WO2011113846A2

WO2011113846A2 - Watch movement display device

Info

Publication number: WO2011113846A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/053918
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-François Mojon; Vincent Boucard
Original assignee: Cyrus Watches Rl Sa
Priority date: 2010-03-18
Filing date: 2011-03-15
Publication date: 2011-09-22
Also published as: CH701830B1; WO2011113846A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watch movement display device (1) comprising a dial (2) having an axis (3) and displaying, by means of a pointer (8), a first piece of time information that has a continuous cycle, and at least one first disc (4) displaying a second piece of time information that has a continuous cycle, said first disc (4) being concentric with the dial (2) with respect to said axis (3) and arranged so that it can rotate with respect to the dial (2) about said axis (3). According to the invention, the dial (2) is fixed, and said pointer (8) is able to rotate about the axis (3). The display device further comprises first means of driving the rotation of the pointer (8) and second means of driving the rotation of the first disc (4), which means are designed to drive the pointer (8) and the first disc (4) at set rotational speeds with respect to the dial (2) such that the rotational speed of the first disc (4) with respect to the pointer (8) is designed such that said pointer (8) indicates both the first and the second piece of time information.

Description

Display device for a watch movement

Technical area

The present invention relates to a display device for a watch movement comprising a dial having an axis and displaying, by means of an index, a first time information having a continuous cycle, and at least a first disc displaying a second time information having a continuous cycle, said first disc being concentric to the dial relative to the axis and arranged to be rotatable relative to the dial about said axis. The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a display device.

State of the art

Such display devices are used for example to display the hours, minutes and seconds, such as for example the Lip Automythic watch. In this watch, the time is not indicated by needles, but by three concentric discs for hours, minutes and seconds, moving in rotation. The juxtaposition of the three discs gives the hour at the bottom of the dial at 6 o'clock by means of a single fixed needle. In other watches, the time can be displayed using a fixed window, such as in the RSW Moonflower watch.

These displays require a reading index or stationary station that can affect the aesthetic appearance of the watch. Furthermore, a fixed reference does not offer the same reading comfort as a needle indication, the latter allowing, by its angular position, to instantly give the relative time.

An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome this disadvantage, by providing a display device for a new reading of the original time while remaining simple.

Disclosure of the invention

For this purpose, and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for displaying a watch movement comprising a dial having an axis and displaying, by means of an index, a first time information having a cycle continuous, and at least a first disc displaying a second time information having a continuous cycle, said first disc being concentric to the dial relative to the axis and arranged to be rotatable relative to the dial about said axis.

According to the invention, the dial is fixed, and said index is rotatable about said axis. In addition, the display device comprises first means for driving in rotation the index and the second drive means for rotating the first disc, said first means for driving the index finger and for said second means driving in rotation of the first disc being arranged to drive the index and the first disc at rotational speeds relative to the dial determined so that the speed of rotation of the first disc relative to the index is adapted so that said index indicates both the first and second time information.

The invention may be implemented so as to display more than two time information. For this, the display device may comprise a (p + 1) -th disk displaying a (p + 2) -th time information having a continuous cycle, p being an integer greater than or equal to 1, said (p + 1) -th disc being concentric to the dial relative to the axis and arranged to be rotatable relative to the dial about said axis. The display device further comprises (p + 2) -th means for driving in rotation of the

(p + 1) -th disc arranged to drive the (p + 1) -th disc at a speed of rotation relative to the dial determined so that the speed of rotation of the (p + 1) -th disc relative to the index is adapted so that said index indicates both the first and (p + 2) -th time information.

Thus, a same moving index in rotation relative to a fixed dial indicates at least three information at a time, such as hours, minutes and seconds.

Advantageously, the first time information can be displayed on the dial at an angle of (360 / n) °, n being an integer greater than or equal to 1.

According to preferred embodiments, the first time information can be displayed on the dial at an angle of (360 / n) °, n being an integer greater than or equal to 2, the display device also comprising means for actuating the index arranged to obtain an index retrograde. Said retrograde index may then comprise an even number of faces distinct from each other and be arranged to pivot on its axis when it returns to present one or the other of its faces.

[001 1] The second time information can be displayed on the first disk at an angle of (360 / n) °, n being defined above, so that the initial positions of the first and second time information are aligned at the beginning of their respective cycle and the (p + 2) -th time information can be displayed on the (p + 1) -th disc at an angle of (360 / n) °, so that the initial positions of the first and (p + 2) time information is aligned at the beginning of their respective cycle.

Preferably, the first time information displayed on the dial may be relative to the hours, and the second and (p + 2) -th time information may be chosen from the group comprising the minutes, the seconds, a time zone, the lunar cycle or any other time indication having a continuous cycle.

Advantageously, the first means for driving in rotation of the index may comprise a first gear train cooperating with the roadway of the movement cooperating itself with an element of the gear train finishing movement.

If the index is retrograde, the first gear can be arranged to cooperate with the actuating means of the retrograde index.

Advantageously, the second drive means in rotation of the first disk may comprise a second gear train cooperating with the first gear train, the dimensions and the number of teeth of the elements of the first and second gear trains being chosen so that the rotational speeds of the index and the first disc are such that said index indicates both the first and second time information.

Advantageously, the (p + 2) -th rotary drive means of the (p + 1) -th disk may comprise a (p + 2) -th gear train cooperating with an element of the gear train of the movement, the dimensions and the number of teeth of the elements of the (p + 2) - th gear train being chosen so that the speed of rotation of the (p + 1) -th disc is determined with respect to the speed of rotation of the index so that said index indicates both the first and (p + 2) -th time information.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a watch movement and a display device as defined above.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view from above of a variant of the display device according to the invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of said device, and

- Figure 4 is a top view of the actuating mechanism of the retrograde index used in the device of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the display device 1 of the invention for displaying three time information (p = 1), the time being the first time information, the minute being the second time information and the second being the third time information.

The device 1 comprises a fixed dial 2 of axis 3, which is central in the example shown, and displaying the hours from 0 to 12 180 °. The hours grow clockwise. The device 1 also comprises a first disk 4 comprising two consecutive scales each displaying the minutes from 0 to 60 over 180 °, the minutes increasing in the counterclockwise direction. The first disk 4 is concentric with the dial 2 with respect to the central axis 3 and is arranged to be mobile in continuous rotation with respect to the dial 2 around the central axis 3. As will be seen below, the speed of rotation of the first disc 4 is calculated in an original manner.

The device 1 also a second disk 6 comprising two consecutive scales each displaying the seconds from 0 to 60 over 180 °, the seconds increasing in the counterclockwise direction. The second disc 6 is concentric to the dial 2 and the first disc 4 relative to the central axis 3 and is arranged to be movable in continuous rotation relative to the dial 2 and relative to the first disc 4 about the central axis 3. The second disc 6 has a diameter smaller than that of the first disc 4, itself being included in the dial 2. As will be seen below, the rotational speed of the second disc 6 is calculated in an original manner.

A semicircular cover (not shown) can be arranged on the dial 2 and the discs 4 and 6 to cover and hide the left part of the display relative to the 0-12h axis and to show that the display showing the hours.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises an index 8 movable in rotation about the central axis 3. The index 8 is arranged to open between the first disk 4 and the second disk 6. In the variant shown here, the index 8 is retrograde. The first and second discs 4 and 6 are oriented so that, at the beginning of each cycle, the display of the three time information returns to 0 when the index returns to its starting position.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises first rotary drive means of the index 8, second drive means for rotating the first disk 4 and third drive means in rotation of the second disk. 6, said first means for rotating the index finger 8, said second means for rotating the first disk 4 and said third rotating drive means for the second disk 6 being arranged to drive the index finger 8, the first and second discs 4, 6 at rotational speeds relative to the dial 2 determined so that the speed of rotation of the first and second discs 4, 6 relative to the index 8 is adapted so that said index 8 indicates to time, minute and second.

[0025] More particularly with reference to Figures 2 and 3, there is provided an embodiment of these rotating drive means.

The first rotary drive means of the index finger 8 comprise a first gear train cooperating with the roadway 10 of the watch movement. The roadway 10 is driven in a conventional manner and known to those skilled in the art by an element (not shown) of the finishing gear of the watch movement and is also used in a conventional manner and known to those skilled in the art to setting the time.

More specifically, the first gear comprises a pinion 12 with 26 teeth, integral with the roadway 10, and which meshes with a toothed wheel 14, 72 teeth, a deferral wheel hours 16 minutes. Said return wheel 16 also comprises a pinion 18, with 24 teeth, meshing with a toothed wheel 20, with 104 teeth, of a mobile 22 carrying a cam 24 for the actuation of the retrograde index 8. The means of actuation of the retrograde index are arranged so that the cycle of the retrograde index 8 is 12h.

Referring to Figure 4, the actuating means of the retrograde index 8 comprise, in addition to the cam 24, a probe 26 cooperating with a rake 28, meshing with a toothed wheel 29 secured to the index finger 8 to rotate it. There is also provided a spring, not shown, for holding the rake 28 in position. The toothed wheel 29 is coaxial with the central axis 3. The operation of the retrograde is here conventional and is known to those skilled in the art. It will not be described in more detail.

In the variant shown, the second drive means in rotation of the first disk 4 comprise a second gear train cooperating with the first gear train driving the index 8.

More particularly, the second gear train comprises a toothed wheel 30 with 60 teeth, integral with the deflection wheel hours 16 minutes of the first gear set. The wheel 30 meshes with a toothed wheel 32,

40 teeth, integral with a barrel 34 carrying the first disc 4. The barrel 34 is coaxial with the central axis 3.

With reference to FIG. 2, the third drive means for rotating the second disk 6 comprise a third gear train cooperating with a component of the finishing gear of the watch movement, such as the second wheel 40.

More particularly, the third gear train comprises an additional second wheel 42, 14 teeth secured to the second mobile 40. The second wheel 42 meshes with a pinion 44, with 40 teeth, with a second deflecting wheel 46. Said second deflection wheel 46 also comprises a toothed wheel 48, with 103 teeth meshing with a toothed wheel 50, 72 teeth, integral with a shaft 52. The shaft 52 is coaxial with the central axis 3 and the barrel 34 and carries the second disk 6.

The configuration described above and the specific choice of the number of teeth of the elements of the different gear trains can drive the first and second discs 4 and 6 so as to take into account the rotation speed of the retrograde index 8 so that said index 8 displays the three time information at a time, while being mobile relative to the dial 2. The display device according to the invention is original while allowing a simple reading of the time. For example, in Figure 1, the index 8 displays 2h, 52 ', 20 ".

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. In particular, it is possible to display more than three time information (p> 1), the number of disks and drive means being adapted according to the number of time information to be displayed according to the invention.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide, in particular in the case of a retrograde display less than or equal to 180 °, a retrograde index comprising an even number of distinct faces, and a mechanism arranged to rotate the index 8 on its longitudinal axis, each return to its initial position, to present one or the other of its faces. For example, two distinct faces can be provided, namely a white face to indicate the day and a blue face to indicate the night.

Similarly, the time information to be displayed may be different from hours, minutes, seconds. The time information to be displayed must have a continuous cycle and may indicate for example a second time zone, or the lunar cycle.

Claims

claims

1. A display device (1) for a watch movement comprising a dial (2) having an axis (3) and displaying, by means of an index (8), a first time information having a continuous cycle, and at at least one first disc (4) displaying a second time information having a continuous cycle, said first disc (4) being concentric with the dial (2) with respect to said axis (3) and arranged to be rotatable with respect to the dial (2 ) about said axis (3), characterized in that the dial (2) is fixed, in that said index (8) is rotatable about said axis (3), and in that the display device comprises in in addition to first means for rotating the index (8) and the second means for driving the first disk (4) in rotation, said first means for rotating the index (8) and said second means for rotating the first disk (4) being arranged to drive the index (8) and the first disk e (4) at rotational speeds relative to the dial (2) determined such that the speed of rotation of the first disk (4) relative to the index (8) is adapted so that said index (8) indicates both the first and second time information.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a (p + 1) - th disk (6) displaying a (p + 2) -th hour information having a continuous cycle, p being a higher integer or equal to 1, said (p + 1) -th disc (6) being concentric with the dial (2) with respect to the axis (3) and arranged to be rotatable with respect to the dial (2) about said axis ( 3), and in that the display device further comprises (p + 2) -second means for rotating the (p + 1) -th disc (6) arranged to drive the (p + 1) -th disc (6) at a speed of rotation relative to the dial (2) determined so that the speed of rotation of the (p + 1) -th disc (6) relative to the index (8) is adapted to said index (8) indicates both the first and (p + 2) -th time information.

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first time information is displayed on the dial (2) at an angle of (360 / n) °, n being an integer greater than or equal to 1.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first time information is displayed on the dial (2) at an angle of (360 / n) °, n being an integer greater than or equal to 2, and in that the display device further comprises means for actuating the index (8) arranged to obtain a retrograde index.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said index (8) retrograde has an even number of faces distinct from each other and is arranged to pivot on its axis when returning to present one or the other of his faces.

6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the second time information is displayed on the first disk (4) at an angle of (360 / n) °, so that the initial positions of the first and second time information is aligned at the beginning of their respective cycle.

7. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the (p + 2) -th time information is displayed on the (p + 1) -th disc (6) at an angle of (360 / n) °, so that the initial positions of the first and (p + 2) - th hour information are aligned at the beginning of their respective cycle.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first time information displayed on the dial (2) is relative to hours.

9. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the second and (p + 2) -th time information are selected from the group consisting of minutes, seconds, a time zone, and the lunar cycle. .

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first means for driving in rotation of the index (8) comprise a first gear train cooperating with the roadway (10) of the movement cooperating with each other. even with an element of the gear train finishing the movement.

1 1. Device according to claims 4 and 10, characterized in that the first gear set is arranged to cooperate with the actuating means of the index finger (8) retrograde. Device according to any one of claims 10 and 1 1, characterized in that the second means for driving in rotation the first disc (4) comprise a second gear train cooperating with the first gear set, the dimensions and the number of teeth of the elements of the first and second gear sets being chosen so that the rotational speeds of the index (8) and the first disc (4) are such that said index (8) indicates both the first and second time information.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the (p + 2) -th rotary drive means of the (p + 1) -th disc (6) comprise a (p + 2) -th train gear cooperating with an element of the gear train of movement finishing, the dimensions and the number of teeth of the elements of the (p + 2) -th gear train being chosen so that the speed of rotation of (p + 1) - the second disk (6) is determined with respect to the speed of rotation of the index (8) so that said index (8) indicates both the first and (p + 2) -th hour information.

Timepiece comprising a watch movement, characterized in that it comprises a display device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 13.