EP1430367B1 - Chronograph mechanism - Google Patents

Chronograph mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1430367B1
EP1430367B1 EP02758029A EP02758029A EP1430367B1 EP 1430367 B1 EP1430367 B1 EP 1430367B1 EP 02758029 A EP02758029 A EP 02758029A EP 02758029 A EP02758029 A EP 02758029A EP 1430367 B1 EP1430367 B1 EP 1430367B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wheel
coupling
lever
clutch
chronograph
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02758029A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1430367A2 (en
Inventor
Johnny Girardin
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Girard Perregaux SA
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Girard Perregaux SA
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Publication date
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Priority to EP02758029A priority Critical patent/EP1430367B1/en
Publication of EP1430367A2 publication Critical patent/EP1430367A2/en
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Publication of EP1430367B1 publication Critical patent/EP1430367B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B43/00—Protecting clockworks by shields or other means against external influences, e.g. magnetic fields
    • G04B43/002—Component shock protection arrangements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04F—TIME-INTERVAL MEASURING
    • G04F7/00—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by non-electric means
    • G04F7/04—Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by non-electric means using a mechanical oscillator
    • G04F7/08—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph
    • G04F7/0823—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph with couplings between the chronograph mechanism and the base movement
    • G04F7/0828—Watches or clocks with stop devices, e.g. chronograph with couplings between the chronograph mechanism and the base movement acting in the plane of the movement

Definitions

  • cam is a column wheel.
  • the end of the rocker is provided with a nose forming a stop and which, in cooperation with the columns of the column wheel, depending on whether it is facing a vacuum or that it is based on a solid of the column wheel, defines the first and second positions, under the effect of the rocker spring.
  • the mechanism is characterized in that the control lever comprises a latch and the clutch member is provided with a crampon cooperating with the latch when the clutch wheel occupies its first position, all so that the rocker is prevented from moving under the effect of a shock when the clutch wheel is engaged with the chronograph wheel.
  • control member comprises a hook secured to the control lever and a stopper nose arranged to cooperate respectively with the ratchet and with the columns of the column wheel.
  • the hook is arranged in such a way that the latch has released the crampon before a column cooperates with the nose.
  • control lever, the ratchet, the latch and the crampon are arranged so that, when the clutch wheel is in its first position, the lever control cooperates with the rocker via the lock which is in abutment against the crampon.
  • the chronograph mechanism according to the invention is further characterized in that the sum of the thicknesses of the latch and the crampon is less than or equal to the length of the arc described by the end of the clutch rocker between the positions that it occupies when the clutch wheel is in its first or second position.
  • the finishing gear wheel rotates continuously and actuates the clutch wheel 14 by the drive wheel 12.
  • the wheel 14 is or not engaged with the mobile 22 as it occupies its first or second position .
  • the chronograph is in operation, while it is off in the position shown on the figure 2 .
  • the rocker 16 pivots at its end opposite to that having the nose 18 on an eccentric integral with the plate 10, not shown because being outside the scope of the drawing.
  • the latch 16 is subjected to a positioning torque by a rocker spring also disposed outside the field of the drawing. In the position shown in figure 1 it bears against an eccentric 31, the nose 18 being engaged between two columns 40.
  • the control lever 26 pivots on a post, and is held in place by a screw 32 fixed in a threaded hole in the post.
  • One of its ends carries, pivotally mounted, the control hook 28, while the other end is arranged, conventionally, to cooperate with the push button control. This possible pivoting of the hook 28, combined with the pressure of the spring hook 30, maintaining in a position to cooperate with the column wheel 24.
  • the control lever 26 carries a pin 33.
  • an arm 34 is fixed on the upper face of the control lever 26 by means of a screw 35 engaged in a hole made in its middle part.
  • a screw 35 engaged in a hole made in its middle part.
  • One of its ends is provided with a lock 36 arranged to cooperate with the crampon 20.
  • the other end forms a stop 37, which bears against the pin 33.
  • the column wheel 24 is manufactured in one piece and consists of a Breguet toothing forming a ratchet 38 and columns 40 arranged perpendicularly and concentrically to the toothing, the angular pitch of the columns being twice that of the Breguet toothing. . It is positioned by the jumper spring 25 engaged on the Breguet toothing of the ratchet 38. It governs the interaction between the control and clutch devices.
  • the nose 18 of the rocker is engaged in one of the spaces between the columns 40.
  • the clutch wheel 14 is, thus, in its first position and drives the chronograph mobile 22.
  • the lock 36 spans the The length of the arm 26, as well as the shape of the crampon 20 and the lock 36 are chosen so that the arm 34 comes to bear on the rocker 16 via the blanks of the crampon 20 and the lock 36
  • the arm 34 being secured to the control lever 26, which is positioned by the spring 30, it follows that the latch 36 and the crampon 20 are in intimate contact with each other and block the latch 16 in its position. where the wheel 14 is engaged with the wheel 22, even if a shock tends to move it.
  • control hook 28 and the ratchet 38 do not coincide exactly, the parts having a clearance of two together. More specifically, the control lever 26 must pivot by an angle ⁇ 1 so that the hook 28 travels the lost path existing between it and the ratchet 38, then an angle ⁇ 2 so that the column wheel 24 rotates until a column, identified by the letter a , comes into contact with the nose 18. To ensure optimal operation, it is necessary that the rocker 16 is set in motion after the latch 36 has released the crampon 20.
  • the mechanism thus described operates as follows. Pressing the pushbutton rotates the lever 26 clockwise and, with it, the arm 34 and the control hook 28. In a first step, the hook 28 takes the set of the lost path, then it drives the column wheel 24 until the column 40a comes into contact with the nose 18, lever 26 thus traversing the angle ⁇ . During this time the latch 36, part of the arm 34, rises and deviates from the crampon 20, thus freeing the movement of the clutch lever 16.
  • the column 40a in contact with the nose 18, raises it, thereby pivoting the clutch rocker 16 so that the clutch wheel 14 disengages from the chronograph mobile 22.
  • the column 40a thus acts on the nose 18 of the clutch rocker 16 to rotate it in the space left free by the lock 36.
  • the lever 26 has reached the end of its stroke, that is to say when the control hook 28 has driven the column wheel 22 with a pitch of the Breguet toothing, the column wheel 24 is in a position such that the column 40a holds the rocker 16 so that the wheel 14 is disengaged from the wheel 22.
  • the lever first takes the set of the lost path and then drives the wheel with columns 24 of a step of the Breguet toothing, so that the nose 18 leaves the support of the column 40a and falls in the space between two columns.
  • the lever 26 is in a position such that the lock 36 is outside the space traveled by the crampon 20.
  • the clutch rocker 16 can rotate freely until it meets the eccentric 31, the nose 18 is thus again engaged between two columns 40.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)

Abstract

The invention concerns a chronograph mechanism comprising a chronograph train (22) including: a clutch rocker (16) for displacing a clutch wheel, between a first position wherein the mechanism is operating, and a second position wherein the mechanism does not operate, and a control lever (26) actuating the rocker (16) to shift it from one position to the other. In said mechanism, the control lever (26) bears a lock (36) and the clutch rocker (16) a catch (20) co-operating with the lock when the clutch wheel (14) is in the first position, such that the rocker (16) is prevented from moving under the effect of an impact when the chronograph is operating.

Description

La présente invention se rapporte aux mécanismes de chronographe, du type comportant :

  • un rouage de chronographe destiné à porter au moins une aiguille pour l'affichage d'un temps chronométré,
  • un rouage de finissage,
  • une roue d'embrayage susceptible d'occuper deux positions et destinée à relier le rouage de chronographe au rouage de finissage dans l'une de ces positions,
  • une bascule d'embrayage munie d'une butée et destinée à assurer le déplacement de la roue d'embrayage, entre sa première position dans laquelle le mécanisme est en fonction, et sa deuxième position dans laquelle le mécanisme est hors fonction,
  • un organe d'embrayage destiné à assurer le déplacement de la roue d'embrayage, entre sa première position dans laquelle le mécanisme est en fonction, et sa deuxième position dans laquelle le mécanisme est hors fonction,
  • une came destinée à coopérer avec l'organe d'embrayage pour définir les première et deuxième positions de la roue d'embrayage,
  • un levier de commande muni d'un organe de commande actionnant la came et, par elle, l'organe d'embrayage pour faire passer la roue d'embrayage de l'une à l'autre position,
The present invention relates to chronograph mechanisms, of the type comprising:
  • a chronograph wheel intended to carry at least one needle for displaying a timed time,
  • a finishing gear,
  • a clutch wheel capable of occupying two positions and intended to connect the chronograph train to the work train in one of these positions,
  • a clutch rocker provided with a stop and intended to ensure the displacement of the clutch wheel, between its first position in which the mechanism is in operation, and its second position in which the mechanism is off,
  • a clutch member for moving the clutch wheel, between its first position in which the mechanism is in operation, and its second position in which the mechanism is off,
  • a cam intended to cooperate with the clutch member to define the first and second positions of the clutch wheel,
  • a control lever provided with a control member actuating the cam and, through it, the clutch member for moving the clutch wheel from one to the other position,

Un mécanisme de ce type est, par exemple, décrit dans le livre de théorie d'horlogerie de Chs- A. Reymondin et al., page 232 (Fédération des Ecoles Techniques de Suisse, 1998, ISBN 2-940025-10-X ) ou dans le document CH228246. Dans ce mécanisme, came est une roue à colonnes. L'organe d'embrayage et une bascule portant une roue d'embrayage destinée à relier cinématiquement le rouage de finissage de la montre, qui tourne en permanence, avec le rouage de chronographe, qui ne tourne qu'à la demande. Plus précisément, la roue d'embrayage est en prise ou hors prise selon que la bascule occupe sa première position ou sa deuxième position.A mechanism of this type is, for example, described in the Chs-watchmaking theory book. A. Reymondin et al., Page 232 (Federation of Technical Schools of Switzerland, 1998, ISBN 2-940025-10-X ) or in CH228246. In this mechanism, cam is a column wheel. The clutch member and a rocker carrying a clutch wheel for kinematically connecting the wheel of finishing of the watch, which rotates permanently, with the chronograph wheel, which turns only on demand. More specifically, the clutch wheel is in or out according to whether the rocker occupies its first position or its second position.

L'extrémité de la bascule est munie d'un nez formant butée et qui, en coopération avec les colonnes de la roue à colonnes, selon qu'il se trouve en regard d'un vide ou qu'il s'appuie sur un plein de la roue à colonnes, définit les première et deuxième positions, sous l'effet du ressort de bascule.The end of the rocker is provided with a nose forming a stop and which, in cooperation with the columns of the column wheel, depending on whether it is facing a vacuum or that it is based on a solid of the column wheel, defines the first and second positions, under the effect of the rocker spring.

Malgré les ressorts d'appuis chargés de maintenir les différents organes en place pendant leur fonctionnement, il arrive qu'au cours d'une mesure, le mécanisme étant dans sa première position, un mouvement brutal du porteur ou un choc violent provoque un saut de la bascule d'embrayage. L'entraînement du rouage de chronographe est alors interrompu un instant, ce qui fausse la mesure. La présente invention met en oeuvre des moyens pour pallier l'inconvénient exposé ci-dessus.Despite the support springs responsible for maintaining the various organs in place during their operation, it happens that during a measurement, the mechanism being in its first position, a sudden movement of the wearer or a violent shock causes a jump of the clutch rocker. The training of the chronograph wheel is interrupted for a moment, which distorts the measurement. The present invention implements means to overcome the disadvantage described above.

A cet effet, le mécanisme est caractérisé en ce que le levier de commande comporte un verrou et l'organe d'embrayage est muni d'un crampon coopérant avec le verrou lorsque la roue d'embrayage occupe sa première position, le tout de manière à ce que la bascule soit empêchée de se déplacer sous l'effet d'un choc lorsque la roue d'embrayage est en prise avec le rouage de chronographe.For this purpose, the mechanism is characterized in that the control lever comprises a latch and the clutch member is provided with a crampon cooperating with the latch when the clutch wheel occupies its first position, all so that the rocker is prevented from moving under the effect of a shock when the clutch wheel is engaged with the chronograph wheel.

De façon avantageuse, l'organe d'embrayage est une bascule munie d'une butée coopérant avec la came, et la came est une roue à colonnes qui comporte :

  • une denture Breguet formant un rochet, et
  • des colonnes disposées perpendiculairement et de façon concentrique à la denture.
Advantageously, the clutch member is a rocker provided with a stop cooperating with the cam, and the cam is a column wheel which comprises:
  • a Breguet toothing forming a ratchet, and
  • columns arranged perpendicularly and concentrically to the toothing.

De plus, l'organe de commande comporte un crochet solidaire du levier de commande et un nez formant butée agencés pour coopérer respectivement avec le rochet et avec les colonnes de la roue à colonnes.In addition, the control member comprises a hook secured to the control lever and a stopper nose arranged to cooperate respectively with the ratchet and with the columns of the column wheel.

Afin d'assurer des conditions de travail optimales, le crochet est disposé de manière à ce que le verrou ait libéré le crampon avant qu'une colonne ne coopère avec le nez.In order to ensure optimum working conditions, the hook is arranged in such a way that the latch has released the crampon before a column cooperates with the nose.

Il est aussi intéressant que, dans le mécanisme et selon l'invention, le levier de commande, le rochet, le verrou et le crampon soient agencés de manière à ce que, lorsque la roue d'embrayage est dans sa première position, le levier de commande coopère avec la bascule par l'intermédiaire du verrou qui est en appui contre le crampon.It is also interesting that, in the mechanism and according to the invention, the control lever, the ratchet, the latch and the crampon are arranged so that, when the clutch wheel is in its first position, the lever control cooperates with the rocker via the lock which is in abutment against the crampon.

Le mécanisme de chronographe selon l'invention est encore caractérisé en ce que la somme des épaisseurs du verrou et du crampon est inférieure ou égale à la longueur de l'arc décrit par l'extrémité de la bascule d'embrayage entre les positions qu'elle occupe lorsque la roue d'embrayage se trouve dans sa première ou sa deuxième position.The chronograph mechanism according to the invention is further characterized in that the sum of the thicknesses of the latch and the crampon is less than or equal to the length of the arc described by the end of the clutch rocker between the positions that it occupies when the clutch wheel is in its first or second position.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui suit, faite en regard des dessins annexés sur lesquels les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues de dessus d'un mouvement de montre muni d'un mécanisme de chronographe respectivement en position embrayée et en position débrayée.The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings in which the figures 1 and 2 are top views of a watch movement provided with a chronograph mechanism respectively in the engaged position and in the disengaged position.

Le mouvement représenté au dessin comporte une platine 10 qui porte les éléments essentiels du mécanisme de chronographe soit un dispositif d'embrayage comportant:

  • une roue entraîneuse de chronographe 12 solidaire en rotation du mobile de secondes du rouage de finissage de la montre, qui se trouve du côté de la platine 10 opposé à celui représenté au dessin,
  • une roue d'embrayage 14 en prise avec la roue entraîneuse 12, et susceptible d'occuper deux positions,
  • une bascule d'embrayage montée pivotante sur la platine, portant la roue d'embrayage 14 et munie, à l'une de ses extrémités, d'un nez 18 formant butée et destiné à définir les positions de la roue d'embrayage, et d'un crampon 20 assurant un verrouillage de la bascule 16, comme cela sera expliqué plus loin, et
  • un mobile de chronographe 22 placé au centre du mouvement et en prise ou non avec la roue d'embrayage 14, selon que la roue 14 occupe sa première ou sa deuxième position,
et un dispositif de commande du dispositif d'embrayage, qui comprend :
  • une roue à colonnes 24, coopérant avec le nez 18 de la bascule 16 pour la positionner,
  • un ressort-sautoir 25 de roue à colonnes définissant les positions stables de cette dernière,
  • un levier de commande 26, monté pivotant sur le bâti, commandé par un poussoir non représenté au dessin et solidaire de la boîte de la montre,
  • un crochet de commande 28 monté pivotant sur le levier de commande et agencé pour coopérer avec la roue à colonnes 24, comme cela sera expliqué plus loin,
  • et un ressort de crochet 30 fixé sur la platine 10 et maintenant en appui le crochet 28 contre la roue à colonnes 24, tout en assurant le retour du levier 26 dans sa position de repos.
The movement represented in the drawing comprises a plate 10 which carries the essential elements of the chronograph mechanism, namely a clutch device comprising:
  • a chronograph driving wheel 12 secured in rotation to the seconds mobile of the watch's finishing train, which is located on the opposite side of the plate 10 to that shown in the drawing,
  • a clutch wheel 14 engaged with the driving wheel 12, and capable of occupying two positions,
  • a clutch rocker pivotally mounted on the plate, carrying the clutch wheel 14 and provided at one of its ends with a nose 18 forming a stop and intended to define the positions of the clutch wheel, and a crampon 20 ensuring a latch of the rocker 16, as will be explained later, and
  • a chronograph mobile 22 placed at the center of the movement and engaged or not with the clutch wheel 14, depending on whether the wheel 14 occupies its first or second position,
and a control device of the clutch device, which comprises:
  • a column wheel 24 cooperating with the nose 18 of the rocker 16 to position it,
  • a roller spring 25 of column wheel defining the stable positions of the latter,
  • a control lever 26, pivotally mounted on the frame, controlled by a pusher not shown in the drawing and integral with the watch case,
  • a control hook 28 pivotally mounted on the control lever and arranged to cooperate with the column wheel 24, as will be explained later,
  • and a hook spring 30 fixed on the plate 10 and now bearing the hook 28 against the column wheel 24, while ensuring the return of the lever 26 in its rest position.

Dans ce mouvement, le rouage de finissage tourne en permanence et met en action la roue d'embrayage 14 par la roue entraîneuse 12. La roue 14 est ou non en prise avec le mobile 22 selon qu'elle occupe sa première ou sa deuxième position. Ainsi, lorsque la bascule 16 occupe la position représentée sur la figure 1, le chronographe est en fonction, alors qu'il est hors fonction dans la position illustrée sur la figure 2.In this movement, the finishing gear wheel rotates continuously and actuates the clutch wheel 14 by the drive wheel 12. The wheel 14 is or not engaged with the mobile 22 as it occupies its first or second position . Thus, when the latch 16 occupies the position represented on the figure 1 , the chronograph is in operation, while it is off in the position shown on the figure 2 .

La bascule 16 pivote à son extrémité opposée à celle comportant le nez 18 sur un excentrique solidaire de la platine 10, non représenté car se trouvant en dehors du champ du dessin. La bascule 16 est soumise à un couple de positionnement par un ressort de bascule également disposé en dehors du champ du dessin. Dans la position représentée à la figure 1, elle est en appui contre un excentrique 31, le nez 18 étant engagé entre deux colonnes 40.The rocker 16 pivots at its end opposite to that having the nose 18 on an eccentric integral with the plate 10, not shown because being outside the scope of the drawing. The latch 16 is subjected to a positioning torque by a rocker spring also disposed outside the field of the drawing. In the position shown in figure 1 it bears against an eccentric 31, the nose 18 being engaged between two columns 40.

Le levier de commande 26 pivote sur un tenon, et est maintenu en place par une vis 32 fixée dans un trou taraudé dans le tenon. L'une de ses extrémités porte, monté pivotant, le crochet de commande 28, alors que l'autre extrémité est agencée, de manière classique, pour coopérer avec le bouton-poussoir de commande. Ce pivotement possible du crochet 28, conjugué à la pression du ressort de crochet 30, le maintien dans une position lui permettant de coopérer avec la roue à colonnes 24. Le levier de commande 26 porte une goupille 33.The control lever 26 pivots on a post, and is held in place by a screw 32 fixed in a threaded hole in the post. One of its ends carries, pivotally mounted, the control hook 28, while the other end is arranged, conventionally, to cooperate with the push button control. This possible pivoting of the hook 28, combined with the pressure of the spring hook 30, maintaining in a position to cooperate with the column wheel 24. The control lever 26 carries a pin 33.

Selon une caractéristique importante de l'invention, un bras 34 est fixé sur la face supérieure du levier de commande 26 au moyen d'une vis 35 engagée dans un trou pratiqué dans sa partie médiane. Une de ses extrémités est munie d'un verrou 36 agencé pour coopérer avec le crampon 20. L'autre extrémité forme une butée 37, qui vient prendre appui contre la goupille 33. Lors du réglage du mécanisme de chronographe, la vis 35 étant desserrée, le bras 34 est appuyé par le verrou 36 contre le crampon 20 et par la butée 37 contre la goupille 33. La vis peut ensuite être serrée, le bras étant alors parfaitement réglé.According to an important characteristic of the invention, an arm 34 is fixed on the upper face of the control lever 26 by means of a screw 35 engaged in a hole made in its middle part. One of its ends is provided with a lock 36 arranged to cooperate with the crampon 20. The other end forms a stop 37, which bears against the pin 33. When adjusting the chronograph mechanism, the screw 35 being loosened , the arm 34 is supported by the lock 36 against the crampon 20 and the stop 37 against the pin 33. The screw can then be tightened, the arm then being perfectly adjusted.

La roue à colonnes 24 est fabriquée en une pièce et se compose d'une denture Breguet formant un rochet 38 et de colonnes 40 disposées perpendiculairement et de façon concentrique à la denture, le pas angulaire des colonnes étant le double de celui de la denture Breguet. Elle est positionnée par le ressort-sautoir 25 engagé sur la denture Breguet du rochet 38. Elle régit l'interaction entre les dispositifs de commande et d'embrayage.The column wheel 24 is manufactured in one piece and consists of a Breguet toothing forming a ratchet 38 and columns 40 arranged perpendicularly and concentrically to the toothing, the angular pitch of the columns being twice that of the Breguet toothing. . It is positioned by the jumper spring 25 engaged on the Breguet toothing of the ratchet 38. It governs the interaction between the control and clutch devices.

En position embrayée, comme le montre la figure 1, le nez 18 de la bascule est engagé dans un des espaces compris entre les colonnes 40. La roue d'embrayage 14 est, ainsi, dans sa première position et entraîne le mobile de chronographe 22. Dans cette position, le verrou 36 enjambe le crampon 20. La longueur du bras 26, ainsi que la forme du crampon 20 et du verrou 36 sont choisies de manière à ce que le bras 34 vienne prendre appui sur la bascule 16 par l'intermédiaire des flans du crampon 20 et du verrou 36. Le bras 34 étant solidaire du levier de commande 26, lequel est positionné par le ressort 30, il en résulte que le verrou 36 et le crampon 20 sont en contact intime l'un avec l'autre et bloquent la bascule 16 dans sa position où la roue 14 est en prise avec la roue 22, même si un choc tend à la déplacer.In the engaged position, as shown in figure 1 , the nose 18 of the rocker is engaged in one of the spaces between the columns 40. The clutch wheel 14 is, thus, in its first position and drives the chronograph mobile 22. In this position, the lock 36 spans the The length of the arm 26, as well as the shape of the crampon 20 and the lock 36 are chosen so that the arm 34 comes to bear on the rocker 16 via the blanks of the crampon 20 and the lock 36 The arm 34 being secured to the control lever 26, which is positioned by the spring 30, it follows that the latch 36 and the crampon 20 are in intimate contact with each other and block the latch 16 in its position. where the wheel 14 is engaged with the wheel 22, even if a shock tends to move it.

Le crochet de commande 28 et le rochet 38, d'une part, le nez 18 de la bascule d'embrayage 16 et l'espace entre deux colonnes 40, d'autre part, ne coïncident pas exactement, les pièces présentant un jeu deux à deux. Plus précisément, le levier de commande 26 doit pivoter d'un angle α1 pour que le crochet 28 parcoure le chemin perdu existant entre lui et le rochet 38, puis d'un angle α2 pour que la roue à colonnes 24 tourne jusqu'à ce qu'une colonne, identifiée par la lettre a, entre en contact avec le nez 18. Pour assurer un fonctionnement optimal, il est nécessaire que la bascule 16 ne soit mise en mouvement qu'après que le verrou 36 ait libéré le crampon 20. Cette condition est remplie lorsque l'angle α = α1 + α2 est supérieur à β, angle dont doit pivoter le levier de commande 26 pour que le verrou 36 libère totalement le crampon 20. De plus, la somme des épaisseurs du verrou 36 et du crampon 20 doit être inférieure ou égale à la longueur de l'arc décrit par le nez 18 de la bascule d'embrayage 16 entre les positions qu'il occupe selon qu'il est en appui contre une colonne 40 ou engagé dans un espace compris entre deux colonnes 40.The control hook 28 and the ratchet 38, on the one hand, the nose 18 of the clutch rocker 16 and the space between two columns 40, on the other hand, do not coincide exactly, the parts having a clearance of two together. More specifically, the control lever 26 must pivot by an angle α1 so that the hook 28 travels the lost path existing between it and the ratchet 38, then an angle α2 so that the column wheel 24 rotates until a column, identified by the letter a , comes into contact with the nose 18. To ensure optimal operation, it is necessary that the rocker 16 is set in motion after the latch 36 has released the crampon 20. This condition is fulfilled when the angle α = α1 + α2 is greater than β, the angle from which the control lever 26 must pivot so that the lock 36 completely releases the crampon 20. In addition, the sum of the thicknesses of the lock 36 and the crampon 20 must be less than or equal to the length of the arc described by the nose 18 of the clutch rocker 16 between the positions it occupies as it bears against a column 40 or engaged in a space included between two columns 40.

Le mécanisme ainsi décrit fonctionne de la manière suivante. Une pression exercée sur le bouton-poussoir fait pivoter le levier 26 dans le sens horaire et, avec lui, le bras 34 et le crochet de commande 28. Dans un premier temps, le crochet 28 prend le jeu du chemin perdu, puis il entraîne la roue à colonnes 24 jusqu'à ce que la colonne 40a entre en contact avec le nez 18, levier 26 parcourant ainsi l'angle α. Durant ce temps le verrou 36, partie du bras 34, se soulève et s'écarte du crampon 20, libérant ainsi le mouvement de la bascule d'embrayage 16.The mechanism thus described operates as follows. Pressing the pushbutton rotates the lever 26 clockwise and, with it, the arm 34 and the control hook 28. In a first step, the hook 28 takes the set of the lost path, then it drives the column wheel 24 until the column 40a comes into contact with the nose 18, lever 26 thus traversing the angle α. During this time the latch 36, part of the arm 34, rises and deviates from the crampon 20, thus freeing the movement of the clutch lever 16.

Dans un second temps, la colonne 40a, au contact du nez 18, le soulève, faisant ainsi pivoter la bascule d'embrayage 16 de telle sorte que la roue d'embrayage 14 se dégage du mobile de chronographe 22. La colonne 40a agit ainsi sur le nez 18 de la bascule d'embrayage 16 pour la faire pivoter dans l'espace laissé libre par le verrou 36. Lorsque le levier 26 a atteint le bout de sa course, c'est à dire lorsque le crochet de commande 28 a entraîné la roue à colonnes 22 d'un pas de la denture Breguet, la roue à colonnes 24 se trouve dans une position telle que la colonne 40a maintient la bascule 16 de façon à ce que la roue14 soit débrayée de la roue 22.In a second step, the column 40a, in contact with the nose 18, raises it, thereby pivoting the clutch rocker 16 so that the clutch wheel 14 disengages from the chronograph mobile 22. The column 40a thus acts on the nose 18 of the clutch rocker 16 to rotate it in the space left free by the lock 36. When the lever 26 has reached the end of its stroke, that is to say when the control hook 28 has driven the column wheel 22 with a pitch of the Breguet toothing, the column wheel 24 is in a position such that the column 40a holds the rocker 16 so that the wheel 14 is disengaged from the wheel 22.

Lorsque l'on relâche le bouton-poussoir, le levier de commande 26 reprend sa position initiale sous l'effet du ressort sautoir 30, le crochet de commande 28 sautant sur une dent du rochet 38 alors que le verrou 36 passe de l'autre côté du crampon 24. Le nez 18 de la bascule d'embrayage reste en appui sur la colonne 40a, définissant la deuxième position de la roue d'embrayage 14 dans laquelle le mobile de chronographe n'est plus entraîné.When the pushbutton is released, the control lever 26 resumes its initial position under the effect of the jumper spring 30, the control hook 28 jumping on a tooth of the ratchet 38 while the lock 36 passes from the other 24. The nose 18 of the clutch rocker remains in abutment on the column 40a, defining the second position of the clutch wheel 14 in which the chronograph mobile is no longer driven.

Une nouvelle pression sur le bouton-poussoir fait pivoter le levier 26 et, avec lui, le verrou 36 et le crochet de commande 28. Comme dans le mouvement décrit précédemment, le levier commence par prendre le jeu du chemin perdu, puis entraîne la roue à colonnes 24 d'un pas de la denture Breguet, de telle sorte que le nez 18 quitte l'appui de la colonne 40a et tombe dans l'espace compris entre deux colonnes. A ce moment-là, le levier 26 se trouve dans une position telle que le verrou 36 se trouve en dehors de l'espace parcouru par le crampon 20. La bascule d'embrayage 16 peut donc pivoter librement jusqu'à ce qu'elle rencontre l'excentrique 31, le nez 18 étant ainsi à nouveau engagé entre deux colonnes 40.Pressing the pushbutton again rotates the lever 26 and, with it, the latch 36 and the control hook 28. As in the movement described above, the lever first takes the set of the lost path and then drives the wheel with columns 24 of a step of the Breguet toothing, so that the nose 18 leaves the support of the column 40a and falls in the space between two columns. At this time, the lever 26 is in a position such that the lock 36 is outside the space traveled by the crampon 20. The clutch rocker 16 can rotate freely until it meets the eccentric 31, the nose 18 is thus again engaged between two columns 40.

Lorsque l'on relâche le bouton-poussoir, le levier de commande 26 reprend sa position initiale, telle que représentée sur la figure 1, le crochet de commande 28 sautant une dent du rochet 38 en reculant et le verrou 36 enjambant le crampon 20. La bascule 22 a ainsi retrouvé sa première position, dans laquelle la roue d'embrayage 14 est en prise avec le mobile d'embrayage 22.When the pushbutton is released, the control lever 26 returns to its initial position, as shown in FIG. figure 1 , the control hook 28 jumping a tooth of the ratchet 38 retreating and the latch 36 spanning the crampon 20. The latch 22 has thus found its first position, in which the clutch wheel 14 is engaged with the clutch mobile 22.

Ainsi est réalisé un système de verrouillage de chronographe qui, par la coopération d'un verrou solidaire du levier de commande et d'un crampon surmontant la bascule d'embrayage, empêche la bascule 16 de quitter sa position d'embrayage de façon intempestive. La sécurité de fonctionnement est ainsi sensiblement améliorée.Thus is achieved a chronograph locking system which, by the cooperation of a latch secured to the control lever and a crampon surmounting the clutch lever, prevents the latch 16 from leaving its clutch position inadvertently. The operational safety is thus significantly improved.

L'ensemble qui vient d'être décrit constitue la commande assurant l'embrayage et le débrayage du rouage de chronographe. Il est bien évident que ce mécanisme comporte, en outre, des moyens de mise à zéro du rouage de chronographe, partiellement représentés au dessin, mais qui ne seront pas décrits, car étant bien connus de l'homme du métier et sans rapport avec la présente invention.The assembly that has just been described constitutes the control ensuring the clutch and disengagement of the chronograph wheel. It is obvious this mechanism further comprises means for zeroing the chronograph wheel, partially shown in the drawing, but which will not be described, because being well known to those skilled in the art and unrelated to the present invention.

La portée de l'invention ne se limite pas au cas particulier qui vient d'être décrit. L'homme de métier peut de façon évidente adapter l'invention à d'autres mécanismes de chronographe, par exemple, avec une came d'un autre type qu'une roue à colonnes ou avec un embrayage axial.The scope of the invention is not limited to the particular case just described. Those skilled in the art can obviously adapt the invention to other chronograph mechanisms, for example, with a cam of a type other than a column wheel or with an axial clutch.

Claims (7)

  1. Chronograph mechanism, of the type comprising:
    - a chronograph train (22) for carrying at least one hand for the display of a measured time,
    - a going train,
    - a coupling wheel (14) capable of occupying two positions and for connecting the chronograph train to the going train in one of such positions,
    - a coupling member (16) for ensuring the movement of the coupling wheel, between its first position in which the mechanism is operating, and its second position in which the mechanism is not operating,
    - a cam (24) for cooperating with the coupling member (16) for defining the first and second positions of the coupling wheel (14),
    - a control lever (26) fitted with a control member (28) activating the cam (24) and, via said cam, the coupling member (16) to make the coupling wheel pass from one position to the other,
    characterized in that said lever (26) includes a locking member (36) and the coupling member (16) is fitted with a catch (20) cooperating with said locking member when the coupling wheel (14) occupies its first position, such that the coupling member (16) is prevented from moving via the effect of a shock when the coupling wheel is meshed with the chronograph train.
  2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said coupling member is formed of a lever (16) fitted with a stop (18) arranged so as to cooperate with said cam (24) for controlling the movement of the coupling wheel from one of said positions to the other.
  3. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the cam (24) is a column wheel, which includes:
    - a Breguet toothing forming a ratchet-wheel (38) and
    - columns (40) arranged perpendicularly and concentrically to the toothing,
    - and in that said control member is a hook (28) cooperating with the ratchet-wheel (38).
  4. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop is formed of a nose (18) arranged for cooperating with the columns (40) of the column wheel (24).
  5. Mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the hook (28) is arranged such that a column (40) only cooperates with said nose (18) after the locking member (36) has released the catch (20).
  6. Mechanism according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the control lever (26) and the coupling lever (16) are arranged such that, when said coupling wheel (14) is in its first position, the control lever (26) cooperates with the coupling lever (16) via the locking member (34), which abuts against the catch (20).
  7. Mechanism according to any of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the sum of the thickness of the locking member (36) and of the catch (20) is less than or equal to the length of the arc described by the end of the coupling lever (16) between the positions that it occupies when the coupling wheel is in its first or second position.
EP02758029A 2001-09-24 2002-09-06 Chronograph mechanism Expired - Lifetime EP1430367B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02758029A EP1430367B1 (en) 2001-09-24 2002-09-06 Chronograph mechanism

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01810930A EP1296205A1 (en) 2001-09-24 2001-09-24 Chronograph mechanism
EP01810930 2001-09-24
EP02758029A EP1430367B1 (en) 2001-09-24 2002-09-06 Chronograph mechanism
PCT/CH2002/000487 WO2003027778A2 (en) 2001-09-24 2002-09-06 Chronograph mechanism

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1430367A2 EP1430367A2 (en) 2004-06-23
EP1430367B1 true EP1430367B1 (en) 2008-04-23

Family

ID=8184155

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01810930A Withdrawn EP1296205A1 (en) 2001-09-24 2001-09-24 Chronograph mechanism
EP02758029A Expired - Lifetime EP1430367B1 (en) 2001-09-24 2002-09-06 Chronograph mechanism

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01810930A Withdrawn EP1296205A1 (en) 2001-09-24 2001-09-24 Chronograph mechanism

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US6926438B2 (en)
EP (2) EP1296205A1 (en)
JP (1) JP4235106B2 (en)
DE (1) DE60226256T2 (en)
WO (1) WO2003027778A2 (en)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10496039B2 (en) 2014-05-15 2019-12-03 Patek Philippe Sa Geneve Device for a timepiece

Families Citing this family (5)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1373988B1 (en) * 2001-03-21 2012-05-09 Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH Device for adjusting a time indicator
JP2004294278A (en) * 2003-03-27 2004-10-21 Seiko Instruments Inc Chronograph timepiece having chronograph train wheel disposed on chronograph unit
US7597471B2 (en) * 2005-11-24 2009-10-06 Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier S.A. Time piece chronograph clockwork movement
CH703809B1 (en) * 2007-01-22 2012-03-30 Patek Philippe Sa Geneve wheel chronograph mechanism and column timepiece provided with such a mechanism.
EP2602675B1 (en) * 2011-12-08 2014-08-27 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Timepiece movement comprising a chronograph mechanism with column wheel

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CH228246A (en) * 1942-11-03 1943-08-15 Longines Montres Comp D Watch movement with chronograph-counter, hours and minutes.
CH544963A (en) * 1971-03-10 1973-05-30 Ebauches Bettlach Sa Column wheel counter
GB1405101A (en) * 1971-08-20 1975-09-03 Smiths Industries Ltd Reset mechanisms for use in stopwatches
CH500273A4 (en) * 1973-04-06 1975-05-30
GB2266791A (en) * 1992-05-08 1993-11-10 George Daniels Improvements relaating to chronographs
CH690524A5 (en) * 1995-10-31 2000-09-29 Rolex Montres Piece chronograph mechanism watchmaking.
JP3568763B2 (en) * 1997-12-22 2004-09-22 セイコーインスツルメンツ株式会社 Chronograph clock with start / stop lever and chronograph receiver
DE19852347C2 (en) * 1998-11-13 2001-02-08 Lange Uhren Gmbh Minute counter of a clock
CH696713A5 (en) * 1999-01-28 2007-10-15 Patek Philippe Sa mechanical chronograph.
US6761478B2 (en) * 2001-03-21 2004-07-13 Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH Chronograph with two rotational directions

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10496039B2 (en) 2014-05-15 2019-12-03 Patek Philippe Sa Geneve Device for a timepiece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2005504299A (en) 2005-02-10
JP4235106B2 (en) 2009-03-11
US20040246820A1 (en) 2004-12-09
US6926438B2 (en) 2005-08-09
WO2003027778A3 (en) 2003-07-10
WO2003027778A2 (en) 2003-04-03
EP1296205A1 (en) 2003-03-26
EP1430367A2 (en) 2004-06-23
DE60226256D1 (en) 2008-06-05
DE60226256T2 (en) 2009-05-07

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