CH711916B1 - Automatic mechanical energy storage system for watch movement. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mechanical energy storage system, for watch movement (1), comprising first and second barrels (2, 4) and a winding mechanism, comprising a winding rotor (8) and a rotary mobile ( 34) integral with the rotor (8), intended to reload a barrel (2) in a first direction of rotation and the other barrel (4) in the opposite direction of rotation. A return (44), in engagement with the rotary mobile (34), is carried by a rocker (38) capable of establishing, respectively, a first connection between the rotary mobile (34) and the first barrel (2) and a second connection between the rotary mobile (34) and the other barrel (4). The position of the rocker (38) is a function of the direction of rotation of the rotary mobile (34) to establish one or the other of the kinematic connections.

Description

Description

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to an automatic mechanical energy storage system, for a watch movement, comprising first and second independent barrels and a winding mechanism intended for recharging the first and second barrels, the winding mechanism comprising a automatic winding device, comprising a winding rotor, as well as a rotary mobile having a mechanical connection with the winding rotor, so that the direction of rotation of the rotary mobile is a function of the direction of rotation of the winding rotor.

STATE OF THE ART [0002] Timepieces comprising mechanical energy storage systems of this type are already known. Different types of watchmaking functions can justify the implementation of at least two independent barrels, one of which supplies the basic movement with mechanical energy, in particular to display the current time, and the second which supplies a particular complication with mechanical energy without disrupt the progress of the basic movement. Non-limiting examples of complications to which a specific barrel can be associated are a chronograph, a ring, or even a simple display by large disks. One can also imagine the use of two independent barrels in a watch movement comprising two independent time bases, associated with two independent cogs, or even the juxtaposition of several watch movements in the same box, each of which comprises at least one barrel.

For example, patent CH 699 825 describes and illustrates a timepiece comprising a box comprising a support carrying several independent watch movements, each of which comprises a barrel as a source of mechanical energy. An automatic winding device including a winding rotor is provided to simultaneously recharge all of the barrels.

If this system allows to use a single winding rotor larger than small independent rotors, each of which would be carried directly by each of the watch movements, it requires the implementation of a large winding rotor inertia to overcome the sum of the winding torques of all the barrels, since they are all recharged at the same time. Such a rotor can have a large size having an impact on the appearance of the corresponding timepiece.

Disclosure of the invention A main object of the present invention is to provide an automatic mechanical energy storage system of the type mentioned above, of alternative construction to that which has just been described, having a quasi- nonexistent on the volume of a timepiece in which it would be implemented, while being simple, robust and reliable.

To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to an automatic mechanical energy storage system meeting the characteristics mentioned above, in which the winding mechanism is arranged to reload a first barrel in a first direction of rotation of the rotor. reassembly and the other barrel in the opposite direction of rotation, the system comprising a first kinematic link comprising a first clutch mobile arranged to transmit the rotation of the rotary mobile in a first direction of rotation to the first barrel, and a second connection kinematics comprising a second clutch movable arranged to transmit the rotation of the rotary movable in the direction of rotation opposite to the second barrel, and being characterized by making the winding mechanism include a return arranged in permanent engagement with the rotary movable and carried by a rocker capable of pivoting between first and second respective positions to establish, respectively, the first kinematic connection between the rotary mobile and the first barrel and the second kinematic connection between the rotary mobile and the other barrel, and by the fact that the position of the rocker depends on the direction of rotation of the rotary mobile.

Thanks to these characteristics, only one barrel is recharged at a time and the winding rotor can be conventional from the point of view of its inertial characteristics. In addition, the winding of the two barrels is carried out automatically at random, and substantially to the same extent for both, since the distribution of the movements of the timepiece on the wrist of its wearer is random. Thus, the wearer does not have to worry about the level of winding of one or the other of the two barrels which are automatically wound to a sufficient extent to fulfill their respective functions.

Preferably, the rotary mobile comprises a toothed board secured to the winding rotor while being coaxial with the latter.

Advantageously, the gear can be arranged to mesh with a reduction gear train of the first kinematic link in the first position of the rocker, while the rocker can also carry an additional gear arranged in permanent engagement with the rotary mobile and arranged to mesh with a reduction gear train of the second kinematic link in the second position of the rocker.

CH 711 916 B1 In this case, it can be provided that the scale comprises a first arm carrying the reference and a second arm carrying the additional reference.

These characteristics allow the watch manufacturer to have the various components of the system almost anywhere in the watch movement, including the reduction cogs, and allow him to take into account the constraints inherent in the other components of the movement with great flexibility.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece movement provided with an automatic mechanical energy storage system meeting the characteristics which have just been presented, as well as a timepiece equipped with such a timepiece movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, given with reference to the attached drawing, given by way of example. non-limiting and, representing a simplified perspective view of part of a timepiece movement comprising a mechanical energy storage system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Mode (s) of Carrying Out the Invention [0014]

Fig. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a part of a watch movement 1 comprising a mechanical energy storage system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The watch movement 1 comprises a conventional frame, intended to support the components of the movement, which has not been shown for clarity.

The watch movement 1 will not be described in detail since many of the elements that compose it are not illustrated and do not have a direct impact on the implementation of the present invention.

In this preferred embodiment, by way of nonlimiting illustration, the watch movement 1 comprises two barrels 2 and 4, each of which carries a ratchet 6 integral in rotation with the corresponding barrel shaft, in known manner. Alternatively, the implementation of the present invention can be carried out in relation to one or more barrels, the reassembly of which is carried out by the drum, and the person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the present teaching according to of his own needs.

The watch movement 1 can for example be implemented in a timepiece comprising a display of the current time, one of the barrels supplying a first conventional time base, and a particular complication possibly operating in relation with a second time base, to display measured times, a second time zone or even information linked to the date or phases of the Moon, by way of non-limiting illustration.

The watch movement 1 includes a winding mechanism comprising in particular an automatic winding device.

The automatic winding device comprises a conventional winding rotor 8, or oscillating mass. Here, the rotor 8 is of the micro-rotor type by way of nonlimiting illustration. The present invention can equally be implemented with a rotor whose radius would generally be of the same order as that of the watch movement 1.

The winding rotor 8 is capable of being kinematically connected to one or the other of the barrels 2, 4 by means of the first second reduction cogs 10, 12 similar here.

Each of the reduction gears 10, 12 includes first, second, third and fourth references 14, 16, 18 and 20, as well as a clutch mobile 22, 24.

The clutch mobiles 22 and 24 can be of any known suitable type and are here mounted in opposite directions.

Indeed, the clutch mobile 22 includes a plate 26 intended to be driven from the winding rotor 8. A pawl spring 28 is arranged on the plate 26 with three drive portions housed in suitable holes of the board 26. The pawl spring 28 is integral with a shaft 30 carrying a pinion (not visible) arranged in engagement with the ratchet 6 of the first barrel 2. When the board 26 is driven in the counterclockwise rotation direction on the fig. 1, the orientation of the arms of the pawl spring 28 is such that the plate 26 drives the pawl spring 28 with it and therefore also the ratchet 6 of the first barrel 2, which is thus recharged by rotation of its shaft clockwise. It will be noted that if the ratchet 6 is also driven to rotate in the direction of clockwise rotation in FIG. 1, it drives the shaft 30 counterclockwise, but the drive portions of the pawl spring 28 are deformed and are then extracted from the holes in the board 26, so that the latter is not driven in rotation.

Due to the similarity of the two reduction gears 10 and 12, the two clutch mobiles 22 and 24 are driven in the same direction of rotation by the winding rotor 8. However, the pawl spring 32 of the mobile clutch 24 is mounted in the opposite direction with reference to the pawl spring 28 of the clutch mobile 22. Thus, the ratchet 6 of the second barrel 4

CH 711 916 B1 is driven when the clutch mobiles 22, 24 rotate in the clockwise direction and is not when the clutch mobiles 22, 24 rotate anti-clockwise.

Thanks to these characteristics, the barrels 2 and 4 are reloaded alternately.

To transmit the movements of the winding rotor 8 to the barrels 2 and 4, a rotary mobile 34 is provided so as to be able to rotate in one direction or the other depending on the movements of the winding rotor 8. The rotary mobile 34 comprises a toothed board 36 coaxial with the winding rotor 8, being integral with the latter.

Furthermore, a rocker 38 is arranged coaxial with the winding rotor 8, being free to rotate relative to the latter, the latter having two arms 40 and 42, spaced here by a hundred degrees by way of illustration. not limiting.

Each of the arms 40, 42 carries a reference 44, 46 near its free end. The references 44, 46 are here rotatably cantilevered on the lever 38, by means of ball bearings.

Each of the arms 40, 42 has a length such that the corresponding reference is arranged in permanent engagement with the toothed board 36 and can be positioned to mesh with one of the reduction cogs 10, 12.

Indeed, it appears from FIG. 1 that when the winding rotor 8 rotates clockwise, it drives the toothed board 36 in the same direction and the latter exerts a tangential force on the references 44, 46 causing the rocker 38 to rotate in the direction of clockwise rotation, until the reference 46 abuts against the first reference 14 of the second reduction gear train 12 and drives it in the direction of clockwise rotation. The clutch mobile 24 is also driven clockwise in this case, and therefore the second barrel 4 is recharged.

Conversely, when the winding rotor 8 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of rotation, it drives the toothed board 36 in the same direction and the latter exerts a tangential force on the references 44, 46 causing a rotation of the rocker 38 in the counterclockwise direction of rotation, until the return 44 abuts against the first return 14 of the first reduction gear train 10 and drives it in the counterclockwise rotation direction. The clutch mobile 22 is also driven counterclockwise in this case, and therefore the first barrel 2 is recharged.

Of course, even if such a solution is less advantageous due to the friction generated, and therefore the faster wear of the components involved and a lower yield, it is conceivable to provide that the lever 38 does not pivot almost not or not at all, the references 44 and 46 then being in permanent engagement with the first reference 14 of the corresponding gear train 10, 12.

Note that as regards the manual winding device, it may for example include a rocker controlled to pivot between two positions, depending on the direction of rotation of a winding stem, so that the movements of rotation of the winding stem in a first direction of rotation are transmitted to a first barrel and that the rotational movements of the winding stem in the other direction of rotation are transmitted to the other barrel. A winding train of known structure is preferably arranged between the winding rod and each of the ratchets. When a given ratchet is driven (in the direction of reassembly of the corresponding barrel), the corresponding clutch mobile 22 or 24 is automatically disengaged, by deformation of its pawl spring 28 or 32 as explained above, in such a way that the winding rotor 8 is not rotated.

In general, it will also be noted that the first references 14 of the first and second kinematic connections are advantageously made in the form of unidirectional transmission mobiles playing the role of pawls, to avoid reeling of the barrels in the reduction cogs 10 and 12. In this case, each reference 14 can for example be pivotally mounted on a fixed shaft by means of balls or rollers, so that it can rotate in a first direction of rotation and be locked in the other direction of rotation, by compression of the balls or rollers against the fixed shaft, in known manner. Of course, it is possible to use an ordinary pawl in each reduction gear, alternatively, which could for example be engaged with the first reference 14 which would be conventional in this case. In other words, if the pinion of one of the first references 14 were to undergo a force, from the corresponding barrel, which would tend to drive it in the direction opposite to its normal direction of rotation, that is to say when it is driven by the winding rotor 8 to reload this same barrel, the rotation of the gearboxes of the corresponding reduction gear train would be locked by locking the first gearbox 14. Thus, the barrels can only release mechanical energy by their drum, conventionally.

Thanks to the characteristics which have been exposed, a timepiece with two independent barrels can be produced, without involving a change in behavior for its user with reference to a standard timepiece with a single barrel. The construction and the mode of operation of the automatic mechanical energy storage system according to the present invention are robust and allow efficient recharging of the two barrels at the same time without any constraint for the user or any impact on the volume of the part d corresponding watchmaking.

The above description sets out to describe a particular embodiment by way of nonlimiting illustration and, the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, as for example the number of barrels - it is possible to envisage groups of independent barrels - or the structure of the reduction cogs, or even of the clutch mobiles. Similarly, the shape illustrated and described for the scale is not limiting. Furthermore, the rotary mobile driven by the winding rotor can be a mobile whose axis of rotation

CH 711 916 B1 is offset from that of the rotor and be arranged in engagement with a pinion integral with the rotor, without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it is possible to implement the present invention in relation to at least two independent barrels having different technical specifications, in which case the reduction cogs could be differentiated to take into account different winding constraints.

Those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to their own needs and, implementing a timepiece that only partially meets the characteristics described, comprising a system of mechanical energy storage comprising two independent barrels wound by an automatic winding device, while remaining within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (6)

Claims 1. Automatic mechanical energy storage system, for watch movement (1), comprising first and second independent barrels (2, 4) and a winding mechanism intended for recharging said first and second barrels, said winding mechanism comprising a automatic winding device, comprising a winding rotor (8), as well as a rotary mobile (34) having a mechanical connection with said winding rotor (8), such that the direction of rotation of said rotary mobile (34) either as a function of the direction of rotation of said winding rotor (8), said winding mechanism being arranged to reload the first barrel (2) in a first direction of rotation of said winding rotor (8) and the other barrel (4) in the opposite direction of rotation, the system comprising a first kinematic connection comprising a first clutch mobile (22) arranged to transmit the rotation of said rotary mobile (34) in a first direction of rotation to said first barrel (2), and a second kinematic connection comprising a second clutch mobile (24) arranged to transmit the rotation of said rotary mobile (34) in the direction of rotation opposite to said second barrel (4), characterized in that said winding mechanism comprises a return (44) arranged in permanent engagement with said rotary mobile (34) and carried by a rocker (38) capable of pivoting between first and second respective positions to establish, respectively, the first kinematic connection between said rotary mobile (34) and said first barrel (2) and the second kinematic connection between said rotary mobile (34) and the other barrel (4), and in that the position of said rocker (38) depends on the direction of rotation of said rotary mobile (34). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotary mobile (34) comprises a toothed board (36) integral with said winding rotor (8) being coaxial with the latter. 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said return (44) is arranged to mesh with a reduction gear (10) of said first kinematic link in said first position of said rocker (38), and in that said rocker (38) carries an additional return (46) arranged in permanent engagement with said rotary mobile (34) and arranged to mesh with a reduction gear (12) of said second kinematic link in said second position of said rocker (38). 4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that said lever (38) comprises a first arm (40) carrying said return (44) and a second arm (42) carrying said additional return (46). 5. Watch movement (1) comprising an automatic energy storage system according to one of claims 1 to 4. 6. Timepiece comprising a box housing a timepiece movement (1) according to claim 5.