EP2897002B1 - Insulating adjustment mechanism and mechanical timepiece comprising a chronograph mechanism provided with said insulating adjustment mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanical clockwork movement comprising a chronograph mechanism, this chronograph mechanism being provided with an insulating splitter mechanism. Such a chronograph is disclosed by the document EP 2 085 832 A1 . The invention also relates to mechanical timepieces comprising such a movement as well as to an isolation split mechanism taken alone.

The object of the present invention is to suppress the energy intake of the mechanism of the split-seconds when it is stopped.

This object is achieved by the insulating split-back mechanism according to the invention described in claim 1.

The subject of the invention is also a mechanical clockwork movement and a timepiece comprising it equipped with the insulating split-back mechanism according to claim 1.

• La figure 1 illustre en plan et partiellement un mouvement comportant un mécanisme de chronographe, ce mécanisme étant à l'arrêt.
• La figure 2 est une vue semblable à la figure 1, le mécanisme de chronographe étant en marche.
• La figure 3 illustre en plan le mécanisme de rattrapante à isolation en position active, la rattrapante étant isolée et immobile.
• La figure 4 est une vue semblable à la celle de la figure 3, le mécanisme de rattrapante à isolation étant en position inactive, la rattrapante étant en marche.
• La figure 5 est une vue en plan du mécanisme d'isolation du mécanisme de rattrapante à isolation en position active, la rattrapante étant isolée.
• La figure 6 est une vue semblable à la figure 5, le mécanisme d'isolation étant en position inactive, la rattrapante étant entraînée par la roue de chronographe.
• Les figures 7 à 12 illustrent une variante du système de diaphragme du mécanisme de rattrapante.

The attached drawing illustrates schematically and by way of example and partially a mechanical clockwork movement comprising a chronograph provided with the split-back mechanism with insulation according to the invention.

• The figure 1 illustrates in plan and partially a movement comprising a chronograph mechanism, this mechanism being at a standstill.
• The figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 with the chronograph mechanism running.
• The figure 3 illustrates in plan the split-back mechanism with active position isolation, the catch-up being isolated and immobile.
• The figure 4 is a view similar to that of the figure 3 , the isolation compensating mechanism being in the inactive position, the catch-up being in operation.
• The figure 5 is a plan view of the isolation mechanism of the active-position insulating split-back mechanism, the jumper being isolated.
• The figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 5 , the isolation mechanism being in the inactive position, the catching being driven by the chronograph wheel.
• The Figures 7 to 12 illustrate a variant of the diaphragm system of the split-second mechanism.

A mechanical watchmaking movement comprising the insulating split-back mechanism comprises a motor connected by a motor gear wheel regulated by a regulating member to a field wheel 1 pivoted on the plate P or a fixed part of the movement. This field wheel 1 meshes permanently with an intermediate wheel 2 pivoted on an intermediate lever 3 pivoted at A on the plate P.

This movement also comprises a chronograph wheel 4 integral with a chronograph wheel axle 5 pivoted on a fixed part of the movement and carrying a core 6.

The free end of the intermediate rocker 3 cooperates with a first column wheel 7 driven in stepwise rotation by the pawl 8 of a large rocker 9 controlled by a pusher 10 accessible from outside the timepiece.

Depending on the position of the column wheel 7, the intermediate wheel 2 meshes with the chronograph wheel 4 or not.

This chronograph mechanism comprises a catch-up mechanism comprising a split wheel 11 pivoted concentrically to the chronograph wheel 4. A split lever 12 is pivoted on the split wheel 11 and has an inner end adapted to cooperate with the core 6 under the action of a split lever spring 13. This split lever 12 when it bears on the core 6 drives the split wheel in synchronism with the chronograph wheel 4.

This catch-up mechanism further comprises two catch-up grippers 14 and 14 'linked to their spring 19 and actuated by a column wheel of catch-up 15, itself driven step by step by a catch-up plunger 16, accessible from outside the timepiece via a split-seconds rocker 17 and its pawl 18. When the catch-up wheel 11 is driven by the heart 6 and the chronograph wheel 4, the split-seconds pliers are open while when the clamp is closed its branches are applied against the serge of the split-seconds wheel 11 which is thus kept stationary and the lever 12 catches on the heart 6.

The object of the present invention is to propose a split-second isolation mechanism making it possible to suppress the power consumption of the split-second wheel 11 when it is at a standstill and thus to suppress the variations (lever goes up on the heart - > losses, lever goes down on the heart -> gains) of energy due to the friction of the lever of catching up 12 against the heart 6.

1. 1. Lorsque l'aiguille de rattrapante solidaire de la roue de rattrapante est synchrone avec l'aiguille des secondes portée par l'axe 5 de la roue de chronographe 4, le diaphragme est ouvert et le levier de rattapante 12 agit sur le coeur 6 sous l'action de son ressort 13 pour garantir la superposition de deux aiguilles, rattrapante et seconde de chronographe, comme dans une rattrapante classique sans isolation.
2. 2. Lorsque l'aiguille de rattrapante est asynchrone avec l'aiguille de seconde de chronographe, le diaphragme est fermé et agit sur l'extrémité extérieure du levier de rattrapante 12 faisant pivoter ce levier de rattrapante 12 et le dégage du coeur 6. Ce dégagement est suffisant pour que le coeur 6 puisse faire un tour complet sans entrer en contact avec l'extrémité intérieure du levier de rattrapante.

As will be seen in the following, the split-second isolation mechanism, object of the invention, allows the retractor lever 12 to move against the action of its spring 13, to move its inner end so that it is no longer in contact with the heart 6 regardless of the angular position of the heart 6. This isolation mechanism is designed as a diaphragm system and can take two states:

1. 1. When the split-second needle attached to the split-second wheel is synchronous with the second hand carried by the axis 5 of the chronograph wheel 4, the diaphragm is open and the engaging lever 12 acts on the heart 6 under the action of its spring 13 to ensure the superposition of two needles, rattrapante and second chronograph, as in a classic jumper without insulation.
2. 2. When the split-second needle is asynchronous with the chronograph-second hand, the diaphragm is closed and acts on the outer end of the split-second lever 12 pivoting the catch-up lever 12 and the release of the heart 6. This clearance is sufficient for the core 6 to make a complete turn without coming into contact with the inner end of the split lever.

This split-second isolation mechanism illustrated in figures 3 and 4 , and more particularly to figures 5 and 6 , comprises a control ring 20 mounted on the plate P or a fixed element of the movement so as to be able to move angularly in rotation. This control ring 20 is concentric with the axis of the chronograph wheel 5 and with the split wheel 11. In the embodiment described by way of example (in which the isolation mechanism comprises six connecting rods 26 such that described below), this rotation is preferably 4 to 6 °.

This control ring 20 is subjected to the action of a ring spring 21 tending to rotate it, in the counterclockwise direction in the illustrated example, until it bears on a fixed stop 22. This position of the control ring 20 illustrated in FIG. figure 6 corresponds, as will be seen later, to the state 1 of the isolation mechanism for which the split-second needle is synchronous with the second chronograph hand.

This control ring 20 comprises a drive finger 23 engaged in a first end of an isolation rocker 24 pivoted by its second end on a fixed part of a movement. This isolation flip-flop 24 comprises in its middle part a feeler 25 cooperating with the split-second column wheel 15. When the feeler 25 of the isolating rocker 24 falls between two columns of the split-second column wheel 15, the ring control device 20 is held against the fixed stop 22 by its ring spring 21. The clamps 14 and 14 'are open releasing the split wheel 11 and the split lever 12 is applied against the core 6 by its spring 13 and the wheel 11 is synchronous with the chronograph wheel ( figure 4 and 6 ).

The isolation mechanism comprises connecting rods 26, six in the example illustrated, articulated by a first end on the control ring 20. isolation mechanism still has moving parts, six in the example shown. Each of these moving parts has a first arm 27 secured to a median arc-shaped portion 28 and a second arm 29 extending the middle portion 28, the end of the second arm 29 being pivoted on the plate P or a fixed part of the movement. The first arm 27 is pivoted by its free end on the second end of the rod 26. The median portion 28 of the movable piece 27, 28, 29 has the shape of an arc and the radius of its inner peripheral face is , in this embodiment, substantially equal to the radius of the split wheel 11.

When the control ring 20 is moved from its illustrated position to the figure 6 in its position illustrated in figure 5 by the action of the isolating rocker 24, the connecting rods 26 push in the clockwise direction the first arms 27 of the moving parts 27, 28, 29 and the middle parts 28 of these moving parts abut against each other thus forming an inner ring whose inner peripheral face is coaxial with the axis 5 of the second wheel and whose radius is, in this embodiment, slightly greater than that of the split wheel 11. This inner peripheral face of the inner ring is then continuous (or almost continuous) and located on a radius less than that on which is placed the outer end of the split lever 12 when in the active position applied by its return spring 13 against the core 6 So, when the isolation mechanism is in the position illustrated in the figure 5 , the split lever 12 encounters the peripheral face of the inner ring and pivots in the clockwise direction so that the inner end of this split lever 12 separates from the core 6 and positions itself outside the scanning radius of the core 6 thus isolating the split wheel 11 of the chronograph wheel 4.

Of course, the number of connecting rods 26 and moving parts 27, 28, 29 must be at least two according to the embodiments and according to the size of the timepiece and the space available for the split-second insulation mechanism. .

Of course, other embodiments of this split-second isolation mechanism can be designed on the principle of the diaphragm which consists in angularly displacing a concentric control ring on the split-second wheel in order to move moving parts radially so that they move or not the catch-up lever 12 from a position in contact with the heart 6 to a position for which it is outside the scanning area of the heart 6.

An advantage of this isolation mechanism is that it is compact and is directly controlled by the split-second column wheel which also controls the split-second gripper.

Thus, this diaphragm device makes it possible, by means of connecting rods 26, to move the moving wheel members 27, 28, 29 closer to or away from the axis of the chronograph wheel so that they act or not on the split lever 12. by a rotational movement of a concentric control ring to the chronograph wheel.

In the described embodiment of the isolation compensating mechanism, the force required for the isolation function is provided directly by the user through the pusher. In a variant it can be provided that the force required for the insulation is provided by a spring which is armed during the release of the insulation.

In a variant, the control ring 20 could have a smaller diameter, for example smaller than the diameter of the split wheel 11, and still control by its rotation moving parts actuating the split lever 12.

In all cases the control ring 20 is kinematically connected to the moving parts 27, 28, 29 of the diaphragm device.

In a variant illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 the diaphragm device comprises a plurality of arcuate elements 30, four in the illustrated example. These arcuate elements 30 overlap so that the insulation is done as soon as possible in all cases, even in their positions apart the circle is closed.

These elements in the form of a circular arc 30 or moving parts slide radially and come to lift the catch-up lever 12 to achieve the insulation of the split-seconds.

Each movable part 30 carries two pin-like protrusions 31 on their underside. These pins pass through oblique oblong slots 32 of a control ring 33 pivoted on the plate concentric with the split wheel 11, and extend in radial oblong slots 34 formed in the plate or a fixed part of the movement.

The control ring 33 is subjected to the action of a return spring 21 as in the previously described embodiment and the rotation of this control ring is caused as in the previously described embodiment by an isolation rocker 24.

Thus, when the isolator rocker 24 angularly displaces the control ring 33 against the action of its return spring 21, the moving parts 30 move radially toward the center of the split-second and lift the catch-up lever 12 thus forming the insulation of the jumper.

Two of the moving parts 30 comprise on its face opposite to that carrying the pins 31 two pads 35.

A split second spring 36 fixed on the plate is moved by the pads 35 when the moving parts 30 are moved inwardly and blocks the split wheel 11 while the moving parts 30 move the split lever 12 out of contact with the heart 6. This split-spring is used as a split-second forceps which can be removed.

In this variant also the control ring 33 is kinematically connected to the moving parts 30 of the diaphragm device.

Claims (13)

1. Fly-back hand-isolating mechanism comprising a fly-back hand lever (12) pivoted on a fly-back hand wheel (11) coaxial to a chronograph wheel (4) suitable to be in contact under the action of a lever spring (13) with a heart-piece (6) fixedly attached to the chronograph wheel (4), characterised in that it comprises a diaphragm device having a plurality of moving parts connected to a control ring (20) concentric to the fly-back hand wheel (11); these moving parts (27, 28, 29) each comprising a middle portion (28) in the form of an arc of a circle such that angular displacement of the control ring (20) causes the middle portions (28) of the moving parts (27, 28, 29) to approach or move away from the spindle (5) of the chronograph wheel.
2. Isolating mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that when the middle portions (28) of the moving parts are in a position remote from the spindle (5) of the chronograph wheel, their internal peripheral faces are outside the sweep area of the outer end of the fly-back hand lever (12).
3. Isolating mechanism as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that when the middle portions (28) of the moving parts (27, 28, 29) are in a position close to the spindle (5) of the chronograph wheel (4), the internal peripheral faces of the moving parts form an at least quasi-continuous surface coming into contact with the outer end of the isolating lever (12), causing this lever to pivot so that its inner end is located outside the sweep area of the heart-piece (6).
4. Isolating mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the control ring is subject to a return spring and that its angular displacements are caused by a fly-back hand bascule.
5. Mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an isolating bascule (24) controlling the angular displacements of the control ring (20) from the position of a fly-back hand column wheel (15).
6. Isolating mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least two connecting rods (26) connecting the control ring to at least two moving parts (27, 28, 29).
7. Mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each moving part (27, 28, 29) comprises a first arm (27) fixedly attached to its middle portion (28) and a second arm (29) extending from an end of the middle portion (28), this second arm being pivoted by its free end on a fixed part.
8. Mechanism as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the free end of the first arm (27) of the moving part (27, 28, 29) is pivoted on the end of a connecting rod (26), the other end of this connecting rod (26) being pivoted on the control ring (20).
9. Mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the moving parts (30) each comprise, on one of their faces, two pins (31) passing through oblique oblong slots (32) produced in the control ring (33) and engaged in radial oblong slots (34) of a fixed part of the movement.
10. Mechanism as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the moving parts (30) in the form of an arc of a circle overlap whatever the active or inactive position of the mechanisms.
11. Mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 9 or 10, characterised in that two moving parts (30) comprise, on their face opposite that bearing the pins (31), a stud (35) cooperating with a branch of a double fly-back hand spring (36) to force the free ends of this double spring against the periphery of the fly-back hand wheel (11) in the isolating position of the mechanism.
12. Mechanical timepiece movement comprising a chronograph mechanism and a fly-back hand mechanism, characterised in that it comprises a fly-back hand-isolating mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
13. Timepiece comprising a timepiece mechanism as claimed in claim 12.

Images