EP3502802B1 - Chronograph repetition mechanism with safety - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a chronograph repeating sound display mechanism for the sound display, by a striking mechanism, of a duration measured by a chronograph mechanism comprising a control mechanism comprising a control arranged to be pivoted. under the action of a chronograph starting pusher, said striking mechanism comprising a winding control arranged to drive a rack for moving a striking block comprising a rack pinion integral with a striking ratchet, to move a ringing piece for reading the quantity concerned and triggering a corresponding ringing tone.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a sound display mechanism.

The invention relates to the field of clockwork display mechanisms.

Background of the invention

Certain displays of timepieces are sometimes difficult to read, in particular when the timepiece is a watch of small dimensions, such as a ladies' watch, or even a complicated watch, comprising a large number of displays, each then occupying a necessarily small area, or superimposed on other displays, which can make the interpretation imprecise for the user, which is paradoxical when it comes to a precise measurement of time.

Reading a display may still be disturbed by low ambient light, such as when diving, or in certain time slots at night or twilight, or on the contrary be disturbed by parasitic lighting that generates shadows making the indications unreadable, or even due to a visual impairment of the user or special conditions of use, such as night flight or certain special operations. This is also the reason why watchmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries developed striking, passing or repeating watches, or even tact watches allowing tactile information to be obtained.

Requirement EP3495895 by the same applicant describes a chronograph mechanism linked to an external or internal striking mechanism to perform, in particularly on demand, a sound display of a duration measured by the chronograph mechanism, this mechanism constitutes a chronograph repeater. When the striking mechanism is in operation, the seconds and tens of seconds rakes as well as the minutes feeler may be in the course of the seconds, tens of seconds and minutes cams. If we were to engage the chronograph mechanism (START), there is a risk of stopping the movement, with a high risk of breakage. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent that the chronograph mechanism can be engaged while the striking mechanism is in operation.

• la bascule actionnant la répétition a son point de pivotement sur la platine près du centre de la montre, et non sur le pivot de la crémaillère, pour assurer un tirage plus doux de la targette de répétition ;
• les deux marteaux pivotent sur le même tigeron, ce qui fait gagner beaucoup de place; il en résulte que pour une montre à répétition du calibre 19", par exemple, on peut utiliser les mêmes rouages que pour une montre ordinaire de 19", tandis que dans les répétitions antérieures les marteaux prenaient tant de place qu'on était obligé d'utiliser les rouages des montres ordinaires de 17" ce qui renchérissait la pièce ;
• au lieu de placer sur le rochet de sonnerie une goupille à laquelle se croche une crémaillère portée par le levier de chute des quarts et actionnée par un petit ressort, une crémaillère est fixée sur le rochet de sonnerie, et le levier de chute des quarts comporte un crochet à talon formé de façon à ce qu'un seul fort ressort, fixé à la platine et s'appuyant sur le talon de ce crochet, serve tout à la fois à faire chuter le levier des quarts sur le colimaçon des quarts, et à produire l'accrochement du crochet à la crémaillère des quarts.

The CH102A patent in the name of REBER describes improvements made to the construction of repeating mechanisms for watches:

• the lever actuating the repeater has its pivot point on the plate near the center of the watch, and not on the pivot of the rack, to ensure a smoother pulling of the repeater bolt;
• the two hammers pivot on the same tigeron, which saves a lot of space; as a result, for a 19 "caliber repeater watch, for example, the same cogs can be used as for an ordinary 19" watch, while in previous repeats the hammers took up so much space that one had to 'use the cogs of ordinary 17 "watches which made the item more expensive;
• instead of placing a pin on the striking ratchet to which is hooked a rack carried by the quarter drop lever and actuated by a small spring, a rack is attached to the striking ratchet, and the quarter drop lever has a heel hook formed so that a single strong spring, fixed to the plate and resting on the heel of this hook, simultaneously serves to make the quarter lever drop onto the quarter spiral, and to produce the attachment of the hook to the rack of the quarters.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to provide operating safety to a chronograph repeater mechanism, coupling a conventional visual display to a sound display, or replacing a conventional visual display by an audio display, to prevent any engagement of the chronograph mechanism while the striking mechanism operates.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch chronograph repeating mechanism according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a chronograph repeating mechanism.

Brief description of the drawings

• les figures 1 et 2 représentent, de façon schématisée, et en plan, un détail d'un mécanisme de répétition chronographe selon l'invention, montrant un mécanisme de sécurité selon l'invention entre le mécanisme de commande du mécanisme de chronographe, et le mécanisme de commande de la répétition de sonnerie, illustré dans le cas particulier et non limitatif où le mécanisme de commande du mécanisme de chronographe comporte une roue à colonnes ;
• la figure 1 correspond à la position de repos du mécanisme de sonnerie, avec un poussoir d'armage en position d'attente, prêt à la poussée d'une commande d'armage ;
• la figure 2 montre la position en fin de course de poussée de ce même poussoir d'armage, après poussée complète de cette commande d'armage, avec le déclenchement du pivotement d'une crémaillère de sonnerie initialisant un cycle de sonnerie de la valeur mesurée par le mécanisme de chronographe, tout déclenchement de la commande du mécanisme de chronographe est alors entravé par le mécanisme de sécurité selon l'invention;
• la figure 3 est un détail de la figure 1, montrant l'extrémité d'un poussoir de départ de chronographe apte à agir sur une bascule de commande de chronographe ;
• la figure 4 est un détail de la figure 2, montrant l'extrémité d'un poussoir de départ de chronographe en appui sur une bascule de commande de chronographe, laquelle est bloquée par un plot que comporte le mécanisme de sécurité selon l'invention et qui empêche le pivotement de la bascule de commande de chronographe ;
• la figure 5 montre la bascule de commande de chronographe dans une position pivotée d'enclenchement du mécanisme de chronographe, autorisée par le recul du plot du mécanisme de sécurité selon l'invention après l'achèvement complet d'une sonnerie, notamment de la sonnerie de répétition chronographe ;
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des détails qui illustrent, dans deux positions correspondant respectivement aux figures 1 et 2, la coopération entre une première extrémité de la bascule de sécurité et une came à deux niveaux qui est solidaire du pignon de crémaillère ;
• la figure 8 est un schéma-blocs représentant une pièce d'horlogerie, notamment une montre, où le mécanisme de sonnerie est intégré au mécanisme d'affichage.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, where:

• the figures 1 and 2 represent, schematically and in plan, a detail of a chronograph repeater mechanism according to the invention, showing a safety mechanism according to the invention between the control mechanism of the chronograph mechanism, and the control mechanism of the ring repeater, illustrated in the particular and non-limiting case where the control mechanism of the chronograph mechanism comprises a column wheel;
• the figure 1 corresponds to the rest position of the striking mechanism, with a winding pushbutton in the waiting position, ready to push a winding command;
• the figure 2 shows the position at the end of the thrust stroke of this same winding pushbutton, after full thrust of this winding command, with the triggering of the pivoting of a ringing rack initiating a ringing cycle of the value measured by the mechanism chronograph, any triggering of the control of the chronograph mechanism is then hampered by the safety mechanism according to the invention;
• the figure 3 is a detail of the figure 1 , showing the end of a chronograph starting pusher able to act on a chronograph control lever;
• the figure 4 is a detail of the figure 2 , showing the end of a chronograph starting pusher resting on a chronograph control lever, which is blocked by a stud that comprises the safety mechanism according to the invention and which prevents the pivoting of the control lever from chronograph;
• the figure 5 shows the chronograph control lever in a pivoted engagement position of the chronograph mechanism, authorized by the retraction of the stud of the safety mechanism according to the invention after the complete completion of a chime, in particular of the chronograph repeater chime ;
• the figures 6 and 7 are details which illustrate, in two positions corresponding respectively to the figures 1 and 2 , cooperation between a first end of the safety rocker and a two-level cam which is integral with the rack pinion;
• the figure 8 is a block diagram representing a timepiece, in particular a watch, where the striking mechanism is integrated into the display mechanism.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The invention relates to a sound display mechanism 500 for a timepiece, for a timepiece 1000, in particular a watch, or else a sports or other timing device, or even a clock, or the like.

This timepiece 1000 conventionally comprises a movement, and energy storage means, for at least driving an oscillator, which are not detailed here. This timepiece 1000 may still include a music box.

This display mechanism 500 comprises at least one rotary display mobile, in particular linked to a display such as a hand, disc, or the like, for displaying a quantity other than the time of the current time. By “quantity other than the hour of current time” is meant a quantity such as a duration for a chronograph mechanism, or a count of actions on a push-piece for a sports arbitration apparatus, or the like.

This display mechanism 500 is a sound display mechanism. For this purpose, the rotary display mobile is integral, at least in rotation, with a display cam, the periphery of which cooperates with the feeler of a striking part that comprises a striking mechanism 1, which is integrated or juxtaposed with the display mechanism 500, to sound a digital value characteristic of the quantity measured.

The invention is described more particularly, and without limitation, for a display carried out on demand, by action of a user on a control member, such as winding push button 390 as illustrated by the figures, or bolt, crown, bezel, or any other actuator.

In the particular and non-limiting application illustrated by the figures, this display mechanism 500 comprises a chronograph mechanism 100, which comprises at least one chronograph mobile for counting seconds, and a minute counter mobile for counting downs. minutes.

More particularly, this display mechanism 500 is a chronograph repeater mechanism, as described in the application. EP3495895 of the same depositor. This chronograph repeater mechanism is designed to provide, after stopping at the end of a measurement of duration of a timed duration carried out by the chronograph mechanism 100, information relating to the timed duration, in particular in minutes and seconds, to a striking mechanism 1 included in the chronograph mechanism 100 or to which the chronograph mechanism 100 is juxtaposed, in particular to strike at least the minutes and seconds of the timed duration. This ringing mechanism 1 comprises the ringing control parts (in particular minutes and seconds, or even tens of seconds or other) necessary to ring at least the corresponding units of the timed duration.

This sound display mechanism 500 of chronograph repeating clockwork enables the sound display, by a striking mechanism 1, of a duration measured by a chronograph mechanism 100.

According to the invention, this striking mechanism 1 comprises a winding control 39, which is arranged to trigger the reading of the timed duration on the stringers and cams, and to drive a rack 33 against elastic return means constituting motor means of the striking mechanism 1, for moving a striking unit comprising a rack pinion 31 integral with a striking ratchet 32, and for moving a striking part for each display cam for reading the quantity concerned, for example, a minute coin on a minutes cam, a seconds coin on a seconds cam, a tens of seconds coin on a tens of seconds cam, or the like, and trigger a corresponding bell.

According to the invention, this sound display mechanism 500 comprises, between the control mechanism of the chronograph mechanism 100 and the winding control 39, a safety mechanism 40, which is arranged for, depending on the position of the striking mobile. , and more particularly but not limited to the rack pinion 31, authorize or not the travel of a control 56, which comprises the control mechanism of the chronograph mechanism 100, and which is arranged to be pivoted under the action of a chronograph start push-button 562.

The chronograph mechanism 100 conventionally comprises external control means accessible to the user, such as a start-stop pushbutton, return to zero pushbutton, or the like, and in particular as described in the book. the collective work “Theory of horology” by MM. Reymondin, Monnier, Jeanneret, Pelaratti, published by the FET (Federation of technical schools) in Switzerland, in chapter 11. For the start-stop function, these external control means generally lead to a control 56, which pulls or pushes a cam control 60, in particular a pivoting cam, such as a column wheel 54, or a cam comprising an upper shuttle and a lower shuttle, or the like.

The invention is applicable both to a single-push-button chronograph as illustrated in the figures, which can be used to trigger the start commands START, stop STOP, and reset to zero, as well as to a chronograph mechanism with two push-buttons, one for on-off, the other for resetting, according to the same logic, which consists in moving, during manual actuation of the striking mechanism, an isolation mechanism, comprising an exposed safety latch below, arranged to make it impossible to press on the single push-button, or on any one of the push-buttons, as the case may be, by interposing a pad under each push-button concerned.

More particularly, the control mechanism of the chronograph mechanism 100 comprises a chronograph starting pusher 562, arranged to exert a support on the control 56, subjected to the return of a control spring 58, and which is a rocker which pivots around of a control axis F. In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, this control 56 is provided with a hook 57, arranged to operate the ratchet 59 of a control cam 60, such as column wheel 54 in the variant not limitative illustrated by the figures, or control cam, or the like, which control cam 60 is held in position by a jumper 55, or the like. The chronograph mechanism 100 comprises at least one rotary display mobile, such as seconds mobile or minutes mobile, which is at least rotatably secured to a corresponding display cam, the periphery of which cooperates with the feeler of a corresponding striking part, which the striking mechanism 1 comprises, for striking a characteristic digital value of a timed duration measured by the chronograph mechanism 100.

• quand la sonnerie fonctionne, tel que visible sur les figures 2 et 4, le plot 43 s'oppose au pivotement de la commande 56 sous une pression effectuée par un utilisateur sur le poussoir de départ de chronographe 562 ;
• quand la sonnerie ne fonctionne pas ou plus, tel que visible sur les figures 1, 3, et 4, le plot 43 ne s'oppose pas au pivotement de la commande 56 sous une pression effectuée par un utilisateur sur le poussoir de départ de chronographe 562, la figure 5 montre la position enfoncée du poussoir de départ de chronographe 562.

The safety mechanism 40 is arranged to, depending on the position of the striking mobile, and more particularly but not limited to the rack pinion 31, authorize or not the travel of the control 56. To this end, in the variant illustrated by the figures , this mechanical safety link has a safety lever 41 pivotally mounted on a safety pin E. A first end 44 of the safety lever 41 cooperates in bearing with a cam 310 at two levels, lower 311 and upper 312, which is integral with the rack pinion 31, under the action of an elastic return means, in particular of a safety spring 45. The second end 42 of this safety lever 41 comprises a stud 43, which is arranged to interpose on the path of the control 56, according to the angular position of the safety lever 41:

• when the ringer is on, as seen on the figures 2 and 4 , the stud 43 opposes the pivoting of the control 56 under pressure exerted by a user on the chronograph start push-button 562;
• when the ringer does not or no longer work, as seen on the figures 1 , 3, and 4 , the stud 43 does not oppose the pivoting of the control 56 under a pressure exerted by a user on the chronograph start push-button 562, the figure 5 shows the depressed position of chronograph start pusher 562.

It will be understood that this configuration makes it possible to prevent any risk of stopping the movement or of breakage: the user can only engage the chronograph mechanism 100 when he has the right to do so, that is to say when the striking mechanism 1 is inoperative.

The invention can implement a more complex ringing mechanism than those exposed in the work cited by reference, in particular with several ringing tones or melodies as in the patent applications in the name of the BLANCPAIN Company: classic ringing or a melody set. , multistage striking mechanism with parts with different rakes.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 1000, in particular a watch, comprising such a display mechanism 500.

More particularly, the striking mechanism 1 is integrated with said display mechanism 500.

If the sound display mechanism described above is designed as a duplication of a conventional visual display, it can also replace the latter.

The invention allows useful security to be added to a display mechanism of the chronograph repeater type, which combines a chronograph mechanism and a striking mechanism, which are known to be the most popular horological mechanisms. more complex and delicate, and that it is necessary to protect against any dangerous maneuver.

Claims (6)

1. Acoustic timepiece display mechanism (500) with a chronograph repeater for the acoustic display, by a striking mechanism (1), of a duration measured by a chronograph mechanism (100) including a control mechanism comprising a control (56) arranged to be pivoted under the action of a chronograph start pusher (562), said striking mechanism (1) including a winding control (39) arranged to drive a rack (33) to move a striking unit including a rack pinion (31) integral with a striking ratchet (32), to move a striking piece to read the quantity concerned and to trigger a corresponding strike function, characterised in that said acoustic display mechanism (500) includes, between said control mechanism and said winding control (39), a safety mechanism (40) arranged, depending on the position of said strike mobile, to allow or prevent travel of said control (56).
2. Acoustic display mechanism (500) according to claim 1, characterised in that said striking mechanism includes at least one said striking piece formed by a minute piece or by a tens-of-seconds piece or by a seconds piece, and in that said chronograph mechanism (100) includes respectively at least one rotating mobile displaying minutes or tens of seconds or seconds, integral, at least in rotation, with a cam displaying respectively minutes or tens of seconds or seconds, the rim of which is arranged to cooperate with the feeler spindle of said respectively minutes piece or tens-of-seconds piece or seconds piece, and characterised in that said winding control (39) is arranged to trigger the reading of said timed duration on each said cam displaying the minutes or tens of seconds or seconds, and to drive said rack (33) counter to elastic return means forming means driving said striking mechanism (1) to move each said striking piece, or respectively minutes piece or tens-of-seconds piece or seconds piece, for each said corresponding cam displaying respectively minutes or tens of seconds or seconds, in order to read the quantity concerned.
3. Acoustic display mechanism (500) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said mechanical safety connection (40) includes at least one safety lever (41), arranged to cooperate at a first end (44) bearing on a cam (310) with two levels (311; 312), which said striking unit includes, under the action of elastic return means (45), and including, at a second opposite end (42), a stud (43) which is arranged to be interposed on the path of said control (56), depending on the angular position of said safety lever (41).
4. Timepiece (1000) including an acoustic display mechanism (500) according to one of claims 1 to 3.
5. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 4, characterised in that said striking mechanism (1) is integrated in said acoustic display mechanism (500).
6. Timepiece (1000) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said timepiece (1000) is a watch.

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