Dewar devices for mechanical and / or functional parts of watches

Abstract

The present invention relates to a Dewar device (1) for a mechanical and / or functional component (2) of a watch (3), the Dewar device (1) being provided with a wristband and a housing (4), the housing (4) comprising: a chamber (5), in which a watch case (6) of the watch (3) can be arranged in a detachable manner, a fastening device (7) for achieving reversible fastening by magnetically suspending the watch case (6) of the watch (3) in the chamber (5), the fastening device (7) constituting a partition between the watch case (6) and a group of elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the housing (4) forming the chamber (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, in particular one adapted to operate at extreme temperatures. Background Art

[0002] An electronic watch usually comprises a wristband and a case, which comprises a number of electrical or electronic components. It is known in the prior art that some of these components cannot cope with extreme temperatures and cease to function properly at these temperatures. Typically, LCD liquid crystal displays using light-emitting diodes or quartz can withstand temperatures not exceeding about 80°C (degrees Celsius) and not below 0°C. However, in certain environments such as space or lunar missions, the temperature often reaches values ​​of about substantially -150°C to +125°C.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to be able to use watches, particularly electronic watches, in environments where such extreme temperatures may exist. Summary of the invention

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a Dewar device for a mechanical and / or functional part of a watch, said Dewar device being provided with a wrist strap and a housing, said housing comprising:

[0005] - a chamber in which the watch case can be arranged in a removable manner, and

[0006] - fastening means for reversibly fastening the case of the watch by magnetically suspending it in the chamber, which fastening means constitute the partition between the case and the set of elements of the housing forming the chamber.

[0007] By means of the Dewar formed by the outer shell and the case, the mechanical and / or functional parts of the watch are protected from the extreme temperatures between -150 and +125 degrees Celsius that may exist outside the Dewar. Furthermore, the at least one fastening element that ensures the fastening of the case to the outer shell participates in ensuring very good thermal insulation of the case by preventing any heat loss of the case, in particular by radiation. Thus, such a Dewar allows the use of mechanical and / or functional parts in contexts and environments where extreme temperatures may exist, for example during space exploration missions such as the exploration of Mars or the Moon. This also allows ensuring cost rationalization and maintaining a reasonable complexity of the parts used in watches for such missions.

[0008] In other embodiments:

[0009] - the fastening device comprises two magnetic modules and at least one stop member;

[0010] - the fastening means comprise a first magnetic module for adjusting and maintaining the axial position of the case of the watch in the chamber relative to the lens and / or the bottom of the housing, the axial position being defined with respect to the central axis of the housing;

[0011] - the first magnetic module comprises at least two pairs of elements generating a magnetic field, the first pair of elements generating a magnetic field being arranged facing each other and respectively located on the upper surface of the case and on the first inner surface of the chamber including the lens of said housing;

[0012] - the first magnetic module comprises at least two pairs of elements generating a magnetic field, the second pair of elements generating a magnetic field being arranged facing each other and respectively located on a lower surface of the case including the bottom of the watch and a second inner surface of the chamber including the bottom of said housing;

[0013] - the fastening means comprise a second magnetic module for adjusting and maintaining the radial position of the case in the chamber of the housing relative to the inner peripheral wall of said chamber, said radial position being defined with respect to the central axis of the housing;

[0014] - the second magnetic module comprises at least one pair of elements generating a magnetic field, said elements generating a magnetic field being arranged facing each other and being respectively located on the outer peripheral wall of the case and the inner peripheral wall of the chamber of the outer shell;

[0015] - each of these pairs of magnetic field generating elements comprises parts arranged facing each other, these parts comprising magnetic poles having the same polarity;

[0016] - the at least one stop member is arranged on all or part of the inner peripheral wall of the chamber and / or the first inner surface of the chamber including the lens of the housing and / or the second inner surface of the chamber including the bottom of the housing;

[0017] - the fastening device comprises a plurality of stop members, which are respectively arranged on all or part of the inner peripheral wall of the chamber, the first inner surface of the chamber including the lens of the housing and the second inner surface of the chamber including the bottom of the housing;

[0018] - the chamber is in a vacuum state or a nearly vacuum state;

[0019] - the housing comprises a lens having a surface area substantially greater than or strictly greater than the crystal of the watch case;

[0020] - the crystal of the case is arranged facing the lens of the outer casing when the case is arranged in said chamber;

[0021] - the Dewar device comprises an intermediate piece to which the wrist strap is fastened;

[0022] - said set of elements of the housing forming said chamber comprises the lens of the housing, the inner peripheral wall of the intermediate piece, and the bottom. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Other features and advantages will be seen from the following reference Figure 1 It becomes clear from the description thereof which is given for informational purposes and in no way in a limiting manner, Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional parts of a watch according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising fastening means for reversible fastening by participating in magnetic suspension of the watch case arranged in said Dewar device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 A vacuum-insulated timepiece mechanism 1, also called a timepiece Dewar or more simply referred to in the rest of the description as a "Dewar", for the mechanical and / or functional parts 2 of a watch 3 is shown. This Dewar 1 for the mechanical and / or functional parts 2 of a watch 3 is able to participate in giving good thermal insulation to the mechanical and / or functional parts 2 of the watch 3, the case 6 of the watch 3 having to be arranged in the housing 4 of the Dewar 1, in order to ensure this insulation of these parts 2. In other words, this Dewar 1 is formed in particular by the combination of its housing 4 and the case 6 of the watch 3, in order to ensure proper thermal insulation of these mechanical and / or functional parts 2. In this configuration, the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in a chamber 5 and is kept away from or at a distance from a set of elements 10a to 10c of the housing 4 forming said chamber 5, namely the lens 10a of this housing 4, the inner peripheral wall 12a of the middle piece 10c, and the bottom 10b. It should be noted that the inner circumferential wall 12 a is also the inner circumferential wall of the chamber 5 .

[0025] This separation or this distance or this separation is constructed based on a fastening device 7 for reversible fastening by magnetic suspension of the case 6 of said watch 3 in said chamber 5. In other words, this fastening device 7 is able to construct a separation between said case 6 and a set of elements 10a, 10b, 10c of the outer shell 4 forming said chamber 5 of said outer shell. This fastening device 7 described below participates in reducing or even eliminating all heat conduction between the inner peripheral wall 12a and / or the bottom 10b and / or the lens 10a of the middle part 10c and the case 6 of the watch 3, in particular with the entire outer surface of said case 6. The entire outer surface comprises: the upper surface 18a of the crystal 11 of the case 6 of said watch 3, the lower surface 18b of the bottom of said case 6 and the peripheral wall 18c of the middle part of said case 6.

[0026] It should be noted that such a watch case 6 is included in a watch 3, which may be an electronic watch such as a quartz watch, or a mechanical watch.

[0027] The mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3 mentioned above include, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: a watch movement, a dial, hands, rings, joints and / or electronic and / or electrical components 2. It is particularly noted that such electronic and / or electrical components include, for example, display devices, processors, memories, components for storing energy, motors, integrated circuits and electronic oscillators.

[0028] It will therefore be appreciated that in this configuration, the Dewar device 1 has the same properties and characteristics as the Dewar tubes / bottles known in the prior art. As described above, the properties and characteristics of the Dewar device 1 contribute to giving it good thermal insulation against temperatures, particularly extreme temperatures, which may exist in the external environment in which such a Dewar device 1 may be located.

[0029] In this context, the Dewar device 1 thus comprises a housing 4 comprising an intermediate 10c on which a wristband allowing the user of the Dewar device 1 to wear it is mounted. The housing 4 also comprises the aforementioned lens 10a and bottom 10b. In the Dewar device 1, it should be noted that the lens 10a preferably comprises a surface area substantially greater than or strictly greater than the mirror 11 of the watch case 6 of the watch 3.

[0030] As described above, the lens 10a, the middle piece 10c and the bottom 10b of the Dewar device 1 jointly define the chamber 5 of the housing 4, which can receive the watch case 6 of the watch 3. The three elements 10a to 10c of the housing 4, namely the middle piece 10c, the lens 10a and the bottom 10b, can be different elements that are combined together to construct the chamber 5. Alternatively, the middle piece 10c and the bottom 10b of the housing 4 can form an integral part together, the integral part defining an opening opposite to the bottom 10b, which can be closed by the lens 10a in a reversible and sealed manner. In an alternative, the middle piece 10c and the lens 10a of the housing 4 of the watch 3 can form a one-piece part together, the one-piece part defining an opening opposite to the lens 10a, which can be closed by the bottom 10b in a reversible and sealed manner.

[0031] The middle member 10c and the bottom 10b are preferably made of metal material, glass or thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resin or ceramic material reinforced with carbon fiber or glass fiber in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner. It should be noted that when the middle member 10c and the bottom 10b are transparent or translucent and are made of glass, for example, the peripheral wall 12 of the middle member 10c and the bottom 10b can be coated with a metal reflective or similar coating / lining, such as a layer of silver.

[0032] In addition, the Dewar device 1 may include an interference filter arranged on the entire outer surface of the housing 4 (i.e., the outer peripheral wall of the middle piece 10c of the housing 4 and / or the outer surface of the lens 10a and the outer surface of the bottom 10b). The interference filter may be a grid or a grid formed as a coating on the entire outer surface of the housing 4. The grid or grid has meshes whose size is such that they allow only certain predetermined wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, usually wavelengths in the visible light range, to pass.

[0033] Furthermore, in the Dewar device 1, when the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in the chamber 5 of the housing 4, there is no material or almost no material in the space defined between the case 6 and the inner peripheral wall 12a of the middle piece 10c, the bottom 10b and the lens 10a. In other words, the chamber 5 is in a vacuum state or is almost in a vacuum state.

[0034] In order to ensure that the case 6 of the watch 3 is retained in the chamber 5, the Dewar device 1 and in particular the housing 4 include fastening means 7 for reversibly fastening the case 6 of the watch 3 by magnetically suspending it in the chamber 5. In this configuration, the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in the chamber 5 in a removable manner.

[0035] refer to Figure 1 The fastening device 7 preferably comprises two magnetic modules 8a and 8b (a first module 8a and a second module 8b) and at least one stop member 9a, 9b, 9c. The first module 8a is a magnetic module 8a for adjusting and maintaining the axial position of the case 6 of the watch 3 in the chamber 5 relative to the lens 10a and / or the bottom 10b of the housing 4.

[0036] In this context, it should be noted that the housing 4 is preferably axially symmetrical about the central axis X. The term "axial" denotes a general direction parallel to the central axis X. As for the term "radial", it denotes a general direction following an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the central axis X.

[0037] This first module 8a comprises at least two pairs 16a, 16b of elements 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b generating a magnetic field.

[0038] In a first pair 16a of this first module 8a, the elements 13a, 13b are arranged facing each other and are respectively located on the upper surface 18a of the case 6 of the watch 3 and on the first inner surface 12b of the chamber 5 including the lens 10a of said housing 4. More precisely, these elements 13a, 13b extend completely or partially around the lens of the housing 4 and the crystal of the case 6 of the watch 3, respectively, in a continuous or discontinuous manner.

[0039] In the second pair 16b, the elements 14a, 14b are arranged facing each other and are respectively situated on a lower surface 18b of case 6 comprising the bottom of watch 3 and on a second inner surface 12c of chamber 5 comprising the bottom 10b of housing 4.

[0040] As described above, the fastening device 7 also includes a second magnetic module 8b. The second magnetic module 8b is a module for adjusting and maintaining the radial position of the case 6 of the watch 3 in the chamber 5 of the housing 4 relative to the inner peripheral wall 12a of the chamber 5. The second module 8b includes at least one pair 17 of elements 15a, 15b that generate a magnetic field, the elements 15a, 15b are arranged facing each other and are respectively located on the outer peripheral wall 18c of the case 6 of the watch 3 and the inner peripheral wall 12a of the chamber 5 of the housing 4.

[0041] In both modules 8a, 8b, the elements 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b are passive magnetic field sources, such as magnets, in particular permanent magnets.

[0042] In an alternative, these elements 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b can be active magnetic field sources, such as electromagnets. In this context, the Dewar device 1 can therefore include a battery and a microcontroller, which includes hardware and software elements for controlling these electromagnets. In addition, in this configuration, the housing 4 can be free of stop members 9a, 9b, 9c.

[0043] In the first magnetic module 8a and the second magnetic module 8b, each of these pairs 16a, 16b, 17 of elements 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b generating a magnetic field comprises parts arranged facing each other, these parts comprising magnetic poles having the same polarity. In this configuration, the magnetic poles of the elements 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b of each pair repel each other, thus causing the above-mentioned separation between the entire outer surface of the case 6 of the watch 3 and a set of elements 10a, 10b, 10c of the housing 4 defining said chamber 5 of the housing 4.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown, the fastening device 7 also comprises at least one stop member 9a, 9b, 9c capable of participating, together with the first and second magnetic modules 8a, 8b, in retaining the case 6 in the chamber 5 of the housing 4. In fact, such a stop member 9a, 9b, 9c is capable of replacing or completing the retention / fastening of the case 6 in the chamber 5 ensured by the first and second modules 8a, 8b, in particular when the housing 4 is subjected to sudden / violent / sudden accelerations, decelerations and / or changes of direction, for example during an impact. In this configuration, this member is capable of coming into contact with the upper surface 18a and / or the lower surface 18b and / or the peripheral wall 18c of the intermediate piece of the case 6, as long as the retention / fastening ensured by the first and / or second modules 8a, 8b is not sufficient to maintain the separation between the case 6 and the set of elements 10a, 10b, 10c of the housing 4 forming the chamber 5. The stop members 9a, 9b, 9c are preferably made of a material having good thermal insulation properties and characteristics, such as a material made of cork oak, made of polyurethane (in the form of foam or board) and / or made of glass foam.

[0045] The stopper member is arranged on all or part of the inner peripheral wall 12a of the chamber 5 and / or the first inner surface 12b of the chamber 5 including the lens 10a of the housing 4 and / or the second inner surface 12c of the chamber 5 including the bottom 10b of the housing 4.

[0046] refer to Figure 1 In this embodiment, the fastening device 7 includes a plurality of stopper members 9a, 9b, 9c respectively arranged on all or part of the inner peripheral wall 12a, the first inner surface 12b and the second inner surface 12c of the chamber 5. More specifically, the fastening device 7 includes three stopper members 9a, 9b, 9c.

[0047] The first member 9a is arranged on the first inner surface 12b and extends completely or partially around the lens 10a of the housing 4 in a continuous or discontinuous manner. In this configuration, such a first member 9a can be located between the magnetic field generating elements 13a of the first pair 16a and the lens 10a of the housing 4. The second member 9b is arranged on the inner peripheral wall 12a of the chamber 5, facing the outer peripheral wall 18c of the case 6 of the watch 3. The third member 9c is arranged on the second inner surface 12c, more specifically on all or part of the bottom, while being positioned to face the lower surface 18b of the case 6 of the watch 3. It should be noted that the contour of the third member 9c can be substantially defined or strictly defined by the magnetic field generating elements 14b of the second pair 16b located on the second inner surface 12c.

[0048] Furthermore, it should be noted that the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch may be non-magnetic and / or the case 4 of the watch may be made of a material or be covered with a coating allowing these components 2 to be isolated from magnetic fields.

[0049] In addition, the fastening device 7 helps to set the case 6 of the watch 3 in the housing 4 in such a way that the watch mirror 11 of the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged to face the lens 10a of the housing 4, so that the user wearing the Dewar device 1 can see the dial and / or information contained on the display interface of the watch 3 through the transparent lens 10a of the housing 4.

[0050] Thus, such a Dewar device 1 provides very good thermal insulation of the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3 with respect to the external environment, by reducing or even preventing the heat losses caused by the radiation of the components arranged in the case 6 for a long time. Thus, when the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, typically of the order of -125°C to +125°C, the temperature inside the chamber 5 remains substantially equal to the temperature in the case 6 of the watch 3 during its arrangement in the housing 4, typically of the order of 20°C. It should be noted that, whatever the temperature conditions in the environment of the Dewar device 1, the temperature in the case 6 of the watch 3 is a temperature that does not prevent the normal operation of the watch. The above temperature is maintained for a time that is 5 to 18 times greater than the time that the case would be able to maintain the operating temperature of its components 2 if it were directly placed in such an environment of particularly extreme temperature, that is to say outside the housing of the Dewar device. It can therefore be understood that such a configuration allows the protection of the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3 and contributes to ensuring that they operate in an optimal manner under extreme external temperature conditions.

Claims

1. A Dewar device (1) for at least one of the mechanical and functional components (2) of a watch (3), the Dewar device (1) being provided with a wristband and a housing (4), the housing (4) comprising: - a chamber (5) in which the case (6) of the watch (3) can be arranged in a removable manner, and - a fastening device (7) for reversibly fastening the case (6) of the watch (3) by magnetically suspending it in the chamber (5), the fastening device (7) constituting the separation between the case (6) and a set of elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the housing (4) forming the chamber (5), Wherein, the fastening device (7) includes a second magnetic module (8b), which is used to adjust and maintain the radial position of the case (6) of the watch (3) in the chamber (5) of the outer shell (4) relative to the inner wall (12a) of the chamber (5), and the radial position is defined with respect to the central axis (X) of the outer shell (4).

2. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fastening device (7) comprises two magnetic modules (8a, 8b) and at least one stopping member (9a, 9b, 9c), wherein the two magnetic modules (8a, 8b) include the second magnetic module (8b).

3. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fastening device (7) includes a first magnetic module (8a) for adjusting and maintaining the axial position of the case (6) of the watch (3) in the chamber (5) relative to at least one of the lens (10a) and the bottom (10b) of the housing (4), wherein the axial position is defined with respect to the central axis (X) of the housing (4).

4. A Dewar device (1) for at least one of the mechanical and functional components (2) of a watch (3), the Dewar device (1) being provided with a wristband and a housing (4), the housing (4) comprising: - a chamber (5) in which the case (6) of the watch (3) can be arranged in a removable manner, and - a fastening device (7) for reversibly fastening the case (6) of the watch (3) by magnetically suspending it in the chamber (5), the fastening device (7) constituting the separation between the case (6) and a set of elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the housing (4) forming the chamber (5), The fastening device (7) comprises a first magnetic module (8a), the first magnetic module (8a) comprises at least two pairs (16a, 16b) of elements (13a, 13b, 14a, 14b) generating a magnetic field, the at least two pairs comprising: - a first pair (16a) of elements (13a, 13b) generating a magnetic field arranged facing each other and located respectively on the upper surface (18a) of the case (6) of the watch (3) and on the first inner surface (12b) of the chamber (5) including the lens (10a) of the housing (4); - a second pair (16b) of elements (14a, 14b) generating a magnetic field arranged facing each other and located respectively on a lower surface (18b) of the case (6) including the bottom of the watch (3) and a second inner surface (12c) of the chamber (5) including the bottom (10b) of the outer shell (4).

5. A Dewar device (1) for at least one of the mechanical and functional components (2) of a watch (3), the Dewar device (1) being provided with a wristband and a housing (4), the housing (4) comprising: - a chamber (5) in which the case (6) of the watch (3) can be arranged in a removable manner, and - a fastening device (7) for reversibly fastening the case (6) of the watch (3) by magnetically suspending it in the chamber (5), the fastening device (7) constituting the separation between the case (6) and a set of elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the housing (4) forming the chamber (5), Wherein, the fastening device (7) includes a second magnetic module (8b), the second magnetic module (8b) includes at least a pair (17) of elements (15a, 15b) generating a magnetic field, the elements (15a, 15b) generating a magnetic field of the second magnetic module (8b) are arranged facing each other and are respectively located on the outer peripheral wall (18c) of the case (6) of the watch (3) and the inner peripheral wall (12a) of the chamber (5) of the outer shell (4).

6. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fastening device (7) comprises two magnetic modules (8a, 8b), the two magnetic modules (8a, 8b) comprising the second magnetic module (8b), and the two magnetic modules (8a, 8b) comprising a plurality of pairs of elements generating a magnetic field, wherein each pair of elements generating a magnetic field (13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) in these pairs (16a, 16b, 17) comprises components arranged facing each other, the components comprising magnetic poles having the same polarity.

7. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fastening device (7) includes at least one stop member (9a, 9b, 9c), and the at least one stop member (9a, 9b, 9c) is arranged on all or part of at least one of the inner peripheral wall (12a) of the chamber (5), the first inner surface (12b) of the chamber (5) including the lens (10a) of the housing (4), and the second inner surface (12c) of the chamber (5) including the bottom (10b) of the housing (4).

8. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fastening device (7) includes a plurality of stop members (9a, 9b, 9c), and the stop members (9a, 9b, 9c) are respectively arranged on all or part of an inner peripheral wall (12a) of the chamber (5), a first inner surface (12b) of the chamber (5) including the lens (10a) of the housing (4), and a second inner surface (12c) of the chamber (5) including the bottom (10b) of the housing (4).

9. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The chamber (5) is in a vacuum state.

10. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (4) comprises a lens (10a) having a surface area greater than a surface area of ​​a mirror (11) of a watch case (6) of the watch (3).

11. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the watch case (6) of the watch (3) is arranged in the chamber (5), the watch mirror (11) of the watch case (6) of the watch (3) is arranged to face the lens (10a) of the housing (4).

12. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Dewar device comprises a middle piece (10c), and the wrist strap is fastened to the middle piece (10c).

13. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The set of elements of the housing (4) forming the chamber (5) includes a lens (10a) of the housing (4), an inner peripheral wall (12a) of an intermediate piece (10c), and a bottom (10b).

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