EP3663869B1 - Timepiece chiming mechanism with suspended hammer - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a clockwork striking mechanism, comprising a fixed structure carrying at least one gong or radiating element and a movable hammer in a plane relative to said fixed structure under the action of a mobile d. activation, which said mechanism comprises, and which is arranged to control the lifting of said hammer and its release for the percussion of at least one said gong or radiating element.

The invention also relates to a watch which comprises means for storing and / or generating energy, and a clockwork movement, which are designed to drive such a striking mechanism.

The invention relates to the field of clockwork striking or alarm mechanisms.

Background of the invention

The invention relates to ringing and alarm mechanisms, and in particular to the hammer actuation system that these mechanisms include.

Conventionally constructed gong activation mechanisms, which typically include an anchor or lift which activates a hammer, which itself strikes a gong or radiating element, are often limited, and in particular irregular.

In particular, the sound intensity of the chime varies during the mechanism's power reserve.

And the sound quality is not always optimal, and needs to be improved, by optimizing the quality of the percussion. It is known from the prior art to introduce flexible guides into devices for winding the driving spring of the hammer, such as document CH 706468A . However, in such a system, the flexible guide is only provided to direct the winding hook towards the winding wheel, and therefore does not contribute to the drive of the hammer, and therefore to the quality of the percussion of the latter. on a stamp or other radiating element.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to improve the quality and the regularity of the percussion in a ringing or alarm mechanism.

To this end, the invention relates to a clock striking mechanism, according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a watch which comprises means for storing and / or generating energy, and a clockwork movement, which are designed to drive such a striking mechanism.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en vue en plan, un mécanisme de sonnerie comportant un marteau monté sur un guidage flexible à lames croisées en projection;
• les figures 2 à 4 représentent, de façon similaire à la figure 1, un mécanisme avec un tel marteau sur un autre guidage flexible de type lame élastique ou similaire, avec une rigidité/dynamique variable :
• la figure 2 illustre un mobile d'activation, ici une roue d'activation, effectuant un armage du marteau, qu'elle entraîne par un bec ;
• la figure 3 montre le marteau totalement armé, la lame flexible qui le relie à la platine est courbée selon une première concavité ;
• la figure 4 montre le marteau lors de sa course de percussion vers un timbre, son guidage flexible coopère en appui de butée sur une butée fixe solidaire de la platine, et l'extrémité distale du guidage flexible, qui porte le marteau, prend une deuxième concavité opposée à la première concavité et pousse le marteau à la façon d'une genouillère pour percuter le timbre ;
• la figure 5 illustre, de façon schématisée et en élévation, un cheval à bascule exploitant un mécanisme à quatre barres;
• la figure 6 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 1, un autre mécanisme de sonnerie, selon une construction basée sur le mécanisme à quatre barres, et comportant un marteau monté sur un guidage flexible multiple, comportant un premier guidage flexible du côté d'un mobile d'activation, et un deuxième guidage flexible du côté d'un percuteur que comporte le marteau pour frapper le timbre, et dont les figures 7 à 10 illustrent la séquence de fonctionnement:
• la figure 7 illustre l'état du système juste après l'impact;
• la figure 8 montre le système au repos;
• la figure 9 montre la position d'armage maximal du marteau;
• la figure 10 montre le marteau lors de l'impact sur le timbre;
• la figure 11 illustre une variante de l'invention avec un mécanisme d'échappement de type magnétique selon la demande CH01421/16 ou la demande EP16195405.2 au nom de The Swatch Group Research & Development Ltd, et comporte un marteau sur un guidage flexible, à lames croisées en projection, et porteur d'aimants agencés pour coopérer avec d'autres aimants portés par une roue d'échappement ;
• la figure 12 représente, de façon similaire à la figure 1, un autre encore mécanisme de sonnerie, dans une variante d'activation avec un marteau sur guidage linéaire ;
• la figure 13 est un schéma-blocs représentant une montre qui comporte des moyens de stockage et/ou de génération d'énergie, et un mouvement d'horlogerie, qui sont agencés pour entraîner un tel mécanisme de sonnerie.

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 shows, schematically, partial, and in plan view, a striking mechanism comprising a hammer mounted on a flexible guide with crossed blades in projection;
• the figures 2 to 4 represent, similarly to the figure 1 , a mechanism with such a hammer on another flexible guide of elastic blade type or similar, with variable rigidity / dynamics:
• the figure 2 illustrates an activation mobile, here an activation wheel, winding the hammer, which it drives by a nozzle;
• the figure 3 shows the hammer fully cocked, the flexible blade which connects it to the plate is curved according to a first concavity;
• the figure 4 shows the hammer during its percussion stroke towards a gong, its flexible guide cooperates in abutment bearing on a fixed stop integral with the plate, and the distal end of the flexible guide, which carries the hammer, takes a second concavity opposite to the first concavity and pushes the hammer like a knee lever to strike the gong;
• the figure 5 illustrates, schematically and in elevation, a rocking horse using a four-bar mechanism;
• the figure 6 represents, similarly to the figure 1 , another striking mechanism, according to a construction based on the four-bar mechanism, and comprising a hammer mounted on a multiple flexible guide, comprising a first flexible guide on the side of an activation mobile, and a second flexible guide of the side of a striker included in the hammer to strike the gong, and whose figures 7 to 10 illustrate the sequence of operation:
• the figure 7 illustrates the state of the system immediately after impact;
• the figure 8 shows the system at rest;
• the figure 9 shows the maximum winding position of the hammer;
• the figure 10 shows the hammer upon impact on the stamp;
• the figure 11 illustrates a variant of the invention with an escape mechanism of the magnetic type according to the request CH01421 / 16 or request EP16195405.2 on behalf of The Swatch Group Research & Development Ltd, and features a hammer on a flexible guide, with crossed blades in projection, and carrier of magnets arranged to cooperate with other magnets carried by an escape wheel;
• the figure 12 represents, similarly to the figure 1 , yet another striking mechanism, in a variant of activation with a hammer on linear guidance;
• the figure 13 is a block diagram showing a watch which comprises means for storing and / or generating energy, and a clockwork movement, which are designed to drive such a striking mechanism.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The invention relates to ringing and alarm mechanisms, and more particularly to the hammer actuation system.

The invention proposes to use flexible guides for guiding and returning the stamp hammer. The most elementary mechanism is shown schematically in figure 1 , which shows a hammer suspended by at least one flexible guide, here shown without limitation in the form of a flexible guide with two elastic blades crossed in projection, which guides it in a substantially flat stroke. The mechanism of figure 1 operates as follows: an activation mobile, in particular an activation wheel, or even a lift, lifts the hammer, and moves it away from its rest position to carry out winding, until the tooth that comprises the hammer no longer meshes with the wheel in the example illustrated. The hammer then falls, under the action of the energy contained in the spring, during the unwinding, and strikes the gong or radiating element. The activation wheel again engages the hammer, and the operation is repeated in the same way.

The rest position of the hammer remains to be defined. It seems that a hammer rest position very close to the impact position is preferable. A solution with a prestressed hammer is also possible. The preload adjusts the energy stored in the hammer. The advantage of the presence of a flexible guide has the advantage of positioning the hammer precisely, and above all of having no play. This eliminates the usual parasitic noise caused in existing bells by the play of the mechanical pivot of the hammer. The flexible guide precisely defines the energy stored in the hammer. The system is therefore able to provide the same amount of energy during each percussion. Another advantage can be seen at the end of the ringing, when the activation wheel can no longer lift the hammer, but applies a low torque, which prevents the hammer touching the gong or radiating element, and therefore prevents causing involuntary strikes on the gong, of the rebound type or the like.

It will be understood that the combined system formed of a hammer and a flexible guide forms a resonator, which can then be used to regulate the ringing.

The figures 2 to 4 illustrate a variant which consists in modifying the dynamic rigidity of the flexible guide, by interposing an obstacle on the path of at least one blade that this flexible guide comprises, in its operating range. The figure 2 illustrates an intermediate position of the hammer winding, the figure 3 shows the position where the hammer is fully cocked, and the figure 4 illustrates the relaxation and the beginning of the stroke of the hammer towards its percussion position, just before impact the flexible guide comes into abutment with a pin, or other fixed obstacle, before the contact of the hammer against the gong or radiating element. Ultimately, this stop cooperation can occur at the very moment of impact. The rigidity of the mechanism in the position of the figure 3 is weaker than in the position of the figure 4 , because the active length of the blade, from the embedding on the side of the plate to the hammer is greater in figure 3 that in figure 4 ; of course, in the position of the figure 4 the whole blade is deformed, but it is more rigid there than at the figure 3 . This principle is comparable to that of a catapult, or the Neolithic thruster.

A variant of the invention is based on the principle, illustrated by figure 5 of the functioning of wooden rocking horses. This mechanism is known as the "four bar mechanism". It is interesting because the horse tilts normally at low amplitude, and performs a kick at high amplitude. By transposing this principle by replacing the horse with a hammer, the latter can be accelerated, like the kick of the horse, just before the impact against the gong or radiating element. Despite the apparent simplicity of the mechanism, the dimensioning is relatively complex. There are a multitude of solutions and possibilities. The trajectories of the guided elements and the speeds of the moving parts can be defined according to the desired embodiment.

For watchmaking, the pivot or articulation points of the four-bar mechanism are replaced by flexible guides. Another solution is to replace a complete bar with a flexible blade. An example of construction is presented at the figure 6 , and the different operating sequences are described in figures 7 to 10 .

Advantageously, the four bar system, or other equivalent flexible guide, is dimensioned so as to accelerate the hammer just before the strike. This is one of the main advantages of this mechanism.

It is also possible to add a stopper, such as a pin or the like, which changes the rigidity / dynamics of the flexible guide on the system of figures 7 to 10 , according to the principle indicated in figure 4 .

Another variant of the invention is based on an escapement mechanism of the magnetic type according to the request. CH01421 / 16 or request EP16195405.2 on behalf of The Swatch Group Research & Development Ltd, and comprises a hammer on a flexible guide, with crossed blades in projection, and carrying magnets arranged to cooperate with other magnets carried by an escape wheel. This variant is very simple, it suffices to transpose the teachings of this escapement mechanism for the activation of a striking hammer instead of the resonator as illustrated in figure 11 .

The figure 12 illustrates another variant which uses a linear flexible guide to activate the hammer, with an activation wheel cooperating with the reliefs of a movable frame, as described in particular in the patent EP2831677B1 in the name of Nivarox-FAR SA, relating to a movable frame escapement mechanism. This mechanism makes it possible to perform linear percussion instead of angular percussion, which can be advantageous for reasons of space.

It is also possible to activate the hammer by placing a pin (on the activation wheel) which slides into an oblong hole in the hammer. It should be noted that, in this case, the dynamics of the hammer are modified, because it is linked to the dynamics of the cog.

The flexible guides allow a multitude of movements to be carried out. It is in particular possible to realize a virtual pivoting of the hammer.

More particularly, the invention thus relates to a clockwork striking mechanism 100, comprising a fixed structure 1 carrying at least one gong or radiating element 2 and a hammer 3 movable relative to the fixed structure 1 under the action of an activation mobile 4, included in the mechanism 100. This mobile activation 4 is arranged to control the lifting of the hammer 3 and its release for the percussion of at least one stamp or radiating element 2.

According to the invention, the striking mechanism 100 comprises, for the suspension of the hammer 3, at least one flexible guide 10, which is arranged between the fixed structure 1 and the hammer 3 to allow movements of the hammer 3, and which constitutes the only permanent mechanical connection between the fixed structure 1 and the hammer 3. In the particular non-limiting variants illustrated by the figures, the mechanism 100 comprises flexible guides 10 of the planar type.

More particularly, the ringing mechanism 100 is arranged to drive the activation mobile 4, for the execution of a ringing, and to make it perform a winding cycle during which it supplies a certain amount of energy to the device. flexible guide 10 concerned (which stores a constant quantity of energy) by driving the hammer 3, before releasing the hammer 3 for the execution of the percussion ringing of at least one gong or radiating element 2 by the hammer 3 during disarming with a constant quantity of energy corresponding to the energy accumulated in this flexible guide 10.

In a particular embodiment, at least one flexible guide 10 is plane, and is arranged between the fixed structure 1 and the hammer 3 to allow movements of the hammer 3 only in a single plane P.

In a particular embodiment, the hammer 3 is movable in such a plane P, and at least one flexible guide 10 is of the plane type and comprises a plurality of elastic blades 11 which extend in the plane P or in several parallel planes. on the P plane, and which are either parallel to each other, or else crossed in projection on the P plane at the level of a virtual pivot axis D.

In a particular variant, at least one flexible guide 10 comprises at least one bistable or multistable elastic blade.

In a variant, the striking mechanism comprises at least one flexible guide 10 which is arranged to guide the hammer 3 in its winding and unarming strokes in a plane P, and to accelerate the hammer 3 at the end of the disarming stroke.

More particularly at least one flexible guide 10 comprises at least a first elastic blade arranged to guide the hammer 3 in its winding and unwinding strokes in a plane P, and at least one second elastic blade arranged to accelerate the hammer 3 at the end of its stroke. disarming.

In a particular embodiment, at least one of the flexible guides 10 comprises a reinforced blade 12, which is arranged to cooperate, in particular in its middle part, in abutment bearing, during the unwinding stroke and before the impact of the hammer 3. on a stamp or radiating element 2, with a fixed stop 13 integral with the fixed structure 1, so as to accelerate the hammer 3 just before its impact on the stamp or radiating element 2.

In an alternative embodiment, the hammer 3 comprises a first winding tooth 14 arranged to cooperate with an activation tooth 15 that the activation mobile 4 comprises during the winding phase for the pivoting drive of the hammer 3. , and the hammer 3 comprises, at a distance from the first winding tooth 14, a striker 17 arranged to strike a gong or radiating element 2, and the striking mechanism 100 comprises a flexible guide 10 near the first tooth of arming 14 and near the striker 17.

More particularly, the hammer 3 comprises a first winding tooth 14 arranged to cooperate with an activation tooth 15 that the activation mobile 4 comprises during the winding phase for the pivoting drive of the hammer 3, and the flexible guide 10 comprises at least a first elastic blade near the first winding tooth 14, and the hammer 3 comprises, at a distance from the first winding tooth 14, a striker 17 designed to strike a stamp or radiating element 2 , and the flexible guide 10 comprises at least one second elastic blade near the striker 17.

In another variant embodiment, the striking mechanism 100 comprises a striking barrel and / or a means for storing and distributing energy, and the hammer 3 comprises a first winding tooth 14 arranged to cooperate with a tooth of 'activation 15 that the activation mobile 4 comprises during the winding phase for the pivoting drive of the hammer 3, and a second anti-detachment tooth 16 arranged to be inserted, at the end of winding and at the minus the start of unwinding, between two other activation teeth 15, in order to avoid any uncontrolled unwinding of said striking barrel and / or energy storage and distribution means.

In a magnetic variant, the hammer 3 comprises at least one hammer magnet 23 or a hammer ferromagnetic element, arranged to cooperate with a mobile ferromagnetic element or a mobile magnet 24, for driving and releasing the hammer 3 by the activation mobile 4.

In one embodiment, the hammer 3 is driven by a substantially rotary movement or by a combination of rotary movements.

In another embodiment, the hammer 3 is driven in a longitudinal movement. More particularly, the hammer 3 comprises a movable frame 33 guided longitudinally in bearings 34, the frame 33 internally comprising a chamber 35 in which the rest jaws 36 are arranged to cooperate with the activation teeth 15 that the mobile comprises. activation 4.

In a particular embodiment, the hammer 3 and the flexible guide or guides 10 which carry it, as well as the gong or radiating element 2 with which the hammer 3 cooperates, are, in projection on the plane P, symmetrical with respect to a perpendicular plane on the P.

In a variant, the striking mechanism 100 comprises, for the suspension of the hammer 3, several flexible guides 10 planes, distinct and distant from one another.

In a variant, the striking mechanism 100 comprises several hammers 3 and several gongs or radiating elements 2.

In a variant, the hammer 3 and one of the flexible guides 10 which carry it together constitute a resonator arranged to regulate the ringing.

The invention also relates to a watch 1000 comprising means for storing and / or generating energy 200 and a clockwork movement 300 arranged to drive a striking mechanism 100.

• la précontrainte du ressort de marteau permet une intensité de sonnerie constante ;
• le dimensionnement judicieux d'un mécanisme de type quatre barres permet d'accélérer le marteau au moment de la frappe ;
• la qualité sonore de la sonnerie est améliorée.

The invention provides many advantages:

• the preload of the hammer spring allows a constant ringing intensity;
• the judicious sizing of a four-bar type mechanism makes it possible to accelerate the hammer when striking;
• ringtone sound quality is improved.

Claims (20)

1. Timepiece striking mechanism (100), comprising a fixed structure (1) supporting at least one gong or radiant element (2) and a mobile hammer (3) relative to said fixed structure (1) under the action of an activation mobile component (4), comprised by said mechanism (100), and which is arranged to control the pallet of said hammer (3) and the release thereof for the percussion of at least one said gong or radiant element (2), characterised in that said striking mechanism (100) comprises, for the suspension of the hammer (3), at least one flexible guide (10), which is arranged between the fixed structure (1) and the hammer (3) to allow movements of the hammer (3), and which forms the sole permanent mechanical link between said fixed structure (1) and said hammer (3).
2. Striking mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that said striking mechanism (100) is arranged to drive said activation mobile component (4), for the execution of a striking mechanism, and to have same carry out a winding cycle during which it supplies energy to said at least one flexible guide (10), which stores a constant quantity of energy, while driving said hammer (3) before releasing said hammer (3) for the execution of the striking mechanism by percussion of at least one said gong or radiant element (2) by said hammer (3) during the letting down with a constant quantity of energy corresponding to the energy stored in said flexible guide (10).
3. Striking mechanism (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one flexible guide (10) is planar, and is arranged between said fixed structure (1) and said hammer (3) to allow movements of said hammer (3) solely in a single plane (P).
4. Striking mechanism (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that at least said flexible guide (10) comprises a plurality of elastic strips (11) which extend in said plane (P) or in a plurality of planes parallel with said plane (P), and which are, either parallel with one another, or indeed crossed in projection on said plane (P) at the level of a virtual pivoting axis (D).
5. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least one said flexible guide (10) comprises at least one bistable or multistable elastic strip.
6. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said striking mechanism (100) comprises at least one said flexible guide (10) which is arranged to guide said hammer (3) in the winding and letting down travels thereof in a plane (P), and to accelerate said hammer (3) at the end of letting down travel.
7. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that at least one said flexible guide (10) comprises at least one first elastic strip arranged to guide said hammer (3) in the winding and letting down travels thereof in a plane (P), and at least one second elastic strip arranged to accelerate the hammer (3) at the end of letting down travel.
8. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that at least one of said flexible guides (10) comprises a reinforced strip (12) which is arranged to cooperate, particularly in the median part thereof, by abutting, during the letting down travel and before the percussion of said hammer (3) against a said gong or radiant element (2), with a fixed banking (13) rigidly connected to said fixed structure (1), so as to accelerate said hammer (3) immediately before the impact thereof on said gong or radiant element (2).
9. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that said hammer (3) comprises a first winding tooth (14) arranged to cooperate with an activation tooth (15) comprised by said activation mobile component (4) during the winding phase for pivoting said hammer (3), and in that said hammer (3) comprises, at a distance from said first winding tooth (14), a striker (17) arranged to strike a said gong or radiant element (2), and in that said striking mechanism (100) comprises a said flexible guide (10) in the vicinity of said first winding tooth (14) and in the vicinity of said striker (17).
10. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said hammer (3) comprises a first winding tooth (14) arranged to cooperate with an activation tooth (15) comprised by said activation mobile component (4) during the winding phase for pivoting said hammer (3), and in that said flexible guide (10) comprises at least a first elastic strip in the vicinity of said first winding tooth (14), and in that said hammer (3) comprises, at a distance from said first winding tooth (14), a striker (17) arranged to strike a said gong or radiant element (2), and in that said flexible guide (10) comprises at least a second elastic strip in the vicinity of said striker (17).
11. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that said striking mechanism (100) comprises a striking mechanism barrel and/or a energy storage and distribution means, and in that said hammer (3) comprises a first winding tooth (14) arranged to cooperate with an activation tooth (15) comprised by said activation mobile component (4) during the winding phase for pivoting said hammer (3), and a second anti-unhooking tooth (16) arranged to be inserted, at the end of winding and at least the start of letting down, between two further said activation teeth (15), so as to prevent any uncontrolled unwinding of said striking mechanism barrel and/or energy storage and distribution means.
12. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that said hammer (3) comprises at least one hammer magnet (23) or a ferromagnetic hammer element, arranged to cooperate with a ferromagnetic element of a mobile component or a magnet (24) of a mobile component, for the driving and release of said hammer (3) by said activation mobile component (4).
13. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that said hammer (3) is moved by a substantially rotary movement or a combination of rotary movements.
14. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that said hammer (3) is moved by a longitudinal movement.
15. Striking mechanism (100) according to claim 14, characterised in that said hammer (3) is moved by a longitudinal movement, and characterised in that said hammer (3) comprises a mobile frame (33) guided longitudinally in bearing blocks (34), said frame (33) comprising internally a chamber (35) wherein rest beaks (36) are arranged to cooperate with activation teeth (15) comprised by said activation mobile component (4).
16. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that said hammer (3) and the flexible guide(s) (10) supporting same, as well as said gong or radiant element (2) with which said hammer (3) cooperates, are, in projection along said plane (P), symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to said plane (P).
17. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that said striking mechanism (100) comprises, for the suspension of said hammer (3), a plurality of planar flexible guides (10), separate and at a distance from one another.
18. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that said striking mechanism (100) comprises a plurality of said hammers (3) and a plurality of said gongs or radiant elements (2).
19. Striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that said hammer (3) and one of said flexible guides (10) supporting same form together a resonator arranged to regulate the striking mechanism.
20. Watch (1000) comprising energy storage and/or generation means (200) and a timepiece movement (300) arranged to drive a striking mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 19.

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