Clutch device for a watch

Abstract

To provide a clutch device for timepieces that does not require a large space because of a simple structure, and with which it is possible to set the hands of a timepiece to zero without difficulty.SOLUTION: A clutch device for chronographs comprises: a clutch input wheel 1 which is capable of rotational drive, secured in the axial direction, and located on an axis that supports a clutch output wheel so as to be incapable of relative rotation, and which is rotatably driven by a movement; and a clutch disk for the clutch input wheel 1 coaxial with an axis 2, in which a counter clutch disk capable of displacing in the axial direction is coaxially located to a clutch disk 3, and the counter clutch disk is loaded by a spring force in order to come into contact with the clutch disk in a frictional engagement manner and is graspable from below by a claw 8, and the counter clutch disk is liftable to a non-joining position by the claw 8 at a position being in contact with a joining position with the clutch disk.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a clutch device for a timepiece, comprising: a clutch input wheel rotatably driven by a movement, the clutch input wheel being rotatably driven and arranged on an axle that is axially fixed and supports a clutch output wheel non-rotatably relative to the axle; and a clutch disc of the clutch input wheel coaxial with the axle, the clutch disc being coaxially arranged with an axially displaceable counter clutch disc, the counter clutch disc being loaded by a spring force to abut frictionally against the clutch disc and being grippable from below by a pawl, the counter clutch disc being liftable by the pawl at a position where it abuts against the clutch disc to a disengaged position. The pawl is movable by a manually operable decoupling pusher from a disengaged position where it is not loaded to an engaged position where it lifts the counter clutch disc from the clutch disc by one stroke of the maximum stroke. [Background technology]

[0002] In known chronograph clutch devices, a stroke crown is located on the column wheel. When a pawl is activated, the pawl holds the clutch open while the chronograph is running. In this case, the clutch input wheel is released, but the clutch must be zeroed against the friction of the pawl, which can lead to high forces when activating the pusher. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a clutch device for a timepiece of the type mentioned at the beginning, which avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages, has a simple design, requires little installation space, and allows the hands of the timepiece to be set to zero without any problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] To solve this problem, the pawl can be further moved from the engagement position to a position where it lifts the opposing clutch disc from the clutch disc by a control element that can be actuated by the zero-setting pusher, and in a first step, the pawl can be moved to its actuated position by actuating the decoupling pusher, and in a second step, the decoupling pusher remains inactive and the zero-setting pusher is actuated so that the pawl can be actuated by the control element to lift the opposing clutch disc from the clutch disc by a stroke 2 of the maximum stroke that is greater than stroke 1, and in a third step, the decoupling pusher remains inactive and the zero-setting pusher is actuated so that the pawl However, the counter clutch disc can be lowered by the control element for stroke 3 of the maximum stroke, the counter clutch disc remains lifted in a locked state from the clutch disc by the locking device at stroke 2, in a fourth step the decoupling pusher remains inactive and the zero-setting pusher is deactivated, causing the pawl to be lifted by the control element to a position that releases the locking device for stroke 4 of the maximum stroke, and in a fifth step the decoupling pusher remains inactive and the zero-setting pusher is deactivated, causing the pawl to be moved to a deactivated position, and in this deactivated position the counter clutch disc is moved to a position where it abuts at a position where it is engaged with the clutch disc.

[0005] In this configuration according to the invention, the zeroing of the hands is not performed via the column wheel element, but is arranged separately. This allows the hands of the watch to be set to zero regardless of the state of the chrono mode (started or stopped). The clutch can be separated from the pawl and the clutch input wheel, so that the clutch can rotate without friction when setting the hands to zero. When the clutch is released again from the separated state, the chrono can remain in either stopped mode or started mode.

[0006] In a simple construction, the counter clutch disc can be formed by the bottom of a cup-shaped clutch sleeve, which has a radially projecting collar at its end remote from the bottom.

[0007] If the pawl is axially displaceable relative to the shaft between its inoperative and operative positions, friction losses between the pawl's operative element and the opposing clutch disc are avoided, resulting in smooth operation of the clutch arrangement.

[0008] A simple construction is achieved in that the pawl can be actuated to move by a two-armed pivot lever pivotable about a pivot axis extending transversely to the shaft, a first lever end of the pivot lever can be loaded to pivot by a radial column of a column wheel, and a second lever arm end of the pivot lever can be loaded to lift the counter clutch disc axially relative to the shaft from an engaged position to a disengaged position.

[0009] In this case, the column wheel can be driven in rotation in well-defined steps by the decoupling pusher.

[0010] If the pawl is arranged on a pawl pin that is guided so as to be displaceable parallel to the axis and that forms a control element and that can be driven to move directly or indirectly by the zero-setting pusher, the pawl can be driven by the pawl pin to move not only by the decoupling pusher via the pivot lever, but also by the zero-setting pusher.

[0011] In this case, to achieve easy operation, the crown wheel can be rotated stepwise by the zero-setting pusher, and the claw pin can be driven to be displaced by the crown wheel, with one end face of the claw pin abutting the crown wheel.

[0012] To facilitate axial drive of the pawl pins, the crown wheel may have alternating pairs of first and second teeth, the second teeth having the same or greater height as the first teeth, the first teeth allowing the pawl pins, and therefore the pawls, to be raised in stroke 2, a first gap between the first and second teeth allowing the pawl pins, and therefore the pawls, to be lowered in stroke 3, the second teeth allowing the pawl pins, and therefore the pawls, to be raised in stroke 4, and a second gap after the second teeth allowing the pawl pins, and therefore the pawls, to be lowered to the binding position.

[0013] A simple configuration of the locking device can be realized by the locking device having a claw, the claw being pivotably arranged on the clutch sleeve about a claw axis parallel to the shaft, the claw being capable of engaging with the locking recess of the shaft when stroke 2 is reached in the second step, and being capable of disengaging from the locking recess when stroke 4 is reached in the fourth step.

[0014] In this case, in a simple configuration, the claw can be held in elastic radial inward contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft during the first and second strokes, and after reaching stroke 2, can engage radially inward with a circumferential annular groove on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft.

[0015] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a wheel bridge diagram showing a clutch device with an inactive zero-setting pusher and an inactive pivot lever actuable by a column wheel at a partially actuated decoupling pusher. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of a clutch device along line II in FIG. 1 with an inactive zero-setting pusher and an inactive pivot lever actuable by a column wheel at a partially actuated decoupling pusher; FIG. [Figure 3]2 is a dial diagram showing the clutch device in FIG. 1 with an inactive zero-setting pusher and an inactive pivot lever actuable by a column wheel at a partially actuated decoupling pusher; FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a wheel bridge diagram showing the clutch arrangement in FIG. 1 with a non-actuated zero-setting pusher and an actuated decoupling pusher; FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch arrangement along line II in FIG. 1 with a non-actuated zero-setting pusher and an actuated decoupling pusher; FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a dial diagram showing the clutch device of FIG. 1 with a non-actuated zero-setting pusher and an actuated decoupling pusher. [Figure 7] 2 is a wheel bridge view of the clutch arrangement in FIG. 1 with a 3 / 4 actuated zero setting pusher and an inactive decoupling pusher. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch arrangement along line II in FIG. 1 with a 3 / 4 actuated zero-setting pusher and an inactive decoupling pusher; FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a dial diagram showing the clutch device in FIG. 1 with a 3 / 4 actuated zero-setting pusher and an inactive decoupling pusher. FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is a wheel bridge diagram showing the clutch arrangement in FIG. 1 with a fully actuated zero setting pusher and an inactive decoupling pusher. [Figure 11] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch arrangement along line II in FIG. 1 with a fully actuated zero-setting pusher and an inactive decoupling pusher; FIG. [Figure 12] 2 is a dial diagram showing the clutch device of FIG. 1 with a fully actuated zero-setting pusher and an inactive decoupling pusher. [Figure 13]2 is a wheel bridge diagram showing the clutch arrangement in FIG. 1 with a 3 / 4 actuated zero setting pusher returning from a fully actuated state and a non-actuated decoupling pusher. FIG. [Figure 14] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch arrangement along line II in FIG. 1 with a 3 / 4 actuated zero-setting pusher returning from a fully actuated state and a non-actuated decoupling pusher. [Figure 15] 2 is a dial diagram showing the clutch device of FIG. 1 with a 3 / 4 actuated zero setting pusher returning from a fully actuated state and a non-actuated decoupling pusher. FIG. [Figure 16] 2 is a wheel bridge diagram showing the clutch arrangement in FIG. 1 with a zero setting pusher returning from a fully actuated state and a decoupling pusher in an inactive state. [Figure 17] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch arrangement along line II in FIG. 1, with the zero-setting pusher returning from a fully actuated state and the decoupling pusher in an inactive state; [Figure 18] 2 is a dial diagram showing the clutch device of FIG. 1 with a zero-setting pusher returning from a fully actuated state and a decoupling pusher in an inactive state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The illustrated clutch arrangement comprises a clutch input wheel 1 arranged freely rotatably and axially displaceably on an axially fixed shaft 2 .

[0018] The clutch input wheel 1 is rotatably driven by the chronograph movement (not shown).

[0019] The clutch input wheel 1 has a clutch disc 3 that cannot rotate relative to the clutch disc 3, and an opposing clutch disc 4 that can be displaced in the axial direction is arranged coaxially with the clutch disc 3. The opposing clutch disc 4 is loaded by the spring force of a compression spring 5 to abut in a frictional engagement with the clutch disc 3 at the engagement position.

[0020] The counter clutch disc 4 is formed by the bottom of a clutch sleeve 6 and in the engaged position is in frictional contact with the clutch disc 3. In the end region remote from the counter clutch disc 4, the clutch sleeve 6 has a circumferential collar 7 extending radially outward.

[0021] The collar 7 can be gripped from below by a claw 8, which can be moved by a manually operable decoupling pusher (not shown) from an inoperative position in which the collar 7 is not loaded to an operative position in which the counter clutch disc 4 is lifted from the clutch disc 3.

[0022] The pawl 8 enables the clutch sleeve 6, and therefore the counter clutch disc 4, to be lifted from the clutch disc 3 against the spring force of the compression spring 5 when the decoupling pusher is actuated.

[0023] The pawl 8 can be moved by a two-arm pivot lever 10 that can be pivoted about a pivot axis 9 extending transversely to the axis 2. The end of a first lever arm 11 of the pivot lever 10 can be pivotally loaded by a radial column of a column wheel 13. The end of a second lever arm 14 of the pivot lever 10 can be loaded against a circumferentially protruding collar 16 of a pawl pin 15 that is displaceably guided parallel to the axis 2, and thus the pawl pin 15 can be displaceably loaded. The upper end of the pawl pin 15 acts on the pawl 8, which is thereby loaded axially relative to the axis 2, so that the counter clutch disc 4 is lifted from the engaged position by the stroke 1 to the disengaged position.

[0024] The column wheel 13 can be rotated in steps by means of a decoupling pusher (not shown).

[0025] A zero-setting pusher (not shown) displaces the connecting rod 17, which supports a first crown claw 18 and a second crown claw 19, which allow the stroke crown pinion 20 of the crown wheel 21 to be advanced in stages so as to rotate about the crown wheel axis 27.

[0026] The end face of the claw pin 15 on the side away from the claw 8 abuts against the crown wheel 21.

[0027] The crown wheel 21 has alternating pairs of first and second teeth 23, 24, with the second teeth 24 having a greater height than the first teeth 23. The first teeth 23 allow the pawl pin 15, and therefore the pawl 8, to be raised in stroke 2, and a first gap 25 between the first and second teeth 23, 24 allows the pawl pin 15, and therefore the pawl 8, to be lowered in stroke 3. The second teeth 24 allow the pawl pin 15, and therefore the pawl 8, to be raised in stroke 4, and a second gap 26 after the second teeth 24 allows the pawl pin 15, and therefore the pawl 8, to be lowered to the engagement position.

[0028] In the initial position (see Figures 1 to 3), the clutch output wheel is rotatably driven from the clutch input wheel via the opposing clutch disc 4 that is in frictional contact with the clutch disc 3 and the shaft 2 that is connected to this disc so that it cannot rotate relative to the opposing clutch disc 4.

[0029] To decouple, in a first step, the pawl 8 can be moved from its initial position (see Figures 1 to 3) to its operating position (see Figures 4 to 6) by actuating the decoupling pusher, which lifts the counter clutch disc 4 from the clutch disc 3, thus decoupling the clutch input wheel 1 from the shaft 2 and also the clutch output wheel, which is no longer driven.

[0030] In the second step, the decoupling pusher remains inactive. By operating the zero-setting pusher through ¾ of its operating stroke, the crown wheel 21 is rotated via the connecting rod 17 and the first crown claw 18, so that the pawl pin 15 rides on the first tooth 23 of the crown wheel 21 and the pawl 8 operates by stroke 2 of the maximum stroke to lift the counter clutch disc 4 from the clutch disc 3. In this case, stroke 2 is greater than stroke 1 (see Figures 7 to 9).

[0031] In the third step, the decoupling pusher remains inactive. By operating the zero-setting pusher through its full operating stroke, the crown wheel 21 is further rotated, causing the pawl pin 15 to drop into the first gap 25, which then lowers the pawl 8 to stroke 3 of the maximum stroke. In this case, the counter clutch disc 4 is lifted from the clutch disc 3 by stroke 2 while being locked by a locking device (not shown) (see Figures 10 to 12).

[0032] In this state, the needle can be set to zero without any problems.

[0033] In the fourth step, when the decoupling pusher is inactive, the crown wheel 21 is further rotated by returning the zero-setting pusher to a position three-quarters of its return path, causing the pawl pin 15 to ride over the second tooth 24. This causes the pawl 8 to be lifted by the pawl pin 15 by stroke four of its maximum stroke, to a position where the locking device is released (see Figures 13 to 15).

[0034] In the fifth step, the decoupling pusher remains deactivated. When the zero-setting pusher is deactivated, the crown wheel 21 is again rotated further by returning the zero-setting pusher completely, causing the pawl pin 15 to slide down into the second gap 26. This moves the pawl 8 to its deactivated position, which moves the counter clutch disc 4 into engagement with the clutch disc 3 and again rotatably drives the clutch output wheel (see Figures 16 to 18). [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 clutch input wheel 2-axis 3 clutch discs 4 opposing clutch discs 5 compression springs 6 Clutch sleeve 7 Colors 8 Claws 9 Swivel Axis 10 Swivel lever 11 First lever arm 12 Radial Column 13 Column wheel 14 Second lever arm 15 claw pins 16 pin color 17 Connecting rod 18 First Crown Claw 19 2nd Crown Claw 20 stroke crown pinion 21 Crown Wheel 23 First tooth 24 Second tooth 25 First Gap 26 Second gap 27 Crown wheel axis

Claims

1. A clutch device for a timepiece, comprising: a clutch input wheel (1) rotatably driven by the movement and arranged on an axle (2) which is rotatably driven and axially fixed and which supports a clutch output wheel in a non-rotatable manner relative to the axle; a clutch disc (3) of the clutch input wheel (1) coaxial with the shaft (2), wherein an axially displaceable counter clutch disc (4) is arranged coaxially with the clutch disc (3), the counter clutch disc (4) is spring-loaded to frictionally engage with the clutch disc (3) and can be gripped from below by pawls (8), and the counter clutch disc (4) can be lifted by the pawls (8) from an engaged position in which it abuts the clutch disc (3) to a disengaged position; and Equipped with A clutch device in which the pawl (8) can be moved by a manually operable decoupling pusher from a non-operating position where no load is applied to a working position where the counter clutch disc (4) is lifted from the clutch disc (3) by a stroke 1 of the maximum stroke, The pawl (8) is further movable from the engagement position to a position where it lifts the counter clutch disc (4) from the clutch disc (3) by a control element actuated by a zero-setting pusher, wherein in a first step, the pawl (8) is movable to its actuated position by actuating the decoupling pusher; in a second step, the decoupling pusher remains inactive and the pawl (8) is actuated by actuating the zero-setting pusher to lift the counter clutch disc (4) from the clutch disc (3) by a stroke 2 of the maximum stroke, which is greater than the stroke 1; and in a third step, the decoupling pusher remains inactive and the zero-setting pusher is actuated to lift the counter clutch disc (4) from the clutch disc (3). a clutch device in which the counter clutch disc (4) can be lowered by the control element in stroke 3 of the large stroke, the counter clutch disc (4) being kept lifted in a locked state from the clutch disc (3) by a locking device in stroke 2, the decoupling pusher being kept in a deactivated state in a fourth step, the pawl (8) being lifted by the control element to a position for releasing the locking device in stroke 4 of the maximum stroke due to the deactivation of the zero-setting pusher, and the decoupling pusher being kept in a deactivated state in a fifth step, the pawl (8) being moved to the deactivated position due to the deactivation of the zero-setting pusher, and in the deactivated position the counter clutch disc (4) being moved to the engaged position in contact with the clutch disc (3).

2. 2. A clutch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the counter clutch disc (4) is formed by the bottom of a cup-shaped clutch sleeve (6), the clutch sleeve (6) having a radially projecting collar (7) at its end remote from the bottom.

3. 2. A clutch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pawl (8) is axially displaceable relative to the shaft (2) between the inoperative position and the operative position.

4. 2. A clutch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pawl (8) can be driven to move by a two-armed pivoting lever (10) pivotable about a pivot axis (9) extending transversely to the shaft (2), the end of a first lever (11) of the pivoting lever (10) can be loaded to pivot by a radial column of a column wheel (13), and the end of a second lever arm (14) of the pivoting lever (10) can be loaded to lift the counter clutch disc (4) axially relative to the shaft (2) from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

5. 5. The clutch device according to claim 4, characterized in that the column wheel (13) can be rotated stepwise by a decoupling pusher.

6. 2. A clutch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pawls (8) are arranged on pawl pins (15) displaceably guided parallel to the axis (2), the pawl pins (15) forming the control elements and drivable to move directly or indirectly by the zero-setting pusher.

7. 7. The clutch device according to claim 6, wherein the zero-setting pusher can drive the crown wheel (21) to rotate in stages, the claw pin (15) can be driven to be displaced by the crown wheel (21), and one end surface of the claw pin (15) abuts against the crown wheel (21).

8. 8. A clutch device according to claim 7, wherein the crown wheel (21) has a plurality of alternating pairs of first teeth (23) and second teeth (24), the second teeth (24) having the same or greater height as the first teeth (23), the first teeth (23) allowing the pawl pins (15) and pawls (8) to be lifted in stroke 2, a first gap (25) between the first teeth (23) and the second teeth (24) allowing the pawl pins (15) and pawls (8) to be lowered in stroke 3, the second teeth (24) allowing the pawl pins (15) and pawls (8) to be lifted in stroke 4, and a second gap (26) behind the second teeth (24) allowing the pawl pins (15) and pawls (8) to be lowered to the engaged position.

9. 3. The clutch device according to claim 2, wherein the locking device has a claw, the claw being arranged on the clutch sleeve (6) so as to be pivotable about a claw axis parallel to the shaft (2), the claw being engageable with a locking recess of the shaft (2) when stroke 2 is reached in the second step, and being disengageable from the locking recess when stroke 4 is reached in the fourth step.

10. 10. The clutch device according to claim 9, wherein the claw is held in radially inward elastic contact with the outer circumferential surface of the shaft (2) during the first and second strokes, and after reaching stroke 2, the claw radially inwardly engages with a circumferential annular groove on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft (2).

Images