EP4328674A1 - Braking device for a timepiece device - Google Patents

Abstract

Braking device (1) for braking a kinematic chain of a watchmaking device, the braking device (1) comprising a tangential brake (2) and a mobile (4) comprising a braking element (42) integral in rotation or making part of the mobile (4), the mobile (4) being intended to form part of a kinematic chain of a watchmaking device and to be driven step by step by performing several steps per revolution, the tangential brake (2) and the braking element (42) being configured to come into contact by friction for at least one step at each revolution of the mobile (4) and not to come into contact with each other for at least one step at each turn of the mobile (4). Watchmaking device comprising such a braking device (1). Timepiece comprising such a watchmaking device.

Description

The present invention relates to a braking device capable of being integrated into a watchmaking device. The present invention relates in particular to a braking device making it possible to brake a kinematic chain of a watchmaking device.

In the field of watchmaking, it is sometimes necessary to brake a mobile while it is being driven in order to control its movement and avoid parasitic movements such as double jumps, jerks or bounces. Several solutions exist for braking a mobile continuously, typically by friction or magnetism. However, it would sometimes be desirable to be able to brake a mobile intermittently and selectively.

In certain watchmaking devices, for example, the same drive mobile can intermittently and sometimes differentiatedly drive at least two members, for example at least two display members, each member being driven via a kinematic chain distinct. The drive mobile advances, for example, step by step at a rate determined depending on the nature of the device. Intermittent training means that at least certain organs are not trained at each step of the training mobile, and differentiated means that the organs can each be trained at different times.

In the case of a large date calendar, for example, where the date is displayed using two displays, a display for the tens and a display for the units, both display members are generally driven by the same drive wheel via two separate kinematic chains. The training mobile advances one step every twenty-four hours. When moving from one ten to the next, the two display elements are driven simultaneously. But the most of the time, only the units indicator is driven by the drive mobile. When the ^31st day of the month passes to the ^1st day of the following month, on the other hand, only the tens display member is driven by the drive mobile and goes from “3” to “0” or to none. digit while the unit display remains stationary displaying “1”. A large date calendar is for example described in the European patent application EP 3 786 723 in the name of the plaintiff.

Such a watch device must be configured so that the energy released at each step by the drive mobile is sufficient to simultaneously drive all the display members. However, when certain display members remain stationary and are not driven, all the energy developed by the drive mobile is directed towards the remaining display member(s), respectively towards the kinematic chain(s) driving them. This represents an often significant surplus of energy compared to the energy necessary for the rotation of this or these organs, which is typically applied during their simultaneous rotation. This excess energy can lead to oscillations, double jumps or bounces of the driven display unit(s), which can even lead to blocking of the corresponding kinematic chain. This problem is all the more present as the pace is rapid. It is, for example, particularly present in devices whose pitch is almost instantaneous, for example caused by the sudden release of a spring.

In the case of a date of the "large date" type, for example, when the units display member and the tens display member are driven to move from one ten to the other, the energy absorbed by the kinematic chain driving the tens display represents less than half of the total energy, and the reduction in energy directed to the kinematic chain driving the units display compared to when the latter is driven alone does not prevent its rotation. On the other hand, when only the tens display member is driven, when going from “31” to “01”, the energy directed towards the kinematic chain driving the tens display member is much more important than during other tens changes. This increase in energy, and therefore in the torque applied to the tens display member for its rotation, can cause oscillations of the display, rebounds, or even blocking of the kinematic chain. For example, under the effect of too much torque, the tens display member risks hitting its anti-double-jump device with such force that it returns back before its jumper can position it. , the jumper then comes into contact with the positioning tooth of the tens display member. The tens display would then hang and indicate a half-jump following its recoil. This risk of malfunction is all the greater the faster the pace. It is therefore particularly high in devices with instantaneous steps, which are particularly prized for the possibility they offer of producing jumping displays and/or displays not having an incoherent transitional period in which, for example, during the passage of 'a ten to the other, the display of the units would have taken a step before the display of the tens, or vice versa.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a braking device which makes it possible to brake a mobile watch device intermittently and selectively, that is to say at predetermined times.

In the context of the present invention, the expression “display member” includes any member allowing the display of temporal information, the creation of a decorative effect, or any other visual effect.

This aim and other advantages are achieved by a braking device according to claim 1.

This aim and other advantages are also achieved by a timepiece device according to claim 4 and by a timepiece according to claim 10.

This aim and other advantages are achieved in particular by a braking device for braking a kinematic chain of a watchmaking device, the device brake comprising a tangential brake and a mobile comprising a braking element integral in rotation with the mobile, the mobile being intended to form part of a kinematic chain of a watchmaking device and to be driven step by step by taking several steps per revolution, the tangential brake and the braking element being configured to come into contact by friction for at least one step at each revolution of the mobile and not to come into contact with one another for at least one step at each turn of the mobile.

The tangential brake and the braking element being configured to only brake the mobile by friction between them during certain steps at each revolution of the mobile, it is possible, using the braking device of the invention to only brake the kinematic chain of which the mobile is part only when necessary.

The braking element is preferably a braking cam comprising at least one finger intended to come into contact by friction with the tangential brake. According to other embodiments, the braking element comprises at least one pin or a stud formed with the mobile or fixed to the latter.

The aim mentioned above and other advantages are also achieved by a watch device comprising a drive mobile, a first display member driven by the drive mobile via a first kinematic chain, a second display member driven intermittently by the drive mobile via a second kinematic chain, in which the first kinematic chain comprises such a braking device configured to brake the first kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the first display member and does not drive the second display member.

The first kinematic chain can thus be braked so as to absorb the excess energy due to the non-drive of the second kinematic chain.

The drive mobile is for example configured to be driven by rapid steps, for example caused by the sudden relaxation of a spring.

According to certain embodiments, the second kinematic chain comprises a second braking device according to the invention configured to brake the second kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the second display member and does not drive the first display member. display, thus also protecting the second kinematic chain and therefore the second display member against excess kinematic energy coming from the drive mobile.

Depending on the applications, the watch device may include a third display member driven intermittently by the drive wheel via a third kinematic chain. The watch device then comprises for example a plurality of braking devices according to the invention, the plurality of braking devices being configured to brake the first kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the first display member and does not drive the third display member; and/or to brake the second kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the second display member and does not drive the first and/or third display member; and/or to brake the third kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the third display member and does not drive the first and/or the second display member.

The watchmaking device is for example a date display device, a chronograph, a countdown timer or a automaton.

The aim mentioned above and other advantages are also achieved by a timepiece comprising such a timepiece device.

The present invention will be better understood with the help of the description illustrated by the figures, where the figures 1 to 3 illustrate the operation of a braking device according to the invention.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the braking device 1 comprises a tangential brake 2 and a mobile 4, the tangential brake 2 intermittently rubbing a braking element, for example a braking cam 42, of the mobile 4 during of the rotation of the latter to brake the mobile 4. The mobile 4 is for example a mobile intended to be part of a kinematic chain driving a display member of a watch device comprising at least two display members driven by the same drive member via at least two separate kinematic chains. The mobile 4 includes for example a tens star intended to be integrated into a “big date” type calendar to form part of the kinematic chain driving the tens display member.

The braking device 1 is configured so that the brake 2 acts on the mobile 4 intermittently and selectively. In the example illustrated, the mobile 4 advances for example by four steps per revolution and the brake 2 acts on the mobile 4 only during one step out of four, during the step corresponding for example to the transition from "3" to "0 » of the tens indicator of a “big date” date during which the units indicator remains stationary.

The operation of the braking device 1 according to this embodiment is illustrated in figures 1 to 3 .

According to the illustrated embodiment, the tangential brake 2 is attached for example to a fixed stud 3 relative to the axis of rotation of the mobile 4. The mobile 4 is for example intended to be driven step by step by performing four steps per turn. Mobile 4 thus turns 90° with each step. The mobile 4 comprises a braking cam 42 configured to come into contact with the tangential brake 2 during one step per revolution of the mobile 4. The braking cam 42 thus comprises a finger on its periphery intended to rub against the tangential brake 2 when he passes in front of the latter. The dimensions of the finger, in particular its height, as well as the position and elasticity of the tangential brake 2, are determined to obtain the desired braking force depending on the use which will be made of the braking device 1.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the mobile 4 comprises three stages each having a different function: a first stage not visible in the figures comprises for example four teeth, forming for example a tens star, to drive the mobile 4 in rotation under the action of a driving mobile, for example a tens cam of a date of the "large date"type; an optional second stage forms for example an anti-double-jump device 41 intended to cooperate with the leading mobile to avoid a double jump of the mobile when it advances by one step and/or to avoid its involuntary rotation between two steps; a third stage forms the braking cam 42 to brake the mobile 4 every fourth step in cooperation with the tangential brake 2. The mobile 4 is for example in one piece. The braking cam 42 is for example formed by the clearance over part of their height of three out of four corners of the anti-double-jump device 41. The brake 2 is positioned at the height of the braking cam 42 and dimensioned so not to come into contact with the anti-double-jump device 41.

• La figure 1 illustre le mobile 4 avant un pas durant lequel le mobile 4 ne doit pas être freiné. Ce pas correspond par exemple au passage d'un indicateur des dizaines d'un quantième du type « grande date » du chiffre « 2 » au chiffre « 3 ». Un coin dégagé du dispositif anti-double-saut 41, correspondant à une partie inactive de la came de freinage 42, est prêt à passer auprès du frein 2 au prochain pas. Le coin étant dégagé à la hauteur de la came de freinage 42, le frein 2 n'entrera pas en contact avec le mobile 4. Le mobile 4 ne sera donc pas freiné au cours de ce pas.
• La figure 2 illustre la position du mobile 4 à l'issue du pas décrit plus haut, avant le prochain pas durant lequel le mobile 4 devra être freiné. Le prochain pas correspond par exemple au passage de l'indicateur des dizaines d'un quantième du type « grande date » du chiffre « 3 » au chiffre « 0 ». Le doigt de la came de freinage 42 qui prolonge en hauteur un des coins du dispositif anti-double-saut 41 est prêt à passer en regard du frein 2 au prochain pas du mobile 4, ce qui freinera le mobile 4 au cours du prochain pas, absorbant ainsi une partie de l'énergie reçue par la chaîne cinématique dont le mobile 4 fait partie.
• La figure 3 illustre le dispositif de freinage 1 et le mobile 4 à l'issue de ce pas freiné. Lors des trois pas suivants du mobile 4, les trois coins du dispositif anti-double-saut 41 dégagés à la hauteur de la came de freinage 42 passeront successivement auprès du frein 2 sans entrer en contact avec lui. Le mobile 4 ne sera donc pas freiné au cours de ces trois prochains pas.

In operation, the mobile 4 advances step by step by a quarter of a turn at each step, in a clockwise direction depending on the orientation of the figures 1 to 3 .

• There figure 1 illustrates the mobile 4 before a step during which the mobile 4 must not be braked. This step corresponds for example to the passage of a tens of a date indicator of the “large date” type from the number “2” to the number “3”. A clear corner of the anti-double-jump device 41, corresponding to an inactive part of the braking cam 42, is ready to pass near the brake 2 at the next step. The corner being cleared at the height of the braking cam 42, the brake 2 will not come into contact with the mobile 4. The mobile 4 will therefore not be braked during this step.
• There figure 2 illustrates the position of mobile 4 at the end of the step described above, before the next step during which mobile 4 must be braked. The next step corresponds for example to the passage of the tens of a date indicator of the “big date” type from the number “3” to the number “0”. The finger of the braking cam 42 which extends in height one of the corners of the anti-double-jump device 41 is ready to pass opposite the brake 2 at the next step of the mobile 4, which will brake the mobile 4 during the next step, thus absorbing part of the energy received by the kinematic chain of which the mobile 4 is a part.
• There Figure 3 illustrates the braking device 1 and the mobile 4 at the end of this braked step. During the next three steps of the mobile 4, the three corners of the anti-double-jump device 41 released at the height of the braking cam 42 will pass successively near the brake 2 without coming into contact with it. Mobile 4 will therefore not be slowed down during these next three steps.

According to the embodiment illustrated by way of example, the mobile 4 is a single piece. According to other embodiments, the mobile 4 is formed by the assembly of several elements integral in rotation, for example an element comprising four star teeth, an optional element comprising an anti-double-jump device and an element forming the brake cam; an element comprising four star teeth and optionally an anti-double-jump device, and an element forming the braking cam; etc. The anti-double-jump device being optional, if it is not present, the mobile only includes two stages: a stage configured for driving the mobile and a stage configured for its intermittent braking by the tangential brake.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the mobile 4 comprises a braking cam 42 comprising a finger to come into contact with the tangential brake 2 during one step at each revolution. Other embodiments of the braking element intended to come into contact with the tangential brake to brake the mobile are however possible within the framework of the invention. The braking cam may include several fingers in order to brake the mobile for more than one step per revolution. According to the invention, the braking cam will however comprise at least one part configured not to come into contact with the tangential brake, so that the mobile is not braked for at least one step per revolution.

Other forms of braking elements are also possible within the framework of the invention. The mobile can for example comprise one or more pins or studs arranged for example on one or more teeth drive of the mobile or on one or more corners of the anti-double-jump device. The pins or studs are for example formed integrally with the mobile or fixed to the latter.

In the context of the invention, the mobile 4 can also be configured to perform a number of steps per revolution other than four, but greater than one.

According to the invention, the braking device 1 is capable of being integrated into a watch device comprising a drive mobile, a first mobile, for example a first display mobile, driven intermittently by the drive mobile by via a first kinematic chain, a second mobile, for example a second display mobile driven intermittently by the drive mobile via a second kinematic chain, the braking device being configured to brake the first kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the first mobile and does not drive the second mobile.

The watch device is for example a “large date” type date and the braking device 1 is integrated into the kinematic chain driving the tens indicator. However, it is also possible for a braking device according to the invention to be integrated into the kinematic chain driving the units indicator to brake the latter when the tens indicator is not driven. It is also possible to envisage braking devices according to the invention being integrated into the two kinematic chains so as to brake the two kinematic chains in an intermittent and differentiated manner.

It is also possible in the context of the invention that a watch device comprises several braking devices according to the invention acting on different mobiles of the same kinematic chain and/or on mobiles of different kinematic chains and/or that the brake(s) act several times per revolution of the corresponding mobile(s). The braking devices are then configured so as to brake intermittently and differentiated one or the other kinematic chain of the watchmaking device as a function of the kinematic chain(s) driven at the corresponding step in order to guarantee a certain homogeneity of the quantity of energy, and therefore of the torque, transmitted at each step to the driven display members.

According to the invention, the braking device can be integrated into other types of watchmaking devices, for example a chronograph, a countdown timer, an automaton, or any other watchmaking device comprising at least two driven members of intermittent and differentiated manner by the same drive mobile via at least two distinct kinematic chains.

Claims (10)

Braking device (1) for braking a kinematic chain of a watchmaking device, the braking device (1) comprising: - a tangential brake (2); - a mobile (4) comprising a braking element (42), the mobile (4) being intended to form part of a kinematic chain of a watchmaking device and to be driven step by step by taking several steps per revolution , the tangential brake (2) and the braking element (42) being configured to come into contact by friction for at least one step at each revolution of the mobile (4) and not to come into contact with one another lasting at least one step for each turn of the mobile (4). Braking device (1) according to the preceding claim, the braking element being a braking cam (42) comprising at least one finger. Braking device (1) according to claim 1, the braking element comprising at least one pin or a stud. Watchmaking device comprising: - a training mobile; - a first display member driven by the drive mobile via a first kinematic chain; - a second display member driven intermittently by the drive wheel via a second kinematic chain; the first kinematic chain comprising a braking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims configured to brake the first kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the first display member and does not drive the second display member. Watchmaking device according to the preceding claim, in which the drive mobile is configured to be driven by rapid steps, for example caused by the sudden relaxation of a spring. Watchmaking device according to one of claims 4 and 5, the second kinematic chain comprising a second braking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3 configured to brake the second kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the second display member and does not drive the first display member. Watch device according to one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising a third display member driven intermittently by the drive wheel via a third kinematic chain, the watch device comprising a plurality of devices braking device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, the plurality of braking devices (1) being configured: - to brake the first kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the first display member and does not drive the third display member; and or - to brake the second kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the second display member and does not drive the first and/or third display member; and or - to brake the third kinematic chain when the drive mobile drives the third display member and does not drive the first and/or the second display member. Watch device according to one of claims 4 to 7, the watch device being a date display device. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, the watchmaking device being a chronograph, a countdown timer or an automaton. Timepiece comprising a watchmaking device according to one of claims 4 to 9.

Images