Timepiece movement, escapement for a timepiece, and timepiece comprising such an escapement

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising an energy source, a distribution member (11), a transmission member (19) arranged to transmit energy from the energy source to the distribution member (11), and a regulating member (15). The distribution member (11) comprises an escapement (12) formed of an escape wheel (13) and an anchor (14). The timepiece movement is characterized in that it comprises an anchor cage (34) supporting the regulating member (15), the anchor (14) and a drive pinion (23a); an escape wheel cage (31) supporting an escape wheel (13) and a drive pinion (23b); and a toothed crown (22, 122). The drive pinions (23a, 23b) are meshed with the ring gear (22, 122) and are arranged to drive the anchor cage (34) and the escape wheel cage (31) in two opposite directions of rotation.The invention further relates to an escapement (12) for a timepiece comprising an escape wheel (13) and an anchor (14). This escapement (12) is characterized in that it comprises an anchor cage (34) as defined above; an escape wheel cage (31) also as defined above; and a toothed crown (22, 122). The drive pinions (23a, 23b) are meshed with the toothed crown (22, 122) and are arranged to drive the anchor cage (34) and the escape wheel cage (31) in two opposite directions of rotation. The invention further relates to a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement as defined above, as well as a timepiece comprising an escapement as defined above.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of mechanical watchmaking. It relates in particular to a new watch movement and a new escapement forming part of such a watch movement, intended to be mounted in particular in a watch or a clock, and in particular a wristwatch type watch. It also relates to a timepiece equipped with such a watch movement or such an escapement.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising an energy source, a distribution member, a transmission member arranged to transmit energy from the energy source to the distribution member, and a regulating member, the distribution member comprising an escapement formed from an escape wheel and an anchor.

[0003] The invention also relates to an escapement for a timepiece comprising an escape wheel and an anchor. It further relates to a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement as defined above. PRIOR ART

[0004] In a conventional watch movement, at least one energy source such as a barrel transmits energy to a counting organ via a transmission organ comprising a gear train. This energy is transmitted to a distribution organ generally comprising an escapement, formed of an escape wheel and an anchor and kinematically linked to a regulating organ. The regulating organ generally comprises a balance wheel and a balance spring forming a balance-spring assembly. These elements are kinematically linked to each other in a well-known manner.

[0005] In many known watch movements, the escape wheel pivots around a rotation axis that is fixed relative to a watch plate. The anchor pivots around a pivot axis that is also fixed relative to the watch plate.

[0006] Depending on the position of the watch relative to the direction of the Earth's gravity, isochronism defects may appear. To improve this isochronism, so-called "tourbillon" movements have been developed.

[0007] In these tourbillon movements, the escapement wheel pivots around a rotation axis which itself rotates around a tourbillon axis. The anchor pivots around a pivot axis which pivots around this same tourbillon axis.

[0008] This movement of the escape wheel's rotation axis serves to compensate for the effects of Earth's gravity on the movement of the regulating organ.

[0009] Among the escapements designed to compensate for the effects of gravity on the running of the watch, there is a tourbillon escapement, called a Potter tourbillon. Such a Potter tourbillon comprises an escape wheel secured to the frame or a plate of a timepiece. This escape wheel may have internal or external teeth cooperating with an anchor. Since the escape wheel is secured to the plate, it is fixed and immobile relative to this plate or relative to the timepiece in which it is mounted.

[0010] The Potter tourbillon also includes a moving assembly comprising an anchor cage, an anchor, a sprung balance and a drive wheel. The moving assembly includes an axis having one end mounted in the base plate or frame and another end held in a bridge secured to this frame or base plate.

[0011] The anchor receives energy from the barrel on the drive wheel, via the gear train. The moving assembly is pivoted around its axis, the rotation of this moving assembly being managed by the anchor cooperating with the teeth of the escape wheel, and by the sprung balance.

[0012] In a classic Potter tourbillon, the escape wheel is fixed. The tourbillon cage, or more generally the moving assembly, must travel an angle equivalent to half a step of the escape wheel so that the anchor pallets come to bear against the teeth of this escape wheel.

[0013] Since the moving equipment represents a fairly large unit, its movement requires a relatively large quantity of energy.

[0014] Moving a moving object of a certain mass over a given distance in a given time involves a certain amount of energy consumption. It might be advantageous to reduce the energy consumed by the movement of the timepiece. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention provides a tourbillon based on a Potter tourbillon. This embodiment presents an unusual appearance and a particular animation of the movement containing such an escapement. Furthermore, according to certain specific embodiments, it is possible to reduce the energy consumption of the movement.

[0016] The energy required to move the anchor cage depends on its mass, the distance traveled, and the acceleration. This acceleration, in turn, depends on the distance traveled and the time taken to travel this distance. By moving the anchor cage a shorter distance without changing the travel time and by moving the escape wheel so that it meets the anchor, it is possible to reduce the energy consumed. This energy, however, depends on the mass to be moved with the escape wheel.

[0017] The aims of the invention can be achieved by the fact that not only is the anchor carried by a cage that is mobile in rotation, but also that the escape wheel is carried by a cage, which is also mobile in rotation around the same axis as the cage of the anchor. In this embodiment, the angle traveled by the tourbillon cage is reduced by half by allowing the escape wheel to meet the latter by traveling the other half of this angle.

[0018] This is achieved by rotating the anchor cage so that the anchor pivot axis rotates around an axis of rotation in one direction while the escape wheel rotates around this same axis of rotation in the opposite direction.

[0019] The aim of the invention is achieved by a clockwork movement as defined in the preamble, this clockwork movement being characterized in that it comprises: an anchor cage supporting the regulating member, the anchor and a drive pinion; an escape wheel cage supporting an escape wheel and a drive pinion; and a toothed crown, and in that the drive pinions are meshed with the ring gear and are arranged to drive the anchor cage and the escape wheel cage in two opposite directions of rotation.

[0020] The aims of the invention are also achieved by an escapement as defined in the preamble and characterized in that it comprises: an anchor cage supporting the regulating member, the anchor and a drive pinion; an escape wheel cage supporting an escape wheel and a drive pinion; and a toothed crown, and in that the drive pinions are meshed with the ring gear and are arranged to drive the anchor cage and the escape wheel cage in two opposite directions of rotation.

[0021] The aim of the invention is also achieved by a timepiece comprising a movement and / or an escapement as defined above.

[0022] The escapement as described and illustrated in this document allows the escape wheel and the anchor to be moved in two opposite directions of rotation, so that each of the components completes part of the path required for an anchor pallet to contact a tooth of the escape wheel. This allows acceleration to be reduced since the duration of the path can remain constant while the distance traveled is halved.

[0023] The escapement as presented in this document is also interesting because it can be positioned in different places in the movement, which allows, for example, to free up space for other elements of a watch movement or to modify the aesthetics of such a movement.

[0024] The escapement itself allows the movement to be animated, creating a new and unusual aesthetic effect.

[0025] According to certain configurations, the clockwork movement as described can improve the energy efficiency of the clockwork and in particular makes it possible to produce a new movement using an escape wheel with internal or external teeth similar to a Potter escape wheel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention and its advantages will be better understood with reference to the appended figures and to the detailed description of two particular embodiments of the invention, in which: there figure 1 is a general perspective view of a first embodiment of a timepiece escapement according to the present invention; figure 2 is a perspective view of the exhaust of the figure 1 , from another angle of vision: the figure 3 is a partially exploded view of the exhaust of the figure 1 ; there figure 4 is a sectional view of part of the exhaust of the figure 1 ; there Figure 5 is a sectional view of another part of the exhaust of the figure 1 ; there figure 6 is a perspective view of a component forming part of the exhaust of the figure 1 ; there figure 7 is a perspective view of another component forming part of the exhaust of the figure 1 ; there figure 8 is a general perspective view of a second embodiment of a timepiece escapement according to the present invention; figure 9 is an exploded view of the exhaust of the figure 8 ; and the figure 10 is a sectional view of the exhaust of the figure 8 . METHOD OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0027] The clockwork movement according to the invention is not shown in its entirety in the figures. In particular, the elements of a clockwork movement that are conventional or that differ from these conventional elements in a minor and / or predictable way are not necessarily shown, for the sake of clarity of the drawings. Only the part useful for understanding the escapement of the invention is shown.

[0028] In general, the watch movement described in this document comprises a power source which may comprise one or sometimes several barrels 10. The watch movement comprises a distribution member 11 comprising an escapement 12 formed in particular by an escapement wheel 13 and an anchor 14, described in more detail below. The watch movement also comprises a regulating member 15 comprising a balance 16 and a balance spring 17 forming a balance-spring assembly 18. This movement further comprises a transmission member 19 comprising a gear train 20 of which only a part is shown. The watch movement according to the invention further comprises a drive assembly 21.

[0029] These elements are described in detail below, firstly with reference to the first embodiment corresponding to the figures 1 to 7 , then to a second embodiment illustrated by the figures 8 to 10 . Training set

[0030] The training set 21 is illustrated in particular by the figures 1 to 3 This drive assembly 21 comprises a toothed crown 22 and two drive pinions 23a, 23b meshing with the toothed crown 22.

[0031] In the embodiment illustrated by the figures 1 to 3 , the toothed crown 22 pivots in a first plane coplanar with a support of the escapement, this support being able in particular to be a plate 24. This toothed crown 22 is driven by the gear train 20 of the transmission member 19.

[0032] The drive pinions 23a, 23b are each supported by a base 25 secured to a fixed part of the movement, for example the plate 24. These bases 25 comprise a cylindrical part in which a rod 28 pivots and two lugs 27 secured to the plate 24.

[0033] The drive pinions 23a, 23b comprise an axis of rotation 26. These axes of rotation 26 are coincident. In order to guarantee the collinearity of the axes of rotation 26 of the two drive pinions, one of the drive pinions 23a is integral with the rod 28 coaxial with the axis 26 of the corresponding drive pinion. The other drive pinion 23b is mounted on this rod 28 so as to be able to pivot freely on the latter. The ends of the rod 28 are each mounted in one of the bases 25. This embodiment is visible in particular on the figures 3 And 9 .

[0034] The rotation of the toothed crown 22 around its axis of rotation has the effect of pivoting the drive pinions 23a, 23b around their common axis of rotation 26, in two opposite directions of rotation. Exhaust

[0035] The escapement 12 includes in particular the escape wheel 13 and the anchor 14 mentioned above. This escapement can be considered as essentially formed of two parts, called respectively the escape wheel subassembly 29 and the anchor subassembly 30. Escape wheel subassembly

[0036] The escape wheel subassembly 29 is illustrated in particular by the figure 6 . It is formed in particular by the escape wheel 13, an escape wheel cage 31 and one of the drive pinions 23b.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the escape wheel 13 has an internal toothing of the Potter escape wheel type. This escape wheel has a central symmetry around an axis of symmetry coincident with the axis of rotation 26 of the drive pinions 23a, 23b.

[0038] The escape wheel subassembly 29 further comprises a bushing 32 secured to the drive pinion 23b and the cage 31 of the escape wheel, this bushing 32 being provided with a central bore 33 into which the rod 28 of the anchor subassembly 30 can pass. Anchor subset

[0039] The anchor subassembly 30 is illustrated in particular by the figure 6 . It includes in particular an anchor cage 34 carrying the regulating member 15 and the anchor 14.

[0040] The regulating member comprises the balance 16 and the balance spring 17, forming the balance-spring assembly 18. The balance-spring is held on the anchor cage 34 so as to be able to pivot around the rotation axis 26 of the escapement 12.

[0041] The anchor 14 of the escapement is shown in the figures in the form of a Swiss anchor. This anchor pivots around a pivot axis 35 shown in the Figure 5 .

[0042] Conventionally, the anchor 14 comprises a fork cooperating with the balance spring 18 so as to maintain the movement of the timepiece.

[0043] The anchor, and in particular its fork, is positioned in such a way that it acts on the balance 16 when the pallets of this anchor cooperate with the teeth of the escape wheel.

[0044] The stem 28 of the anchor subassembly 30 is aligned with the axis of rotation 26 of the escapement and is arranged to be able to be inserted into the bore 33 of the sleeve 32 of the escape wheel subassembly 29 and to be able to rotate freely therein.

[0045] In this way, the drive gears 23a, 23b are held coaxially while being movable relative to each other. Functioning

[0046] The movement according to the present invention operates as follows. When energy, in particular mechanical energy, is supplied by an energy source such as a barrel 10, this energy is transmitted to the gear train 20 of the timepiece. This gear train may in particular lead to the toothed crown 22 of the drive assembly. This mechanical energy is transmitted from the toothed crown 22 to the two drive pinions 23a, 23b.

[0047] Unlike known clockwork movements, the energy supplied by the barrel to the gear train is distributed over two separate drive pinions. One of the drive pinions 23b is part of a first kinematic chain, to which the escape wheel subassembly 29 also belongs. The other drive pinion 23a is part of a second kinematic chain to which the anchor subassembly 30 belongs.

[0048] The rotation of the toothed crown 22 causes the rotation in two opposite directions of the drive pinions 23a, 23b and consequently of the escape wheel cage 31 and the anchor cage 34.

[0049] When a pallet of the anchor is in contact with a tooth of the escape wheel 12, the movement of the escape wheel is blocked by the anchor 14. This escape wheel 13 being secured in particular to the drive pinion 23b of the escape wheel subassembly 29, the fact of blocking the escape wheel in rotation has the effect of blocking the corresponding drive pinion and consequently the toothed crown 22. When the toothed crown 22 is stationary, it is clear that the drive pinion 23b of the escape wheel subassembly 29 is also stationary.

[0050] When the balance wheel 16 alternates, it moves the anchor 14 around the pivot axis 35 of this anchor. The pallet which was resting against a tooth of the escape wheel 13 releases this tooth. The crown 22 is released and its rotation is made possible. The latter pivots around its axis of rotation under the effect of the energy brought to it by the barrel 10 or more generally by an energy source.

[0051] The rotation of the crown 22 has the effect of pivoting one of the drive pinions 23a, 23b in one direction and the other drive pinion in the opposite direction. The rotation of the drive pinion 23b of the anchor subassembly 30 has the effect of pivoting this subassembly so that one of the pallets of the anchor 14 comes into contact with the escape wheel 13. The position of the anchor and more precisely its pivoting about its pivot axis being managed by the balance-spring 18, one of the pallets of this anchor comes to bear against one of the teeth of the escape wheel, thus locking the subassembly of the escape wheel 29 and therefore the toothed crown 22. The cycle begins again when the balance-spring 18 pivots the anchor again about its pivot axis.

[0052] Unlike conventional embodiments in which either the pivot axis of the anchor is fixed and the escape wheel moves to come into contact with the anchor, or the escape wheel is stationary and the anchor moves to come into contact with the teeth of the escape wheel, in the invention, the anchor and the escape wheel move in opposite directions of rotation, so as to come into contact with each other. This makes it possible to reduce the accelerations of each of the parts since they travel a path having a distance twice as short for a constant duration. Furthermore, the movement offers a particular and unusual animation and allows efficient use of an escape wheel with internal teeth. Second embodiment

[0053] THE figures 8 to 10correspond to a second embodiment of the invention. Elements that are common to both embodiments bear the same names and the same reference numbers. Similar but different elements bear the same reference numbers, increased by 100.

[0054] In the first embodiment, the toothed crown 22 is rotatable while the drive pinions 23a, 23b are held in place by the bases 25 secured to the plate 24. In the second embodiment, the toothed crown 122 is held on the plate 24 of the clockwork movement and therefore does not pivot. The drive pinions 23a, 23b perform a rotational movement along an axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of the toothed crown 122.

[0055] The escape wheel subassembly 29 and the anchor subassembly 30 are identical in both embodiments. However, instead of being held by fixed bases 27, the drive pinions 23a, 23b are carried by a holding cage 40. The holding cage comprises two bases 125 whose function is to receive the drive pivots 23a, 23b while allowing them to pivot about their axis of rotation 26.

[0056] This holding cage 40 further comprises an upper pivot 42a and a lower pivot 42b. These two pivots 42a, 42b define an axis of rotation 43 of the holding cage. This axis of rotation 43 is perpendicular to the axis defined by the drive pinions 23a, 23b.

[0057] One of the pivots 42a is inserted into a suitable housing made in an arm 44 secured to the plate. The other pivot 42b is secured to a toothed pinion 45 meshed with the gear train 20 of the watch movement. This pivot is also inserted into a suitable housing made in the arm 44 secured to the plate. Functioning

[0058] In this embodiment, energy is transmitted from an energy source such as a barrel, to the pinion 45 of the cage 40 via the gear train 20 of the timepiece. This energy has the effect of pivoting the holding cage 40 about its axis of rotation 43. The rotation of the holding cage 40 about this axis causes the drive pinions 23a, 23b to also move about this axis of rotation 43. Due to the meshing of the drive pinions 23a, 23b with the toothed crown 122 and the fact that this crown is fixed while the drive pinions are moved along an axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of this toothed crown, the drive pinions also pivot about the axis of rotation 126.

[0059] Otherwise, the operation of the escapement is the same in both embodiments.

[0060] When one of the pallets of the anchor 14 is in contact with a tooth of the escape wheel 13, the movement of the pinion 45 is blocked, which has the effect of blocking the movement of the escape wheel.

[0061] When the balance spring 18 acts on the anchor 14, the latter pivots so as to release the teeth of the escape wheel. The energy from the power source acts on the pinion 45 and causes the movement of the drive pinions 23a, 23b. The cycle continues in the same way.

[0062] The illustrated embodiments allow for improved use of available energy. Instead of having to move one component by a predefined step for a fixed time, two components are moved by half a step in opposite directions. They also give the movement a new and unusual aesthetic appearance. They also provide a novel movement displacement of the watch movement, which gives it an unusual aesthetic appearance.

Claims

1. Clockwork movement comprising an energy source, a distribution member (11), a transmission member (19) arranged to transmit energy from the energy source to the distribution member (11), and a regulating member (15), the distribution member (11) comprising an escapement (12) formed of an escape wheel (13) and an anchor (14), this clockwork movement being characterized in that it comprises: • an anchor cage (34) supporting the regulating member (15), the anchor (14) and a drive pinion (23a); • an escape wheel cage (31) supporting an escape wheel (13) and a drive pinion (23b); and • a toothed crown (22, 122); and in that the drive pinions (23a, 23b) are meshed with the toothed ring (22, 122) and are arranged to drive the anchor cage (34) and the escape wheel cage (31) in two opposite directions of rotation.

2. Clockwork movement according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe drive pinions (23a, 23b) pivot around the same axis of rotation.

3. Clockwork movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the pinion 45 is driven in rotation by means of a gear train 20 of said clockwork movement.

4. Clockwork movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the toothed crown (22) pivots around an axis of rotation and in that the rotation axis 26 of the drive gears is stationary.

5. Clockwork movement according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the cages among the escape wheel cage (31) and the anchor cage (34) comprises a rod (28) collinear with the axis of rotation (26) of the drive pinions, and in that the other cage comprises a bore (33) in which said rod (28) is placed so that one of the cages can rotate relative to the other cage around the same axis of rotation (26).

6. Clockwork movement according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe escape wheel (13) is an internally toothed wheel.

7. Clockwork movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the escape wheel (13) is an externally toothed wheel.

8. Escapement for a timepiece comprising an escape wheel (13) and an anchor (14), this escapement (12) being characterized in that it comprises: • an anchor cage (34) supporting the regulating member (15), the anchor (14) and a drive pinion (23a); • an escape wheel cage (31) supporting an escape wheel (13) and a drive pinion (23b); and • a toothed crown (22, 122), and in that the drive pinions (23a, 23b) are meshed with the toothed ring (22, 122) and are arranged to drive the anchor cage (34) and the escape wheel cage (31) in two opposite directions of rotation.

9. Timepiece comprising a timepiece movement according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Timepiece comprising an escapement according to claim 8.

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