Timepiece display correction mechanism

Abstract

A correction mechanism for a timepiece date display mechanism, arranged to change the angular position of a display wheel set comprised in such a date display mechanism, this correction mechanism includes, on the one hand, a control wheel set arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism, and on the other hand, an output wheel set arranged to cooperate with such a display wheel set; this correction mechanism includes a free wheel mechanism which is arranged to disengage the output wheel set from the control wheel set in a first relative direction of rotation, and to engage the output wheel set with the control wheel set in a second relative direction of rotation opposite to the first relative direction of rotation.

Claims

1. A correction mechanism for a timepiece date display mechanism, arranged to change the angular position of a display wheel set comprised in said date display mechanism, said correction mechanism comprising: a control wheel set arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism; an output wheel set arranged to cooperate with said display wheel set; and a free wheel mechanism which is arranged to disengage said output wheel set from said control wheel set in a first relative direction of rotation, and to engage said output wheel set with said control wheel set in a second relative direction of rotation opposite to said first relative direction of rotation, wherein said control wheel set or respectively said output wheel set is integral in rotation with a rotor, wherein said output wheel set or respectively said control wheel set includes a cavity inside which said rotor can pivot, wherein said rotor and/or said cavity includes at least a first chamber of variable radial cross-section with respect to the pivot axis of said rotor, wherein at least one free wheel is enclosed inside said chamber, and whose dimensions are arranged to allow said free wheel freedom inside said chamber in said first relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, and to cause said free wheel to lock on a wall of said chamber in said second relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, and wherein said free wheel is movable only in a plane perpendicular to said pivot axis of said rotor.

2. The correction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral surface of said rotor forms a cam in each said chamber, in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation common to said output wheel set and to said rotor.

3. The correction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral surface of said rotor forms a cam in each said chamber, in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation common to said output wheel set and to said rotor.

4. The correction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said control wheel set, said output wheel set, said rotor, and each said free wheel, are made of non-magnetic material.

5. The correction mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said control wheel set, said output wheel set, said rotor, and each said free wheel are made of ceramic material.

6. The correction mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said correction mechanism includes, in said output wheel set or said control wheel set, a single pivot shoulder arranged to cooperate with a structure or plate or bridge of a timepiece mechanism or of a movement to which said correction mechanism is arranged to be fixed.

7. A date display mechanism comprising a display wheel set and a correction mechanism according to claim 1.

8. A timepiece comprising a date display mechanism comprising a display wheel set, and a control wheel set arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism comprised in said timepiece and/or by a movement comprised in said timepiece, which includes a correction mechanism according to claim 1, arranged to correct the position of said display wheel set to change the date display.

9. The timepiece according to claim 8, wherein the timepiece is a watch.

10. A correction mechanism for a timepiece date display mechanism, arranged to change the angular position of a display wheel set comprised in said date display mechanism, said correction mechanism comprising: a control wheel set arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism; an output wheel set arranged to cooperate with said display wheel set; and a free wheel mechanism which is arranged to disengage said output wheel set from said control wheel set in a first relative direction of rotation, and to engage said output wheel set with said control wheel set in a second relative direction of rotation opposite to said first relative direction of rotation, wherein said control wheel set or respectively said output wheel set is integral in rotation with a rotor, wherein said output wheel set or respectively said control wheel set includes a cavity inside which said rotor can pivot, wherein said rotor and/or said cavity includes at least a first chamber of variable radial cross-section with respect to the pivot axis of said rotor, and wherein at least one free wheel is enclosed inside said chamber, and whose dimensions are arranged to allow said free wheel freedom inside said chamber in said first relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, and to cause said free wheel to lock on a wall of said chamber in said second relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, wherein said free wheel is movable both in a plane perpendicular to said pivot axis of said rotor and parallel to said pivot axis of said rotor.

11. The correction mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral surface of said rotor forms a cam in each said chamber, both in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation common to said output wheel set and to said rotor, and in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation.

12. A correction mechanism for a timepiece date display mechanism, arranged to change the angular position of a display wheel set comprised in said date display mechanism, said correction mechanism comprising: a control wheel set arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism; an output wheel set arranged to cooperate with said display wheel set; and a free wheel mechanism which is arranged to disengage said output wheel set from said control wheel set in a first relative direction of rotation, and to engage said output wheel set with said control wheel set in a second relative direction of rotation opposite to said first relative direction of rotation, wherein said control wheel set or respectively said output wheel set is integral in rotation with a rotor, wherein said output wheel set or respectively said control wheel set includes a cavity inside which said rotor can pivot, wherein said rotor and/or said cavity includes at least a first chamber of variable radial cross-section with respect to the pivot axis of said rotor, and wherein at least one free wheel is enclosed inside said chamber, and whose dimensions are arranged to allow said free wheel freedom inside said chamber in said first relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, and to cause said free wheel to lock on a wall of said chamber in said second relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, wherein each said chamber includes, in the same circumferential direction as all the other said chambers, a progressive enlargement area on an inclined surface, followed by an enlarged area limited by a stop surface, and wherein said free wheel is free in said enlarged area in said first relative direction of rotation, and locked and supported on said inclined surface in said second relative direction of rotation.

13. A correction mechanism for a timepiece date display mechanism, arranged to change the angular position of a display wheel set comprised in said date display mechanism, said correction mechanism comprising: a control wheel set arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism; an output wheel set arranged to cooperate with said display wheel set; and a free wheel mechanism which is arranged to disengage said output wheel set from said control wheel set in a first relative direction of rotation, and to engage said output wheel set with said control wheel set in a second relative direction of rotation opposite to said first relative direction of rotation, wherein said control wheel set or respectively said output wheel set is integral in rotation with a rotor, wherein said output wheel set or respectively said control wheel set includes a cavity inside which said rotor can pivot, wherein said rotor and/or said cavity includes at least a first chamber of variable radial cross-section with respect to the pivot axis of said rotor, and wherein at least one free wheel is enclosed inside said chamber, and whose dimensions are arranged to allow said free wheel freedom inside said chamber in said first relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, and to cause said free wheel to lock on a wall of said chamber in said second relative direction of rotation of said rotor with respect to said cavity, wherein said free wheel is a ball.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from reading the following detailed description, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 represents a schematic, perspective view of a friction mechanism with an oblong hole of the prior art.

(3) FIG. 2 represents, in a similar manner to FIG. 1, a part of a date mechanism provided with a correction mechanism according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a detail of FIG. 2, showing the free wheel mechanism incorporated into correction mechanism.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the correction mechanism passing through the pivot axis of the rotor of the free wheel mechanism.

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the free wheel mechanism in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis of its rotor.

(7) FIGS. 6 and 7 show schematic and perspective top and bottom views of a date mechanism provided with this correction mechanism.

(8) FIG. 8 is a block diagram representing a watch including a movement, a date mechanism, such a correction mechanism and a user control means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) The invention concerns a correction mechanism 1 for a timepiece date display mechanism 10, which includes a display wheel set 11.

(10) Correction mechanism 1 is arranged to change the angular position of this display wheel set 11.

(11) Correction mechanism 1 includes, on the one hand, a control wheel set 2, arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism 100, and on the other hand, an output wheel set 3 arranged to cooperate with such a display wheel set 11.

(12) This correction mechanism 1 includes a free wheel mechanism, which is arranged to disengage output wheel set 3 from control wheel set 2 in a first relative direction of rotation, and to engage output wheel set 3 with control wheel set 2 in a second relative direction of rotation opposite to the first relative direction of rotation.

(13) According to the invention, this control wheel set 2, or respectively this output wheel set 3, is integral in rotation with a rotor 4. Output wheel set 3 or respectively control wheel set 2 includes a cavity 30, inside which rotor 4 can pivot. This rotor 4 and/or this cavity 30 includes at least a first chamber 5, 50, of variable radial cross-section relative to pivot axis D of rotor 4.

(14) This correction mechanism 1 includes at least one free wheel 6, such as a ball a roller, or otherwise, which is confined inside such a chamber 5, 50, and whose dimensions are arranged to allow the free wheel freedom inside chamber 5, 50, in the first relative direction of rotation of rotor 4 relative to cavity 30, and to cause it to lock on a wall of chamber 5, 50 in the second relative direction of rotation of rotor 4 relative to cavity 30.

(15) In a variant, free wheel 6 is movable only in a plane perpendicular to pivot axis D of rotor 4.

(16) In another variant, free wheel 6 is movable only parallel to pivot axis D of rotor 4.

(17) In yet another variant, free wheel 6 is movable both in a plane perpendicular to pivot axis D of rotor 4 and parallel to pivot axis D of rotor 4. According to a particular feature, peripheral surface 40 of rotor 4 forms a cam in each chamber 5, in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation D common to output wheel set 3 and rotor 4.

(18) According to another particular feature, peripheral surface 40 of rotor 4 forms a cam in each chamber 5, in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation D common to wheel set 3 and rotor 4.

(19) According to yet another particular feature, peripheral surface 40 of rotor 4 forms a cam, in each chamber 5, both in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation D common to output wheel set 3 and rotor 4, and in a direction parallel to axis of rotation D.

(20) More particularly, and as seen in FIG. 5, each chamber 5, 50 includes, in the same circumferential direction as all the other chambers 5, 50, a progressive enlargement area on an inclined surface 7, followed by an enlarged area limited by a stop surface 8. Free wheel 6 is free inside the enlarged area in the first relative direction of rotation and is locked and supported on inclined surface 7 in the second relative direction of rotation.

(21) More specifically, each free wheel 6 is a ball. In other non-illustrated variants, free wheels 6 can take other forms: locking elements that do not roll but only slide, of the wedge type, provided they can be unlocked, or geometries which are not strictly of revolution, for example idle pinions. Another variant, conversely, concerns magnetic retention of a free wheel 6, particularly a ball on one of the ball bearing cages, combined with a cam imparting a force for release and change of position: the cam is then no longer used for retention but for unlocking.

(22) In the particular variant illustrated by the Figures, the entire system is on a same axis, the rotating motion comes through a lower pinion forming control wheel set 2, integral in rotation with rotor 4, and is transmitted by the cover by means of inclined faces forming inclined surfaces 7 and ball bearings forming free wheels 6, which lock on an upper correction pinion forming output wheel set 3. In the opposite direction, the balls are released by the inclined faces and no movement is transmitted.

(23) According to a particular feature, control wheel set 2, output wheel set 3, rotor 4, and each free wheel 6 are made of non-magnetic material. More particularly, at least one of control wheel set 2, output wheel set 3, rotor 4 and each free wheel 6 is made of ceramic material; more particularly still, control wheel set 2, output wheel set 3, rotor 4 and each free wheel 6 are made of ceramic material.

(24) More particularly, correction mechanism 1 includes, on output wheel set 3 or control wheel set 2, a single pivot shoulder 9, which is arranged to cooperate with a structure 90 or plate or bridge of a timepiece mechanism 100 or of a movement 200 to which correction mechanism 1 is arranged to be fixed.

(25) The invention also concerns a date display mechanism 10 including such a display wheel set 11 and such a correction mechanism 1.

(26) The invention also concerns a timepiece 1000 including a date display mechanism 10 comprising a display wheel set 11 and a control wheel set 2 arranged to be controlled by user action and/or by a timepiece mechanism 100 comprised in timepiece 1000, and/or by a movement 200 comprised in timepiece 1000, which includes such a correction mechanism 1, which is more particularly arranged to correct the position of display wheel set 11 in order to change the date display.

(27) More particularly, this timepiece 1000 is a watch.

(28) The mechanism according to the invention is a simple and compact (coaxial) system which includes a limited number of components. This mechanism has no friction system and has a fixed distance of centres.