JPS6298289A - Sealing structure of external operation part of timepiece case - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute a seal structure which does not deteriorate with the lapse of time, maintains airtightness even when the timepiece is operated under water, and obtains invariably stable sealing pressure by arranging a seal member which has a metallic spring member in a ring member made of synthetic resin on the inner peripheral surface of the crown. CONSTITUTION:The seal member 10 arranged between the small-diameter outer peripheral part 8b of a case pipe 8 and the inner peripheral surface 9b of the crown 9 consists of the ring member 10a and spring member 10b. The ring member 10a is made of synthetic resin while having U-shaped section which is open to the inside. The spring member 10b is made of metal in a U-sectioned shape, arranged in the U-sectioned ring member 10a, and open to the inside similarly to the ring member 10a. The seal member 10 is clamped between the inner peripheral surface 9b of the crown 9 and the small-diameter outer peripheral part 8b of the case pipe 8. Consequently, dynamic airtightness is superior even in underwater operation or in case of an external shock, not to mention that the airtight function is secured when the crown 9 is only drawn out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a sealing structure for an external operating section of a timepiece.

[Conventional technology]

External operating parts such as crowns and push buttons used in high-pressure waterproof watches for diving require a highly reliable and secure sealing structure from the perspective of protecting the lives of divers.Generally, sealing structures using compressed elastomer are used. has been adopted.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional external operation unit disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 50-10165, in which the crown 2 is removably engaged with the body 1 by screw connection, and the crown 2 is connected to the body 1 in a watertight manner. A packing 4 is disposed on the outer circumferential step of the fixed winding stem pipe B, and the packing 4 has an interference in the radial direction.

A washer 5 disposed on a step provided on the inner periphery of the crown 2 is in contact with the outer end surface of the seal 4, and the seal 4 is pressed by screwing the crown 2 onto the shell 1. A split ring 6 is fitted into a groove formed at the outer end of the winding stem pipe B, and the split ring 6 prevents the washer 5 from moving too far to the outside when the crown 2 and the body 1 are unscrewed. The degree is determined.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above conventional structure, if the seal 4 is tightened for a long period of time, the elastic force will weaken over time and the sealing effect will be lost, so the seal structure based on the compression of the seal 4 fails to provide stable sealing pressure for a long period of time. However, the structure was not satisfactory as a seal structure for a high-pressure waterproof watch for diving. Furthermore, if the external operating member of a conventionally constructed watch is operated underwater, there is concern about the waterproof function, and it is common practice not to operate the external operating member underwater.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide a new seal structure that does not deteriorate over time, maintains waterproofness even when operating the external operating member underwater, and can always obtain stable seal pressure. It is to be.

[Means for solving problems]

The structure of the present invention is such that a sealing member, in which a metal spring member is arranged inside a synthetic resin ring member with openings in the same direction, is arranged between two parts, an external operating member and other parts, and The present invention is characterized in that the position of the seal member is regulated and the seal member is always clamped between the external operating member and other components against the elastic force of the spring member.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of the main parts of the external operation section on the watch side, showing an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows the crown with the screws locked, and Figure 2 shows the crown with the screws unlocked. Indicates the condition. Holes are drilled in two stages in the body 7 and penetrate through the side wall, and a side pipe 8 is fixed watertightly to the small diameter hole 7a on the inside by brazing or the like, and a female screw part is installed in the large diameter hole 7b on the outside. 7c is screwed on.

The side pipe 8 has a small-diameter outer peripheral part on the inside that can be fitted into the small-diameter hole 7a of the body 7, and an outer protruding part of the side pipe 8 that is formed continuously with this inner small-diameter outer peripheral part and projects outward. Formed in a two-stage outer periphery, with a large-diameter outer periphery 8a on the inside and a small-diameter outer periphery 8 on the outside.
b, and a groove 8c is formed at the outer end of the small diameter outer peripheral portion 8b. Then, connect the inner small diameter outer peripheral part of the side pipe 8 to the body 7.
The side pipe 8 is fitted into the small-diameter hole 7a, and the side pipe 8 is fixed to the body 7 with the inner end surface of the large-diameter outer peripheral portion 8a in contact with the vertical surface of the step formed by the small-diameter hole 7a and the large-diameter hole 7b.

In the crown 9, a male threaded part 9a threaded on the outer circumferential part of the inner end is threadedly engaged with a female threaded part 7c, and an inner end of the inner circumferential surface 9b is loosely engaged with the large diameter outer circumferential part 8a of the side pipe 8. There is. A sealing member 10 disposed between the small diameter outer circumferential portion 8b of the side pipe 8 and the inner circumferential surface 9b of the crown 9 includes a ring member 10a and a spring member 10b.
The ring member 10a is made of synthetic resin and has a U-shaped cross section that is open to the inside, and the spring member 10b is made of metal and has an IJ-shaped cross section. The ring member 10a is opened inward like the ring member 10a. The seal member 10 is attached to the crown 9
is clamped between the inner circumferential surface 9b of the side pipe 8 and the small diameter outer circumferential portion 8b of the side pipe 8.

A split ring 12 is attached to the groove 8c, and the washer 11 disposed between the outer end surface of the seal member 10 and the split ring 12 is prevented from being removed.

A female threaded portion 9c is threaded in the center of the inner bottom of the crown 9, and a male threaded portion 13a threaded on the tip of the joint winding true male member 16 is screwed into the female threaded portion 9c.

The joint-wound true male member 16 is attached to the joint-wound true female member 15 via a coil spring 14 so as to be movable in the axial direction.

With the above configuration, in the state shown in FIG. 1 in which the female threaded portion 7c of the barrel 7 and the male threaded portion 9a of the crown 9 are screwed together, the sealing member 10
The radial elastic force of the spring member 10b causes the ring member 10a to strongly adhere to the small diameter outer circumferential portion 8b and the inner circumferential surface 9b, thereby preventing water from entering the body Z from between the side pipe 8 and the crown 90. I can do it.

Also, even in the state shown in FIG. 2 in which the crown 9 and the body 7 are unscrewed and the crown 9 is pulled out, the small diameter outer circumferential portion 8b of the side vibe 8 and the inner circumferential surface 9b of the crown 9 are similar to that in FIG. Seal member 10 between
is clamped, and the spring member 10. The strong elastic force in the radial direction of b causes the ring member 10a to strongly adhere to the small diameter outer circumferential portion 8b and the inner circumferential surface 9b, so of course that the waterproof function is ensured even when the crown 9 is only pulled out. Excellent dynamic waterproofing properties even when operated underwater or subjected to external impact.

In addition, by using a spring member with good corrosion resistance or by applying rust prevention with grease etc., the spring member 10b
Since the elastic force of the seal member 10 can be maintained for a long period of time and does not deteriorate over time, the sealing pressure of the seal member 10 is stable for a long period of time. Furthermore, since the seal member 10 is open to the inside, even if the pressure inside the watch becomes higher than the outside pressure, the seal structure acts as a kind of valve, and there is no need to worry about the glass coming off or breaking due to internal pressure buildup. .

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the external operation section on the watch side showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which a double hole is bored in the side wall of the case 16 and passes through the side wall. It has a large diameter hole 16a,
The side pipe 17 of the inner small diameter hole 16b is fixed watertightly by brazing or the like. The inside of the side pipe 17 is formed to have a two-stage inner periphery, and has a large diameter inner periphery 7a on the outside, and is bent in the inner circumferential direction of the small diameter inner periphery 17b at the inner tip of the inner small diameter inner periphery 17b. A bendable collar 17c is formed.

The push button 18 inserted into the side pipe 17 consists of a shaft portion 18a formed on a two-stage outer periphery and a head portion 18b at the outer end.The shaft portion 18a has a small diameter outer peripheral portion 18c on the inside and a large diameter outer peripheral portion 1 on the outside.
It is 8e. The small-diameter outer peripheral part 18c of the shaft part 18; is passed through the small-diameter inner peripheral part 17b, and the vicinity of the inner end fits loosely with the inner periphery of the collar 17c, and the inner end protrudes from the collar 17c. A groove 18d is formed in the portion. Large diameter outer peripheral portion 1 of shaft portion 18a
The inner end of 8e is the small diameter inner peripheral part 171 of the side pipe 17.
) and the vertical surface of the stepped portion 18f formed at the boundary between the small-diameter outer circumferential portion 18c and the large-diameter outer circumferential portion 18e and the collar 17.
A coil spring 19 is disposed under pressure between the push button 18 and the push button 18.

The sealing member 21 disposed between the large-diameter outer circumferential portion 18e of the shaft portion 18a and the large-diameter inner circumferential portion 17a of the side pipe 17 consists of a ring member 21a and a spring member 21b, and the ring member 21a has a cross section that opens outward. The spring member 21b is made of U-shaped synthetic resin, and is made of metal and has a U-shaped cross section. It's open.

The seal member 21 has a large diameter outer circumferential portion 18e and a large diameter inner circumferential portion 17a.
is squeezed between. Large diameter inner peripheral portion 17 of side pipe 17
A ring 22 is fixed to the outer end of the ring 22 by brazing or the like, and the sealing member 21 is always held between the large diameter outer circumferential portion 18e and the large diameter inner circumferential portion 17a without moving outward from the ring 22.

The head 18b of the push button 18 has a ring-shaped protrusion 18g that protrudes inward of the watch, and the protrusion 18g is located between the outer end of the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 17a of the side pipe 17 and the large-diameter hole 16a of the body 16. They are having fun.

With the above configuration, the push button 18 can be pushed inward against the elasticity of the coil spring 19, and when the pushing force is released, it returns outward. In both cases, the ring member 21a is strongly brought into close contact with the large-diameter outer circumferential portion 18e of the push button 18 and the large-diameter inner circumferential portion 17a of the side pipe 17 due to the strong elastic force in the radial direction of the spring member 21b. Not only is the waterproof function ensured when the push button 18 is not operated, but also the dynamic waterproof function is excellent even when operating underwater or receiving an external shock.

Further, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sealing pressure of the sealing member 21 is stable for a long period of time.

Furthermore, since the sealing member 21 is open to the outside, the sealing structure functions as a kind of valve, and there is no fear of the glass coming off or breaking due to internal pressure accumulation, as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the embodiment shown in FIG. The sealing member may be clamped between different parts, such as the barrel and the external operating member.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the elastic force of the metal spring member allows the ring member to always adhere strongly between the members to be waterproof sealed, so that the external operating member is not operated.・Excellent dynamic waterproofing not only when operating under water or when subjected to external impact.

In addition, by using a spring member with good corrosion resistance or anti-corrosion with grease, etc., the elastic force of the spring member can be maintained for a long period of time, and stable sealing pressure can be obtained for a long period of time. We can provide a highly reliable high pressure waterproof watch side.

Furthermore, the seal structure of the present invention has a kind of pulp effect, and when the pressure inside the watch becomes higher than the outside pressure, it has the function of pushing the gas inside to the outside, thus preventing the glass from coming off or breaking due to internal pressure buildup. No worries.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of the main parts of the external operation section on the watch side showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the state in which the crown is screw-locked to the body, and FIG. 2 shows the state in which the crown is screw-locked to the body. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of an external operating section on a watch side showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional external operating section. 7.16--Body, 7a, 16b--Small diameter hole, 7b, 16a...Large diameter hole, 7c, 9c...Female thread part, 8.17...Side pipe, 8a, 18e... ... Large diameter outer circumference, 8b, 18c... Small diameter outer circumference, 8C118d... Groove, 9... Crown, 9a, 13a.
...Male thread part, 9b...Inner peripheral surface, 10.21...Seal member, 10a, 21a...Ring member, 10b, 21b...Spring member, 11...Washer, 12.20 ... Split ring, 16... Joint winding true member, 14.19... Coil spring, 15...
Joint winding true female member, 17a...large diameter inner peripheral part, 17b...
・Small diameter inner circumference, 17c...Tsuba, 18...Push button, 18
a...Shaft part, 18b...Head part, 18f...Step part,
18g...Protrusion, 22...Ring. Figure 1 L Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sealing member with a metal spring member arranged inside a synthetic resin ring member with the openings in the same direction is arranged between the external operating member and other parts, and the position of the sealing member is regulated. A seal structure for an external operation part of a watch, characterized in that a seal member is always pressed between the external operation member and other parts against the elastic force of the spring member.