RU2716829C1 - Clock with movable mechanism of illumination - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: measurement technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to devices for measuring time, in particular, to clock mechanisms, which contain a light indicator and can be used in clock industry during production of clocks. Clock with movable illumination mechanism comprises body, clock mechanism, pointer mechanism, dial, wherein at least one part of the clock mechanism having a high oscillation frequency, preferably not less than 18,000 cycles per hour, is provided with luminous elements containing a phosphorescent or fluorescent material, wherein due to high frequency of oscillation of said at least one part of clock mechanism there is blurring of light trace, perceived by human vision as continuous luminous contour, due to which illuminated whole surface of dial and / or internal mechanism of clocks.

EFFECT: technical result of the invention is to reduce the area of application of the luminous coating with simultaneous increase in the luminance zone, which in turn increases the readability of the dial in low visibility conditions (fog, rain, snowfall, snowstorm, twilight, smoke, dust, et cetera) as well as possibility to see internal mechanisms of clock if there is insufficient illumination for preliminary detection of wear of clock mechanism or its incorrect operation until the clock breaks down.

14 cl, 7 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to devices for measuring time, in particular to watch mechanisms that contain a light indicator and can be used in the watch industry in the manufacture of watches.

State of the art

Currently, there are quite a lot of watch products that use various light indicator elements that provide an indication of the time on the dial at any time of the day.

Thus, watches according to patent EP 1319998 are known in which a light source formed by LEDs is located under the dial.

Also known patent DE 837070, which disclosed a watch having luminous hands and backlight.

A disadvantage of the known solutions is the complication of the watch design, due to the fact that an additional mechanism is introduced into the watch, which provides illumination of the dial and indicator elements on it.

The closest analogue is a watch known from patent document CH 271166 A. This document discloses a watch comprising a watch case, a clock mechanism, a clock mechanism and luminescent material, by means of which the watch hands and indicators on the dial are highlighted. However, in known watches, stationary illumination is carried out, that is, the luminescent coating covers both indicator elements on the dial and the hands themselves. At the same time, an additional fiber optic light source was introduced to illuminate the entire surface of the dial.

A disadvantage of the known watches is the large area of the painted surface having a luminescent material, as well as the complexity of the design to provide additional illumination for displaying indicators on the dial. In addition, in the claimed solution there is no possibility of lighting the details of the watch mechanism for the timely detection of wear or incorrect operation of the parts of the watch mechanism.

In contrast to the closest analogue, the watches of the present invention are simple and reliable due to the application of a luminous coating only on a small area of the clock mechanism having a high oscillation frequency (for example, a balance rim), thereby providing a large lighting area.

Thus, the present invention is the creation of watches containing a luminous coating on the elements of the clockwork with a high frequency of oscillation, which provides such a technical effect as reducing the area of application of the luminous coating with a simultaneous increase in the luminosity zone, which in turn leads to an increase in readability the dial in conditions of insufficient visibility (fog, rain, snowfall, blizzard, twilight, smoke, dust, etc.), as well as the ability to see the internal mechanisms of the watch in uchae lack of sufficient coverage for the preliminary identification of the movement or wear it does not operate to breakage hours.

The technical result of the claimed invention is to reduce the area of application of the luminous coating with a simultaneous increase in the luminosity zone.

Disclosure of Invention

The goal, the required and obtained by using the invention technical result is achieved in that a watch with a movable backlight mechanism includes a case, a clock mechanism, a clock mechanism, a dial, and at least one part of the clock mechanism having a high oscillation frequency, preferably at least 18,000 beats per hour, luminous elements containing phosphorescent or fluorescent material are applied, due to the high frequency of oscillation of the specified at least one part of the watch mechanism blur arises light trace, perceived by human eye as a continuous glowing contour through which illuminated the entire surface of the dial and / or the internal clock mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one part of the clock mechanism having a high oscillation frequency is made in the form of a balance regulator.

Moreover, the clock mechanism further comprises a trigger mechanism.

In addition, the trigger mechanism of the watch consists of an engraving system consisting of an anchor wheel, an anchor fork, a drive wheel of the engraving system.

In this case, the balance regulator contains a balance rim with luminous elements deposited on it, a balance axis, a spiral and a balance bridge mounted above the dial.

In addition, the balance rim is placed above the surface of the watch dial and secured with a balance bridge.

At the same time, the watch additionally contains a tourbillon mechanism.

In this case, the tourbillon mechanism is preferably made classic, biaxial or triaxial.

In addition, the watch is a skeleton watch in which the moving parts of the mechanism are fully or partially open and can be viewed through a special window in the dial or back case.

In this case, the watch can be made mechanical, and can also have a self-winding mechanism.

In this case, material based on calcium sulfide CaS, strontium SrS and barium BaS can be used as a phosphorescent material.

In this case, photoluminophors and electroluminophores, which are a mixture of complex composition: strontium aluminate activated by europium, dysprosium, and yttrium ((SrAL2O4): Eu, Dy, Y), can be used as fluorescent material.

In a preferred embodiment, the luminous elements can be made in the form of a luminous plastic insert made by mixing a liquid transparent plastic with a luminous fluorescent or phosphorescent material.

In a further preferred embodiment, the luminous plastic insert may have any shape and geometry.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is illustrated by drawings.

Structurally, in the preferred, but not solely shown, embodiments, the inventive watches with a movable backlighting mechanism include the following details:

1 minute scale

2 - hour scale

3 - hour hand

4 minute hand

5 - balance rim

6 - glowing inserts

7 - date indicator

8 - pointer to the day of the week

9 - month indicator

10 - dial

11 - balance bridge

12 - anchor wheel

13 - anchor fork

14 - circuit board

15 - axis of balance

16 - drive wheel engraining system

For a better understanding of the essence of the claimed movable highlighting mechanism, we examined the node of the classical free anchor descent and the balance regulator. According to the claimed invention, there are luminescent inserts in the balance rim. The specified example of the implementation of the present invention does not in any way limit the embodiments of the movable backlighting mechanism in watches, in which luminous elements are introduced into parts of the clock mechanism, which have a high oscillation frequency, and are presented only for understanding by the specialist of its mechanism and operating principle.

The term "movable" means a clock component, which, due to its functioning, changes either position or position, such as a wheel, a gear rotating between two pins or levels, or other elements, or a balance rim oscillating about an axis; these examples are not limiting.

Those skilled in the art will understand how to implement this example for other components and other watch functions. The invention is applicable to rapidly oscillating components of a watch, since their function is due to the high frequency of oscillations, which does not change over time.

In FIG. 1 shows a unit of classical free anchor descent at rest, having a drive wheel of the drainage system 16, an anchor wheel 12, an anchor fork 13, a balance rim 5, luminous fluorescent inserts 6 in the balance rim 5.

In FIG. 2 shows the trajectory of the luminous elements 6 mounted on the balance rim (not shown) in the working state of the balance rim, using the example of a balance that oscillates with a frequency of 5 vibrations (cycles) per second, or 18,000 cycles per hour.

In FIG. Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a watch with a balance rim placed above the dial (the balance rim is stationary).

In FIG. Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a watch with a balance rim placed above the dial (balance rim in motion).

In FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the watch of the present invention.

In FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a watch with a triaxial tourbillon having a movable backlight mechanism according to the invention.

In FIG. 7 shows a plan of arrangement of elements of the trigger mechanism.

The implementation of the invention

As you know, the basis of the clockwork is the accumulation of mechanical energy during the watch factory and its transmission to the mechanism during the course of the clock. For this purpose, a clockwork engine is intended. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure uniformity of energy transfer over a specified period of time for the duration of the clock, which is characterized by the constancy of the torque provided by the engine on the central wheel of the mechanism.

Any modern watch consists, in fact, of three large blocks: an oscillation generator, i.e. a device generating reference time intervals; a counter that calculates the fluctuations and translates their number into a human-friendly and familiar form - numbers or movement of the hands on the dial, and an energy source that is necessary for the two previous blocks to work. Moreover, the principle, when a certain oscillatory movement is taken as the basis of the time standard, is called the principle of oscillatory chronometry. The main element of modern mechanical watches and their main functional unit is the balance-spiral system.

The balance-spiral system is an oscillatory system for which sinusoidal oscillations are the determining type of motion. The balance-spiral system consists of a balance with an axis, a spiral, a block, a column, and a precision adjustment device. The balance should move along an ideal circular path, all points of which are located in the same plane.

The accuracy of the watch is most dependent on the balance design. In typical mechanisms, the balance oscillates at a frequency of 5 vibrations (measures) per second, or 18,000 cycles per hour. In newer, more accurate watches, balances fluctuate with a frequency of 19800, 21600, 28800, or even 36000 beats per hour. In most watches - both Japanese and Russian, as well as in many Swiss - the frequency 21600 is used. The frequency 28800 is used in some domestic watches and in many precise Swiss movements with a short balance period.

Also in a mechanical watch, a device called a tourbillon is used to compensate for the imbalance of the balance and stroke unit. In essence, a tourbillon is a complication, the principle of operation of which is a special device of the balance node, which makes it possible to level the effect of Earth's gravity and increase the accuracy of the clock. The balance-spiral system and the descent parts are mounted on a rotating platform, which usually makes one revolution per minute. Because of this, the asymmetric node changes the position of its center of gravity relative to the gravitational field, and the perturbations introduced by gravity in the course of the clock are mutually compensated.

The two-axis tourbillon consists of two carriages nested into each other and rotating both horizontally and vertically. Such a tourbillon performs its functions at any position of the watch.

A three-axis tourbillon is a tourbillon rotating in three directions.

As you know, a person has an inertia of vision (persistence), that is, a feature of the visual perception of discrete sequential events that seem continuous. That is, persistence is the ability of the eye to combine rapidly changing images into one still image.

The incorporation of luminous elements into parts of the clock mechanism, which have a high oscillation frequency (for example, a balance rim), will allow a person to see a continuous luminous contour due to the inertia of his eyes. This feature of human vision was taken into account when developing the claimed invention.

To place the light element on the parts and components of the watch mechanism, there is always a limited area or space. Moreover, today, in known solutions, luminous elements are usually placed over the entire available limited area and / or space (hour, minute, second hands, watch case, dial, apertures on the dial, etc.), which complicates the manufacturing process and increases the consumption of the applied luminescent mixture. In addition, to increase the luminosity zone in the known solutions, additional backlight elements are used.

The proposed solution has a design that can significantly reduce the area of application of the luminous coating and at the same time increase the luminosity zone.

As shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the invention, the watch has a balance rim 5, extended above the surface of the dial 10 and secured with a balance bridge 11. Luminous elements 6 are applied to the surface of the balance rim 6. The application can be either a thin layer of the mixture directly or by connection of the light plate with a luminescent material deposited thereon. When the watch is in operation, the balance rim oscillates with a high frequency (at least 5 vibrations per second), resulting in blurring of the light trail, perceived by human vision as a solid luminous contour, for example, in the particular case of execution, having the shape of a circle (see Fig. 2). In this case, the specialist understands that in the case of applying the luminous element to part of the balance rim, the path of the luminous contour will be in the form of a semicircle. In this case, the entire surface of the dial is illuminated with uniform light, which increases its readability. That is, when using a small area on which a luminous element is applied (a small area on the balance rim), the luminosity zone (the entire dial) is increased. In this case, a phosphorescent or fluorescent material deposited in a thin layer can be used as a luminous element. Also, the luminous element can be made in the form of a luminous plastic insert, which is fixed to the moving component of the clock mechanism (moving surface). In this case, the inserts are made by mixing liquid transparent plastic with luminous powder. When hardening, we get a solid luminous plastic plate, which can be given any shape and geometry, and inserted into the metal parts of the clockwork.

In particular, in one embodiment, the watch design comprises a drive wheel of the drainage system 16, an anchor wheel 12, an anchor fork 13, a balance rim 5, luminous luminescent inserts 6 (see Fig. 1, Fig. 7). When the balance rim oscillates with a high frequency (at least 18,000 vibrations per hour), the movement of four short luminous elements (inserts) on the balance rim (conditionally dots) is perceived by the human eye as a luminous flickering contour, shaped like a circle, uniformly illuminating a significant area inside , and outside the formed luminous contour.

In a separate embodiment of FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a watch that contains a mechanism board 14, a balance axis 15, an anchor wheel 12, an anchor fork 13, a balance bridge 11, through which a balance axis is attached to it. In this case, the balance rim 5 is set above the dial for 10 hours. When the balance is operating, the balance rim oscillates relative to the balance axis 15. The luminous inserts 6 applied to the balance rim are perceived by human vision as a continuous luminous contour having the shape of a circle. This luminous circuit, obtained as a result of the balance, illuminates the entire surface of the dial 10, increasing the readability of the information. At the same time, the use of a phosphor (for example, a phosphorescent mixture), which is charged from any light source and emits light for 8-16 hours, allows you to use the watch in any weather conditions even in conditions of insufficient visibility or in conditions of insufficient lighting (mines, scuba diving, a room in which there is no lighting, etc.). It does not require the use of additional elements in the watch to illuminate the dial. There is also no need to apply luminous material to stationary sections of the watch (dial, case, aperture, etc.), which significantly saves the consumption of phosphorescent or fluorescent material.

As a phosphorescent or fluorescent material, for example, you can use strontium aluminate SrAl ₂ O ₄ with the addition of europium (Eu), one of the varieties of which is known as "Super-Luminova". Dysprosium-activated strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4): Dy or yttrium-activated strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4): Y may also be used. Also, metals, oxides, for example TiO, TiO2, Ta2O5, SiO2, Si3N4, Al2O3, or aluminum or gold intermetallic compounds can be considered as phosphorescent or fluorescent material.

In this case, material based on calcium sulfide CaS, strontium SrS and barium BaS can be used as a phosphorescent material.

In a further embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the balance rim of the three-axis tourbillon of a stationary clock has luminous elements on its surface. During oscillation, the effect of blurring the trace and the perception by the human eye of a continuous luminous contour illuminating the tourbillon mechanism in a particular embodiment are also observed. This allows you to improve the visibility of the internal mechanisms of the watch in the absence of sufficient lighting. Due to this highlighting of the internal mechanism of the watch, it is easy to detect incorrect operation or wear of parts of the watch mechanism before the watch breaks.

In this case, the highlighted clock mechanism can be used in a fully mechanical watch.

Also, the clock mechanism may additionally contain other known time indicators, including an indicator of minutes, seconds, and the solar and lunar calendar, as well as other indicators such as, for example, power reserve indicator, moon phase indicator, etc. Moreover, in some watches may also contain several of these highlighted clock mechanisms.

As follows from the description of possible implementations of the claimed invention, the proposed watch with a movable backlighting mechanism ensures the achievement of the claimed technical result, namely, a decrease in the area of application of the luminous coating with a simultaneous increase in the luminosity zone. This embodiment leads to an increase in the readability of the dial in conditions of insufficient visibility (fog, rain, snowfall, etc.), as well as to the possibility of seeing the internal mechanisms of the watch for preliminary detection of wear of the watch mechanism or its incorrect operation before the watch breaks. At the same time, there is no need to install additional lighting elements in the watch and the consumption of phosphorescent or fluorescent material is significantly reduced.

Given the novelty of the set of essential features, the technical solution of the problem, the inventive step and the materiality of all general and particular features of the invention, proven in the section "prior art" and "Disclosure of the invention", proven in the section "Implementation and industrial implementation of the invention" technical feasibility and industrial applicability inventions, solving inventive problems and confidently achieving the required technical result when implementing and using the invention In our opinion, the claimed invention satisfies all the eligibility requirements for inventions.

The analysis also shows that all the general and particular features of the invention are essential, since each of them is necessary, and together they are not only sufficient to achieve the purpose of the invention, but also make it possible to realize the invention in an industrial way.

Claims (14)

1. Watches with a movable backlighting mechanism, comprising a case, a clockwork, a clockwork, a dial, characterized in that at least one part of the clockwork having a high oscillation frequency, preferably at least 18,000 beats per hour, luminous elements containing phosphorescent or fluorescent material, while due to the high frequency of oscillation of the specified at least one part of the clockwork, blurring of the light trail occurs, perceived by human vision as continuous light A contoured contour through which the entire surface of the dial and / or the internal mechanism of the watch are illuminated. 2. Watches with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one part of the clock mechanism having a high oscillation frequency is made in the form of a balance regulator. 3. A watch with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the clock mechanism further comprises a trigger mechanism. 4. A watch with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the trigger mechanism of the watch consists of an engraving system consisting of an anchor wheel, an anchor fork, a drive wheel of the engraving system. 5. A watch with a movable backlighting mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the balance controller comprises a balance rim with luminous elements deposited on it, a balance axis, a spiral and a balance bridge mounted above the dial. 6. A watch with a movable backlighting mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the balance rim is extended above the surface of the watch dial and secured with a balance bridge. 7. A watch with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a tourbillon mechanism. 8. A watch with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that the tourbillon mechanism is preferably made classic, biaxial or triaxial. 9. A watch with a movable backlighting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the watch is a skeleton watch in which the moving parts of the mechanism are fully or partially open and viewed through a special window in the dial or back case. 10. A watch with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the watch is preferably mechanical and may have a self-winding mechanism. 11. A watch with a movable backlighting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a material based on calcium sulfides CaS, strontium SrS and barium BaS can be used as a phosphorescent material. 12. A watch with a movable backlighting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a material based on strontium aluminate activated by europium, dysprosium, and yttrium can be used as a fluorescent material. 13. Watches with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the luminous elements can be made in the form of a luminous plastic insert made by mixing liquid transparent plastic with luminous fluorescent or phosphorescent material. 14. Watches with a movable backlight mechanism according to claim 13, characterized in that the luminous plastic insert can have any shape and geometry.

Images