HK1060790B - Mechanism for chronograph - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to chronograph mechanisms, which allow the measurement of time from a given moment, controlled by pressing push-buttons.

A watch with such a mechanism is, for example, described in the book Theory of Clockwork Chs-A. Reymondin et al. ISBN 2-940025-10-X, page 232 et seq. These watches usually have two pushers, one to start and stop the meter, the other to reset the meter, and the time is displayed by means of at least one hand, usually placed in the centre of the movement and indicating the time in seconds.

These watches allow the duration of an event to be measured, with or without interruptions. For some applications, for example to measure the reflection times of chess players, it is necessary to have an ad hoc device, or to use two chronographs.

The purpose of the present invention is to propose a chronograph mechanism for measuring the duration of two events occurring by an alternate process, which is intended to cooperate with a movement having, as shown for example in previous art. CH 535453: a building designed to carry the components of the movement,the means of running time,including a power source, a time base and a finishing gear.

It shall in particular cover: Timed time-keeping devices,connection devices, arranged to engage and activate the timed time-keeping devices with the current time-keeping devices,connection device actuators,timed time-keeping devices which consist of first and second chronograph gears, each carrying a needle, providing for the display of a timed first and second time respectively,connection devices which consist of first and second clutches, which are intended to connect the clutch clutch with the first and second chronograph clutch respectively, actuators which a control device arranged to engage or release either clutch. As defined in claim 1, the invention features a switch device arranged so that its activation causes the triggered clutch to be triggered and the triggered clutch to be triggered.

In order to allow counting from scratch, the actuators also include an initialization device, arranged to control the reset of the timed time-counting devices.

To prevent manipulation from disturbing the proper functioning of the mechanism or even the abyss, its switching device includes a locking structure arranged so that it can only be operated when one of the chronograph gears is engaged.

In addition, the locking devices cooperate with the actuating devices so that the initiation devices cannot be activated when one of the chronograph gears is engaged.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be shown in the following description, made in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a watch with a mechanism according to the invention,Figure 2 shows a diagram of the operation of this watch, andFigures 3 to 6 show the mechanism according to the invention in different positions, corresponding to the main steps encountered during operation.

In the following description, the position of the various components of the watch is sometimes defined by reference to the position of a hour hand on the dial.

In Figure 1 a watch 10 is shown with a box 12, a dial 14, a crown for mounting and timing 16, five hands bearing the references 18 to 23 and three push buttons bearing the references 24 to 26.

The box 12 normally contains and protects a movement with a time-keeping mechanism, as will be explained below, which is closed by a glass, not visible in the drawing, covering dial 14 and hands 18 to 23.

The hands 18 and 19 rotate in the center of the dial 14 and display the hours and minutes of the current time respectively. The hands 20 and 21 are arranged concentrically at the hands 18 and 19. They are driven by a first and second meter respectively and are intended to display the seconds of a first and second timed time. The hands 22 and 23, which are decentered and associated with a small non-referenced dial and placed at three o'clock, provide the minutes of the first and second timed time respectively.

The pusher 24, set at two o'clock, commands either the start or the stop of the measurement of one or the other of the two timed times, according to a logic which will be described in reference to Figure 2.

To give a clear picture of the operation of the mechanism of the invention, Figure 2 shows in a schematic manner the effect of pressure on either of the pushers.

In this diagram, the inactivity of the pushers in the different states that the mechanism can take has not been taken into account. Generally, it appears that pusher 24 is operational regardless of the state in which the mechanism is located. Pusher 25 is only active if either of the counters is in operation, whereas pusher 26 can only perform a reset when the first counters are stopped and the second is stopped or at zero.

In this figure, the rectangles in bold indicate actions P1, P2 and P3 performed by the watch user on the push buttons 24, 25 and 26 respectively.

The rectangles in fine lines indicate the changes that the action under consideration brings to the mechanism. In these rectangles, C1 and C2 identify the first and second counters, Start, Stop and Reset respectively, their start, stop and reset. The circles surrounding a capital letter define the different states in which the mechanism is after the action, listed in the table below. - What?

Etat	Premier compteur	Second compteur
A zéro	A zéro
Compte	A zéro
Arrêté	A zéro
Arrêté	Compte
Arrêté	Arrêté
Compte	Arrêté

The watch is in state A when no time is timed, the hands 20, 21 22 and 23 being at zero. In this state, only a pressure P1, on the pusher 24 is acting. It causes the first counter to start and the hands 20 and 22 to move, hands 21 and 23 remaining at zero, which corresponds to state B of the mechanism. From this state, a new pressure on the pusher 24 (P1) has the effect of stopping the first counter, consequently the hands 20 and 22 indicating the time measured, which corresponds to the first time C of the mechanism.

When the mechanism is in state C, a further pressure on pusher 24 (P1) starts the first counter, returning the mechanism to state B, while a pressure on pusher 26 (P3) causes the hands 20 and 22 to reset and return to state A.

When the mechanism is in state D, pressure on pusher 24 (P1) causes the second meter to stop, the first meter being also stopped, which corresponds to state E. At state D always, pressure on pusher 25 (P2) causes a new switch of the meters, the first meter starting again, while the second stops.

If the mechanism is in state E, pressure on pusher 24 (P1) restarts the second counter, which corresponds to state D, while pressure on pusher 26 (P3) sets both counters to zero, returning the mechanism to its initial state A.

When the mechanism is in state F, pushers 24 (P1) and 25 (P2) can be activated, which is comparable to state B. However, in state F, the second counter, stopped, indicates a time measured, whereas in state B it was at zero.

The mechanism performing these functions is shown in Figures 3 to 6. It is mounted on a plate forming building 28, part of the basic movement and which can, for example, also provide a barrel bridge function. It is located on the back side of the watch. In Figure 3, the parts which make up the mechanism are in state A as defined in reference to Figure 2, i.e. in the state when the mechanism is at rest, the hands 20 to 22 being at zero. Figure 4 corresponds to state B, Figure 5 to state D, and Figure 6 to state C or D.

Depending on whether the coin is visible or hidden, the link between the coin and its reference number may or may not have a dot at its end attached to the coin.

In order to avoid overloading the drawing, they were represented by an arrow Fi (i being the reference of the part on which it acts) indicating the direction of the force they generate. The tip of the arrows is applied to the vicinity of the point of contact. When two identical parts are superimposed, the reference of the spring has an oblique bar followed by the last digit of the reference of the lower part.

In these figures, the push-buttons 24 to 26 are shown schematically by their end placed inside the box.

The basic movement has not been represented; it consists, in the classical way, of an energy source, a time base and a finishing gear providing the connection of the energy source to the time base and consequently the current time counting.

Building 28 is the gateway to the building . The time-counting means 40, the linking means 50, the actuation means 60, and the initialization means 70 are only shown in detail in Figure 6.

The timing means 40 consist of two wheels 421 and 422, of the same diameter and with the same number of teeth, arranged coaxially at the centre of the movement and arranged to carry the 20th and 21st hands respectively. They also include two coaxal wheels, not shown in the drawing, arranged to rotate on the 28th shaft in a 28a hole, and driven by the 421 and 422 wheels respectively at one step per minute or half a minute, and arranged so that the 22nd and 23rd hands, which they carry, respectively, make one turn in thirty minutes.

The means of attachment 50 comprise two pendulums 521 and 522, which are pivoting on the 28th shaft, in their middle part on the same axis, which is outside the frame of the drawing. These pendulums 521 and 522 carry, at one end, a freely mounted wheel, identified by the letter a. They are fitted, at the other end, with a nose identified by the letter b, and are intended to cooperate with the means of actuation 60, as will be explained below. The wheels 521a and 522a are arranged so that they engage continuously with the 301 and 302 and sequentially with the 421 and 422 respectively, with reference to the means of actuation, as will be explained below.

In this arrangement, wheel 421 and the first of the unrepresented wheels rotating in 28a together form the first timed gear, while wheel 422 and the second of the unrepresented wheels form the second timed gear.

The actuators 60 are controlled by the pusher 24, 25 and 26. a power of not more than 50 W, a 61a body rotating in its centre on bar 28 in 28c,a 61b control pin on bar 61a at one end,a 61c drive pin,mounted on bar 61a at the other end and positioned by a 61d pin on bar 61a,a 61e push pin facing bar 24 and a 61f release pin;trigger-release levers 621 and 622, superimposed, each with a body identified by the letter a and rotating in its centre at a single point on bar 28and each fitted with a button identified by the letter b, to control the start and stop of the first and second counters respectively, a trigger cutter identified by the letter c and a finger identified by the letter d extending in the vicinity of the push button 25; a switch lever 64, incorporating a body 64a mounted in its middle part on the 28th leg,an arm 64b mounted articulated on the 64a leg and bearing a pin 64c arranged to cooperate with the 25th pusher and the 621d and 622d fingers,a clicker 64d mounted in a rotation at the free end of the 64b leg,a 64e pin, also in conjunction with the 64b arm, a 64f contact finger, placed on the body 64a between its pivot point 28e and its end supporting the 64b arm, and a 64g release pin, placed on the body 64a, at the opposite end of the one supporting the 64b arm;a selection lever 65, formed: a body 65a mounted in a pivoting position, in its centre part, in 28f on the 28th mast, and fitted at one end with a nose 65b,an arm 65c mounted articulately at the other end of the body 65a and fitted at its free end with a drive pin 65d;two column wheels 661 and 662,Coaxial and pivoting mountings on the 28g frame, each comprising a rocket wheel cooperating with the 621b and 622b clicks respectively, and a set of columns cooperating with the 521b and 522b noses respectively (the structure of these wheels has not been shown in detail, as being well known to the professional); two coordination wheels 67 and 68, rotating at 28h and 28j respectively, each identifying a 6-toothed star wheel identified by the letter a and a cam with three c-clamps separated by d-holes, arranged regularly on the periphery of the cam; and the intercam 69,consisting of a body 69a mounted pivoting in its middle part at 28k on the 28th wheel and having a finger 69b supporting the cam 67b, an index 69c designed to cooperate with the pin 61f, the finger and index finger being in the vicinity of the wheel 67, while the other end, adjacent to the wheel 68, comprises, mounted pivoting, a 69d button and a 69e button, solid to the body 69a and serving as a stopper to the 69d button.

The initialization means 70 are all visible only in Figure 6. They include a control lever 71 and a hammer 72, respectively, mounted at 281 m and 28 m on bar 28

The lever 71 has a 71a pin, arranged so that the 26th pusher can operate it, a 71b nose, which is called to cooperate with the 69d clicker, and a 71c arm, forming a stopper for the 72 hammer.

The hammer 72 consists of a 72a body, which carries, in the vicinity of its pivot point of 28 m, a 72b pin and two 721c and 722c noses superimposed.

The other end of the body 72a carries two 72d and 72e arms each fitted at its free end with two superimposed heels, namely heels 721d and 722d for the 72d arm, 721e and 722e for the 72e arm.

In the mechanism thus described, the resting position of the various parts is usually determined by the action of a spring which holds each part in a socket.

Thus, as long as no pressure is applied to the pusher 24, the swing 61 is held in the position shown in Figure 3 by the action of a spring F61a, schematically represented by an arrow, as explained above, supporting a buttress which was not shown in the drawing.

The bodies 62a and 622a of the levers 621 and 622 are held in place, respectively, against an unrepresented stub, by superimposed springs F621a and F622a, marked F621/2a in Figure 3. The clicks 621b and 622b are respectively constrained by springs tending to keep them in contact with the rim of the column wheels 661 and 662, marked F621/2b.

The switch lever 64 is supported by its contact finger 64f against the cam 67b, by a spring F64a acting on its body 64a. The arm 64b is supported against a solidary buttock of the bar 28 and schematically represented by a pin 28n, by a spring F64b. The clicker 64d is positioned against the pin 64e by a spring F64d.

The selection lever 65 shall be subjected to a spring F65a, acting on the body 65a so that the nose 65b is supported against the cam 68b, and to a spring F65c applying the arm 65c by the pin 65d against the lever 621 or 622.

To hold the interlock 69 lever against the 69c cam, the 69a body is constrained by a spring F69a.

The lever 71 is subjected to a spring F71 which tends to resist the force applied by the pusher 26.

A spring F72a is supported against the body 72a so that the heels are supported against the hubs when neither the nose nor the pin 72a are held by the arm 71c and the columns of the wheels 661 and 662 respectively (Figure 6).

The column wheels 661 and 662 and the coordination wheels 67 and 68 are positioned by spring springs, not shown in the drawing.

It should be noted that the means of operation described above perform both a control and a switching function, and thus constitute a control device consisting essentially of the switch 61 and the levers 621 and 622, and a switching device consisting essentially of the switch 64 and the switch 65.

When the device is in the A position, as shown in Figure 3, and pressure is applied to the pusher 24, the pusher 61 is supported against the pusher 61 which rotates the control switch 61 In this movement, the pusher 61b comes into contact with the arm 65c which is also pulled, so that its pusher 65d is applied against the lever 621, which rotates in 28d. However, the lever 622 remains fixed because its cut 622c is opposite the pusher 65d.

The 621b clutch drives the 661 column wheel, so that the 521b nose is between two columns and the 521 swing moves until the 521a wheel is matched with the 421a wheel.

The 64 and inter-cam switching levers 69 supporting cam 67b also swing to the position shown in Figure 4. The swing of the 64 lever brings the 64c pin into the space swept by the pusher 25, thus providing a clutch structure function, allowing the switching device to operate, as will be explained below. These levers' movements have no immediate effect, they merely place these parts so that they can be activated later, as will be explained below.

Although only shown in Figure 6, the hammer 72 also pivots when the pusher 24 is operated, because the rotation of the 661 column wheel raises the 721c nose by a column. The heels 721d, 722d, 721e and 722e then release the wheels from the chronograph gears, particularly the 421 and 422 wheels.

It should be noted that in state A, an action on the pusher 25 will be ineffective, no part cooperating with it. A pressure on the pusher 26 will, however, rotate the lever 71.

The mechanism has moved from state A to state B, as shown in Figure 4, and it is then possible to operate pushers 24 or 25. An action on pusher 26 is, however, ineffective.

In the B position, the action of the pusher 24 causes, in a similar way to that described in reference to Figure 3, the shifting of the swing 61 which turns the column wheel 661 and the coordination wheel 67 one more time.

The mechanism is then in state C, i.e. the first timer is stopped and displays the first timed time, while the second meter is at zero. In this state, the mechanism occupies the same position as that represented in Figure 3. However, there are two differences between states A and C. On the one hand, the first timed timer is no longer at zero, and on the other hand, the hammer 72 is in the wheel clearance position and not in the initialization position. These differences do not appear in Figure 3.

If the user presses the pusher 25, the user comes to rest against the pin 64c, which causes the 64b arm of the switch lever 64 to rotate on its body 64a.

The 64c pin simultaneously pushes the 621d and 622d levers against their 621d and 622d fingers, so that the 621c and 622c clicks pull the 661 and 662 column wheels in one step, respectively. The 521 which was between two columns is placed against a column, while the 522 which was against a column falls between two columns. Thus the 521a wheel is unbroken from the 421 wheel, which stops the count of the first timed time, and the 522a wheel is entangled with the 422 wheel, which starts the count of the second timed time.

With the movement of the arm 64b, the clicker 64d pushes the coordination wheel 68 by one step.

The mechanism has thus passed to state D, which is shown in Figure 5. In this state, an action on the pusher 26 is ineffective, but this time it is the column wheel 662 that prevents the hammer 72 from tilting.

In the D-position, it is also possible to operate the pushers 24 and 25. Pressure on the pusher 24 causes the swing 61 to pivot in a similar way to what has been explained above, which causes the 65c arm, which is in such a position that its 65d pin controls the 622 lever only. The latter turns the 662 column wheel in one step, so that the 522 swing is supported against a column and the 522a wheel is unlocked from the 422 wheel. The second counter, like the first, is stopped, which therefore corresponds to the E-position, in which the pieces represented in the drawing occupy the same position as in the C-position. The only difference lies in the position of the 21 C-position, which is a time occupy, while the C-position is at the z-position.

When the mechanism is in state D, as shown in Figure 5, pressure on the pusher 25 again actuates the arm 64b, and with it the two levers 621 and 622, so that the first meter, which was stopped, restarts while the second meter stops, which corresponds to state F. In other words, as soon as one meter turns, pressure on the pusher 25 causes it to stop and the other to start.

The controls of the mechanism when in state E are the same as when in state C and in state B when in state F. These situations will not be described in more detail.

When the mechanism is in the C or E state, it is possible to reset the counters, as shown in Figure 6, by pressing the pusher 26 against the 71a lever of the 71st lever, which rotates the 71c lever so that the 72b lever is no longer held by the 71c arm.

In addition, the nose 71b pushes the 69d button, which pulls the 68 coordinating wheel by its star 68a, so that the selection lever 65 is in the position where pressure on the pusher 24 causes the first timed timer to be triggered.

It is obvious that the mechanism described above is only an example of an implementation and that the same objective can be achieved with variants using other components or with the same but different shapes, without going beyond the scope of the invention.

It should be noted that the solution described requires less energy than the mechanisms of the catch-up chronograph, while allowing a more complete and precise measurement.

Claims (4)

1. Chronograph mechanism cooperating with a movement including:

   • a frame (28) for carrying the components of the movement,

   • means for counting the current time, including an energy source, a time base and a going train,

   said mechanism including:

   • means for counting measured times (40),

   • coupling means (50), arranged for engaging and releasing the measured time counting means from the current time counting means, and

   • means (60) for actuating the coupling means (50)

   • said means for counting measured times (40) including first (421) and second (422) chronograph gear trains, each intended to carry a hand (20, 22; 21, 23), which respectively assure the display of a first and a second measured time,

   • said coupling means (50) including first and second coupling clutches (521, 522), for connecting the going train respectively to the first and the second chronograph gear trains,

   • said actuating means including:

   - a control device (61, 65) arranged so as to engage or release one coupling clutch or the other (521, 522),

   characterised in that a switching device (64, 65) is arranged such that actuation thereof causes the engaged coupling clutch to be released and the released coupling clutch to be engaged.
2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterised in that said actuating means further include an initialisation device (70) arranged for controlling the resetting to zero of the measured time counting means (40).
3. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterised in that the switching device (64, 65) includes a coupling structure (64b, 64c, 64d) arranged such that it can only be actuated when one of the chronograph gear trains (421, 422) is coupled.
4. Mechanism according to claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the actuating means (60) include a locking structure (662, 664) arranged such that the initialisation device (70) cannot be actuated when one of the chronograph gear trains (421, 422) is coupled.