EP2500785B1 - Chronograph mechanism and timepiece provided with such a mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a column or cam wheel chronograph mechanism comprising a chronograph wheel secured to a heart of seconds and a seconds indicator and a minute counter wheel integral with a heart. minutes and a minute blocker and a seconds blocker respectively cooperating with the minute counter wheel and the chronograph wheel.

In the existing column wheel or cam chronograph mechanisms, the two blockers came from a single workpiece and have a common control. These blockers are either rigid or elastic. In the case of rigid blockers, the setting of such a chronograph mechanism is complicated, long and requires a skilled workforce. Indeed, for the setting of such a mechanism must bring the second blocker in contact with the chronograph wheel. It is then necessary to file the end of the blocker of the minutes to adjust without game the end of this blocker of the minutes and the wheel of minute counter. This operation is long and delicate and can only be done by a confirmed watchmaker. In the case where the blocker is elastic, fine adjustment as described above is not necessary. However, the use of such a blocker can lead to a loss of precision because of its elasticity the minute blocker may push the minute counter wheel when blocking thereof.

CH 228 246 A , EP 2 241 943 A2 and EP 2 241 945 A2 describe chronograph mechanisms in which the hammers are connected. CH 228 246 A also discloses that the minute and hour blockers are pivoted coaxially independently of each other and each individually subjected to a blocker spring.

The object of the present invention is to provide a chronograph mechanism for which the adjustment is free of machining or retouching of parts such as blockers so that its adjustment is greatly facilitated, takes less time and can be performed by a manpower attentive certainly but not requiring the high specialization of a watchmaker adjuster, while ensuring a high precision of the mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a chronograph mechanism both accurate and in which the settings of the blockers are almost automatic.

The subject of the present invention is a chronograph mechanism comprising a chronograph wheel, a minute counter wheel, as well as a seconds blocker and a minute blocker cooperating respectively with the chronograph wheel and the minute counter wheel; characterized in that the seconds and minutes blockers are pivoted coaxially independently of each other and each individually subject to a second blocker spring respectively to a minute blocking spring tending to rotate them in the direction of the chronograph wheel respectively of the minute counter wheel; in that a connecting member connects the minute blocker to the second blocker while allowing them to move angularly relative to each other by a preset value, all arranged so that that, with the stop chronograph mechanism, said blockers are both in contact with the chronograph wheel and the minute counter wheel, respectively.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece provided with such a chronograph mechanism.

• La figure 1 est une vue en plan du mécanisme de chronographe selon l'invention illustrant les principales pièces novatrices de ce mécanisme et leur fonctionnement avec notamment la roue à colonnes, la roue de chronographe et la roue de compteur des minutes, le chronographe étant à l'arrêt.
• La figure 2 est une vue semblable à la figure 1, le chronographe étant en marche.
• La figure 3 est un détail en coupe du pivotement des bloqueurs.
• La figure 4 illustre en coupe un détail des bloqueurs passant par l'axe de l'organe de liaison 23, le mécanisme de chronographe étant en marche.
• La figure 5 illustre en coupe un détail des bloqueurs passant par l'axe de l'organe de liaison 23, le mécanisme de chronographe étant à l'arrêt.
• La figure 6 est une vue éclatée des pièces du mécanisme de chronographe illustré aux figures 1 et 2.

The accompanying drawing illustrates schematically and by way of example an embodiment of the chronograph mechanism according to the invention.

• The figure 1 is a plan view of the chronograph mechanism according to the invention illustrating the main innovative parts of this mechanism and their operation with in particular the column wheel, the chronograph wheel and the minute counter wheel, the chronograph being stopped .
• The figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 , the chronograph is running.
• The figure 3 is a sectional detail of the pivoting of the blockers.
• The figure 4 illustrates in section a detail of the blockers passing through the axis of the connecting member 23, the chronograph mechanism being running.
• The figure 5 illustrates in section a detail of the blockers passing through the axis of the connecting member 23, the chronograph mechanism being stopped.
• The figure 6 is an exploded view of the parts of the chronograph mechanism shown in figures 1 and 2 .

The chronograph mechanism, object of the present invention comprises, in the illustrated example, a column wheel 1, a chronograph wheel 2 integral with a second heart 2a, a minute counter wheel 4 integral with a heart minutes 4a, a clutch rocker 3 carrying a clutch wheel 5a and a clutch rocker spring 5b. These elements are traditional of a column wheel chronograph mechanism and will not be described here in detail. As are not illustrated the hammers seconds and minutes cooperating with their respective heart for resetting the mechanism and their respective return spring that can be similar to those used in a traditional chronograph mechanism.

The present chronograph mechanism comprises a minute blocker 6 whose first end is pivoted freely on a bearing 8 itself pivoted on a pivot axis 7 driven in a bridge of a movement. Alternatively, the range 8 could be driven on the axis 7 which would then be rotated between two bridges or between a bridge and the plate of the movement. This minute blocker 6 has a lateral arm 9 carrying near its first end a pin 10 against which abuts the end 11 of a return spring of the minute blocker 12. This spring of the minute blocker 12 tends to move the free end 13 of the minute blocker 6 towards the minute counter wheel 4 against which this free end 13 is based. Finally, this minute blocker 6 also has near the axis 7 a hole 14, threaded or not.

The present chronograph mechanism further comprises a second blocker 15 comprising at one of its ends a bore 16 through which this blocker seconds 15 is driven on the bearing 8 of the axis 7 above the minute blocker 6. The other free end 17 of the second blocker 15 is intended to cooperate with the chronograph wheel 2. This blocker seconds 15 has a bore 18 whose center is separated from the center of the bore 16 by a value equal to the distance separating the center of the axis 7 from the center of the hole 14 of the minute blocker 6. This bore 18 is of larger diameter than said hole 14 and may be of oblong shape.

This second blocker 15 comprises a lateral arm 19 provided with a pin 20 serving as a stop on the end 21 of the return spring of the second blocker 22. This return spring of the second blocker 22 tends to apply the free end 17 of the second blocker 15 against the chronograph wheel 2.

A connecting member 23 comprises a slotted head 24, a bearing 25 and an end 26 screwed or driven into the hole 14 of the minute blocker 6, the bearing 25 of this connecting member 23 being in the assembled position in the bore 18 of the blocker of seconds 15 ( Figures 4 and 5 ).

Thus when the second blocker 15 is pivotally mounted about the axis 7 above the minute blocker 6, these blockers are held together by the connecting member 23 but can move angularly relative to one another. other a distance corresponding to the difference of the radii of the hole 18 of the second blocker 15 and the bearing 25 of the connecting member 23. This relative angular displacement of the blockers minutes 6 and seconds 15 is sufficient for stopping position of the chronograph mechanism each of said blockers is applied against its respective wheel (chronograph and minute counter) under the action of its respective return spring 12, 22 without the need to perform an operation any adjustment. This angular frenzy between the blockers of minutes 6 and seconds is of the order of a few degrees, from 1 ° to 10 °, preferably from 3 ° to 5 °. This angular frolic is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 illustrating the position of the minutes 6 and second blockers 15 relative to the connecting member 23 when the chronograph mechanism is running respectively at a standstill.

The second blocker 6 further comprises a second pin 27 cooperating with an arm 3a of the clutch rocker which traditionally has a beaker B cooperating with the columns C of the column wheel 1.

With this new configuration of the seconds and minutes blockers, the installation, assembly and adjustment of the chronograph mechanism, including the blockers, are greatly simplified and can be executed quickly and by qualified agents, but not requiring the sharp knowledge and experience of highly skilled watchmakers.

Indeed, with this construction when the minute blocker 6 and the second blocker 15 are assembled using the axis 7 and the scope screw 23 and that said blockers are subjected to the elastic action of their springs 12, 22, the synchronization of the blockers 6, 15 is carried out automatically.

Thus, watchmakers do not need to provide an adjustment of the contact of the blockers on the minute counter and chronograph wheels. The contacts are provided by the spring of each blocker and oblong clearance or drilling 18 in the blocker seconds.

The connecting member 23 keeps the second blocker 15 at a determined distance from the minute blocker 6, while leaving an angular fringe of defined amplitude between these two blockers. This connecting member 23 may be a screw, a rivet etc.

In a variant of the mechanism the minute blocker 6 could be chased on the range 8 and it is then the second blocker that would be pivoted freely on the scope 8 of the pivot axis 7. In another variant, the two blockers seconds and minutes could be freely rotated 8. In this case, a washer is driven on the pivot axis 7 and serves as an axial stop to the two blockers 6, 15.

Alternatively, the second blocker 15 could be directly controlled by the column wheel 1 and have a spout B cooperating with the columns C of the column wheel 1.

It goes without saying that this new construction of the chronograph mechanism can also be used in a chronograph mechanism without a column wheel, for example a chronograph cam mechanism.

Claims (10)

1. A chronograph mechanism comprising, a chronograph wheel (2), a minute-counter wheel (4), as well as a seconds blocker (15) and a minutes blocker (6) cooperating respectively with the chronograph wheel (2) and the minute-counter wheel (4); characterised in that the seconds blocker (15) and the minutes blocker (6) are arranged to be pivoted coaxially independently of one another and each individually subjected to a seconds blocker spring (22) respectively to a minutes blocker spring (12) for pivoting them in the direction of the chronograph wheel (2) respectively the minute-counter wheel (4); in that a connecting member (23) connects the minutes blocker (6) to the seconds blocker (15) while allowing them to move angularly with respect to one another by a preset value, the whole being arranged so that, with the chronograph mechanism stopped, said blockers (6, 15) are both in contact with the chronograph wheel (2) respectively the minute-counter wheel (4).
2. A mechanism according to claim 1, characterised in that the relative angular displacement between the minutes blocker (6) and the seconds blocker (15) is of the order of 1° to 10° preferably 3° to 5°.
3. A mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the connecting member (23) comprises a slotted head (24), a bearing surface (25) and an end (26) screwed into the minutes blocker (6) and in that the seconds blocker (15) has a bore (18) of larger diameter than that of the bearing surface (25) of the connecting member (23) and letting it through, the slotted head (24) of the connecting member (23) being of larger diameter than said bore (18) of the seconds blocker (15).
4. A mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the connecting member (23) comprises a slotted head (24), a bearing surface (25) and an end (26) screwed into the minutes blocker (6) and in that the seconds blocker (15) has an oblong bore (18) letting through the bearing surface (25) of the connecting member (23), the slotted head (24) of the connecting member (23) being of larger diameter than the largest dimension of said bore (18) of the seconds blocker (15).
5. A mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seconds blocker (15) further comprises a spout B cooperating with the column wheel (1).
6. A mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seconds blocker (15) is driven on a bearing surface (8) pivoted freely on a pivot axis (7), pushed in a bridge or a plate, the minutes blocker (6) being pivoted freely on said bearing surface (8).
7. A mechanism according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the seconds blocker (1) is driven on a pivoting axis (7) pivoted between bridges or between plate and bridge, and on which said minutes blocker (6) is pivoted freely.
8. A mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the blockers second (15) and the minutes blocker (6) are both freely rotatable on a pivot axis (7) pivoted between bridges or between plate and bridge, whereas a washer driven on the pivot axis (7) serves as an axial stop to them.
9. A mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the minutes blocker (6) is driven on a pivot axis (7) pivoted between bridges or between plate and bridge on which the blockers second (15) is freely rotated.
10. A timepiece comprising a chronograph mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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