HK1218788B - Power reserve indicator for a timepiece - Google Patents

Description

Energy reserve indicator for a timepiece

Technical Field

The invention concerns a timepiece energy reserve indicator intended to display an indication (symbol, sign) of the energy reserve of a plurality of accumulators, each accumulator comprising an indicator cooperating with a differential input of a differential mechanism comprised in said energy reserve indicator, wherein an output of said differential mechanism cooperates with means for displaying the total energy reserve of said plurality of accumulators.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement including at least one such energy reserve indicator.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such energy reserve indicator.

The present invention relates to the field of timepiece display mechanisms.

Background

When a plurality of accumulators is arranged to release their energy to a timepiece mechanism or movement, the energy reserve indicator of the timepiece mechanism or movement will become complex.

In particular, in order to obtain an increased energy reserve, a plurality of energy accumulators, in particular barrel, can be arranged in series. The total energy reserve can be observed using a differential mechanism comprising an input for each accumulator or barrel. For example, in the case of two barrels mounted in series, the energy reserve indicator requires a first input (winding) for the first barrel and a second input (slack) on the second barrel. Such a differential mechanism with a separate input occupies a large volume in the timepiece movement, which often makes it impossible to provide a timepiece with both a plurality of accumulators and a differential display, but also with other complex elements.

European patent No.1582943 in the name of richemoont discloses a timepiece movement provided with at least three barrels all housed between a base plate and a barrel clamp, said base plate and barrel clamp being configured to support two superposed barrels, a third barrel being placed transversely with respect to the first two, without superposition, the toothing of the third barrel meshing with the toothings of the other two barrels.

The swiss patent application No.694411A5 in the name of PARMIGIANI discloses an energy reserve indicator device for a watch with a double barrel with manual or automatic winding, comprising a star wheel held in position by a jumper and integral with a display mechanism. The first winding barrel comprises a winding pin actuating a winding lever driving the star wheel in a first direction of rotation, and the second relaxation barrel comprises a relaxation pin actuating a relaxation lever driving the star wheel in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to provide a reliable and compact display mechanism for the energy reserve of an accumulator train, which requires a smaller volume than a differential mechanism with separate input and intermediate gear trains.

To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece energy reserve indicator for displaying an energy reserve indication for a plurality of energy accumulators, the energy accumulator comprising a first barrel and a second barrel, the first barrel and the second barrel each comprising a first output and a second output, respectively, cooperating with a first accumulator input and a second accumulator input, respectively, of a double-transmission drive train, the first and second accumulator inputs leading to two differential inputs of a differential mechanism comprised in the energy reserve indicator, the two differential inputs being formed by a first input plate and a second input plate, respectively, wherein an output wheel of the differential mechanism cooperates with a mechanism for displaying a total energy reserve of the plurality of energy accumulators, wherein the first accumulator input and the second accumulator input are part of a same first input wheel set of the differential mechanism, Coaxial about a same first axis and capable of pivoting movement about said first axis independently of each other, the differential mechanism being a ball bearing differential; the first accumulator input engages the first input plate pivoting about a second pivot axis; the second accumulator input pivots integrally with an accumulator output wheel which meshes with an intermediate wheel pivoting about a third pivot axis, which drives the second input plate of the differential also pivoting about the second pivot axis, the differential comprising a hub portion pivoting about the second pivot axis, which drives the output wheel of the differential mechanism, and a carrier plate bearing one or more ball bearings in contact with both the first input plate and the second input plate, which are both mounted to rotate freely on the hub portion under the influence of friction applied by one or more springs.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement including at least one such energy reserve indicator.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such energy reserve indicator.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic cross section through respective pivot axes of a portion of a timepiece mechanism including an energy reserve indicator according to the invention, arranged to display an energy reserve indication of two different barrels by means of a differential mechanism, the axes of which are illustrated as two, to illustrate respectively its direct or indirect cooperation with each of these barrels;

fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, including a movement equipped with such an energy reserve indicator displaying the energy reserve of two barrels.

Detailed Description

The present invention aims to provide a reliable and compact mechanism for display of the energy reserve of an accumulator system, which requires less volume than a differential with separate input and idler gear trains.

The use of a differential mechanism is a good solution for this display, however, the volume of the differential mechanism must be minimized since it is already very bulky, taken up by the plurality of accumulators in the timepiece movement.

The invention is described and illustrated herein using a non-limiting example of a movement comprising two common barrel barrels. Since the states of the first and last accumulators are compared, other accumulators may be used and the number of accumulators is not limited.

The invention therefore relates to a timepiece energy reserve indicator 1 for the display of energy reserve indications for a plurality of energy accumulators 2.

The energy reserve indicator 1 comprises a differential mechanism 6. The accumulators 2 each comprise an indicator 3 as an output of the accumulator, which indicator 3 cooperates with an accumulator input 4 of the differential mechanism 6. One output 66 of the differential mechanism 6 cooperates with the mechanism 7 for display of the total energy reserve of the plurality of accumulators 2.

According to the invention, at least two of these inputs 4 are coaxial.

In a particular embodiment, all inputs 4 are coaxial.

In a specific embodiment, a plurality of accumulators 2 are arranged in series with each other. More specifically, they are all arranged in series with each other.

In a specific embodiment, a plurality of these accumulators 2 are arranged parallel to each other.

In a particular embodiment, at least one accumulator 2 is a barrel.

In the particular embodiment as shown in fig. 1, all the accumulators 2 are barrels.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement 10 including at least one such energy reserve indicator 1.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 20, in particular a wristwatch, comprising at least one such energy reserve indicator 1 and/or one such movement 10. It will be appreciated that the energy reserve indicator may relate to both the movement and additional functions having its own accumulator, such as a striking mechanism or the like.

More specifically, the timepiece energy reserve indicator 1 is arranged for the display of energy reserve indications for a plurality of accumulators 2, the accumulators 2 comprising a first barrel 2A and a second barrel 2B, said first and second barrels comprising a first output 3A and a second output 3B, respectively, cooperating with a first accumulator input 4A and a second accumulator input 4B, respectively, of a double-transmission drive train, which lead to two differential inputs 61, 62 of a differential mechanism 6 comprised in the energy reserve indicator 1.

The two differential inputs 61, 62 are formed by the first input plate 61 and the second input plate 62, respectively. The output wheel 66 of the differential mechanism 6 cooperates with the mechanism 7 for display of the total energy reserve of the plurality of accumulators 2.

According to the invention, the first accumulator input 4A and the second accumulator input 4B are part of the same first input wheel set 8 of the differential mechanism 6, which is a ball bearing differential, coaxial about the same first axis D1 and pivotally movable independently of each other about the first axis D1.

The first accumulator input 4A engages with a first input plate 61 pivoting about a second pivot axis D2, the second accumulator input 4B pivots integrally with an output wheel 41, which output wheel 41 engages with a idler wheel 5 pivoting about a third pivot axis D3, which idler wheel 5 drives a second input plate 62 of the differential 6, also pivoting about a second pivot axis D2.

The differential 6 comprises a hub 67 pivoted about a second pivot axis D2, the hub 67 driving an output wheel 66 and a carrier plate 63, the carrier plate 63 carrying one or more ball bearings 64 in contact with both the first input plate 61 and the second input plate 62, both mounted to rotate freely on the hub 67 under the action of friction exerted by one or more springs 65.

Fig. 1 shows such an energy reserve indicator 1 for two barrels 2A and 2B. The output 3A of the first spring barrel 2A cooperates with a first accumulator input 4A of a first input wheel set 8 of the differential 6, which first accumulator input 4A is pivotally movable about a first axis D1. The output 3B of the second barrel 2B cooperates with the second accumulator input 4B of the first input wheel set 8, which second accumulator input 4B is also pivotally movable about the same first axis D1 independently of the first accumulator input 4A coaxial therewith.

The first accumulator input 4A engages with the first input plate 61 of the differential 6, which pivots about the second pivot axis D2.

The second accumulator input 4B pivots integrally with the output wheel 41, which output wheel 41 is in mesh with the intermediate wheel 5 pivoting about the third pivot axis D3 and is engaged with the second input plate 62 of the differential 6 pivoting about the second pivot axis D2.

The differential 6 comprises, in a conventional manner, a hub 67 pivoted about a second pivot axis D2, the hub 67 driving a carrier plate 63, the carrier plate 63 carrying one or more ball bearings 64 in contact with both the first input plate 61 and the second input plate 62, both mounted to rotate freely on the hub 67 under the effect of the friction exerted by one or more springs 65. The hub 67 is also integral with an output 66 in the form of a wheel, which output 66 meshes with an intermediate plate 91 comprised in the second input wheel set 9 pivoting about a fourth pivot axis D4, which plate 91 is coaxial and integral with a pinion 92, which pinion 92 is engaged with an input plate 71 of the energy reserve display mechanism 7, which input plate 71 is coaxial and integral with a spindle 72, which spindle 72 is arranged to carry a display element, such as a pointer, a bottom plate or the like.

The invention provides considerable space savings inside a timepiece movement, since the mechanism according to the invention is more compact than a differential with a split input.

The savings achieved during manufacture and assembly are significant: there is only one pivot arrangement in the blank, so that there are fewer machining operations, fewer gem holes to fill, easier assembly and easier control of lateral oscillation.

Claims (5)

1. Timepiece energy reserve indicator (1) for displaying an energy reserve indication of a plurality of accumulators (2) comprising a first barrel (2A) and a second barrel (2B) each comprising a first output (3A) and a second output (3B) respectively cooperating with a first accumulator input (4A) and a second accumulator input (4B) of a double-transmission drive train respectively, the first and second accumulator inputs leading to two differential inputs (61, 62) of a differential mechanism (6) comprised in said energy reserve indicator (1), said two differential inputs (61, 62) being formed by a first input plate (61) and a second input plate (62) respectively, wherein an output wheel (66) of said differential mechanism (6) cooperates with a mechanism (7) for displaying the total energy reserve of said plurality of accumulators (2), characterized in that said first accumulator input (4A) and said second accumulator input (4B) are part of a same first input wheel set (8) of said differential mechanism (6), coaxial about a same first axis (D1) and capable of pivoting movement independently of each other about said first axis (D1), the differential mechanism (6) being a ball bearing differential; said first accumulator input (4A) engaging said first input plate (61) pivoting about a second pivot axis (D2); the second accumulator input (4B) is pivoted integrally with the accumulator output wheel (41), the accumulator output wheel is engaged with an intermediate wheel (5) pivoting about a third pivot axis (D3), which drives the second input plate (62) of the differential (6) which is also pivoted about the second pivot axis (D2), the differential (6) comprising a hub (67) pivoted about the second pivot axis (D2), the hub drives an output wheel (66) and a carrier plate (63) of the differential mechanism, the carrier plate supports one or more ball bearings (64) in contact with both the first input plate (61) and the second input plate (62), the first input plate and the second input plate are both mounted to rotate freely on the hub (67) under the influence of friction applied by one or more springs (65).

2. Energy reserve indicator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the output wheel (66) of the differential mechanism is integral with the hub (67), the output wheel (66) of the differential mechanism meshing with an intermediate plate (91) comprised in the second input wheel set (9) pivoting about a fourth pivot axis (D4), the intermediate plate (91) being coaxial with and pivoting integrally with a pinion (92), the pinion (92) engaging with an input plate (71) of the display mechanism (7), the input plate (71) of the display mechanism being coaxial with and pivoting integrally with an arbour (72) arranged to carry a display element.

3. Energy reserve indicator (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said display element is a pointer or a plate.

4. Timepiece movement (10) comprising at least one energy reserve indicator (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3.

5. Timepiece (20) comprising at least one energy reserve indicator (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3.