US3111806A - Electric wrist watch movement - Google Patents

Electric wrist watch movement Download PDF

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Publication number
US3111806A
US3111806A US103653A US10365361A US3111806A US 3111806 A US3111806 A US 3111806A US 103653 A US103653 A US 103653A US 10365361 A US10365361 A US 10365361A US 3111806 A US3111806 A US 3111806A
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coil
balance wheel
time train
axis
diametric
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US103653A
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Cachin Andre
Nardin Marc
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Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA
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Compagnie des Montres Longines Francillon SA
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/04—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance
    • G04C3/042—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance using mechanical coupling

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  • the present invention generally relates to electric driving movements and more particularly to an electric wrist watch wherein the movements of the balance wheel are maintained by mechanical impulses transmitted to it by the movable element forming part of the driving move ment including a winding to which are applied periodically electric impulses.
  • the present invention has for its object a solution of the problem, with a view to satisfying both the technical and aesthetic conditions of the problem.
  • the wrist watch includes a movement comprising a movable element mounted on the watch plate in a manner such that it may pivot round an axis perpendicular to the axis of oscillation of the balance wheel.
  • This arrangement allows, in particular, positioning the entire driving movement inside a normally empty space extending between the plate and the balance wheel.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first arrangement, while FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken through line ll-II and III-J11 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment.
  • FFG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through line V-V of FIG. 4.
  • a galvanometric system of which the magnetic circuit is constituted by a permanent magnet 19 and a core 20, made for example of mild steel or a magnetic alloy extending inside the air gap of the magnet.
  • the core 20 which is secured to the plate 13 by a screw 21 carries two coaxial rings 22 and 23 forming the carriers for two throughstones 24 and 25.
  • the movable element of the movement is constituted by two U-shaped supports 26 and 27 provided with pivots 28 and 29 revolvably carried in the throughstones 24 and 25 and by a rectangular winding 30, the longer sides of which rock in the air gaps extending between the poles of the magnet 19 and the core 2%, while the small sides thereof are fitted inside the supports 26 and 27.
  • the U-shaped supports 26 and 27 carry two contact-making projections 31 and 32 connecting electrically through two elastic blades 33 and 34 and a switch 60, the two ends of the winding with a supply of electric energy 35.
  • the U-shaped support 26 also carries a spring-biased catch 36 cooperating with the ratchet wheel forming the gear 16 and a blade 37 made, for example, of a mild steel, or magnetic alloy.
  • the movable element may rock between two stops 38 and 39 formed by two screws carried by the plate 13. It is urged magnetically against either of the stops according to whether it lies to one side or the other of its medial position, as provided by the magnetic action exerted by the magnet E9 on the blade 37.
  • the movable element rocks periodically between the stops 38 and 39 under the mechanical action of a projection 40 on the balance wheel which engages, when the latter passes through its position of static equilibrium, the inside of a transverse groove 41 formed in the U-shaped support.
  • the switch 66 closes and the winding 30 is transiently energized.
  • the movable element is then subjected to 'a torque which produces an acceleration of its rocking movement and the transmission of a mechanical pulse to the balance wheel.
  • the pulse not only serves to maintain the movement of the balance wheel, but it also serves to intermittently drive the gearing through the catch 36 and the ratchet wheel 16.
  • the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 distinguishes from that described hereinabove in that the core 20 is hollow and is rigid with the winding 36.
  • the pivots 24 and 25 for this movable element in the second embodiment are secured to the small sides of the winding and revolve inside bearings 42 and 43 secured to the plate 13.
  • the ends of the pivots, which project beyond the outer surface of the bearings, are tapered and play the parts of the projections 31 and 32 in the first embodiment.
  • the groove 4-1 is, in this case, replaced by a notch 41 formed in a member 44 secured rigidly to the core 2%.
  • the balance wheel is at a distance from its position of static equilibrium, these two projections 45, lying on either side of the plate, lock the movement element in position.
  • the plate 46 is provided with a notch 47 registering with said movable element when the latter is in its reversing position.
  • an improved electric driving movement comprising, a regulating balance wheel for, oscillating around an axis of rotational oscillation through a position of static equilibrium, a time train, a magnet having an air gap; a coil mounted in said air gap and having diametric portions extending therebeyond, said coil being pivoted around an axis through said diametric portions and normal to the axis of rotational oscillation of said balance wheel, one said diametric portion extending beneath said balance wheel and the other extending below said time train, electric power means for energizing said coil, circuit means including means controllable by the balance wheel at said position of static equilibrium for connecting said electric power means to said coil, and thereby causing said coil to pivot back and forth around said axis through said diametric portions of said coil, stop means for limiting the pivoting equally on each side of a mean pivot position, first complementary means carried by said balance wheel and said one diametric portion of said coil for mechanically engaging said balance wheel with said coil, and second complementary means carried
  • said first complementary means comprises a U-support mounted around said one diametric portion of said coil, said U-support defining a groove adjacent said balance wheel, and a pin depending from said balance wheel and positioned to engage in said '4. groove when said balance wheel is in said position of static equilibrium and said coil is in said mean pivot position.
  • said first complementary means comprises a notched plate positioned above said one diametric portion of said coil, said notch being positioned symmetrically in the plane of said axis through said diametric portions, said notched plate having two projections extending longitudinally from said plate and positioned symmetrically with respect to said notch located therebetween, a pin depending from said balance wheel and disposed to engage in said notch when said balance wheel is in said position of static equilibrium and said coil is in said mean pivot position, a circular plate keyedto oscillate rotationally with said balance wheel to pass between the projections of said notched plate when said coil is not in its mean pivot position, said circular plate having a sector removed from its periphery adjacent said projections when said coil is in said mean pivot position and said projections and said plate are in the same plane, whereby said circular plate passing between said projection prevents an accidental reversing of said pivoting coil.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)

Description

A. CACHIN ET AL 3,111,806
Nov. 26, 1963 ELECTRIC WRIST WATCH MOVEMENT Filed April 17. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,
FIG] Nov. 26, 1963 A. CACHIN ET AL ELECTRIC WRIST WATCH MOVEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17. 1961 FIG. 5'
United States Patent Ofi ice 3 ,1 l 1,8 -5 Patented Nov. 26, 1963 ELECTREC WRIST WATCH MOVEMENT Andre (Iachin and Marc Nardin, both of Saint-iinier, .l'ura Eerneis, Switzerland, assignors to Compagnie ties Montres Longines Francillon S.A., Saint-Imier, Switzerland, a Swiss firm Filed Apr. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 103,653
Claims priority, application Switzerland Apr. 20, 1966 3 Claims. (Cl. 58-28) The present invention generally relates to electric driving movements and more particularly to an electric wrist watch wherein the movements of the balance wheel are maintained by mechanical impulses transmitted to it by the movable element forming part of the driving move ment including a winding to which are applied periodically electric impulses.
The chief difficulty met hitherto by watchmakers in the execution of such electric watches consisted in that it was a diflicult matter to find a compromise between the technical conditions required for obtaining a good efiiciency and a sutiicient reliability in operation for the movement, on the one hand, which means that comparatively largesized driving means or movements are to be used and, on the other hand, the aesthetic conditions which require a watch of a reduced size.
The solutions proposed hitherto for said problem in the case of conventional movements are not satisfactory. They sacrifice the aesthetic appearance of the watch. As a matter of fact, it the movable element pivots round an axis parallel with that of the balance wheel after the manner of conventional movements, there are only two ways of positioning the driving means. Either, it is arranged between the plate and the balance wheel, so that the thickness of the watch becomes exaggerated, or else, it is housed inside the balance wheel and the watch assumes an unallowable transverse size.
The present invention has for its object a solution of the problem, with a view to satisfying both the technical and aesthetic conditions of the problem.
According to the invention, the wrist watch includes a movement comprising a movable element mounted on the watch plate in a manner such that it may pivot round an axis perpendicular to the axis of oscillation of the balance wheel. This arrangement allows, in particular, positioning the entire driving movement inside a normally empty space extending between the plate and the balance wheel.
The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example a driving movement in accordance with two preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first arrangement, while FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken through line ll-II and III-J11 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment.
FFG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through line V-V of FIG. 4.
In the first arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, It) designates the balance wheel of the watch, 13 the balance staff, 12 the regulating spiral adjusting spring, 13 the main plate, 14 the balance cock, 15 the train wheel bridge, 16 the first gear of the time train, 17 and 18 the projecting contact and the contact blade of a switch 6%) which closes at the moment at which the balance wheel passes in a predetermined direction through its position of static equilibrium.
The maintenance of the oscillatory movement of the balance wheel 1i and the drive of the train are ensured by a galvanometric system, of which the magnetic circuit is constituted by a permanent magnet 19 and a core 20, made for example of mild steel or a magnetic alloy extending inside the air gap of the magnet. The core 20 which is secured to the plate 13 by a screw 21 carries two coaxial rings 22 and 23 forming the carriers for two throughstones 24 and 25.
The movable element of the movement is constituted by two U-shaped supports 26 and 27 provided with pivots 28 and 29 revolvably carried in the throughstones 24 and 25 and by a rectangular winding 30, the longer sides of which rock in the air gaps extending between the poles of the magnet 19 and the core 2%, while the small sides thereof are fitted inside the supports 26 and 27.
Along the axis of the pivots 28 and 29 and on the outside of the movable system or movement, the U-shaped supports 26 and 27 carry two contact- making projections 31 and 32 connecting electrically through two elastic blades 33 and 34 and a switch 60, the two ends of the winding with a supply of electric energy 35.
The U-shaped support 26 also carries a spring-biased catch 36 cooperating with the ratchet wheel forming the gear 16 and a blade 37 made, for example, of a mild steel, or magnetic alloy. The movable element may rock between two stops 38 and 39 formed by two screws carried by the plate 13. It is urged magnetically against either of the stops according to whether it lies to one side or the other of its medial position, as provided by the magnetic action exerted by the magnet E9 on the blade 37.
When the balance wheel rocks, the movable element rocks periodically between the stops 38 and 39 under the mechanical action of a projection 40 on the balance wheel which engages, when the latter passes through its position of static equilibrium, the inside of a transverse groove 41 formed in the U-shaped support. When the rocking movement is executed in a predetermined direction, the switch 66 closes and the winding 30 is transiently energized. The movable element is then subjected to 'a torque which produces an acceleration of its rocking movement and the transmission of a mechanical pulse to the balance wheel. The pulse not only serves to maintain the movement of the balance wheel, but it also serves to intermittently drive the gearing through the catch 36 and the ratchet wheel 16.
The second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 distinguishes from that described hereinabove in that the core 20 is hollow and is rigid with the winding 36. The pivots 24 and 25 for this movable element in the second embodiment are secured to the small sides of the winding and revolve inside bearings 42 and 43 secured to the plate 13. The ends of the pivots, which project beyond the outer surface of the bearings, are tapered and play the parts of the projections 31 and 32 in the first embodiment. The groove 4-1 is, in this case, replaced by a notch 41 formed in a member 44 secured rigidly to the core 2%.
In the second embodiment, there are also provided means for preventing any fortuitous reversal of the movable element when the balance wheel is spaced with reference to its position of static equilibrium. For this purpose two projections 45' are provided on the member 44 and a plate 46 is keyed to the balance staff 11.
hen the balance wheel is at a distance from its position of static equilibrium, these two projections 45, lying on either side of the plate, lock the movement element in position. In order to allow a modification in the position of the projections, upon reversal of the movable element, the plate 46 is provided with a notch 47 registering with said movable element when the latter is in its reversing position.
Otherwise, the operation of the second embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.
What we claim is:
l. In an electric timepiece, an improved electric driving movement comprising, a regulating balance wheel for, oscillating around an axis of rotational oscillation through a position of static equilibrium, a time train, a magnet having an air gap; a coil mounted in said air gap and having diametric portions extending therebeyond, said coil being pivoted around an axis through said diametric portions and normal to the axis of rotational oscillation of said balance wheel, one said diametric portion extending beneath said balance wheel and the other extending below said time train, electric power means for energizing said coil, circuit means including means controllable by the balance wheel at said position of static equilibrium for connecting said electric power means to said coil, and thereby causing said coil to pivot back and forth around said axis through said diametric portions of said coil, stop means for limiting the pivoting equally on each side of a mean pivot position, first complementary means carried by said balance wheel and said one diametric portion of said coil for mechanically engaging said balance wheel with said coil, and second complementary means carried by said time train and said other diametric portion of said coil for mechanically engaging said time train with said coil for driving said time train and said coil, said balance wheel and said time train thereby being disposed to maintain the radial and thickness dimensions or" said driving movement to a minimum.
2. An improved electric driving movement according to claim 1 in which said first complementary means comprises a U-support mounted around said one diametric portion of said coil, said U-support defining a groove adjacent said balance wheel, and a pin depending from said balance wheel and positioned to engage in said '4. groove when said balance wheel is in said position of static equilibrium and said coil is in said mean pivot position.
3. An improved electric driving movement according to claim 1, in which said first complementary means comprises a notched plate positioned above said one diametric portion of said coil, said notch being positioned symmetrically in the plane of said axis through said diametric portions, said notched plate having two projections extending longitudinally from said plate and positioned symmetrically with respect to said notch located therebetween, a pin depending from said balance wheel and disposed to engage in said notch when said balance wheel is in said position of static equilibrium and said coil is in said mean pivot position, a circular plate keyedto oscillate rotationally with said balance wheel to pass between the projections of said notched plate when said coil is not in its mean pivot position, said circular plate having a sector removed from its periphery adjacent said projections when said coil is in said mean pivot position and said projections and said plate are in the same plane, whereby said circular plate passing between said projection prevents an accidental reversing of said pivoting coil.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,112,747 Wingo Oct. 6, 1914 2,420,827 Kennedy May 20, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,832 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1915 of 1914 1,144,213 France Apr. 23, 1957

Claims (1)

1. IN AN ELECTRIC TIMEPIECE, AN IMPROVED ELECTRIC DRIVING MOVEMENT COMPRISING, A REGULATING BALANCE WHEEL FOR OSCILLATING AROUND AN AXIS OF ROTATIONAL OSCILLATION THROUGH A POSITION OF STATIC EQUILIBRIUM, A TIME TRAIN, A MAGNET HAVING AN AIR GAP; A COIL MOUNTED IN SAID AIR GAP AND HAVING DIAMETRIC PORTIONS EXTENDING THEREBEYOND, SAID COIL BEING PIVOTED AROUND AN AXIS THROUGH SAID DIAMETRIC PORTIONS AND NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATIONAL OSCILLATION OF SAID BALANCE WHEEL, ONE SAID DIAMETRIC PORTION EXTENDING BENEATH SAID BALANCE WHEEL AND THE OTHER EXTENDING BELOW SAID TIME TRAIN, ELECTRIC POWER MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID COIL, CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING MEANS CONTROLLABLE BY THE BALANCE WHEEL AT SAID POSITION OF STATIC EQUILIBRIUM FOR CONNECTING SAID ELECTRIC POWER MEANS TO SAID COIL, AND THEREBY CAUSING SAID COIL TO PIVOT BACK AND FORTH AROUND SAID AXIS THROUGH SAID DIAMETRIC PORTIONS OF SAID COIL, STOP MEANS FOR LIMITING THE PIVOTING EQUALLY ON EACH SIDE OF A MEAN PIVOT POSITION, FIRST COMPLEMENTARY MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BALANCE WHEEL AND SAID ONE DIAMETRIC PORTION OF SAID COIL FOR MECHANICALLY ENGAGING SAID BALANCE WHEEL WITH SAID COIL, AND SECOND COMPLEMENTARY MEANS CARRIED BY SAID TIME TRAIN AND SAID OTHER DIAMETRIC PORTION OF SAID COIL FOR MECHANICALLY ENGAGING SAID TIME TRAIN WITH SAID COIL FOR DRIVING SAID TIME TRAIN AND SAID COIL, SAID BALANCE WHEEL AND SAID TIME TRAIN THEREBY BEING DISPOSED TO MAINTAIN THE RADIAL AND THICKNESS DIMENSIONS OF SAID DRIVING MOVEMENT TO A MINIMUM.
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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1112747A (en) * 1913-10-18 1914-10-06 Detroit Tractor Company Motion-converting device.
US2420827A (en) * 1944-08-14 1947-05-20 Gen Time Instr Corp Electric clock
FR1144213A (en) * 1955-12-03 1957-10-10 Driving fork for servicing a watch movement, preferably with a circular balance wheel

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1112747A (en) * 1913-10-18 1914-10-06 Detroit Tractor Company Motion-converting device.
US2420827A (en) * 1944-08-14 1947-05-20 Gen Time Instr Corp Electric clock
FR1144213A (en) * 1955-12-03 1957-10-10 Driving fork for servicing a watch movement, preferably with a circular balance wheel

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