Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
  • G04B19/02—Back-gearing arrangements between gear train and hands
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B25/00—Indicating the time by other means or by combined means
  • G04B25/06—Indicating the time by other means or by combined means by moving figures, e.g. cuckoo clocks, trumpet clocks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
  • G04B45/0038—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
  • G04B45/0038—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork
  • G04B45/0061—Moving parts of the clockwork, e.g. pendulum, hands in special form, mostly constructed as a figure

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a display device for a watch movement which indicates a value, such as the current time or other, by means of a plurality of display members which are adapted to evolve between a first state and a second state, the number of display members being in said second state indicating said value.
• the document CH717360 discloses a display device of the type indicated above. This device is based on a plurality of display mobiles, adapted to carry out the evolution of the display members between their two states according to at least two display cycles.
• the aim of the invention is therefore to provide a display device for a watch movement in which the aforementioned defects are at least partially overcome.
• control system Since the control system is based on two stacks instead of mobiles, it can be significantly more compact in the plane of movement than the device described in the preamble, and provides more possibilities in terms of combinations of display members for each indication, as well as their speed and/or sequence of evolution.
• said programming disks define a plurality of series of said values to be displayed, which increases the variability of the display at the level of the combinations of display members which adopt their second state for each value to be displayed.
• said second stack is arranged to be pivoted by a rake whose angular path is a function of said value to be displayed in order to present said programming discs to said feelers in such a way as to allow a number K of said control levers to pivot which corresponds to said value to be displayed.
• said programming discs of said second stack define a plurality R of cycles of the values to be displayed, the pivoting of said second stack being controlled by said rake, the latter being arranged to pivot said second stack by at least 1/n revolution at each actuation. This ensures that, for each actuation of the display device, the next cycle of the values to be displayed is used.
• said rake comprises a feeler arranged to cooperate with a snail whose angular position is a function of said value to be displayed, which is a relatively simple solution for obtaining a correct angular path for the rake.
• said rake comprises a cam follower which cooperates with a retraction cam driven in rotation intermittently by said control wheel set so as to allow said feeler to cooperate with said snail during actuation, and to keep said feeler separated from said snail at all other times.
• said rake is kinematically connected to said second stack by means of a unidirectional drive comprising an elastic finger integral in rotation with a wheel which meshes with said rake, said elastic finger being arranged to cooperate with an internal toothing defining a number P of regularly distributed stops, said internal toothing being integral in rotation with said second stack.
• said first stack comprises a number of cams greater than N, an actuation system being provided to move said cams along their axis of rotation in order to present at least two combinations of cams to said cam followers.
• said first stack comprises a pin held in contact with a displacement cam under the effect of a return element, said displacement cam being arranged to pivot at a rate of one step per rotation of said first stack.
• said displacement cam is integral in rotation with a star arranged to be pivoted by an actuation element, such as a pin or a stud, which is carried by a frame element.
• said displacement cam and said star are carried by a mobile which is integral in rotation with said first stack.
• said display device is a time display comprising twelve display members.
• FIG. 1 illustrates the visible part of a display device 1 according to the invention.
• a desired value the time, the date, a measured quantity, the tens or units of any measurement, the power reserve of a watch movement or the like.
• the display members 3 take the form of flowers and are each arranged to evolve between a first state (narrowed and therefore of smaller surface area) and a second state (deployed and therefore of larger surface area).
• any type of display member 3 can find an application within the scope of the present invention, insofar as said two states are visually distinguishable from one another by the user.
• the display device 1 as illustrated in the figures is arranged to indicate the time by means of the number of display members 3 which are in their second state, the total number N of display members 3 being 12. More generally, the number N of display members 3 is equal to or greater than the maximum value to be displayed.
• the figures 2 to 4 illustrate the display device 1, with the exception of the display members 3, in its rest position.
• the display device 1 comprises a driving source 15, illustrated here in the form of a barrel housing a motor spring (not illustrated), which is arranged to provide a driving force for the operation of the display device 1.
• the actuation of the display members 3 is ensured by a control system.
• the latter comprises a plurality of control levers 5, the number M of which is equal to N in the illustrated embodiment. However, it is possible to actuate a plurality of display members by means of a single control lever 5, in which case the number of these latter would be less than N. Alternatively, M may be greater than N.
• Each control lever 5 is kinematically connected to a corresponding display member 3 via a corresponding connecting member 7 in order to change the display members 3 between their first state and their second state.
• the connecting members 7 are wires each extending between a corresponding control lever 5 and a corresponding display member 3, but chains, rods or other ad hoc connecting members 7 are also possible.
• the angular position of the control levers 5 is determined by two sets 9, 19 acting in parallel so as to create a mechanical “AND” logic, and thus to control the movements of the control levers 5.
• each control lever 5 comprises a cam follower 8 which cooperates with at least one cam 9a of a first stack of cams 9.
• the cams 9a of the latter are integral in rotation with each other and movable in rotation about their own axis 9b, and are arranged to ensure the ad hoc sequencing of the pivoting of the control levers 5, and therefore of the evolution of the display members 3 between their first and second states if necessary.
• the cams 9a can be integral in rotation in groups which are arranged to be pivoted independently of each other.
• Each cam 9a has two upper radius portions, which cooperate with the corresponding cam follower 8 to define the first state of the corresponding display member 3, as well as two lower radius portions, which cooperate with the corresponding cam follower 8 to define the second state of the corresponding display member 3, to the extent that this is permitted (see above).
• the portions are arranged alternately, the slope of each cam between each upper radius portion to the next lower radius portion (in the direction of rotation of the cam 9a) defining the pivoting speed of the corresponding control lever 5, at least some (preferably all) of said cams 9a having different slopes and/or different positions of the beginnings of slopes. If the second state is dynamic instead of static, the shape of the cams 9a is adapted accordingly.
• a number N+1 of cams 9a is provided (13 in this case), the stack 9 being able to be moved axially to select the cams 9a which act on the followers 8 of the control levers 5, as will be explained below in connection with the figures 12 to 14 .
• a number of cams 9a which is equal to the number M of control levers 5, or which is even greater than N+1.
• N+1 the number of cams 9a which is equal to the number M of control levers 5, or which is even greater than N+1.
• the first stack 9 is integral in rotation with a mobile 11 whose drive is ensured by the main toothing 13a of a control mobile 13, driven in rotation at the rate of one complete revolution by triggering (whether at the request of the user by actuating a push-piece, a bolt or the like, or by passing under the control of a watch movement, by means of an ad hoc mechanism), under the effect of said driving source 15.
• the mechanism for triggering a rotation of the control mobile 13 has not been shown, and is within the reach of those skilled in the art.
• control wheel 13 will be described in more detail in the context of the operation of the mechanism, but it is sufficient, at this stage, to specify that it is arranged to drive the wheel 11 in rotation at the rate of half a turn per complete rotation of the control wheel 13, and for this purpose an intermediate wheel 17 is provided in order to ensure a correct gear ratio.
• each cam 9a defines, during a complete rotation, two cycles of evolution of the corresponding display member 3.
• the gear ratio between the wheel 11 and the control wheel 13 being adapted accordingly.
• the profiles of the cams 9a are different, in order to vary the sequence of evolution of the display members 3 when the first stack 9 pivots.
• the display device 1 further comprises a second stack 19 comprising a plurality of programming discs 19a integral in rotation with each other and movable in rotation about their own axis 19b.
• Each programming disc 19a cooperates with a feeler 21 with which each control lever 5 is provided, the number of programming discs 19a therefore being equal to the number of control levers 5.
• These programming discs 19a comprise notches which define whether an indicator member 3 can be put into its second state when the corresponding cam 9a allows the corresponding control lever 5 to pivot.
• control levers 5 are each biased in rotation by a respective elastic element (not shown, and which can be arranged at an ad hoc location, for example at the level of the respective display member or acting on the free end of each control lever 5) in order to keep them in contact with a cam 9a and/or a control disc 19a, if applicable.
• a respective elastic element not shown, and which can be arranged at an ad hoc location, for example at the level of the respective display member or acting on the free end of each control lever 5
• eight control levers 5 control their display members 3 to adopt their second state, while four control levers have been prevented from pivoting by their control discs 19a, and the corresponding display members 3 are therefore in their first state. An indication of eight o'clock is thus provided.
• the second stack 19 can adopt a number of angular positions which is a multiple of 12. In a simple variant, 12 angular positions could be provided, which will give rise to a single combination of display members 3 to indicate each hour. In order to increase the perception of quasi-random combinations, the second stack comprises 60 angular positions, i.e. five cycles of combinations, the modifications to obtain different numbers P of cycles being within the reach of those skilled in the art. In combination with the four possibilities for the sequence of operation which can be obtained by the first stacking 9 as illustrated, we thus obtain 224 combinations of evolutions of the twelve display organs 3 in order to indicate the twelve hours, which is sufficiently important to appear to the user as being quasi-random.
• the angular position of the second stack 19 is controlled by a pivotally mounted rack 23 and whose angular position is determined on the one hand by a retraction cam 25 integral in rotation with a mobile 27 which cooperates with a cam follower 26 carried by the rack 23 and, on the other hand, by a feeler 29, also carried by the rack 23 and which cooperates with a snail 31.
• the latter has a profile which is representative of the value to be displayed as a function of its angular position, and is arranged to pivot as a function of said value by ad hoc means.
• said snail therefore has twelve bearings and is arranged to perform a complete rotation in twelve hours under the control of a clock movement; for this purpose, the snail may be integral in rotation with a twelve-pointed star or an hour wheel. Modifications to obtain other values are, of course, within the reach of those skilled in the art.
• a resilient member 33 is provided to hold the cam follower 26 in contact with the retracting cam 25, and the rake 23 meshes with a wheel 37 (see figure 4 ) which is mounted in rotation around the axis 19b, and which is kinematically connected to the second stack 19 by means of a unidirectional drive.
• the latter comprises an elastic finger 39 integral in rotation with the wheel 37, which is biased towards the outside and cooperates with a drive member 41 which comprises internal teeth defining five (more generally a number P of) regularly distributed stops 41a and which cooperate with the free end of the elastic finger 39. If the number P of combination cycles, to display the values, is other than five, the number of stops 41a corresponds to it.
• the mobile 27 is arranged to be driven in rotation by the control mobile by means of an intermittent gear 28 cooperating with a toothed segment 13c of the control mobile 13, as will be better described below in connection with the operation of the display device 1.
• This toothed segment 13c is in a different plane from that of the main toothing 13a so as not to cooperate with the intermediate mobile 17.
• the retraction cam 25 positions said feeler 29 at a distance from said snail 31 and out of contact with the latter, but is arranged to pivot in order to allow the feeler 29 to approach, and take information from, the snail 31, the profile of said retraction cam 25 being adapted for this purpose.
• the second stack 19 is pivoted so that the control discs 19a are in the correct angular position to correctly display said value when the feelers 21 cooperate with the programming discs 19a. This operation will be described in more detail in connection with the operating sequence of the display device 1.
• the positioning of the second stack 19 is ensured by a friction spring 19c, which is adapted to prevent said stack 19 from being able to pivot unexpectedly, for example following an impact.
• a snap-in system may also or alternatively find an application for the same purpose, such a system also serving to reduce inertia and prevent the second stack 19 from pivoting at an angle that is too large than desired.
• the operating speed of the display device 1 is adjusted by means of a flywheel system 35 in kinematic connection with the drive source 15 (illustrated exclusively on the figure 2 ).
• the construction of the flywheel system 35 is entirely conventional and therefore does not need to be described in detail, and it is sufficient to note that the person skilled in the art can adopt any known construction.
• the figures 2 , 3 And 4 illustrate the display device 1 in its rest position, an indication of “8” being provided by means of eight display members 3 which are in their second state. This display corresponds to that resulting from the previous triggering, which remains visible until the next triggering.
• THE figures 5 And 6 illustrate the situation a few seconds after triggering the control mobile 13 to make a complete counterclockwise turn of the Figure 5 and clockwise from the figure 6 .
• the first stack 9 has pivoted so that all of the cam followers 8 are mounted on the upper radius portion of each cam 9a.
• the control levers 5 have thus been commanded to adopt their position in which the display members 3 are in their first state (closed in the case of the flowers of the illustrated embodiment). In doing so, the feelers 21 have all been moved away from the programming discs 19a of the second stack 19.
• the main toothing 13a of the control wheel 13 is not a complete toothing, but defines a non-toothed segment 13b, which is now opposite the intermediate wheel 17, and which will therefore no longer be driven until the main toothing 13a begins to cooperate with this wheel again. last.
• the rotation of the first stack 9 is thus temporarily stopped, all of the display members 3 therefore remaining in their first state.
• THE figures 7 And 8 illustrate the state of the display device 1 some time after that of the figures 5 And 6
• the control wheel 13 has pivoted further from the situation shown in these latter figures, the intermediate wheel 17 remaining opposite the non-toothed sector 13b and the first stack 9 thus remaining stationary.
• the feelers 21 therefore remain distant from the programming discs 19a of the second stack 19, and the display members 3 consequently remain in their first state.
• the intermittent gear train pivoted the mobile 27 and therefore the retraction cam 25, which pivoted the rack 23 under the effect of the elastic element 23 until the feeler 29 came into contact with the snail 31, in order to define its path according to the value to be displayed.
• the toothed part of the rake 23 has pivoted the wheel 37 so that the elastic finger 39 advances to catch up with the next stop 41a and to advance the second stack 19 so that the correct portion of the programming discs 19a is located opposite the feelers 21.
• This portion corresponds to an occurrence of the value to be indicated, whether from the same cycle of values, from the next cycle of values, or from the cycle after that in the case of repeated display of the maximum value, where appropriate, depending on the angular position of the next stop 41a (as a reminder, there are five cycles of the twelve values in the illustrated embodiment).
• the angle traveled by the rake 23 ensures that the second stack 19 has pivoted at least one angular position and at most twice the number of positions of a single cycle, the cooperation between the stops 41a and the elastic finger 39 ensuring the correct angular positioning of the second stack 19.
• the control wheel 13 continues to pivot.
• the non-toothed segment 13b remains opposite the intermediate wheel 17, the first stack 9 therefore remaining stationary, which keeps the control levers 5 in their positions corresponding to the first state of the display members 3.
• the intermittent gear 28 continues to pivot the retraction cam 25, so that the cam follower 26 rises towards the next vertex of the latter, which moves the feeler 29 away from the snail 31 and, some time later, the rack 23 will have returned to its starting position and the toothed segment 13c will be out of engagement with the intermittent gear 28 and will no longer drive it.
• the retraction cam 25 will therefore remain stationary in this state until the next triggering.
• the levers 5 whose feelers 21 are located opposite a notch of their corresponding control disc 19a move under the control of the cam 9a corresponding to the first stack 9.
• the profiles of the cams 9a being different, the speeds of movement of the levers 5, and therefore the speeds of movement of the display members 3 between their first and second states, differ.
• the first stack 9 comprises N+1 cams 9a, i.e. thirteen cams 9a in the illustrated embodiment.
• an actuation system is provided and will be described in connection with the figures 12 to 14 .
• the first stack 9 is biased along the axis 9b by means of a return element 43, which pushes it towards the mobile 11, with which it is integral in rotation.
• the axial position of the first stack 9 is defined by the cooperation between, on the one hand, a pin 9c, which is integral with the cam 9a which is closest to the mobile 11, on the other hand, by a displacement cam 45 pivotally mounted on the mobile 11 opposite the pin 9c.
• the displacement cam 45 has a profile adapted to define two axial positions of the first stack 9, as illustrated on the one hand by the figure 13 , on the other hand by the figure 14 .
• the displacement cam 45 is integral in rotation with a star 47, which cooperates once per rotation of the mobile 11 with an actuation element 49 which is integral with a frame element (not illustrated).
• the actuation element 39 is a pin, but a stud, a finger or any other ad hoc structure can be used.
• the actuation element 49 pivots the star 47, which cooperates with the pin 9c so that the first stack 9 moves from one of its axial positions to the other.
• the displacement cam 45 has four bearings, two higher and two lower, and the star 47 has four points.
• the movement between the axial positions of the first stack 9 takes place when the cam followers 8 are located opposite the lowest parts of the cams 9a, but it is also possible to arrange the mechanism in such a way that this movement takes place when the cam followers 8 are in contact with the highest part of the set of cams 9a.
• the displacement cam 45 has an appropriate number of bearings
• the star 47 has an appropriate number of points.

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• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)

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Citations (4)

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• 2024
  • 2024-01-26 CH CH000094/2024A patent/CH721553A1/fr unknown
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  • 2025-01-14 EP EP25151628.2A patent/EP4597231A1/de active Pending

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