WO2015140168A2

WO2015140168A2 - Clock movement

Info

Publication number: WO2015140168A2
Application number: PCT/EP2015/055559
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Edward METHUEN FORSEY; Dylan ROTH
Original assignee: Gfpi S.A.
Priority date: 2014-03-21
Filing date: 2015-03-17
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Also published as: EP3120198B1; CH709394A1; EP3120198A2; WO2015140168A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a clock movement comprising at least two regulation units (61, 67) each having an escapement (5, 13) and a controlling member (62, 68), as well as resilient members (44, 46) provided between the torque-sharing device and the escapements. The invention comprises variants with a differential device as well as embodiments in which the regulation units are driven by a common arbour (20). The resilient members can be hairsprings (44, 46). Said members uncouple the regulation units (61, 67) by providing each with a torque that is independent from the pulses of the other.

Description

Clockwork movement

Technical area

The present invention relates to a watch movement, in particular for a mechanical wristwatch or a mechanical timepiece, comprising a plurality of regulating organs driven by a common source of energy.

State of the art

[0002] For example, document CH698622 discloses

watch movements with two or more regulating members, for example two vortices, driven by a differential gear. In these

movement, the differential gear comprises an input member, powered by energy from a barrel or other equivalent energy source, and two output members each driving a regulating member by

through a suitable multiplier gear train. Owing to the property of the differential gearing, the rotational speed of the input is equal to the average of the rotational speeds of the outputs, the movement of these movements is determined by the average of the oscillation frequencies of their organs regulating this output. which gives them greater precision and stability than those of timepieces which have only one regulating organ.

This technical solution, however, has disadvantages related to the coupling of the two oscillators powered by the same energy source. In particular, during two simultaneous pulses on the two regulating members, it has been observed that the differential gear first supplies energy to the kinematic chain which requires the least, and only after the other. This results in a less efficient pulse and a loss of the amplitude of the oscillations of the balance, which is detrimental to the accuracy of walking.

[0004] EP2141555 describes a timepiece comprising two

resonators, each with a mass of inertia and a return spring. The two masses of inertia are coupled together by a third spring. The coupling between the masses of inertia using a direct elastic connection, a

necessarily a negative influence on isochronism.

[0005] EP2570870 describes a timepiece with two anchor oscillators driven by a common cylinder. The two oscillators are driven by two wheels, one of which is direct, while a wheel of the second wheel is driven by a wheel of the first wheel through an elastic device.

Brief summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a watch movement with the possibility of maintaining in oscillation a plurality of regulating organs, whose performance is determined by the collective action of these regulating organs, without the disadvantages. known devices.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved in particular by means of a watch movement comprising: one or more mechanical energy sources, at least two regulation assemblies, each regulation assembly comprising an escapement and an organ regulating; a torque sharing device comprising at least as many elastic members as regulation assemblies with at least one input connected to the source or to the sources of mechanical energy, allowing the transmission of the energy produced by the source or by the sources of mechanical energy to the control assemblies; characterized in that each regulation assembly is driven by at least one resilient member provided to the escape wheel;

preferably before this mobile escape.

This solution has the advantage over the prior art to allow a steady march of the two regulating organs even in the presence of simultaneous pulses. Moreover it allows the setting in function of any number of regulating organs.

A preferred variant of the invention relates to a watch movement having the above characteristics, wherein said torque sharing device comprises a shaft driving the elastic members. The elastic members may further comprise a center integral with the shaft and a peripheral end connected to an output wheel which is freely mounted on the shaft and which kinematically drives a regulation assembly. In a variant, the elastic elements comprise springs-spiral, preferably prealarm.

The movement of the invention may comprise multiplier wheels in each set of adjustment, downstream of the torque sharing device, or a multiplier gear interposed between the barrel and the torque sharing device. One could also have a common first multiplication stage before the torque sharing device and multiplication stages in the regulation sets, producing the required multiplication ratios.

The invention proposes a new way of arranging two or more regulating members in a movement. The movement may comprise a movable element with a speed determined by the average speeds of the two sets of adjustment. According to the invention, the arrangement of the regulating members and the respective workings allows space saving and excellent energy efficiency.

Advantageously, the movement of the invention also comprises display means driven by an independent counting wheel, and / or by a multiplier gear or by the multiplier wheels of the assemblies.

The invention can be achieved with any kind of regulating system, whether it is conventional Swiss anchor escapements, vortices, or carousels. It is also possible to use expansion exhausts, constant force devices, equal winding or any other known exhaust system.

By exhaust system, it is necessary to understand any mechanism for maintaining the operation of an oscillator through one (or more) source (-s) of energy. The organs regulating control assemblies of the invention must not necessarily be identical and, preferably, are not arranged parallel to compensate for systematic errors due to gravity. In addition, the frequencies of the oscillators may be different from each other. Similarly, the type of exhaust may be different from one regulator to another in the same room.

The present invention also comprises a timepiece comprising a movement as mentioned above.

Brief description of the figures

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which:

• Figure 1 schematically illustrates an overview of a

watch movement according to one aspect of the invention.

• Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the sharing device of

torque of the invention comprising a spiral spring acting elastic member.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two variants of the invention comprising a plurality of sources of mechanical energy.

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

Referring to FIG. 1, a possible embodiment of a movement according to the invention comprises a barrel 11 serving as a source of mechanical energy which drives the shaft 20 by the return 24 and the pinion 22. It is obvious that, depending on the needs, the movement of the invention could comprise a plurality of barrels, or other suitable sources of mechanical energy. The pinion 22 could be replaced, without departing from the scope of the invention, by any other suitable transmission element. The two coaxial output wheels 36, 38 are coupled to the shaft 20 via the elastic members 44, 46, as will be seen better later, and transmit the energy of the barrel 11 to two sets 61, 67, each comprising, in this example, a multiplier wheel 8, respectively 16, and a regulating member.

In the system shown in the figure, the output wheels 36, 38 are mounted on the barrels 33, 35 allowing their free rotation relative to the shaft 20 and are driven by spiral springs 44, 46, more visible in Figure 2, a central core is integral with the shaft 20 and a peripheral end 48 is connected to an output wheel 36, 38 by a pin 50, 56. In this arrangement, the torque of the barrel is transmitted to the 20 by the input pinion 22 and is shared between the two coaxial output wheels 36, 38. It is obvious that any type and any means of attachment to make integral the central core and one of the peripheral ends 48 spiral spring can be provided

According to another variant not shown of the present invention, the torque of the barrel is transmitted to a differential device and shared by the latter to two output wheels. In this case, by the properties of the differential gear, the output wheels and the sets of adjustment that they cause, have rotational speeds whose average is equal to or proportional to the rotational speed of the barrel 11.

Figure 1 shows a movement with two output wheels and two sets of adjustment 61, 67. The invention however also includes variants with three see more sets of adjustment.

The regulating assembly 61 includes a multiplier gear train 8 which is here schematically represented by two references, but which can assume any suitable shape, followed by the escape wheel 5, the anchor 6, and a harmonic oscillator 62 which determines, by its natural frequency, the operation of the regulation assembly 61. The regulation assembly is here represented with a spiral balance pivoting about a fixed axis, could also include a vortex or a carousel . The regulating assembly 67 shown in FIG. 1 has the same structure as the assembly 61. It comprises a multiplier gear 16, an escape wheel 13, an anchor 14, and an oscillator 68 which determines its walk. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this embodiment, but also includes variants in which the two sets have different structures to each other.

Figure 2 shows the shaft 20 which freely rotate the two output wheels 36, 38, and the spiral spring 44 driving the wheel 36, as explained above. The spiral spring 44 could be pre-armed during

the assembly of the movement, or be armed only by the torque transmitted by the barrel 11. The invention is however not limited to this embodiment, but also includes variants in which the spiral springs 44 and 46 are replaced by other elastic elements capable of storing mechanical energy from the barrel and returning it to the regulating assembly 61, respectively 67, as required. The resilient members may be of any type of shape, for example coil, blade, etc.

During operation, when the two exhausts 6 and 14 are in a rest phase, the wheels 36 and 38 are stationary. The static equilibrium condition of the shaft 20 implies that the sum of the pairs of the spiral springs 44 and 46 is equal to and opposite to that exerted by the barrel 11 through the return 24 and the pinion 22. It can be assumed, for simplicity the discussion and without loss of generality, that the springs 44 and 46 are

previously pre-armed to identical voltage values, so that each exerts on the shaft 20 a torque equal to half the torque exerted on the pinion 22.

When the anchor 6 releases the escape wheel 5, the spiral spring 44 provides a torque to the respective finishing gear 8 while relaxing

slightly. The shaft 20 can not fully follow the movement of the wheel 36 because it is retained by the wheel 38, immobile because the exhaust 14 is in the rest phase. It will then move at an angle equal to half the angle traveled by the wheel 36, slightly stiffening the spiral spring 46. It can be seen that the sum of the couples of the springs 44 and 46 is always equal to and opposite to that acting on the pinion 22.

Then, when the anchor 14 releases the wheel 13, the driving force will be provided by the spiral spring 46. The shaft 20 again advance an angle equal to half the angle traveled by the wheel 38: the springs 44, 46

return to the initial state of identical voltages.

If, however, the impulse of the wheel 13 precedes that of the wheel 5, we will have the same course of steps, with reversed roles.

In the case of simultaneous pulses anchors 6 and 14, the driving force is provided first by the spiral springs 44, 46 which are closer to the escapements, before the shaft 20 is rotated . The two wheels 36 and 38 advance at the same angle, and the springs 44 and 46 relax at the same time. The shaft 20 then turns to restore the balance torque. In this way, the movement of the invention provides each escapement with the required driving force and avoids the couplings and the amplitude losses that occur in the movements of the state of the art.

In a general case, the shaft 20 rotates with a speed which is given by the average wheel speeds 36 and 38, both in the variants provided with a differential, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 which does not include The spiral springs 44, 46 make it possible to decouple the operation of the adjustment assemblies 61, 67 independently of the pulses of the other. The unwinding of the barrel 11 is determined by the combined action of the two regulating members, and its speed is proportional to the average between the speeds of the two regulating members, with an improvement in the overall accuracy.

Since the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 does not have a differential, the angular velocities of the two output wheels 36 and 38 are not independent of one another, but may vary between them only for a limited period of time, and to the extent granted by the elastic members 44 and 46. At each moment the combined pairs of spiral springs 44, 46 compensate that provided by the barrel 11. In case of differences between the two sets, the spiral spring of the faster assembly relaxes, while the one that Powering the slower assembly increases its voltage state, so that the slower regulating member receives, on average, a higher driving force and speeds up its motion, while the faster regulating member slows down. In this way, the gap between the two sets of adjustment 61 and 67 is limited.

Preferably, the movement of the invention also comprises a counting wheel and display devices for displaying the time it is and / or the desired time indications. In an advantageous variant, not shown in the figures, this cog is independent and separate from the multiplier wheels 8 and 16. It can be driven directly by the barrel 11 the return 24, the pinion 22, the shaft 20, or any other element suitable, and rotates with a speed determined by the average speeds of the two sets of adjustment.

For example, one end of the shaft 20 could cause

directly an indication, for example a minute hand, and also carry a gun of hours, driven by any drive

appropriate.

Optionally, the multiplier wheels 8 and 16 may also be used for counting time and carry display devices providing indications.

In a variant of the invention not visible in the figures, the multiplier gear train could be interposed between the barrel 11 and the torque-sharing device 20. Consequently, the latter could therefore directly drive the wheels of the wheels. Exhaust 5 and 13.

As already mentioned, the movement of the invention is not limited to two regulating members, but may have any number

identical or different adjustment sets, preferably in various oriented in space, so as to eliminate as much as possible the sources of systematic error due to the action of gravity. In variants provided with a differential, one can multiply the output number of the torque sharing device by providing a cascade of differential devices. The embodiment of Figure 1 allows a multiplication of the number of outputs simply by superimposing on the same axis 20 the desired number of output wheels and elastic members.

Furthermore, the elastic member does not necessarily have to be positioned between the main shaft 20 and the output wheel, but could also be integrated in the gear train or in any position, up to

the exhaust, but preferably before.

In another variant, the pinion 22 could be in the middle of the sharing device, between the barrels 33 and 35, or at the other end of the shaft 20.

The hairspring and the output wheel could be replaced by a wheel incorporating an elastic member, coaxial with the shaft 20 or in any position downstream of the latter, before the exhaust.

The invention is not limited to a single device sharing torque, but could include any number of sharing device. In one example, a watch movement according to the invention could include a first sharing device constituted by a differential, conventional or spherical, driving two shafts having the structure of the shaft 20 of FIG. 1: thus there would be in this case four regulating organs.

Furthermore, the invention could include, in variants, several elastic members per regulation assembly, for example two spiral springs working in opposition or in combination.

According to another embodiment, visible in Figure 3, the movement of the invention comprises a plurality of mechanical energy sources, for example two barrels 11 ', 11 "driving the shaft 20. In the example shown, two referrals 24 ', 24 "are respectively engaged with one of the barrels 11', 11 'on the one hand, and with a pinion 22', 22" secured to the shaft 20 on the other. The gears 22 'and 22 "could also be driven directly by the barrels 11' and 11", or be driven at least mediately by the same barrels 11 'and 11 ", by any suitable transmission device, without depart from the scope of the invention.

This arrangement increases the energy reserves, and therefore the operating time between two pumping, while decreasing the contact force on the teeth of the gears 22 ', 22 ". the workings can be arranged on different planes and at different angles with respect to the plate and to the axis 20, which allows great flexibility in the design of the movement.

The spiral springs 44 and 46 store a portion of the elastic energy supplied by the barrels and are able to provide it instantly when the respective escapements fall. The dynamic behavior of the regulating organs that results is thus improved.

[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates another variant in which the shaft comprises two coaxial half-shafts 20 'and 20 ", each of which can pivot.

independently of each other. The half-shaft 20 "has at one end a spigot 25 intended to cooperate with the female element 27 made at the adjacent end of the other half-shaft, so that each barrel independently feeds a single gear train and A single regulating member The relative pivoting of the half-shafts by the two male and female ends 25, 27 allows a very simple and compact arrangement.

Although the examples and figures represent a movement conventionally arranged, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to a particular arrangement but also includes constructions in which the elements of the movement are superimposed or inclined in n ' any direction. Reference numbers used in figures [0050]

5 escape wheel

6 anchor

7 mobile exhaust

8 gear multiplier

12 mobile exhaust

13 escape wheel

14 anchor

16 gear multiplier

25 male end

27 female tip

11, 11 ', 11 "power source

33 cannon

35 cannon

36 exit wheel

38 exit wheel

40 divider torque sharing device

44 spiral spring

46 spiral spring

48 end of spiral spring

56 pin

20, 20 ', 20 "shaft or half shaft

61 regulation set

62 pendulum , 22 ', 22 "pinion

balance control unit, 24 ', 24 "return

Claims

claims

1. Watch movement comprising:

^■ one or more sources of mechanical energy (11)

^■ at least two sets of control (61, 67), each control comprising an exhaust (5, 6; 13, 14) and a regulating member (62, 68);

^■ a torque sharing means (40) having at least as many elastic members (44, 46) as control assemblies (61, 67) with at least one inlet (22) connected to the source or sources of mechanical energy, enabling the transmission of the energy produced by the source or by the sources of mechanical energy to the control assemblies (61, 67); characterized in that

^■ each regulating assembly is driven by at least one elastic member (44, 46) provided to the mobile outlet (7, 12).

2. Watchmaking movement according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one resilient member is provided before the mobile escape.

3. Timepiece movement according to the preceding claim, wherein said torque sharing device comprises a shaft (20) driving the elastic members (44, 46).

4. A watch movement according to claim 3 wherein the resilient members each comprise a center integral with the shaft (20) and a peripheral end (48) connected to an output wheel (36, 38) which is freely mounted on the shaft (20) and which kinematically drives a regulation unit (61, 67).

5. A watch movement according to the preceding claim wherein the elastic members comprise a spiral spring, optionally pre-armed.

6. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims wherein the control assemblies comprise a multiplier gear (8, 16).

7. Watchmaking movement according to the preceding claim wherein at least one of the gearboxes of the assemblies drive display members.

8. A watch movement according to claim 7 further comprising a counting wheel independent of the multiplier wheels of the control assemblies.

9. A watch movement according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a multiplier gear interposed between the barrel (11) and the torque-sharing device (20), the torque-sharing device directly driving the exhausts (5). , 13).

Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, in which the members regulating control assemblies comprise at least one tourbillon and / or a carousel and / or a Swiss lever escapement and / or a detent escapement and / or a device with constant force and / or a winding of equality.

11. Watchmaking movement according to one of the preceding claims wherein the members regulating control assemblies are not arranged parallel.

12. Timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more sources of mechanical energy comprise a plurality of barrels.

Clock movement according to one of claims 3 to 13, in which said torque sharing device comprises a shaft (20) driving the elastic members (44, 46), the movement comprising at least two barrels (11). ', 11 "), and wherein the shaft (20) has at least two pinions (22 ', 22 ") integral, each of the at least two barrels (11', 11") respectively driving a pinion (22 ', 22 ").

14. Watchmaking movement according to the preceding claim, wherein said shaft comprises a first half shaft (20 ') and a second half shaft (20 ") coaxial and pivoting relative to each other, the first and second half shaft (20 ', 20 ") each having a pinion (22', 22") driven by one of the barrels (11 ', 11 ").

15. Timepiece comprising a movement according to one of the preceding claims.