NL2023822B1 - Chronograph watch - Google Patents
Chronograph watch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL2023822B1 NL2023822B1 NL2023822A NL2023822A NL2023822B1 NL 2023822 B1 NL2023822 B1 NL 2023822B1 NL 2023822 A NL2023822 A NL 2023822A NL 2023822 A NL2023822 A NL 2023822A NL 2023822 B1 NL2023822 B1 NL 2023822B1
- Authority
- NL
- Netherlands
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- lever
- chronograph watch
- frame
- watch according
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
- G04F7/00—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by non-electric means
- G04F7/04—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by non-electric means using a mechanical oscillator
- G04F7/08—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph
- G04F7/0842—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph with start-stop control mechanisms
- G04F7/0852—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph with start-stop control mechanisms with member having a rotational two-way movement, e.g. navette
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
- G04F7/00—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by non-electric means
- G04F7/04—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by non-electric means using a mechanical oscillator
- G04F7/08—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph
- G04F7/0842—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph with start-stop control mechanisms
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
Abstract
A chronograph watch comprising a wheel (3) that governs operation of the watch, which wheel (3) is mounted on a frame (2), said watch further comprising a lever (10) for controlling the wheel (3), wherein the wheel (3) is elastically connected with the frame (2) and provided with at least two stable positions with reference to the frame (2), wherein the wheel (3) is movable between said at least two stable posi— tions by operation of the lever (10).
Description
Chronograph watch The invention relates to a chronograph watch compris- ing a wheel, usually a column wheel, that governs operation of the watch, which wheel is mounted on a frame, said watch fur- ther comprising a lever for controlling the wheel.
Such a chronograph watch is known for decades; a very detailed explanation of its construction is provided by column-whesl-chronographs-wori-notably-the-lange-1951~ In a conventional chronograph watch the column wheel is a multilayer wheel that dictates the position and motion of all remaining parts in the chronograph. It is actuated via a human push on a button. With this push, a ratchet latch is pulled downwards thereby rotating the column wheel. When ro- tating, a tooth on the column wheel comes into contact with a first lever which moves outwards (this first lever is a hori- zontal clutch, engaging the running seconds gear with the chronograph gear). At the same time, the rotation of column wheel causes a second lever to fall inwards (this second lever is a brake lever, which is released for the chronograph hand to start moving).
Finally, a spring with a hook is used to prevent the column wheel from moving further or back. Basically, this con- struction provides the column wheel with a stable position.
In order to stop the chronograph from running, again a push of the button is needed, causing the latch to move downwards, to rotate the column wheel further, disengaging the horizontal clutch and engaging the brake lever .
There are several drawbacks with the conventional chronograph watch, notably that the mechanism consists of many parts (>20) and requires assembly. Moreover, the column wheel is a multilayer part, which is difficult to manufacture. Last- ly, the system with the column wheel, the frame and the levers in assembled condition is non-planar and therefore results in a relatively high thickness of the chronograph watch.
The invention has as an objective to provide a chronograph watch in which these drawbacks are at least in part removed.
According to the invention a chronograph watch is proposed having the features of one or more of the appended claims.
In a first aspect the chronograph watch of the inven- tion has the feature that the wheel is elastically connected with the frame and provided with at least two stable positions with reference to the frame, wherein the wheel is movable be- tween said at least two stable positions by operation of the lever. Such a wheel may then perform the function of a conven- tional column wheel, which greatly simplifies the construction of the chronograph watch. The wheel may for instance be used to move gears from the chronograph watch from an inoperative to an operative position.
In general it is advantageous that the wheel is con- nected with the frame by at least two flexures, wherein said at least two flexures are arranged with a first position and a second position, which first position and second position cor- respond to the at least two stable positions of the wheel.
In one suitable embodiment of the chronograph watch the at least two flexures are unbuckled when in the first po- sition, and when in the second position the at least two flex- ures are buckled.
In another suitable embodiment of the chronograph watch of the invention the at least two flexures are buckled in a first direction when in the first position, and when in the second position the at least two flexures are buckled in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.
In a suitable embodiment the lever connects by at least two intermediate flexures with the frame, wherein the intermediate flexures arrange that the lever has a preferen- tial position to which it automatically returns after being deflected therefrom. This construction can easily be manufac- tured in one piece.
In another aspect of the invention at least one of the column wheel, the frame and the lever, or these elements together form a single piece. This makes construction of the chronograph watch less cumbersome and expensive. It also pro- motes the reliability and accuracy of the chronograph watch.
In a further aspect of the invention the column wheel, the frame and the lever are provided in-plane. This makes it possible to assemble and provide a ultrathin chrono- graph watch.
A further preferable feature is that the column wheel is provided with slots that are arranged to cooperate with protrusions provided on resilient supporting beams that are connected to the frame. This can secure the respective stable positions of the column wheel.
Another notable feature is that the lever drivingly connects to a beam which is longitudinally displaceable by op- eration of the lever, and which beam on operation of the lever engages a contacting surface of the column wheel to move said column wheel. This makes possible that operation of the lever causes the beam to move the column wheel from a first stable position to a second stable position, or vice versa.
Further preferable features are: -that the wheel is a column wheel.
-that the wheel operates during use as a horizontal clutch.
-that the wheel operates during use as a brake lever.
-that the wheel operates during use as a horizontal clutch and as a brake lever.
The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of exemplary embodiments of a chronograph watch according to the invention that is not lim- iting as to the appended claims.
In the drawing: -figure 1 shows an image of a chronograph watch ac- cording to the invention; -figure 2 shows a top view of the wheel, the flame and the lever of the chronograph watch of the invention; -figure 3 shows a first embodiment of in particular the suspension of the wheel in the frame; -figure 4 shows a second embodiment of in particular the suspension of the wheel in the frame; and
-figure 5 shows a system wherein the wheel incorpo- rates the function of a column wheel, a horizontal clutch and a brake together.
Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.
With reference to figure 1 and figure 2, the basic operation of the chronograph watch shown in figure 1 can be explained in as far as relevant for the instant invention. All the remaining parts of the chronograph watch that are required for its operation are not shown in the figures, since they are or can be entirely consistent with the construction of the chronograph watch of the prior art, so that they are not need- ed for understanding the instant invention.
The wheel 3, the frame 2 and the lever 10 are com- pletely made as a single-piece 1 as depicted in figure 2. It is also possible to make only the wheel 3, only the frame 2, or only the lever 10 in one piece. It is also possible to make a combination of these elements in one piece.
By depressing the top right hand button A in figure 1 the lever 10 (see figure 2) is pushed left downwards, causing it to rotate counter-clockwise around an axis due to the flex- ures 12, 13 connecting the lever 10 to the frame 2. This move- ment of the lever 10 pushes beam 11 longitudinally towards a contact surface of the wheel 3. As the beam 11 engages the wheel 3, the wheel 3 rotates counter-clockwise and snaps through from a first stable position -which figure 2 shows- to a second stable position -with the skilled person can imagine from the shown construction.
The stiffness of the flexures 12, 13 makes the lever 10 return to its original position provided that the top right hand button A is not depressed. When the top right hand button A is depressed again the sequence of events will be the same, only now the beam 11 by engaging the wheel 3, will make the wheel 3 to rotate clockwise and snap back from the second sta- ble position to the first stable position which is the posi- tion shown in figure 2.
Figure 3 shows an embodiment in which the wheel 3 is connected with the frame 2 by at least two flexures 4, 5, wherein said at least two flexures 4, 5 are arranged with a first position and a second position, which first position and second position correspond to the at least two stable posi- tions of the wheel 3, such that in the first position the at least two flexures 4, 5 are unbuckled (see the left-hand fig- 5 ure part), and in the second position the at least two flex- ures 4, 5 are buckled (see the right-hand figure part.
Figure 4 shows another embodiment in which the wheel 3 is connected with the frame 2 by in this case four flexures 14 - 17, wherein said four flexures 14 - 17 are arranged with a first position and a second position, which first position and second position correspond to the at least two stable po- sitions of the wheel 3, wherein in the first position the four flexures are buckled in a first direction (see the left-hand figure part), and in the second position the four flexures 14 — 17 are buckled in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction (see the right-hand figure part).
Figure 5 shows another embodiment in which the wheel 3 does not only dictate the positions of a horizontal clutch 25 and a brake lever 24, but wherein these two levers are in- corporated in the wheel 3. The wheel 3 according this embodi- ment also has at least two stable positions, making it possi- ble to mesh the gear of a running gear train 21, 23 with an- other gear train 22 of the chronograph and to release the brake lever 24 on the chronograph hand 22.
Turning back to figure 2 it is shown the wheel 3 is provided with slots 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b that are arranged to coop- erate with protrusions provided on resilient supporting beams 6, 7 that are connected to the frame 2. It shows that said protrusions on the supporting beams 6, 7 fit in the slots 8a and Sa to secure the first stable position of the wheel 3. When the wheel 3 has moved to the second stable position the protrusions on the supporting beams 6, 7 will fit in the slots 8b and 9b so as to secure the second stable position.
Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to exemplary embodiments of the chronograph watch of the invention, the invention is not re- stricted to these particular embodiments which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The dis- cussed exemplary embodiments shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith.
On the contrary the embodiments are merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to these exemplary embodiments. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using these exem- plary embodiments. Aspects of the invention are itemized in the follow- ing section.
1. A chronograph watch comprising a wheel (3) that governs operation of the watch, which wheel (3) is mounted on a frame (2), said watch further comprising a lever (10) for controlling the wheel (3), characterized in that the wheel (3) is elastically connected with the frame (2) and pro- vided with at least two stable positions with reference to the frame (2), wherein the wheel (3) is movable between said at least two stable positions by operation of the lever (10).
2. The chronograph watch of claim 1, characterized in that the wheel (3) is connected with the frame (2) by at least two flexures (4, 5, 14 - 17), wherein said at least two flexures (4, 5, 14 - 17) are arranged with a first posi- tion and a second position, which first position and sec- ond position correspond to the at least two stable posi- tions of the wheel (3).
3. The chronograph watch of claim 2, characterized in that in the first position the at least two flexures (4, 5) are unbuckled, and in the second position the at least two flexures (4, 5) are buckled.
4. The chronograph watch of claim 2, characterized in that in the first position the at least two flexures (14 - 17) are buckled in a first direction, and in the second position the at least two flexures (14 - 17) are buckled in a sec- ond direction which is opposite to the first direction.
5. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 4, charac- terized in that the lever (10) connects by at least two intermediate flexures (12, 13) with the frame (2), wherein the intermediate flexures (12, 13) arrange that the lever
(10) has a preferential position to which it automatically returns after being deflected therefrom.
6. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 5, charac- terized in that at least one of the wheel (3), the frame (2) and the lever (10) forms a single piece (1) or a per- mutation of these elements together form a single piece.
7. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 6, charac- terized in that the wheel (3), the frame (2) and the lever (10) are provided in-plane.
8. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 7, charac- terized in that the wheel (3) is provided with slots (8a, 8b, Sa, 9b) that are arranged to cooperate with protru- sions provided on resilient supporting beams (6, 7) that are connected to the frame (2).
9. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 8, charac- terized in that the lever (10) drivingly connects to a beam (11) which is longitudinally displaceable by opera- tion of the lever (10), and which beam (11) on operation of the lever (10) engages a contacting surface of the wheel (3) to move said wheel.
10. The chronograph watch of claim 9, characterized in that operation of the lever (10) causes the beam (11) to move the wheel (3) from a first stable position to a second stable position, or vice versa.
11. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 10, charac- terized in that the wheel (3) is a colum wheel.
12. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 10, charac- terized in that the wheel (3) operates during use as a horizontal clutch (25).
13. The chronograph watch of any one of claims 1 - 10, charac- terized in that the wheel (3) operates during use as a brake lever (24).
Claims (13)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2023822A NL2023822B1 (en) | 2019-09-12 | 2019-09-12 | Chronograph watch |
CH001142/2020A CH716595B1 (en) | 2019-09-12 | 2020-09-11 | Chronograph watch. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2023822A NL2023822B1 (en) | 2019-09-12 | 2019-09-12 | Chronograph watch |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NL2023822B1 true NL2023822B1 (en) | 2021-05-17 |
Family
ID=68138762
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
NL2023822A NL2023822B1 (en) | 2019-09-12 | 2019-09-12 | Chronograph watch |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CH (1) | CH716595B1 (en) |
NL (1) | NL2023822B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP4379477A1 (en) | 2022-11-30 | 2024-06-05 | Flexous Mechanisms IP B.V. | Movement, such as a chronograph movement, for a watch |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2023248177A1 (en) | 2022-06-23 | 2023-12-28 | Lvmh Swiss Manufactures Sa | Bistable timepiece control mechanism |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008075147A2 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2008-06-26 | Jaquet, Jean-Pierre | Chronograph |
EP2037335A2 (en) * | 2007-09-13 | 2009-03-18 | August Enzler | Anchor for a timepiece escapement |
CH706274A2 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2013-09-30 | Nivarox Sa | Escapement mechanism for clockwork movement of timepiece, has single-piece flexible mechanism transmitting pulses between balance and escapement wheel and connected to fixture structure of timepiece or wheel by flexible blade |
EP2897003A2 (en) * | 2014-01-16 | 2015-07-22 | Richemont International S.A. | Movement and mechanical timepiece including a chronograph mechanism |
EP3021174A1 (en) * | 2014-11-17 | 2016-05-18 | LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA | Monolithic timepiece regulator, timepiece movement and timepiece having such a timepiece regulator |
CH712631A1 (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2017-12-29 | Mft Et Fabrique De Montres Et Chronomètres Ulysse Nardin Le Locle S A | Exhaust for watch movement. |
EP3291024A1 (en) * | 2016-09-05 | 2018-03-07 | CSEM Centre Suisse D'electronique Et De Microtechnique SA | Display module comprising elements movable around deformable links, associated display system and timepiece comprising such a display system |
EP3327518A1 (en) * | 2016-11-29 | 2018-05-30 | Montres Breguet S.A. | Timepiece comprising a switching device of a clockwork mechanism |
WO2019160404A1 (en) * | 2018-02-13 | 2019-08-22 | Kinergizer Ip B.V | Energy harvester |
-
2019
- 2019-09-12 NL NL2023822A patent/NL2023822B1/en active
-
2020
- 2020-09-11 CH CH001142/2020A patent/CH716595B1/en unknown
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008075147A2 (en) * | 2006-12-18 | 2008-06-26 | Jaquet, Jean-Pierre | Chronograph |
EP2037335A2 (en) * | 2007-09-13 | 2009-03-18 | August Enzler | Anchor for a timepiece escapement |
CH706274A2 (en) * | 2012-03-29 | 2013-09-30 | Nivarox Sa | Escapement mechanism for clockwork movement of timepiece, has single-piece flexible mechanism transmitting pulses between balance and escapement wheel and connected to fixture structure of timepiece or wheel by flexible blade |
EP2897003A2 (en) * | 2014-01-16 | 2015-07-22 | Richemont International S.A. | Movement and mechanical timepiece including a chronograph mechanism |
EP3021174A1 (en) * | 2014-11-17 | 2016-05-18 | LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA | Monolithic timepiece regulator, timepiece movement and timepiece having such a timepiece regulator |
CH712631A1 (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2017-12-29 | Mft Et Fabrique De Montres Et Chronomètres Ulysse Nardin Le Locle S A | Exhaust for watch movement. |
EP3291024A1 (en) * | 2016-09-05 | 2018-03-07 | CSEM Centre Suisse D'electronique Et De Microtechnique SA | Display module comprising elements movable around deformable links, associated display system and timepiece comprising such a display system |
EP3327518A1 (en) * | 2016-11-29 | 2018-05-30 | Montres Breguet S.A. | Timepiece comprising a switching device of a clockwork mechanism |
WO2019160404A1 (en) * | 2018-02-13 | 2019-08-22 | Kinergizer Ip B.V | Energy harvester |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP4379477A1 (en) | 2022-11-30 | 2024-06-05 | Flexous Mechanisms IP B.V. | Movement, such as a chronograph movement, for a watch |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CH716595A2 (en) | 2021-03-15 |
CH716595B1 (en) | 2024-02-29 |
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