EP2945024B1 - Timepiece lever - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a watch scale for transmitting a movement between, on the one hand, a mobile transmitter that comprises said rocker and which is pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis, and on the other hand at least one a mobile receiver external to said rocker and pivotable about a second axis of pivoting distinct from said first pivot axis, said rocker comprising, at a distance from said first pivot axis, at least one transmission means comprising at least one control finger or at least one transmission mobile, the angular position of said at least one transmission means with respect to said first pivot axis being variable, said lever having a pivoting plate bearing said at least one transmission means, and having a friction connection between a first friction surface of said mobile transmitter, carried by a first carrier element, and a second friction surface of said pivoting plate, port e by a second bearing member.

The invention also relates to a clockwork mechanism comprising a plate around which pivots at least one such rocker around a said first axis of pivoting, and at least one mobile receiver pivoting about a second axis of pivoting distinct from said first pivot axis and arranged to cooperate with at least one said transmission means of said rocker.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece or watch comprising at least one such movement and / or at least one such mechanism.

The invention relates to the field of watch mechanisms.

Background of the invention

Flip-flops are essential components in clockwork mechanisms, making it possible to switch a mechanism between several different modes, generally between two distinct positions. A clock rocker is often accompanied by a return spring to ensure a proper movement transmission, or a support maintained, as appropriate.

The document GB 1 365 428 A in the name of CITIZEN describes a piece of a correction wheel held frictionally between two elastic arms of a rocker.

The document CH 706 266 A2 in the name of OMEGA describes a wobble scale, where a deflection rocker wheel and a correction star are connected to each other by a friction spring, with a setting; the friction essentially concerns the drive of the correction gear by the return wheel, the rocker serves as a simple support.

The document EP 2 701 014 A1 in the name of ROLEX a configuration with three mobiles, with two types of stops, and the pinching of the axis of a mobile by elastic return means at a rocker.

The document FR 2 144 826 in the name of SEIKO describes a transmission pinion held between two arms of an oscillating lever, the axis of the adjustment pinion being frictionally connected to a shaft of the set of pinions by an oscillating lever, which is not possible if both the connection between the pinion and the bore of the oscillating lever which receives it is friction, and the connection between the mobile and the oscillating lever is friction: the connection between the lever and the shaft of the mobile is friction, which means that the two arms of the lever pinch this shaft elastically.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to provide a rocker that does not require a return spring, and autonomous in its operation.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a clock rocker according to claim 1.

The invention further relates to a timepiece mechanism according to claim 12.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece or watch comprising at least one such movement and / or at least one such mechanism.

Thanks to the invention, the tilting between the different positions is made by a control mechanism, or directly by a user during an action on a rod, a crown, a pusher, a zipper or the like, without risk of damage to a component, due to the presence of at least one piece of friction in the rocker according to the invention. This friction allows, again, the rotation of the mechanism when the rocker is in place.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée et vue d'un premier côté d'une platine dit dessus, un mécanisme selon l'invention, avec une bascule montée pivotante entre deux mécanismes récepteurs, en position d'engrènement avec l'un d'eux;
• la figure 2 représente, de la même façon, le même mécanisme vu du deuxième côté de la platine dit dessous;
• la figure 3 représente, de façon schématisée et en vue en plan, une première variante d'une plaque pivotante que comporte la bascule selon l'invention, comportant deux lames élastiques faisant friction;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon schématisée et en vue en plan, une première variante d'un mobile émetteur coopérant avec la plaque de la figure 3, comportant une roue et une portée de révolution constituant une surface de friction;
• la figure 5 représente, de façon schématisée et en vue en plan, une deuxième variante d'un mobile émetteur, comportant une roue et un manchon élastique comportant une surface de friction;
• la figure 6 représente, de façon schématisée et en vue en plan, une deuxième variante d'une plaque pivotante que comporte la bascule selon l'invention, coopérant avec le mobile émetteur de la figure 5, comportant une portée femelle de révolution coopérant en friction avec ce manchon élastique;
• la figure 7 représente, de façon schématisée et en vue en plan, une autre variante de mécanisme selon l'invention, où les mobiles émetteurs et récepteurs sont des cames, où la bascule comporte un doigt de commande d'une came de sortie, et où cette bascule comporte une plaque pivotante agencée de façon similaire à celle de la figure 2 et comportant une lame élastique faisant friction avec la portée d'un tourillon solidaire d'une came d'entrée ;
• la figure 8 est un schéma-blocs représentant une montre comportant un mouvement intégrant un mécanisme selon l'invention.

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 and seen from a first side of a plate said above, a mechanism according to the invention, with a rocker pivotally mounted between two receiving mechanisms, in meshing position with one of them;
• the figure 2 represents, in the same way, the same mechanism seen from the second side of the plate below;
• the figure 3 shows schematically and in plan view, a first variant of a pivoting plate that comprises the rocker according to the invention, comprising two resilient blades friction;
• the figure 4 is schematically shown in plan view, a first variant of a transmitting mobile cooperating with the plate of the figure 3 having a wheel and a revolution range constituting a friction surface;
• the figure 5 shows schematically and in plan view, a second variant of a mobile transmitter, comprising a wheel and an elastic sleeve having a friction surface;
• the figure 6 represents schematically and in plan view, a second variant of a pivoting plate that includes the rocker according to the invention, cooperating with the mobile transmitter of the figure 5 , having a female bearing revolution cooperating in friction with this elastic sleeve;
• the figure 7 represents schematically and in plan view, another variant of the mechanism according to the invention, wherein the mobile transmitters and receivers are cams, where the latch comprises a control finger of an output cam, and where this rocker comprises a pivoting plate arranged in a similar manner to that of the figure 2 and having an elastic blade friction with the bearing of a journal integral with an input cam;
• the figure 8 is a block diagram showing a watch comprising a movement incorporating a mechanism according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention relates to the field of watch mechanisms, and more particularly mechanisms for controlling and transmitting motion.

The invention more particularly relates to a watch latch 1 for the transmission of a movement between, on the one hand, a mobile transmitter 2 that comprises the flip-flop 1 and which is pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis D1, and on the other hand at least one mobile receiver 3 external to said rocker and pivoting about a second pivot axis D2 distinct from the first pivot axis D1.

This rocker 1 comprises, at a distance from the first pivot axis D1, at least one transmission means 4, which comprises at least one control finger 5 as visible on the figure 7 , or at least one transmission mobile 6, as visible on the Figures 1 and 2 .

The angular position of this at least one transmission means 4 with respect to the first pivot axis D1 is variable.

The rocker 1 comprises a pivoting plate 7 carrying this at least one transmission means 4. And the rocker 1 comprises a friction connection between a first friction surface 8 of the mobile transmitter 2, carried by a first carrier element, and a second friction surface 9 of the swivel plate 7, carried by a second carrier member.

In the achievement illustrated by the Figures 1 to 4 the first friction surface 8 is a revolution range 81 of the mobile transmitter 2, which may be cylindrical, or conical, or the like, and the second friction surface 9 has the lateral surfaces of a groove 72 bordered by at least one elastic blade 73 and that includes the pivot plate 7. Preferably this groove 72 is bordered by two elastic blades 73, as visible on the figure 3 .

In an inverse configuration, as visible on the Figures 5 and 6 , the first friction surface 8 is a surface of an elastic sleeve 82 that carries the mobile transmitter 2, and the second friction surface 9 is a bore 74 that includes the pivoting plate 7, and / or or the side surfaces of a groove 75 that includes the pivoting plate 7. Naturally the bore 74 may also be a complete bore, simply drilled in the plate 7.

• l'élément porteur de la première surface de friction 8 est élastique et l'élément porteur de la deuxième surface de friction 9 est rigide ;
• l'élément porteur de la première surface de friction 8 est rigide et l'élément porteur de la deuxième surface de friction 9 est élastique
• la configuration propre à l'invention selon laquelle le premier élément porteur de la première surface de friction 8 est élastique et le deuxième élément porteur de la deuxième surface de friction 9 est élastique ;

Several configurations are possible:

• the carrier element of the first friction surface 8 is elastic and the bearing element of the second friction surface 9 is rigid;
• the carrier element of the first friction surface 8 is rigid and the bearing element of the second friction surface 9 is elastic
• the configuration of the invention according to which the first bearing element of the first friction surface 8 is elastic and the second bearing element of the second friction surface 9 is elastic;

In the realization of Figures 1 and 2 , the transmission means 4 comprises at least one such transmission mobile 6 pivotally mounted about a third pivot axis D3 remote from the first pivot axis D1.

Preferably, this transmission mobile 6 comprises at least one wheel 61 movable pivotally on a shaft 78.

In an economical embodiment, this shaft 78 is integral with the pivoting plate 7, in the form of a spigot from development or machining, or glued, or welded, or riveted, or the like.

In the variant illustrated by the figure 1 , the mobile transmitter 2 comprises at least a first wheel 21 meshing with this wheel 61.

Advantageously, the mobile transmitter 2 comprises, on either side of the pivoting plate 7, a first wheel 21 or a first control member 22 of a first side 71 of the pivot plate 7, and a second wheel 23 or a second control member 24 of a second side 72 of the pivoting plate 7. In this embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2 , the mobile transmitter 2 thus comprises, on either side of the pivoting plate 7, such a first wheel 21 of a first side 71 of the pivoting plate 7, and such a second wheel 23 of a second side 72 of the pivoting plate 7., the first wheel 21 and the second wheel 23 being integral in pivoting, and one of them meshing with a wheel wheel 61 that includes such a transmission wheel 6, which comprises the transmission means 4.

In another variant embodiment, the groove 72 is parallel-faced, and clamps the carrier element of the complementary surface 81 at any position along the length of this groove 72. The axis D1 is then movable in position relative to to the axis D3, except when it is in a particular position of clipping in the open bore intersecting the groove in its middle on the figure 3 . It is thus possible to use the rocker 1 in a mechanism that controls an axial movement of the rocker 1 by pushing or pulling on the pivoting plate in the direction of the groove 72, until reaching the meshing position where the control then concerns the transmitter mobile 2.

The invention also relates to a clockwork mechanism 10 comprising a plate 11 around which pivots at least one such rocker 1 around such a first pivot axis D1, and at least one mobile receiver 3 pivoting about a second axis Pivot D2 distinct from the first pivot axis D1 and arranged to cooperate with at least one such transmission means 4 of the flip-flop 1.

Preferably, this mechanism 10 comprises, on either side of the rocker 1, a first such mobile receiver 31 of second pivot axis D21 and a second such mobile receiver 32 of second pivot axis D22, and of which at most one only one is engaged, at a given moment, with such a transmission means 4 of the flip-flop 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2 , the first mobile receiver 31 and the second mobile receiver 32 are wheels arranged to cooperate, only one at a time, with a wheel 61 which includes such a transmission mobile 6 that includes the transmission means 4.

As visible on the figure 2 , the plate 11 advantageously comprises platinum abutment surfaces 11A, 11B, and / or 112A, 112B, which are arranged to cooperate with flip stop surfaces 76A, 76B, and / or respectively 77A, 77B, to limit the angular displacement of the swivel plate 7 relative to the plate 11, and to limit the frost between, on the one hand the transmission means 4 carried by the rocker 1, and on the other hand the at least one mobile receiver 3 This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the mechanism 10 uses gear wheels, because it limits, thus, the toothing of teeth.

In a particular embodiment, not illustrated, the mechanism 10 comprises, between the plate 11 and the rocker 1, at least one resilient biasing means for subjecting the rocker 1 to a force tending to rotate in a preferred direction.

The control of the movement of the at least one receiving mobile 3 is printed, either to the pivoting plate 7 of the flip-flop 1, or to the mobile transmitter 2 that comprises the flip-flop 1.

In a particular and in no way limiting embodiment, the mechanism 10 comprises a first mobile receiver 31 is a correction mobile of a date mechanism, and a second mobile receiver 32 is a mobile device. correction of a moon phase mechanism. The control made by a user in position II of the usual control rod of a watch, thus makes it possible, in a first direction of rotation, to correct the date, and in the opposite direction, the correction of the moon phase.

Naturally other complications can be similarly controlled using the rocker according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a watch movement 100 comprising at least one mechanism 10.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 200 or watch comprising at least one such movement 100 and / or at least one such mechanism 10.

Naturally, if the invention is described in a particular use where the input control is made by the input mobile 2 or the swivel plate 7, to transmit a movement to one of the mobile receivers 3, it is clear that such a mechanism 10 can be used in reverse mode with an input on the side of one of the mobiles 3, and an output to the mobile 2 or the plate 7.

• la bascule fonctionne sans ressort de rappel ;
• dans une réalisation comportant des roues dentées, telle qu'illustrée aux figures 1 et 2, ou similaire, un avantage de l'invention est que, lors de l'engrènement d'un côté ou l'autre de la bascule, l'effort tend toujours à pousser les roues l'une contre l'autre, de façon constante. Un bon engrènement est ainsi favorisé, en même temps qu'on évite tout dégrènement inopiné ou phénomène dit de grattage du système ;
• quand le mobile émetteur d'entrée de la bascule est relié cinématiquement à une tige manoeuvrée par l'utilisateur, par l'intermédiaire par exemple d'un pignon coulant qui engrène directement avec la roue d'entrée 23, le basculement entre les deux positions se fait sous l'action de l'effort imprimé par l'utilisateur à la tige, mais sans risque de casser un composant, grâce à la friction ;
• le système est plus compact qu'un frein à friction ; il autorise la transmission d'un couple important compatible avec toutes les fonctions horlogères ;
• les usinages de la plaque pivotante de bascule sont peu complexes ; sa conception se prête bien à une réalisation de type silicium, par procédé « MEMS », « LIGA », ou similaire, ou encore à une réalisation étampée ou similaire.

The advantages of the invention are manifold:

• the rocker operates without return spring;
• in an embodiment comprising gear wheels, as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 and 2 , or similar, an advantage of the invention is that, when meshing with one side or the other of the rocker, the effort always tends to push the wheels against one another, steadily . A good meshing is thus favored, while at the same time avoiding any sudden release or phenomenon known as scratching of the system;
• when the mobile transmitter input of the latch is kinematically connected to a rod operated by the user, for example by means of a sliding pinion which meshes directly with the input wheel 23, the tilting between the two positions is under the action of the effort impressed by the user to the rod, but without risk of breaking a component, thanks to the friction;
• the system is more compact than a friction brake; it allows the transmission of a large torque compatible with all the watch functions;
• machining of the tilting pivot plate is not very complex; its design lends itself well to a realization of silicon type, by "MEMS" method, "LIGA", or similar, or to a stamped embodiment or the like.

Claims (16)

1. Timepiece lever (1) for the transmission of motion between, on the one hand, a transmitter wheel set (2) which is comprised in said lever (1) and mounted to pivot about a first rotational axis (D1), and on the other hand, at least one receiver wheel set (3) external to said lever and pivoting about a second rotational axis (D2) distinct from said first rotational axis (D1), said lever (1) including, remote from said first rotational axis (D1), at least one transmission means (4) including a least one control finger-piece (5) or at least one transmission wheel set (6), the angular position of said at least one transmission means (4) being variable relative to said first rotational axis (D1), said lever (1) including a pivoting plate (7) carrying said at least one transmission means (4), and including a frictional connection between a first friction surface (8) of said transmitter wheel set (2) which is carried by a first carrier element and a second friction surface (9) of said pivoting plate (7) which is carried by a seconfcarrier element, characterized in that the element carrying said first friction surface (8) is elastic and in that the element carrying said second friction surface (9) is elastic.
2. Lever (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said transmission means (4) includes at least one said transmission wheel set (6) mounted to pivot about a third rotational axis (D3) distinct from said first rotational axis (D1).
3. Lever (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said transmission wheel set (6) includes at least one sliding wheel (61) pivotally movable on an arbor (78).
4. Lever (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said arbor (78) is integral with said pivoting plate (7).
5. Lever (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said transmitter wheel set (2) includes at least a first wheel (21) engaging with said sliding wheel (61).
6. Lever (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said transmitter wheel set (2) includes, on either side of said pivoting plate (7), a first wheel (21) or a first control member (22) on a first side (71) of said pivoting plate (7), and a second wheel (23) or a second control member (24) on a second side (72) of said pivoting plate (7).
7. Lever (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said transmitter wheel set (2) includes, on either side of said pivoting plate (7), a said first wheel (21) on a first side (71) of said pivoting plate (7), and a said second wheel (23) on a second side (72) of said pivoting plate (7), said first wheel (21) and said second wheel (23) rotating integrally, and one of said wheels meshing with a sliding wheel (61) comprised in a said transmission wheel set (6) comprised in said transmission means (4).
8. Timepiece mechanism (10) including a main plate (11) about which pivots at least one said lever (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7 about a said first rotational axis (D1), and at least one receiver wheel set (3) pivoting about a second rotational axis (D2) distinct from said first rotational axis (D1) and arranged to cooperate with at least one said transmission means (4) of said lever (1).
9. Timepiece mechanism (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that said timepiece mechanism (10) includes, on either side of said lever (1), a first receiver wheel set (31) with a third rotational axis (D21) and a second receiver wheel set (32) with a fourth rotational axis (D22), and at most one of which is in mesh, at any given time, with said transmission means (4) of said lever (1).
10. Mechanism (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that said first receiver wheel set (31) and said second receiver wheel set (32) are wheels arranged to cooperate, one at a time, with a sliding wheel (61) comprised in a said transmission wheel set (6) comprised in said transmission means (4).
11. Mechanism (10) according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said main plate (11) includes main plate stop surfaces (11 A, 11 B; 112A, 112B), which are arranged to cooperate with lever stop surfaces (76A, 76B; 77A, 77B), to limit the angular clearance of said pivoting plate (7) relative to said main plate (11), and to limit the shake between, on the one hand, said transmission means (4) carried by said lever (1), and on the other hand, said at least one receiver wheel set (3).
12. Mechanism (10) according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that said mechanism includes, between said main plate (11) and said lever (1), at least one elastic return means for subjecting said lever (1) to a force tending to pivot the lever in a preferred direction.
13. Mechanism (10) according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the motion command from said at least one receiver wheel set (3) is imparted, either to said pivoting plate (7) of said lever (1), or to said transmitter wheel set (2) comprised in said lever (1).
14. Mechanism (10) according to any of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that said first receiver wheel set (31) is a correction wheel set for a date mechanism, and in that said second receiver wheel set (32) is a correction wheel set for a moon phase mechanism.
15. Timepiece movement (100) including at least one mechanism (10) according to any of claims 8 to 14.
16. Timepiece (200) or watch, including at least one movement (100) according to claim 15 and/or at least one mechanism (10) according to any of claims 8 to 14.

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