EP4513274A1 - Clock movement - Google Patents

Abstract

Clock movement (1) comprising:
- a main barrel (3) housing a main mainspring and comprising a main winding mobile (5) arranged to wind said main mainspring, as well as a main driving mobile (7) arranged to allow said main mainspring to drive a clockwork mechanism by means of at least one gear train (9);
- an auxiliary barrel (15) housing an auxiliary mainspring and comprising an auxiliary winding wheel set (17) arranged to allow the winding of said auxiliary mainspring by an oscillating winding weight (23), as well as an auxiliary motor wheel set (19) arranged to allow said auxiliary mainspring to wind said main mainspring by means of said main winding wheel set (5);
wherein said auxiliary motor wheel (19) is arranged to be selectively blocked by a control pawl (27) which is arranged to release said auxiliary motor wheel (19) in order to wind up said main motor spring punctually.

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It concerns, more particularly, a watch movement equipped with a main barrel and an auxiliary barrel.

State of the art

A conventional self-winding system, in which the oscillating weight directly winds the main barrel, has several drawbacks. First, if the timepiece is worn by a user or is stored in a device arranged to move it to operate the oscillating weight, the main barrel is often fully wound, and means are required to protect the mainspring from damage. These means are typically a sliding flange provided on the outer coil of the spring, which slides on the inner wall of the drum when excess torque is present, or a de-clicking system that is arranged to limit the maximum torque that the weight can provide to the winding wheel. A sliding flange is certainly a simple solution, but is subject to significant wear requiring regular maintenance. This problem is avoided by a de-clicking system, but at the cost of increased complexity.

For the rest, the best chronometric results are obtained when the torque to which the regulating system is subjected is as constant as possible. When a mainspring is fully wound, its output torque is at its maximum; the latter decreases quite rapidly during the initial part of its unwinding curve, and then it decreases less rapidly over the greater part of the latter, which provides the best chronometric properties before a rapid drop at the end which is linked to a slowing down of the regulating system.

The classic solution to this problem is a constant torque system, a fusee system or a remontoir d'égalité, but these systems are complex and expensive.

If one wishes to avoid using a constant force system or an equality winder, while maintaining good chronometric properties, there is therefore an interest in remaining, as far as possible, in the part of the curve on which the torque gently decreases, and not winding the mainspring to its maximum too often.

The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a watch movement in which at least one of the aforementioned defects is at least partially overcome.

Disclosure of the invention

• au moins un barillet principal logeant au moins un ressort moteur principal et comprenant un mobile de remontage principal agencé pour remonter ledit ressort moteur principal, ainsi qu'un mobile moteur principal agencé pour permettre audit ressort moteur principal d'entrainer un mécanisme horloger (comme par exemple un système réglant (SR) combiné à un dispositif d'affichage (A), un mécanisme de sonnerie, un dispositif calendrier, un mécanisme de chronographe ou similaire) par l'intermédiaire d'au moins un rouage ;
• au moins un barillet auxiliaire logeant au moins un ressort moteur auxiliaire et comprenant un mobile de remontage auxiliaire agencé pour permettre le remontage dudit ressort moteur auxiliaire par le biais d'une masse oscillante de remontage, ainsi qu'un mobile moteur auxiliaire agencé pour permettre audit ressort moteur auxiliaire de remonter ledit ressort moteur principal par l'intermédiaire dudit mobile de remontage principal.

More specifically, the invention relates to a watch movement as defined by claim 1. This watch movement comprises:

• at least one main barrel housing at least one main mainspring and comprising a main winding mobile arranged to wind said main mainspring, as well as a main motor mobile arranged to allow said main mainspring to drive a watch mechanism (such as for example a regulating system (SR) combined with a display device (A), a striking mechanism, a calendar device, a chronograph mechanism or the like) by means of at least one gear train;
• at least one auxiliary barrel housing at least one auxiliary mainspring and comprising an auxiliary winding wheel set arranged to allow the winding of said auxiliary mainspring by means of an oscillating winding weight, as well as an auxiliary motor wheel set arranged to allow said auxiliary mainspring to wind said main mainspring by means of said main winding wheel set.

Said auxiliary motor mobile is arranged to be selectively blocked by a control pawl which is arranged to release said motor mobile. auxiliary in order to wind up said main motor spring punctually.

By these means, during normal operation of the movement, there is no transfer of torque between the auxiliary mainspring and the main mainspring, which can unwind normally without being wound up too often by the oscillating weight, and, in certain configurations, never be wound up. The transfer of torque and the winding of the main mainspring are carried out by controlling the control pawl in order to release the auxiliary drive wheel set at a precise moment, the winding being carried out to the extent that the torque available at the auxiliary drive wheel set is sufficient. This release can be obtained manually and/or automatically under the control of an element of the movement, and if a permanent kinematic connection between the auxiliary drive wheel set and the main winding wheel set is not present, such a connection will be carried out at the same time by ad hoc means.

In a variant with manual winding triggering, the watch movement comprises a manual pusher arranged to be moved by a user and to cooperate with said control pawl to release said auxiliary motor wheel when said manual pusher is in a triggering position.

Advantageously, said manual pusher is arranged to form a kinematic connection between said auxiliary motor wheel set and said main winding wheel set when said manual pusher is in said trigger position, for example by means of a return carried by said manual pusher.

In a variant with automatic winding triggering, said watch movement comprises an automatic pusher arranged to be moved under the control of a rotating element of the movement, said automatic pusher being arranged to cooperate with said control pawl to release said auxiliary motor wheel when said automatic pusher is in a triggering position.

Advantageously, said automatic pusher is arranged to form a kinematic connection between said auxiliary motor wheel and said main winding wheel when said automatic pusher is in said trigger position, for example by means of a return carried by said automatic pusher.

Advantageously, said rotating element is arranged to be driven in a first direction by said main drive mobile, directly or indirectly. The winding will therefore be triggered periodically.

Advantageously, said rotary element is arranged to be further driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction by said main winding wheel set, directly or indirectly. This can be achieved by arranging said rotary element to be driven by an output of a differential gear, the latter further comprising a first input arranged to be driven by said main driving wheel set and a second input arranged to be driven by said main winding wheel set, but other solutions are also possible. The periodic triggering of the winding will thus be obtained as a function of the residual torque threshold of the main mainspring, the properties of the mainsprings being able to be chosen to maintain the output torque of the main mainspring in the most constant part of its discharge curve, i.e. to avoid winding the mainspring fully.

Advantageously, said rotating element is a cam, a disk carrying at least one pin, or at least one lever.

Advantageously, friction is provided in the kinematic chain connecting said main winding mobile and said rotating element, which is a particularly simple solution to avoid a blockage of the automatic winding in the case where the shapes of the rotating element and the automatic pusher create such a risk. Other solutions are, of course, possible, and it is also possible to choose the shape of the automatic pusher as well as the rotating element such that this risk does not exist.

Brief description of the drawings

• Figure 1 est une vue schématique en plan d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un mouvement horloger selon l'invention, lors du fonctionnement normal du mouvement ;
• Figure 2 est une vue schématique isométrique partielle du mouvement de la figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 est une vue schématique partielle en plan du mouvement de la figure 1 lors d'un remontage à la demande ;
• Figure 4 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3, le poussoir manuel ayant été enlevé pour pouvoir montrer le poussoir automatique, lors du fonctionnement normal du mouvement ;
• Figure 5 est une vue similaire à la figure 4, lors du déclenchement d'un remontage automatique ;
• Figure 6 est une vue schématique isométrique partielle d'une autre variante à déclenchement automatique du remontage, lors du fonctionnement normal du mouvement.

Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of a watch movement according to the invention, during normal operation of the movement;
• Figure 2 is a partial isometric schematic view of the movement of the figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a partial schematic plan view of the movement of the figure 1 during on-demand reassembly;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to that of the figure 3 , the manual pusher having been removed to be able to show the automatic pusher, during normal operation of the movement;
• Figure 5 is a view similar to the figure 4 , when triggering automatic winding;
• Figure 6 is a partial isometric schematic view of another variant with automatic winding trigger, during normal operation of the movement.

Embodiments of the invention

THE figures 1 And 2 illustrate an embodiment of a watch movement according to the invention.

This movement comprises at least one main barrel 3 housing at least one mainspring (not illustrated) inside it and comprising a main winding wheel set 5 as well as a motor wheel set 7 arranged to drive any clockwork mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, this clockwork mechanism is an SR regulating system (illustrated exclusively on the figure 1 ) of any type (for example a classic escapement-balance-spring system or carried by a single or multi-axis tourbillon or carousel cage, inclined (-s) or not) whose oscillations are maintained by the force provided by the mainspring via a gear train 9 ad hoc, in a known manner. The gear train 9 also drives a display system A of any type. Alternatively, the watch mechanism may be a striking mechanism, a calendar device, a chronograph mechanism or the like, driven by said gear train 9.

In the illustrated configuration, the main barrel 3 has the conventional configuration, i.e. the main winding wheel set 5 is a ratchet wheel mounted integral in rotation with a barrel shaft 11, which cooperates with the inner end of the mainspring. The ratchet wheel 5 is prevented from pivoting in the direction of unwinding of the mainspring by a conventional ratchet system 13, which allows the ratchet wheel 5 to pivot in the direction of winding of the mainspring.

The driving wheel 7 is a drum toothing, which meshes with the first wheel 9a of the gear train 9 in order to drive it. However, the reverse configuration is also possible, i.e. the drum toothing constitutes the winding wheel, while the wheel integral in rotation with the barrel arbor 11 constitutes the driving wheel.

A manual winding system (not shown) of any known type may also be provided to wind the mainspring via the main winding wheel 5.

The watch movement 1 also includes an auxiliary barrel 15 housing an auxiliary mainspring, and includes an auxiliary winding wheel set 17 and an auxiliary drive wheel set 19 for which the same considerations as those discussed in connection with the main winding wheel set 5 and the drive wheel set 7 also apply. An auxiliary ratchet system 21 performs the same operation in connection with the auxiliary barrel 15 as the ratchet system 13 does for the main barrel 3.

A winding oscillating weight 23 is arranged to wind the auxiliary mainspring via an ad hoc winding train 25, in a known manner. The details of the type of oscillating weight 23 and the winding train 25 are not important for the present invention, and can take any known forms.

In order to prevent the auxiliary barrel 15 from being unwound by the auxiliary motor wheel set 19, a control pawl 27 is provided, which has a beak 27a held in engagement with the teeth of the output wheel set 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 by the effect of an ad hoc elastic return element (not shown). The control pawl 27 also has an actuating member 27b, here shown as a lever integral with said pawl 27, but other solutions (pins, beaks, notches, notches, etc. integral or not with said pawl 27) are possible, for selectively lifting the beak 27a.

The solution proposed by the present invention is to store the kinetic energy harvested by the oscillating mass 23 in the auxiliary mainspring of the auxiliary barrel 15, and to supply it punctually to the main barrel, that is to say at precise moments and not continuously.

During normal operation of movement 1, auxiliary barrel 15 is independent of main barrel 3, i.e. there is no drive between the two. Main barrel 3 winds normally, and auxiliary barrel 15 receives torque, generated by oscillating weight 23 to wind the auxiliary mainspring.

The auxiliary barrel 15 selectively drives the main barrel 3 punctually, at the request of the user or automatically under the control of the movement itself.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures 1 And 2 , both possibilities are provided, but it is possible to provide only one or the other.

In order to allow a user to manually control a torque transfer from the auxiliary barrel, a manual pusher 29 is provided and is movable by the user via an operating member (button, target or similar) provided in the case of the timepiece in which the movement 1 is integrated.

In the illustrated embodiment, the manual pusher 29 takes the form of a bar axially movable against an elastic element of ad hoc reminder, but other solutions such as a pivot-mounted lever are possible.

The manual pusher 29 carries, on the one hand, an actuator 29a arranged to cooperate with an actuating member 27b of the control pawl 27 in order to pivot the latter and this in order to move its beak 27a away from the teeth of the auxiliary drive wheel set 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 and thus release it and on the other hand, this pusher carries a return 31 arranged to kinematically connect the auxiliary drive wheel set 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 to the main winding wheel set 5 of the main barrel 3 when the manual pusher 29 is in a trigger position which corresponds to its active position. Alternatively, a return which meshes directly or indirectly permanently with the auxiliary drive wheel set 19 and the main winding wheel set 5 is possible, this return being associated with a unidirectional rotation system if it is desired to be able to also wind the main mainspring manually by a conventional winding system.

In this way, when the manual pusher 29 has been pressed, such that the return 31 is engaged with the auxiliary motor wheel 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 and the main winding wheel 5 of the main barrel 3, the actuator 29a pivots the control pawl 27 to release the auxiliary motor wheel 19 from the auxiliary barrel 15, as illustrated in the figure 3 .

As long as there is sufficient torque in the auxiliary barrel 15, this kinematic connection and the release of the auxiliary drive wheel 19 from the auxiliary barrel 15 will cause a drive spring housed in the main barrel 3 to rise until the torque on the wheel sets 19 and 5 is in balance.

In the event of insufficient torque available at the mobile 19, nothing happens there, given the fact that the pawl 13 prevents the main winding mobile 5 of the main barrel from unwinding.

The method of realization of the Figures 1 to 3 is also suitable for making a kinematic connection between the auxiliary motor wheel 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 and the main winding wheel 5 of the main barrel 3 so as to automatic, depending on the power reserve of the latter. For this purpose, a control cam 37 is rotatably mounted on a frame element, its rotations being controlled in this embodiment by a power reserve mechanism 39. The control cam 37 constitutes a rotating element of the movement arranged to be driven in rotation, but other embodiments are possible, such as for example a disk carrying one or more pins, one or more levers, an intermittent gear train or the like.

Various types of power reserve mechanisms are known to those skilled in the art, whether based on worms, differentials, etc. The latter type is implemented in the illustrated embodiment, and the details of its construction are not important, since there is a first input 41 driven directly or indirectly by the main drive wheel set 7 (e.g. via gear train 9), a second input 43 driven directly or indirectly by the main winding wheel set 5, and an output 45 that directly or indirectly drives the control cam 37 such that when the main barrel 3 unwinds, the control cam 37 pivots in a first direction (anti-clockwise in this case), and when the main barrel 3 is wound, the control cam 37 pivots in a second direction opposite to said first direction (clockwise in this case).

In the illustrated construction, a return 47 is provided in the kinematic connection between the winding wheel 5 of the main barrel 3, and another return 49 is provided between the output 45 and a toothed wheel 37a which is integral in rotation with the control cam 37, but other solutions are of course possible.

The control cam 37 cooperates with a cam follower 33a carried by an automatic pusher 33, which is mounted to move in translation under the effect of a return element (not illustrated) arranged to keep the follower 33a in contact with the periphery of the control cam 37.

The automatic pusher 33 also carries a return 35, similar to the return 31, and also arranged to mesh with both the drive wheel 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 and with the main winding wheel 5 of the main barrel 3. Since the intermediate wheel 35 is not at the same height in the movement as the intermediate wheel 31, the thicknesses of the teeth of the drive wheel 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 as well as with the main winding wheel 5 of the main barrel 3 are chosen accordingly, the main winding wheel 5 being illustrated as a double wheel in the illustrated construction.

In a similar manner to the manual pusher 29, the automatic pusher 33 is movable in translation, but can alternatively be movable in rotation. The latter also carries an actuator 33b, which cooperates with the control pawl 27 when it is in its trigger position in the same way as the actuator 29a when the return 35 is engaged with the mobiles 19 and 5, and this under the control of the control cam 37.

THE figures 4 And 5 illustrate this principle. In the figure 4 , the power reserve of the main barrel 3 remains sufficient, and the cam follower 33a simply follows the circumference of the control cam 37, which is pivoting counterclockwise (according to the orientation of the figures). On the other hand, on the figure 5 , the cam follower 33a has passed the top of the control cam 37 and fallen towards its small radius portion under the effect of the return element (not shown). In doing so, the return 35 has engaged with the teeth of the auxiliary drive wheel 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 and of the winding wheel 5 of the main barrel 3, and the actuator 33b has actuated the control pawl 27 in the same manner as described above in connection with the actuator 29a.

In doing so, the auxiliary motor wheel 19 of the auxiliary barrel 15 drives the main winding wheel 5 of the main barrel, to the extent that sufficient torque is stored there to drive the latter.

The control cam 37 is therefore driven in a clockwise direction, a friction provided at an ad hoc location in the kinematic chain between the main winding wheel set 5 and the control cam 37 allows the latter not to pivot during automatic winding, its flank being in abutment with the cam follower 33a. Preferably, this friction is located between the gear wheel 37a and the control cam 37. After automatic winding, the control cam 37 will start to pivot counterclockwise again, which will cause the automatic pusher 33 to be withdrawn thanks to the shape of the cam 37. Alternatively, an ad hoc system allowing the cam follower 33a to retract during automatic winding can be provided if it is desired that the control cam 37 pivots in the opposite direction (i.e. clockwise according to the illustrated construction and the orientation of the figures). Alternatively again it is also possible to choose the shape of the automatic pusher 33 (in particular at the level of the cam follower 33a) as well as of the rotating element 37 such that this risk does not exist.

In this embodiment, the maximum torque available at the auxiliary barrel 15 may be chosen such that the main barrel cannot be fully wound, but this is not mandatory.

There figure 6 schematically illustrates another variant for obtaining automatic triggering of a winding, which differs from that of the Figures 1 to 5 in that the power reserve device 39 has been omitted, and the control cam 37 is simply driven by the main drive wheel 7, via the gear train 9. Consequently, the latter is always driven in the same direction (i.e. counterclockwise according to the orientation of the figures) and periodically triggers a winding in the manner described in connection with the figures 4 And 5 The frequency of winding can be chosen at will, such as every 24 hours, 36 hours, or similar.

In this embodiment, the maximum torque available at the auxiliary barrel 15 can be chosen to fully wind the main barrel depending on the interval between automatic windings, or not.

Finally, it is reiterated that movement 1 can be arranged for automatic, manual or both punctual winding.

As for the materials that can be used, the whole range of materials used in contemporary watchmaking can be considered (metals, non-metals such as than silicon, silicon compounds, synthetic diamond, sapphire, structurable glasses, ceramics, glass-ceramics, metallic glasses, polymers, composites, materials susceptible to additive manufacturing, etc.). In addition, flexible pivots can find an application for elements where it makes technical sense.

Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, other variations are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (14)

Clock movement (1) comprising: - at least one main barrel (3) housing at least one main mainspring and comprising a main winding wheel set (5) arranged to wind said main mainspring, as well as a main driving wheel set (7) arranged to allow said main mainspring to drive a clockwork mechanism via at least one gear train (9); - at least one auxiliary barrel (15) housing at least one auxiliary mainspring and comprising an auxiliary winding wheel set (17) arranged to allow the winding of said auxiliary mainspring by an oscillating winding weight (23), as well as an auxiliary motor wheel set (19) arranged to allow said auxiliary mainspring to wind said main mainspring by means of said main winding wheel set (5); wherein said auxiliary motor wheel (19) is arranged to be selectively blocked by a control pawl (27) which is arranged to release said auxiliary motor wheel (19) in order to wind up said main motor spring punctually. Watch movement (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a manual pusher (29) arranged to be moved by a user, said manual pusher (29) being arranged to cooperate with said control pawl (27) to release said auxiliary motor wheel (19) when said manual pusher (29) is in a trigger position. Clock movement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said manual pusher (29) is arranged to form a kinematic connection between said auxiliary motor wheel set (19) and said main winding wheel set (5) when said manual pusher (29) is in said trigger position. Clock movement (1) according to one of claims 2 and 3 in which said kinematic connection is at least partially obtained by means of a return (31) carried by said manual pusher (29). Watch movement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an automatic pusher (33) arranged to be moved under the control of a rotating element (37) of the movement (1), said automatic pusher (33) being arranged to cooperate with said control pawl (27) to release said auxiliary motor wheel (19) when said automatic pusher (33) is in a trigger position. Clock movement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said automatic pusher (33) is arranged to form a kinematic connection between said auxiliary motor wheel set (19) and said main winding wheel set (5) when said automatic pusher (33) is in said trigger position. Clock movement (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said kinematic connection is at least partially obtained by means of a return (35) carried by said automatic pusher (33). Clock movement (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, in which said rotating element (37) is arranged to be driven in a first direction by said main drive wheel set (7). Clock movement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said rotating element (37) is arranged to be further driven in a second direction opposite to said first direction by said main winding wheel set (5). Clock movement (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said rotating element (37) is arranged to be driven by an output (45) of a differential gear (39), the latter further comprising a first input (41) arranged to be driven by said main motor wheel (7) as well as a second input (43) arranged to be driven by said main winding wheel (5). Clock movement (1) according to one of claims 5 to 10, in which said rotating element (37) is a cam, a disk carrying at least one pin, or at least one lever. Clock movement according to one of claims 5 to 11, in which friction is provided in the kinematic chain connecting said main winding wheel set (5) and said rotating element (37). Watch movement according to one of the preceding claims, in which said watch mechanism is chosen from: - a regulating system (SR) associated with a display device (A); - a striking mechanism; - a calendar device; - a chronograph mechanism. Timepiece comprising a watch movement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

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