US3849977A - Device for regulating the hands of a timepiece - Google Patents

Device for regulating the hands of a timepiece Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3849977A
US3849977A US00318761A US31876172A US3849977A US 3849977 A US3849977 A US 3849977A US 00318761 A US00318761 A US 00318761A US 31876172 A US31876172 A US 31876172A US 3849977 A US3849977 A US 3849977A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
hands
movement
crown
oscillator
electric circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00318761A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Y Hirose
Y Kawamura
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Instruments Inc
Original Assignee
Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Instruments Inc filed Critical Seiko Instruments Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3849977A publication Critical patent/US3849977A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • G04B27/00—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means
    • G04B27/004—Mechanical devices for setting the time indicating means having several simultaneous functions, e.g. stopping or starting the clockwork or the hands

Definitions

  • a tuning fork of a timepiece is vibrationally driven by an electric circuit and a gear train transmits the vibratory motion of the tuning fork to a set of hands which indicate the time.
  • a crown is mounted for pushing movement to a hands-running position and pulling movement to a hands-setting position and a power switch is opened during pulling movement of the crown to cut off the supply of power to the electric circuit and the power switch is closed during pushing movement of the crown to turn on the supply of power to the electric circuit.
  • a pivotal lever is pivoted into engagement with the gear train during pulling movement of the crown to releasably lock the gear train against movement and the lever is pivoted out of engagement with the gear train to free same for movement during pushing movement of the crown.
  • An impact member is mounted on the lever and strikes the tuning fork to start same into vibration during pivotal movement of the lever away from the gear train so that the tuning fork is mechanically set into vibration by the impact member and the vibrations are then sustained by the electric circuit.
  • the present invention relates generally to a timepiece and more particularly, to a regulating device for regulating the setting of the hands of the timepiece.
  • Another type of regulating device regulates the second hand by disengaging the driving lever from the index wheel while maintaining the tuning fork in vibration.
  • the tuning fork continues to vibrate at its resonant frequency even though there is no need to do so and this results in an unnecessary consumption of power.
  • the regulating device which comprises a power switch for connecting a battery to an electric circuit when the crown is pushed inwardly and for disconnecting the battery from the electric circuit when the crown is pulled outwardly.
  • a pivotal lever engages with a gear train of the timepiece for locking the gear train against movement whenever the crown is pulled outwardly thereby enabling the timepiece hands to be set while the battery is disconnected from the electric circuit and the lever is pivoted out of locking engagement with the gear train when the crown is pushed inwardly.
  • An impact spring is mounted on the lever and coacts with a projection on the mechanical oscillator to positively set the oscillator into oscillation during pivotal movement of the lever thereby minimizing the rise-up time in which it takes the oscillator to reach oscillation at a constant'amplitude thereby ensuring accuracy of the time setting.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a timepiece utilizing a mechanical oscillator and equipped with a regulating device according to the present invention and FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1.
  • the timepiece includes a base plate I having mounted thereon a mechanical oscillator comprising a tuning fork 2.
  • the tuning fork 2 is attached to the base plate 1 by a pair of screws 3a and 3b such that the tuning fork may undergo oscillatory or vibratory motion as is known in the art.
  • a pair of magnetic elements 2a and 2b are attached to the distal ends of the tuning fork tines.
  • Anelectric circuit assembly 4 is mounted on the base plate 1 by means of screws 5a and 5b.
  • An electromagnetic coil 6 is mounted on the electric circuit assembly 4 in spaced-apart and symmetrical relationship from the magneticelements 211,2! as shown in the FIGURE.
  • the electric circuit assembly 4 and the electromagnetic coil 6 constitute electric circuit means which coacts with the tuning fork 2 in a manner known in the art to sustain the oscillations or vibrations of the tuning fork which serves as a time base for the timepiece.
  • a driving lever 7 is affixed to one tine of the tuning fork 2 such that vibrational movement of the tine effects a corresponding vibrational movement of the driving lever and an index wheel 8 is rotatably mounted on the base plate I to be intermittently driven by the vibratory motion of the driving lever 7.
  • vibratory movement of the tuning fork 2 is transmitted through the driving lever 7 to intermittently rotate the index wheel 8 in a counterclockwise direction.
  • a detent lever 9 is mounted on the base plate 1 and engages with the index wheel 8 to prevent reverse rotation or clockwise rotation of the index wheel 8.
  • Transmitting means is provided to transmit the intermittent rotary movement of the index wheel 8 to a second hand of the timepiece and the transmitting means comprises a gear train composed of the index wheel 8, gear wheels 10, ll, 12 and a center gear wheel 13.
  • Each gear wheel has gear teeth around the periphery and is driven by a pinion of the preceding gear.
  • the pinion of the index wheel 8 drives the gear wheel 10 and the pinion of the gear 10 drives the gear 11 whose pinion drives the gear wheel 12 and the pinion of the gear wheel 12 rotationally drives the center gear wheel 13.
  • the gear wheel 13 is connected to a rotatable shaft 13a and the second hand of the timepiece (not illustrated) is connected to and driven by the shaft 13a.
  • the minute hand and hour hand (not illustrated) are connected to the transmitting means so that they are driven in a timed manner in response'to oscillatory or vibratory movement of the tuning fork 2.
  • a battery 14 is held in place on the base plate 1 by a support strip 15 which covers the battery and is fastened to the base plate by a pair of screws 16a, 16b.
  • the battery 14 is of the type normally used in electronic timepieces and has a negative pole which is grounded to the base plate 1 and a positive pole connected to the electric circuit assembly 4.
  • the electric circuit assembly 4 has a pair of supply terminals 4a, 4b and the terminal 4b is electrically connected to the positive pole of the battery 14 whereas the terminal 4a is connected to a power switch for tuning ON and OFF the power to the electric circuit assembly 4.
  • the power switch comprises a contact spring 17 composed of an electrically conductive material and affixed at one end to the terminal 4a as shown.
  • the other end of the contact spring 17 is normally biased into contact with a contact pin 18 affixed and grounded to the base plate 1.
  • the contact spring 17 engages with the contact pin 18 (as shown in solid lines)
  • the battery 14 is connected to the electric circuit assembly 4 and when the contact spring 17 is moved out of engagement with the contact pin 18 (as shown in phantom lines), the battery is disconnected from the electric circuit assembly and the supply of power to the electric circuit means is terminated.
  • the power switch is moved to its open and closed positions in response to pulling and pushing movement of a crown 20.
  • the crown is provided with a setting lever spring (not shown) connected to a pin 21 in a manner known in the art and a switch lever 22 engages with the pin 21 to actuate the power switch in response to movement of the crown 20.
  • the switch lever 22 is mounted for pivotal movement upon a pin 23 and the lever has a forked end portion 22a which engages with the pin 21 and an actuating end portion 22b composed of electrically insulating material which engages with the crown stem.
  • the actuating end portion 22b is moved into contact with the contact spring 17 during pulling movement of the crown to a hands-setting position (shown in phantom lines) to disengage the contact spring from the contact pin 18 and is moved out of contact with the contact spring 17 during pushing movement of the crown to a hands-running position (shown in solid lines) to engage the contact spring with the contact pin.
  • locking means is provided for locking the gear train gainst further driving movement whenever the power switch is turned OFF and impacting means is provided for automatically impacting the tuning fork to start same into vibration whenever the power switch is turned ON.
  • the locking and impacting means comprise a regulating lever 30 mounted for pivotal movement-about a pin 31.
  • the lever 30 has a first arm 30a engageable with an end tip 20a of the crown stem and a second arm 30b engageable with the gear teeth on the gear wheel 12 for releasably locking the wheel 12, as well as the remaining gear wheels in the gear train, against further rotation.
  • a biasing spring 32 constantly biases the lever 30 in a clockwise direction about the pin 31 to maintain the first arm 30a in engagement with the end tip 20a of the crown stem.
  • the lever 30 is pivotable between a locking position (shown in phantom lines) and an unlocking position (shown in solid lines) and the lever 30 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction into its unlocking position in response to pushing movement of the crown 20.
  • the end portion 20a of the crown stem engages with the first arm 30a of the lever 30 to effect counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever against the biasing force of the spring 32 whenever the crown 20 is pushed inwardly and when the crown 20 is pulled outwardly, the biasing spring 32 effects pivotal movement of the lever 30 in a clockwise direction into its locking position.
  • the tuning fork 2 is provided with a projection 22c and a resilient impact spring 34 is affixed to the lever 30 for impacting or striking the tuning fork projection 20 during counterclockwise movement of the lever 30 from its locking position to its unlocking position thereby imparting compulsory vibrational movement to the tuning fork 2.
  • the position of the projection 20 relative to the position of the impact spring 34 is chosen such that the projection lies in the path of travel of the impact spring during pivotal movement of the lever 30.
  • the impact spring 34 also strikes against the projection 20 during clockwise pivotal movement of the lever 30 but such has no detrimental effect since such only occurs when the crown 20 is pulled out of the power switch is open to cutoff the power supply of power to the electric circuit.
  • Other arrangements aside from the aforedescribed coacting between the impact spring 34 and the tuning fork projection 20 may be employed to initiate the vibratory motion of the tuning fork 2 and for example, the tuning fork may be started into vibrational movement by undergoing elastic distortion in response to depression of the crown 20.
  • the crown 20 In this position of the components, the crown 20 is in its pushedin or hands-running position an the end tip 200 of the crown stem engages with the first arm 30a and maintains the lever 30 in its most counterclockwise position against the biasing force of the spring 32 and the second arm 30b is maintained out of locking engagement with the gear wheel 12. Also, the actuating end portion 22b ofthe switch lever 22 is maintained out of engagement with the contact spring 17 so that the .contact spring engages with the contact pin 18 and the power switch is maintained in a closed position so that electric power is supplied to the electric circuit assem- 'bly 4.
  • a setting lever acts through the pin 21 to pivot the switch lever 22 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in phantom lines.
  • the actuating end portion 22b actuates the contact spring 17 to the position shown in phantom limes so that the contact spring is disconnected from the contact pin 18 thereby opening the power switch and terminating the supply of power to the electric circuit assembly 4.
  • the battery I4 is disconnected from the electric circuit assembly 4 and the vibration of the tuning fork 2 soon comes to a complete halt.
  • the timpiece is thus in a condition to be shipped or stored until it is sold to a consumer without the useless consumption of electric energy from the batter 14.
  • the crown 20 When it is desired to start the timepiece, the crown 20 is pushed inwardly to its hands-running position and during inward movement of the crown stem, the power switch is closed thereby turning ON the power supply and in response to further inward movement of the crown stem, the lever 30 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction form its locking position to its unlocking position. As the lever 30 is moved towards its unlocking position, the impact spring 34 imparts a shock to the tuning fork projection 20 of sufficient magnitude to start the tuning fork into vibration and thus the second hand commences movement at the desired time.
  • the tuning fork is automatically and mandatorily started into vibration after the. hands have been set in their desired positions and at a time when the electric circuit means is energized.
  • the rise-up time of the tuning fork T is proportional to the Q-value of the tuning fork, resonance and indirectly proportional to the resonant frequency of the tuning fork.
  • the rise-up time AT Qo/fo where Qo is the Q-value of resonance and f is the resonant frequency.
  • the I power supply switch it is possible to instantaneously and simultaneously actuate the I power supply switch and positively set the tuning fork into vibration thereby preventing wasteful consumption of power from the battery as well as enabling accurate setting of the hands of the timepiece.
  • the electric circuit assembly may be simplified since it is not necessary to include a self-starting circuit since the tuning forkis set into vibratory motion by mechanical means and this feature allows for greater tolerance in circuit design and simplifies the circuit assembly as well as enabling greater interchangeability between circuit assemblies.
  • the regulating device of the invention facilitates the massproduction of timepieces and simplifies the servicing and repairing of the timepieces.
  • a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said handsrunning position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said means for rendering said electric circuit means ineffective and effective comprising a power switch connected to said electric circuit means and movable to an open position to cut off power to said electric circuit means thereby rendering same
  • a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of 7 hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands running position; means operative during movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said handsrunning position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for 7 imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, said oscillator comprising a tuning fork.
  • a mechanical oscillator mounted to undergo oscillatory movement; electric circuit means coacting with said oscillator for sustaining oscillatory movement of said oscillator once same is set into oscillatory motion; transmitting means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of said oscillator to said set of hands to effect timed movement of said hands; a crown manually movable between a hands-setting position and a hands-running position; means operative during H movement of said crown from said hands-running position to said hands-setting position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means ineffective and operative during movement of said crown from said hands-setting position to said handsrunning position for rendering both said electric circuit means and said transmitting means effective and for imparting a mechanical shock to said oscillator to mechanically start same into oscillatory motion, a crown stem connected to said crown for movement therewith, said means for rendering said transmitting means ineffective and effective comprising a pivotal lever having a first arm engageable with the end of said
  • said means for imparting a mechanical shock comprises a resilient member mounted on said lever at a location thereon to impulsively strike said oscillator during initial pivotal movement of said lever in said another direction to thereby start said oscillator into oscillatory motion.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
US00318761A 1971-12-27 1972-12-27 Device for regulating the hands of a timepiece Expired - Lifetime US3849977A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP47001558A JPS4871680A (hu) 1971-12-27 1971-12-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3849977A true US3849977A (en) 1974-11-26

Family

ID=11504842

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00318761A Expired - Lifetime US3849977A (en) 1971-12-27 1972-12-27 Device for regulating the hands of a timepiece

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3849977A (hu)
JP (1) JPS4871680A (hu)
CH (1) CH589316B5 (hu)
GB (1) GB1354630A (hu)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3972177A (en) * 1974-04-08 1976-08-03 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services S.A. Control mechanism for time setting and similar functions
US4055945A (en) * 1975-12-15 1977-11-01 Timex Corporation Frequency adjustment means for an electronic timepiece
US4126992A (en) * 1974-12-26 1978-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Stem mechanism for a watch
US6252827B1 (en) * 1996-09-18 2001-06-26 Lange Uhren Gmbh Device for regulating the minute hand of a clock having at least a minute hand and a second hand
CN113589673A (zh) * 2020-04-30 2021-11-02 巨擘科技股份有限公司 具有省电功能之智能表装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2865163A (en) * 1952-04-15 1958-12-23 Elgin Nat Watch Co Electrically-powered time device
US2900786A (en) * 1956-05-31 1959-08-25 Bulova Watch Co Inc Timepiece arrangement
US3184910A (en) * 1962-07-10 1965-05-25 Lip Sa Electric watches
US3441820A (en) * 1967-08-18 1969-04-29 Gen Time Corp Timing system having electromechanical oscillator with fail-safe improvement
US3526088A (en) * 1968-06-21 1970-09-01 Timex Corp Watch setting crown mechanism

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2865163A (en) * 1952-04-15 1958-12-23 Elgin Nat Watch Co Electrically-powered time device
US2900786A (en) * 1956-05-31 1959-08-25 Bulova Watch Co Inc Timepiece arrangement
US3184910A (en) * 1962-07-10 1965-05-25 Lip Sa Electric watches
US3441820A (en) * 1967-08-18 1969-04-29 Gen Time Corp Timing system having electromechanical oscillator with fail-safe improvement
US3526088A (en) * 1968-06-21 1970-09-01 Timex Corp Watch setting crown mechanism

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3972177A (en) * 1974-04-08 1976-08-03 Societe Suisse Pour L'industrie Horlogere Management Services S.A. Control mechanism for time setting and similar functions
US4126992A (en) * 1974-12-26 1978-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Stem mechanism for a watch
US4055945A (en) * 1975-12-15 1977-11-01 Timex Corporation Frequency adjustment means for an electronic timepiece
US6252827B1 (en) * 1996-09-18 2001-06-26 Lange Uhren Gmbh Device for regulating the minute hand of a clock having at least a minute hand and a second hand
CN113589673A (zh) * 2020-04-30 2021-11-02 巨擘科技股份有限公司 具有省电功能之智能表装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH1891072A4 (hu) 1974-07-31
JPS4871680A (hu) 1973-09-27
GB1354630A (en) 1974-06-05
CH589316B5 (fr) 1977-06-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3676993A (en) Electronic watch
US3462943A (en) Alarm wristwatch
US6724692B1 (en) Time measurement device and method
JPS58115394A (ja) 電子クロノグラフ時計
US3849977A (en) Device for regulating the hands of a timepiece
GB2028545A (en) Analogue electronic chronograph timepiece
US3765164A (en) Device to stop timepiece balance wheels
EP0564228B1 (en) Multi-function analog electronic timepiece
EP0547250B1 (en) Timepiece equipped with silent alarm
US2002433A (en) Electrical actuating means fob
US3487633A (en) Dial train friction device
US2900786A (en) Timepiece arrangement
US3555810A (en) Horological indexing device
US4266291A (en) Electromagnetic swing device
US2027531A (en) Electric alarm clock
GB1467135A (en) Timepiece movement
US3129554A (en) Electric timekeeper
US3472020A (en) Electrically powered timepiece
US8289816B2 (en) Chronograph timepiece
US3200270A (en) Electromechanical driving system for time-piece gearing
US3780521A (en) Electronic timepiece
JP6961463B2 (ja) 鳴鐘機構、携帯機器、ムーブメントおよび時計
US3224183A (en) Electrically actuated time integrating device
US4266290A (en) Electronic wristwatch control mechanism
US3481137A (en) Electronic timepiece