A timepiece with a mechanism for displaying continuous time on the display area

Abstract

A timepiece with a mechanism for displaying successive times in a display area. The invention relates to a timepiece with a time display mechanism comprising a support member rotatable about an axis of rotation and arranged to make one revolution every n hours, the support members each rotatably mounted on its own axis of rotation and carrying n satellites 14a, 14b, 14c positioned evenly distributed around the axis of rotation of the support member and carrying hour digits distributed on said satellites 14a, 14b, 14c in a proportion of 12 / n or 24 / n digits per satellite 14a, 14b, 14c, the time display area 2 extending over a sector of at least 360 / n degrees centred on the axis of rotation of the support member, the assembly being arranged so that the hour digits can be successively displaced to appear in the display area 2. According to the present invention, the support member is constituted by a cage 3, and the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c are constituted by gears and are arranged to continuously rotate about their own axis of rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cage 3 and at a rotational speed different from that of the cage 3 by means of an intermediate wheel 18 mounted by the cage 3 and kinematically linked to a fixed wheel 20 relative to the cage 3 and arranged coaxially with respect to the rotational axis of the cage 3, the rotational speed of each satellite 14a, 14b, 14c about its own axis of rotation relative to the cage 3 being selected so as to minimize the apparent angular displacement of the satellite 14a, 14b, 14c relative to its center of rotation in the display area 2 during the displacement of the satellite 14a, 14b, 14c between the beginning and end of the display area 2 guided by the cage 3.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The invention relates to a timepiece comprising a time-display mechanism comprising a support member rotatable about an axis of rotation A and arranged to make one revolution every n hours, n being an integer greater than 1, the support members each rotatably mounted on its own axis of rotation and carrying n satellites positioned evenly distributed around the axis of rotation A of the support member and carrying hour digits distributed over said satellites in a proportion of 12 / n or 24 / n digits per satellite, the time-display area extending over a sector of at least 360 / n degrees centred on the axis of rotation A of the support member, and the assembly being arranged so that the hour digits appear in the display area and can be displaced successively to indicate the time. [Background technology]

[0002] Such a timepiece is described in Swiss Patent No. 00677575 filed by the applicant and is known under the name "Star Wheel" which makes it possible to display the wandering hour.

[0003] The piece has a dial including a typically 120° sector with a minute scale graduated from 0 to 60. Corresponding to this scale, the hour digits are displaced by 60 minutes while moving over this sector. The digits therefore indicate the time and their position on the sector opposite the minute scale, which indicates the minute of the current hour. Opposite the sector of the minute scale, the hour digits are displaced according to a strictly radial orientation. In other words, as the hour digits pass along the sector of the minute scale, their orientation is brought into line with the radius of the sector, which causes the center of the sector to coincide with the minute indicated by the digit on the minute scale.

[0004] The mechanism described in Swiss Patent No. 00677575 comprises three discs, each carrying four hour digits, mounted rotatably at 120° from each other on a central wheel fellow that rotates every three hours. Thus, on a minute scale curved according to 120° sectors, the hour digits rotate 120° between the beginning and end of the sector, facing the minute scale as they progress. To display the next hour digit on the discs, the discs are rotated periodically by a star associated with the center of each disc, which rotates a quarter turn as two fixed fingers or pins distributed over the dial pass over it. The angular position of the discs is fixed by a jumper engaging the star.

[0005] Therefore, if the hour digits are oriented radially up and down, reading the time may not be considered ergonomic enough, as their inclination changes by 120° between the beginning and end of their display opposite the minute scale.

[0006] Furthermore, the system for driving the disk by a star actuated by a pin generates a force that moves the disk in orbit, but this force is not constant, since it is concentrated in time at the moment when the star contacts the pin. The disadvantage of this is that it creates an undesirable dynamic effect that generates a disturbance torque. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Swiss Patent No. 00677575 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a timepiece that makes it possible to display the time by means of a movable indicator, while at the same time making it possible to read the time in an ergonomic way.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to propose a timepiece making it possible to display the time by means of a movable indicator without generating disturbing torques. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a time-display mechanism comprising a support member rotatable about an axis of rotation A and arranged to make one revolution every n hours, n being an integer greater than 1, the support members each rotatably mounted on its own axis of rotation and carrying n satellites evenly distributed around the axis of rotation A of the support member and carrying hour digits distributed over said satellites in a proportion of 12 / n or 24 / n digits per satellite, the time-display area extending over a sector of at least 360 / n degrees centred on the axis of rotation A of the support member, the assembly being arranged so that the hour digits can be successively displaced to appear in the display area.

[0011] According to the invention, the support member is constituted by a cage, the satellites are constituted by gears and are arranged so as to be continuously rotated about their own axes of rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cage and at a rotational speed different from that of the cage by an intermediate wheel mounted by said cage and kinematically linked to a fixed wheel relative to said cage and arranged coaxially with respect to the rotational axis A of the cage, the rotational speed of each satellite about its own axis of rotation relative to the cage being selected so as to minimize the apparent angular displacement of said satellite relative to its centre of rotation in the viewing area during the displacement of said satellite between the beginning and end of said viewing area guided by the cage.

[0012] Therefore, the apparent tilt of the hour digits in the display area changes only slightly between the beginning and end of the display, making it easier to read the time even though the hour digits are movable.

[0013] In addition, the meshing of the satellites is permanent and the force that causes them to orbit is continuous, so that torque transmission in the system is advantageously smoothed by being substantially constant.

[0014] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic top view of the dial of a timepiece equipped with a time display mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing in particular three positions of the hour digits during their displacement between the beginning and end of the display area. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic top view of the dial of a timepiece equipped with a time display mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing in particular three positions of the hour digits during their displacement between the beginning and end of the display area. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic top view of the dial of a timepiece equipped with a time display mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing in particular three positions of the hour digits during their displacement between the beginning and end of the display area. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of a time display mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the time display mechanism of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a support member, a satellite, and an intermediate wheel according to a second embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. [Figure 8] 4A-4C show different positions of the movable revealing device during displacement of the hour digits between the beginning and end of the display area according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9]4A-4C show different positions of the movable revealing device during displacement of the hour digits between the beginning and end of the display area according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] 4A-4C show different positions of the movable revealing device during displacement of the hour digits between the beginning and end of the display area according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 4A-4C show different positions of the movable revealing device during displacement of the hour digits between the beginning and end of the display area according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] 3 shows a time display mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference to Figures 1 to 7, the present invention relates to a timepiece such as a wristwatch equipped with a time display mechanism that makes it possible to display on a dial 1 the hour, such as the time in GMT, and preferably also the minutes.

[0017] Such a time-display mechanism comprises a support member mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation A (see Figure 5) on a frame element of the timepiece, said support member being arranged to complete one revolution every n hours, n being an integer greater than 1. In the example shown, n is equal to 3.

[0018] The time display mechanism also comprises a time display area 2 provided on dial 1, extending over a sector of at least 360 / n°, i.e. typically slightly more than 360 / n° in the examples of the accompanying drawings, i.e. here slightly more than 120°, and centred on the axis of rotation A of the support member, said mechanism being arranged so that the hour digits appear in display area 2 and are displaced successively to indicate the time.

[0019] According to the invention, said support member is constituted by a cage 3 intended to be mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis A on a frame element of the clock movement (not shown) of the timepiece.

[0020] The axis of rotation A of the cage 3 can be centered on the dial 1 as shown. It will be apparent that if the time display is not centered on said dial of the piece, the axis of rotation A of the cage 3 can be offset relative to the center of the dial of the timepiece.

[0021] The cage 3 comprises an upper bridge 4 and preferably a lower bridge 6, which are parallel and integral in rotation. According to a preferred embodiment, the lower bridge 6 is integral with a drive shaft 8 supported by the frame, said drive shaft 8 itself being integral with a drive wheel 10.

[0022] To rotate the cage 3, the timepiece is notably equipped with a motion work (not shown) arranged to mesh with a drive shaft 8 and thus a drive wheel 10 which rotates the lower bridge 6 and the upper bridge 4.

[0023] The upper bridge 4 and the lower bridge 6 have a circular central shape with an axis A, about which a "cabochon" (not shown) can be advantageously placed. Advantageously, the upper bridge 4 and the lower bridge 6 each comprise a first set of n arms 12, directed radially outward, evenly distributed and arranged to carry n satellites 14 a, 14 b, 14 c.

[0024] Advantageously, each of the upper bridge 4 and the lower bridge 6 may also comprise a second set 16 of n arms oriented radially outward and evenly distributed by being interposed between the arms 12, on which at least n intermediate reversing wheels 18 are pivotally mounted, the intermediate reversing wheels 18 being arranged to cooperate with two successive satellites 14 a, 14 b, 14 c. These intermediate reversing wheels 18 will be described in more detail below.

[0025] The dimensions of the cage 3, and in particular the dimensions of the arms 12 and 16, are selected as a function of the first or second embodiment of the display mechanism.

[0026] More specifically, in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 8 to 11, the dimensions of the cage 3 and its arms 12 and 16 are selected to enable the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c to be positioned at equal intervals within a circle centered on the axis of rotation A on the same level, i.e. in the same plane, which corresponds to an extended configuration.

[0027] In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the dimensions of the cage 3 and its arms 12 and 16 are selected to obtain a compact configuration by positioning the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c in a diametrically compact manner relative to the axis A, in which case the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c must be arranged so that they are positioned in a partially overlapping manner relative to one another.

[0028] Each satellite 14a, 14b, 14c is rotatably mounted by means of a screw 17 on its own axis of rotation within the cage, in particular on an axis of rotation attached between an arm 12 of the upper bridge 4 and a corresponding arm 12 of the lower bridge 6 of the cage 3. The satellites 14a, 14b, 14c are therefore positioned evenly distributed around the axis of rotation A of the cage 3, either by being in the same plane according to the first embodiment, or by being partially overlapped in parallel planes according to the second embodiment.

[0029] The satellites 14a, 14b, 14c carry hour digits distributed over said satellites 14a, 14b, 14c at a rate of 12 / n or 24 / n digits per satellite.

[0030] According to the present invention, the n satellites 14a, 14b, 14c are constituted by gears.

[0031] The gears are advantageously transparent. In the example shown, n is equal to 3 and the gears are evenly distributed around the axis A at intervals of 120°. The satellites 14a, 14b, and 14c carry hour digits distributed on them in a ratio of four digits per gear. Satellite 14a carries digits 1, 4, 7, and 10, satellite 14b carries digits 2, 5, 8, and 11, and satellite 14c carries digits 3, 6, 9, and 12, these digits being angularly distributed on each satellite at intervals of 90°. It should be noted that the distribution of the hour digits on these satellites, as illustrated by way of example in the drawings, is such that, after reading each digit, all of the hour digits can be read there, one by one, in chronological order, when moving successively from one satellite to another in the same rotational direction.

[0032] According to the invention, the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c are arranged to rotate continuously about their own axis of rotation in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cage 3 and at a rotational speed relative to the cage 3 which is different from the rotational speed of the cage 3 relative to the display area 2, by means of intermediate wheels, such as at least a reversing intermediate wheel 18, carried by the cage 3, which intermediate wheels are kinematically linked to a fixed wheel 20 relative to the cage 3 and arranged coaxially with the rotational axis A of the cage 3.

[0033] 5, according to a selected gear ratio, the intermediate wheels may comprise two consecutive satellites 14a, 14b, 14c, and n reversing intermediate wheels 18 arranged to cooperate with a fixed wheel 20 and a peripheral intermediate wheel 22 arranged to cooperate with one of the n reversing intermediate wheels 18. Thus, the peripheral intermediate wheel 22 rotates the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c through the intermediation of the reversing intermediate wheel 18.

[0034] In its compact configuration, the reversing intermediate wheel 18 has a sufficient height to be able to mesh with at least two consecutive satellites 14a, 14b, 14c positioned at different heights.

[0035] For example, as shown in Figure 1, the intermediate wheels may comprise only n reversing intermediate wheels 18 arranged to cooperate with two consecutive satellites 14a, 14b, 14c and directly with the fixed wheel 20. In this case, the n reversing intermediate wheels 18 can directly function as peripheral intermediate wheels.

[0036] Each reversing intermediate wheel 18 is pivotally mounted within the cage 3, specifically between an arm 16 of the upper bridge 4 and a corresponding arm 16 of the lower bridge 6 of the cage 3. The reversing intermediate wheels 18 are therefore positioned evenly distributed around the rotation axis A of the cage 3, with the reversing intermediate wheels 18 being inserted between two of the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c.

[0037] In addition, when a peripheral intermediate wheel 22 is used, the peripheral intermediate wheel 22 is advantageously mounted below the lower bridge 6 of the cage 3, specifically below the arm 16, in unison with the rotation of the reversing intermediate wheel 18 with which it is associated.

[0038] A fixed wheel 20 is placed below the cage 3 and is centred on the axis A of said cage 3. The fixed wheel 20 is integral with the frame elements of the movement of the timepiece and comprises external peripheral teeth arranged to mesh either with the peripheral intermediate wheel 22 or directly with the reversing intermediate wheel 18.

[0039] Additionally, according to the invention, the rotational speed of each satellite 14a, 14b, 14c about its own axis of rotation relative to the support member, here cage 3, is selected so as to minimize the apparent angular displacement of said satellite 14a, 14b, 14c relative to its own center of rotation in the display area 2 during the displacement of said satellite between the beginning and end of the display area 2 induced by the cage 3 itself during its rotation about axis A. Appropriate rotational speeds of satellites 14a, 14b, 14c and cage 3 are obtained by selecting appropriate gear ratios.

[0040] The viewing area 2 thus constitutes a first frame of reference in which each satellite 14 a, 14 b, 14 c has an apparent velocity that is a function of the rotational velocity of the cage 3 relative to this first frame of reference and the rotational velocity of the satellite 14 a, 14 b, 14 c about its own axis relative to the cage 3, which constitutes a second frame of reference. The rotational velocity of the cage 3 in the first frame of reference and the rotational velocity of the satellite 14 a, 14 b, 14 c about its own axis in the second frame of reference are selected to give said satellite 14 a, 14 b, 14 c in the first frame of reference an apparent velocity that corresponds to the desired minimized angular displacement in the viewing area 2.

[0041] The rotation speed of the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c around their own rotation axis relative to the cage 3 is advantageously selected so that during a displacement between the beginning and end of the display area 2 guided by the cage 3 of one of the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c, the apparent speed of the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c in the first reference frame is such that the apparent angular displacement of the hour digits carried by the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c in the display area 2 is less than 30°.

[0042] Thus, by defining a vertical reading axis L, i.e., parallel to the conventional 12-6 o'clock axis in the display area 2 and passing through the centers of rotation of the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c entering said display area 2 (see FIGS. 1-3), said apparent angular displacement corresponds to an apparent tilt of the hour digits with an angle α relative to said reading axis L as they are displaced between the beginning and end of the display area 2. While this tilt is maximum at the beginning and end of the display area 2, it is zero on the reading axis L. It is more particularly thanks to a suitable choice of the rotation speed of the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c about their own axes in the second reference frame as a function of the rotation speed of the cage 3 in the first reference frame that this maximum tilt can be minimized, and in particular adjusted so that it does not exceed 30°.

[0043] For example, if n is equal to 3, the cage 3 rotates once in a clockwise direction in 3 hours, and the rotational speed of the cage 3 is adjusted by the motion work. The reversing intermediate wheel 18 and potentially the peripheral intermediate wheel 22 carried by the cage 3 are driven by the fixed wheel 20 to rotate in a clockwise direction. Each of the three satellites 14a, 14b, 14c, which carry four beams as described above and are driven by the reversing intermediate wheel 18, rotates counterclockwise around its own axis. The cage 3 and satellites 14a, 14b, 14c, specifically their dimensions and number of teeth, are configured so that the gear ratio between the cage 3, intermediate wheel 18 and potentially the intermediate wheel 22 and the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c is equal to 1 / 4. Thus, each satellite 14a, 14b, 14c makes one revolution around its axis in a counterclockwise direction in 4 hours in the second reference frame formed by the cage 3, while the hour digit carried by the satellite 14a, 14b, 14c takes 12 hours to reach the same position by simultaneously revolving around the axis of rotation A and around its own axis of rotation. During the displacement of a satellite 14a, 14b, 14c between the beginning and the end of the display area 2, i.e. a displacement of 1 hour, the apparent angular displacement of the hour digit of said satellite 14a, 14b, 14c in the first reference frame formed by the display area 2 is 30° clockwise due to the rotation of the cage 3 around axis A in the first reference frame by 120° clockwise and the rotation of the satellite around its axis in a counterclockwise direction by 90° in the second reference frame in 1 hour.

[0044] 1, satellites 14a, 14b, 14c are positioned such that hour digit 11 is carried by satellite 14b, which enters display area 2 to display 11 o'clock. Satellite 14b is positioned such that digit 11 is tilted at an angle α of 15° counterclockwise relative to reading axis L. After 30 minutes, cage 3 has been rotated by 60° about axis A in the clockwise direction in the first reference frame formed by display area 2 by displacing satellite 14b in display area 2 as shown in FIG. 2, and satellite 14b has also been rotated by 45° about its own axis in the counterclockwise direction in the second reference frame formed by cage 3 thanks to reversing intermediate wheel 18, so that the apparent angular displacement of satellite 14b relative to its own center of rotation in display area 2 is 15° clockwise (60° - 45°). The apparent tilt of digit 11 with reading axis L becomes zero. After a further 30 minutes, i.e. after one hour, cage 3 has been rotated a further 60° about axis A in the clockwise direction relative to display area 2 by displacing satellite 14b in display area 2 as shown in Figure 3, said satellite 14b also being rotated a further 45° about its own axis in the counterclockwise direction relative to cage 3, so that the apparent angular displacement of the hour digit carried by said satellite 14b relative to its own center of rotation in display area 2 becomes 15° clockwise. The apparent tilt of hour digit 11 with reading axis L then becomes an angle α of 15° clockwise relative to the reading axis.

[0045] Therefore, the apparent angular displacement of the hour digits of satellite 14b relative to its own center of rotation is a total of only 30° [-15; +15] clockwise per hour in display area 2, while said satellite 14b is guided by cage 3 to be displaced by 120° clockwise around axis A relative to display area 2 between the beginning and end of display area 2.

[0046] The time can therefore be read according to an up-down reading axis which remains substantially vertical, as shown in the drawing, making reading the time particularly ergonomic.

[0047] In parallel, the other satellites 14a and 14c are also guided by the cage 3 and displaced clockwise around the axis A by 120° relative to the display area 2 in one hour by rotating themselves counterclockwise relative to the cage 3 by 90° on their own axis, so that when satellite 14b reaches the end of the display area 2, the next counterclockwise satellite, in this case satellite 14c, enters the display area 2 to bring the next hour digit, and the digit 12 appears in the display area 2 tilted counterclockwise at an angle α of 15° relative to the reading axis L.

[0048] The cage 3 and the satellites 14a, 14b and 14c are positioned above a dial 1 comprising a display area 2 arranged so as to be able to follow the trajectory of the hour digits to be displayed to indicate the time.

[0049] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6, the display area 2 is arranged to constitute a fixed revealing device 24, revealing the hour digits during their displacement between the beginning and end of said display area 2. For example, the fixed revealing device 24 can be constituted by a white sector shown on the dial 1, the transparent digits carried by the satellites 14a, 14b and 14c being of a contrasting colour in this case to appear during their displacement above said white sector.

[0050] According to another embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 and 8 to 11, the timepiece can comprise at least one movable revealing device 26 arranged to follow and reveal the hour digits to be displayed during their displacement between the beginning and end of the display area 2. The movable revealing device 26 can be installed below the satellites 14a, 14b and 14c, which in this case are transparent or skeleton. The movable revealing device 26 comprises, for example, a dot having a color contrasting with the color of the digits displayed on said satellites 14a, 14b and 14c. The revealing device 26 can also be positioned above the digits.

[0051] The movable revealing device 26 is arranged to pivot on its own axis at an angle identical to the apparent angular displacement of the satellites 14a, 14b, and 14c with which it is associated, while being displaced in the display area 2 at the same speed as the cage 3. For example, here the movable revealing device 26 orbits on its own axis at an angle of 30° in a clockwise direction, while moving in the display area 2 at an angle of no more than 120° relative to the axis A in a clockwise direction per hour. The point of rotation of the movable revealing device 26 is therefore variable and, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, is eccentric with respect to the axis A of the cage 3. The movable revealing device 26 is arranged to follow the hour digits for one hour so that, upon reaching the 60th minute, it is immediately displaced to display the next hour digit.

[0052] The mobile revealing device 26 may be arranged to make jumps in the same rotational direction as the cage 3. In this case, as shown in Figures 8 to 11, it is possible to provide a mobile revealing device 26 with several revealing surfaces, i.e., several revealing areas or surfaces ordered to reduce the angle of displacement of the mobile revealing device with each jump. The mobile revealing device 26 may, for example, have three revealing surfaces 26a, 26b, and 26c associated with the satellites 14a, 14b, and 14c, respectively. When the satellites 14a, 14b, and 14c are displaced together with the cage 3, the surface 26b of the mobile revealing device 26 follows the digit 2 carried by the satellite 14b, while the other surfaces 26a and 26c follow the digits 10 and 6 carried by the other satellites 14a and 14c, respectively. After one hour, when digit 2 and the associated face 26b of the movable revealing device 26 reach the end of the display area 2, as shown in Figure 10, the movable revealing device 26, having reached the 60th minute, is arranged to jump to a clockwise rotation, so that the next face in the counterclockwise direction, here face 26c, reaches and reveals the next digit to be immediately displayed carried by the satellite, and enters the display area 2, here digit 3 carried by satellite 14c, as shown in Figure 11.

[0053] The movable revealing device 26 may also be arranged to have a counter-movement in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the cage 3 when the displayed digit and the movable revealing device 26 reach the end of the display area 2. In this case, the movable revealing device 26 may be wider than the hour digits with a displacement speed in the display area 2 that is not faster than the hour digits, in order to reduce the angle of displacement of the revealing device 26 in the display area 2.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the time display mechanism also makes it possible to display minutes, and to this end the timepiece is provided with a scale 28 on the dial 1 graduated from 0 to 60 minutes, extending over the arc of a circle of 360° / n, here 120°, centred on the axis of rotation A of the cage 3 and positioned above the hour display area 2, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0055] The minutes can be indicated in several ways by using the difference in rotation speed between the cage 3 and the satellites 14a, 14b, 14c.

[0056] For example, taking cage 3 as reference, cage 3 may comprise at least one indicator member arranged to indicate minutes on a scale 28 graduated in minutes. Advantageously, n indicator members 30 are provided evenly distributed on cage 3 and each associated with one of the n satellites (see Figures 1 to 3), said indicator members 30 arranged to indicate minutes on scale 28 graduated in minutes. Thus, during rotation of cage 3, the hour digits carried by satellites 14a, 14b, 14c are displayed and displaced in display area 2 to indicate hours, and corresponding indicator members 30 carried by cage 3 are displaced successively opposite the gradations of scale 28 to indicate minutes.

[0057] Taking the displacement of satellites 14a, 14b, 14c as reference, as shown in Figure 12, each satellite 14a, 14b, 14c can be provided with an indicating member 32 associated with a respective hour digit and positioned to indicate the minutes on an appropriate scale 28' graduated in minutes as a function of the apparent displacement of satellite 14a, 14b, 14c in display area 2. During displacement of a satellite in display area 2, indicating member 32 has the same minimized apparent tilt as that hour digit, whereby the apparent tilt of indicating member 32 relative to minute scale 28' is also minimized.

[0058] The described embodiment is naturally subject to numerous variations: for example, the minute scale can be present on the crystal or on the bezel.

[0059] The rotational speeds of the cage and satellites, the number of satellites, the number of digits per satellite, and the size of the display area can vary. However, these quantities are interdependent. In general, for the display of hours from 1 to 12, if the cage 3 rotates once every n hours (n is an integer greater than 1), it carries n satellites, the hour digits are distributed on these satellites in a ratio of 12 / n digits per satellite, and the minute scale extends over an arc of a 360° / n circle. If the hours are displayed from 1 to 24, the hour digits must be distributed in a ratio of 24 / n digits per satellite. To minimize the apparent tilt of the hour digits carried by the satellites as they are displaced with the cage, the gear ratio is selected as a function of the rotational speeds of the cage and satellites. While the number of satellites is not limited to three, a configuration with three satellites allows for maximizing the size of the hour digits on the satellites.

[0060] The invention makes it possible to obtain a timepiece with a dynamic time display, while allowing the time to be read in an ergonomic way, with the apparent tilt of the hour digits varying only slightly between the beginning and end of the display. It also makes it possible to avoid the generation of disturbance torques and to smooth the torque transmission of the mechanism, the force that moves the permanently meshed satellites is continuous.

[0061] The configuration of the time display mechanism according to the invention is not limited to the example described. It is clear that any other suitable support member other than a cage with two bridges can be used. In particular, the support member can be an open cage in which only one bridge is used. For example, it is possible to provide only the upper bridge of the cage, with the satellites and intermediate wheels suspended from the arms of this bridge. Similarly, the use of arms to mount the satellites and intermediate wheels is a particularly advantageous embodiment when it is desired that the satellites are clearly visible, but any other suitable bridge configuration can be used.

Claims

1. A timepiece with a time display mechanism comprising a support member rotatable about an axis of rotation A and arranged to make one revolution every n hours, n being an integer greater than 1, said support members each carrying n satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) rotatably mounted on their own axis of rotation and positioned uniformly distributed around the axis of rotation A of said support member, with hour digits distributed on said satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) in a proportion of 12 / n or 24 / n digits per satellite (14a, 14b, 14c), a time display area (2) extending over a sector of at least 360 / n° centred on the axis of rotation A of said support member, and the assembly being arranged so that said hour digits can be successively displaced to appear in said display area (2), wherein said support member is constituted by a cage (3), and said satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) are positioned in a manner that they are evenly distributed around the axis of rotation A of said support member, with said hour digits being distributed on said satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) in a proportion of 12 / n or 24 / n digits per satellite, a timepiece in which the satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) are constituted by gears and are arranged to be continuously rotated about their own axis of rotation in a direction opposite to that of the cage (3) and at a rotational speed different from that of the cage (3) by intermediate wheels (18, 22) mounted by the cage (3) and kinematically linked to a wheel (20) fixed relative to the cage (3) and arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation A of the cage (3), the rotational speed of each satellite (14a, 14b, 14c) about its own axis of rotation relative to the cage (3) being selected so as to minimize the apparent angular displacement of the satellite (14a, 14b, 14c) with respect to its centre of rotation in the display area (2) during the displacement of the satellite (14a, 14b, 14c) between the beginning and end of the display area (2) guided by the cage (3).

2. 2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the speeds of rotation of the satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) about their own axes of rotation relative to the cage (3) are selected so that, during the displacement of the satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) between the beginning and the end of the display area (2) guided by the cage (3), the apparent angular displacement of the satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) relative to their own centre of rotation in the display area (2) is less than or equal to 30°.

3. 3. Timepiece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a motion work arranged to drive said cage (3).

4. 4. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) are positioned in a partially overlapping manner relative to one another.

5. 4. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) are arranged on the same level.

6. 6. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate wheel comprises n rotatable intermediate wheels (18) each arranged to cooperate with two successive satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) and with a peripheral intermediate wheel (22) arranged to cooperate with the fixed wheel (20) and one of the n rotatable intermediate wheels (18).

7. 6. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate wheel comprises n reversing intermediate wheels (18) each arranged to cooperate with two successive satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) and the fixed wheel (20).

8. 8. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that n is equal to 3, each of the three satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) carries four digits, and the gear ratio between the cage (3) and the satellites (14a, 14b, 14c) is equal to 1 / 4, so that during the displacement of the satellite (14a, 14b, 14c) between the beginning and end of the display area (2) guided by the cage (3), the apparent angular displacement of the satellite (14a, 14b, 14c) around its own centre of rotation in the display area (2) is 30°.

9. 9. Timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a scale (28) graduated in minutes, extending over the arc of a circle of 360 / n° centred on the axis of rotation A of the cage (3).

10. 10. Timepiece according to claim 9, characterized in that the cage (3) comprises at least one indicator element (30) arranged to indicate minutes on the scale (28) graduated in minutes.

11. 10. Timepiece according to claim 9, characterized in that each satellite (14a, 14b, 14c) is associated with a respective hour digit and comprises an indicator member (32) arranged to indicate minutes on said scale (28') graduated in minutes.

12. 12. A timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the display area (2) is arranged to constitute a fixed revealing device for revealing the hour digits during their displacement between the beginning and the end of the display area (2).

13. 12. A timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises at least one movable revealing device (26) arranged to follow and reveal the hour digits to be displayed during the displacement of the hour digits between the beginning and the end of the display area (2).

14. Timepiece according to claim 13, characterized in that the mobile revealing device (26) is arranged to jump in the same direction of rotation as that of the cage (3).

15. 14. Timepiece according to claim 13, characterized in that the movable revealing device (26) is arranged to have a retrograde movement in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the cage (3).

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