WO2018083586A1

WO2018083586A1 - Timepiece movement

Info

Publication number: WO2018083586A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/056748
Authority: WO
Inventors: François DIJKSTRA
Original assignee: Concepto Holding Sa
Priority date: 2016-11-04
Filing date: 2017-10-31
Publication date: 2018-05-11
Also published as: CH713109B1; CH713109A1

Abstract

A timepiece movement comprises at least two tourbillon mechanisms (4, 5), a first tourbillon mechanism (4) comprising a first carriage (C1) rotatable about a first axis (A1) and on which a first balance wheel (6) and a first escapement wheel (7) are pivotably mounted, and a second tourbillon mechanism (5) comprising a second carriage (C2) rotatable about a second axis (A2) and on which a second balance wheel (60) and a second escapement wheel (70) are pivotably mounted. The movement also comprises a third carriage (C3) optionally rotatable about a third axis (A3). The first and second carriages (C1, C2) are stacked and are supported by the third carriage (C3).

Description

WATCHMAKING MOVEMENT

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates in particular to a watch movement, for a mechanical wristwatch or a mechanical timepiece, comprising a plurality of vortices. For example, document CH698622 discloses watch movements with two or more regulating members, for example two vortices, driven by a differential gear. In these movements, 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 through a suitable gearbox.

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.

CH699056 discloses a movement for a timepiece comprising, a vortex having a first cage pivotally mounted on a frame of the movement and a second cage rotatably mounted in said first cage and carrying a mechanical oscillator, a kinematic connection being provided to allow a rotation of said first cage on itself in synchronism with an exhaust, the latter further having a peripheral toothing. WO201 51401 68 discloses a clockwork comprising a source of mechanical energy, two control assemblies, each control assembly comprising an exhaust and a regulating member comprising a vortex. The movement comprises a torque-sharing device comprising at least as many elastic members as regulation assemblies with at least one input connected to the source or sources of mechanical energy, allowing the transmission of the energy produced by the source or by the sources of mechanical energy to regulation sets. Each regulation assembly is driven by a resilient member provided to the mobile escape.

WO2014060346 discloses a timepiece comprising a frame, a driving mobile and a tourbillon mechanism comprising a first cage movable in rotation about a first axis and on which are mounted pivoting a balance wheel and an escapement mobile, a second cage mobile in rotation about a second axis and carrying said first cage, a third cage movable in rotation about a third axis, said third cage carrying said first and second cages. Two of the first, second and third axes are perpendicular to each other and the remaining axis of the first, second and third axes form an angle different from 0 ° and 90 ° with one of the other two first, second and third axes.

CH708190 describes a watch comprising a mechanical movement with a fixed barrel, a regulating member with a multi-axis vortex, a cradle being rotated by the barrel about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the barrel and centered with respect to the movement, the carrying cradle the regulating organ.

CH687795 discloses a mechanical timepiece comprising a cylinder engaged with a tourbillon of the type comprising a rotary base around a vortex axis and a satellite exhaust pinion which meshes with a fixed wheel centered on said axis. The vortex is rotatably mounted about its axis within said piece on a single pivot, supporting from below the base of the vortex, which is entirely free and visible on the top.

The object of the present invention is to provide a watch movement comprising a double tourbillon to increase the accuracy of the watch while optimizing the occupied space.

According to the invention, a clockwork movement comprises at least two vortex mechanisms, a first vortex mechanism comprising a first cage movable in rotation about a first axis and on which are pivotally mounted a first beam and a first mobile exhaust, a second vortex mechanism comprising a second cage movable in rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis, and on which are pivotally mounted a second pendulum and a second mobile exhaust. The movement comprises a third rotary cage around a third axis or non-rotating The invention is characterized in that said first and second cages are superimposed and are carried by the third cage. In another embodiment, a movement comprises a fourth cage rotating about a fourth axis or non-rotating, said fourth cage carrying said third cage.

In another embodiment, the third cage is rotatable about a third axis that intercepts the first and second axes. Still according to this other embodiment, the fourth cage is rotatable about a fourth axis which is normal to the third axis.

The features of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description of an embodiment given solely by way of example, in no way limiting with reference to the schematic figures, in which: FIG. perspective of a clockwork mechanism comprising a double tourbillon;

- Figure 2 comprises a partial perspective view of a timepiece comprising a mechanism according to the present invention; and

- Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a double vortex according to the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a clockwork movement comprises two vortex mechanisms 4, 5. A first vortex mechanism 4 comprises a first cage C1 movable in rotation around a first axis A1 and on which are mounted pivoting a first balance wheel 6 and a first escapement mobile 7. A second vortex mechanism 5 comprises a second cage C2 rotatable about a second axis A2, parallel to said first axis A1, and on which are pivotally mounted a second balance 60 and a second movable exhaust 70. The movement further comprises a third cage C3 rotatable about a third axis A3 which intercepts the first and second axes A1, A2. The first and second cages C1, C2 are superimposed and are carried by the third cage C3. The movement comprises a fourth cage C4 rotatable about a fourth axis A4, normal to the third axis A3, said fourth cage C4 carrying the third cage C3 La and driving it kinematically. The first and second cages C1, C2 are superimposed and are carried by the third cage C3.

In this example, the two vortex mechanisms 4, 5 are coaxial. Each vortex mechanism 4, 5 can rotate along an independent axis or a single common axis.

Still according to this example illustrated in Figure 1, a toothed ring 9 is fixed on a movement (not shown). The fourth cage C4 concentrically rotates to this toothed ring 9 which constitutes the fixed wheel of the fourth cage C4.

A differential mechanism 8 is arranged between the two first superposed cages C1, C2. The differential mechanism 8 rotates about an axis A5 parallel to the first and second axis A1, A2 and perpendicular to the third axis A3. As illustrated in Figure 2, the tourbillon mechanisms 4, 5 are arranged in the center of a wristwatch. In this example, the time display is eccentric with respect to vortex mechanisms 4, 5. Indeed, indexes 12 are represented by stones set with a different color compared to the rest of the dial. In the same way, the indication of the hours is given by a first set 13 of two set stones, on a first ring 15, of different color compared to the rest of the stones crimped on said first ring 1 5 and the indication of the minutes is given by a second set 14 of three set stones, on a second ring 16, of different color compared to the rest of the stones crimped on said second ring 16. The first and second rings 1 5, 16 therefore move independently one the other. In a variant not illustrated, the first and second crimped rings 15, 1 6 may be replaced by two rings 15, 16 each having an indication, for example a marking or an engraving, so as to obtain the simplest possible display, fourth cage C4 is arranged to perform a turn on itself in one minute. The third cage C3 is arranged to perform a turn on itself in one minute as well, as the first cage 1 which carries the first vortex 4 and the second cage C2 which carries the second vortex 5. The wristwatch comprises a dial of concave shape according to at least one radius of curvature, which surrounds the vortex mechanisms 4, 5. In this example, the dial receives gems or semi-precious stones so as to effect a tiling to offer a strong aesthetic effect, especially by the reflection of precious or semi-precious stones on the dial. The third cage 3 is flush with the central opening of the dial.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 in an exploded view, the first vortex mechanism 4 comprises a first cage C1 movable in rotation about a first axis A1 and on which are pivotally mounted a first rocker 6 and a first mobile 7 , a second vortex mechanism 5 comprising a second cage C2 movable in rotation about a second axis A2 and on which are pivotally mounted a second rocker 60 and a second mobile exhaust 70. The movement further comprises a third cage C3 mobile in rotation about a third axis A3. The third cage C3 is arranged to be carried and driven kinematically by a fourth cage C4 (not shown) rotatable about a fourth axis.

The first two cages C1, C2, the third cage C3 and the fourth cage C4 can rotate at different speeds relative to each other, such as for example a fourth cage C4 which would perform a turn on itself in two minutes while the first and second cages C1, C2 and the third cage C3 would turn on themselves in one minute.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the differential mechanism 8 is arranged between the two first stands C1, C2 in particular to distribute the force of a gear train in an equitable manner between the two vortices 4, 5, and to average the the operation of each of the two swirls 4, 5 to increase the accuracy of the watch. More precisely, the differential mechanism 8 is arranged between an upper element 10 and a lower element 11 of the third cage C3.

The construction according to the invention also makes it possible to produce a vortex mechanism having a reduced bulk, in particular because of the stacking of the two vortices 4, 5 and the interlocking of the first and second cages C1, C2 in the third vortex cage C3. It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described. In particular, the shape of the cages may vary, as well as the location of the vortices in the timepiece.

Claims

CLAIMS. A watch movement comprising at least two vortex mechanisms (4, 5), a first vortex mechanism (4) comprising a first cage (C1) movable in rotation about a first axis (A1) and on which are pivotally mounted a first rocker (6) and a first escapement wheel (7), a second tourbillon mechanism (5) comprising a second cage (C2) rotatable about a second axis (A2), parallel to said first axis ( A1), and on which are pivotally mounted a second rocker (60) and a second mobile escapement (70), the movement comprising a third cage (C3) rotatable about a third axis (A3) or non-rotating,

Characterized in that said first and second stands (C1, C2) are superimposed and are carried by the third cage (C3).

2. Movement according to claim 1, comprising a fourth cage (C4), rotatable about a fourth axis (A4) or non-rotating, said fourth cage (C4) carrying said third cage (C3).

3. A clock movement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third cage (C3) is rotatable about the third axis (A3) which intercepts the first and second axes (A1, A2).

4. Clockwork according to claim 3, wherein the fourth cage (C4) is rotatable about the fourth axis (A4) which is normal to the third axis (A3).

5. Watchmaking movement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first axis (A1) and the second axis (A2) are coaxial.

6. Movement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two vortex mechanisms (4, 5) are coaxial.

7. Movement according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the fourth cage (C4) is arranged to rotate concentrically to a ring (9) fixed tooth, in particular attached to a watch movement.

8. Movement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a differential mechanism (8) is arranged between the first cage (C1) and the second cage (C2).

9. Movement according to claim 8, the differential mechanism (8) rotates about an axis (A5) parallel to the first and second axis (A1, A2) and perpendicular to the third axis (A3).

10. Movement according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the differential mechanism (8) is arranged between an upper member (10) and a lower member (1 1) of the third cage (C3).

1 1. Movement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vortex mechanisms (4, 5) are arranged in the center of a timepiece.

12. Movement according to one of claims 2 to 1 1, wherein the fourth cage (C4) is arranged to perform a turn on itself in a time between thirty seconds and three minutes, typically in one minute.

13. Movement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the third cage (C3) is arranged to perform a turn on itself in a time between twenty seconds and three minutes, typically in one minute.

14. Movement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first cage (C1) and the second cage (C2) are arranged to perform a turn on themselves in a time between thirty seconds and three minutes, typically one. minute.

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

16. Timepiece according to claim 1 5, comprising a peripheral display of the hour, the display being eccentric with respect to vortex mechanisms (4,5).