Carousel comprising two ball bearings, horological movement including that carousel, and timepiece including that horological movement

Abstract

To provide a carousel that is smaller in thickness than carousels of the prior art.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a carousel 1 for a horological movement 10. The carousel includes: an inertial mass; a guide; a resilient return element for returning the inertial mass, configured to cause the inertial mass to oscillate in a plane; and an escapement mechanism cooperating with the inertial mass. The carousel includes a carriage intended to be rotatable. The inertial mass, the guide, the resilient return element and the escapement mechanism are arranged inside the carriage. The carousel includes a first ball bearing allowing the carriage to rotate when mounted in a horological movement, and a second ball bearing allowing the escapement mechanism to be actuated. The first ball bearing and the second ball bearing are arranged substantially in the same plane.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of carousels for watch movements provided with two ball bearings.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a watch movement including such a carousel, and a watch including such a movement.

Background Art

[0003] Today, most mechanical watches are provided with a regulating member including a spring-type template and a Swiss lever escapement mechanism. The spring-type template constitutes the time base of the watch. This is also referred to as a resonator.

[0004] The escapement has two main functions. · To maintain the reciprocating motion of the resonator, and · To count these reciprocating motions.

[0005] To constitute a mechanical resonator, an inertial mass, a guide, and an elastic return element are required. Conventionally, the hairspring acts as an elastic return element for an inertial mass constituted by, for example, a template. This template is guided and rotated by a pivot that rotates within a flat ruby bearing.

[0006] To reduce the undesirable influence of gravity on the movement of the regulating member, there are tourbillon-type or carousel-type complex mechanisms that rotate the regulating member about an axis. These complex mechanisms also have a unique aesthetic appeal and make the watch particularly attractive.

[0007] In a tourbillon, the escapement mechanism and the carriage rotation mechanism are arranged in series. Generally speaking, the driving means of the movement actuates the rotation of the carriage, and the rotation of the carriage actuates the escapement mechanism. The escapement mechanism meshes with a fixed gear of the movement to be actuated.

[0008] The carousel operates in a different manner. This is because the operation of the carriage rotation and the operation of the escapement mechanism are brought about in parallel by the drive means. Therefore, unlike the tourbillon, even if the carriage is prevented from rotating, the escapement mechanism operates, although at a different frequency.

[0009] Furthermore, in order to prevent the carriage from idling when the perfume box is being unloaded, the carousel includes a retaining gear train that holds the carriage.

[0010] In the case of a carousel, the carriage is typically toothed, for example having external teeth. These teeth mesh with a first gear train that can be actuated by the perfume box.

[0011] There exists a tourbillon or a carousel in which a ball bearing connects the carriage to the armature of a regulating member so that the carriage can rotate with respect to the armature in order to allow the rotation of the carriage.

[0012] The escapement mechanism typically includes an intermediate wheel set that is driven by a second gear train that can be actuated by the perfume box. The intermediate wheel set includes a pinion disposed under the carriage and a rotating mandrel to which the pinion is attached. Both ends of the mandrel are held in bearings and are allowed to rotate to drive the intermediate wheel set.

[0013] However, such a carousel is extremely thick, and thus a movement and a watch of a size sufficient to accommodate it are required. Due to this characteristic, such a carousel cannot be integrated into a given small movement or at least a thin movement, nor can it be integrated into a movement having a specific configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide a carousel that is thinner than prior art carousels.

[0015] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a carousel for a timepiece movement. This carousel includes an inertial mass, a guide, an elastic return element configured to vibrate the inertial mass in a plane, and a detent mechanism cooperating with the inertial mass. The carousel includes a carriage intended to be rotatably mounted. The inertial mass, the guide, the elastic return element, and the detent mechanism are arranged inside the carriage. The carousel includes a first ball bearing that allows rotation of the carriage when the carousel is attached to the timepiece movement, and a second ball bearing that allows operation of the detent mechanism.

[0016] This movement is characterized in that the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing are arranged in substantially the same plane.

[0017] As a result, the second ball bearing eliminates the need for bearings at both ends of the arbor of the intermediate wheel set, so that the carousel becomes thinner and the occupied space of the carousel becomes smaller. Furthermore, since the two ball bearings are in the same plane, the carousel becomes even thinner.

[0018] Thanks to the present invention, such a carousel can be adapted to a small, particularly thin, movement.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing are coaxial.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the second ball bearing is concentrically arranged inside the first ball bearing.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the carousel comprises a bearing support including the first ball bearing and the second ball bearing.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the bearing support is arranged under the carriage.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the carriage includes an upper armature and a lower armature, and the bearing support is arranged under the lower armature.

[0024] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bearing support includes a first element, preferably an external element, which is intended to be integrally attached to the carriage.

[0025] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bearing support includes a second element, preferably an intermediate element, which is intended to be integrally attached to the movement plate.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bearing support includes a third element, preferably an internal element, which is intended to be integrally attached to the arbor for actuating the escapement mechanism.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first element and the second element are connected by a first ball bearing.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the third element and the second element are connected by a second ball bearing.

[0029] 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.

[0030] The invention further relates to a timepiece movement including a plate configured to support other parts of the movement, the timepiece movement including drive means having a train of gears and such a carousel.

[0031] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the carousel is attached at a certain angle to the plate.

[0032] The present invention further relates to a timepiece including such a timepiece movement.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] The objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent after reading some embodiments. These embodiments are given for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention on the premise of reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0035] The present invention relates to a carousel 1 intended to be attached to a timepiece movement 10. A first embodiment of such a timepiece movement 10 is partially shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such a timepiece movement 10 typically includes a plate (not shown) extending substantially in a plane, and this plate is configured to support the components of the timepiece movement 10. In this embodiment, the carousel 1 is flatly attached on the plate.

[0036] Furthermore, the timepiece movement 10 includes drive means, and the drive means includes an incense box 13 and a gear train 12 connecting the incense box 13 to the carousel 1.

[0037] In this embodiment, the gear train 12 includes two gear wheels 33, 34 and a gear wheel set 35 combining a laminated wheel 36 and a gear pinion 37. The first wheel 33 is driven by the external teeth 38 of the incense box 13 and meshes with the gear pinion 37 of the gear wheel set 35. The wheel 36 of the gear set 35 meshes with a second wheel 34 referred to as a second drive wheel, and the second wheel 34 drives the carousel 1 via a first shaft pinion 18.

[0038] In order to control the rotation of the carriage 2 and prevent the carriage 2 from rotating freely, the carousel 1 includes a gear train 40 for holding the carriage 2. The holding gear train 40 is arranged outside the carriage 2 of the carousel 1 and meshes with the second wheel 34 and the carriage 2.

[0039] The holding gear train 40 includes a second gear wheel set 39 having two parallel wheels, and the two wheels include an upper wheel 41 and a lower wheel 42. The holding gear train 40 includes a third connecting gear wheel set 43 combining a laminated wheel 44 and a gear pinion 45.

[0040] Of the two - wheel wheel set 39, the upper wheel 41 meshes with the outer - peripheral teeth 46 of the carriage 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 wheel 34.

[0041] The retaining gear train 40 prevents the carriage 2 from rotating faster than a desired speed. The retaining gear train 40 connects the rotation of the carriage 2 to a fourth wheel.

[0042] In FIGS. 3 to 7, the carousel 1 includes a carousel carriage 2. Inside the carousel carriage 2, a mechanical resonator having an inertial mass 3, a guide, and an elastic return element 4, as well as a Swiss - lever escapement mechanism 5 are arranged.

[0043] The carousel carriage 2 includes an upper armature 8 and a lower armature 9 assembled together by screws 11, which exist in two in this case. The mechanical resonator having an inertial mass 3, the guide, the elastic return element, and the escapement mechanism are suspended between the upper armature 8 and the lower armature 9.

[0044] According to a non - limiting alternative embodiment, the lower armature 9 is, in this case, a large - diameter circular wheel provided with outer - peripheral teeth 46. The upper armature 8 in this case includes four arms 14 extending from the central junction 13. These arms 14 extend from the central junction. Three struts 32 are distributed angularly around the outer periphery of the carousel carriage 2 so as to connect the circular wheel to each arm 14.

[0045] In FIGS. 3 to 7, the carousel 1 includes an intermediate bar 7 disposed between an upper armature 8 and a lower armature 9. The upper armature 8 is assembled to the intermediate bar 7 by first screws 11, two in this case, disposed at the ends of two arms 14 of the upper armature 8. The lower armature 9 is assembled to the intermediate bar 7 by second screws 15, two in this case, which are disposed on two opposite sides of the large-diameter wheel of the upper armature 8.

[0046] The inertial mass 3 is an annular template disposed on a first spindle 16 disposed at the center of the carousel carriage 2. The first spindle 16 is substantially perpendicular to the second plane of the inertial mass.

[0047] The template is disposed on the upper part of the carousel carriage 2 and is visible from the outside. The inertial mass 3 and the first spindle 16 are disposed between the intermediate bar and the upper armature 8.

[0048] The template is configured to perform a rotational vibration movement around the first radial spindle 16 within the carousel carriage 2 at a predetermined frequency. The first spindle 16 is held by bearings 47, 48 in the intermediate bar 7 and in the upper armature 8.

[0049] To operate the mechanical resonator, a second spindle 17 substantially collinear with the first spindle 16 is disposed below the first spindle 16. A part of the second spindle 17 extends below the carousel carriage 2. A first shaft pinion 18 is integrated with the second spindle 17 at its center, coaxial with the template, and disposed below the carousel carriage 2.

[0050] The intermediate wheel 19 is integrated with a second mandrel 17 that is under the template in the carousel carriage 2. The intermediate wheel 19 meshes with a disengaging pinion 21. The disengaging pinion 21 is disposed on a third radial mandrel 22 that is substantially parallel to the mandrels 16, 17. The third radial mandrel 22 is disposed in the carousel carriage 2. The third radial mandrel 22 also holds a Geneva wheel 25 disposed on the disengaging pinion 21. The third radial mandrel 22 is held by bearings 49, 51 in the intermediate bar 7 and the lower armature 9.

[0051] The Geneva wheel 25 cooperates with a Swiss lever 26 disposed perpendicular between the first mandrel 16 and the outer periphery of the Geneva wheel 25. The lever 26 includes an elongated body with a fork at a first end, and this fork is configured to cooperate with a pin of the first mandrel 16 that is linked to the movement of the template. The second end of the lever 26 includes two pallets disposed to cooperate with the Geneva wheel 25. These pallets alternately block the rotation of the Geneva wheel 25 and rotate the Geneva wheel 25 stepwise. The lever 26 is carried by a fourth radial mandrel 27 disposed in the carousel carriage 2 between the first mandrel 16 and the third radial mandrel 22.

[0052] By rotating the first shaft pinion 18, the movement of the Geneva wheel 25, the lever 26, and the template is actuated via the intermediate wheel 19 and the disengaging pinion 21. Thereby, the third radial mandrel 22 rotates. When the first shaft pinion 18 rotates, the rotation of the carriage 2 is also actuated. This is because the force applied to the first shaft pinion 18 is divided between the disengaging mechanism and the rotation of the carriage 2 of the carousel 1.

[0053] The carousel carriage 2 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis by a first ball bearing 31. Further, the carousel 1 includes a second ball bearing 31 that actuates the disengaging mechanism 25.

[0054] According to the present invention, the first ball bearing 30 and the second ball bearing 31 are arranged at substantially the same height, i.e., in the same plane. Thereby, the thickness of the carousel 1 becomes thinner than that of a conventional carousel.

[0055] Furthermore, the second bearing 31 is arranged concentrically inside the first ball bearing 30. Preferably, the first ball bearing 30 and the second ball bearing 31 are coaxial.

[0056] For this purpose, the carousel 1 includes a bearing support 20 disposed below the carousel carriage 2, and the bearing support 20 comprises the first ball bearing 30 and the second ball bearing 31. The bearing support 20 is intended to be fastened at least partially to the timepiece movement 10 when the carousel 1 is attached to, for example, a bar or directly to a plate.

[0057] The bearing support 20 preferably includes an external first element 23. The first element 23 is intended to be integrally attached to the carriage 2. The first element 23 is assembled to the lower side armature 9 of the carriage 2, in this case under the large diameter wheel, for example by one or more screws or by fitting a stud into an orifice.

[0058] The bearing support 20 includes a second element 24, preferably an intermediate element. The second element 24 is intended to be integrally attached to the plate of the movement 10. The second element 24 may be fastened to the bar of the plate by conventional fastening means.

[0059] The bearing support 20 preferably includes an internal third element 29. The third element 29 is intended to be integrally attached to the second mandrel 17 that actuates the derailment mechanism 25. The second mandrel 17 is preferably fitted through and preferably centered within the third element 29. The second mandrel 17 is held in part between the carousel carriage 2 between the intermediate bar 7 and the lower armature 9 by the third element 29 and in part below the carousel carriage 2.

[0060] The three elements 23, 24, 29 are, for example, substantially circular ring-shaped.

[0061] The first element 23 and the second element 24 are movably connected to each other by a first ball bearing 30, and the third element 29 and the second element 24 are movably connected to each other by a second ball bearing 31.

[0062] Each ball bearing includes movable balls disposed between the first element 23 and the second element 24 in the case of the first ball bearing 30 and between the third element 29 and the second element 24 in the case of the second ball bearing 31.

[0063] When the carousel 1 is attached to the movement 10, the first element 23 rotates with the carriage 2 and can thus move relative to the plate. The second element is attached to the movement 10 and is thus fixed relative to the plate. The third element 29 rotates with the second mandrel 17 of the carousel and can thus move relative to the plate.

[0064] 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.

[0065] That is, thanks to the second ball bearing 31 and the bearing support 20, when the first shaft pinion 18 is driven by the second wheel 34, the second spindle 17 can rotate relative to the plate. Further, thanks to the first ball bearing 30 and the bearing support 20, the carousel carriage 2 can rotate relative to the plate.

[0066] Figures 8 to 10 show a second embodiment of the timepiece movement 50 including such a carousel 70. Here, the carousel 70 is attached to the plate 52 at a fixed angle.

[0067] In other words, unlike the first embodiment of the timepiece movement 10 in which the rotation axis of the carousel 70 forms an angle substantially equal to 90° with respect to the plane of the plate, the angle here is less than 90°. The angle is, for example, between 20° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°.

[0068] For this purpose, the timepiece movement includes a plate 52 provided with an incense box 13, a first inclined bar 61 that supports the carousel 70, a holding gear train 40, and a gear train 62. The plane in which the first inclined bar 61 lies forms a non-zero angle with the plane in which the plate 52 lies, and that angle is substantially equal to the angle formed between the rotation axis of the carousel and the plate 52. The first inclined bar 61 is assembled to the plate 52 by conventional fastening means.

[0069] The second inclined bar 66 is disposed on the first inclined bar 61 and suspends the gear train 62 disposed between the two inclined bars 61, 66.

[0070] The configurations of the carousel 70, the gear train 62, and the holding gear train 40 are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0071] That is, according to the present invention, the carousel 70 includes a first ball bearing 30 and a second ball bearing 31 arranged substantially in the same plane. Such a carousel 70 has a limited thickness and is particularly suitable for an inclined carousel to avoid excessive dimensions. This is because the inclined carousel 70 occupies more space in terms of height than a flat carousel.

[0072] In this second embodiment, the upper armature 28 of the carousel 70 is curved so as to reduce the volume of the carousel 70. That is, the arm of the upper armature 28 is substantially curved toward the lower armature 9 from the central junction to the outer periphery of the carousel 70.

[0073] This configuration of the upper armature 28 also reduces the thickness of the timepiece movement 50. This is because the inclined carousel 70 also occupies a large height due to the size of the diagonal carriage. As a result, the height of the inclined carousel 70 is reduced by the curved upper armature 28.

[0074] The inclined bar 61 is assembled to the plate 52 so as to have a downward slope from the outside of the timepiece movement toward the center of the plate 52. That is, the carousel 70 is inclined toward the inside of the timepiece movement 50.

[0075] The gear train 62 includes a third gear wheel 54, a third gear wheel set 53, and a fourth gear wheel set 55 combining the stacked wheels 56, 58 and the gear pinions 57, 59.

[0076] The wheel 56 of the third gear wheel set 53 meshes with a third wheel 54 called a second drive wheel that drives the carousel 70 via the first shaft pinion 18.

[0077] The wheel 58 of the fourth wheel set 55 meshes with the pinion 37 of the third wheel set 53, while the pinion 59 of the fourth wheel set 55 meshes with an additional gear train 60 that connects the incense box 13 to the gear train 62.

[0078] The additional gear train 60 is attached to the plate 52, and the additional gear train 60 is inclined with respect to the gear train 62.

[0079] The additional gear train 60 includes a fourth gear wheel 63, a fifth gear wheel 64, and a fifth gear wheel set 65 that combines a stacked wheel 66 and a gear pinion 67. The fourth gear wheel 63 is driven by the external teeth 38 of the incense box 13 and thus meshes with the fifth gear 64.

[0080] The fifth gear wheel 64 meshes with the gear pinion 67 of the fifth gear wheel set 65.

[0081] Finally, the wheel 66 of the fifth gear wheel set 65 meshes with the pinion 59 of the fourth gear wheel set 55 of the gear train 62.

[0082] Thanks to the additional gear train 60 and the gear train 62, the force of the incense box 13 is thus transmitted to the carousel 70.

[0083] Furthermore, the fifth gear wheel set 65 is at a certain angle with respect to the fourth gear wheel set 55. This is because the fifth gear wheel set 65 is attached to the plate 52 while the fourth gear wheel set 55 is attached between the bars 61, 66.

[0084] The teeth of the wheels of the fifth gear wheel set 65 and the teeth of the pinion of the fourth wheel set 55 are configured to cooperate with each other, for example, by the orientation and cutting peculiar to the inclination between the fifth gear wheel set 65 and the fourth wheel set 55.

[0085] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the figures, and it goes without saying that alternative examples can be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A carousel for a clock movement (10, 50), comprising: The carousel (1, 70) comprises an inertial mass (3), a guide, an elastic return element (4) configured to oscillate the inertial mass (3) in a plane and returning the inertial mass (3), and an escapement mechanism (25) cooperating with the inertial mass (3), the carousel (1, 70) comprising a carriage (2) intended to be rotatable, the inertial mass (3), the guide, the elastic return element (4) and the escapement mechanism (25) being arranged inside the carriage (2), the carousel (1, 70) comprising a first ball bearing (30) allowing the rotation of the carriage (2) when attached to the timepiece movement (10, 50) and a second ball bearing (31) allowing the operation of the escapement mechanism (25), A carousel characterized in that said first ball bearing (30) and said second ball bearing (31) are arranged in substantially the same plane.

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

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

4. 2. A carousel according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a bearing support (20) including said first ball bearing (30) and said second ball bearing (31).

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

6. 5. A carousel according to claim 4, characterized in that the carriage (2) comprises an upper armature (8) and a lower armature (9), the bearing support (20) being arranged below the lower armature (9).

7. 2. A carousel according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing support (20) comprises a first element (23), preferably external, which is intended to be integrally attached to the carriage (4).

8. 8. Carousel according to claim 7, characterized in that the bearing support (20) comprises a second element (24), preferably an intermediate element, intended to be integrally attached to a plate of the movement (10).

9. 9. A carousel according to claim 8, characterized in that the bearing support (20) comprises a third element (29), preferably internal, intended to be integrally attached to the axle (17) that actuates the escapement mechanism (25).

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

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

12. 10. The carousel according to claim 9, 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 clock movement comprising a plate (52) configured to support other parts of the movement, the clock movement (10, 50) comprising a drive means comprising a gear train (12, 62) and a carousel (1, 70) according to claim 1.

14. 14. The clock movement according to claim 13, characterized in that said carousel (70) is mounted at an angle to said plate (52).

15. A timepiece including a timepiece movement according to claim 13.

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