EP2993533B1 - Timepiece - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to watches or timepieces comprising one or more displays. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to timepieces in which at least one display is complex.

CH270584 discloses a timepiece comprising a box housing a movement comprising a motor member, a work train, an escapement, a regulating member and a display comprising at least one movable member, wherein the movable member can be driven by hand for demonstrations.

The object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece comprising a display of a mechanism for operating on demand said display in demonstration mode for which a complete display cycle is performed in a reduced time without as much affecting the accuracy or disordering said display once the movement of the movable member at this higher demonstration speed ends.

The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a movement driving the movable member or members of at least one display which is distinguished by the characteristics listed in claim 1.

• La figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une vue en perspective de dessus du mouvement de la pièce d'horlogerie de la figure 1, certains ponts étant enlevés.
• La figure 3 est une vue en plan de dessus du mouvement de la pièce d'horlogerie illustrée à la figure 1.
• La figure 4 est une vue partielle du mécanisme d'affichage des minutes de la pièce d'horlogerie illustrée à la figure 1.
• La figure 5 est une vue en plan de l'engrenage différentiel entraînant les organes mobiles de l'affichage des minutes de la pièce d'horlogerie illustrée à la figure 1.
• La figure 6 est une vue de dessous de l'engrenage du différentiel illustré à la figure 4.
• La figure 7 est une vue en perspective de l'engrenage du différentiel illustré à la figure 4.
• La figure 8 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne I-I de la figure 6.
• La figure 9 est une vue en perspective d'un mécanisme de démonstration entraînant des organes mobiles de l'affichage des minutes de la pièce d'horlogerie illustrée à la figure 1 à une vitesse de démonstration en position de repos inactif.
• La figure 10 est une vue en perspective du mécanisme de démonstration en position activée.
• La figure 11 illustre l'engrenage différentiel d'une autre forme d'exécution de l'invention.

The accompanying drawing illustrates schematically and by way of example two embodiments of the timepiece according to the invention.

• The figure 1 is a top view of a timepiece according to the invention.
• The figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the movement of the timepiece of the figure 1 , some bridges being removed.
• The figure 3 is a top plan view of the movement of the timepiece illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .
• The figure 4 is a partial view of the minute display mechanism of the timepiece illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .
• The figure 5 is a plan view of the differential gear driving the moving parts of the minute display of the timepiece illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .
• The figure 6 is a bottom view of the differential gear shown in the figure 4 .
• The figure 7 is a perspective view of the differential gear shown in FIG. figure 4 .
• The figure 8 is a sectional view along line II of the figure 6 .
• The figure 9 is a perspective view of a demonstration mechanism driving moving parts of the minute display of the timepiece illustrated in FIG. figure 1 at a demonstration speed in idle rest position.
• The figure 10 is a perspective view of the demonstration mechanism in the activated position.
• The figure 11 illustrates the differential gearing of another embodiment of the invention.

The present invention relates to a timepiece of mechanical preference such as a wristwatch having a box containing a movement comprising a motor member, for example a cylinder, a work train, an exhaust, a regulating member and at least one a display, this movement causing at least one mobile display member such as a time display, a calendar, the day of the week, a moon phase or other astronomical complication for example. The drive of the movable member of the display is effected from a power take-off of the movement which may be the roadway or any other motive of the movement kinematically connected to this movable member of the display.

The singularity of the present invention is that the timepiece comprises a demonstration mechanism for operating on demand the display in demonstration mode for which a complete display cycle is performed in a reduced time without affecting the accuracy or disordering said display once the displacement of the movable display member at this demonstration speed has ended. According to a preferred embodiment, the kinematic link connecting the power takeoff of the movement to the movable member of the display comprises a differential gear which makes it possible to add the displacement imposed on the mobile display member by the mechanism. demonstration at displacement of the movable display member caused by the power take-off.

In one embodiment the power take-off is connected to a first sun gear of the differential gear while the movable member of the display is connected to a second sun gear of said differential gear. A satellite gate of the differential gear is pivoted concentrically to the two gears of the differential gear. A satellite axis is pivoted on the satellite carrier and is secured to a first satellite engaged with the first sun gear of the differential gear and a second satellite engaged with the second sun gear of the differential gear. The satellite gate has an external toothing meshing with an animation feedback of a demonstration mechanism. This demonstration mechanism comprises a source of motive power kinematically connected by a control gear on the one hand to the return animation and on the other hand to a speed controller. Finally, this demonstration mechanism comprises a control member arming and releasing the source of motive power so that it causes the animation of the satellite gear of the differential gear to be driven by the angular value corresponding to a cycle of rotation. complete display of the movable display member before this source of motive power is again blocked at a standstill.

In normal operation of the timepiece, the demonstration mechanism is at rest, its source of motive power being blocked, the animation return is blocked at a standstill and the power take-off of the movement causes, by the intermediate of the differential gear, the mobile display member at the speed corresponding to the value to be displayed, minutes, hours, date, day of the week or other.

When the user wishes to see or check the operation of the display of the timepiece, it presses on the control member, which then arms releases the source of motive power causing the drive animation referral and therefore the satellite gate of the differential gear of a predetermined value by said source of motive power corresponding to a display cycle of the movable display member. With the control member released, the source of motive energy is locked in its end position of the demonstration cycle.

This allows the movable member of the display to be driven in a demonstration mode during a complete display cycle at a demonstration speed greater than its normal operating speed. The user can therefore view a display cycle and verify that the display works to satisfaction. In addition, the accuracy of the display is not influenced by its displacement in demonstration mode once this demonstration mode has ended since the movement imposed on the mobile display member by the animation pinion s adds to the displacement of the movable display member caused by the power take-off.

We will now describe in detail a particular embodiment of the timepiece with reference to the Figures 1 to 10 drawings.

This timepiece comprises a box 1, a dial 2, a winding crown 3 and a control member formed by a pusher 4 accessible from outside the box 1. This timepiece comprises a watch movement comprising a drive member, a work train, an escapement, a regulating member and at least one display whose movable member is driven by a power take-off. This timepiece also comprises a retrograde hours display disposed at 6H having a scale of hours 5 affixed to the dial 2 cooperating with a petal 6 of a rotating flower activated by the movement of the timepiece.

In this timepiece, the display of minutes is complex and comprises on the dial a first graduation minute 7, from 0 to 30, cooperating with a first movable display member 8 in the form of a butterfly carried by a first disc 9 rotating minutes.

This minute display further comprises a second graduation minutes 10, 30 to 45 minutes, cooperating with a second mobile display member carried by a second disk 11 rotating minutes.

Finally, this minute display further comprises a third graduation minute 12, 45 to 60 minutes, cooperating with a third mobile display member carried by a third disc 13 minutes.

The movement of this timepiece comprises, in a conventional manner, a motor member, for example a barrel, a work train connecting this barrel to an escapement and a regulating member. The finishing gear comprises a minute wheel whose axis 14 constitutes the power take-off of the movement for displaying the minutes of the timepiece. This shaft 14 carries the center pinion meshing with the barrel and is secured to the first sun gear 15 of a differential gear.

This differential gear further comprises a second sun gear 16 and a satellite gate 17, located between the two sun wheels 15, 16, both of which are concentrically pivoted to the axis 14 constituting the PTO of the minute display. A first satellite 18 is integral and concentric with a second satellite 19 pivoted on the satellite door 17. The satellite door has an external toothing 17.1 engaged with an animation pinion 20 of the demonstration mechanism.

The first satellite 18 meshes with an external toothing 15.1 of the first sun gear 15 while the second satellite 19 meshes with a first toothing 16.1 of the second sun gear 16.

In this example, the second sun gear 16 is elliptical and constitutes the control wheel of the three disks of the minutes 9, 11 and 13.

As we see on the figure 5 in particular, the second sun gear 16 comprises a second external toothing 16.2 meshing with a first elliptical 21 driving a first minute display wheel 22 carrying the first rotating disk of minutes 9. This external toothing 16.2 of the second sun gear 16 of the differential gear meshes still with a second elliptical 23 the second minute display wheel 24 and a third minute display wheel 25. The second minute display wheel 24 carries the second minute 11 rotary disc while the third minute display wheel 25 carries the third disc rotating minutes 13.

The gear ratios of the differential gear are such that when the first sun gear 15 rotates one full 360 °, the second sun gear 16 makes a half turn, ie 180 °.

Furthermore, the gear ratio between the second external toothing of the second sun gear 16.2 and the first display wheels 22, the second display 24 and the third display 25 minutes is such that when the second sun gear 16 makes a half turn, or 180 °, a complete display cycle of the minutes from 0 to 60 is performed.

In this way, during normal operation of the timepiece, the satellite gate 17 of the differential gear being blocked, a complete revolution of the power take-off 14 of the movement corresponds to a complete cycle of minute display from 0 to 60.

According to this embodiment, the presence of a differential gearing between the power takeoff of the movement 14, here the roadway, and the control wheel of the minutes display, here the second sun gear 16 of the differential gearing makes it possible to on the one hand to modify, by means of the differential gearing, the number of revolutions of the power take-off 14 per time unit relative to the number of revolutions per unit time of the second sun gear 16 of the differential gearing according to the particular characteristics of the the ordered display.

On the other hand, this allows, as will be seen later, to have a second input through the satellite gate of the differential gear to change the travel speed of a display cycle including to demonstrate and verify the operation of the display, which is an important advantage for complex displays like the one described above.

The timepiece illustrated with Figures 1 to 10 still includes a demonstration mechanism illustrated in more detail in figures 9 and 10 .

This demonstration mechanism comprises a power source constituted, in the illustrated embodiment, by a gear wheel 30 pivoted on a fixed part of the movement. This toothed wheel 30 comprises a rim 31 provided with external locking notches 32 and as many internal notches 33. These notches 32 and these notches 33 are equal in number and uniformly distributed over the circumference of said rim 31, in the case illustrated they are five in number each separated by 72 °. This energy source further comprises a driver 34 pivoted coaxially with the toothed wheel 30 comprising a pin 35 and a spring blade 29 ending in a pushing member 29.1 cooperating with the internal notches 33.

The energy source further comprises an actuating spring 36 whose end rests on the pin 35 tending to rotate the driver 34 in the counterclockwise direction.

The demonstration mechanism further comprises a rocker 37 pivoted by one end on a fixed part of the movement and whose free end comprises a slot 38 in which is engaged a finger 39 integral with the coach 34. This rocker 37 is subject to the action of a return spring 40 tending to move it clockwise to its rest position illustrated in FIG. figure 9 . This flip-flop 37 is controlled by the control member 4 of the timepiece.

A latching pawl 41 is pivoted on the free end of the latch 37 and is subjected to the action of a pawl spring 44 tending to move it towards the gear wheel 30.

The end of this locking pawl 41 is shaped so as to cooperate with the locking notches 32 of the toothed wheel 30 to lock it in the rest position ( figure 9 ). This locking pawl 41 further includes a pawl pin 42 cooperating, as will be seen later, with a 43 which includes the end of the latch 37. The locking pawl 41 is held in abutment against the periphery of the rim 31 of the toothed wheel by a pawl spring 44.

The external toothing of the gearwheel 30 of the power source is engaged with the pinion of a drive wheel 45 whose wheel meshes with the animation gear 20 which is engaged with the external toothing 17.1 of the door satellite 17 of the differential gear.

The wheel of the driving wheel 45 is also engaged with the gear of the first reduction wheel 46.1 of a reduction chain comprising three reduction mobiles 46.1, 46.2 and 46.3. The pinion of the third reduction wheel 46.3 is engaged with a flywheel 47.

This demonstration mechanism and the differential gear are designed such that the gear ratio of the drive train connecting the gear wheel 30 of the energy source to the second sun gear 16 of the differential gear is such that a rotation of 72 ° of the toothed wheel 30, or from one of its stop positions to the next, causes displacement of the movable member (s) of the display equivalent to a complete display cycle, here from 0 to 60 minutes, but in a reduced time for example of the order of 5 to 60 seconds, preferably between 10 and 20 seconds.

The operation of the demonstration mechanism is as follows: from its rest position illustrated in figure 9 , the user pushes the control member 4 tilting the rocker 37 in the counterclockwise direction. The free end of this rocker drives the finger 39 and therefore the driver 34 against the action of the actuating spring 36 until the push member 29.1 of the blade spring 29 of the coach 34 comes s snap into a notch 33 of the toothed wheel 30. At this moment, the stinger 43 of the lever 37 pushes the pawl 41 against its pawl spring 44 and releases the locking notch 32 of the toothed wheel 30 in which it is engaged. The demonstration mechanism is then in the armed position illustrated in the figure 10 .

When the user releases the control member 4, the toothed wheel 30 is released, the latch 37 returns to the rest position, the pawl 41 rests against the periphery of the rim 31 of the toothed wheel 30. toothed wheel 30 is driven in the counterclockwise direction by the push member 29.1 of the driver 34 subjected to the action of the actuating spring by its leaf spring 36 until the pawl 41 falls back into the next locking notch 32 of the gear wheel 30.

For each actuation of the control member 4, the toothed wheel 30 thus performs a predetermined angular displacement, 72 ° in the illustrated example, corresponding to a complete cycle of the member or movable members of the display of the workpiece timepiece thanks to the driving wheel 45, the animation return 20 and the differential gear.

It should be noted that this display demonstration cycle is in addition to the normal displacement of the movable member (s) of the display controlled by the first sun gear of the differential gear, so that the display demonstration cycle does not disturb the indication delivered by the display outside the demonstration periods. During a demonstration cycle of the display, the movable member (s) of the display are driven by the addition of the movement due to the power take-off 14 and the movement due to the demonstration mechanism.

In variants of the demonstration mechanism, the speed of the demonstration movement of the display can be regulated not by a flywheel but by a centrifugal governor or any other regulator. Similarly, the energy source can be made differently by a barrel or other device provided that the gear wheel 30 is driven at each actuation of the control member 4 by an angular value which, taking into account the kinematic chain connecting it to the mobile display member, make travel to this mobile display member a complete display cycle.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described in connection with a complex minute display of a timepiece. Of course, any display, simple or complex, of a timepiece such as for example a time display, a date, a weekday, a moon phase, can be driven in a more demonstration mode fast and piecemeal over a complete cycle of the envisaged display using the mechanism according to the invention. This mechanism preferably comprises a differential gear, the first sun gear is kinematically connected to the power take-off of the movement and the second sun gear is kinematically connected to the movable member of the envisaged display. This mechanism also comprises a demonstration mechanism capable of driving the satellite gate of the differential gear, for each actuation, by a value corresponding to a complete display cycle of the displayed value.

For example, the figure 11 illustrates the object of the invention used to drive in demonstration mode a simple display.

The second sun gear 16 of the differential gear carries an axis 50 carrying a needle 52, a movable member of a display of the timepiece.

In such an embodiment, the differential gear is designed so that when the satellite gate 17 is blocked, the second sun gear 16 rotates at the same speed as the first sun gear 15 which is driven by the power take-off 14 of the movement. watchmaking.

The display hand 52 may be driven into a demonstration mode at a fast speed for a complete cycle by a demonstration mechanism causing the animation referral 20 which is engaged with the satellite gate 17 of the differential.

In a variant, the needle 52 may be the minute hand of a time display. The axis of this minute hand is driven by the second sun gear 16 of the differential gear and is connected by a conventional timer to an hour hand coordinated with the minute hand. In this case a full cycle of the time display lasts twelve or twenty-four hours at the display speed normal but each actuation of the control member this display cycle can be traveled in a few tens of seconds, the hour hand performing a complete turn while the minute hand performs twelve respectively twenty-four turns.

In the case where the display is an indication of the date, the movable member of this display may be a date crown.

In the case where the display is an indication of the day of the week, the mobile organ of this display can be a disc of days, bearing the name of the days of the week.

Preferably, the mobile display member is kinematically connected to the second sun gear 16 of the differential gear and the power take-off 14 corresponding to this display is kinematically connected to the first sun gear 15 of the differential gear.

In all cases the demonstration mechanism allows, for each actuation of a control member 4 accessible from outside the box 1 of the timepiece, to drive the satellite gate 17 of the differential gear in a angular displacement corresponding to a complete cycle of the mobile display member (s) at a speed greater than that of the normal operation of the display.

For a display of minutes, the duration of the complete display cycle in normal operation is sixty minutes and in demonstration mode from ten to thirty seconds, for example.

Claims (13)

1. Timepiece comprising a casing (1) housing a movement comprising a motor organ, a finishing going train, an escapement, a regulating organ and a display comprising at least one mobile organ (8; 52), characterised in that it comprises a demonstration mechanism causing, upon each actuation of a control organ (4) accessible from outside the casing (1), the driving of the mobile organ (8; 52) by an angular value corresponding to a full cycle thereof at a speed higher than that of normal operation of the display, whilst not affecting the precision of the display once the displacement of the mobile organ at this higher demonstration speed has finished.
2. Timepiece as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a differential gear which allows the displacement imposed upon the mobile display organ by the demonstration mechanism to be added to the displacement of the mobile display organ caused by a power take off of the movement.
3. Timepiece as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the differential gear comprises a first planetary gear (15) which is kinematically connected to the power take off (14) of the movement; a second planetary gear (16) which is kinematically connected to the mobile organ (8; 52) of the display; and a satellite carrier (17) which is kinematically connected to the demonstration mechanism.
4. Timepiece as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the display is a minutes display comprising a mobile display organ (52) in the form of a hand borne by a shaft (50) fixedly attached to the second planetary gear (16) of the differential gear; and in that the power take off (14) of the movement, fixedly attached to and coaxial with the first planetary gear (15) of the differential gear, is the cannon-pinion of the movement or the shaft of the centre wheel of the movement.
5. Timepiece as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the display is a minutes display comprising three mobile display organs (9, 11, 13) in the form of disks kinematically connected to the second planetary gear (16) of the differential gear; and in that the power take off (14) of the movement, fixedly attached to and coaxial with the first planetary gear of the differential gear (15), is the cannon-pinion of the movement.
6. Timepiece as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the normal duration of a display cycle is sixty minutes and the travel time for the full display cycle in demonstration mode is between 5 and 60 seconds, preferably between 10 and 20 seconds.
7. Timepiece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the display is a date display, the mobile display organ thereof being a date crown.
8. Timepiece as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the display is a day-of-the-week display, the mobile organ thereof being a disk bearing the name of the days.
9. Timepiece as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that the demonstration mechanism comprises an energy source (30, 34, 36) which is armed and released by a lever (37) actuated by the control organ (4), and in that this energy source is kinematically connected by a driving mobile (45) on the one hand to a motion pinion (20) engaged with an outer toothing arrangement (17.1) of the satellite carrier (17) of the differential gear, and on the other hand to a speed regulator (47) by a gear reduction chain (46.1, 46.2, 46.3).
10. Timepiece as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the energy source (30, 34, 36) of the demonstration mechanism comprises a toothed wheel (30) having notches (33) and locking detents (32) uniformly distributed along the periphery thereof; in that the number of notches (33) is equal to the number of locking detents (32); and that this energy source further comprises a driver (34) pivoted concentrically to the toothed wheel (30) having a pin (35) subjected to the action of a drive spring (36); this driver (34) having a leaf spring (29) ending in a thrust organ (29.1) co-operating with the notches (33) of the toothed wheel.
11. Timepiece as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the end of the lever (37) has a slot (38) into which a finger (39) of the driver (34) is engaged; a pawl (41) pivoted on the free end of said lever (37) and subjected to the action of a pawl spring (44) tends to be applied against the periphery of a rim (31) of the toothed wheel and co-operates with the locking detents (32) of this toothed wheel (30).
12. Timepiece as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that when the control organ (4) is actuated, the slot (38) in the lever (37) pushes the finger (39) of the driver (34) and arms this against the actuator spring (36), then at the end of travel of the lever (37), a guard pin (43) thereof releases the pawl (41) from the locking detent (32) releasing the toothed wheel (30).
13. Timepiece as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that the pitch of the toothed wheel between two successive positions of blocking by the pawl (41) causes - by the actuating mobile (45), the motion return (20) and the differential gear (15, 16, 18) - the displacement of the mobile display organ(s) corresponding to a full display cycle.

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