Patent Grant
11347186
This application claims priority of European patent application No. EP18171542.6 filed May 9, 2018, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The invention relates to a system for a watch calendar. It also relates to a movement comprising a suchlike system. It further relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, comprising a suchlike system or a suchlike movement. Finally, it relates to a method of operation of a suchlike system for a watch calendar, of a suchlike movement or of a suchlike timepiece.
Mechanisms for annual or perpetual calendars are familiar from the prior art. Suchlike mechanisms generally include one or a plurality of calendar driving devices configured to overcome the torques produced by different return springs or indexation springs involved in the different display and/or programming devices of the calendar.
The programming cams of annual or perpetual calendars are generally provided in order to actuate a movable lever, in particular a movable tooth of a toothing of a calendar wheel or a movable finger of a calendar driving device.
By way of example, patent application EP0987609 discloses a programming cam of an annual calendar provided in order to control a lever pivoting a calendar driving wheel, which is biased by a return spring. A suchlike construction requires a large number of component parts, in particular springs and levers, and consumes a lot of energy. Furthermore, because of the sequencing of the operation of a suchlike mechanism, it is very difficult to achieve a perfectly instantaneous date change of the calendar at the end of a short month.
Patent application CH685585 discloses a mobile tooth of a calendar day wheel, which is biased elastically against a programming cam disposed concentrically with the calendar day wheel. In order to do this, the movable tooth includes a return spring provided in order to bias said tooth against the cam. Furthermore, the programming cam is indexed angularly by an elastic jumper. Both of these springs are actuated by a calendar driving device, which requires additional energy in order to overcome the resistive torque produced by said springs.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,983 discloses a construction of which the operating principle is similar to that of the device in application CH685585. The calendar day wheel is in the form of a calendar day disk provided with internal toothing, of which a movable tooth is operated by a programming cam by means of an intermediate lever. The movable tooth is biased elastically by a wire spring disposed on the calendar day disk. In addition to the aforementioned disadvantages, a suchlike construction is complicated in its implementation.
The aim of the invention is to make available a calendar system to address the disadvantages mentioned previously and to improve the systems for a watch calendar that are familiar from the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a system for a watch calendar that is compact, reliable, simple and minimizes the energy losses in operation.
A calendar system according to the invention is defined by point 1 below.
Different embodiments of the calendar system are defined by dependent points 2 to 11 below.
A watch movement according to the invention is defined by point 12 below.
A timepiece according to the invention is defined by point 13 below.
A method of operation of a calendar system according to the invention is defined by point 14 below.
A mode of implementation of the method of operation is defined by dependent point 15 below.
The figures annexed hereto represent, by way of example, two embodiments of a timepiece incorporating a calendar system.
A first embodiment of a timepiece 300 is described below with reference to
The watch movement may be of the electronic type or of the mechanical type, in particular of the automatic type. The watch movement comprises a system 1 for a watch calendar. The calendar system is of the annual type or of the semi-perpetual type or of the perpetual type, for example. The watch movement and/or the calendar system comprises a framework 99.
The system for a watch calendar comprises:
The desmodromic system is arranged in such a way that at least a first position of the cam defines a first position of the follower permitting the retraction of the tooth, and that at least a second position of the cam defines a second position of the follower preventing the retraction of the tooth. Thus, a displacement of the cam from a first cam position to a second cam position may bring about a displacement of the follower from a first follower position to a second follower position, and a displacement of the cam from the second cam position to the first cam position may bring about a displacement of the follower from the first follower position to the second follower position.
The first wheel 3 is a calendar day wheel, for example, in particular a calendar day disk. The first wheel is pivoted on the framework about an axis A1, for example an axis A1 at the center of the movement. The first wheel comprises information pertaining to the calendar days, for example, intended to be indicated to the wearer of the timepiece when the information appears, for example, at the level of the dial through an aperture.
The first wheel advantageously comprises a toothing 30 having 31 teeth. This toothing may be internal toothing. This toothing is disposed, for example, according to a plane P1 depicted in
Advantageously, the calendar system comprises a jumper 8 cooperating with the first wheel in order to index the first wheel into a position relative to the framework. Preferably, the jumper 8, in particular a head or a nose 8a of the jumper 8, cooperates with the toothing 30 in order to index the first wheel.
The tooth 31b for driving the first wheel is pivoted, for example, on the first wheel about an axis A31.
The driving tooth 31b is disposed, for example, according to a plane P2 depicted in
The driving tooth 31b may be implemented on a retractable finger 31. In this case, the retractable finger 31 is pivoted, for example, on the first wheel about the axis A31.
The axis A31 is, for example, parallel or substantially parallel to the axis A1.
The driving tooth 31b and/or the retractable finger 31 is thus pivotably movable between a first retracted position and a second driving position.
Advantageously, the retractable finger 31 and/or the driving tooth 31b may be provided, as depicted in
The system for a watch calendar comprises a wheel 5 for driving the first wheel 3. This driving wheel 5 has the function of driving the first wheel 3 by one step every 24 hours, and possibly by a plurality of steps at the end of the short months. The wheel 5 for driving the first wheel 3 is pivoted, for example, about an axis A5 on the framework. The axis A5 is parallel or substantially parallel to the axis A1, for example, and/or to the axis A31. This driving is preferably of the type with an instantaneous date change. As an alternative, the driving may be of the dragging type.
In order to achieve this driving, the driving wheel comprises the first finger 5b for driving the first wheel 3. This first driving finger 5b is thus arranged in such a way as to cooperate with the first wheel 3, in particular with the driving tooth 31b. In order to do this, for example, all or part of the first driving finger 5b is present in the plane P2.
Advantageously, the first driving finger 5b is integral with a calendar cam 6 cooperating with an elastic calendar lever 7, as depicted in
Advantageously, in order to achieve driving of the first wheel 3, the driving wheel likewise comprises a second finger 5a for driving the first wheel 3. This second driving finger 5a is thus arranged in such a way as to cooperate with the first wheel 3, in particular with the toothing 30. In order to do this, the second driving finger 5a is present, for example, in the plane P1.
Advantageously, the second driving finger 5a is integral with the calendar cam 6. Thus, the second driving finger 5a performs, every 24 hours, an instantaneous or quasi-instantaneous rotation by a full revolution about the axis A5. This makes it possible to drive the first wheel 3 by an angular step every 24 hours. The indication of the calendar date may thus be updated every 24 hours.
This results in driving an angular step of the first wheel at the end of the long months by the action of the single second driving finger 5a, and in driving of two angular steps of the first wheel at the end of the short months by the actions of the first driving finger 5b and of the second driving finger 5a, in particular by the action of the first driving finger 5b and then that of the second driving finger 5a.
Preferably, the driving tooth 31b and the first driving finger 5b are arranged and/or configured in such a way that, in the driving position of the driving tooth 31b, the first driving finger 5b exerts, on the driving tooth 31b, a mechanical action F seeking to retract the tooth and seeking to drive the first wheel 3. This action F depicted in
The desmodromic system permits the position of the follower to be defined on the basis of the position of the cam without utilizing a spring for the return of the follower against the cam. In other words, the cam controls, by its position relative to the framework, the position of the follower relative to the framework without a spring returning the follower against the cam.
The cam 2 depicted in particular in
The first flank 20a constitutes a first cam profile. The second flank 20b constitutes a second cam profile.
Preferably, the cam 2 is driven in rotation by the rotation of the first wheel 3, in particular by means of an intermediate wheel 9 represented schematically in
In order to do this, the first wheel 3 may be provided with an external toothing 32 comprising at least one tooth, preferably two teeth or three teeth or four teeth or five teeth, and the cam 2 may be provided with an internal toothing 22. The intermediate wheel 9 may be a simple pinion comprising a toothing arranged in such a way as to cooperate both with the toothing 32 and with the toothing 22.
As an alternative, the intermediate wheel may be of the Maltese Cross type, such as to lock the angular position of the cam 2 when the latter is not actuated by the first wheel 3. The intermediate wheel 9 may thus exhibit, for example, a first portion comprising a Maltese Cross and a second portion comprising a pinion. The first and second portions may or may not be separate. Thus, advantageously, the cam 2 may be devoid of any indexation jumper. In fact, the indexation of the first wheel involves the indexation of the cam 2 because of the kinematic connection, in particular the kinematic connection with reduced play, of the first wheel 3 and of the cam 2 by means of the intermediate wheel 9.
The first and second cam profiles 20a and 20b, in particular at the level of the connection portions between the first and second portions of the groove 20, make it possible to drive the follower respectively in a first direction and a second direction, in such a way that the follower 4 is or is not able to act on the driving tooth 31b of the first wheel 3.
Preferably, the cam 2 carries a device for the display of the indication of the months such as a decal 21 depicted in
The follower 4 comprises a pin or a peg 40 intended to be housed in the groove 20.
Preferably, the follower is a lever, in particular a programming lever, pivoted on the framework 99 about an axis A4. The axis A4 is parallel or substantially parallel to the axis A1, for example.
The follower 4 comprises a flank 4a arranged in such a way as to prevent, in particular to prevent by positive engagement, the retraction of the driving tooth 31b when the follower is in the second position. The driving tooth 31b and/or the finger 31 comprises a surface or an abutment 31a intended to cooperate by contact with the flank 4a.
The first cam profile 20a is provided in order to act on the peg 40 in such a way that the follower 4 may be driven in a first direction, in particular driven in rotation about the axis A4 in a first direction, in particular the clockwise direction as depicted in
Advantageously, the angular movement of the follower 4 is limited, or is minimized as far as possible, by the cam profiles 20a and 20b which serve as an abutment, in particular an angular abutment, when the cam 2 is not actuated. Preferably, the follower 4 further comprises first abutments cooperating with second abutments provided on the framework in such a way as to limit the travel of the follower between the first and second positions. The first and second abutments may comprise at least one groove 4b provided in the follower in order to cooperate with a support pin 4b′ attached, for example, to the framework. As an alternative, the first and second abutments may comprise at least one groove provided in the framework in order to cooperate with a support pin attached, for example, to the follower. The groove and the pin may further constitute means of guiding the follower relative to the framework.
The geometry of the follower 4 may be adapted according to the dimensions of the first wheel 3 and/or of the cam 2, in particular depending on the diameter of the first wheel 3 and/or the diameter of the cam 2. In particular, it is possible to modulate the arrangement of the display of the months independently of the arrangement of the display of the calendar days by means of a given follower 4. For example, for a given calendar day disk 3, it may be possible to arrange different cams 2 supporting display devices for the indication of the month of different dimensions by means of different followers. Thus, the geometry of the follower may be defined in order to cooperate with a calendar day disk of a given geometry and with a cam adapted to display an indication of the month. The geometry of the follower may also be defined in order to cooperate with a cam of a given geometry adapted to display an indication of the month and with a calendar day disk.
A second embodiment of a timepiece 300′ is described below with reference to
The watch movement may be of the electronic type or of the mechanical type, in particular of the automatic type. The watch movement comprises a system 1′ for a watch calendar. The calendar system is of the annual type or the semi-perpetual type or the perpetual type, for example. The watch movement and/or the calendar system comprises a framework 99′.
In this second embodiment, an element having a function that is identical or similar to an element of the first embodiment is referenced with the help of the reference for this element in the first embodiment, to which “′” is added.
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the cam 2′ is a wheel. This wheel is pivoted about the axis A1′. The principle of operation of the device according to the second embodiment is identical to that of the device of the first embodiment. Furthermore,
The cam 2′ comprises an external toothing 22′ cooperating by meshing with an intermediate wheel 9′.
In this second embodiment, the wheel 2′ may be integral with a hand for indicating the months or with a disk for indicating the months. An indexation jumper may possibly be put in place in order to define precisely the angular positioning of the hand or of the disk.
The wheel 5′ for driving the first wheel 3′ is not depicted in
In the embodiments and variants described previously, the cam comprises a groove of which the flanks constitute first and second cam profiles and the follower comprises a pin cooperating with this groove. However, as an alternative, the cam may comprise a rib, and the follower may comprise a slot, the rib being housed in the slot. The cam profiles are then constituted by the flanks of the rib.
In the embodiments and variants described previously, the driving tooth 31b is pivoted on the first wheel. However, the tooth may be movably mounted differently on the first wheel. For example, the driving tooth may be mounted in sliding engagement on the first wheel.
In the embodiments and variants described previously, at the end of the short months, the first driving finger 5b acts on the first wheel in order to cause it to advance by one angular step, and the second driving finger 5a then acts on the first wheel in order to cause it to advance by a further angular step. At the end of the short months, however, the second driving finger 5a may first act on the first wheel in order to cause it to advance by one angular step, and the first driving finger 5b may then act on the first wheel in order to cause it to advance by a further angular step.
In the embodiments and variants described previously, the follower is a lever pivoted on the framework. However, the follower may be a slider mounted in sliding engagement on the framework.
In the embodiments and variants described previously, the first and second driving fingers 5a and 5b are integrated within the same driving wheel. However, the first and second driving fingers 5a and 5b may be integrated within two separate driving wheels.
In the embodiments and variants described previously, the first and second driving fingers 5a and 5b are disposed in two parallel and separate planes. However, the first and second driving fingers 5a and 5b, as well as the driving tooth and the toothing 30, may be in the same plane. In this case, the first driving finger may be shorter than the second driving finger in such a way that the first finger does not interfere with the toothing. The first finger is likewise sufficiently long to act on the driving tooth when it is in the driving position.
In the embodiments and variants described previously, the groove 20 is blind. However, a cutout could separate the cam completely into two cam sections.
In the embodiments and variants described previously, the cam determines only the first and second positions of the follower. Thus, the mobility of the follower may be limited in two opposite directions by the cam. However, the mobility of the peg 40 or the mobility of the follower may, for example, be delimited in at least one direction by an abutment formed on a blank of the movement, for example on the framework 99. The abutment may take the form of a cylindrical wall, for example, of which the radius is equal or substantially equal to Rt. As an alternative or in addition, the abutment may take the form of a cylindrical wall, for example, of which the radius is equal or substantially equal to R2. As a further alternative, the abutment may be one of the abutments constituted by the pin 4b′.
A mode of implementation of a method of operation of the timepiece and/or of the movement and/or of the calendar system is described below.
It is assumed that the calendar system is initially in the first state or the first configuration depicted in
In this first configuration, the peg 40 is housed between the two cam profiles 20a, 20b, which are respectively formed according to two radii R1, R1′ of circles centered on the axis A1, in such a way that the flank 4a of the follower 4 may cooperate by contact with the surface 31a of the driving tooth 31b, the follower being in its second position preventing retraction of the driving tooth. Thus, the driving tooth 31b may not retract when its head 31b is actuated by the application of the force F by means of the first driving finger 5b of the driving wheel 5. The contact between the first driving finger 5b and the driving tooth 31b thus induces the driving of the first wheel 3 by one step. The second driving finger 5a of the driving wheel 5 itself induces the driving of the first wheel 3 by a supplementary step. The calendar then indicates May 1.
During the month of May, the cam 2 rotates about the axis A1 in the clockwise direction (according to the figures). During this displacement of the cam, the pin 40 is displaced in the groove 20 and the second cam profile 20b acts on the pin in order to displace the follower from its second position preventing retraction of the driving tooth into its first position permitting retraction of the driving tooth. An action of the cam 2 on the follower 4 thus takes place in such a way as to cause it to pass from its second position to its first position. On May 30 or before this date, the follower is in its first position.
In this second configuration, the peg 40 is still housed between the two cam profiles 20a, 20b, which are respectively formed according to two radii R2, R2′ of circles centered on the axis A1, in such a way that the flank 4a of the follower 4 is no longer able to cooperate by contact with the surface 31a of the driving tooth 31b in such a way that it interferes with the first driving finger 5b as it rotates about the axis A5. The follower is in its first position, in which it permits retraction of the driving tooth. Thus, if the driving tooth 31b is in a position of interference with the trajectory of the first driving finger 5b, it will be subjected to the force F applied by the first driving finger 5b of the driving wheel 5. Under the effect of this force F, the driving tooth 31b is retracted as it rotates in the clockwise direction about the axis A31. The possible contact between the first driving finger 5b and the driving tooth 31b thus does not induce driving of the first wheel 3. The second driving finger 5a of the driving wheel 5 itself induces the driving of a step of the first wheel 3. The calendar then indicates May 31.
From this date and/or over the month of June, the cam 2 rotates about the axis A1 in the clockwise direction (in the figures). During this displacement of the cam, the pin 40 is displaced in the groove 20 and the first cam profile 20a acts on the pin in order to displace the follower from its first position permitting retraction of the driving tooth into its second position preventing retraction of the driving tooth. An action of the cam 2 on the follower 4 is thus produced in such a way as to cause it to pass from its first position into its second position. On June 30 or before this date, the follower in once again in its second position.
As described previously, when the follower is in its second position, the first driving finger 5b exerts a mechanical action F on the driving tooth 31b for driving the first wheel, since the retraction of the cam is prevented here, and, when the follower is in its first position, the first driving finger 5b exerts a mechanical action on the driving tooth 31b for the retraction of the driving tooth 31b without driving the first wheel 3, since the retraction of the tooth takes place without resistance, whereas the jumper 8 induces a resistance to the driving of the first wheel. The follower, the tooth and the first finger are thus arranged and/or configured in such a way that, in the driving position of the tooth, the first finger exerts a mechanical action on the tooth retracting the tooth or a mechanical action driving the first wheel. The consequence of this mechanical action differs according to the position of the follower.
The solutions described previously make it possible to minimize the number of springs utilized to display the calendar information. The energy utilized to display the calendar information may thus be minimized. In particular, the energy accumulated in the calendar system is limited. The limitation of the energy consumption makes it possible to limit the disturbances of the balance wheel and hairspring oscillator with the ability to have an adverse effect on the accuracy of the timepiece.
These solutions are particularly simple to implement. Furthermore, these solutions advantageously permit the modulation the display of the indication of the months, in particular having regard for that of the calendar days. This may be realized independently of any additional return spring or indexing spring.
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|---|---|---|---|
| 18171542 | May 2018 | EP | regional |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190346813 A1 | Nov 2019 | US |
