One-piece dual ring gear set for timepiece movement
By using a single-piece double-ring gear set in the watch movement, the problems of size increase, jitter and energy consumption increased due to complex structures in the prior art are solved, and a compact, efficient and stable watch movement design is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411869603.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-21
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-18
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-24
AI Technical Summary
When existing watch movements add complex structures, the size increases, the gap between gears leads to jitter and energy consumption, and the solution of flexible ring gears is complex and cannot reduce the movement size.
A single-piece double-ring gear set is used, and the number of teeth of the first ring gear is an integer multiple of the number of teeth of the second ring gear. This gear set realizes dual functions, ensuring perfect alignment between the ring gear levels, and reducing the number of gear sets in the gear train.
A watch movement with complex structures is achieved in a compact space, reducing the clearance between gears, reducing energy consumption, and improving the stability of the movement.
Smart Images
Figure CN120195950A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a watch movement, and more particularly to the gear train of a watch movement, such as the gear train of a watch complication that allows additional information to be displayed on the basis of a running gear train.
[0002] The present invention more particularly relates to a single-piece double-toothed ring gear set that provides a dual function for a watch movement.
[0003] The present invention further relates to a watch movement including such a single-piece double-toothed ring gear set.
[0004] The present invention further relates to a timepiece, such as a wristwatch, that includes a watch movement having such a single-piece double-toothed ring gear set. Background Art
[0005] In watchmaking, it is not uncommon to propose watch movements having complications, which are, for example, a calendar mechanism or a moon phase mechanism, that include a drive gear train associated with these complications and are kinematically driven by the running gear train of the watch movement.
[0006] Such a drive gear train includes a plurality of gear sets that provide the necessary gear reduction from the running gear train. Some complications also require the use of a pointer positioning lever that is associated with a specific gear in the drive gear train to ensure that the display remains in a stable position and, if necessary, to compensate for the play between the gears.
[0007] Increasing the number of gear sets in a watch movement increases the size of the watch movement, which is always problematic since the watch movement should ideally occupy as little space as possible.
[0008] Furthermore, increasing the number of gear sets in the drive gear train means increasing the number of gears and thus increasing the play between the gears, which results from an increase in the tolerance chain between the running gear train and the display of the complication, and this can lead to jitter or an uncertain display.
[0009] Finally, increasing the number of gears in the gear train also increases the energy consumption of the watch movement.
[0010] To avoid such unwanted play, gear sets with so-called flexible toothed rings are used in order to compensate for certain amounts of play in the drive gear train. However, these solutions are complex to manufacture and implement. Furthermore, they do not allow the size of the watch movement to be reduced.
[0011] Therefore, there is a need to improve watch movements including complications. Summary of the Invention
[0012] In this context, the present invention relates to a one-piece gear set, said one-piece gear set comprising a first toothed ring formed on the outer periphery of a first platform and a second toothed ring formed on the outer periphery of a second platform integral with the first platform, characterized in that the number of teeth included in the first toothed ring is an integer multiple of the number of teeth of the second toothed ring.
[0013] This type of one-piece gear set may thus achieve a dual function by providing toothed rings on multiple levels.
[0014] This type of one-piece gear set ensures perfect alignment between the two toothed ring levels, thus eliminating alignment problems when mounting multiple gears on the same gear set shaft.
[0015] Preferably, the first level of the one-piece gear set is configured to cooperate with a positioning rod, while the second level of the one-piece gear set is configured to kinematically link with a drive gear (e.g., a gear kinematically linked to a running gear train). Thus, this one-piece gear set makes it possible to reduce the number of gear sets in a gear train by combining multiple functions with a single one-piece gear set.
[0016] In addition to the features mentioned in the above paragraphs, the one-piece gear set according to the present invention may also have one or more of the following supplementary features, which may be considered individually or in any technically possible combination:
[0017] - The first toothed ring is configured to mesh with a toothed drive gear;
[0018] - The second toothed ring is configured to cooperate with a positioning rod to indicate the position of said one-piece gear set in a stepwise manner;
[0019] - The number of teeth in the second toothed ring corresponds to the number of steps experienced by the one-piece gear set being driven to complete one full rotation;
[0020] - The teeth in the second toothed ring are aligned with the teeth in the first toothed ring;
[0021] - The teeth in the second toothed ring are continuously spaced from certain teeth in the first toothed ring, said spacing corresponding to the ratio between the number of teeth in the first toothed ring and the number of teeth in the second toothed ring;
[0022] - The one-piece gear set is made of metal, metal alloy or ceramic material;
[0023] - The one-piece gear set is obtained by milling.
[0024] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a watch movement, said watch movement comprising a one-piece gear set according to the present invention. Such a one-piece gear set may be part of, for example, a gear train driving a complex structure display.
[0025] Preferably, the clock movement includes a running train for displaying time information and a secondary drive train for displaying additional information, the secondary drive train meshing with the running train, and the one-piece gear set belonging to the secondary drive train.
[0026] Preferably, the secondary drive train includes a positioning rod cooperating with the second toothed ring of the one-piece gear set, and the first toothed ring of the one-piece gear set cooperates with a toothed drive gear belonging to the running train or the secondary drive train.
[0027] The present invention further relates to a timepiece, which includes a clock movement according to the present invention.
[0028] The timepiece is, for example, a wristwatch, which includes a case configured to receive and accommodate the clock movement according to the present invention. Description of the Drawings
[0029] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description given with reference to the following drawings:
[0030] - Figure 1 is a top view schematically illustrating the one-piece double-toothed ring gear set according to the present invention in the drive train of a clock movement;
[0031] - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the one-piece double-toothed ring gear set shown in Figure 1 in the drive train of a clock movement;
[0032] - Figure 3 is a schematic view of a timepiece including a clock movement according to the present invention;
[0033] - Figure 4 is a block diagram of a timepiece including a clock movement according to the present invention.
[0034] In all the drawings, unless otherwise specified, common elements carry the same reference numerals. Detailed Description of the Embodiments
[0035] Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 a timepiece 200, for example a wristwatch, is proposed according to the present invention, which includes a clock movement 100 according to the present invention.
[0036] The clock movement 100 is installed in the case 10 of the timepiece 200.
[0037] Referring to Figure 4 the clock movement 100 includes a running train 400 for displaying time information.
[0038] The timepiece movement 100 further includes a secondary drive train 300 which is configured to allow the display of additional information, such as the date, calendar-related information, or more generally information related to solar or lunar cycles.
[0039] The secondary drive train 300 is kinematically linked to the running train 400. More particularly, the secondary drive train 300 is kinematically linked to the gear train of the running train 400. For example, the secondary drive train 300 may be kinematically linked and meshed with a gear that rotates once every 12 hours or with a gear that rotates once every 24 hours.
[0040] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The secondary drive train 300 includes a one-piece double-toothed ring gear set 20 which allows the performance of a dual function and at the same time provides a compact solution.
[0041] The one-piece gear set 20 includes a first toothed ring 203 formed on the outer periphery of a first platform 201 and a second toothed ring 204 formed on the outer periphery of a second platform 202 integral with the first platform 201.
[0042] The one-piece gear set 20 is rigidly connected to a shaft or arbor so that it can pivot about a rotation axis A.
[0043] The number of teeth of the first toothed ring 203 of the one-piece gear set 20 is an integer multiple of the number of teeth of the second toothed ring 204.
[0044] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first toothed ring 203 has 36 teeth while the second toothed ring 204 has 12 teeth. In this example, the ratio between the two toothed rings 203, 204 of the one-piece gear set is 3. The ratio between the two toothed rings can be adjusted according to requirements and the number of steps required to complete a full rotation.
[0045] The number of teeth in the second toothed ring 204 corresponds to the number of steps experienced by the one-piece gear set 20 to be driven to complete a full rotation.
[0046] The one-piece gear set 20 is rotated by a toothed drive gear 40 which is configured to cooperate with the first toothed ring 203.
[0047] The toothed drive gear 40 may belong to the secondary drive train or to the running train 400.
[0048] Preferably, the toothed drive gear 40 meshes with the first toothed ring 203 of the one-piece gear set 20.
[0049] The second toothed ring 204 is configured to cooperate with a positioning lever 30 included in the secondary drive train 300. The positioning lever 30 is used to indicate the position of the one-piece gear set 20 in successive steps.
[0050] Typically, the positioning rod 30 cooperates with a spring (not shown), which is configured to bring the end of the positioning rod 30 into contact with two consecutive teeth in the second gear ring 204.
[0051] The end of the positioning rod 30 has two inclined planes that bear between the tips of two consecutive teeth of the second gear ring 204 of the one-piece gear set 20.
[0052] The teeth in the second gear ring 204 are aligned with the teeth in the first gear ring 203.
[0053] The teeth in the second gear ring 204 are axially continuous at intervals with certain teeth in the first gear ring 203, and the intervals correspond to the ratio between the number of teeth in the first gear ring 203 and the number of teeth in the second gear ring 204.
[0054] Therefore, the teeth in the second gear ring 204 coincide with certain teeth in the first gear ring 203 to form teeth that extend over two levels of the platforms 201, 202.
[0055] Therefore, the teeth in the second gear ring 204 have tips that coincide with the tips of the teeth in the first gear ring 203 to form common teeth above the two levels of the platforms 201, 202.
[0056] The one-piece gear set 20 may be made of metal, metal alloy, or ceramic material.
[0057] The one-piece gear set 20 is manufactured by milling. Preferably, the second gear ring 204 is manufactured by milling the first gear ring 203 that has already been milled, and the second gear ring forms the second level of the one-piece gear set 20. This ensures perfect alignment between the two gear rings 203, 204 of the one-piece gear set 20.
Claims
1. A one-piece gear set (20), comprising a first gear ring (203) formed on the outer periphery of a first platform (201) and a second gear ring (204) formed on the outer periphery of a second platform (202) integral with the first platform (201), characterized in that: The number of teeth included in the first gear ring (203) is an integer multiple of the number of teeth included in the second gear ring (204).
2. The one-piece gear set (20) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The first ring gear (203) is configured to mesh with the toothed drive gear (40).
3. A one-piece gear set (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The second gear ring (204) is configured to cooperate with the positioning rod (30) to indicate the position of the one-piece gear set (20) in a stepwise manner.
4. A one-piece gear set (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The number of teeth of the second gear ring (204) corresponds to the number of steps that the one-piece gear set (20) undergoes when driven to complete a full rotation.
5. A one-piece gear set (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The teeth in the second gear ring (204) are aligned with the teeth in the first gear ring (203).
6. A one-piece gear set (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The teeth in the second gear ring (204) are continuous with certain teeth in the first gear ring (203) at intervals corresponding to the ratio between the number of teeth in the first gear ring (203) and the number of teeth in the second gear ring (204).
7. A one-piece gear set (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The one-piece gear set (20) may be made of metal, metal alloy or ceramic material.
8. A one-piece gear set (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The one-piece gear set (20) is obtained by milling.
9. A timepiece movement (100) comprising a one-piece gear set (20) according to any one of the preceding claims.
10. A timepiece movement (100) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that The watch movement (100) comprises a running wheel train (400) for displaying time information and a secondary drive wheel train (300) for displaying additional information, wherein the secondary drive wheel train (300) is meshed with the running wheel train (400), and the single-piece gear set (20) belongs to the secondary drive wheel train (300).
11. The watch movement (100) according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that: The secondary drive train (300) comprises a positioning lever (30) cooperating with a second toothed ring (204) of a one-piece gear set (20), a first toothed ring (203) of the one-piece gear set (20) cooperating with a toothed drive gear (40) belonging to the running train (400) or the secondary drive train (300).
12. A timepiece (200) comprising a timepiece movement (100) according to any one of claims 9 to 11.
13. A timepiece (200) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that The timepiece (200) is a wristwatch comprising a case (10) configured to receive and house a timepiece movement (100) according to any one of claims 9 to 11.