EP2560057B1 - Timepiece movement with reduced height and large power reserve - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a reduced-height and power-reserve clockwork device comprising at least one energy storage means arranged to be supplied with energy by a printed movement to a winding rod and / or to a mass. oscillator, said energy storage means comprising at least one cylinder, and said gear device driving display means which comprise at least one roadway and a wheel of the hours driven directly around a main pivot axis by a timer said gear device comprising, driven directly or indirectly by said at least one barrel, at least one drive wheel pivoting about a secondary pivot axis external to said at least one barrel, and said drive wheel being frictionally connected to said timer at a friction surface coaxial with said secondary pivoting axis of said drive wheel, and said main pivot axis and ant secant with said at least one barrel.

The invention also relates to a gear module comprising at least one such gear device with such a plate.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such gear device and / or at least one such gear module.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such watch movement, and / or at least one such gear device and / or at least one such gear module.

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly the field of portable timepieces, such as wristwatches or pocket watches or watches pendent.

Background of the invention

The search for flat movements is a constant concern of the watchmaking profession. It responds to a permanent demand from the market. She has also for the purpose of allowing to accommodate, in the same timepiece, mechanisms relating to different complications or functions, more easily, or / and in greater numbers, while controlling the total thickness of the timepiece.

In a traditional mechanical movement, the energy stored in the barrel is generally transmitted to a wheel of great average. This medium wheel meshes with a medium gear. The latter has a dual function. On the one hand, the drive, by a medium wheel integral with the average gear, a pinion second. This second gear is secured to a second wheel, which meshes with the exhaust pinion, and therefore cooperates with the escape wheel and the adjusting assembly for the regulation of the movement. This same second gear is, again, integral with a shaft carrying a second hand, or meshes with such a shaft. On the other hand, the average pinion has the function of driving indirectly, firstly the roadway and the associated needle, and secondly the hour wheel and the hour hand associated.

The timer must be disengageable, in order to ensure, in the engaged position the normal operation, and in the disengaged position the setting time. The disengagement mechanism generally uses a friction mechanism.

The indirect drive mechanism of the floor of the minutes and the hour wheel generally comprises a friction board, which is coaxial with the roadway.

For the training of the floor of minutes, the pinion of average meshes with the board-friction. The friction of the latter on the road causes the latter to pivot.

For the training of the hours, the pinion of average meshes always with the board-friction, and the roadway driven by the latter meshes with a wheel of timer, solidaire of a pinion of timer which meshes with the wheel of the hours.

This proven mechanism works well, but represents a certain size, especially because of the presence of the friction board and a surface for maintaining it on the road, on the opposite side to the switch. For a wristwatch, this size is of the order of 0.25 to 0.35 mm, which is important compared to the total thickness of the movement, which is usually a few millimeters, or even millimeter on extra-thin gauges such as for example the caliber 21 "Frédéric Piguet" with a thickness of 1.73 mm. The part taken by the friction board and its maintenance is important, since it can represent 5 to 25% of the total thickness of a movement.

Some high off-center realizations have proposed different solutions of the friction-board as described above.

A patent is known CH 377 727 in the name of Buren Watch Company, relating to a timepiece with a large off-center mid-point, which, in order to solve the problem of flutter of needles in an indirectly-driven watch of the minute hand, or in a "Roskopf" watch, implements a flexible timer wheel, energized, and whose elasticity compensates for the floating needles. In a first version, the barrel drives a wheel of medium, on which is mounted a lanterned return, which in turn drives the timer wheel which conventionally meshes with pavements minutes and hours. The wheel of great average drives a mobile average which meshes with a mobile of second, meshing itself with the pinion of escape. For setting the time, the lanterned gear meshes with a time setting linkage connected to the crown shaft. In a second version suitable for a "Roskopf" watch, the timer wheel is frictionally mounted directly on the barrel, and conventionally meshes with the pavements of minutes and hours. A complementary train, of the mobile type of medium and mobile average is necessary to drive the mobile of second. However, in this second version, the stacking of wheels with the barrel does not go in the direction of a decrease in the thickness of the movement.

Another patent document EP 1 243 985 in the name of Wiederrecht describes a central-orifice watch movement, in which an annular disposition of the various functions is assured, but to the detriment of the thickness of the movement. The hour and minute pavements are tubular and at the periphery of the central orifice. Since all the gear trains must be housed in the remaining annular volume, a particular arrangement concerns the connection between the medium-sized mobile, driven by the barrel, and the timer mobile. The medium gear is engaged in the turntable of the watch, and comprises a tigeron, on which the timer wheel is mounted by its pinion, which comprises a lantern cooperating with the tigeron to ensure a frictional connection. Thus the timer mobile rotates with the mobile of medium, except during the time setting, where it slides on the sternum because of the friction link. However, the diameter of the timer is necessarily limited by the particular construction, which is not favorable to play in such gears.

The document CH 14 525 A in the name of JERGER EMILE describes a Roskopf watch with an eight-day power reserve movement with a high-pitched barrel. Its timer return is placed on the axis of the first medium gear meshing with the barrel, and is mounted fat-rubbing on a barrel of a wheel controlling the exhaust mechanism.

The document FR 1 181 584 in the name of RENAUDIN describes a mechanism with unique operating knob, axis parallel to the movement trees. The toothed crown of its barrel meshes with a pinion mounted on a minute shaft, and carries a gear normally driven by the minute shaft, but which can also rotate relative to this shaft for the time setting command. needles.

The document CH 54 708 A In the name of MAYOR-FAVRE describes a long-running movement, which also includes a fat-adjusted timer wheel on a cylindrical bearing surface of a wheel integral with the shaft controlled by the toothing of the barrel plug.

The document CH 51 982 A in the name of DUBOIS MARC describes an eccentric cylinder mechanism, with a barrel bored carrying a wheel meshing with the work train and which controls the exhaust mechanism. The first mobile of the work train comprises a grease-weighted return gear, which meshes with the time setting, and with a wheel set on a shoe which is housed freely in the bung axis and indirectly actuates the needles. hours and minutes.

However, these mechanisms have the disadvantage of juxtaposing the thickness of a barrel, and that of a wheel of high average, which is not in the direction of the desired thickness reduction.

The invention proposes to ensure the disengagement of the timer, in the smallest possible space in thickness. Reducing congestion for the transmission of movement from a wheel of the train, connected directly or indirectly with the barrel, to the roadway on the one hand, and the hour wheel on the other hand, through the timer, directly reduces the overall clutter some movement.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch gear device of reduced height and with a large power reserve, comprising at least one energy storage means arranged to be supplied with energy by a printed movement to a winding rod and / or an oscillating mass, said energy storage means comprising at least one cylinder, and said gear device driving display means which comprise at least one roadway and a wheel of hours driven directly around a main pivot axis by a timer, said gear device comprising, driven directly or indirectly by said at least one barrel, at least one drive wheel pivoting about a secondary pivot axis external to said at least one barrel, and said drive wheel being connected by friction at said timer at a friction surface coaxial with said secondary pivoting axis of said drive wheel, and said pivot axis primary being secant with said at least one barrel, characterized in that said driving wheel comprises a driving carriage pivoting about a wheel body according to said secondary pivoting axis and connected to a bearing surface of said wheel body which constitutes said friction surface by friction means constituted by a friction spring, and said driving surface cooperates with a timer wheel belonging to said timer and pivoting about a timer axis.

According to a characteristic of the invention, said gear device comprises a mobile carrier plate that comprises said device, said plate having a first surface called a dial face and a second surface called the gear side which are opposite to each other and connected by a peripheral edge, and said main pivot axis is located in the vicinity of the center or center of said platen, and said at least barrel, which pivots about a barrel pivot axis substantially parallel to said main pivot axis and to said secondary pivot axis which are parallel to each other, a, about said barrel pivot axis, a diametric extent which is greater than the smallest distance between said main pivot axis and said peripheral edge.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said roadway and said hour wheel are projecting on the side of said first surface, and said at least one barrel is disposed on said second surface, or conversely.

According to a feature of the invention, said road meshes with a board that includes said timer wheel, and said hour wheel meshes with a pinion integral with said board.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said drive wheel is a wheel of medium which comprises, integral with each other and a wheel body, on the one hand a pinion external to said at least one cylinder and meshing directly or indirectly with a drum toothing that comprises said at least one barrel, and secondly a board meshing with a wheel of average which meshes itself with a second main shaft pivoting about said main pivot axis coaxially with said pavement and at said hour wheel, in a center tube.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the smallest diameter of said friction surface is greater than the largest guide diameter pivotally of said drive wheel relative to a plate that comprises said device.

The invention also relates to a gear module comprising at least one such gear device with such a plate, and which comprises interface means with external means for adjusting said timer.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said gear module comprises means for interfacing with external power supply means of said energy storage means comprising at least one barrel.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such gear device and / or at least one such gear module, and which comprises external means for adjusting said timer cooperating with interface means that includes said gear device.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said clockwork comprises external means for supplying energy to said energy storage means comprising at least one barrel cooperating with interface means that comprises said gear device.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such watch movement, and / or at least one such gear device and / or at least one such gear module, which is a watch and comprises at least one barrel diameter greater than half of the smallest dimension of said watch in a plane perpendicular to said main axis of pivoting.

The invention makes it possible to overcome the large-diameter roadways known from the prior art.

With the mechanism according to the invention, there is no second with a pinion board, but a very small pinion. This small pinion cooperates preferably with a return, which cooperates with a small second placed elsewhere in the movement.

The advantage is to be able to position, as desired, the display of the second, or at the level of a small second, or with the second in the center.

The finishing gear is stretched, which ensures a permanent play catch within the movement. This situation is to be compared with the conventional configuration of a small second leaving the escape wheel, where the train is not stretched, the gear set requires the implementation of a spring, which degrades the performance .

One of the aims of the invention is to maximize the volume of the barrel or barrels, so as to increase as much as possible the autonomy of the timepiece, and possibly its ancillary functions that consume a lot of energy, such as ringtones, waking up, or the like. The increase in stored energy can also make it possible to use, for certain functions, low efficiency technologies with a very low production cost, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing the timepiece with a market performance. equivalent or better.

In a conventional configuration of the prior art, the second crosses the entire thickness of the movement, the possible diameter of the barrel is necessarily less than the smallest radius of the timepiece or the watch.

The configuration according to the invention allows on the contrary to size the barrel with a diameter greater than the radius of the watch, with a passage beyond of the Center. Therefore, it is mandatory to dimension drastically the thickness of the movement in the center of the room, so as to allow passage to the barrel.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en perspective, une partie d'un dispositif de rouage horloger selon l'invention, dans une version comportant une platine supportant les mobiles de ce rouage, vue du côté d'une surface dite côté rouage qui porte un barillet de diamètre supérieur au rayon de cette platine, dont le tambour de ce barillet engrène avec un pignon d'une roue de grande moyenne, laquelle comporte une planche solidaire de ce pignon et maintenue sur cette platine par un pont de rouage, au-dessus duquel est visible une planche d'une petite seconde décentrée, entraînée par une roue de moyenne reliée à un arbre principal de seconde pivotant autour d'un axe principal de pivotement;
• la figure 2 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et selon une coupe brisée passant par les axes de certains mobiles que comporte le dispositif de rouage selon l'invention, ces mobiles étant la petite seconde de la figure 1, un renvoi de moyenne, une chaussée des minutes et une roue des heures coaxiales autour d'un tube de centre définissant un axe principal de pivotement et dans lequel pivote un arbre principal de seconde, une roue de moyenne interposée entre cet arbre principal de seconde et la roue de grande moyenne de la figure 1, et cette même roue de grande moyenne engrenant avec une denture d'un tambour de barillet;
• la figure 3 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et selon une coupe brisée passant par les axes de certains mobiles que comporte le dispositif de rouage selon l'invention, ces mobiles étant la roue de grande moyenne de la figure 1 qui selon l'invention porte une chaussée montée par une liaison à friction, une roue de minuterie qui coopère avec cette chaussée, et les chaussées des minutes et des heures coaxiales de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon schématisée et en coupe passant par son axe de pivotement, la roue de grande moyenne de la figure 1, avec le détail de sa chaussée et de sa friction;
• la figure 5 représente, de façon schématisée et en coupe passant par son axe de pivotement, l'arbre principal de seconde de la figure 2 guidé dans son tube de centre, lequel est épaulé, et en appui sur lui;
• la figure 6 représente, sous forme d'un schéma-blocs, une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un mouvement, lequel comporte un module de rouage comportant lui-même un dispositif de rouage selon l'invention, porteur d'un barillet ;
• la figure 7 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 1, le même ensemble sans le barillet, avec une partie du rouage immobilisée en position axiale par un pont de rouage ;
• la figure 8 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 7, le même ensemble sans le pont de rouage ;
• la figure 9 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 1, vue de l'autre côté de la platine, du côté d'une surface dite côté cadran, le même ensemble, avec un rouage principal d'affichage autour d'un axe principal de pivotement comportant une roue des heures, une chaussée des minutes, et un arbre principal de seconde, la chaussée coopérant avec une roue de mise à l'heure ; la roue de grande moyenne, qui est montée du côté opposé de la platine, coopère, au travers d'une ouverture de celle-ci, avec un rouage de minuterie coopérant lui-même avec le rouage principal d'affichage ; un extrémité de l'arbre de la roue de petite seconde de la figure 1 est montée concentrique avec une roue d'entraînement de quantième, qui coopère avec une roue intermédiaire de quantième;
• la figure 10 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 9, le même ensemble sans la roue d'entraînement de quantième, ni la roue intermédiaire de quantième;
• la figure 11 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 10, le même ensemble sans la roue des heures ;
• la figure 12 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 9, le même ensemble, maintenu par une plaque de retenue faisant fonction de maintien élastique de certains mobiles ;
• la figure 13 représente, de façon schématisée et en plan, la plaque de retenue de la figure 12 ;
• la figure 14 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en coupe d'un mouvement intégrant un dispositif selon l'invention, selon une coupe brisée illustrée à la figure 14A illustrant ce mouvement en vue de face du côté du rouage ;
• la figure 15 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en coupe du mouvement de la figure 14, selon une coupe brisée illustrée à la figure 15A illustrant ce mouvement en vue de face du côté du cadran.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 represents, schematically, partially, and in perspective, a part of a clockwork device according to the invention, in a version comprising a plate supporting the wheels of this wheel, seen from the side of a so-called wheel-side surface which carries a barrel of diameter greater than the radius of this plate, whose drum of this barrel meshes with a pinion of a wheel of great average, which comprises a plank integral with this pinion and maintained on this plate by a gear bridge, to above which is visible a board of a small second off-center, driven by a wheel of average connected to a main shaft second pivoting about a main axis of pivoting;
• the figure 2 represents, schematically, partially, and in a broken section passing through the axes of certain mobiles that comprises the gear device according to the invention, these mobiles being the small second of the figure 1 , an average return, a minute carriage and a coaxial hour wheel around a center tube defining a main pivot axis and in which pivots a second main shaft, a middle wheel interposed between this main shaft of second and the medium wheel of the figure 1 , and this same medium wheel meshing with a toothing of a barrel drum;
• the figure 3 represents, schematically, partially, and in a broken section passing through the axes of certain mobiles that comprises the gear device according to the invention, these mobiles being the wheel of great mean of the figure 1 which according to the invention carries a roadway mounted by a friction link, a timer wheel which cooperates with this road, and the pavements of minutes and coaxial hours of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 represents, schematically and in section passing through its pivot axis, the wheel of great mean of the figure 1 , with the detail of its pavement and its friction;
• the figure 5 represents, schematically and in section passing through its pivot axis, the main shaft of second of the figure 2 guided in its center tube, which is supported, and supported on it;
• the figure 6 represents, in the form of a block diagram, a timepiece comprising a movement, which comprises a gear module including itself a gear device according to the invention, carrying a barrel;
• the figure 7 represents, similarly to the figure 1 , the same assembly without the barrel, with a part of the wheel immobilized in axial position by a gear bridge;
• the figure 8 represents, similarly to the figure 7 , the same set without the gear bridge;
• the figure 9 represents, similarly to the figure 1 , seen from the other side of the plate, on the side of a so-called dial-face surface, the same assembly, with a main display gear about a main axis of pivoting comprising an hour wheel, a minute carriageway , and a second main shaft, the road cooperating with a time setting wheel; the wheel of large average, which is mounted on the opposite side of the plate, cooperates, through an opening thereof, with a timer train cooperating itself with the main display gear; one end of the wheel shaft of small seconds of the figure 1 is mounted concentrically with a date drive wheel, which cooperates with an intermediate date wheel;
• the figure 10 represents, similarly to the figure 9 the same set without the date drive wheel or the intermediate date wheel;
• the figure 11 represents, similarly to the figure 10 , the same set without the hour wheel;
• the figure 12 represents, similarly to the figure 9 , the same assembly, maintained by a retaining plate serving elastic holding function of certain mobiles;
• the figure 13 represents, schematically and in plan, the retaining plate of the figure 12 ;
• the figure 14 represents, schematically, partially, and in section of a movement incorporating a device according to the invention, according to a broken section illustrated in FIG. figure 14A illustrating this movement in front view of the side of the gear;
• the figure 15 represents, schematically, partially, and in section of the movement of the figure 14 , according to a broken cut illustrated at figure 15A illustrating this movement in front view of the dial side.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, including portable timepieces, wristwatches, pocket watches or pendent watches, or the like.

The invention seeks to create a gear device compatible with the use of a very large cylinder, so as to provide a significant power reserve, greatly improved over the usual movements.

For a cylindrical cylinder, the volume is proportional to its thickness and to the square of its diameter. To have the maximum volume, and therefore a large power reserve, it is advantageous to play on the diameter, rather than the thickness. The invention therefore creates a mechanism allowing the largest possible diameter of the barrel, or barrels if there are several, which is compatible with the housing of the other components of the movement. The choice of a large barrel diameter makes it possible, again, to reduce its thickness, and therefore the thickness of the movement and that of the watch, while having a power reserve significantly higher than the prior art.

In particular, the invention creates the conditions allowing the use of a barrel of a diameter much greater than the radius of the watch, and whose grip thus covers the position of the main axis of pivoting generally centered on the watch. .

Another concern is to ensure both a minimum height requirement, and a reduced production cost, that can be achieved both by very simple components in a small number, and by a design oriented towards a robotic paraxial assembly.

Thus, the invention relates to a watchmaking gear 1 of reduced height and high power reserve. This device 1 comprises at least one energy storage means 2 arranged to be supplied with energy by a printed movement to a winding rod and / or to an oscillating weight. This energy storage means 2 comprises at least one barrel 3.

The gear device 1 drives display means 4 which comprise at least one minute carriageway 5, hereafter simply called carriageway 5, and an hour wheel 6 driven directly around a main pivot axis AP by a timer 7.

According to the invention, the gear device 1 comprises, driven directly or indirectly by this at least one cylinder 3, at least one driving wheel 8 pivoting about a secondary pivot axis AS, which is outside this cylinder 3.

This driving wheel 8 is frictionally connected to the timer 7 at a friction surface 9 coaxial with this secondary pivoting axis AS, by disengageable friction coupling means, in particular during an hourly setting. carried out by means of adjustment of the timer, external or internal to the gear device 1.

According to the invention the extension of the main pivot axis AP is, in projection, secant with the barrel 3, that is to say that the grip of the barrel 3 is greater than the movements of the art previous, because it extends well beyond the main axis of central pivoting.

The invention sets out to arrange the gear train under the barrel, making sure to avoid that the axes pass through the mechanism, and, more broadly, the movement 200 capable of incorporating such a device 1.

For this purpose, the mobiles which pivot about the main pivot axis AP are mounted projecting unilaterally with respect to a plate 10 on which they are mounted cantilever. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated by the figures, this gear device 1 comprises such a mobile carrier plate 10 that comprises this device 1. This plate 10 includes a first surface 11 said dial side and a second surface 12 said gear side, which are opposite to one another and connected by a peripheral edge 13.

The main pivot axis AP is preferably located in the vicinity of the center or the center of this plate 10. The cylinder 3, which pivots about a barrel pivot axis AB substantially parallel to the main pivot axis AP and to the secondary pivot axis AS, which are parallel to each other, a, around this barrel pivot axis AB, a diametrical grip which is greater than the smallest distance between the main pivot axis AP and this peripheral edge 13 .

Preferably, the barrel of the barrel 3 passes above the main axis of pivoting AP.

To clear the central zone, close to the main axis of pivoting AP, all the mobiles whose pivot axis is in the vicinity of the latter are preferably mounted protruding from one side relative to the plate 10 , if possible mounted pivoting on tenons driven into the plate, or otherwise with a short guide in the latter. The floor 5, the hour wheel 6, the timer 7 are thus mounted so as to disengage the central volume of the mechanism for housing the barrel drum, or barrel drums if there are several.

Advantageously, the drive wheel 8 is a wheel of medium which comprises, integral with each other and a wheel body 80, on the one hand a pinion 82 outside the barrel 3 and meshing directly or indirectly with a drum toothing 30 that includes this barrel 3, and secondly a board 81 meshing with a wheel of average 15 which meshes with a second main shaft 16. The latter rotates about the main axis of pivoting AP coaxially with the roadway 5 and the hour wheel 6, in a center tube 17.

On the figure 1 this plate 10 can be seen supporting the wheels of this wheel 1, seen from the side of the second surface 12 said side gear. The barrel 3 has a diameter greater than the radius of this plate 10. The drum of this barrel has a toothing drum 30 which meshes with a pinion 82 of a wheel of medium 8, which comprises a board 81 integral with the pinion 82 and maintained on this plate 10 by a gear wheel 21, above which is visible a board 181 of a small second wheel 18 off-center.

Preferably, as visible on the figure 2 , the roadway 5 and the hour wheel 6 are projecting on the side of the first surface 11, while the cylinder 3 is disposed on the second surface 12, or vice versa.

The disengageable friction coupling means, at the drive wheel 8, comprise a driving surface 83 pivoting about a wheel body 80 along the secondary pivot axis AS. This driving surface 83 is connected to a bearing surface 85 of the wheel body 80. This bearing surface 85 constitutes the friction surface 9 which cooperates with friction means constituted by a friction spring 84.

The drive surface 83 cooperates with a timer wheel 14 belonging to the timer 7, and which pivots about a timer axis AM.

Furthermore, the roadway 5 conventionally meshes with a board 141 that includes the timer wheel 14, and that the hour wheel 6 meshes with a pinion 142 integral with the board 141.

As visible on the figure 4 , preferably the friction surface 9 is decomposed into at least: firstly a first friction surface 91 between the drive surface 83 and the board 81, and secondly a second friction surface 92 between the spring of friction 84 and range 85.

Advantageously, thanks to the arrangement of the cogs according to the invention, the gear device 1 comprises a small second wheel 18, pivoting about a small second axis APS, and which meshes with a pinion 182 that it comprises , and through at least one return 19 with a pinion 161 that includes a second main shaft 16: This second main shaft 16 pivots about the main pivot axis AP coaxially with the roadway 5 and the hour wheel 6, in a center tube 17.

This center tube 17 is mounted in support, by a shoulder 171 that it comprises, on a plate 10 that includes the device 1, on the side of a first surface 11 called the dial side. This shoulder 171 allows, during the assembly of the main shaft 16, to postpone the force on the center tube 17, then on the plate 10.

As seen in the figures, the roadway 5 and the hour wheel 6 are mounted coaxially, and preferably cantilevered, axially guided on each other and on this center tube 17 oriented on the main axis of pivoting AP and fixed on a plate 10 that includes the device 1, on the side of a first surface 11 called dial side, and they are held axially by a retaining plate 20.

Preferably, this retaining plate 20 constitutes or supports a complementary display dial with which display means or needles or disks or rings driven by the roadway 5 and the hour wheel 6, or / and by the main seconds shaft 16, or / and a small second wheel 18 as described above.

Advantageously, this retaining plate 20 comprises elastic return means arranged to press mobiles, which the device 1 comprises, on the plate 10.

The kinematics is visible on the Figures 2 and 3 . The connections with the escapement mechanism, the anchor and the sprung balance, are not shown in the figures, and can be made in a conventional manner, from the small seconds wheel, within the reach of man of career. The figure 2 represents the energy storage means 2 here constituted by a barrel drum 3 carrying and enclosing a not shown spring hooked at its other end to a not shown bung. A conventional ratchet 31 also serves as the lid of the barrel 3. A spur gear 30 co-operates with the pinion 82 of the medium wheel 8, whose plate 81 meshes with a pinion 152 of a wheel of average 15. The wheel of high average 8 carries the drive surface 83, through the friction spring 84 bearing the bearing 85 of the wheel of medium 8. A board 151 of the wheel of average 15 meshes with the pinion 161 of the shaft principal of 16.

The figure 2 still shows the direct control of the small second wheel 18 at its pinion 182, by the return street 19 meshing with the same pinion 161. This assembly of the small second 18 is a tight assembly, unlike the prior art where the small second is driven by the wheel exhaust, and is not stretched. This configuration allows, again, to use the choice of the large second at the main shaft of second 16, or the small second 18. It is understood that it is easy to arrange the small second 18 and the referral 19, depending on the available space, so as to position the small second 18 in different areas of the display of the watch.

The figure 3 shows more particularly the timer 7, with a timer wheel 14 including a board 141 meshes with the drive surface 83 of the wheel of medium 8, and which meshes with the roadway 5 at a wheel 51 that includes this. The timing pinion 142 meshes with a board 61 that includes the hour wheel 6.

According to the invention, the friction spring 84 is a flat spring mounted in prestressing by riveting. This riveting is performed from the outside, and avoids the installation of a retaining washer. The choice of suitable tolerances makes it possible to avoid any adjustment of the friction.

The kinematics according to the invention causes the whole of the finishing train to be mounted taut, which is advantageous because the games are automatically caught. The slight loss of energy caused by friction by the two additional mobiles that are the average return and the second gear is largely offset by the stored energy gain, because of the dimensioning of the barrel 3, which is much higher than a conventional barrel, and results in a power reserve increased by at least 20%.

When the watch is in normal operation, the friction spring 84 engages the drive surface 83 with the wheel body 80 of the high street 8, the drive train between the cylinder 8 and the displays is continuous.

When setting the timer, disengaging the medium wheel 8 and the cylinder with which it meshes allows the adjustment of the displays.

Whenever possible, the mobiles are mounted pivoted cantilevered on tenons. In particular, the timer wheel 14 pivots on a stud 143 driven into the plate 10. The transmission 19 is likewise pivoted on a pin 191 which is also driven into the plate 10. In a variant not shown in the figures, the average wheel 15 is also pivoted on such a post.

As visible on the figure 7 , part of the wheel is immobilized in axial position by a gear wheel 21.

The figure 9 represents the device 1 on the side of the first surface 11 on the dial side, with a main display gear around the main pivot axis AP, comprising the hour wheel 6, the roadway 5, and the second main shaft 16 The roadway 5 cooperates with a setting wheel 22.

The medium wheel 8, which is mounted on the opposite side 12 of the plate 10, cooperates, through an opening 205 thereof, with the timer train 14 cooperating itself with the main display gear.

According to a characteristic of the invention, an end of the shaft of the small second wheel 18 is mounted concentrically with a date drive wheel 24, which cooperates with an intermediate date wheel 23. The latter is pivotally mounted on a stud 232, and comprises an eccentric pin 231 for driving the date drive wheel 24. This comprises a spring-pin 241, arranged to drive a date disc 25. This can also be driven by a date corrector 26.

The device 1 is advantageously maintained, as visible on the figure 12 by a retaining plate 20, visible on the figure 13 , acting as elastic holding of some mobiles. In particular this plate 20 comprises spring fingers 201 for holding the board 141 of the timer wheel 14, a jumper 202 for holding the date disc 25, spring fingers 203 for the direct or indirect holding of the wheel of date drive 24, and a spring tab 204 for holding the date corrector 26.

The invention also relates to a gear module 100 comprising at least one such gear device 1, with such a plate 10. This module 100 preferably comprises means for interfacing with external means for setting the timer 7. In a preferred embodiment, the barrel is not part of the gear train, but it is naturally also possible to integrate it. Advantageously, the gear module 100 comprises means for interfacing with external means for supplying power to the energy storage means 2 comprising at least one barrel 3. This module 100 also comprises, or an escapement mechanism, an anchor and a sprung balance, or means of connection with an exhaust mechanism thus controlled.

The invention also relates to a watch movement 200 comprising at least one such gear device 1 and / or at least one such gear module 100.

Preferably it comprises external means for adjusting said timer 7 cooperating with interface means that comprises said gear device 1.

Advantageously, this movement 200 comprises external means for supplying energy to the energy storage means 2 comprising at least one barrel 3 cooperating with interface means that comprises the gear device 1.

The Figures 14, 14A , 15, 15A , illustrate such a movement, we see a barrel ratchet 31, an escape wheel 32 pivoting about an exhaust axis AE, and a rocker 33, whose interactions are known to those skilled in the art and are not detailed here.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 300 comprising at least one such watch movement 200, and / or at least one such gear device 1, and / or at least one such gear module 100. Preferably, this timepiece 300 is a watch, and comprises at least one barrel 3 of diameter greater than half of the smallest dimension of this watch in a plane perpendicular to the main axis of pivoting AP.

In short, the fact of having the cog under the barrel, and avoiding having a shaft traversing the movement, thus significantly increases the diameter of the barrel, and thus increase the power reserve.

Compared to traditional achievements we get rid of certain elements in the center, including the floor board and the board of great seconds in the center. This allows, in conjunction with the action of increasing the diameter, to have a large barrel thickness.

The mechanisms according to the invention lend themselves well to a paraxial robotic assembly, all the components being assembled frontally.

Claims (17)

1. Timepiece gear train device (1) of reduced height with a large power reserve, comprising at least one means of energy storage (2) arranged to be powered by a motion imparted to a winding stem and/or to an oscillating weight, said energy storage means (2) comprising at least one barrel (3), and said gear train device (1) driving display means (4) which include at least one cannon-pinion (5) and an hour wheel (6) driven directly about a main pivot axis (AP) by a motion work (7), said gear train device comprising, driven directly or indirectly by said at least one barrel (3), at least one driving wheel (8) pivoting about a secondary pivot axis (AS) external to said at least one barrel (3), and said driving wheel (8) being friction coupled to said motion work (7) on a friction surface (9) coaxial to said secondary pivot axis (AS) of said driving wheel (8), and said main pivot axis (AP) being secant to said at least one barrel (3), characterized in that said driving wheel (8) includes a driving cannon-pinion (83) pivoting about a wheel body (80) of said driving wheel (8) along said secondary pivot axis (AS) and connected to a shoulder (85) of said wheel body (80) which forms said friction surface (9) by friction means formed by a friction spring (84), and in that said driving cannon-pinion (83) cooperates with a minute wheel (14) belonging to said motion work (7) and pivoting about a minute axis (AM).
2. Gear train device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a bottom plate (10) carrying wheel sets comprised in said device (1), said bottom plate (10) including a first surface (11) called the dial side surface and a second surface (12) called the gear train side surface which are opposite to each other and connected by a peripheral edge (13), further characterized in that said main pivot axis (AP) is located in proximity to the centre of or at the centre of said bottom plate (10), and the diameter of said at least one barrel (3), which pivots about a barrel pivot axis (AB) substantially parallel to said main pivot axis (AP) and to said secondary pivot axis (AS) which are parallel to each other, covers an area about said barrel pivot axis, which is greater than the smallest distance between said main pivot axis (AP) and said peripheral edge (13).
3. Gear train device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said cannon-pinion (5) and said hour wheel (6) project from the side of said first surface (11) and in that said at least one barrel (3) is arranged on said second surface (12) or vice versa.
4. Gear train device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cannon-pinion (5) meshes with a plate (141) comprised in said minute wheel (14) and in that said hour wheel (6) meshes with a pinion (142) integral with said plate (141).
5. Gear train device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said driving wheel (8) is a centre-wheel which includes, integral with each other and with a wheel body (80), on the one hand, a pinion (82) which is external to said at least one barrel (3) and meshes with a drum toothing (30) comprised in said at least one barrel (3) and on the other hand, a plate (81) meshing with a third wheel (15) which meshes in turn with a main seconds arbour (16) pivoting about said main pivot axis (AP) coaxially to said cannon-pinion (5) and to said hour wheel (6) in a centre tube (17).
6. Gear train device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a small seconds wheel (18) meshing with a pinion (161) comprised in a main seconds arbour (16) pivoting about said main pivot axis (AP) coaxially to said cannon-pinion (5) and to said hour wheel (6), in a centre tube (17), via at least one intermediate wheel (19), said centre tube (17) being mounted in abutment, via a shoulder (171) comprised therein, on a bottom plate (10) comprised in said device (1), on the side of a first surface (11), called the dial side surface.
7. Gear train device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said small seconds wheel (18) is mounted concentrically to a date driving wheel (24), which cooperates with an intermediate date wheel (23) to drive a date disc (25).
8. Gear train device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cannon-pinion (5) and said hour wheel (6) are coaxially mounted, axially guided on each other and on a centre tube (17) centred on said main pivot axis (AP) and secured to a plate (10) comprised in said device (1) on the side of a first surface (11) called the dial side surface, and in that they are held axially by a retaining plate (20).
9. Gear train device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said retaining plate (20) forms or carries a complementary display dial which cooperates with display means or hands or discs or rings driven by said cannon-pinion (5) and said hour wheel (6).
10. Gear train device (1) according to one of the claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said retaining plate (20) includes elastic return means arranged to press the wheel sets, comprised in said device (1), onto said bottom plate (10).
11. Gear train device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said friction spring (84) is a flat spring mounted prestressed by rivets.
12. Gear train device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire going train comprised therein is mounted taut.
13. Gear train module (100) including at least one gear train device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, with a bottom plate (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes a means of interface with an external means of adjusting said motion work (7).
14. Gear train module (100) including at least one gear train device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12 with a bottom plate (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes a means of interface with an external means of powering said energy storage means (2) including at least one barrel (3).
15. Timepiece movement (200) including at least one gear train device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12 and/or at least one gear train module (100) according to any of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that it includes an external means of adjusting said motion work (7) cooperating with interface means comprised in said gear train device (1).
16. Timepiece movement (200) including at least one gear train device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12 and/or at least one gear train module (100) according to any of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that it includes an external means of powering said energy storage means (2) including at least one barrel (3) cooperating with interface means comprised in said gear train device (1).
17. Timepiece (300) including at least one timepiece movement (200) according to claim 15 or 16, and/or at least one gear train device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12, and/or at least one gear train module (100) according to any of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the timepiece is a watch and includes at least one barrel (3) whose diameter is greater than half the smallest dimension of said watch in a plane perpendicular to said main pivot axis (AP).

Images