Patent Application
20170242400
This application claims priority from European Patent Application No 16156269.9 of Feb. 18, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The invention concerns a timepiece display mechanism including a cam driven by a time base, a pivoting lever including an elastically returned feeler member following the contour of the cam, and a first rack meshing with a first angular orientation wheel which drives an indicator plate synchronously or via a differential mechanism, this indicator plate projecting radially with respect to a main axis and being parallel to or coplanar with the first wheel.
The invention also concerns a timepiece movement including at least one display mechanism of this type.
The invention concerns a watch including such a timepiece movement and/or including at least one such display mechanism.
The invention concerns the field of timepiece display mechanisms.
The space available on watch dials does not always make it possible to achieve displays in the best conditions for legibility, especially when the watch cases are small, and/or of non-circular shape. This difficulty is amplified where multiple complications are present in the movement, creating a conflict between the display areas.
Controlling a display member, particularly a hand, over a required trajectory, which is other than circular, often results in the use of milled cams, in a substantial thickness, and in a lack of versatility and difficulty in adapting the mechanism for a display with a different trajectory. Known articulated hand mechanisms do not permit easy adjustment of the orientation and reference elongation of the hands. These complications also require highly qualified operators.
The invention proposes to create a display with a retractable display member, notably a retractable hand, and in particular according to the angular position of a support for the display member, such as the body of a hand or similar.
The invention concerns a timepiece display mechanism according to claim 1.
The invention also concerns a timepiece movement including at least one display mechanism of this type.
The invention concerns a watch including such a timepiece movement and/or including at least one such display mechanism.
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following detailed description, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
The invention proposes to create a display with a retractable display member, notably a retractable hand, and in particular according to the angular position of a support for the display member, such as the body of a hand or similar. It is described here in the particular and non-limiting case of a hand.
This display is uncommon. Indeed, the hand extends and retracts during its travel, thereby allowing it to have a curvilinear path, notably an elliptical path in the variants illustrated by the Figures, instead of following circular arc. This configuration makes it possible to adapt the trajectory of the hand to the shape of the dial of the case, which provides good legibility, and also an innovative and distinctive aesthetic effect. To achieve this, the invention implements a connecting rod/crank mechanism, which, in a particular application, is combined with a retrograde system.
The invention concerns a timepiece display mechanism 1 which includes, arranged on a bridge 11, a cam 2 arranged to be driven by a time base comprised in a timepiece movement 100, at an output 101, and a lever 3.
This lever 3 is mounted to pivot about a lever axis AB, it includes, on the one hand, a feeler member 4 which follows the contour of cam 2 under the action of elastic return means, and on the other hand, a first rack 5 in a circular arc about lever axis AB.
Display mechanism 1 also includes a first angular orientation wheel 6, which directly or indirectly drives an indicator plate 7. First rack 5 meshes with this first angular orientation wheel 6 to drive it in rotation about a first axis Al. First angular orientation wheel 6 drives indicator plate 7, either synchronously, as seen in the first and the second embodiment respectively illustrated in
Indicator plate 7 projects radially with respect to a main axis AP, and is parallel to or coplanar with first wheel 6. More particularly, first axis A1 and main axis AP are coincident.
According to the invention, display mechanism 1 includes a connecting rod 8, which is articulated at a first end 81 to a carriage 9, slidably mounted on indicator plate 7, and said carriage 9 preferably carries a retractable hand 10, or constitutes such a hand, or a display member of another shape. A second end 82 of connecting rod 8 is pivoted, either on a fixed pivot 12 on bridge 11 in the case of the first embodiment, or on a movable pivot comprised in an elongation wheel set driven directly or indirectly by lever 3, in the second and third embodiments.
In the first embodiment of
In a particular variant, as illustrated in
In a particular embodiment, cam 2 is a snail cam including, on its maximum radius, a beak 21, the passage of which causes feeler member 4 to jump back onto the minimum radius of cam 2. Display mechanism 1 also includes, pivoted on bridge 11, a third rack 25, which is returned by primary elastic return means 26, and which meshes with first angular orientation wheel 6 to take up play upon its retrograde return when feeler member 4 jumps back onto the minimum radius of cam 2.
It is clear that the cam profile is adapted to the trajectory that is desired to be achieved, the above example being intended for a retrograde display in a given angular sector. Naturally, other profiles can be achieved, for other trajectories, for example, a heart-piece that produces an elliptical return trajectory at the same speed, or other.
Preferably, to avoid unbalances, indicator plate 7 includes at least a first counterweight 71, which is arranged to balance, with respect to main axis AP, the assembly formed by indicator plate 7, with the carriage 9 at the midpoint of the latter's travel, and with retractable hand 10.
In the non-limiting variant illustrated by the Figures, and regarding an elliptical trajectory of the end of hand 10, cam 2 rotates clockwise. In rotating, cam 2 raises first rack 5, which is forced against cam 2 by a return spring (not represented). Indicator plate 7 is here, in a non-limiting manner, integral with first angular orientation wheel 6, and is thus driven by first rack 5. In rotating with respect to main axis AP, indicator plate 7 pushes connecting rod 8 at its first end 81 via an articulation arbor. Carriage 9 is connected to two arbors that can slide over indicator plate 7, one of which is the articulation arbor of connecting rod 8. The centre of rotation of connecting rod 8, at its second end 82, is located at fixed pivot 12, and is thus different from that of indicator plate 7. Connecting rod 8 therefore pushes or pulls the articulation arbor located at its first end 81, which drives carriage 9, respectively for the elongation or retraction of hand 10. Hand 10 therefore slides, to extend or retract, while pivoting with respect to main axis AP.
The kinematic of
In the second embodiment of
In this second embodiment, display mechanism 1 also includes, pivoted on bridge 11, a fourth rack 27 returned by secondary elastic return means 28, which may be coincident with primary elastic return means 26, as in the case of
Preferably, to avoid unbalances, in the second embodiment, the elongation wheel set preferably includes at least a second counterweight 72, which is arranged to balance, with respect to main axis AP, the assembly formed by lever 1 element 8 with moving pivot 13 and with connecting rod 8.
The kinematic is similar to that of the first embodiment, but this time the second end 82 of connecting rod 8 is pivoted on a movable point, which is carried by lever element 18.
Cam 2 rotates clockwise. In rotating, cam 2 raises first rack 5, which is forced against cam 2 by a return spring (not represented). Indicator plate 7 is integral with first angular orientation wheel 6, and is thus driven by first rack 5. Second rack 15, which is integral with first rack 5, drives second elongation wheel 16, which in turn drives connecting rod 8 via lever element 18 integral with second elongation wheel 16. Carriage 9 is connected to two arbors that can slide over indicator plate 7. Carriage 9 and lever element 18 do not rotate at the same speed, due to the different gear ratio, indicator plate 7 thus pushes connecting rod 8 at its first end via the arbor, pushing or pulling this arbor and thereby carriage 9. Hand 10 thus slides, to extend or retract, while pivoting with respect to main axis AP.
The kinematic of
Likewise, in each of the embodiments described here, connecting rod 8 preferably includes a third balancing counterweight 83.
A third embodiment uses a differential capable of controlling several speeds. It is a differential mechanism with a connecting rod articulated on a differential cage, wherein the combination of two inputs, which are each powered by a rack following a cam or by the movement, allows the tip of the hand to follow any geometric trajectory imposed by the profile and the rotational speed of the cam. Indeed, if, for example, the cam is oval and rotates at the same speed as the hand, the hand follows an elliptical trajectory; if the cam rotates at a speed that is an integer multiple of that of the hand, a multilobed trajectory of the hand is obtained.
Associated with the double rack system, this differential can display a large variety of geometrical trajectories. The first input of the differential is directly connected to the movement (one revolution per hour for a minute display, one revolution per 12 hours for an hour display, etc . . . ). The second input is connected to a rack that follows a cam. The differential output adds the speeds from the two inputs and rotates the connecting rod. Finally, the elongation of the hand depends directly on the shape of the cam. For example, a heart-shaped cam allows the hand to follow an oval: as the cam rises, the connecting rod moves more quickly than the plate over 180°, elongation and retraction of the hand over 180°; then the descent of the cam where the connecting rod moves more slowly than the plate over 180° and returns to its initial position, elongation and retraction of the hand over 180°.
The differential is thus controlled by two cams, one for elongation and the other for advancement. This mechanism can control an articulated arm, with great freedom of design.
The choice of a suitable cam profile allows a particular geometrical path to be obtained: elliptical, square, rectangular or other.
More particularly, as represented in
Display mechanism 1 includes a second wheel set 32, which, directly or indirectly driven by an output 101 of movement 100, or formed by such an output 101, is synchronous with cam 2, and which drives indicator plate 7.
Indicator plate 7 forms a second input of differential mechanism 30.
Differential mechanism 30 includes, in a conventional manner, a differential cage 35, forming such an elongation wheel set, and which carries a cage pivot 36, forming the movable articulation pivot for connecting rod 8.
Indicator plate 7 includes at least one planetary pivot 33, which carries a planetary wheel 34 meshing both with differential cage 35 and first wheel set 31, guided here in a guide 310 of bridge 11 or of another component of the structure of movement 100.
When a particular guide 31, for example cantilevered from below, makes it possible to free the upper surface of differential cage 35, there is nothing to prevent the free rotation of connecting rod 8, which then does not interfere with any arbors, and a 360° display is possible. The variant of
This differential mechanism may have many variants. In particular, it is possible to block differential cage 35, to return to an equivalent of the first embodiment, which naturally requires a retrograde display. Another variant consists in replacing second wheel set 32 with a rack, meshed on a plate wheel 70 integral with indicator plate 7, and which follows a cam driven by the movement.
It is understood that, under some conditions of passage of the components, the third embodiment with a differential makes it possible to obtain rotation of the hand over 360°, first retrograde rack 5 of the first and second embodiments is then no longer necessary and only second elongation rack 15 of the second embodiment is retained.
In the various embodiments illustrated, in a particular and non-limiting manner, carriage 9 is movable in a radial direction R with respect to main axis AP, as seen in the Figures.
In a particular embodiment illustrated by
In a particular embodiment illustrated by
In a particular variant of the second embodiment, illustrated in
In a particular embodiment illustrated by
W1. Z1+W3. Z3=Wc. (Z1+Z3)
In a given time base, this formula is equivalent to:
θ1=θc. (Z1+Z3)/Z1−θ3. Z3/Z1,
with:
The first differential input 103A is connected to the cannon-pinion 101A. This input rotates continuously, and is powered by the movement at a velocity of one revolution per hour, in the particular and non-limiting illustrated example.
The second differential input 112A is connected to a rack 110A whose roller 110B follows the profile of cam 109B which is rotated by cannon-pinion 101A.
Connecting rod 106A pivots on arbor 106B which is pressed into lever element 105B.
Connecting rod 106A acts on hand 107A via arbor 106C. This arbor 106C slides on arm 101B, which is screwed onto cannon-pinion 101A.
Given that the output velocity of lever element 105B is the sum of the rotational velocity of cannon-pinion 101A and of rack 110A which picks up information from cam 109B, the angle, and therefore the elongation of the hand, between lever element 105B and arm 101B, is directly related to the profile of cam 109B.
In the illustrated example, a square cam allows the tip of the hand to follow a square travel PC. A heart-piece would make it possible to obtain a heart-shaped travel and the shape of any cam can therefore be reproduced.
This mechanism is not limited to the particular display of the minutes or hours. Indeed, it is, for example, possible to have an arm that indicates the hour, and a small cursor that slides inside the hand thus displaying the power reserve of the movement within the hour hand.
It is possible to control the two differential inputs by cams thus making it possible to control the elongation via input 110A, and the forward—or backward—motion of the hand via input 105A. In the example of
As seen in
In short, the hand can follow any path in one plane: a figure of eight, a semi-circle, a crescent moon, or other, controlled by two cams configured according to the desired path.
It becomes evident that the mechanism is no longer limited to original display of the time, but to the control of an articulation that also permits animation, such as, for example, the writing of a brand name by a stylus, or the drawing of a symbol on a dial.
The invention also concerns a timepiece movement 100 including at least one such display mechanism 1 driven by an output 101 or similar.
The invention concerns a watch 200 including such a timepiece movement 100 and/or including at least one such display mechanism 1.
The advantage of a retractable display member according to the invention is that it allows a wide variety of displays, with particular trajectories, in particular areas of the watch dial.
In the preferred retrograde type display, the rack of the retrograde mechanism is used for controlling both the angular orientation and the radial extension of the hand. This rack moves in a reciprocating motion. The only continuous driving is that of the snail cam, it is therefore unnecessary to have continuous driving by the centre wheel, which facilitates the site topology inside the watch case. The invention allows for adaptation to cases of any shape and dimension, especially to oval cases which are appreciated for ladies' watches.
The drivers for the connecting rod and the retrograde hand are coaxial, which ensures perfect positioning of the components.
In the first embodiment, the connecting rod pivots directly on the bridge, via ball bearings, or jewelling, or other, with free sizing, not limited by the size of the moving components. The first rack can be detached from the cam feeler member to adjust the initial retrograde position. If the connecting rod pivot is made on a movable bridge, not illustrated by the Figures, it is also possible to adjust the initial elongation of the hand. The small number of pivoting components minimises any residual play. The existence of a single play take-up rack makes it possible to coerce the entire mechanism, and to limit the sensitivity of the hand to shocks, in particular to limit its vibration. The limited number of superposed components permits a low total thickness of the display mechanism.
In the second embodiment, the drivers for the connecting rod and the retrograde hand are coaxial, which also ensures perfect positioning of the components. Each of the two racks controls a particular motion of the hand: the first rack controls rotation, and the second rack controls translational motion. It is thus possible and easy, owing to the cams, to adjust the initial position and elongation of the hand, unlike retrograde displays of the prior art, where indexing of the display occurs during the hand setting operation, via a single difficult manipulation. The rotational driving of the connecting rod provides an additional parameter for the elongation dimensions of the hand. The play take-up racks acting on the first angular orientation wheel and the second elongation wheel make it possible to constrain the hand, and greatly limit the vibration of the hand during shocks.
In each of the embodiments of the invention, the high inertia of the hand during its return to position can be used to drive a disc on a jumper spring. For example, this hand displays the minute, and the hour is displayed on a jumping disc. Upon the return of the minute hand, the latter strikes an hour driver which makes the hours jump, the inertia of the minute hand aiding the hour jump, which thus makes it possible, and greatly facilitates, the synchronization of the jumps of the displays.
The retractable and retrograde display of the invention is modular.
It is also noted that the connecting rod/crank system makes it possible to dispense with milled cam paths in a bridge or plate, and thus the known problems of burrs or milling precision.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16156269.9 | Feb 2016 | EP | regional |
