Patent Application
20240329599
The present invention relates to the field of mechanical watchmaking. More particularly, it relates to a watch-movement for a timepiece comprising a mobile regulating mechanism.
More specifically, this invention relates to a movement for a timepiece comprising a counting assembly comprising a first energy source and a gear train kinematically connected to at least one time indicator, said counting assembly being part of a first kinematic chain; and a regulating assembly comprising a regulating organ and being part of a second kinematic chain distinct from the first kinematic chain.
The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a movement.
For a long time now, watch movements have been equipped with at least one tourbillon or carousel-type regulating mechanism. These regulating mechanisms were designed to improve the isochronism of the watch movement by making it less sensitive to its position. More specifically, the regulating mechanism causes the balance wheel to move over time so that it occupies different positions. The average of the isochronism errors as a function of the position of the balance wheel is, in principle, closer to zero than the isochronism errors in a given position of the movement.
Tourbillon or carousel-type regulating mechanisms were originally developed for pocket watches, which are generally kept in a vertical position. Such regulation mechanisms are less relevant for wristwatches, where the position often changes according to the movements of the wearer of the watch.
In order to take account of the wearer's variable movements and of the changes in the position and orientation of the watch, various watch-movements have been developed containing, for example, two or even three tourbillons moving along different axes, for example orthogonal axes. In these designs, each tourbillon has a balance wheel, the position of whose axes is fixed during the operation of the tourbillon.
There are also movements with a single balance wheel supported by a regulating mechanism that moves this balance wheel along non-parallel axes. The axis of the balance moves along a cone in the known designs based on this principle. There is also a watch-movement comprising a balance wheel supported by a regulating mechanism which moves the axis of this balance wheel along a sphere.
In all cases, the range of positions reached by the axis of the balance is quite limited and corresponds to a geometric locus. As a result, this displacement cannot be freely chosen.
There is no watch-movement that allows the balance to be moved to a position and orientation freely chosen by the movement designer. As a result, the various regulating mechanisms have a relatively similar appearance.
It is therefore interesting to develop a watch-movement in which the balance wheel can move to any position chosen by the movement designer, without these movements being restricted to geometric locus such as straight lines, cones or parts of spheres in particular.
Patent EP 3 543 797 describes a timepiece movement with a tourbillon-type regulating mechanism. This tourbillon can be moved linearly so that the planes in which the tourbillon moves are always parallel to each other. This watch-movement has two different kinematic chains. The first is conventional and is responsible for displaying the time. The second kinematic chain is responsible for moving the regulating system in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the watch-movement.
The movement described in this patent does not allow the axis of the balance to move freely. In fact, all the positions that the balance axis can take are parallel to each other. Furthermore, the two kinematic chains described in the patent are always separate and do not at any time merge to form a single kinematic chain.
The object of the present invention is to propose a watch movement in which a balance-spring is movable in a large number of different positions and orientations, these positions and orientations being chosen by the designer of the movement without being limited by the obligation to follow geometrical rules.
The present invention relates to a movement for a watch-movement as defined in the preamble and characterised in that said movement further comprises
The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a watch-movement as defined above.
In mechanical watches, different organs perform different functions, which are basically the same in all movements. These functions are energy accumulation, counting and transmission, distribution, regulation and, finally, time display. In known watches, the various components that carry out these functions are all continuously kinematically linked to each other in order to guarantee the operation of the watch movement.
In the watch movement according to the present invention, the components performing these various functions are not always kinematically linked to each other, so that at certain moments in the operating cycle of the watch movement, they form two distinct and independent kinematic chains. In particular, this makes it possible to move the components of one of the kinematic chains to any desired position without having to be kinematically linked to the elements of the other kinematic chain for the entire duration of the movement. Nevertheless, the time display and its accuracy can be guaranteed.
According to the invention, it is possible to choose the geometry of the movement of the axis of the balance completely freely, without being limited by the constraints of geometric locus such as straight lines, cones or spheres. In this way, the axis of the balance can assume a large number of different positions and the correction of the isochronism of the timepiece no longer depends on the position of the latter.
The regulating mechanism can be integrated into a wristwatch so that it is visible. The particularly original way in which it works gives the watch a remarkable aesthetic appearance that is completely different from that of known regulating mechanisms.
The present invention and its advantages will be better understood with reference to the accompanying figures and the detailed description of a particular embodiment, wherein:
With reference to the figures, the movement of the invention comprises a first assembly, here referred to as the counting assembly 10, which is shown in detail in
The watch movement according to the invention further comprises a guiding assembly 12, shown in particular in
With particular reference to
The counting assembly 10 of the watch-movement according to the invention comprises an energy transfer gear or transfer gear 26 formed by a connecting pinion 27, which forms a kinematic connection with the gear train 16 of the counting assembly 10 and in particular with the intermediate wheel 21, as shown in
The counting assembly 10, from the barrel 15 to the transfer gear 26, forms a first kinematic chain of the watch movement according to the invention.
The guiding assembly 12 of the watch movement according to the invention comprises two rails. One of the rails, called the driving rail 30, is provided with a rack 31 and the other rail, called the guide rail 32, is smooth. In a preferred embodiment, these two rails can have any shape, but must always be in a specific geometrical relationship, as described below. These rails are fixed and connected to a plate of the watch-movement.
The regulating assembly 11 comprises a mobile assembly 33, illustrated in particular in
As can be seen in particular in
As mentioned above, the guiding assembly 12 comprises a driving rail 30 provided with a rack 31 and a guide rail 32 along which the mobile assembly 33 moves. In order to ensure constant contact between the driving wheel 44 and the driving rail 30 and to ensure predictable positioning of the mobile assembly 33, this mobile assembly comprises a first carriage 49 provided with at least one double roller 50 intended to bear against the part of the driving rail 30 opposite the rack 31. This mobile assembly 33 also comprises a second carriage 51 also provided with at least one double roller 52 and arranged to bear against the guide rail 32. In a preferred embodiment, one of the carriages comprising a double roller is mounted so as to pivot on a bridge 53 of the mobile assembly, while the other carriage comprises two double rollers 50. The geometric relationship between the two rails of the guiding assembly 12 is such that the total play of the carriages 49, 51 in relation to the rails remains substantially constant whatever the position of the moving assembly and whatever the curvature of the rails. In this way, the mobile assembly 33 remains constantly guided between the driving rail 30 and the guide rail 32 by means of the carriages.
The second energy source 34, the balance spring 47, the driving wheel 44 and the elements kinematically connected to them form a second kinematic chain which is distinct from the first kinematic chain. These two kinematic chains may cooperate at certain times and be independent at other times, as will be explained in detail below.
The release mechanism 13 is carried partly by the mobile assembly 33 and partly by a plate of the watch-movement. The part of the release mechanism carried by the mobile assembly 33 is referred to as the mobile part 54 of the release mechanism. The part of the release mechanism carried by the plate is called the pivoting part 55 of the release mechanism.
This release mechanism 13 comprises a gear locking member 56 arranged to prevent uncontrolled rotation of the gear train 16 of the counting assembly 10. This locking member 56 can act on any moving part of this counting assembly, depending on the construction of the movement. The locking member 56 comprises a release arm 57 pivoting about an axis 58 connected to a plate (not shown). This locking member 56 is equipped with a lever 59, a return finger 60 and a safety stop 61.
The mobile part 54 of the release mechanism is illustrated in particular in
The pivoting part 55 of the release mechanism is illustrated in particular by
In order to prevent the locking member 56 from unexpectedly releasing the transfer mechanism 26, for example in the event of an impact, the rotation of the locking member 56 about its axis of rotation 58 is limited by the safety stop 61 which can come to bear against the safety shoulder 68 of the whip 64. The lever 59 of the locking member 56 remains in the path of a first tooth 70 of the transfer gear 26.
When the movement of the timepiece is in operation, the counting assembly 10 is initially held stationary by the locking member 56 of the release mechanism 13.
In a position known as the blocking position, corresponding to a rest position of the release arm 57 of the locking member 56, the lever 59 of this locking member is in contact with the first tooth 70 of the transfer wheel 28 and prevents the transfer gear 26 from rotating about its axis of rotation. The elements forming the first kinematic chain are stationary. This position is illustrated in
Energy is accumulated in the spiral spring 36 of the second energy source 34 of the regulating assembly 11. Said energy causes the balance spring 47 and the anchor 48 to be actuated in the conventional manner.
The energy is also transmitted to the driving wheel 44 of the mobile assembly 33. Thus, at each alternation of movement, the anchor 48 disengages the gear of the mobile equipment and allows the driving wheel 44 to pivot, causing the mobile assembly 33 to move along the driving rail 30 by means of the rack 31. Due to the respective positions of the driving rail 30 and the guide rail 32 and the position of the carriages 49, 51, the mobile assembly 33 is guided along the path defined by the rails. The mobile assembly 33 is moved at a known, constant and predefined speed, which depends in particular on the oscillation frequency of the balance spring 47.
During most of the movement of the mobile assembly 33, the mobile part 54 of the release mechanism does not cooperate with the pivoting part 55 of this release mechanism. The whip 64 is at rest, held in this position by the return spring 69.
During the movement of the mobile assembly 33, when the latter reaches a predetermined position along its path, as shown in
During the further movement of the mobile assembly 33 shown in
The transfer gear 26 can then rotate about its axis under the effect of the force transmitted from the barrel 15 via the gear train 16 and the transfer pinion 29. This position is shown in
During this rotation, the energy supplied by the barrel 15 to the transfer gear 26 is transmitted to the paddle wheel 38 of the second energy source 34. For this purpose, a third tooth 72 of the transfer wheel 28 comes into contact with a paddle 73 of the paddle wheel 38 of the second energy source. The rotation of the transfer gear 26 rotates the paddle wheel 38 and loads the spiral spring 36 of the second energy source 34.
In principle, the transfer wheel 28 makes a rotation corresponding to one tooth. During this rotation, a second tooth 71 of the return toothing 29 pushes the return finger 60 of the locking member 56. This locking member pivots about its axis 58 to return to its rest position. At the same time, the release arm 57 of the locking member rests on the edge of the groove 67 and returns the whip 64 to its rest position.
At the end of this rotation corresponding to one tooth of the transfer gear 26, the locking member 56 returns to a locking position in which a fourth tooth 75 of the transfer wheel 28 bears against the lever 59 of the locking member 56 and the second tooth 71 of the return toothing 29 has pushed the return finger 60 so that the lever 59 is in the path of the fourth tooth 75 of the transfer wheel 28. The fourth tooth 75 presses on the lever 59 and causes the locking member 56 to rotate about the axis 58 so that it comes to rest against a stop 76 on the locking member. The return of the release arm 57 to the resting position, in the absence of any stress from the release mechanism 13, prevents the transfer gear 26 from pivoting further. This position is shown in
The third tooth 72 of the transfer wheel 28 has pushed the paddle 73 so far that one of the paddles 74 locks onto the pawl 39.
When the transfer gear 26 rotates, the energy contained in the first energy source 14 is released and transmitted to the second energy source 34 via the gear train 16, the energy transfer gear 26 and the paddle wheel 38. At this point, the first kinematic chain containing the barrel 15 and the transfer gear 26 and the second kinematic chain containing the second energy source 34 and the escapement are kinematically connected.
The energy transferred from the first energy source 14 to the second energy source 34 is sufficient for the mobile assembly 33 to move sufficiently to bring it to the next location where energy is again transferred from the first energy source to the second energy source.
The release of the locking member 56 also involves the release of the gear train 16 and the displacement of the minute indicator 23 for a time corresponding to the time taken for the mobile assembly 33 to move.
The second energy source 34 can be recharged by alternating the escapement. In this case, the mobile assembly 33 remains stationary during recharging. It can also be recharged during more than one escapement cycle. In this case, the mobile assembly 33 moves during recharging.
When the transfer of energy between the first energy source and the second energy source is complete and the locking member 56 has returned to the position preventing rotation of the transfer gear 26, the two kinematic chains are separated again and no longer interact.
The mobile assembly 33 continues its journey along the rails while the counting assembly 10 remains stationary until the next time the locking member 56 is released.
The assembly comprising the whip 64, the locking member 56 and the transfer gear 26 can be considered as a “recharging station” in the sense that energy is recharged in the second energy source 34 when the mobile assembly 33 comes into contact with the whip.
By way of example, it is possible to dimension the parts so that the mobile assembly 33 completes one revolution of the rails in one minute and a single recharging station is provided. In this case, when the locking member 56 is released, the time indicator, for example the minute indicator 23, is moved through an angle corresponding to one minute.
Contrary to known watch movements, in the movement described here, the counting assembly 10 and the regulating assembly 11 do not always cooperate with each other. In fact, the regulating assembly 11 is autonomous and independent of the counting assembly 10 for the entire distance it travels, except when it cooperates with the whip 64. This independence means that the regulating assembly 11 can be moved along practically any path defined by the rails.
At a certain point along the path of the mobile assembly 33, the counting assembly 10 and the regulating assembly 11 form a single kinematic chain, as in a conventional movement, before separating again.
The invention has been described according to a specific embodiment. However, many variations are conceivable. In the illustrated embodiment, a single “charging station” is provided. However, it is possible to provide several stations along the route taken by the mobile assembly, for example three stations at equal or irregular intervals. In this case, the minute indicator is moved from a position corresponding to 20 seconds or the appropriate duration, each time the counting assembly and the dispensing assembly form the same kinematic chain.
In the embodiment described, the second energy source is supplied by the first energy source. It is possible to use a second independent energy source, which could be mechanical or even electrical.
The guides are represented by roller carriages. However, these carriages could take other forms.
It is also possible to provide a constraint mechanism to ensure that the teeth of the driving wheel always remain in contact on a flank located on the same side of the rack, thus compensating for the play between the teeth.
In principle, each rail forms a closed circuit so that the moving equipment always moves in the same direction. However, it is possible to provide a mechanism that allows the moving equipment to move in two opposite directions. In this case the rails can form an open circuit.
In the example described, the function of transferring energy by means of the transferring mobile and the function of moving the time indicator are linked and are performed when the mobile equipment is in a given position. However, these two functions could be performed independently. For example, the energy transfer function could be performed twice for each revolution of the moving assembly, while the time indicator movement function could be performed once per revolution or three times per revolution.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21182792.8 | Jun 2021 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/067973 | 6/29/2022 | WO |
