first heart-piece is a minutes heart-piece and the first hammer is a minutes hammer.
7. Chronograph mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the first wheel is a chronograph wheel, the first heart-piece is a seconds heart-piece and the first hammer is a seconds hammer and in that the second wheel is a minute-counter wheel, the second heart-piece is a minutes heart-piece and the second hammer is a minutes hammer.
8. Timepiece provided with a mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
9. Method for regulating the height of the first hammer (23) with respect to its first heart-piece of a chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

   • a first jewel (22) of a lower bearing block is driven in a high position into a housing (22a) of a bridge or of the movement plate (20);

   • a second jewel (21) of an upper bearing block is driven in a high position into a housing (21a) of abridge (19);

   • a first hammer (23) is driven in a pre-established position onto a pivot spindle (15) comprising two pivots (17, 18);

   • the lower pivot (18) of the pivot spindle (15) is placed in the first jewel (22) of the lower bearing block;

   • if the first hammer (23) is too high with respect to its first heart-piece (12), the clockmaker inserts the first jewel (22) of the lower bearing block into its housing (22a);

   • if the first hammer (23) is too low with respect to its respective heart-piece (12), the clockmaker raises the first hammer (23) on the pivot spindle (15);

   • the clockmaker places the upper pivot (17) of the pivot spindle (15) in the second jewel (21) of the upper bearing block and fixes the bridge (19) bearing this upper bearing block;

   • the clockmaker regulates the axial play of the pivot spindle (15) by inserting the second jewel (21) of the upper bearing block into its housing (21a).
10. Method as claimed in claim 9 for a chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that it further comprises the following steps:

    • the second hammer (24) is driven onto the pivot spindle (15) in an angular position determined relative to the first hammer (23);

    • if said second hammer is too low with respect to its second heart-piece (14), the clockmaker raises said second hammer on the pivot spindle (15).
11. Method as claimed in claim 9 for a chronograph mechanism as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that it further comprises the following steps:

    • a ring (16) is driven in a pre-established position onto the pivot spindle (15);

    • the second hammer (24) is placed on the pivot spindle (15) above the ring (16);

    • if the first and/or the second hammer (23, 24) are too low with respect to their respective heart-piece, the clockmaker raises the first hammer driven onto the pivot spindle (15) and/or raises the ring (16) supporting the second hammer (24) on the pivot spindle (15).

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