US3871171A - Mechanism for driving a rotating jumping member in a timepiece - Google Patents

Mechanism for driving a rotating jumping member in a timepiece Download PDF

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Publication number
US3871171A
US3871171A US498428A US49842874A US3871171A US 3871171 A US3871171 A US 3871171A US 498428 A US498428 A US 498428A US 49842874 A US49842874 A US 49842874A US 3871171 A US3871171 A US 3871171A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cam
pallet
accordance
locking
jumping
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
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US498428A
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English (en)
Inventor
Adrien Maurice Charbonney
Norbert Perucchi
Michel Belot
Urs Giger
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Ebauches SA
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Ebauches SA
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Publication date
Application filed by Ebauches SA filed Critical Ebauches SA
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Publication of US3871171A publication Critical patent/US3871171A/en
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    • 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
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/20—Indicating by numbered bands, drums, discs, or sheets
    • G04B19/202—Indicating by numbered bands, drums, discs, or sheets by means of turning discs
    • 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
    • G04B13/00—Gearwork
    • G04B13/002—Gearwork where rotation in one direction is changed into a stepping movement

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A mechanism for driving a rotating jumping member in a timepiece comprising a driving member rotating at a constant speed and coupled to the jumping member by a spring, a pallet pivoting about a fixed axis parallel to the common axis of the driving and jumping members, and a cam integral with the driving member and having a profile formed of lugs distributed at a uniform pitch about the aforesaid common axis, the jumping member having teeth which are successively blocked and then released by the pallet in the course of rotation of the jumping member.
  • This invention relates to a mechanism for driving a rotating jumping member in a timepiece, comprising a driving member rotating at a constant speed and coupled to the jumping member by a spring, a pallet pivoting about a fixed axis parallel to the common axis of the aforesaid members, and a cam integral with the driving member and having a profile formed of lugs distributed at a uniform pitch about the aforesaid common axis, the jumping member having teeth which are successively blocked and then released by the pallet in the course of the rotation of the jumping member.
  • Mechanisms of this type are used in certain calendar timepieces, but also in recent designs pertaining to socalled numerical or digital display watches, i.e., watches provided with a display mechanism which comprises indicator discs moving beneath a dial, the numbers or letters on which discs appear in apertures.
  • the jumping member is generally integral with the indicator member itself.
  • Mechanisms of this type are likewise found in older timepieces where the display arrangement comprises hands, but with the hour-hand moving in jumps of onetwelfth of a revolution.
  • a cam is mounted coaxially with the cannonpinion bearing the minute-hand.
  • the cannon-pj nion meshes with the minute-wheel, the pinion of which is engaged with the toothing of an hour-wheel.
  • the hourhand is integral with a pipe which is in turn integral with a disc provided with a twelve-tooth star.
  • a spring connects this star to the hour-wheel. Once per revolution the cam actuates a spring-click which enters the toothing of the twelve-tooth star integral with the hourhand, so that this hand is released once per hour and advances by one step, relaxing the spring which connects it to the hour-wheel.
  • Mechanisms which are intended to actuate an independent seconds-hand, i.e., one which beats seconds.
  • the cam and the jumping member cooperate with a pallet having two pins.
  • the cam is a wolf-toothed wheel of the same form as the jumping member, but with teeth slanting in the opposite direction.
  • the slopes of two teeth of the cam push the pallet first in one direction and then in the other, so that the pin which blocks the jumping member first enters and then withdraws from toothing of that member.
  • the profiles of the teeth and the pins are such that the pallet blocks the jumping member under the influence of the force of the coupling spring and of friction.
  • a mechanism of this type is relatively compact and reliable, but the friction absorbs a relatively large amount of power.
  • the pallet comprises'two beaks, each provided with a locking-plane and a tip, each locking-plane cooperating with the teeth of the jumping member and each tip cooperating with the profile of the cam, and the locking-planes are so oriented that the pressure of the teeth of the jumping member upon each of these planes subjects the pallet to a torque which causes it to pivot and to press against the profile of the cam.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the mechanism
  • FIG. 2 is an axial section of the first embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the mechanism
  • FIG. 4 is an axial section of the second embodiment.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show a mechanism intended to drive a rotating part 1 by jumps of 30 each.
  • the rotating part l is intended to bear a disc, at the periphery of which the hours from 1 to 12 are inscribed.
  • It takes the form of a star with six triangular teeth 2.
  • Each of the teeth 2 has on one side a radial flank 3'and on the other side a slanting flank 4 which joins its tip to the dedendum of the radial flank 3 of the preceding tooth.
  • the star 1 has a central opening mounted so as to pivot freely on a cylindrical bearing surface 9 of a hub 5 provided with an axial retaining collar 6.
  • the star 1 also comprises a circular rib 7 extending around the collar 6, intended to bear an hour-disc (not shown). Outside the rib 7 the star 1 has an opening 8 limited towards the outside by an arcuate edge and on the side towards the axis by a straight edge; the function of the opening 8 will be described further on.
  • a member in the form of a cam 10 is driven onto the hub 5 so as to hold the star 1 axially on the other side of the collar 6, while a third rotating member 11, having an ordinary toothing 12 at its periphery, is likewise driven onto the hub 5 so as to rest against the cam 10.
  • the member 11 In its outer face, the member 11 has an annular recess 13, rectangular in profile, which is closed off by a cover 14, the periphery of which is provided with monitoring notches 15.
  • the cover 14 is clinched on the hub ofthe member 11. It holds in place a spring-wire 16 which is bent into an arc shape and engaged in the recess 13, and the ends 16a and 16b of which are bent up at right angles and pass through openings 17 and 18, of identical shape and size, and through the opening 8.
  • the openings 17 and 18 are made in the bottom of the recess 13 and in the cam 10, respectively.
  • Asthe' star I is mounted freely on the hub 5, it stays normally in a position where the opening 8 coincides exactly with the openings 17 and 18. It is in this position that the spring 16 is under the least tension.
  • the cam 10 and the member 11 can rotate with respect to the star 1 through an angle corresponding tothe angle of aperture of the opening 8, this angle being a little less than 90 in the present case. In fact, as'will be seen when the usual operation of the mechanism is described, the rotation of the star 1 with respect to the other rotating parts of the mechanism reaches approximately 30.
  • Each lug 19 is distributed at regular intervals along the periphery of the cam 10.
  • Each lug 19 has a top or crest face 20, blanked in the shape of an arc coaxial with the mechanism described and limited by two symmetrical slopes 21 and 22 running at an incline of about 45 radii passing through the ends of the faces 20.
  • peripheral elements 23 likewise in the shape of an arc of a circle having its center on the axis of the mechanism.
  • the thickness of the cam is approximately equal to that of the star 1, as may be seen in FIG. 2; and these two elements are situated immediately above one another, the cam 10 having an annular rib 24 formed by stamping, against which the star 1 rests in order to reduce the friction between these two elements.
  • the mechanism is caused to operate by an additional member consisting of a pallet 25 which pivots about a fixed stud 26.
  • the pallet 25 comprises two arms 27 and 28 of unequal length, each ending in a beak 29, acting as a pallet-stone. These beaks 29 and 30 partially surround the assembly consisting of the member 11, the cam 10, and the star 1.
  • the pallet 25 is supported at a level such that plane faces 31 and 32, which constitute the stop-surfaces or locking-planes of the beaks 29 and 30, and edges 33 and34, which limit the plane faces 31 and 32 towards the inside and form the tips of the beaks 29 and 30, are situated at the level occupied by the star 1 and the cam 10. Moreover, the angles formed by the plane faces 31 and 32 with planes passing through the axis of the stud 26 and containing the edges 33 and 34 are so determined that when the point of one of the teeth 2 presses against one or the other of these stop-surfaces, it rotates the pallet 25 in a direction leading to the disengagement of the pallet 25.
  • the mechanism according to the second embodiment would lend itself to application where the jumping indicator member integral with a star 41 would be a disc 42 (FIG. 4) bearing the units of the minutes at its periphery.
  • the star 41 comprises five trapezoidal teeth 43. In the embodiment illustrated here, it is made in one piece with the disc 42 and is rotatingly mounted on the outer cylindrical bearing surface of an arcuate rib 44 of a cam 45, the center hole of which is driven onto a truncated portion of a toothing 46 of a pinion 47. Driven on at the end of the toothing 46 of the pinion 47 is a retaining washer 48 which holds the combined member 41, 42 axially in place.
  • the rib 44 about which the combined member 41, 42 rotates defines an annular space in which is accommodated a spring 49 in the form of a blade, such as a balance-spring blade, the two ends 49a and 49b of which are bent back towards the outside and engaged in the opening between the two ends of the arcuate rib 44.
  • a hollow 50 in the disc 42 into which the two bent ends 49a and 49b also enter.
  • lugs 51 are defined by a top or crest surface 52 in the shape of an arc coaxial with the mechanism and by two slopes 53 and 54 on each sideof the top surface 52.
  • the forward slope 53 comprises a first steeply inclined portion, the radial height of which is equal to a portion of the height of the teeth 43, then it curves to join a second, less steeply inclined portion, and finally it ends in a last portion which again becomes steeper so as to reach an arcuate zone 55, the radius of which is approximately equal to that of the base of the teeth 43.
  • Each rear slope 54 likewise comprises an inner portion substantially symmetrical to that of the slope 53, an intermediate portion likewise symmetrical to the intermediate portion of the slope 53, and an oblique outer portion joining the top surface 52.
  • the teeth 43 of the star 41 and the lugs 51 of the cam 45 cooperate with the ends of two arms of a pallet 56 which pivots about a fixed stud 57.
  • Each of the arms of the pallet 56 has an edge or tip 58 and a stop-surface or locking-plane 59. As in the first embodiment, the thickness of these edges 58 and stop-surfaces 59 is greater than the combined thickness of the lugs 51 of the cam 45 and the teeth 43 of the star 41.
  • the stud 57 is fastened on a support 60.
  • the pallet 56 is held axially in place by a brace 61 fastened to the support 60.
  • FIG. 3 shows the relative positions of the pallet 56, the cam 45, and the star 41 just before the star 41 is to jump.
  • the tooth 43a is still pressing against the stopsurface 59, which is inclined in such away the edge 58 lies against the bottom of the slope 54 of one of the lugs 51.
  • the star 41 is therefore blocked, whereas the cam 45 integral with the pinion 47 is rotatingly driven by the toothing of a wheel 62 partially shown in FIG. 4.
  • the spring 49 is under maximum tension, and at the moment when the edge 58 arrives on the arcuate zone 55 of the cam 45 by following the slope 54, the tooth 43a is released, so that the star 41 advances by one step, and the tooth 43b comes to strike against the stopsurface 59 of the pallet 56.
  • the star 41 exerts a force upon the pallet; and this force is borne not only by the pivoting stud 57, but also by the cam against which the edge 58 of the pallet is pressing.
  • the cam is subjected to a force which tends to accelerate it and which, consequently, acts upon the movement in the same sense as the mainspring.
  • the arrangement described above can be produced easily and constitutes a device which operates very reliably and always accurately, even with the manufacturing tolerances normal in mass-production.
  • a shock from outside which is liable to cause a displacement-of the pallet will allow it to move only in the direction of engagement. It therefore follows that no shock can cause an untimely jump of the rotating jumping member.
  • a further advantage of the mechanisms described is that they make it possible to set the time in either direction.
  • Other advantages, finally, are their compact size and their reliability.
  • the driving mechanism of which two possible embodiments have just been described is suitable for many different applications. Thus it may serve to jump-drive houror minute-indicators as well as dayor dateindicators. It may likewise be used in chronographs, particularly for driving an hour-counter, a minutecounter, etc.
  • a mechanism for driving a rotating jumping member in a timepiece comprising a driving member rotating at a constant speed and coupled to said jumping member by a spring, a pallet pivoting about a fixed axis parallel to the common axis of said members, and a cam integral with said driving member and having a profile formed of lugs distributed at a uniform pitch about said common axis, said jumping member having teeth which are successively blocked and then released by said pallet in the course of the rotation of said jumping member, wherein said pallet comprises two beaks, each provided with a locking-plane and a tip, each locking-plane cooperating with said teeth and each tip cooperating with said profile, and wherein said locking planes are so oriented that the pressure of said teeth upon each of said planes subjects said pallet to a torque which causes it to pivot and to press against said profile.
  • jumping member is freely engaged on a cylindrical bearing surface integral with said cam and is held axially in place by said cam on one side and by a shoulder integral with said cam on the other side.
  • a mechanism in accordance with claim 6, wherein said spring is situated in recess insaid driving member.
  • the orientation of said locking-planes is such that said teeth cause said pallet to pivot in the direction of disengagement and press the one of said two beaks which is not then in contact with said jumping member against said profile.
  • tween said camand said jumping member is'equal to wherein the number of saidlugs is equal to the number of said teeth, and'the' maximum angular clearance/behalf the pitch of the toothing of said jumping member.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
  • Adornments (AREA)
US498428A 1973-08-20 1974-08-19 Mechanism for driving a rotating jumping member in a timepiece Expired - Lifetime US3871171A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1195873A CH578752B5 (en, 2012) 1973-08-20 1973-08-20

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US3871171A true US3871171A (en) 1975-03-18

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US (1) US3871171A (en, 2012)
JP (1) JPS5517356B2 (en, 2012)
CH (2) CH578752B5 (en, 2012)
FR (1) FR2241815B1 (en, 2012)
GB (1) GB1471749A (en, 2012)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063411A (en) * 1975-11-06 1977-12-20 Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke Rudolf Wehner Stepping mechanism
US20080106978A1 (en) * 2004-12-03 2008-05-08 Christophe Claret S.A. Animated Timepiece

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2068210A3 (fr) * 2007-12-04 2011-04-20 Chronode SA Dispositif de déclenchement
EP3032349B1 (fr) * 2014-12-11 2023-02-22 Blancpain SA. Mécanisme d'entraînement d'un organe sautant
CH717359B1 (fr) * 2020-04-29 2022-11-30 Van Cleef & Arpels SA Dispositif de déclenchement d'un mécanisme horloger.

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1391340A (en) * 1920-08-20 1921-09-20 Thomas F I O'brien Timepiece-movement
US2871702A (en) * 1956-06-18 1959-02-03 Ingraham E Co Escapement
US3427799A (en) * 1966-02-22 1969-02-18 Ebauches Sa Spring-loaded instantaneous date indicator stepper and indexer

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1391340A (en) * 1920-08-20 1921-09-20 Thomas F I O'brien Timepiece-movement
US2871702A (en) * 1956-06-18 1959-02-03 Ingraham E Co Escapement
US3427799A (en) * 1966-02-22 1969-02-18 Ebauches Sa Spring-loaded instantaneous date indicator stepper and indexer

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063411A (en) * 1975-11-06 1977-12-20 Pforzheimer Uhren-Rohwerke Rudolf Wehner Stepping mechanism
US20080106978A1 (en) * 2004-12-03 2008-05-08 Christophe Claret S.A. Animated Timepiece
US7420883B2 (en) 2004-12-03 2008-09-02 Christophe Claret S.A. Animated timepiece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH1195873A4 (en, 2012) 1975-12-31
GB1471749A (en) 1977-04-27
DE2438684B2 (de) 1976-05-13
DE2438684A1 (de) 1975-03-27
FR2241815B1 (en, 2012) 1976-12-31
CH578752B5 (en, 2012) 1976-08-13
FR2241815A1 (en, 2012) 1975-03-21
JPS5517356B2 (en, 2012) 1980-05-10
JPS5051362A (en, 2012) 1975-05-08

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