Clutch device of a clock

Abstract

To provide a clutch device for timepieces that realizes a large degree of freedom regarding component arrangement, the overall height of which is small, and which realizes smooth action for a slight stroke request to a clutch disk.SOLUTION: A clutch device for timepieces comprises: a clutch input wheel 1 capable of rotating on a shaft 2 fixed in the axial direction and located to be displaceable in the axial direction; a clutch output wheel 6 firmly located on the shaft 2; a first clutch disk 4 located to be rotatable and displaceable on the shaft 2, loaded to the clutch input wheel 1 by a spring force, and capable of loading the clutch input wheel 1 to be unable to relatively rotate on the shaft 2, and to come into contact with a second clutch disk 3 in a frictional engagement manner that is immovably secured in the axial direction; and an annular groove 7 which is open toward the radially outward of the outer circumferential surface of the first clutch disk 4 and is movable from a connection position at which the first clutch disk 4 loads the clutch input wheel 1 by a claw 8 to a disconnection position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clutch device for a clock. The clutch device includes a clutch input wheel that is rotatably drivable and is rotatably mounted on a shaft fixed in the axial direction and is axially displaceable, a clutch output wheel that is firmly mounted on the shaft, and a first clutch disk that is rotatably mounted on the shaft and is displaceable, and is loaded by a spring force onto the clutch input wheel and can be loaded to frictionally engage with a second clutch disk that is non-rotatable relative to the shaft and axially fixed. The first clutch disk has an annular groove that is open radially outward in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface thereof, and claws are radially engaged with the outer peripheral surface. By these claws, the first clutch disk can move from a connection position where the first clutch disk loads the clutch input wheel to a disconnection position where the first clutch disk is lifted from the clutch input wheel.

Background Art

[0002] In this type of clutch device for a chronograph, it is known that a lever can be driven to pivot around the axis by a column wheel (pillar wheel). The free end of this lever loads the slope of a further lever arm. One end of this further lever is pivotable and the other end has a claw that engages in a groove of a clutch wheel.

[0003] This clutch device is not only complex in terms of components but also requires a large installation space. Further, due to the components with manufacturing tolerances, the stroke tolerance of the claws becomes large, requiring a large installation space.

[0004] Since the claws are pivotably moved, friction is generated by the relative movement between the claws and the clutch disk, and thus there may be difficulty in movement between the claws and the clutch disk.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a clutch device for a clock of the type described at the beginning, which avoids the above-mentioned drawbacks, realizes a large degree of freedom in the arrangement of components relative to each other, has a small overall height, and realizes smooth operation with a slight stroke requirement for the clutch disk.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] To solve this problem, in the clutch device according to the present invention, the pawl can be driven to move by a two-armed swing lever that can swing around a swing axis extending in a lateral direction with respect to the axis, and the end of the first lever arm in the swing lever can be loaded so as to swing by a radial column of the column wheel, and the pawl can be loaded by the end of the second lever arm in the swing lever so as to lift the first clutch disk from the connected position to the disconnected position with respect to the axis.

[0007] The components from the column wheel to the pawl are simple and only a small number are required, and thus there are almost no manufacturing tolerances, so that the stroke path of the pawl, and thus the height of the clutch device, can be kept small.

[0008] By the axial movement of the pawl, frictional losses between the pawl and the clutch disk are avoided, and smooth operation of the clutch device becomes possible.

[0009] The structure of the clutch device gives a large degree of freedom in the arrangement of the pawl, the swing lever, and the column wheel with respect to the axis.

[0010] The clutch device and the column wheel can be arranged on the same side of the movement, whereby not only these components can be mounted from the same side but also adjusted, and can be easily visually recognized by an observer.

[0011] The lever arm can function to improve the adjustment between the path and moment potential available by the column wheel and the operating path and operating force required to operate the clutch.

[0012] The lever arm can also function to approximate the actuating force via the path of the characteristic curve in the spring force.

[0013] Preferably, the clock can be a chronograph.

[0014] To facilitate lifting the pawl in the axial direction, the pawl region protruding from the annular groove can be firmly connected to a guide shaft that is displaceably guided parallel to the axis, and the guide shaft can be loaded to be displaced axially by the second lever arm of the pivoting lever.

[0015] In this case, the guide shaft can have a collar protruding in the circumferential direction, and this collar can be loaded to be displaced by the second lever arm of the pivoting lever.

[0016] Smooth displacement of the pawl is achieved by the guide shaft being guided in an axial bearing in its end region.

[0017] The manual stepwise rotation drive of the column wheel enables easy lifting and lowering of the pawl. This is done in two steps. In the first step, the pawl is lifted and the free end of the first lever arm rides onto the column. In a subsequent step, the pawl descends again as the free end of the first lever arm drops back into the gap from the column.

[0018] The manual stepwise drive can be easily performed by the column wheel being stepwise rotationally drivable by a pusher.

[0019] The smooth and continuous lifting of the free end of the first lever arm is achieved by the end of the first lever arm in the pivoting lever having an inclined surface that increases at an angle towards the free end of the first lever arm, and this inclined surface can be loaded to pivot by the column of the column wheel.

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described in more detail.

Brief Explanation of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] The illustrated clutch device includes a clutch input wheel 1, which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 2 and is freely rotatable thereon and is displaceable in the axial direction, and is rotatably driven by a movement (not shown) in the chronograph.

[0023] On the shaft 2 below the clutch input wheel 1, a lower clutch disk 3 is arranged in a non-rotatable relative and axially fixed state.

[0024] On the side of the clutch input wheel 1 away from the lower clutch disk 3, an upper clutch disk 4 is freely rotatable on the shaft 2 and is displaceable in the axial direction, and is loaded in the direction of the clutch input wheel by the spring force of a compression spring 5.

[0025] The upper end of the shaft 2 supports the fixedly arranged clutch output wheel 6. The shaft 2 supports a further clutch output wheel in a non-rotatable relative manner at its lower end.

[0026] The upper clutch disk 4 has, on its circumferential outer peripheral surface, an annular groove 7 that opens radially outward and extends in the circumferential direction.

[0027] A claw 8 engages radially in the annular groove 7. This claw 8 is axially movable relative to the shaft 2, and by means of this claw 8, the upper clutch disk 4 is movable from a connection position in which it loads the clutch input wheel 1 to a disconnection position in which it is lifted from the clutch input wheel 1.

[0028] The claw 8 is rigidly connected to a guide shaft 9 parallel to the shaft 2 in a region protruding from the annular groove 7. The guide shaft 9 is axially guided relative to the shaft 2 within an axial bearing 10.

[0029] The guide shaft 9 has a collar 11 protruding in the circumferential direction. This collar 11 can be loaded by the second lever arm 12 of the two-armed pivot lever 13 so as to axially displace the guide shaft 9. The pivot lever 13 is pivotable about a pivot axis 14 extending transversely to the shaft 2.

[0030] The end of the first lever arm 15 of the pivot lever 13 has an inclined surface 16 that extends at an angle increasing from the longitudinal extension of the first lever arm 15 towards the free end of the first lever arm 15.

[0031] In the region of the column 19 of the column wheel 18 that can be rotationally driven stepwise around the column wheel axis 17 parallel to the shaft 2, the inclined surface 16 region of the swivel lever 13 protrudes in the tangential direction. Therefore, in the first step of the column wheel 18, the inclined surface 16 region is lifted from the gap 20 between the two columns 19 in the column wheel 18 and rides on the column 19. As a result, the swivel lever 13 is swiveled so that the free end of the second lever arm 12 lifts the claw 8 and the upper clutch disk 4 is lifted from the clutch input wheel 1. Thereby, the rotational connection that has occurred so far between the clutch input wheel 1 and the clutch output wheel 6 is also released.

[0032] In the next step of the column wheel 18, the inclined surface 16 region of the swivel lever 13 drops into the gap 20 following the column 19. As a result, the claw 8 receives the spring force of the compression spring 5 and moves back to the lower position again, and the upper clutch disk 4 rides on the clutch input wheel 1 again, pressing this clutch input wheel 1 against the lower clutch disk.

[0033] Thereby, the rotational connection from the clutch input wheel 1 to the clutch output wheel 6 is established again.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, the stepwise forward feed of the column wheel 18 is performed by a manually operable pusher 21, and this pusher 21 swivels a two-armed output lever 23 via a two-armed input lever 22. In this case, the output lever 23 is swiveled from the non-engaged position to the engaged position of the locking teeth 24 in the column wheel 18 by its switching lever 25, advancing the column wheel 18 by one step.

Explanation of Signs

[0035] 1 Clutch input wheel 2 Shaft 3 Lower clutch disk 4 Upper clutch disk 5 Compression spring 6 Clutch output wheel 7 Annular groove 8 claws 9 guide shafts 10 axial bearings 11 collars 12 second lever arms 13 swivel levers 14 swivel shafts 15 first lever arms 16 inclined planes 17 column wheel axes 18 column wheels 19 columns 20 clearances 21 pushers 22 input levers 23 output levers 24 locking teeth 25 switching levers

Claims

1. A clutch device for a timepiece, comprising: a rotatably driven clutch input wheel (1) that is freely rotatable on a shaft (2) fixed in the axial direction and is displaceable in the axial direction; a clutch output wheel (6) firmly arranged on the shaft (2); a first clutch disk (4) that is freely rotatable on the shaft (2) and is displaceably arranged, is loaded by a spring force onto the clutch input wheel (1), and can be loaded to frictionally engage with a second clutch disk (3) that is non-rotatable relative to the shaft (2) and is fixed immovably in the axial direction on the shaft (2); an annular groove (7) that is open radially outward in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the first clutch disk (4), and a claw (8) engages radially with the outer peripheral surface, and by which the first clutch disk (4) is movable from a connection position where the first clutch disk (4) loads the clutch input wheel (1) to a connection release position where the first clutch disk (4) is lifted from the clutch input wheel (1); and in the clutch device, the claw (8) is axially movable and drivable relative to the shaft (2) via a transmission element from a column wheel (18), the claw (8) is movable and drivable by a two-armed pivot lever (13) that is pivotable around a pivot axis (14) extending laterally with respect to the shaft (2), an end of a first lever arm (15) of the pivot lever (13) can be loaded to pivot by a column (19) of the column wheel (18), and an end of a second lever arm (12) of the pivot lever (13) can load the claw (8) to lift the first clutch disk (4) from the connection position to the connection release position relative to the shaft (2).

2. The clutch device according to claim 1, wherein a region of the claw (8) protruding from the annular groove (7) is firmly connected to a guide shaft (9) that is axially displaceably guided relative to the shaft (2), and the guide shaft (9) can be loaded to be displaced by the second lever arm (12) of the pivot lever (13).

3. The clutch device according to claim 2, wherein the guide shaft (9) has a collar (11) protruding in the circumferential direction, and the collar (11) can be loaded so as to be displaced by the second lever arm (12) of the swing lever (13).

4. The clutch device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the guide shaft (9) is guided within an axial bearing (10) in its end region.

5. The clutch device according to claim 1, wherein the column wheel (18) can be rotationally driven manually in steps.

6. The clutch device according to claim 5, wherein the column wheel (18) can be rotationally driven in steps by a pusher (21).

7. The clutch device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein an end portion of the first lever arm (15) of the swing lever (13) has an inclined surface (16) that increases at an angle toward the free end of the first lever arm (15), and the inclined surface (16) can be loaded so as to swing by a column (19) of the column wheel (18).

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