WO2013104941A1

WO2013104941A1 - Timepiece with automatic winding

Info

Publication number: WO2013104941A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominique Loiseau
Original assignee: Dominique Loiseau
Priority date: 2011-01-13
Filing date: 2012-01-13
Publication date: 2013-07-18
Also published as: CH704334B1; CH704334A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece with automatic winding, including a watch case (10) including an automatic movement mounted on a bottom plate (16). The movement comprises: an annular or substantially annular automatic body (13) arranged to wind a barrel spring as it oscillates, a ring (15) rigidly connected to the automatic body (13), and rolling means (20). The ring (15) is arranged around the outside diameter of the dial (14), while the rolling means (20) are arranged between the inner circumference of the ring (15) and the bottom plate (16), such that said ring (15) can be driven by the automatic body (13) around the outside diameter of the dial (14).

Description

AUTOMATIC REASSEMBLY WATCH PIECE

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking, more particularly to a timepiece with automatic winding comprising an automatic mass of annular or substantially annular shape.

Already in the state of the art there are automatic movements comprising a substantially annular automatic mass. By way of example, WO2006103560 discloses a watch movement comprising an automatic winding device having an automatic mass of semi-annular shape. This is held and guided freely along a circular rail arranged on the periphery of the motion plate. The automatic mass is integral with a substantially annular cam having a profile for printing a rectilinear bidirectional movement to a winding pawl when the mass rotates freely on the rail. The pawl is held against the profile of said cam, each return path of the pawl advancing a step of a winding wheel, the rotation of the latter driving a gear train for raising a mainspring.

Swiss invention disclosure 382658 discloses a ball pivoting device of an automatic winding mass, with a particular arrangement of a ball spacing cage.

Swiss invention 458213 describes a self-winding clockwork movement comprising a rotor capable of annular movements greater than 360 degrees, the rotor being housed in a peripheral zone and entirely in the height of the movement, leaving room for a time setting and manual winding rod.

FR 852 1 10 discloses an oscillating weight winding wristwatch supported by ball bearings on the outer edge of the flyweight. In one embodiment, the weight is arranged on the dial side and visible by the front face of the watch.

The object of the present invention is to propose an automatic timepiece comprising an automatic mass of annular or substantially annular shape, which is arranged in an original way to be visible through an ice, which is easy to assemble space to allow the proper positioning of the control members.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by means of a self-winding timepiece comprising a watch case incorporating an automatic movement mounted on a plate, the movement comprising an automatic mass of annular or substantially annular shape, the automatic mass being mounted for rotation about its axis by rolling means, the automatic mass being arranged on the one hand to raise a mainspring according to its oscillations, and on the other hand to oscillate around a dial and to be visible through an ice,

According to the invention the automatic mass is secured to a ring disposed in an annular housing around the plate, the automatic mass surmounting the ring around and above the dial. The automatic mass and the ring, at their junction, have essentially the same external and internal diameters, and co-extensive and complementary surfaces. The automatic mass extends above the ring and above the level of the dial where it preferably extends radially inwards to overhang the periphery of the dial, and the ring co-operates with a part with the rolling means and secondly with a drive means for reassembling said mainspring.

By positioning the rotor (annular mass or automatic mass) in the same plane of the space reserved for the passage of the superimposed hands, this reduces the thickness of the watch accordingly. This disposition of the annular mass makes it possible to benefit from an additional height that promotes greater unbalance and better inertia without increasing the thickness of the watch. Compared to an annular mass around the movement, the positioning of the mass around and above the dial completely releases the space to allow the proper positioning of winding rods, pushers, correctors generally located in the middle of watch movements.

The visibility of the mass thus positioned adds a lively and playful aspect to the watch, because of its rotation around the dial and the hands without hindering the operation of the traversing axes.

In addition, the device makes it possible to produce a doubly automatic double-sided watch.

Preferably, a rolling cage is provided with a "V" groove so as to reduce the friction with the edge of, for example, 5 ruby rollers or the edge of eg 5 small ball bearings, and a toothing interior (last mobile gear reduction gearbox automation) comes "clipping" on this cage. Finally there is the possibility of fixing by "clipping" the annular mass of precious or heavy metal (including its invisible unbalance, obtained by recessing from below part of the segment) after having previously placed the dial.

The characteristics of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading a description of a preferred embodiment given solely by way of example, in no way limiting with reference to the schematic figures, in which:

1 represents an exploded perspective view of the case of a wristwatch according to the invention; FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the watch case without the dial to illustrate the underside of the case; ,

FIG. 2a is a detailed view of one of the ball bearings of FIG. 2, 3 shows a sectional view of the watch case according to the invention, and

- Figure 3a is a detailed view of Figure 3.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the timepiece is in the form of a wristwatch whose box 10 incorporates an automatic movement. This box 10 comprises, with regard to FIG. 1, an ice 1 1, a telescope 12, an annular automatic mass 13, a dial 14 and a ring 15, which is fixed to the automatic mass 13 (FIG. 3a). preferably by driving or screwing. The dial 14 is mounted on the top of the plate 16 of the movement, the periphery of the plate 16 having a side wall 17 so as to form, in particular with the inner circumference of the bezel 12, an annular housing 18 within which is arranged the ring 15.

With regard to Figure 3a, the ring 15 is composed of a bearing ring 15a under which is preferably fixed by riveting a drive ring 15b. The bearing ring 15a has on its entire internal circumference a groove 19 in contact with preferably five ball bearings 20. According to Figure 2, these ball bearings 20 are arranged in five corresponding housings 21 located on the periphery of the plate 16 at regular intervals so that each bearing 20 protrudes beyond the side wall 17 through a notch 22 (Figure 2a) so as to be partially at the housing 18 within the groove 9 of the bearing ring 15a (Figure 3a). The ball bearings can of course be replaced by any other mechanical bearing or rollers preferably ruby each arranged around a pivot axis.

The drive ring 15b has in turn a toothing 23 arranged over its entire inner circumference to mesh with a pinion (not shown) arranged in a housing 24 located at the periphery of the plate 16 (Figure 2). This pinion is the first train of a train gear reduction gear connected to the barrel ratchet in order to be able to raise the spring of the barrel.

An unbalance (not visible) is arranged on the lower part of the automatic mass 13 so that it can rotate the ring 15 along the annular housing 18 according to its oscillations caused by the movements of the wearer of the watch. The rotation of the ring 15 thus drives through its toothing 23 the gear of the gear train to raise the mainspring.

As can be seen in FIG. 3a, the automatic mass 13 and the ring 15, at their junction, have essentially the same external and internal diameters, and coextensive and complementary surfaces. Also, the automatic mass 13 extends above the ring 15 and above the level of the dial 14 where it extends radially inwards to overhang above the periphery of the dial 14. Moreover, an upper, external, curved portion the automatic mass 13 is disposed under a peripheral curved portion of the ice January 1. The automatic mass can be in precious metal or heavy metal plated. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the device makes it possible to produce a double-sided doubly automatic watch. During the assembly of the watch case, the ring 15 is positioned in the annular housing 18 around the outer diameter of the plate 16. The ball bearings 20 are then arranged in their respective housings and then screwed so as to be in position. part inside the groove 19 of the bearing ring 15a. The dial 14 is then fixed on the plate 6 thus covering the housings comprising the bearings. The automatic mass 13 is subsequently secured to the ring 15. Finally, the bezel 12 and the ice 1 1 are attached to the watch case.

Thus, a watch case having an original effect is obtained since the automatic mass 13 is visible through the lens 1 1 of the watch and oscillates freely around the dial 14. In a variant 2 000049

6 of execution not shown, the bezel extends above the automatic mass and comprises an ice arranged in correspondence with said mass so that it is visible through the bezel.

According to another variant embodiment not illustrated, the automatic mass is connected by means of a lever to the shaft of the mainspring, which is arranged in the center of the plate. In this variant, the movement must be arranged to provide a 360 ° volume in which the lever is movable. The ring does not have in this case of teeth on its inner circumference. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as examples but embraces, on the contrary, all variants of execution. For example, the automatic mass may have the shape of an annular sector which preferably extends over at least 180 °.

Claims

Self-winding timepiece comprising a watch case (10) incorporating an automatic movement mounted on a plate (16), the movement comprising an automatic mass (13) of annular or substantially annular shape, the automatic mass being mounted for rotation around its axis by rolling means (20), the automatic mass being arranged on the one hand to raise a mainspring according to its oscillations, and on the other hand to oscillate around a dial (14) and to be visible through an ice (1), characterized in that the automatic mass (13) is integral with a ring (15) disposed in an annular housing (18) around the plate (16), the mass automatic overlying the ring (15) around and above the dial (14), the automatic mass (13) and the ring (15), at their junction, have essentially the same external and internal diameters, and surfaces co- extensive and complementary, mass automatic (13) extends above the ring and above the level of the dial (14) where it preferably extends radially inwards to overhang the periphery of the dial (14) , and the ring (15) cooperates on the one hand with the rolling means (20) and on the other hand with a drive means (23) for reassembling said mainspring.

Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer surface of the annular housing (18) is defined by the inner surface of a telescope (12), which telescope supports the ice (1).

3. Timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the automatic mass (13) is secured to the ring (15) by driving or screwing,

4. Timepiece according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the ring (15) has on its entire internal circumference a groove (19) arranged to cooperate with rollers or mechanical bearings (20). ), which are arranged on the periphery of the plate (16) at substantially regular intervals.

5. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring (15) has a toothing (23) arranged on its inner circumference.

6. Timepiece according to claim 5, characterized in that said ring (15) is composed of a bearing ring (15a) engaged with said rolling means (20) and a drive ring ( 15b) comprising said toothing (23).

7. Timepiece according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the toothing (23) is engaged with a pinion of a gear train.

8. Timepiece according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the automatic mass (13) is integral with a lever connected to a pivot center.

9. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper, outer, curved portion of the automatic mass (13) is disposed under a peripheral convex portion of the ice (1 1).

10. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the automatic mass is precious metal or heavy metal plated.

11. Timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims in the form of a wristwatch

12. A method of assembling the timepiece according to claim 4, the method comprising the following steps: positioning of said ring (15) around the plate (16) of the movement. fixing the rolling means (20) on the plate (6) so that said means (20) are inside the groove (19), installing and fixing the dial (14), fixing the automatic mass (13) on the ring (15).

13. The method of claim 12, followed by the step of attaching a bezel (12) to the ice (11).