Timepiece Carroelement comprising two ball bearings

Abstract

The invention relates to a Carroelement (1) for a timepiece movement (10), comprising an inertial mass (3), a guide, an elastic reset element (4) for resetting the inertial mass, the elastic reset element being configured to oscillate the inertial mass in a plane, and an escapement mechanism (25) cooperating with the inertial mass, the invention relates to a caso for a timepiece movement, comprising a rotatable cage (2) inside which an inertial mass, a guide, an elastic reset element and an escapement are arranged, said caso comprising a first ball bearing (30) allowing the cage (2) to be rotatable when mounted in the timepiece movement, and a second ball bearing (31) allowing the escapement (25) to be actuated, the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing are basically arranged in the same plane. The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a Carroelement, and to a timepiece comprising such a timepiece movement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of carrousels for timepiece movements, said carrousels comprising two ball bearings.

[0002] The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such a carrousel, and a watch comprising such a movement. Background Art

[0003] Today, most mechanical watches are equipped with a regulating organ that includes a balance-spring system and a Swiss lever escapement. The balance-spring system forms the time base of the watch. It is also called a resonator.

[0004] The escapement has two main functions:

[0005] -Maintain the reciprocating motion of the resonator;

[0006] - These reciprocating movements are counted.

[0007] The construction of a mechanical resonator requires an inertial mass, a guide and an elastic return element. Traditionally, a hairspring acts as an elastic return element for an inertial mass, which is constituted, for example, by a balance wheel. The balance wheel is guided in rotation by a pivot rotating in a flat ruby ​​bearing.

[0008] In order to reduce the adverse effects of gravity on the movement of the regulating organ, there are complex devices of the tourbillon or carrousel type, which make the regulating organ rotate about one axis. These complex devices also have a special aesthetic appeal, giving the timepiece a unique appeal.

[0009] In a tourbillon, the escapement is arranged in series with the cage rotation mechanism. Generally speaking, the drive device of the movement drives the cage to rotate, and the rotation of the cage in turn causes the escapement to be actuated. The escapement engages with the fixed wheel of the movement to be actuated.

[0010] The carrousel works differently, as the drive produces both the actuation of the cage rotation and the actuation of the escapement at the same time. Therefore, unlike a tourbillon, even if the cage is prevented from rotating, the escapement can still be operated, albeit at a different frequency.

[0011] Furthermore, to prevent the cage from spinning idly when the barrel is unloaded, the Carrousel includes a retaining gear train for retaining the cage.

[0012] In the case of a carrousel, the cage generally has a toothing, for example a peripheral toothing, which meshes with a first gear train that can be actuated by the barrel.

[0013] To allow the cage to rotate, the tourbillon or carrousel uses ball bearings to connect the cage to the frame of the regulating mechanism so that the cage can rotate relative to the frame.

[0014] The escapement usually includes an intermediate wheel set driven by a second gear train that can be actuated by the barrel. The intermediate wheel set includes a pinion arranged below the cage and a rotating arbour on which the pinion is mounted. Both ends of the arbour are held in bearings, allowing the arbour to rotate and drive the intermediate wheel set.

[0015] However, this carrousel watch is very thick and requires a movement and timepiece of sufficient size to accommodate it. Therefore, this feature prevents it from being integrated into certain smaller movements, or at least into thin movements, or into movements with a specific configuration. Summary of the invention

[0016] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantages and provide a carousel with a smaller thickness than the carousel of the prior art.

[0017] To this end, the present invention relates to a carrousel for a watch movement, the carrousel comprising an inertial mass body, a guide, an elastic reset element for resetting the inertial mass body, and an escapement mechanism cooperating with the inertial mass body, wherein the elastic reset element is configured to cause the inertial mass body to oscillate within a plane, the carrousel comprising a rotatably mounted cage, the inertial mass body, the guide, the elastic reset element and the escapement mechanism being arranged inside the cage, the carrousel comprising a first ball bearing and a second ball bearing, the first ball bearing allowing the cage to rotate when installed in the watch movement, and the second ball bearing allowing the escapement mechanism to be actuated.

[0018] The movement is characterized in that the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing are arranged substantially in the same plane.

[0019] Therefore, the carrousel is thinner because the second ball bearing eliminates the need for a bearing at the end of the intermediate wheel set spindle, thereby making the carrousel take up less space. In addition, since the two ball bearings are located in the same plane, the carrousel is further thinner.

[0020] Thanks to the invention, this carousel can be adapted to smaller, in particular thinner, movements.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing are coaxial.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the second ball bearing is arranged concentrically inside the first ball bearing.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the carrousel comprises a bearing support comprising the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing.

[0024] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bearing support is arranged below the cage.

[0025] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the cage comprises an upper frame and a lower frame, and the bearing support is arranged below the lower frame.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bearing support comprises a first element, preferably an outer element, which is mounted integrally with the cage.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bearing support comprises a second element, preferably an intermediate element, mounted integrally with the plate of the movement.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bearing support comprises a third element, preferably an internal element, mounted integrally with the arbour actuating the escapement.

[0029] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first element and the second element are connected via a first ball bearing.

[0030] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the third element and the second element are connected via a second ball bearing.

[0031] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first element, the second element and the third element are arranged in the same plane as the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing.

[0032] The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising a plate configured to support other components of the movement and comprising a drive device provided with a gear train, and such a carrousel.

[0033] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the carousel is installed at a certain angle to the machine plate.

[0034] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a timepiece movement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent by reading several embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, in which:

[0036] - Figure 1 Schematically showing a side view of a part of a first embodiment of a timepiece movement comprising a carrousel according to the invention,

[0037] - Figure 2 Schematically shows Figure 1 Perspective top view of the watch movement parts in

[0038] - Figure 3 Schematically showing a perspective bottom view of an embodiment of a carrousel according to the present invention,

[0039] - Figure 4 Schematically showing a perspective top view of this embodiment of a carrousel according to the invention,

[0040] - Figure 5 Schematically showing a top view of this embodiment of a carrousel according to the present invention,

[0041] - Figure 6 Schematically showing a top view of this embodiment of a carrousel according to the present invention,

[0042] - Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of this embodiment of the carrousel according to the present invention is schematically shown,

[0043] - Figure 8 Schematically showing a perspective top view of a part of a second embodiment of a timepiece movement comprising a carrousel according to the invention,

[0044] - Fig. 9 Schematically shows Figure 8 A perspective top view of a portion of a clock movement in

[0045] - Fig.10 Schematically shows Figure 8 Perspective bottom view of part of a clock movement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The present invention relates to a carrousel 1, which is intended to be installed in a watch movement 10. Figure 1 and 2 The middle part shows a first embodiment of such a watch movement 10. Such a watch movement 10 generally comprises a plate (not shown in the figure), which extends substantially in one plane and is configured to support various components of the watch movement 10. In this embodiment, the carousel 1 is flatly mounted on the plate.

[0047] Furthermore, the timepiece movement 10 includes a drive device including a barrel 13 , and a gear train 12 connecting the barrel 13 to the carrousel 1 .

[0048] In this embodiment, the gear train 12 includes two gears 33, 34 and a gear pair 35, which combines stacked wheels 36 and pinions 37. The first wheel 33 is driven by the outer teeth 38 of the barrel 13 and meshes with the pinion 37 of the gear pair 35. The wheel 36 of the gear pair 35 meshes with the second wheel 34, which is called the second driving wheel, which drives the carrousel 1 via the first axial pinion 18.

[0049] In order to control the rotation of the cage 2 and prevent the cage 2 from rotating freely, the carrousel 1 includes a holding gear train 40 for holding the cage 2. The holding gear train 40 is arranged outside the cage 2 of the carrousel 1 so as to mesh with the second wheel 34 and the cage 2.

[0050] The holding gear train 40 comprises a second wheel set 39 having two parallel wheels, including an upper wheel 41 and a lower wheel 42. The holding gear train 40 comprises a third connecting wheel set 43 which combines a stacked wheel 44 and a pinion 45 together.

[0051] The upper wheel 41 of the two-wheel wheel set 39 meshes with the outer peripheral tooth portion 46 of the cage 2 , while the lower wheel 42 of the two-wheel wheel set 39 meshes with the wheel 44 of the third connecting wheel set 42 , and the pinion 45 of the third connecting wheel set 43 meshes with the second gear 34 .

[0052] The holding gear train 40 prevents the cage 2 from rotating at a speed exceeding the desired speed. The holding gear train 40 connects the rotation of the cage 2 to the fourth wheel.

[0053] exist Figures 3 to 7 In the figure, the carrousel 1 comprises a carrousel cage 2, in which a mechanical resonator and a Swiss lever escapement 5 are arranged, wherein the mechanical resonator comprises an inertial mass body 3, a guide and an elastic reset element 4.

[0054] The carrousel cage 2 comprises an upper frame 8 and a lower frame 9, which are assembled together by screws 11, in this case there are two screws. A mechanical resonator including an inertial mass body 3, a guide and an elastic reset element and an escapement mechanism are suspended between the upper frame 8 and the lower frame 9.

[0055] According to a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the lower frame 9 is a large circular wheel, which in this case is provided with peripheral teeth 46. In this case, the upper frame 8 includes four arms 14 extending from a central joint 13. Three struts 32 are angularly distributed around the periphery of the carrousel cage 2 to connect the circular wheel to each arm 14.

[0056] exist Figures 3 to 7 In the embodiment, the carrousel 1 comprises an intermediate rod 7 arranged between an upper frame 8 and a lower frame 9. The upper frame 8 is assembled to the intermediate rod 7 by means of first screws 11, which are two in this case and are arranged at the ends of two arms 14 of the upper frame 8. The lower frame 9 is assembled to the intermediate rod 7 by means of second screws 15, which are two in this case and are arranged on two opposite sides of the large wheel of the upper frame 8.

[0057] The inertial mass body 3 is an annular balance wheel, which is arranged on a first axial spindle 16, which is arranged in the middle of the carrousel cage 2. The first axial spindle 16 is substantially perpendicular to the second plane of the inertial mass body.

[0058] The balance wheel is arranged in the upper part of the carrousel cage 2 so that it is visible from the outside. The inertial mass 3 and the first axial spindle 16 are arranged between the intermediate lever and the upper frame 8 .

[0059] The balance wheel is configured to perform a rotational oscillating motion at a predetermined frequency around a first axial arbour 16 inside the carrousel cage 2. The first axial arbour 16 is held by bearings 47, 48 in the intermediate lever 7 and the upper frame 8.

[0060] To actuate the mechanical resonator, a second axial arbour 17, substantially co-linear with the first axial arbour 16, is arranged below the first axial arbour 16. The second axial arbour 17 extends partially below the carrousel cage 2. A first axial pinion 18 is integral with the second axial arbour 17 at its centre, coaxial with the balance wheel and arranged below the carrousel cage 2.

[0061] Below the balance wheel in the carrousel cage 2, the intermediate wheel 19 is integral with the second axial arbour 17. The intermediate wheel 19 meshes with an escape pinion 21 arranged on a third axial arbour 22, which is substantially parallel to the axial arbours 16, 17. The third axial arbour 22 is arranged in the carrousel cage 2. The third axial arbour 22 also holds an escape wheel 25, which is arranged above the escape pinion 21. The third axial arbour 22 is held by bearings 49, 51 in the intermediate lever 7 and the lower frame 9.

[0062] The escape wheel 25 cooperates with a Swiss lever fork 26, which is arranged vertically between the first axial arbour 16 and the outer periphery of the escape wheel 25. The escape fork 26 comprises an elongated body, the first end of which has a fork head configured to cooperate with a pin of the first axial arbour 16, which is associated with the movement of the balance wheel. The second end of the escape fork 26 comprises two fork stones, which are arranged to cooperate with the escape wheel 25, alternately blocking the escape wheel 25 from rotating, thereby rotating the escape wheel 25 in steps. The escape fork 26 is carried by a fourth axial arbour 27 arranged in the carrousel cage 2, which is located between the first axial arbour 16 and the third axial arbour 22.

[0063] By turning the first axial pinion 18, the movement of the escape wheel 25, the pallet fork 26 and the balance wheel can be actuated via the intermediate wheel 19 and the escape pinion 21 (which rotates the third axial arbour 22). When the first axial pinion 18 rotates, the cage 2 is also actuated to rotate, because the force applied to the first axial pinion 18 is divided between the escapement mechanism and the rotation of the cage 2 of the carrousel 1.

[0064] Carrousel cage 2 is mounted so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation by means of a first ball bearing 30 . Furthermore, carrousel 1 comprises a second ball bearing 31 for actuating escapement 25 .

[0065] According to the present invention, the first ball bearing 30 and the second ball bearing 31 are arranged at substantially the same height, that is, arranged in the same plane. This reduces the thickness of the carousel 1 compared to the conventional carousel.

[0066] Furthermore, the second ball bearing 31 is concentrically arranged inside the first ball bearing 30. Preferably, the first ball bearing 30 and the second ball bearing 31 are coaxial.

[0067] To this end, carrousel 1 comprises a bearing support 20 arranged below carrousel cage 2, bearing support 20 provided with a first ball bearing 30 and a second ball bearing 31. Bearing support 20 is intended to be at least partially secured in timepiece movement 10 when carrousel 1 is mounted, for example, on a plate or directly on a plate.

[0068] The bearing support 20 comprises a first element 23, preferably an external element, which is intended to be mounted integrally with the cage 2. The first element 23 is assembled to the lower frame 9 of the cage 2, in this case below the large wheel, for example by means of one or more screws or by fitting studs into orifices.

[0069] Bearing support 20 comprises a second element 24, preferably an intermediate element, intended to be mounted integrally with a plate of movement 10. Second element 24 may be fastened to the bridge or plate by conventional fastening means.

[0070] The bearing support 20 comprises a third element 29, preferably an internal element, intended to be mounted integrally with the second axial arbour 17 actuating the escapement 25. The second axial arbour 17 is fitted through the third element 29, preferably at its centre. The second axial arbour 1 is partially held in the carrousel cage 2 between the intermediate lever 7 and the lower frame 9 by the third element 29 and is partially located below the carrousel cage 2.

[0071] The three elements 23 , 24 , 29 are, for example, substantially circular and annular.

[0072] The first element 23 and the second element 24 are movably connected to each other via a first ball bearing 30 , and the third element 29 and the second element 24 are movably connected to each other via a second ball bearing 31 .

[0073] Each ball bearing comprises movable balls, which are arranged between the first element 23 and the second element 24 for the first ball bearing 30 and between the third element 29 and the second element 24 for the second ball bearing 31 .

[0074] When carrousel 1 is mounted in movement 10, first element 23 is movable relative to the plate because it rotates with cage 2. The second element is fixed relative to the plate because it is assembled in movement 10. Third element 29 is movable relative to the plate because it rotates with the second axial arbour 17 of the carrousel.

[0075] The first element 23 , the second element 24 and the third element 29 are preferably arranged in the same plane as the first ball bearing 30 and the second ball bearing 31 .

[0076] Thus, when the first axial pinion 18 is driven by the second wheel 34, the second axial spindle 17 can rotate relative to the base plate due to the second ball bearing 31 and the bearing support 20. Furthermore, due to the first ball bearing 30 and the bearing support 20, the carrousel cage 2 can rotate relative to the base plate.

[0077] Figures 8 to 10 A second embodiment of a timepiece movement 50 including such a carousel 70 is shown, wherein the carousel 70 is mounted at an angle to the plate 52 .

[0078] In other words, unlike the first embodiment of the watch movement 10, in which the rotation axis of the carousel forms an angle substantially equal to 90° with the plane of the plate, the angle here is less than 90°. This angle is, for example, between 20° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°.

[0079] To this end, the watch movement includes a plate 52 provided with a barrel 13, a first inclined bar splint 61 for supporting the carrousel 70, and a gear train 40 and a gear train 62. The plane where the first inclined bar splint 61 is located forms an angle of not 0° with the plane where the plate 52 is located, and the angle is substantially equal to the angle formed between the rotation axis of the carrousel and the plate 52. The first inclined bar splint 61 is assembled to the plate 52 by conventional fastening means.

[0080] The second inclined bar bridge 66 is arranged above the first inclined bar bridge 61 for suspending the gear train 62 , which is arranged between the two inclined bar bridges 61 , 66 .

[0081] The configurations of the carrousel 70, the gear train 62 and the holding gear train 40 are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0082] According to the present invention, the carrousel 70 thus comprises a first ball bearing 30 and a second ball bearing 31 arranged substantially in the same plane. The thickness of such a carrousel 70 can be limited and is particularly suitable for the case of a tilted carrousel to avoid oversizing. This is because a tilted carrousel 70 takes up more space in terms of height than a flat carrousel.

[0083] In this second embodiment, the upper frame 28 of the carrousel 70 is bent to reduce the volume of the carrousel 70. Therefore, each arm of the upper frame 28 is bent substantially toward the lower frame 9 from the central joint portion of the carrousel 70 to the periphery.

[0084] This configuration of the upper frame 28 also reduces the thickness of the watch movement 50, because the inclined carousel 70 also occupies a large height due to the size of the diagonal cage. Therefore, the curved upper frame 28 reduces the height of the inclined carousel 70.

[0085] The inclined bar bridge 61 is assembled to the plate 52 so that it has a downward slope from the outside of the watch movement toward the center of the plate 52. Therefore, the carrousel 70 is inclined toward the inside of the watch movement 50.

[0086] The gear train 62 includes a third gear 54 , a third gear pair 53 combining a stacked wheel 56 and a pinion 57 , and a fourth gear pair 55 combining a stacked wheel 58 and a pinion 59 .

[0087] Wheel 56 of third gear pair 53 meshes with a third wheel 54 , referred to as second driving wheel, which drives carrousel 70 via first axial pinion 18 .

[0088] Wheel 58 of fourth wheel set 55 meshes with pinion 57 of third wheel set 53 , while pinion 59 of fourth wheel set 55 meshes with an additional gear train 60 connecting barrel 13 to a gear train 62 .

[0089] The additional gear train 60 is mounted on the plate 52 such that the additional gear train 60 is inclined relative to the gear train 62 .

[0090] The additional gear train 60 includes a fourth wheel 63, a fifth wheel 64, and a fifth gear pair 65 combining a stacked wheel 66 and a pinion 67. The fourth wheel 63 is driven by the outer toothing 38 of the barrel 13 and thus meshes with the fifth wheel 64.

[0091] The fifth wheel 64 meshes with the pinion 67 of the fifth gear pair 65 .

[0092] Finally, wheel 66 of fifth gear pair 65 meshes with pinion 59 of fourth gear pair 55 of gear train 62 .

[0093] Due to the additional gear train 60 and the gear train 62, the force of the barrel 13 is transmitted to the carousel 70.

[0094] In addition, the fifth gear pair 65 forms an angle with the fourth gear pair 55. This is because the fifth gear pair 65 is mounted on the movement plate 52, while the fourth gear pair 55 is mounted between the barrel bridges 61, 66.

[0095] The teeth of the wheel of the fifth gear pair 65 and the teeth of the pinion of the fourth gear pair 55 are configured to cooperate with each other, which is achieved, for example, by means of the orientation and the cutting part specific to the inclination between the fifth gear pair 65 and the fourth gear pair 55.

[0096] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and alternative solutions can be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A carrousel for a watch movement (10, 50), the carrousel (1, 70) comprising an inertial mass body (3), a guide, an elastic reset element (4) for resetting the inertial mass body (3), and an escapement mechanism (25) cooperating with the inertial mass body (3), the elastic reset element being configured to cause the inertial mass body (3) to oscillate in a plane, the carrousel (1, 70) comprising a rotatable cage (2), the inertial mass body (3), the guide, the elastic reset element (4) and the escapement mechanism (25) being arranged inside the cage (2), the carrousel (1, 70) comprising a first ball bearing (30) and a second ball bearing (31), the first ball bearing (30) allowing the cage (2) to rotate when installed in the watch movement (10, 50), the second ball bearing (31) allowing the escapement mechanism (25) to be actuated, characterized in that The first ball bearing (30) and the second ball bearing (31) are arranged substantially in the same plane.

2. The carousel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first ball bearing (30) and the second ball bearing (31) are coaxial.

3. The carousel according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second ball bearing (31) is concentrically arranged inside the first ball bearing (30).

4. Carousel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The carrousel comprises a bearing support (20), and the bearing support (20) comprises the first ball bearing (30) and the second ball bearing (31).

5. The carousel according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bearing support (20) is arranged below the cage (2).

6. The carousel according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cage (2) comprises an upper frame (8) and a lower frame (9), and the bearing support (20) is arranged below the lower frame (9).

7. Carousel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The bearing support (20) comprises a first element (23), preferably an outer element, which is mounted integrally with the cage (2).

8. The carousel according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bearing support (20) comprises a second element (24), preferably an intermediate element, which is mounted integrally with a plate of the timepiece movement (10).

9. The carousel according to claim 8, characterized in that: The bearing support (20) comprises a third element (29), preferably an internal element, mounted integrally with an arbour (17) actuating the escapement (25).

10. The carousel according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first element (23) and the second element (24) are connected via the first ball bearing (30).

11. The carousel according to claim 10, characterized in that: The third element (29) and the second element (24) are connected via the second ball bearing (31).

12. The carousel according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that: The first element (23), the second element (24) and the third element (29) are arranged in the same plane as the first ball bearing (30) and the second ball bearing (31).

13. A timepiece movement, comprising a plate (52) configured to support other components of the timepiece movement, the timepiece movement (10, 50) further comprising a drive device provided with a gear train (12, 62), and a carrousel (1, 70) according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. The watch movement according to claim 13, characterized in that: The carrousel (70) is installed at a certain angle to the machine plate (52).

15. A timepiece, characterized in that: The timepiece comprises a timepiece movement according to claim 13 or 14.

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