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
  • G04B1/00—Driving mechanisms
  • G04B1/10—Driving mechanisms with mainspring
  • G04B1/22—Compensation of changes in the motive power of the mainspring
  • G04B1/225—Compensation of changes in the motive power of the mainspring with the aid of an interposed power-accumulator (secondary spring) which is always tensioned
• • 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
  • G04B1/00—Driving mechanisms
  • G04B1/10—Driving mechanisms with mainspring
  • G04B1/12—Driving mechanisms with mainspring with several mainsprings
• • 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
  • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
  • G04B17/20—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency
  • G04B17/28—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency for the effect of imbalance of the weights, e.g. tourbillon
  • G04B17/285—Tourbillons or carrousels

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a movement for a timepiece comprising a first energy source for maintaining the oscillating movement of a mechanical oscillator having a resonator and an exhaust, through a finishing gear train between said first power source and the exhaust a first drive train, said motion further comprising a control device for controlling said exhaust.
• the regulating device comprises a stop wheel connected kinematically to the work train and intended to perform a rotational movement periodically, a control cam driven in rotation and secured to a control wheel, as well as a locking device of the stop wheel controlled by said cam to release it periodically.
• control device comprises an elastic member for periodically storing energy by deformation, from the first energy source of the movement, to restore it to the oscillator said elastic member being able to maintain the oscillation movement of said mechanical oscillator, through said work train, when said stop wheel is locked, and said first power source being able to recharge said elastic member, through said work train, when said stop wheel is released.
• This device comprises a conventional anchor escapement whose escape wheel carries a pinion arranged in engagement with a wheel of seconds.
• a triangular cam is integral with the shaft of the escape wheel and controls the movements of a locking lever, for locking a stop wheel coaxial with the seconds wheel by means of two vanes cooperating with a tooth of this wheel.
• a spiral spring-type secondary spring is connected at its central end to the stop wheel shaft and, at its outer end, to an arm of the seconds wheel.
• the shaft of the stop wheel further carries a pinion arranged in engagement with the gear train of the movement.
• the locking lever oscillates between two extreme positions at a rate defined by the movements of the escape wheel and the shape of the cam.
• it moves from one position to another, it releases the stop wheel which rotates under the effect of the force transmitted by the mainspring, via the finishing train.
• the stop wheel loads the spiral spring. The latter then exerts a force on the seconds wheel allowing the maintenance of the oscillations of the oscillator, via the escape wheel, the stop wheel being again blocked by the locking lever.
• the force transmitted to the escape wheel is substantially constant and ensures a good regularity of the operation of the oscillator.
• the patent FR 1 522.084 discloses a time apparatus comprising a mechanical oscillator comprising a resonator and an anchor escapement, represented by the reference 14.
• the mechanism comprises a regulating device 18 comprising a stop wheel 19 controlled by a cam 22 to actuate a locking device 20 and allow the rearming of the intermediate spring 12.
• Said cam 22 is integral with the shaft 23 on which is also mounted a mobile cooperating with the exhaust and with the intermediate spring 12 for supplying said exhaust 14.
• a power source 4 drives the control device
• the main object of the present invention is to propose an alternative to the known mechanisms of the prior art, by proposing a movement for a timepiece comprising a regulating device whose construction makes it possible to guarantee a high operating reliability by disturbing the least possible escape.
• the present invention relates more particularly to a movement for a timepiece of the type mentioned above, characterized in that said regulating device further comprises transmission means and regulating means of said control wheel, said transmission means and said control forming with the control wheel a second kinematic chain not including said finishing train, said transmission means being arranged to supply power to said second drive train, and said control means being arranged to periodically release said control wheel and allow the transmission means for driving said control wheel in rotation.
• the second kinematic chain allows to separate the control of the control cam of the first kinematic chain comprising the exhaust, so that the control cam can be operated by taking the least possible energy to the exhaust.
• the use of two kinematic chains makes it possible to separate the rearming of the exhaust control device, so that the exhaust is disturbed as little as possible.
• control means may comprise, between the exhaust and the control wheel, a multiplicative gear train arranged so that the force subtracted from the exhaust to regulate the control wheel is reduced.
• the regulating means may comprise a whip carried by a pinion gear multiplicative and arranged to cooperate with a pinion of the exhaust.
• the movement may comprise a first jumping second hand arranged to cooperate with said regulating means, such as the whip.
• the movement according to the invention may comprise, in the first kinematic chain, a vortex having a rotatably mounted cage and carrying the mechanical oscillator, said vortex being arranged to cooperate with the gear train. finishing, and a vortex wheel secured to said cage, said vortex wheel being arranged to cooperate with said control wheel control means.
• the movement may comprise a first differential gear cooperating with the first source. of energy and arranged to supply energy to each of the first and second drivelines.
• the movement may comprise a second energy source arranged to supply energy to the second kinematic chain.
• the movement may further comprise a lightning second wheel to drive a second lightning second hand, said lightning second wheel being arranged to cooperate with the exhaust.
• the movement may then comprise a device for stopping the second lightning second hand, arranged to allow the optional stopping of said second lightning second hand.
• the movement may comprise a third energy source arranged to provide energy to the second lightning wheel.
• the movement of the invention may comprise a second differential gear co-operating with the second energy source and arranged to supply energy to the second kinematic chain on the one hand and to the lightning second gear train. somewhere else.
• Figures 1 to 2 show simplified perspective views of a part of a movement for a timepiece having a control device according to two first embodiments of the present invention
• FIG. 3 shows a simplified perspective view of the wheels of another embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGS. 4 and 5 represent simplified perspective views of a part of a movement for a timepiece exhibiting a control device according to two other embodiments of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 shows a simplified perspective view of a part of a movement for a timepiece having two control devices according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 represents a part of a movement for a timepiece having a device for regulating the force transmitted by a first energy source to a mechanical oscillator, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• the top of the figures corresponds to the bridge side of the movement.
• FIG. 1 is a simple illustration of the general principle of this regulating device, only the elements of the movement involved in the regulation process being visible to facilitate comprehension.
• the frame of the movement has not been shown for the sake of clarity and insofar as it can be of any known type suitable for the implementation of the present invention.
• the frame here corresponds to any fixed support relative to the element on which it is mounted.
• the movement comprises a conventional mechanical oscillator comprising a resonator, generally a sprung balance (not shown), associated with an escapement, here anchor, by way of nonlimiting illustration.
• the exhaust comprises an anchor 1 arranged to cooperate with an escape wheel 3.
• An exhaust pinion 5 is integral with the escape wheel 3 and is engaged with the wheel 7a of a mobile d a finishing gear.
• Said crawling gear comprises the elements between the first energy source and the exhaust for transmitting said energy to said exhaust.
• the finishing gear train comprises, in addition to the wheel 7a, a pinion 7b secured to the wheel 7a, the formed mobiles wheel / pinion assemblies 10a / 10b, 1 1a / 1 1b, and a wheel 12 meshing with the pinion 1 1b, and the wheel 1 1a meshing with the pinion 7b.
• the movement comprises a first energy source, preferably a mainspring, whose energy is transmitted to the oscillator by means of the work train.
• the mainspring is housed in a first barrel 9 comprising a drum having a peripheral toothing.
• the spring relaxes by driving the drum in a rotational movement transmitted to the gear train through its teeth.
• the pinion 10b is arranged to be in engagement with the toothing of the drum of the first barrel 9.
• the work train forms a first kinematic chain between the first energy source and the exhaust.
• the control device 14 comprises in particular a stop wheel 16 coaxial with the wheel 12 of the work train and a spiral spring 18 connected at its central end to the shaft 17 of the stop wheel 16 and, for example, its outer end to the wheel 12.
• the shaft of the stop wheel 16 is rotatably mounted relative to the frame and further carries a pinion 19 arranged to mesh with the wheel 10a of the work train.
• the wheel 12 is rotatably mounted and is not integral with the shaft of the stop wheel 16.
• the spring 18 is intended to periodically store energy by deformation, from the first energy source of the movement, to restore it to the oscillator, said spring 18 being capable of sustaining the oscillation movement of said mechanical oscillator, by means of said work train, when said wheel of stop 16 is locked, and said first power source being able to reload said spring 18, through said work train, when said stop wheel 16 is released.
• the control device 14 also comprises a control wheel 20 integral with a shaft 22 of the same axis carrying a control cam 24, of triangular shape.
• the regulating device 14 further comprises a locking lever 26 carried by a shaft (not shown) pivotally mounted on a frame of the movement.
• the locking lever 26 comprises, at a first of its two ends, a fork 28, between the teeth of which is arranged the control cam 24.
• the second end of the lever 26, separated from the first end by a middle portion 30 carrying the shaft of the lever 26, has two arms 32, 34 in the form of circular arcs extending on either side of the general direction of the middle portion 30 of the lever 26.
• Each of these arms comprises a tooth 36 , 37, at its end, directed substantially in the direction of the other arm.
• the stop wheel 16 is disposed between the two arms 32, 34 of the locking lever 26, so that its toothing is capable of cooperating with one or other of the teeth 36,37 of the arms 32,34.
• control device 14 also comprises transmission means and control means of the control wheel 20, said transmission means and said control means forming with the control wheel 20 a second kinematic chain not including the finishing gear, said transmission means being arranged to supply energy to said second drive train, and said control means being arranged to periodically release the control wheel 20 and allow the transmission means to drive the rotating control wheel 20.
• control means comprise a multiplicative gear comprising a pinion 38 arranged to cooperate with the control wheel 20, a wheel 39 integral with said pinion 38, and a pinion 40 arranged to cooperate with the wheel 39.
• the means control also include a whip 42 carried by the pinion 40 multiplicative gear.
• the whip 42 is arranged so that its end engages in the wings of the pinion 5 of the escape wheel 3.
• the skilled person knows to determine the dimensions and the number of teeth of the elements of the work train and the exhaust pinion 5 so that the whip 42 is released at each second, after a certain number of oscillations of the resonator and advances of the escape gear 5. Released at each second, the whip 42 performs a turn on itself. The operation of whip 42 will be described in more detail later.
• a first needle 43 of the second-hand lightning type, may be provided in the second kinematic chain.
• said first needle 43 is integral with the whip 42 so that the movement of the whip 42 is communicated to said first lightning second hand 43.
• a lightning second hand is called a needle making one revolution per second in a jump (of the second dead type) or in several jumps, typically four or five jumps.
• the transmission means arranged to supply energy to the second kinematic chain comprise a pinion 44 secured to the control wheel 20, a wheel 46 cooperating with the pinion 44 and a pinion 48 secured to the wheel 46.
• the pinion 48 is arranged to be engaged with the toothing of the barrel drum of a second cylinder 50 constituting a second energy source for supplying energy to the second kinematic chain.
• the stop wheel 16 is locked by one of the teeth of the locking lever 26, which prevents the rotation of the stop wheel 16, its shaft 17 and its pinion 19
• the locking lever 26 is in its first extreme position, the tooth 37 being engaged in the toothing of the stop wheel 16.
• the rotation of the wheel 12 of the crawler under the action of the discharge of the spring 18, is retransmitted to the escape wheel 3 via successively of the pinion 11b, the wheel 11a, the pinion 7b, the wheel 7a and the pinion 5.
• the wheel 12 is kinematically connected to the escape wheel 3, it can rotate only during the phases of release and impulse of the exhaust.
• control wheel 20 can receive the energy of the second cylinder 50.
• said second cylinder 50 rotates the pinion 48, the wheel 46, the pinion 44 and the control wheel 20 and its cam 24.
• the stop wheel 16 rotates under the effect of the force transmitted by the spring of the first barrel 9, via the pinion 10b, the wheel 10a of the finishing train and the pinion 19. This rotation takes place during a rest phase of the exhaust, most of the time, which implies that the wheel 12 is blocked during this movement.
• the rotation of the stop wheel 16 makes it possible to reload the spring 18.
• the latter can then again exert a force on the wheel 12 allowing the maintenance of oscillations of the oscillator with a constant force, via the escape wheel, the stop wheel 16 being again blocked by the locking lever 26.
• the spring 18 then gradually discharges, as previously described, until the control wheel 20 and the cam 24 have made a sufficient rotation to tilt the lock lever 26 and releasing the stop wheel 16, and so on.
• the control device 14 allows to place the control wheel in a second kinematic chain, separate from the first kinematic chain comprising the finishing gear, and powered by a second energy source.
• the locking and unlocking functions of the control wheel are isolated in this second kinematic chain so that the energy to reset the spring 18 of the control device does not come from the kinematic chain comprising the finishing gear and managing the operation of the exhaust.
• the operation of the exhaust is very little disturbed.
• the multiplicative gearing of the control means is chosen so that the power ratio with the exhaust pinion is as low as possible. Thus, the force subtracted from the exhaust to release the whip 42 and regulate the control wheel 20 is reduced.
• FIG. 2 shows another alternative embodiment of the invention.
• the first kinematic chain in which however the wheel 12 of the work train is in direct contact with the exhaust pinion 5.
• the first kinematic chain then comprises the pinion 10b, the wheel 10a secured to the pinion 10b and meshing with the pinion 19 of the stop wheel 16, the spring 18, exerting its force on the wheel 12 which meshes directly with the exhaust pinion 5, cooperating with the exhaust.
• the second kinematic chain comprising the transmission means consisting of the pinion 48, the wheel 46 integral with the pinion 48, the pinion 44 which meshes with the wheel 46 and which is integral with the control wheel 20, the pinion 38 which meshes with the control wheel 20, the wheel 39 integral with the pinion 38, the pinion 40 which meshes with the wheel 39 and which carries the whip 42.
• a first differential gear 56 comprising an input having a connection with the barrel 9, a first output having a connection with the pinion 10b of the first kinematic chain and a second output having a connection with the pinion 48 of the second driveline.
• a single source of energy is used, the differential gearing 56 making it possible to supply energy to each of the first and second drivelines.
• first output of the differential gear meshes directly with the pinion 19 of the stop wheel, and / or that the second output of the differential gear meshes directly with the pinion 44 of the control wheel 20. It is also possible to provide an intermediate wheel between the single energy source and the input of the differential gear.
• FIG. 3 represents another variant embodiment of the invention.
• the locking lever 26, the control cam 24 and the stop wheel 16 have not been shown.
• the barrel 9 is the only source of energy.
• the differential gear is replaced by two superimposed wheels 90, 91, integral with each other.
• the wheels 90, 91 are driven on a pinion 92 which meshes with a wheel 94 whose pinion 96 is in engagement with the toothing of the barrel of the barrel 9.
• the wheel 90 is arranged to cooperate with the pinion 19 of the stop wheel
• the wheel 91 is arranged to cooperate with the pinion. 48 of the second driveline.
• the energy of the barrel 9 is transmitted to the mobile consisting of the wheel 94 and the pinion 96, then the pinion 92.
• the wheels 44, 46, 48, 20, 40, and 38, 39 of the second drivetrain can rotate under the effect of the torque generated by the barrel 9, and transmitted through the workings 94, 96 and 90, 91, 92.
• the wheel 90 will then cause the pinion 19, this pinion being secured to the central end of the spiral spring 18, said spring 18 will be rearmed.
• the operation of the regulating device is identical to that of the previous variants.
• FIG. 4 represents another variant embodiment of the invention, comprising two energy sources, close to the variant of FIG. 1.
• the first kinematic chain comprising the pinion 10b cooperating with the first barrel 9, the wheel 10a secured to the pinion 10b and meshing with the pinion 19 of the stop wheel 16, the spring 18, exerting its force on the wheel 12, the pinion 1 1b which meshes with the wheel 12, the wheel 1 1 has secured to the pinion 1 1b, the pinion 7b which meshes with the wheel 1 1 a.
• the pinion 7b is integral with a vortex wheel 58, whose operation will be described later.
• the second kinematic chain comprising the transmission means consisting of the pinion 48 cooperating with the second cylinder 50, the wheel 46 integral with the pinion 48, the pinion 44 which meshes with the wheel 46 and which is integral with the control wheel 20, pinion 38 which meshes with the control wheel 20, the wheel 39 integral with the pinion 38, the pinion 40 which meshes with the wheel 39 and which carries the whip 42.
• the locking lever 26 and the control cam 24 The operation of the control device is identical to the variant described above.
• the single exhaust has been replaced by a regulating member of the tourbillon type.
• the operation of this vortex being conventional, it will not be described here in detail.
• the vortex comprises a cage 60, inclined relative to the plane of movement, and pivoting about an axis 62.
• the rocker 63 Inside the cage are, in a known manner, the rocker 63, the escape wheel 64, and the exhaust pinion.
• the latter meshes with a fixed wheel 66, having an external toothing meshing with said exhaust pinion.
• the vortex wheel 58 is coaxial with the fixed wheel 66 and the tourbillon cage 60.
• the vortex wheel 58 is integral with the shaft of the cage, and is therefore integral with the cage 60 so that the vortex wheel 58 rotates the cage 60.
• a pinion 68 pivotally mounted on the frame and arranged to mesh with the vortex wheel 58.
• the pinion 68 is also arranged so that the end of the whip 42 engages in the wings of said pinion 68.
• the cage 60 of the vortex moves in synchronism with the movements of the escape wheel 64 mounted in said cage 60, so that the vortex wheel 58 and the pinion 68 also move in synchronism with the movements of the Exhaust wheel 64.
• Tourbillon wheel 58 and pinion 68 are equivalent to escape wheel 3 and escape pinion 5 of the variants shown in Figures 1 and 2 and are therefore considered part of the exhaust.
• the whip 42 cooperates with the pinion 68 as the whip 42 cooperates with the exhaust pinion 5 of Figures 1 and 2, so as to regulate the control wheel 20.
• the advantages of the control device are the same as those described above.
• the variant shown in Figure 5 corresponds to the variant of Figure 4 supplemented by a lightning second wheel 70, powered by a third source of energy, such as the barrel 71.
• the lightning second wheel 70 includes a pinion 72 meshing with the drum of the barrel 71, a wheel 73 integral with the pinion 72, a pinion 74 meshing with the wheel 73, a wheel 75 integral with the pinion 74, and a last pinion 76 meshing with the wheel 75 and carrying a second whip 77.
• the end of the second whip 77 engages in the wings of the pinion 68 of the exhaust.
• a blazing second hand (78) is integral with said second whip 77.
• the second whip 77 cooperates with the pinion 68 as the whip 42 cooperates with the pinion 68 or the pinion 5 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the second whip 77 released every second, and fed by the third barrel 71, performs a turn on itself by communicating its movement to the second lightning needle 78.
• a stop device 80 is provided to allow the optional stop of said jumping seconds hand 78. More particularly, the stop device 80 comprises a stop 82 integral with the pinion 76. The stop 82 is arranged to cooperate. with a hook 84 provided on a rocker 86 which can be actuated by a pusher (not shown). Thus, when the flip-flop 86 has been actuated, the stop 82 comes to rest against the hook 84 during the rotation of the second whip 77, so that said second whip 77 and the lightning second hand 78 that it bears are blocked in rotation.
• the third barrel 71 can be removed, and the movement then comprises a differential gear (not shown) comprising an input having a connection with the barrel 50, a first output having a connection with the pinion 48 of the second kinematic chain and a second output having a connection with the pinion 72 of the lightning second wheel.
• a differential gear (not shown) comprising an input having a connection with the barrel 50, a first output having a connection with the pinion 48 of the second kinematic chain and a second output having a connection with the pinion 72 of the lightning second wheel.
• two energy sources are used, a first barrel for supplying energy to the first kinematic chain, and a second barrel for supplying energy to the second kinematic chain and the second wheel. lightning, by means of a differential gear.
• the movement comprises a second regulating device, of equal winding type, provided on the second kinematic chain.
• a second cam for this purpose, a second cam
• this second control device present on the second chain kinematic, is identical to that of the control device 14 of the first kinematic chain and described above.
• This control device provided on the second kinematic chain makes it possible to make the force, at the whip 42 and thus on the exhaust pinion 5, as constant as possible.
• the shapes shown and described for the various constituent elements of the movement for a timepiece are not limiting.
• the shape of the control cam can be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.
• the vortex can be inclined as the represented variant or plane.
• the axes of different elements of the gear used are not necessarily perpendicular to the plans of the frame, but can be inclined.
• the axes of the various elements of the workings used may be parallel to the plans of the frame, so that the wheels are no longer parallel but perpendicular to the plans of the frame.
• the finishing gear can be constituted differently and may include a different arrangement and number of mobiles.
• the wheel 12 can be in direct contact with the exhaust pinion 5, the mobiles 1 1a, 1 1b and 7a, 7b being removed.
• the finishing gear train may comprise intermediate wheels between the wheel 12 and the escape pinion 5, such as mobiles similar to the mobiles 11a, 11b and 7a, 7b of the figure 1.
• the mechanisms generating other information on the second kinematic chain can be triggering mechanisms of ringing, mechanisms of activation of a time base (date, counters), etc. Some of these mechanisms, by their operation, strongly disrupt the regulation of energy. These mechanisms taking their energy from the second kinematic chain, the energy at the first kinematic chain is not decreased. Thus, one can keep a large power reserve for the gear train, without disturbing it, the energy of the first cylinder being solely dedicated to the maintenance of the regulating member.
• needles to display information, which are neither greedy energy disruptive nit.
• this energy source may be a single cylinder or a group of cylinders kinematically connected permanently.
• Energy can to be taken on the one hand on the shaft, for the first kinematic chain, and on the other hand on the barrel drum, for the second kinematic chain. It is then possible to insert a system of maintenance of the driving force during reassembly, as described in the book "General Theory of Watchmaking", Léopold Defossez, Volume I, pages 142-143. Harrison's strength helps prevent the gear train from stopping by force neutralization.
• whip 42 can be replaced by an equivalent mechanism, such as a solid star of the exhaust pinion cooperating with a small integral star of the last element of the multiplicative gear, the small star being arranged to rotate rapidly to reduce its influence on the exhaust.
• an equivalent mechanism such as a solid star of the exhaust pinion cooperating with a small integral star of the last element of the multiplicative gear, the small star being arranged to rotate rapidly to reduce its influence on the exhaust.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)
• Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)

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• 2010
  • 2010-03-17 CH CH00380/10A patent/CH702843B1/fr not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2011
  • 2011-03-11 WO PCT/EP2011/053689 patent/WO2011113757A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2011-03-11 EP EP11707430.2A patent/EP2548084B1/de active Active

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