CLOCK DEVICE WITH ANTI-LOCKING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a clockwork device comprising a moving part and a partner organ, the moving part comprising first and second coaxial elements, the first element having teeth for its drive and being arranged to drive the second element in rotation, the clockwork device being arranged to take a first state in which the moving part and the partner organ, distant from each other, cannot interact with each other and a second state in which the second element and the partner organ are in contact with each other.

[0002] According to a well-known example of such a clockwork device, the first and second coaxial elements are, respectively, a month star and a month cam of an annual or perpetual calendar mechanism. The month star is indexed by a jumper, driven by a month rocker, and rotates in tandem with the month cam, which indicates the length of the current month. The month star carries a month indicator hand that pivots above a dial. After each change of date, a contact pointer on a large rocker rests against the month cam to read the month's length. In this type of device, the aim is to ensure that, when the change of date also coincides with a change of month, the month jumper has completed the one-step movement of the month star initiated by the month rocker before the month cam receives the contact pointer.Indeed, otherwise the month jumper might not be able to overcome the friction exerted by the feeler on the month cam, preventing the month star and therefore the month hand from positioning correctly. However, given the instantaneous nature of the various actions, it is not always possible to guarantee their proper sequencing, so the feeler sometimes jams the month star-month cam mechanism. This problem can be solved by increasing the force of the month jumper, but this also requires strengthening the spring of the month rocker and other springs in the date mechanism, and consequently, increasing the energy consumption of the latter.

[0003] According to another well-known example of the horological device defined in the preamble, the first and second coaxial elements are rotating wheels connected by a clutch lever in a regulating mechanism, particularly a time-setting mechanism. The first wheel is driven by the rotations of a winding stem operated by the user and, in turn, drives the second wheel. Depending on the axial position of the winding stem, the clutch lever can occupy an engaged angular position in which the second wheel meshes with an indicator hand drive wheel, typically a minute wheel, and a disengaged angular position in which the second wheel is separated from the indicator hand drive wheel.During clutching, achieved by pulling the winding stem between two predetermined axial positions, and depending on the respective orientations of the second wheel and the indicator hand drive wheel, the tip of a tooth on the second wheel may catch on the tip of a tooth on the indicator hand drive wheel. This creates a blockage or stiff point, requiring the user to manipulate the winding stem to release the mechanism. This problem can be addressed by carefully selecting the pivot point of the clutch lever and using wheels with a minimal module. However, the complexity of modern mechanisms does not always allow for choosing the optimal pivot point for the clutch lever. Furthermore, small-module gears are more susceptible to wear.

[0004] According to patent CH 697 381 B1, a mechanism comprises a moving part including a hub rotating on its axis, an elastic zone capable of undergoing deformation and a transmission zone intended to come into contact with a second moving part.

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks or at least mitigate them.

[0006] More generally, the present invention aims to prevent a blockage of the mobile comprising the first and second coaxial elements when the second element and the partner organ come into contact.

[0007] To this end, a horological device according to claim 1 and a horological part, for example a watch or a clock, comprising it, are proposed.

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: therefigure 1 is a top view of a clockwork device according to a first embodiment of the invention; the figure 2 is a perspective view of a moving part of the clockwork device according to the first embodiment of the invention; the figure 3 is a top view of a clockwork device according to a second embodiment of the invention, with a clutch lever in a disengaged position; the figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the clockwork device illustrated in the figure 3 ; there figure 5 is a top view of the clockwork device according to the second embodiment, showing this device at the moment when a moving part carried by the clutch lever comes into contact with a partner component; the figure 6 is a top view of the clockwork device according to the second embodiment, showing the clutch lever in its engaged position; the figure 7 is a top view of the moving part carried by the clutch rocker, according to one embodiment variant.

[0009] With reference to the figure 1 A clockwork device 10, according to a first embodiment of the invention, for a timepiece such as a wristwatch, pocket watch, pendant watch, or clock, forms part of a perpetual calendar mechanism with instantaneous jump. The clockwork device 10 comprises a month star 12, which a month rocker (not shown) advances one step at each change of month, and whose angular position is indexed by a month jumper 14, on which a jumper return spring 16 acts. The axis 18 of the month star 12 carries a hand or other indicating element (not shown) used to indicate the current month to the user.The clockwork mechanism 10 further includes a month cam 20 having solid sections 22 around its circumference corresponding to months of thirty-one days, notches 24a corresponding to months of thirty days, and an opening 24b in which, coaxially with the month cam 20, is a four-year cam (not shown) for managing February months of twenty-nine or twenty-eight days. The month cam 20 is coaxial with and connected to the month star 12 to form a month wheel 26.

[0010] In the example shown, the month star 12 is a single piece with its axis 18, and a large-diameter portion 28 of the latter passes freely through a central bore of the month cam 20. Two diametrically opposed screws with seats 30 and 32, screwed into the month star 12, axially and freely hold the month cam 20 by their heads. The head of the first screw 30 is housed in a first oblong counterbore 34 of the month cam 20, and its seat passes through a similarly oblong hole in the month cam 20. The head of the second screw 32 (shown in transparency on the figure 2 ) is housed in a second oblong counterbore 36 of the month cam 20. The bearing surface 38 of the second screw 32 is received in a recess 39 of the month cam 20. The oblong shape of the counterbores 34, 36 allows limited rotation of the month cam 20 relative to the month star 12. The maximum angle of rotation of the month cam 20 relative to the month star, distributed on either side of the screws 30, 32, typically corresponds to one pitch of the month star 12, but it may be less than or greater than this value. An elastic element 40 composed of two leaf springs 40a and 40b, symmetrical with respect to a diametrical plane, is machined in the cam of the months 20. Each leaf spring 40a, 40b is joined at one end to the cam of the months 20 and rests at its other end on the periphery of the bearing surface 38 of the screw 32.These two leaf springs 40a, 40b are thus pre-stressed in opposition to maintain the month 20 cam in a fixed angular position relative to the month 12 star and centered between the two extreme positions defined by the oblong counterbores 34, 36, in the absence of external force applied to the periphery of the month 20 cam.

[0011] The clockwork device 10 also includes a rocker 42, known as the large rocker, partially shown in the figure 1 This large rocker arm 42 has the function, at least, of advancing a date wheel (not shown) by one step each day at midnight, allowing the date to be displayed, and of advancing the date wheel by one, two, or three additional steps, depending on the length of the month, on the last day of each month with fewer than thirty-one days. This large rocker arm 42 pivots at a point 44 and has a feeler 46 designed to bear against the circumference of the month cam 20 under the action of a return spring (not shown) of the large rocker arm 42, to read the length of the current month, immediately after each jump of the date wheel.

[0012] The clockwork device 10 is described here in the context of a perpetual calendar mechanism, but it is clear that it could alternatively be part of an annual calendar mechanism that does not take into account the actual length of a February.

[0013] As explained in the introduction, when transitioning from the last day of one month to the first day of the next, it is not always possible to guarantee that the feeler 46 will fall on the month 20 cam after the month 14 jumper has completed the repositioning of the month 12 star triggered by the month's rotation. This means that the month 20 cam may be slowed by the feeler 46 before the month 26 cam is repositioned by the month 14 jumper. In the present invention, such a situation has no effect on the month display. Indeed, thanks to the elastic link between the month 20 cam and the month 12 star, these can disengage and allow the month 12 star to continue to advance under the action of the month 14 jumper despite the stop of the month 20 cam, the force of the elastic organ 40 being less than that of the month 14 jumper - jumper return spring 16 assembly.The 20-month cam returns to its equilibrium position relative to the 12-month star under the action of the elastic element 40 as soon as the large rocker arm 42 leaves contact with the 20-month cam or the four-year cam, before the next date change. The angular misalignment between the 20-month cam and the 12-month star during the acquisition of information from the 20-month cam by the large rocker arm 42 has no consequence, since on the first day of a month, as on all days other than the last day of a month, the information regarding the month's length is not used to move the date wheel. It should also be noted that the bidirectional nature of the relative mobility of the 20-month cam and the 12-month star allows the 12-month star complete freedom to move back and forth before stabilizing under the action of the 14-month jumper.

[0014] This first embodiment of the invention can find applications other than displaying the month in a calendar mechanism, for example, displaying the date, with its month-delay cam. Generally, this first embodiment is applicable to any moving part comprising a star and a cam that must be positioned while a partner component is likely to brake the cam before the moving part has reached its final position.

[0015] Now, referring to figures 3 et 4 , a clockwork device 50 according to a second embodiment of the invention is part of a time-setting mechanism for a timepiece such as a wristwatch, a pocket watch, a pendant watch or a clock.The time-setting mechanism includes, in a conventional manner, a winding stem or time-setting stem 52 ending in a crown (not shown) which can be manipulated by the user, a sliding pinion 54 mounted on the winding stem 52 in a manner fixed to it in rotation but free axially relative to it, a pull-rod 56 controlled by the winding stem 52, a pull-rod spring 58 acting on the pull-rod 56 to index the axial positions of the winding stem 52, a sliding pinion rocker 60 acting on the sliding pinion 54 and controlled by the pull-rod 56, an intermediate rocker 62 controlled by the pull-rod 56, a clutch rocker 64 controlled by the intermediate rocker 62 and a linkage 66 coaxial with the clutch rocker 64 and free in rotation relative to the latter.

[0016] The clutch rocker 64 carries a clutch wheel 68 comprising a lower wheel 70 and an upper wheel 72 coaxial and located on either side of the clutch rocker 64. The lower wheel 70 permanently meshes with the gearbox 66 and is integral with the shaft 74 of the clutch wheel 68. The upper wheel 72 is mounted freely around the shaft 74 and held axially by a finger 76 pressed onto the end of the shaft 74 and located in a housing 78 of the upper wheel 72.

[0017] Two stops 80, 82 projecting from the wall of the housing 78 limit the rotational mobility of the finger 76 relative to the upper wheel 72, and therefore the relative rotational mobility of the lower and upper wheels 70, 72. An elastic element 84, composed of two leaf springs 84a, 84b symmetrical about a diametrical plane, is integral with the finger 76. Each leaf spring 84a, 84b is joined at one end to the finger 76 and bears at its other end against the rear face of one of the stops 80, 82. These two leaf springs 84a, 84b are thus pre-stressed in opposition to maintain the upper wheel 72 in a fixed angular position relative to the lower wheel 70—a position in which the protrusion 76a of the finger 76 is centered between the two stops 80, 82—in the absence of any external force applied to the periphery of the upper wheel. 72.

[0018] The timekeeping device 50 further includes a minute wheel 86, the wheel 88 of which meshes with a wheel 89 carrying a minute hand (not shown), and the pinion 90 of which meshes with an hour wheel (not shown) carrying an hour hand. Depending on the axial position of the winding stem 52, the clutch lever 64 can occupy one or two disengaged positions in which the clutch wheel 68 is separated from the minute wheel 88 and therefore cannot interact with it, and one engaged position in which the teeth of the upper wheel 72 of the clutch wheel 68 are engaged with the teeth of the minute wheel 88.The number of disengaged positions is one if the winding stem 52 is in two axial positions (a neutral position for winding and a pulled-out position for setting the time) and two if the winding stem 52 is in three axial positions (a neutral position for winding, an intermediate position for setting a complication such as an alarm or date mechanism, for example, and a pulled-out position for setting the time). In the second case, which is illustrated in the drawing, the clutch lever 64 carries a second clutch wheel (not shown) which engages with a gear train independent of the minute wheel 86 in the intermediate axial position of the winding stem 52.

[0019] The pivoting of the clutch rocker 64 towards its engaged position, achieved by pulling the winding stem 52 to its pulled position, is carried out in the clockwise direction. figure 3 and also rotates the lower wheel 70 clockwise because the lower wheel 70 is engaged with the gear 66, which is itself engaged with the sliding pinion 54. If a tooth of the upper wheel 72 comes into contact by its tip with the tip of a tooth of the timer wheel 88, as illustrated in the figure 5 , a buttressing effect is avoided thanks to the elastic link between the lower and upper wheels 70, 72, which allows the upper wheel 72 to move backward, i.e. to turn in the counterclockwise direction (cf. figure 6 The elastic element 84 is indeed less strong than the lantern pinion 89 and gives way easily as soon as any shoring occurs. This prevents the clutch mechanism 68 from jamming, which would require manipulation of the winding stem 52 to free it.

[0020] In its engaged state ( figure 6 The clutch mechanism 68 allows the user to adjust the angular position of the minute wheel 86, and therefore of the indicator hands, by rotating the winding stem 52 in one direction or the other. In one direction of rotation, the finger 76 quickly presses against one of the stops 80, 82 to rotate the upper wheel 72. In the other direction of rotation of the winding stem 52, the finger 76 quickly presses against the other stop 80, 82 to rotate the upper wheel 72.

[0021] When, after setting the time, the user pushes back the winding stem 52, the clutch lever 64 and the clutch wheel 68 move away from the minute wheel 86. During this movement, the elastic element 84 facilitates the disengagement of the upper wheel 72 from the teeth of the minute wheel 88 by allowing the upper wheel 72 to rotate temporarily clockwise while the lower wheel 70 and the clutch lever 64 rotate counterclockwise. However, since the risk of jamming is lower during disengagement than during engagement, it is possible to favor the engagement and to make the elastic element 84 in the form of a single leaf spring as illustrated in the figure. figure 7 , with the finger 76 pressed against one of the stops 80, 82 in the disengaged state, in order to reduce the bulk of the clutch moving part 68.

[0022] This second embodiment of the invention can find other applications than setting the time, for example the setting of a complication such as a calendar.

Claims

1. Timepiece device (10; 50) comprising a mobile (26; 68) and a partner member (42; 88), the mobile (26; 68) comprising first and second coaxial elements (12, 20; 70, 72), the first element (12; 70) having teeth in order to be driven and being arranged to drive the second element (20; 72) in rotation, the timepiece device (10; 50) being arranged to adopt a first state in which the mobile (26; 68) and the partner member (42; 88), being spaced apart from each other, cannot interact with each other, and a second state in which the second element (20; 72) and the partner member (42; 88) are in contact with each other, characterised in that the first and second elements (12, 20; 70, 72) are connected by an elastic member (40; 84) allowing them to be positioned angularly with respect to each other, this elastic member (40; 84) permitting a relative movement of the first and second elements (12, 20; 70, 72) in order to avoid the mobile (26; 68) from being immobilised when the second element (20; 72) and the partner member (42; 88) come into contact.

2. Timepiece device (10; 50) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that< / b> the elastic member (40; 84) permits a relative movement of the first and second elements (12, 20; 70, 72), against an elastic force exerted by the elastic member (40; 84), in both directions of rotation.

3. Timepiece device (10; 50) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that< / b> the elastic member (40; 84) comprises first and second leaf springs (40a, 40b; 84a, 84b) operating in opposition.

4. Timepiece device (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first element (12) is a star subject to the action of a jumper (14), the second element (20) is a cam and the partner member (42) is arranged to touch against the cam (20).

5. Timepiece device (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the mobile (26) is a month mobile of a calendar mechanism.

6. Timepiece device (50) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the mobile (68) is borne by a coupling lever (64) and in that the first state of the timepiece device (50) corresponds to a decoupled position of the coupling lever (64) in which teeth of the second element (72) are located outside teeth of the partner member (88), and the second state of the timepiece device (50) corresponds to a coupled position of the coupling lever (64) in which the teeth of the second element (72) are engaged in the teeth of the partner member (88).

7. Timepiece device (50) as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the coupling lever (64) is controlled by a winding stem (52) which can be actuated by a user.

8. Timepiece device (50) as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the coupling lever (64) is in its coupled position when the winding stem (52) is in an axial time-setting position.

9. Timepiece, for example a watch or a miniature clock, comprising a timepiece device (10; 50) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.