Timepiece comprising complex functionality on second hand
By designing new complex functional mechanisms in the clock and using the second-hop and subdivided dial, the visual fatigue problem caused by the fast movement speed of the second-hop mechanism in the prior art is solved, and the precise minute-second display of the second-hop is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411099206.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-08-11
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-18
AI Technical Summary
The jumping mechanism in existing clocks moves fast, resulting in visual fatigue and it is difficult to achieve accurate minute and second display of the second hand.
Design a new complex functional mechanism, including the dial of the second jump and the 1-minute subdivision, adjusting the movement of the second jump through the winding mechanism and the release mechanism, ensuring that it marks every second or several seconds in the subdivision.
The precise minute display of the second hand is realized, reducing visual fatigue and providing a new complication to mark time.
Smart Images
Figure CN119472217A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Technical field and prior art
[0002] The invention relates to a timepiece having a mechanical movement providing new functions.
[0003] The movement can be wound manually or automatically.
[0004] Some watches (particularly bracelet watches) include hour, minute and second hands. The second hand can be located in the center and is called a "sweep second", or in a small off-center dial and is called a "small second". The second hand moves intermittently several times per second, depending on the frequency and type of the escapement.
[0005] The deadbeat seconds is a complex gear-and-spring mechanism that ensures the seconds hand moves only once per second. Therefore, it jumps once per second.
[0006] There is also a complication called a "diablotine" that ensures that the seconds hand rotates once around its own axis every second. Usually, the seconds display is divided into several sections. Between these sections, the hand of the complication jumps forward continuously. The jumping seconds thus subdivides the second into, for example, a quarter, a fifth or even a tenth of a second and thus displays exact fractions of a second. The movement of this complication is therefore very fast and can over time cause "eye fatigue" in the wearer of the watch.
[0007] Brief description of the invention
[0008] One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a new complication indicating the seconds and not offering the above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0009] The above object is achieved by a timepiece comprising a jumping seconds hand and a dial, the dial being a subdivision of 1 minute, the jumping seconds hand marking each second or several seconds. The time portion displayed by the dial is equal to 60 / n, n being an integer strictly greater than 1, and making the ratio 60 / n also an integer. The dial may include a subdivision corresponding to a complete rotation of the jumping seconds hand.
[0010] The jumping seconds hand marks every second or several seconds. Because it moves more slowly than the hand of a jumping seconds mechanism, it does not cause the eye fatigue that you might experience with a jumping seconds hand.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the mechanism of the complex function includes: a winding mechanism that supplies energy to the jumping seconds hand, and a release mechanism for releasing said energy, which releases the energy and allows the jumping seconds hand to move in a single stroke over a large angle; this movement can be likened to a jumping seconds mechanism, although different in nature and structure.
[0012] The winding mechanism may include a spring tensioned by the seconds hand gear.
[0013] Advantageously, the release mechanism uses a regulator member of the motion transmission mechanism to regulate the release of energy via the movement of the stop element and the deadbeat seconds hand.
[0014] Then, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a gear-spring movement including a dial, an hour indicator and a minute indicator mounted to rotate on a clock axle, an offset dial, and a jumping second hand mounted in the offset dial, the gear-spring movement including a barrel, a transmission assembly driving the hour indicator and the minute indicator, a distribution member, a regulator member including an escapement mobile, and a complication mechanism, the transmission assembly including a second hand mobile, the second hand mobile including a second hand gear which is set in rotation by the barrel and which meshes with a pinion of the escapement mobile. The offset dial represents subdivisions of one minute, and the complication mechanism is configured to move the jumping second hand so that the jumping second hand marks every second or every p seconds in the subdivisions, p being an integer strictly greater than 1 and a factor of 60.
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the complication mechanism comprises a jumping seconds mobile carrying a jumping seconds hand, which is engaged with a winding device configured to store energy, the winding device being engaged with the seconds hand gear and with a release device for engaging with the escapement mechanism mobile to release the energy.
[0016] The winding device advantageously comprises an intermediate winding mobile, an intermediate winding gear, the intermediate winding pinion of which meshes with the seconds gear, the intermediate winding gear meshing with the jumping seconds pinion, and a hairspring intended to be tightened by the intermediate winding mobile.
[0017] For example, the balance spring is a spring (eg a spiral spring), a first end of which is caught on the arbour of the intermediate winding pinion and a second end of which is caught on the intermediate winding gear.
[0018] According to one example embodiment, the release device comprises a whip rotationally fixed to a pinion meshing directly or indirectly with the jumping seconds mobile, said whip engaging a stop element carried by the escapement mobile and forming a stop for the whip.
[0019] The stop element may comprise a star comprising branches, such that the ends of the quick-acting piece abut against the faces of the branches and are released from the branches each time the escapement moves and abuts against the next branch.
[0020] According to another feature, the timepiece comprises an intermediate gear between the deadbeat seconds mobile and the release device, comprising the same number of teeth as the gear of the deadbeat seconds mobile and meshing with the pinion of the release device.
[0021] According to another feature, the timepiece comprises a brake designed to prevent rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the seconds wheel. The brake may engage directly with the teeth of the seconds wheel or with a mobile meshing with the seconds wheel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The invention will be better understood using the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] - Figure 1 is a front view of an example timepiece according to the invention in a first position,
[0025] - Figure 2 is an example clock according to the present invention in a chronological order following Figure 1 The front view of the position of
[0026] - Figure 3 is an example clock according to the present invention in a chronological order following Figure 2 The front view of the position of
[0027] - Figure 4 is Figures 1 to 3 A perspective view of an example of a mechanism implemented in a timepiece of
[0028] - Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Institutions in Figure 1 The top view of the clock position,
[0029] - Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The mechanism is in place until the jumping seconds hand is already Figure 2 Location and Figure 1 The top view after passing through the positions of
[0030] - Figure 7 is a perspective view of an example timepiece according to the present invention.
[0031] Detailed Description of the Invention
[0032] Figure 7 An example embodiment of a timepiece including a complication according to the invention is shown. The timepiece comprises a case B comprising a case centre C, a bottom cover (not visible) and a crystal G. Inside the case, the timepiece comprises a dial CA, a clockwork (in Figure 1 ), an hour indicator or hour hand 2, and a minute indicator or minute hand 4. The hour indicator 2 and the minute indicator 4 are mounted to rotate about the axis of the timepiece. The timepiece also includes an offset dial CAE formed on the dial CA, on which a hand 6 rotates, which is called a jumping seconds hand 6. In this example and without limitation, the timepiece also includes a seconds hand 8 mounted rotatably about the axis X of the timepiece.
[0033] The offset dial CAE can occupy any position on the dial CA.
[0034] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 Dial CA is shown with the seconds hand and jumping seconds hand in different positions.
[0035] The gear-spring mechanism is the mechanical drive system for the hands. Clocks can be wound automatically or manually.
[0036] The invention relates more specifically to a gear-spring mechanism. Gear-spring mechanism M comprises a barrel having axis X, a transmission assembly driving indicators 2, 4, 8, a distribution member, a corrector member and a complication mechanism MC. All the elements of the mechanism are mounted on a support plate.
[0037] The transmission assembly driving the indicator will not be described in detail, nor will the dispensing member or corrector member be described in detail, as these are well known to those skilled in the art.
[0038] The transmission assembly specifically comprises a second hand mobile part, and this second hand mobile part comprises a second hand gear 14, and this second hand gear 14 is arranged to be rotated by the mainspring drum through the center mobile part and the third gear and pinion. In addition, the second hand gear meshes with the pinion of the escapement mechanism mobile part.
[0039] Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 An example complication mechanism MC according to the invention is shown in perspective top views in different positions.
[0040] The complex function mechanism MC includes a winding system A1 for the jumping seconds hand and a release system L1 for the jumping seconds hand.
[0041] Winding system A1 is activated by seconds hand gear 14.
[0042] Winding system A1 includes an intermediate winding mobile 16 including an intermediate pinion 18 meshing with seconds hand gear 14, and an intermediate winding gear 20. Intermediate pinion 18 includes a shaft 19 mounted around axis X2.
[0043] The winding system A1 also includes a hairspring 22. The hairspring 22 is clamped on the shaft 19 of the intermediate pinion 18 by a first end 22.1 ( Figure 4), and is clipped onto the intermediate winding gear 20 by means of the second end 22.2. The attachment onto the intermediate winding gear 20 is done at a point different from the centre of the gear. In the example shown, the second end 22.2 is housed in a slot of a pin 23 which is attached to a spoke of the intermediate winding gear 20 perpendicularly to the plane of the intermediate winding gear 20. Any other attachment means can of course be envisaged.
[0044] In the example shown, the hairspring 22 has a spiral shape wound around the axis X2. The hairspring 22 is, for example, a metal blade similar to a barrel spring. The hairspring 22 is attached and mounted so that the hairspring 22 is loaded when the seconds hand gear rotates the intermediate pinion 18. The intermediate winding pinion 18 and the intermediate winding gear 20 are connected to each other by the hairspring 22. Any other type of spring for the hairspring, such as a helical spring, can be envisaged.
[0045] Jumping seconds hand 6 is carried by a jumping seconds mobile 26 having an axis X3 , which comprises a jumping seconds pinion 28 and a jumping seconds wheel 27 , wherein the jumping seconds pinion 28 meshes with intermediate winding wheel 20 .
[0046] Release system L1 includes a device that locks jumping seconds hand 6 in position and releases jumping seconds hand 6 every second. The movement of jumping seconds hand 6 is ensured by the energy stored in balance spring 22.
[0047] In the example shown, release system L1 of jumping seconds hand 6 comprises a release mobile mounted to rotate about axis X4. The release mobile comprises quick mover 29 and pinion 30 meshing with intermediate gear 32 which in turn meshes with the jumping seconds gear.
[0048] It should be noted that an intermediate gear 32 is inserted between the jumping seconds hand gear 27 and the pinion 30 of the quick mover 29 to take into account the opposite directions of rotation of the corrector mobile and the jumping seconds hand mobile. In a variant, the intermediate gear 32 is omitted and the mechanism is adapted to take into account the directions of rotation of the various mobiles.
[0049] Quick-acting member 29 engages with the branches of a planetary gear 33 mounted on an escape wheel (not shown) and distributed around the axis X4 of the escape wheel.
[0050] In the example shown, five branches 34 are implemented. Each branch of the star 33 comprises a flat edge pointing towards the centre of the star 33, the centre of which is aligned with the axis X4.
[0051] The escape wheel (not shown) comprises 25 teeth; the ratio between the teeth of the escape wheel and the branches of star 33 is then 5, which corresponds to the number of seconds indicated by the jumping seconds hand during one revolution of the offset dial.
[0052] The number of teeth on the wheels, pinions and branches is chosen based on the seconds on the jumping seconds dial.
[0053] The mechanism advantageously comprises a brake (not shown) operating on the seconds gear. The brake performs a non-return function to prevent the seconds gear from becoming out of synchronism when the spring of the barrel drum is completely released. For example, the brake comprises a click comprising a brake element provided with a number of teeth and rotatably articulated on a support plate. The brake element meshes with the teeth of the seconds gear and the spring presses the brake element against the periphery of the seconds gear so that the brake element performs a non-return function. Applying a brake to the seconds gear has the advantage of limiting energy losses. However, a mechanism in which the brake is applied to another element of the mechanism does not depart from the scope of the invention.
[0054] In the example shown, the jumping seconds dial comprises five indexes, and the jumping seconds hand performs one rotation of the dial in five seconds.
[0055] The seconds hand performs one rotation in 1 minute; the number of teeth of the various wheels and pinions is selected so that the jumping seconds hand performs one rotation of the offset dial in 5 seconds, ie the jumping seconds hand gear performs 12 rotations in 1 minute.
[0056] Below, we will provide a non-limiting example of the number of teeth of the gears of the mechanism in the case where the jumping seconds hand performs one rotation in 3 seconds.
[0057] The intermediate winding gear 20 performs four rotations in 1 minute, the intermediate gear 32 performs 20 rotations in 1 minute, and the pinion of the quick mover performs 60 rotations in 1 minute.
[0058] For example, the seconds wheel comprises 108 teeth, the intermediate winding wheel 20 comprises 100 teeth, the jumping seconds wheel comprises 30 teeth, the intermediate wheel 32 also comprises 30 teeth, and the pinion of the quick mover comprises 10 teeth. The escape wheel comprises 15 teeth, and the release device of the escape wheel comprises 5 pins.
[0059] In a variant, star 33 is replaced by a device comprising pins attached to the gearwheel and extending parallel to the axis of rotation X4 , these pins being evenly distributed around this axis of rotation X4 .
[0060] The seconds hand gear meshes with the intermediate winding pinion and the escapement mobile. It should be understood that the number of pins, teeth or branches is determined based on the seconds indicated by the jumping seconds gear in the offset dial.
[0061] The operation of the complex function will now be described.
[0062] exist Figure 2 The direction of rotation of the gears is indicated by arrows.
[0063] The clock is wound; the spring of the barrel is then tightened. The spring of the barrel relaxes, driving the barrel of the barrel, which drives the seconds gear 14 via the central mobile and the third gear and pinion.
[0064] Intermediate pinion 18 rotates about axis X2 and drives balance spring 22 through its first end 22.1 attached to shaft 19. Due to the relative rigidity of balance spring 22 and its orientation, the movement of balance spring 22 causes rotation of intermediate winding gear 20. However, since intermediate winding gear 20 meshes with jumping seconds pinion 28, the rotation of which is fixed by quick action 29, which in turn is fixed by teeth 34 of the escapement mobile, intermediate winding gear 20 is fixed in rotation, which results in tensioning of balance spring 22 and storage of energy.
[0065] The seconds gear 14 meshes with the escapement pinion of the escapement mobile. Due to the tooth ratio between the seconds gear and the escapement pinion, the escape wheel pivots so that the end of the quick mover releases one tooth 34 per second. When the quick mover 29 is released, the intermediate gear 32 and the jumping seconds mobile and the intermediate winding gear are released, which causes the energy stored in the hairspring to be released. This released energy causes the intermediate winding gear and the jumping seconds mobile to rotate and, in fact, the jumping seconds hand to rotate. This release of energy ensures the movement of the quick mover, which makes one rotation around its axis and touches the next branch 34 of the escapement mobile. This contact then fixes the jumping seconds mobile. In the example shown, the tooth ratio of the gear to the pinion is such that the jumping seconds hand performs one rotation of the dial in three seconds.
[0066] Since the jumping seconds hand mobile is fixed, the intermediate winding gear 20 is rotationally fixed again, which again allows the hairspring 22 to be tightened until the next release.
[0067] Each time the quick action 29 is released, the intermediate winding pinion 18 rotates at the normal speed imparted by the basic gearing, and the intermediate winding gear 20 rotates intermittently.
[0068] It will be appreciated that jumping seconds hand 6 can perform one rotation of the offset dial in n times, n being an integer factor of 60, such as 3, 6, 12, 15 or 30.
[0069] It is conceivable that the jumping seconds hand does not mark every second, but every p seconds, p being an integer factor of 60, such as 2 or 3. Therefore, it is conceivable that the jumping seconds hand moves once every 2 seconds or every 3 seconds.
[0070] The invention makes it possible to provide a new complication offering a new presentation of the seconds movement in an additional dial.
Claims
1. A timepiece comprising a gear-spring movement, the gear-spring movement comprising a dial (CA), an hour indicator (2) and a minute indicator (4) mounted for rotation on an axis (X) of the timepiece, an offset dial (CAE) and a hand called a "jumping seconds hand" (6) mounted in the offset dial (CAE), the gear-spring movement comprising a barrel, a transmission assembly driving the hour indicator and the minute indicator, a distribution member (10), a regulator member (12) comprising an escapement mobile, and a complication mechanism (MC), the transmission assembly comprising a seconds mobile, the seconds mobile comprising a seconds gear, the seconds gear being set in rotation by the barrel, the seconds gear meshing with a pinion of the escapement mobile, wherein: The offset dial (CAE) indicates subdivisions of one minute, and wherein the complication (MC) is configured to move the jumping seconds hand (6) so that it indicates every second or every p seconds in the subdivisions, p being an integer strictly greater than 1 and a factor of 60.
2. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein: The complication mechanism comprises a jumping seconds mobile carrying the jumping seconds hand (6), the jumping seconds mobile cooperating with a winding device configured to store energy, the winding device cooperating with the seconds hand gear, and with a release device cooperating with the escapement mechanism mobile for releasing the energy.
3. The timepiece according to claim 2, wherein: The winding device comprises an intermediate winding mobile, an intermediate winding gear (20) and a hairspring (22), wherein the intermediate winding pinion (18) of the intermediate winding mobile is meshed with the second hand gear, the intermediate winding gear (20) is meshed with the jumping second hand gear, and the hairspring (22) is intended to be tightened by the intermediate winding gear.
4. The timepiece according to claim 3, wherein: The hairspring (22) is a spring, such as a helical spring, the first end (22.1) of the hairspring being clamped on the shaft (19) of the intermediate winding pinion (18), and the second end (22.2) of the hairspring being clamped on the intermediate winding gear (20).
5. A timepiece according to any one of claims 2, 3 or 4, wherein: The release device comprises a quick-acting member (29) rotationally fixed to a pinion meshing directly or indirectly with the jumping seconds mobile, the quick-acting member (29) engaging with a stop element carried by the escapement mobile and forming a stop for the quick-acting member (19).
6. The timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The stop element comprises a star (33) comprising branches so that the end of the quick-acting piece (19) abuts against the face of a branch (34) and is released from the branch (34) each time the escapement moves and abuts against the next branch (34).
7. The timepiece according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising an intermediate gear between the jumping seconds hand moving member and the release device, the intermediate gear comprising the same number of teeth as the gear of the jumping seconds hand moving member, and the intermediate gear meshing with the pinion of the release device.
8. The timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a brake designed to prevent rotation in a direction opposite to the running direction of the seconds hand gear.
9. The timepiece according to claim 8, wherein: The brake engages directly with the teeth of the seconds hand gear, or engages with a moving member meshing with the seconds hand gear.