WO2015113669A1

WO2015113669A1 - Timepiece with bezel-operated mobile indicator

Info

Publication number: WO2015113669A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/075164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vivien Houvenaghel
Original assignee: Hamilton International Ag
Priority date: 2014-01-31
Filing date: 2014-11-20
Publication date: 2015-08-06
Also published as: EP2902853A1; EP2902853B1

Abstract

Case (100) for timepiece (300), said case (100) comprising at least one mobile indicator (1) internal to a sealed compartment (2) closed by at least a glass (3), this mobile indicator (1) being operated by a bezel (4) that the case (1) comprises and that is external to the compartment (2) and manipulated by a user. This bezel (4) frictionally drives at least one transmission runner (5) which is guided in sealed manner in a partition (6) of the case (100) between the interior compartment (2) and the external surroundings to this compartment (2) by sealing means (10) and which transmission runner (5) frictionally drives the internal mobile indicator (1) via friction-drive means (20), and the friction-drive means (20) are separate from the sealing means (10).

Description

Timepiece with mobile indicator controlled by a bezel Field of the invention

The invention relates to a timepiece box, said box comprising at least one movable indicator internal to a sealed compartment closed by at least one mirror, said movable indicator being controlled by a telescope that includes said box and external to said compartment and maneuvered by a user, wherein said bezel frictionally drives at least one return mobile which is guided in a sealed manner in a partition of said box between said inner compartment and the external medium to said compartment by sealing means, and which mobile referral frictionally drives said internal movable indicator by friction drive means and further characterized in that said friction drive means are distinct from said sealing means, said at least one return mobile being movable according to a degree of freedom single pivoting about a return axis, and said sealing means comprise at least one O-ring sealing of revolution about said deflection axis, said return mobile comprising first axial stop means in the direction of said return axis cooperating with first axial stop means that includes said partition.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one movement housed in said inner compartment of such a box.

The invention relates to the field of timepieces, and in particular watches, comprising indicators or display means inside the box, and which are mobile under the action of a user on a control means external.

Background of the invention

It is often useful to have, in a timepiece or a watch, indicators or mobile display means, and especially by rotation, for the taking into account of particular reference, for example for the display of universal time (time zones and / or places), time references, in particular calendar for the resetting between day of week and calendar of the month, for semi-perpetual calendar with registration during leap years, or other.

Direct training is known from many documents. Patent CH 281 196 in the name of HISSARLIAN describes a rotating bezel carrying a dial at universal times. The patent FR 1 026 268 in the name of MISEREZ describes a mechanism comprising a rotating bezel outside the box of a watch and based on a sting of its middle part, this bezel carrying ice and a tracking circle under the ice. This mechanism is only suitable for a mirror of revolution, and the seal is mediocre. In addition, the bezel must be in several parts for mounting on the middle part, or be made of an elastic material allowing its clipping on the middle part, as well as the clipping of the ice. These direct drive mechanisms are all weak in their sealing. They are in particular not usable for diving watches, and are generally very sensitive to attacks from the outside environment.

The patent CH 681 127 in the name of WERTHANOR describes a rotating bezel of the window and the flange of the dial, and separated from the middle part by a seal. The ice must rotate with the telescope. Furthermore, the movement is carried by a casing ring, and the configuration of the assembly requires to mount the bezel on the middle at the beginning of the assembly, before mounting the circle, the movement, the dial, the flange , ice seal and ice, which is inconvenient for handling.

Indirect magnetic drive means are known, in particular by patent EP 1 342 131 in the name of LVMH, it is not always desirable to have magnetic fields in the vicinity of the movement, which may interfere with other magnetic fields that it involves, or disturb its operation.

Indirect drive mechanisms are known by means of a telescope, or an auxiliary crown, or a pusher or lever as in FR 861 780 in the name of HARRISON, or comprising crowns or toothed rings in cooperation with pinions or other crowns or toothed rings. Training by the main crown is described by the patent FR 2 956 755 in the name of CHEVAL Frères. The document CH 705 862 in the name of CHEVAL Frères describes a drive by an auxiliary ring, with a cooperation of form. Another similar mechanism is described by the patent FR 1 027 587 in the name of MISEREZ. A pulse rocker for a jump control, with a pawl, is known from patent CH 223 348 in the name of BURKHARDT. Indirect drive mechanisms by an electric motor are still known, as in patent FR 2 879 768 in the name of ISA.

FR 1 600 860 A in the name of PIQUEREZ describes an outer rotating bezel driving an inner rotating bezel, by a combination of field teeth of these two glasses cooperating with a mobile carrying two gears. In a variant, a friction is substituted for each gear.

CH 535 984 A in the name of LEON FRESARD describes a rotating bezel provided with a seal with the middle part, this seal also serves as positioning brake for the bezel.

Summary of the invention

The reliable solutions of the prior art are costly and cumbersome, and the invention proposes to provide an equally reliable but much more economical alternative to the problem of driving an internal mobile indicator, under optimal conditions. safety and in particular sealing.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a timepiece box, said box comprising at least one movable indicator internal to a sealed compartment closed by at least one mirror, said movable indicator being controlled by a telescope that includes said box and external in said compartment and maneuvered by a user, wherein said bezel frictionally drives at least one defective mobile which is guided in a sealed manner in a partition of said box between said inner compartment and the external medium to said compartment by sealing means, and which mobile gear frictionally drives said internal movable indicator by friction drive means and further characterized in that said friction drive means are distinct from said sealing means, said at least one movable gear being movable according to a single degree of freedom in pivoting about a return axis, and said sealing means e comprise at least one O-ring sealing of revolution about said deflection axis, said deflection mobile comprising first axial stop means in the direction of said return axis cooperating with first axial stop means that includes said partition , characterized in that said first axial stop means comprise, at least one side of said partition, a flange secured by clamping means and / or by at least one screw for immobilizing axially and without play said deflection mobile relative to said partition.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said bezel frictionally drives said at least one deflecting wheel via at least one first drive O-ring, which comprises said friction drive means, and which is revolution about said return axis.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said at least one return mobile frictionally drives said internal mobile indicator via at least one second drive O-ring, which comprises said friction drive means, and which is revolution about said return axis.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one movement housed in an said internal compartment of a said box. Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawing, in which the single figure shows, schematically and in section, a timepiece constituted by a watch comprising a movement housed in a box, and a movable indicator housed in an inner compartment of this box and driven by a bezel outside this box.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention relates to a box 100 for a timepiece 300, in particular a watch case.

This box 100 comprises at least one movable indicator 1 internal to a sealed compartment 2 sealed by at least one mirror 3. Classically and not exclusively this compartment 2 is delimited by a bottom 61, a middle part 60 comprising a partition 6 surrounding an ice 3.

This mobile indicator 1 is controlled by a telescope 4 that includes the box 1 and which is external to the compartment 2, and maneuvered by a user.

By "telescope", in the broad sense, is meant here a control member, whose kinematics may be circular as a rotating bezel illustrated by the figure, or else linear as a pusher, or the like. This bezel 4 frictionally drives at least one deflecting wheel 5, which is guided in a sealed manner in a partition 6 of the box 100 between the inner compartment 2 and the external medium to this compartment 2, the sealing being provided by means This deflection wheel 5 frictionally drives the internal movable indicator 1 by friction drive means 20. And these friction drive means 20 are distinct from these sealing means 10.

Of course, the box 100 may include several such glasses 4 resulting in as many mobile indicators 1. The invention is described here in the simplest configuration with a single telescope 4, and a single mobile indicator 1.

In a preferred embodiment, but not limited to, this at least one deflecting wheel 5 is movable with a single degree of freedom in pivoting about a return axis X, and the sealing means 10 comprise at least one O-ring. 7 rotation sealing around this X axis of return.

The geometry of the O-ring results from the rotation of a given profile around its axis of revolution: for a circular O-ring, of the "O-ring" type, this profile is circular. This profile can still be multilobe, including quadrilobe which is favorable for better sealing and reduced friction. This profile can, again, take other geometric shapes. The O-ring is preferably kept compressed in a housing, typically a groove: this groove may have a profile close to that of the seal, for example a groove with a circular profile for an "O-ring" seal, or a rectangular profile with a bottom of revolution relative to the axis of rotation, and flanks perpendicular to this axis. In a particular embodiment, the seal material is nitrile-based (type NBR) or the like.

The invention is illustrated here in the particular case, not limiting, of a rotating bezel 4 about a main axis Z, and driving a plurality of return wheels 5, for example three such return wheels 5 arranged at 120 ° .

In a preferred embodiment, the friction drive means 20 comprise elastic compressible components such as seals, for transmitting motion between rigid components between which is interposed at least one such compressible elastic component. Thus, in the particular embodiment illustrated in the figure, the bezel 4 frictionally drives each at least one deflecting wheel 5 via at least one first drive O-ring 8, which comprises the drive means friction 20, and which is of revolution about the return axis X of the defective mobile 5 concerned.

Preferably, each deflection wheel 5 comprises first axial stop means 13, in the direction of its return axis X, cooperating with first axial stop means 14 that comprises the partition 6.

According to the invention, these first axial stop means 13 comprise, at least one side of the partition 6, a flange 15 immobilized by clamping means 16 and / or by at least one screw for immobilizing axially and without play. the moving wheel 5 with respect to the partition 6.

Advantageously, this flange 15 comprises at least one housing for such a first drive O-ring 8, to which the bezel 4 has a first friction zone 48, which can be monobloc with this bezel 4, or which can be reported under shape of a ring, or a particular coating, or other.

In a particular embodiment, this at least one deflection wheel 5 frictionally drives the internal mobile indicator 1 via at least one second drive O-ring 9, which comprises the friction drive means 20, and which is of revolution about the return axis X of the defective mobile 5 concerned.

Advantageously, this at least one deflecting wheel 5 comprises at least one housing for such a second drive O-ring 9, to which the mobile indicator 1 comprises a second friction zone 19, which can be in one piece with this mobile indicator 1, or that can be reported in the form of a ring, or a particular coating, or other.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the window 4 pivots around a main axis Z around the window 3 and the partition 6, the window 3 being held in the partition 6 by a holding joint 21, and this window 4 comprises second axial stop means 1 1 cooperating with second complementary axial stop means 12 that comprises the partition 6 in the direction of this main axis Z. For example the second axial stop means 1 1 are constituted by a needle screw housed in a tapping of the bezel 4, and cooperating with play with a groove of the partition 6 constituting the second complementary axial stop means 12

For optimum operation, this at least one return wheel 5 is guided in a sealed manner in a guide sleeve 67 that the partition 6 comprises by means of the sealing means 10. In the illustrated version, the guide sleeve 67 is reported on the partition 6 and comprises a bore with which cooperate two O-ring seals 7 and 7A, each housed in a groove of the return mobile 5. The guide sleeve 67 improves the tribological conditions, and provides better performance than a bore directly made in the partition 6, which is a more economical alternative.

Preferably, at least the mobile indicator 1 or the guide sleeve 67 comprises a surface layer of low friction material material, lower than the coefficient of friction of the material constituting this mobile indicator 1 or respectively of this guide sleeve 67.

Advantageously, these sealing means 10 oppose a lower frictional resistance than that of the friction drive means 20 during a maneuvering of the telescope 4.

Preferably, the box 1 according to the invention comprises braking means 21 for maintaining the position of the window 4 relative to the partition 6 in the absence of maneuver by a user. In the illustrated embodiment, these braking means 21 comprise at least one seal 22, mounted in a housing of the telescope 4 or of the mobile indicator 1, and ensuring a friction opposing a relative movement of the telescope 4 relative to to the mobile indicator 1 in the absence of maneuver by a user.

Advantageously, the box 1 comprises an outer cover 25 assembled on the partition 6 to protect external aggressions both the mobile indicator 1 and the sealing means 10 and the friction drive means 20.

In the embodiment illustrated, the mobile indicator 1 is a flange.

Note that the return indicators 5 are mounted on the middle, through the partition 6, before mounting the mobile indicator 1, including flange in the illustrated variant. The movement 200 and the other display members, such as dial and possibly another flange as in the figure, are then mounted before placing the ice 3 on the middle part with the interposition of an ice seal 23. The bezel 4 can to be assembled in final, and immobilized by the needle screws 1 1, which makes the handling of the timepiece more convenient, when assembled, than the variants of the prior art which required a mounting of glasses prior to the insertion of the other components.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 300, in particular a watch, comprising at least one movement 200 housed in such an internal compartment 2 of such a box 100.

Claims

R EVE NDI CATI ON S

1. Timepiece box (100) (300), said box (100) comprising at least one movable indicator (1) internal to a sealed compartment (2) closed by at least one mirror (3), said mobile indicator (1) ) being controlled by a telescope (4) that comprises said box (1) and external to said compartment (2) and maneuvered by a user, wherein said bezel (4) frictionally drives at least one diverting wheel (5) which is guided sealingly in a partition (6) of said box (100) between said inner compartment (2) and the external medium to said compartment (2) by sealing means (10), and which diverting mechanism (5) drives frictional said movable indicator (1) internally by friction drive means (20) and wherein said friction drive means (20) are distinct from said sealing means (10), said at least one diverting mobile (5) being movable with a single degree of freedom in pivoting about an axis deflector (X), and said sealing means (10) comprising at least one O-ring (7) of revolution about said deflection axis (X), said deflection wheel (5) having first means of axial stop (13) in the direction of said return axis (X) cooperating with first axial stop means (14) that comprises said partition (6), characterized in that said first axial stop means (13) comprise, at least one side of said partition (6), a flange (15) immobilized by clamping means (16) and / or by at least one screw for immobilizing axially and without play said deflection wheel (5) with respect to said partition (6).

2. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bezel (4) frictionally drives said at least one return wheel (5) via at least one first O-ring drive (8). ), which comprises said friction drive means (20), and which is of revolution about said return axis (X).

3. Box (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said flange (15) comprises at least one housing for a said first O-ring drive (8), to which said bezel (4) comprises a first zone of friction (48).

4. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one return mobile (5) frictionally drives said mobile indicator (1) internally via at least one second O-ring drive (9), which comprises said friction drive means (20), and which is of revolution about said return axis (X).

5. Box (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one return wheel (5) comprises at least one housing for a said second drive O-ring (9), opposite which said movable indicator (1) ) has a second friction zone (19).

6. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bezel (4) pivots about a main axis (Z) around said ice (3) and said partition (6), and comprises second means axial stop (1 1) cooperating with second complementary axial stop means (12) that comprises said partition (6) in the direction of said main axis (Z).

7. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one return wheel (5) is guided in a sealed manner in a guide sleeve (67) that comprises said partition (6) via said sealing means (10).

8. Box (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least said movable indicator (1) or said guide sleeve (67) comprises a surface layer of material with a low coefficient of friction, lower than the coefficient of friction of the material constituting said movable indicator (1) or said guide sleeve (67) respectively.

9. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing means (10) oppose a lower friction resistance than that of said friction drive means (20) during a maneuver of said telescope ( 4).

10. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises braking means (21) for maintaining in position of said bezel (4) relative to said partition (6) in the absence of maneuver by a user.

1 1. Box (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said braking means (21) comprise at least one seal (22) mounted in a housing of said bezel (4) or said movable indicator (1) and ensuring a friction opposing a relative movement of said bezel (4) relative to said mobile indicator (1) in the absence of maneuver by a user.

12. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an outer cover (25) assembled on said partition (6) to protect said movable indicator (1) and said sealing means (10) and said friction drive means (20).

13. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable indicator (1) is a flange.

14. Timepiece (300) comprising at least one movement (200) housed in said inner compartment (2) of said box (100) according to claim 1.