HK1213649B - Timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a frame, at least one driving gear (2), and at least one tourbillon mechanism including: a first cage (4) which can rotate about a first axis (A) and on which a balance (6) and an escapement gear are pivotably mounted, said escapement gear being formed by an escape wheel and an escape pinion; a second cage (8) rotatably movable about a second axis (B) and supporting the first cage (4); and a third cage (10) rotatably movable about a third axis (C), said third cage (10) supporting the first and second cages (4, 8) and kinematically driving same. Two of the first, second and third axes (A, B, C) are perpendicular to one another, with the remaining first, second or third axis (A, B, C) forming an angle other than 0 and 90 with one of the other two axes (A, B, C).

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to mechanical watch parts, and in particular to a watch part comprising a frame, at least one driving movement, such as a finishing gear movement, and at least one swirling mechanism comprising: a first movable cage rotating on a first axle and on which are mounted a swiveling swing and an exhaust mobile consisting of an exhaust wheel and an exhaust gear,a second movable cage rotating on a second axle and carrying the first cage,a third movable cage rotating on a third axle,the third cage carrying the first and second cages and moving them together.

State of the art

A tourbillon mechanism is a device intended to average the running distance between the positions of the balance of a watchpiece. A tourbillon mechanism consists, for this purpose, of a support, (for example a cage in the case of the traditional tourbillon) mounted on the mast, usually a set consisting of a bridge and a plate and, mounted on this support, a spiral balance and an exhaust including an exhaust motor equipped with a wheel and a gear.The balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast, and the balance wheel is mounted on the mast.The difference between the horizontal and vertical positions remains.

To overcome this disadvantage, various solutions have been proposed.

For example, a triaxial tourbillon described in application EP 1 574 916 is known, comprising a cage containing the balance and the exhaust rotating according to one axis, the cage being mounted in a second cage so that it can rotate around another axis, the second cage being in turn mounted in a third cage rotating around a fixed axis in relation to the watchpiece, the three axes being perpendicular to each other. The triaxial tourbillon is driven by a drive wheel mounted on the platform of the watchpiece, which drives a solid piston around the third cage, and causes this cage to rotate in turn, thus putting in motion a rotating axis with a piston mounted on the platform of the second clockpiece, which in turn generates energy from the first clockpiece, which in turn transfers its rotation to the second clockpiece, thus creating a rotating axis with a piston mounted on the platform of the second clockpiece and the second clockpiece, which in turn generates energy from the first clockpiece, which in turn transmits its rotation to the second clockpiece, thus forming a piston with a piston mount on the second clockpiece and the second clockpiece, which in turn generates electricity from the first clockpiece and the second clockpiece, which in turn generates electricity from the second clockpiece, which is transmitted to the second clockpiece, thus forming the first clockpiece and the second clockpiece, which in turn, which is transmitting electricity from the second clockpiece, which is transmitting electricity from the second clock to the second clockpiece, which is transmitting electricity from the second clock, which is transmitting electricity from the second clock to the second clockpiece, and the second clockpiece, which is transmitting electricity from the second clockpiece, which is transmitting electricity from the second clock to the second clockpiece, which is transmitting electricity from the second clock to the second clockpiece, which is transmitting electricity from the second clock to the

Such a mechanism has the disadvantage of being bulky and unsightly due to the presence of several toothed crowns appearing particularly on the dial side.

The three-axis rotor is radially rotated by means of a device at the periphery of its outer cage. Such a mechanism has low shock resistance and is therefore very fragile.

The triaxial tourbillon described in Richard Good's publication The first triple tourbillon , F.B.H.I., Horological Journal, April 1983, pages 15-19, is also known to have three axes perpendicular to each other.

A solution to this problem was proposed by Thomas Prescher in his piece Triple Axis Tourbillon based on the CH 696 450 patent. This solution consists of using a counterweight to compensate for the overhead contact. However, the counterweight is drawn by the cages, which creates an additional torque that the system must overcome.

The known triaxial whirlwind mechanisms therefore have elements which are harmful and contrary to the expected characteristics of a whirlwind, namely having the lightest possible system to have as limited an inertia as possible, as well as good visibility of the latter.

The present invention is therefore intended to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a watch part with a swirling mechanism to reduce the system's moment of inertia.

Another aim of the present invention is to propose a watch part with a robust swirl mechanism, with reduced footprint and improved aesthetic appearance.

The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the rules for the application of this Regulation.

To this end, and in accordance with the present invention, as defined in claim 1, a watch part is proposed comprising a frame, at least one driving movement, such as a finishing gear movement, and at least one swirling mechanism comprising: a first movable cage rotating on a first axle and on which are mounted a swiveling swing and an exhaust mobile consisting of an exhaust wheel and an exhaust gear,a second movable cage rotating on a second axle and carrying the first cage,a third movable cage rotating on a third axle,the third cage carrying the first and second cages and moving them together.

According to the invention, the second and third axles are perpendicular to each other, the first axle forming a constant angle of 60° to 85° with the second axle. Furthermore, the first cage comprises a first shaft extending along the first axle, the first shaft being mounted pivoting on the second cage and is in conjunction with a first drive wheel of the first cage, a second fixed wheel being mounted jointly on the third cage, the first drive wheel of the first cage being in a fixed cinematic link with the second wheel. The intermediate grille is mounted pivoting on the second cage, the said intermediate grille connecting the second fixed wheel to the first drive wheel of the first cage.

This design reduces the amount of space in the whirlwind mechanism and its inertia moment.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be better understood by reading the following description of a method of execution, given as an example and made by reference to drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a whirlpool mechanism of the invention,Figure 2 is a cut-out view of the whirlpool mechanism of the invention, andFigure 3 is a perspective view of the whirlpool mechanism of the invention, the outer cage having been removed.

Method (s) of realization of the invention

In this description, the term cooperate means both a direct kinematic link between two elements and an indirect kinematic link between two elements, intermediate links or parts being provided between the two elements.

In reference to Figures 1 to 3, a mechanism of tourbillon 1 is shown mounted on a frame of a watchpiece according to the invention.

On the frame is mounted a rotating drive motor 2, such as a finishing gear motor, e.g. the mean wheel.

The tourbillon mechanism consists of a first mobile cage 4 rotating around a first A-axis and on which are mounted a swinging swing 6 and an exhaust mobile, including an exhaust wheel and an exhaust pin (not shown).

The tourbillon mechanism also includes a second movable cage 8 rotating around a second B axis and on which the first cage 4 is mounted pivoting around the first A axis.

The tourbillon mechanism also includes a third mobile cage 10 mounted on the hull and rotating around a third C-axis, the third cage 10 carrying the first and second cages, 4 and 8, and moving them kinematically.

According to the invention, two of the first A, second B and third C axes are perpendicular to each other, the remaining axis of the first A, second B and third C axes forming a constant angle between 60° and 85° with one of the other two first A, second B and third C axes.

The second axis B of the second cage 8 is perpendicular to the third axis C of the third cage 10, the first axis A of the first cage 4 forming with the second axis B of the second cage said angle between 60° and 85°.

The remaining axis of the first A, second B and third C axes, and more specifically the A axis, forms the said angle between 60° and 85°, more preferably between 60° and 80°, with one of the other two first A, second B and third C axes, and more specifically with the B axis.

In one variant, the swing 6 is mounted by rotating around a fourth D-axis, the said fourth D-axis of the swing 6 forming with the first A-axis of the first cage 4 an angle of 0°.

In another variant, the swing 6 is mounted by rotating around a fourth D-axis, the fourth D-axis of the swing forming 6 with the first A-axis of the first cage 4 at a different angle of 0°.

It is advantageous to have a fixed first wheel 12 mounted jointly on the second cage 8 and this first fixed wheel 12 cooperating with the exhaust gear mounted in the first cage 4.

The first cage 4 comprises a first shaft 14 extending along the first axis A, the first shaft 14 being mounted pivoting on the second cage 8 and being connected to a first drive wheel 16 of the first cage 4. In addition, a second fixed wheel 18 is connected to the third cage 10, the first drive wheel 16 of the first cage 4 cooperating with the second fixed wheel 18.

In the event of such indirect cooperation, at least one intermediate gear 20 is provided which is mounted pivoting on the second gear 8 and which kinematically connects the second fixed gear 18 to the first drive wheel 16 of the first gear 4.

The axis of rotation E of the intermediate gear 20 may be parallel to the axis D of the balance 6 as shown in Figure 2. In another variant, the axis of rotation E of the intermediate gear 20 may be inclined with respect to the axis D of the balance 6.

The second cage 8 comprises a second shaft 22 extending along the second axis B, the second shaft 22 being mounted pivoting on the third cage 10 and being connected to a second drive wheel 24 of the second cage 8. In addition, a third fixed wheel 26 is connected to the barrel, the second drive wheel 24 of the second cage 8 cooperating with the third fixed wheel 26.

Finally, the third cage 10 comprises a third shaft 28 extending along the third C axis, the third shaft 28 being mounted pivoting on the barrel and being connected to a third drive wheel 30 of the third cage 10 cooperating with the finishing gear's mobile drive 2.

It is obvious that in another variant of the unrepresented construction, the third cage could be mounted pivoting in a false-back, i.e. its shaft 28 would be mounted pivoting on the barrel on one side, typically on the bottom side, by means of, for example, a ball bearing.

In the variant shown here, the third cage 10 comprises a central part 10a running over the third fixed wheel 26 and a lower part 10b arranged so that the third drive wheel 30, here positioned at the end of the said lower part 10b, cooperates with the drive motor 2 of the finishing gear.according to the variant shown here, the shape of an arch fixed to the central part 10a. The arch is of small width but rigid enough to hold the system in an impact, making it possible to leave the first and second cages 4 and 8 visible inside the third cage 10. The third fixed wheel 26 is sized so that the lower part 10b of the third cage 10 and the second cage 8 and the elements carried by the second cage 8 can rotate and circulate inside the third fixed wheel 26.

Depending on the design, the C-axis of the third cage 10 may be parallel or inclined with the axis of rotation of one of the finishing gear movements, in particular the drive gear 2.

It is also obvious that the axis of rotation of the finishing gear drive can be perpendicular or not to the shaft, and the whirlwind mechanism is then arranged accordingly.

When the movement is in operation, the finishing gear drive 2 is driven by a rotational motion so as to subject the first cage 4 to a torque drive by gear with the third drive wheel 26 of the third cage 10.

When the mobile 2 is rotating, it is likely to cause the rotation of the third cage 10 to be carried by the third drive wheel 30.

During this movement, the second drive wheel 24 of the second cage 8 carried by the third cage 10 may be coupled with the third fixed wheel 26 to drive the second cage 8 to rotate.

During this movement, the intermediate gear 20 carried by the second cage 8 may be coupled with the second fixed gear 18 of the third cage 10 to rotate the first drive wheel 16 of the first cage 4 and thus the rotation of the first cage 4.

However, as the exhaust gear is in contact with the gear of the fixed first wheel 12, the torque can only cause the first cage 4 to move when the exhaust gives a motor impulse to the swing, according to the conventional operation of an exhaust.

The design of the mechanism according to the invention allows the creation of a whirlwind mechanism with a reduced moment of inertia with respect to the B-axis. The fact that the axes of the first cage 4 and the second cage 8 have a different angle of 90° has the effect of bringing the system back to the centre of gravity of the whirlwind mechanism.In a watch with a 70° angle between the A and B axes, the moment of inertia with respect to the B axis is 14.25 g.mm2, i.e. a decrease in the moment of inertia with respect to the B axis of 4.68%. This is to reduce the resistance to rotation of the second cage 8 and thus to facilitate the operation of the system in relation to the known systems in which all the axes are perpendicular to each other.The cage 8 will rotate around its axis B more easily than if its axis of rotation B were perpendicular to the axis A of cage 4.

The design of the invention also allows a small-scale swirl mechanism to be made, due in particular to the inclination of the E-axis of the intermediate gear 20 relative to the C-axis of the third cage 10. If the E-axis is inclined relative to the C-axis, then the diameter of the second fixed wheel 18 can be reduced.

The whirlwind mechanism of the invention is robust and also has very good shock resistance.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment. In particular the shape of the cages may vary, as may the type of exhaust, such as a release exhaust.

Claims (6)

1. Timepiece comprising a frame, at least one driving wheel (2) and at least one tourbillon mechanism, comprising:

   - a first cage (4) rotatable around a first axis (A) and on which are pivotally mounted a balance (6) and an escapement mobile formed from an escapement wheel and an escapement pinion,

   - a second cage (8) rotatable around a second axis (B) and bearing said first cage (4),

   - a third cage (10) rotatable around a third axis (C), said third cage (10) bearing said first and second chasses (4, 8) and driving them kinematically,

   the second axis (B) of the second cage (8) being perpendicular to the third axis (C) of the third cage (10), the first cage (4) comprising a first arbor (14) extending along the first axis (A), said first arbor (14) being mounted pivotably on the second cage (8) and secured to a first driving wheel (16) of the first cage (4), a second fixed wheel (18) being mounted secured on the third cage (10), said first driving wheel (16) of the first cage (4) being kinematically connected with said second fixed wheel (18), and an intermediate gear train (20) being mounted pivotably on the second cage (8), said intermediate gear train (20) kinematically connecting the second fixed wheel (18) to the first driving wheel (16) of the first cage (4), characterized in that the first axis (A) of the first cage (4) forms a constant angle comprised between 60° and 85° with the second axis (B) of the second cage (8).
2. Timepiece according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the balance (6) is mounted pivotably around a fourth axis (D), said fourth axis (D) of the balance (6) forming an angle equal to 0° with the first axis (A) of the first cage (4).
3. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the balance (6) is mounted pivotably around the fourth axis (D), said fourth axis (D) of the balance (6) forming an angle different from 0° with the first axis (A) of the first cage (4).
4. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first fixed wheel (12) is mounted secured on the second cage (8), said first fixed wheel (12) cooperating with the escapement pinion.
5. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the second cage (8) comprises a second arbor (22) extending along the second axis (B), said second arbor (22) being mounted pivotably on the third cage (10) and being secured to a second driving wheel (24) of the second cage (8), and in that a third fixed wheel (26) is mounted on the frame, said second driving wheel (24) of the second cage (8) cooperating with said third fixed wheel (26).
6. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the third cage (10) comprises a third arbor (28) extending along the third axis (C), said third arbor (28) being mounted pivoting on the frame and being secured to a third driving wheel (30) of the third cage (10) cooperating with the driving wheel (2).