JP7333333B2 - clock transmission system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanical timepiece transmission system. The invention also relates to a timepiece mechanism containing such a system. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising said timepiece system or said timepiece mechanism.

In a watch, it is important that elements representing time information or information derived from time are not subject to uncontrolled movement due to movement of the wearer of the watch, shocks to which the watch is subjected or the orientation of the watch. In summary, it is important that the movement of elements representing time information or information derived from time is not caused by the acceleration experienced by the clock.

This is particularly important when the element representing the temporal or time-derived information exhibits significant inertia, for example when the element representing the temporal or time-derived information is a disc.

This problem does not occur if the elements representing the time information or information derived from time are fastened or fixed to the moving parts of the gear train, because these moving parts are always the main ones during the operation of the watch. This is because it is under tension by the mainspring.

However, for other elements indicative of time information or information derived from time linked to the gear train by a transmission having a working gap, means are provided to prevent its unintended movement, especially fluttering. is required. To this end, for example, friction may be provided in the transmission device, or provision may be made for indexing elements indicative of time information or information derived from time with the aid of jumpers.

Such solutions consume energy and adversely affect time measurement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission system capable of ameliorating the above drawbacks and improving the systems known from the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a transmission system capable of avoiding unintended movements of elements representing time information or time-derived information without consuming excessive energy and without adversely affecting time measurement. .

A system according to the invention is defined in claim 1 .

Various embodiments of the system are defined in dependent claims 2-7 .

A mechanism according to the invention is defined in claim 8 .

A watch according to the invention is defined in claim 9 .

The method according to the invention is defined in claim 10

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, an embodiment of the watch according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a dial side according to an embodiment of a timepiece. FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the watch with the dial removed. FIG. 3 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanical transmission system according to an embodiment of a watch. FIG. 4 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanical transmission system according to an embodiment of a watch. FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanical transmission system according to an embodiment of a watch. FIG. 6 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanical transmission system according to an embodiment of a watch. FIG. 7 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanical transmission system according to an embodiment of a watch. FIG. 8 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanical transmission system according to an embodiment of a watch. FIG. 9 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mechanical transmission system according to an embodiment of a watch.

Embodiments of watch 200 are described below with reference to FIGS. A watch is, for example, a small watch, especially a wristwatch. The watch includes a watch mechanism, in particular a small mechanical watch movement 100 . A watch movement is, for example, of the manually wound or self-winding type.

The movement includes a gear train, for example between the barrel and the oscillator. The gear train comprises, for example, a twelve o'clock wheel 7, in particular a twelve o'clock wheel in the center of the movement, on which an element for indicating the hour, for example the hour indicating disc 1, is fixed. This disc contains markings, such as triangles and arrows, cooperating with the edge 3, in particular the edge containing the hour indices 31, provided on the movement or on a mounted dial, for example. This cooperation makes it possible to display the time.

In this movement, the cannon pinion 4, which is part of the gear train, makes one revolution in 12 hours. The gear 6 and the gear 5 driving the hour gear are pressed against the pinion.

In the movement the gear wheel 5 drives an element for indicating the minutes, for example the minute disc 2 . The disc includes markings, such as triangles and arrows, cooperating with a rim provided, for example, on the movement or on an attached dial, and in particular with the rim containing the hour indices. This cooperation makes it possible to display minutes. The same rim can be used to indicate hours and minutes. Disk 2 is, for example, a disk crown.

The disk 2 is driven by gear 5 through gears 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Gears 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are external gears. Gear 12 is a toothed ring with internal teeth. The disc 2 is attached or fixed to the toothed ring 12 .

The toothed ring 12 is guided, for example, on the frame 50 of the movement with the aid of rollers 51, for example three rollers 51 mounted on the frame.

Disc 2 is thus driven by gear 5 via transmission 90 downstream of gears 5 , 8 and 9 .

The clock transmission system 90 is
a first movable portion 10 including a first tooth group 10a;
a second mobile part 11 comprising a second set of teeth 11a, the second mobile part 11 meshing with the first mobile part and intended to be driven by the first drive part;
a third movable part 14 comprising a third set of teeth 14a, the third movable part 14 meshing with the second movable part and intended to be driven by the second movable part;
including.

The meshing of the first group of teeth with the second group of teeth is irreversible, and the meshing of the third group of teeth with the second group of teeth is irreversible.

The expression "the meshing of the first tooth group with the second tooth group is irreversible" means that the meshing, in particular the tooth group, allows the first movable part to drive the second movable part in both directions and the second movable part The part means that the first movable part can be driven in only one direction.

The expression "the meshing of the third tooth group with the second tooth group is irreversible" means that by meshing, in particular by the tooth group, the third movable part can drive the second movable part in both directions and the second movable part The part means that the third movable part can be driven in only one direction.

Furthermore, the teeth are arranged such that the direction in which the second movable part can drive the first movable part is opposite to the direction in which the second movable part can drive the third movable part.

As a result of this design, when the second and third sets of teeth are engaged, the second moving part will drive both the first moving part and the third moving part unless it is driven by either the first or the third moving part. can't

As mentioned above, the second mobile part is the mobile part to which an element for displaying time information or information derived from time, in particular an element for displaying minutes, is fixed, in particular by engagement.

To achieve these irreversibility, the first group of teeth comprises teeth with asymmetric profile and/or the third group of teeth comprises teeth with asymmetric profile. An "asymmetric" profile is one in which each tooth has a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being at the radius of the first moving part or the radius of the third moving part, respectively, passing through the apex of the tooth. It means that it is asymmetric with respect to

Preferably, the second group of teeth includes teeth of symmetrical profile. The second group of teeth is, for example, a group of standard profile teeth. This ensures that the first movable part can drive the second movable part in both directions of rotation.

The first movable part 10 is turned on the frame 50 around the first stem 10b.

The second movable portion 11 is turned on the frame 50 around the second true 11b.

The third movable part 14 is pivoted about the third stem 14b on the element 20 which is movable with respect to the frame 50 . The third movable part is freely attached. There may be a slight friction that resists rotation of the third moving part.

The movable element is, for example, a lever pivoted on the frame 50 around the fourth stem 20b.

The movable element is advantageously movable between a first position in which the second and third teeth are meshed and a second position in which the second and third teeth are not meshed. The first position is preferably defined by a first stop 21 against which the movable element contacts in the first position. The second position is preferably defined by a second stop 22 against which the movable element contacts in the second position.

Advantageously, the system includes selection and/or correction elements. The movable element is preferably arranged to be moved in response to actuation of the selection element and/or the correction element. Advantageously, therefore, the movable element is moved to the second position when the time-correcting selection element is actuated or when the time-correcting element is actuated. Additionally, the movable element may be moved to the first position when the time-correcting selection element is no longer actuated or when the time-correcting element is no longer actuated.

Selection and/or modification elements may include axis 99 .

In particular, the movement of the movable element 20 may be controlled by a withdrawal piece mechanism 98 controlled by a shaft 99 (schematically shown in FIG. 8).

Modes for implementing the method of operation of the watch 200 or movement 100 or transmission system are described below.

Assume that the transmission system is initially in the configuration shown in FIG. In this configuration, the first movable part 10 rotates counterclockwise and drives the second movable part clockwise. The second movable section drives the third movable section counterclockwise. In this configuration, the opposite flank of the second group of teeth abuts on the one hand the first mobile part and on the other hand the third mobile part.

When the second moving part is subjected to acceleration tending to rotate itself in a clockwise direction, abutment occurs between the first and second sets of teeth, preventing rotation of the second moving part.

When the second moving part is subjected to acceleration tending to rotate itself in a counterclockwise direction, abutment occurs between the second and third sets of teeth, preventing rotation of the second moving part.

The teeth of the first and second group of teeth are arranged such that at least one tooth of the first group of teeth is positioned with a minimal gap between two consecutive or adjacent teeth of the second group of teeth; Also, at least one tooth of the third group of teeth is positioned and/or dimensioned to be positioned with a minimal gap between two other consecutive or adjacent teeth of the second group of teeth. For example, the gap is 10° or less, or 6° or less, or 4° or less, the angular movement of the second movable part about the second true 11b between two immobilizations in opposite directions. That's what it means. This means that the angular movement of the toothed ring 12 around the axis of rotation, and thus the movement of the time information or time-derived information display element 2, between two immobilizations in opposite directions is no more than 3°. or 1.8° or less, or 1.2° or less. As a result of this arrangement of teeth, even if the second moving part is biased by acceleration, there is abutment that immobilizes the second moving part at the point of contact with the first moving part or the third moving part. The matching is followed by gap compensation as described above. Considering the value of the gap, the movement is imperceptible to the user. In addition, the abutment immobilizes the second mobile part and prevents movements which would otherwise be transmitted by the gears 5, 8, 9, 10 and could overcome the frictional torque of the cannon pinion.

The movable element is moved from a first position where the second and third teeth are in mesh to a second position where the second and third teeth are out of mesh. This movement is performed by the action of selection or modification elements. This results in the transmission system having the configuration shown in FIG.

In that configuration, the first movable part 10 is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise to correct the hour indication.

The movable element is then moved from the second position to the first position. This movement is performed by the action of selection or modification elements. This results in the transmission system having the configuration shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the element for displaying time information or the element for displaying information derived from time is the minute display movable part. Alternatively, the element for displaying time information or information derived from time may in particular be an element for displaying seconds.

In the disclosed embodiment, the element for displaying temporal information or for displaying information derived from time is a disc. Alternatively, the element for displaying time information or information derived from time may in particular be a hand.

In the disclosed embodiment the third movable part is pivoted on the movable element. Alternatively, the third movable part may be pivoted directly on the frame. In this case, the second and third movable parts remain permanently engaged and the correction of the time display can only be carried out in the clockwise direction.

Any type of teeth different than those described may be used to form the first, second and third teeth, provided that the irreversibility described above is enabled.

The transmission system was described in its application to the display of clock information. However, the present transmission system can be used in any application where it is necessary to ensure irreversibility of the actuation it implements.

Claims (10)

a first movable part (10) including a first tooth group (10a);
a second mobile part (11) comprising a second set of teeth (11a), which meshes with said first mobile part and is intended to be driven by said first mobile part ( 11) and
a third mobile part (14) comprising a third set of teeth (14a), which meshes with said second mobile part and is intended to be driven by said second mobile part ( 14) and
A timepiece transmission system (90) comprising:
meshing of the first group of teeth with the second group of teeth is irreversible, and meshing of the third group of teeth with the second group of teeth is irreversible;
The system includes a frame (50), the first movable part being pivoted about a first true (10b) on the frame and the second moving part being a second true (11b) on the frame. pivoted about, said third movable part being pivoted about a third axle (14b) on an element (20) movable with respect to said frame;
A clock transmission system (90). said first group of teeth comprising asymmetric profile teeth and/or said third group of teeth comprising asymmetric profile teeth;
The transmission system of Claim 1. the second set of teeth includes teeth of symmetrical profile;
3. A transmission system according to claim 1 or 2. The second movable part is fixed with an element (2) for displaying time information or information derived from time ,
4. A transmission system according to any one of claims 1-3. said movable element is a lever pivoted about a fourth true (20b) on said frame ;
5. A transmission system according to any one of claims 1-4. the movable element is movable between a first position in which the second and third teeth are meshed and a second position in which the second and third teeth are not meshed;
6. A transmission system according to any one of claims 1-5 . the system includes a selection element and/or a correction element, the movable element arranged to be moved in response to actuation of the selection element and/or the correction element;
7. A transmission system according to any one of claims 1-6 . A clock mechanism (100) comprising a system (90) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 . A timepiece (200) comprising a mechanism according to claim 8 and/or a system according to any one of claims 1-7 . A watch system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or a watch mechanism comprising a watch system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, or a watch mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A method of operating a watch comprising the watch system of
moving from a first position where the second and third teeth are meshed to a second position where the second and third teeth are not meshed;
correcting the clock display by rotating the second movable part in a first direction or a second direction;
moving the movable element from the second position to the first position;
method of operation, including