HK1111233A - Tourbillon for timepiece - Google Patents

Description

Tourbillon device of timer

Technical Field

The invention relates to a tourbillon device for a timepiece movement, to a movement and to a timepiece provided with such a tourbillon device.

Background

Various systems are known for reducing the variation in the operating rate of a wristwatch when worn. The tourbillon is one of the most commonly used systems, since the rotation of the adjustment mechanism (usually one revolution per minute) virtually eliminates the rate difference in the vertical position.

The rotating frame (carriage) of the tourbillon is usually fixed in position by two pivots, one in the plate and the other in the bridge, or mounted in ball bearings in the form of pivots, which are more clearly visible on the dial side.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the invention is to eliminate the central guidance of the rotating frame of the tourbillon and to improve the guidance of the rotating frame and the overall aesthetic appearance of the watch movement.

To this end, the invention provides for the guiding of the rotating frame around the tourbillon device, so that the visibility of the rotating frame is improved.

The tourbillon device proposed by the invention is suitable for comprising a movement comprising a frame on which the tourbillon is mounted, comprising a rotating frame with a balance spring, a spiral and an escapement, and further comprising a support designed to provide a rotating movement with respect to the movement frame. The tourbillon device is characterized in that the bracket is provided with an annular periphery and can act in cooperation with at least three rollers, so that the tourbillon device rotates around a pivot on the movement and suspension and positioning of the tourbillon device on the framework are guaranteed.

The invention also relates to a movement comprising at least three rollers pivoted with respect to a movement frame, between which rollers a tourbillon device having the above-mentioned characteristics is suspended and guided.

According to a preferred embodiment, one of the pivoting rollers is movable in a transverse direction with respect to its axis of rotation, so as to enable engagement and mounting of the revolving frame between the rollers.

The movement is characterized in that an eccentric body is provided, so that the position of the movable roller on the framework can be accurately adjusted, and the aim of adjusting the clearance of the mechanism is fulfilled.

The movable roller may be mounted on an arm that is pivotable between an open position and a locked position of the rotating frame.

The rotating frame may provide an upper carriage, a lower carriage and an escape wheel carriage supporting a balance spring, a spiral, an escape wheel and a pallet (pallet) assembly.

The lower support is preferably in a circular configuration with a periphery designed to fit into a groove on the outer edge of each roller.

The tourbillon device may be driven by a pinion fixed below the rotating frame. In addition, the tourbillon device can also be driven by a gear ring on a rotating frame for fixing the flywheel, and a lower bracket is preferably selected, namely, the lower bracket is positioned on one side of a bracket of a machine core installed on the tourbillon device.

After the tourbillon device proposed by the invention is used, the central guide of the rotating frame can be replaced by the guide of three rollers, and the three rollers determine the axial and radial positions of the lower bracket of the flywheel rotating frame from the outside. In this way the guiding of the rotating frame is better and more accurate than the guiding provided by the central pivot. Furthermore, the visibility of the timepiece equipped with the tourbillon device is greatly improved, both from the side of the dial and from the back of the timepiece.

Drawings

The figures show, as an example, two embodiments of a floated gyrocompass device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a suspended tourbillon device, illustrating the rotation of the frame of the tourbillon driven by a central pinion fixed to said frame;

fig. 2 is a cross-section of the tourbillon device shown in fig. 1, in section, including the axis of rotation of the rotating frame and of the escape wheel;

figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a floated tourbillon device, shown with an outer toothed ring fixed to the lower support of the rotating frame, driving the rotating frame of the flywheel;

fig. 4 is a section of the tourbillon device shown in fig. 3, in section, including the axis of rotation of the rotating frame and of the escape wheel.

Detailed Description

In order to better understand the two embodiments of the mechanism shown in figures 1 to 4, the frame parts of the movement, in particular the bridge and the bracket, are not shown in the perspective views of figures 1 to 3. The tourbillon device shown in the figures was developed for a wristwatch. However, it is not limited to this use, and the tourbillon device shown in the drawings may be mounted on a pocket watch or a small timepiece.

The floated tourbillon device shown in the two different embodiments of the figures comprises a rotating frame of a tourbillon, which is essentially composed of an upper support 1, a lower support 2 and an escape wheel support 3 with a balance spring 4, an escape wheel 5 and a pallet assembly 6. The rotating frame is carried by a pinion 7 (fig. 1) fixed under the frame or by a toothed ring 8 (fig. 3) fixed to the lower frame 2. The lower carriage 2 of the frame is designed to be axially and radially positionable by means of two fixed rollers 9 and 10 and one movable roller 11.

The latter is connected to the frame of the movement in such a way that the movable roller can move between two extreme positions in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of rotation. As shown in the example, the movable roller is carried by an arm 11a pivoted between an open position enabling the frame to be engaged between the rollers and a locked position adjustable by pivoting an eccentric 12 on the arm. The change in direction of the eccentric body makes it possible to adjust the position of the mobile roller with respect to the frame of the movement, in a known manner. The adjustment mechanism of the rotating frame of the tourbillon is movably housed in a conventional manner by a fixed wheel 13, fixed to a plate (not shown), fixed 13 in such a way as to be able to engage with escape wheel 5.

As shown in the drawings, the lower bracket 2 provides an annular outer edge which fits into an annular groove in the outer edge of each roller 9, 10 and 11. It is characterized in that, on the one hand, the peripheral surface of the lower bracket 2 and, on the other hand, the annular groove can be practically shaped complementarily.

Those skilled in the art will be able to fit the rollers on the frame of the movement in a manner best suited to their needs, without however going beyond the scope of the present invention as described in the claims. In particular, the fixed rollers 9 and 10 may be mounted on the jewel pivot axis of the frame, one in the bridge and the other in the support, or just on ball bearings.

The positioning and guiding of the frame is carried out outside said frame, so that the functional action of the movement is visible both at the bottom and at the top.

Claims (12)

1. A tourbillon device for a movement, comprising a frame for mounting said tourbillon device, said tourbillon device comprising a frame (1, 2, 3) with a balance spring (4), a spiral and an escape wheel (5), and further comprising a support (2) for providing a rotary motion with respect to the frame of the movement, characterized in that: the support, which is circular in periphery, can cooperate with at least three rollers (9, 10, 11) pivoted on the movement to ensure the suspension and positioning of the tourbillon on the frame.

2. Tourbillon device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the circular periphery provides a surface whose shape is practically complementary to the surface of each roller of the movement, since the surface of the circular periphery comes into contact with the surface of each roller.

3. Tourbillon device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the device comprises a lower bracket (2), an upper bracket (1) and an escape wheel bracket (3), wherein the escape wheel bracket supports a balance wheel hairspring (4), an escape wheel (5) and a pallet component (6), and the lower bracket is designed to be matched with a roller of a movement.

4. Movement comprising a frame on which a tourbillon is mounted and can rotate, said tourbillon comprising a support (1, 2, 3) with a balance spring (4), a spiral and an escape wheel (5), and a support (2), characterized in that: the support provides a circular periphery cooperating with at least three rollers (9, 10, 11) so as to pivot on the frame, suspending and positioning the tourbillon relative to the frame.

5. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein: at least one of the rollers (11) is arranged on the frame in such a way that it can be moved between two extreme positions in a transverse direction relative to its axis of rotation.

6. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein: it comprises an eccentric body (12) oriented so as to allow the position of the mobile roller (11) with respect to the frame to be adjusted.

7. The cartridge of claim 5, wherein: the mobile roller (11) is mounted in rotation on an arm (11a) which pivots on the frame between an open position and a locked position of the tourbillon support (1, 2, 3).

8. A movement according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein: the circular periphery of the support (2) presents a surface whose shape is practically complementary to the surface of each of the rollers (9, 10, 11) with which it is intended to come into contact.

9. A movement according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein: each of said rollers (9, 10, 11) is provided with an annular groove for matching with said circular periphery of said support (2).

10. A timepiece including a casing containing a movement according to any one of claims 4 to 7.

11. A timepiece comprising a case containing a movement according to claim 8.

12. A timepiece comprising a housing containing a movement according to claim 9.