EP3467596B1 - Mechanism for displaying the lunar phase - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a moon phase display mechanism arranged to cooperate with a clockwork movement, and comprising an input pinion arranged to perform three turns, or respectively two turns, in 24 hours.

The invention also relates to a clockwork display mechanism comprising such a moon phase display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a moon phase display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a movement.

The invention relates to the field of display mechanisms for watches, in particular for mechanical watches with complications.

Background of the invention

The moon phase display is a popular function in watchmaking, which complicates the manufacture of the movement, and which quickly occupies a large volume inside the case. Correcting such a display is not always easy.

The documents EP2853957A1 and US2006221771A1 , for example, each disclose a moon phase display system.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to produce a moon phase display mechanism for a watch, which is simple and economical, with very few components and without any complexity of production.

To this end, the invention relates to a moon phase display mechanism according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a clockwork display mechanism comprising such a moon phase display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a moon phase display mechanism.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising such a movement.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée, et en vue de face, un mécanisme d'affichage de phase de lune selon l'invention, avec un disque de lune visible au travers d'un guichet d'un disque de ciel, ces deux disques étant portés par des roues coaxiales de vitesse de rotation différente, et le disque de ciel constituant un affichage jour-nuit, visible derrière une barrette symbolisant l'horizon ;
• la figure 2 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 1, le même mécanisme, complété par un afficheur d'âge de la lune, comportant une aiguille mobile face à une échelle graduée représentée partiellement ;
• la figure 3 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 1, le disque de lune du même mécanisme ;
• la figure 4 représente, en vue en coupe passant par les axes d'un mobile de commande et des roues coaxiales, une première variante du mécanisme selon l'invention ;
• la figure 5 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle et en vue de face, un mécanisme d'affichage de phase de lune selon une première variante de l'invention ;
• la figure 6 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 4, le mécanisme de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 3, le disque de lune du mécanisme de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 8 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle et en vue de face, un mécanisme d'affichage de phase de lune selon une deuxième variante de l'invention ;
• la figure 9 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 6, le mécanisme de la figure 8 ;
• la figure 10 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 7, le disque de lune du mécanisme de la figure 8 ;
• la figure 11 représente, en vue en coupe passant par les axes d'un mobile de commande et des roues coaxiales, un mécanisme à friction permettant la correction d'affichage de phase de lune applicable à la première variante ou à la deuxième variante de l'invention ;
• la figure 12 est un schéma-blocs représentant une montre comportant un mouvement d'horlogerie comportant un mécanisme d'affichage d'horlogerie comportant un tel mécanisme d'affichage de phase de lune.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, where:

• the figure 1 represents, schematically, and in front view, a moon phase display mechanism according to the invention, with a moon disc visible through a window of a sky disc, these two discs being carried by coaxial wheels of different rotational speed, and the sky disc constituting a day-night display, visible behind a bar symbolizing the horizon;
• the figure 2 represents, similarly to the figure 1 , the same mechanism, completed by a moon age display, comprising a movable needle facing a graduated scale shown partially;
• the figure 3 represents, similarly to the figure 1 , the moon disc of the same mechanism;
• the figure 4 shows, in a sectional view passing through the axes of a control wheel set and coaxial wheels, a first variant of the mechanism according to the invention;
• the figure 5 schematically represents a partial front view of a moon phase display mechanism according to a first variant of the invention;
• the figure 6 represents, similarly to the figure 4 , the mechanism of figure 5 ;
• the figure 7 represents, similarly to the figure 3 , the moon disc of the mechanism of the figure 5 ;
• the figure 8 schematically represents a partial front view of a moon phase display mechanism according to a second variant of the invention;
• the figure 9 represents, similarly to the figure 6 , the mechanism of figure 8 ;
• the figure 10 represents, similarly to the figure 7 , the moon disc of the mechanism of the figure 8 ;
• the figure 11 shows, in a sectional view passing through the axes of a control wheel set and coaxial wheels, a friction mechanism allowing the moon phase display correction applicable to the first variant or to the second variant of the invention;
• the figure 12 is a block diagram showing a watch comprising a clockwork movement comprising a clockwork display mechanism comprising such a moon phase display mechanism.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

A simple and economical moon phase display mechanism for a watch is provided.

This mechanism is described below according to two variants, which use the same general principle, but with differences in execution at the level of the cogs.

The invention relates to a moon phase display mechanism 10, which is arranged to cooperate with a timepiece movement 200, and comprises an input pinion.

• dans une première variante, trois tours en 24 heures, référencé 11 sur la figure 4,
• ou respectivement, dans une deuxième variante, deux tours en 24 heures.

This input pinion is designed to perform:

• in a first variant, three laps in 24 hours, referenced 11 on the figure 4 ,
• or respectively, in a second variant, two rounds in 24 hours.

• dans la première variante, le pignon d'entrée entraîne au moins un pignon d'entraînement à 19 dents, référencé 13 sur la figure 4,
• dans la deuxième variante, le pignon d'entrée entraîne un pignon d'entraînement à 29 dents, référencé 130 sur la figure 8.

According to the invention, the input pinion drives at least one drive pinion, either directly or by means of a friction means 20 as in the case of the variant of the figure 11 :

• in the first variant, the input pinion drives at least one drive pinion with 19 teeth, referenced 13 on the figure 4 ,
• in the second variant, the input pinion drives a drive pinion with 29 teeth, referenced 130 on the figure 8 .

• dans la première variante, le pignon d'entraînement 13 entraîne une roue supérieure à 57 dents, référencée 14sur la figure 4,
• dans la deuxième variante le pignon d'entraînement 130 entraîne une roue supérieure à 58 dents, .référencée 140 sur la figure 9.

The drive pinion, called 13 or 130 depending on the variant, drives an upper wheel:

• in the first variant, the drive pinion 13 drives an upper wheel with 57 teeth, referenced 14 on the figure 4 ,
• in the second variant, the drive pinion 130 drives an upper wheel with 58 teeth, referenced 140 on the figure 9 .

This upper wheel makes, for each of the variants, one revolution per day.

The upper wheel comprises, on the user's side, a sky disc 1400, with a representation of the sky and of an eccentric sun 141, and which comprises an eccentric aperture 16, substantially opposite the sun 141, and by which is visible part of the lower wheel 15 illustrating the instantaneous appearance of the moon.

In a particular embodiment and as visible on the figures 1, 2 , and 8 , the representation of the sky, at the level of the sky disc 1400, comprises a first clear or illuminated part 142 corresponding to the day, which bears the representation of the sun 141, and has a second dark or degraded part corresponding to the night, which carries the window 16 through which the moon phase is visible.

On the figure 5 , the representation of the sky, at the level of the sky disc 1400, comprises a gradient image 144, the gradient not being illustrated in the figure, from a clear part corresponding to the day at the level of the representation of the sun 141, up to to a dark part corresponding to the night, at the level of the counter 16.

To allow the display of the moon phase, the drive pinion, designated by 13 or 130 depending on the variant, drives a lower wheel 15 to 59 teeth.

This lower wheel 15 to 59 teeth, common to both variants, carries a moon disc, called 150 in the first variant as visible on the figure. figure 3 Where 7 , or 1500 in the second variant as seen on the figure 10 . Naturally, the moon disc can be attached to the lower wheel, or else constitute with it a single component, and can be constituted by enamelling, painting, screen printing, decal, or the like.

• dans la première variante, le disque de lune 150 comporte une zone éclairée 152 et une zone de fond de ciel 151, la zone éclairée 152 comportant une zone 155 correspondant à l'affichage de la pleine lune, et zone de fond de ciel 151 comportant une zone 154 correspondant à l'affichage de la nouvelle lune, dite aussi lune noire ;
• dans la deuxième variante, le disque de lune 1500 comporte une zone éclairée 152 et deux zones de fond de ciel 151 diamétralement opposée.

This moon disc 150 or 1500 comprises a two-color representation comprising at least one illuminated area 152, and at least one dark sky background area 151:

• in the first variant, the moon disc 150 comprises an illuminated zone 152 and a sky background zone 151, the illuminated zone 152 comprising a zone 155 corresponding to the display of the full moon, and a sky background zone 151 comprising a zone 154 corresponding to the display of the new moon, also called the black moon;
• in the second variant, the moon disc 1500 comprises an illuminated zone 152 and two sky background zones 151 diametrically opposed.

In the first variant, the sky background zone 151 is configured so that the duration of the black moon and of the full moon are approximately respected. In a particular embodiment, this sky background zone 151 is delimited by a border 153 in the form of a conchoid of a circle or in a cardioid shape and such that complete representations of the new moon and of the full moon are each visible through the window 16.

In order for the moon to appear complete, the sky disc 1400 rotates outward. Otherwise, its axis could be obscured by the horizon line.

In the illustrated embodiments corresponding to a preferred embodiment of less bulk, the upper wheel, 14 or 140 depending on the variant, is coaxial with the lower wheel 15.

The first variant uses a particular gear ratio, 57-19-59, which makes it possible to produce an extremely simple moon phase, and which hardly consumes any energy, because the mechanism does not have a jumper, and is in direct contact with the hour wheel in a continuous movement.

The input pinion 11 meshes with the hour wheel 12 of the clockwork movement and makes three turns in 24 hours: Z = Zh / 3.

This input pinion 11 carries the drive pinion 13 of 19 teeth, which drives the two coaxial wheels of respectively 57 and 59 teeth: upper wheel 14 to 57 teeth, and lower wheel 15 to 59 teeth.

The upper wheel 14 has 57 teeth and therefore: $$3\times 19/57=1\mathrm{tower}\mathrm{in}24\mathrm{time}.$$

Δ = 1 / (1 - 0.966101695) = 29.5, ce qui signifie que la roue inférieure 15 fera un tour en sens inverse par rapport à la roue supérieure 14 en 29.5 jours, soit la durée moyenne du mois lunaire.The lower wheel 15 has 59 teeth and makes: $$3\times 19/59=0.966101695\mathrm{tower}\mathrm{in}24\mathrm{time}$$

Δ = 1 / (1 - 0.966101695) = 29.5, which means that the lower wheel 15 will turn in the opposite direction compared to the upper wheel 14 in 29.5 days, which is the average length of the lunar month.

The mechanism 10 comprises a fixed part constituted by a plate 30 or a bridge 31, to which is fixed a bar 19 in superposition of the sky disc 1400 and symbolizing the horizon line on either side of which the representation is movable. of the sun 141 during the rotation of the upper wheel 14 or 140, as visible on the figures 1 and 2 . The sky disc 1400 with the moon and the sun rotates to the rhythm of day and night.

In the particular realization of the figure 2 , the lower wheel 15 is integral, for example through a needle barrel, a display or a needle 17 for the display of the age of the moon on a graduation 18 that comprises the disc of sky 1400.

Different choices of gear train are possible for the realization of this first variant.

In a first option, the drive pinion 13 to 19 teeth is single, and meshes simultaneously with the upper wheel 14 to 57 teeth, and with the lower wheel 15 to 59 teeth.

$$\mathrm{Cm}=6.545$$

Dpm = 0.17 × 58 = 9.86 (pour le taillage de la roue supérieure 14 à 57 dents, et la roue inférieure 15 à 59 dents) $$\mathrm{C}57=0.17\times \left(57+19\right)/2=6.46$$

For a module m = 0.17, (Blancpain caliber 67) suitable for a moon diameter of 9.0 mm, we have: $$\mathrm{VS}59=0.17\times \left(59+19\right)/2=6.63$$

$$\mathrm{Cm}=\mathrm{6,545}$$

Dpm = 0.17 × 58 = 9.86 (for cutting the upper wheel 14 to 57 teeth, and the lower wheel 15 to 59 teeth) $$\mathrm{VS}57=0.17\times \left(57+19\right)/2=6.46$$

$$\Delta 59=+0.085$$

With Cm 6.545, we have: $$\Delta 57=-0.085$$

$$\Delta 59=+0.085$$

In a second option, we split the drive pinion, with: $$\mathrm{m}57=0.1722\mathrm{and}\mathrm{m}59=0.1678.$$

In short, in this first variant of the moon phase display mechanism 10, the input pinion 11 is arranged to perform three turns in 24 hours, the drive pinion 13 has 19 teeth, the upper wheel 14 has 57 teeth, and, on the moon disc 150, the two-color representation has an illuminated area 152 and a sky background area 151, delimited by a border 153 in a conchoid of a circle or a cardioid shape and such as full representations of the new moon and full moon are each visible through window 16.

The second variant exploits a further 58-29-59 gear ratio.

The input pinion 110 meshes with the 12 hour wheel of the clockwork movement and rotates twice in 24 hours. This input pinion 110 carries the drive pinion 130 to 29 teeth, which drives the upper wheel 140 to 58 teeth, as seen in the figure. figure 9 , and the lower wheel 15 to 59 teeth.

The upper wheel 140 has 58 teeth and therefore: $$\left(2\times 29\right)/58=1\mathrm{tower}\mathrm{in}24\mathrm{time}.$$

$$\Delta =1/\left(1-0.491525424\right)=59,\mathrm{en}\mathrm{sens}\mathrm{inverse}.$$

The lower wheel 15 has 59 teeth, and its moon disc 1500 has two sky background zones 151. This lower wheel 15 makes: $$29/59=0.491525424\mathrm{tower}\mathrm{in}24\mathrm{time}.$$

$$\Delta =1/\left(1-0.491525424\right)=59,\mathrm{in}\mathrm{sense}\mathrm{reverse}.$$

As the 130 to 29 tooth drive pinion makes one revolution in 12 hours, it is possible to install it directly on the hours wheel of the movement, but an inverter must be added to ensure the correct direction of rotation for the display. day / night, and there must also be a decoupling between the hour wheel and the moon drive.

In short, in this second variant of the moon phase display mechanism 10, the input pinion 11 is arranged to perform two turns in 24 hours, the drive pinion 130 has 29 teeth, the two-color representation of the speed disc. moon 1500 has an illuminated area 152 and two sky background areas 151, in that the upper wheel 14 has 58 teeth.

The figure 11 illustrates a simple means of producing a moon phase corrector: the correction can be carried out by inserting a friction 20 on the connecting mobile between the input pinion 11 linked to the hours wheel 12, on which is driven a retaining ring 21, and the drive pinion 13 controlling the lunations. It is in particular possible to envisage correcting the moon from the position T2 of the winding stem of a watch 300, by means of a gear train or by a corrective lever acting on the drive pinion 13. The drive pinion 13 is thus driven by the input pinion 11 via a friction means 20, to allow correction from a control rod via a gear train, or from a corrective lever acting on the pinion d 'training 13.

The invention also relates to a clockwork display mechanism 100 comprising such a moon phase display mechanism 10.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement 200 comprising such a moon phase display mechanism 10, and comprising an hour wheel 12 arranged either to drive the input pinion 11 and drive the drive pinion 13. or 130, either to constitute the input pinion 11 and at the same time carry and drive the drive pinion, in which case the drive pinion 13 drives the upper wheel 14 indirectly through a reverser and the pinion of drive 13 drives the lower wheel 15 indirectly through a decoupling.

More particularly, this movement 200 comprises a winding and correction rod, not shown in the figures, and the rod is arranged to control the correction of the moon phase by means of a train of references.

The invention also relates to a watch 300 comprising such a movement 200.

Claims (11)

1. Moon phase display mechanism (10) arranged to cooperate with a timepiece movement (200), and including an input pinion (11) arranged to make three revolutions, or respectively two revolutions, in 24 hours, and wherein said input pinion (11) drives either directly, or via a friction means (20), at least one 19-tooth, or respectively 29-tooth, drive pinion (13; 130), and in that a said drive pinion (13; 130) drives a 59-tooth lower wheel (15) bearing a moon disc (150; 1500) with a two-coloured depiction including a lighted area (152) and one, or respectively two, background sky areas (151), characterised in that said drive pinion (13; 130) drives a 57-tooth or respectively 58-tooth, upper wheel (14; 140), coaxial to said lower wheel (15) and which makes one revolution per day and which includes, on the side of the user, a sky disc (1400) with a depiction of the sky and of an off-centre sun (141), and including an off-centre aperture (16) substantially opposite said sun (141) and through which one part of said moon disc (150; 1500) is visible illustrating the current appearance of the moon.
2. Moon phase display mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said drive pinion (13) is the only drive pinion and drives both said lower wheel (15) and said upper wheel (14).
3. Moon phase display mechanism (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said input pinion (11) is arranged to make three revolutions in 24 hours, in that said drive pinion (13) includes 19 teeth, in that said two-coloured depiction includes a lighted area (152) and a background sky area (151), in that said upper wheel (14) includes 57 teeth, and in that, on said moon disc (150), said two-coloured depiction of the moon and of the background sky includes a conchoid of a circle or a cardioid boundary (153) and so that complete depictions of the new moon and of the full moon are each visible through said aperture (16).
4. Moon phase display mechanism (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said input pinion (11) is arranged to make two revolutions in 24 hours, in that said drive pinion (130) includes 29 teeth, in that said two-coloured depiction includes a lighted area (152) and two background sky areas (151), in that said upper wheel (140) includes 58 teeth.
5. Moon phase display mechanism (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said moon phase display mechanism (10) includes a fixed part consisting of a plate (30) or a bar (31), to which a small bar (19) is attached in superposition on said sky disc (1400) and symbolising the horizon line on either side of which the depiction of said sun (141) can move during the rotation of said upper wheel (14; 140).
6. Moon phase display mechanism (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said lower wheel (15) is integral with a display member or with a hand (17) for displaying the age of the moon on a graduation (18) included in said sky disc (1400).
7. Moon phase display mechanism (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that said drive pinion (13; 130) is driven by said input pinion (11) via a friction means (20), to allow a correction to be made from a control stem via an intermediate train, or from a corrector lever acting on said drive pinion (13; 130).
8. Timepiece display mechanism (100) including a moon phase display mechanism (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Timepiece movement (200) including a moon phase display mechanism (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, and including an hour wheel arranged either to drive said input pinion (11) and to drive said at least one drive pinion (13; 130), or to form said input pinion (11) and both carry and drive said at least one drive pinion (13; 130), in which case a said drive pinion (13; 130) drives said upper wheel (14; 140) indirectly through a reverser, and a said drive pinion (13; 130) drives said lower wheel (15) indirectly through an uncoupling means.
10. Timepiece movement (200) according to claim 9 with a moon phase display mechanism (10) according to claim 7, and including a winding and corrector stem, characterised in that said stem is arranged to control correction of the moon phase via an intermediate train.
11. Watch (300) including a timepiece movement (200) according to claim 9 or 10.

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