MECHANICAL HOROLOGICAL MOVEMENT WITH POWER RESERVE DETECTION

Abstract

A mechanical horological movement (1) including at least one barrel system (2) for driving a set of wheels and power reserve detector. The detector (10) includes a control wheel (3) disposed opposite the cage of the barrel system (2) and is rotated by a complementary wheel (8) at the differential output to determine a power reserve level. An aperture (13) has a first end (21) to define a complete charge of the barrel system and a second end (22) to define a complete discharge. A lever (4) is rotatably mounted about a lever axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the control wheel. A contact element (5) disposed in the aperture contacts the second end during a zero power reserve indication. A portion of the lever contacts a component of the movement to stop its operation when power reserve indication is at zero.

Claims

1. A mechanical horological movement provided with means for detecting the power reserve for a watch, the movement comprising at least one barrel system with at least a first drive wheel arrangement connected at the output of the central axis of the barrel system and a second drive wheel arrangement connected to a cage of the barrel system at the axis, the power reserve detection means comprising a control element disposed opposite the cage of the barrel system, and intended to rotate about an axis of rotation parallel to the central axis of the barrel system, or to move in a rectilinear direction, being driven by a complementary member at the output of a differential, and a lever comprising a contact element, which is disposed opposite a control portion of the control element or in a control portion of the control element, and to move the lever so that a blocking part of the lever contacts an element of the geartrain, whether it is directly or indirectly connected to the finishing geartrain or to the oscillator of the movement to directly stop the mechanical horological movement when the power reserve indication is at zero, wherein the control element comprises an aperture as a control portion, the aperture having a first end to define a complete charge of the barrel system and a second end to define a complete discharge of the barrel system for indicating the power reserve at zero, and the lever rotatably mounted about a lever axis parallel to the axis of rotation or parallel to the central axis of the barrel system, the lever comprising the contact element disposed in the aperture of the control element to contact the second end of the aperture when the power reserve indication is at zero.

2. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 1, wherein the control element is a control wheel, and wherein the aperture is a circular-arc shaped aperture with a determined angle and centred on the axis of the control wheel.

3. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 2, wherein the first end of the aperture and the second end of the aperture have the shape of circular portions.

4. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 3, wherein the circular portions at the ends define half of a circle with a radius corresponding to half the width of the aperture.

5. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 2, wherein the contact element of the lever is a pin, a rod or a blade disposed through the aperture.

6. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 1, wherein the blocking part is intended to contact an edge of the cage of the barrel system, when the power reserve is at zero, to block the movement.

7. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 1, wherein the blocking part comprises a tooth at an end opposite to an axis of rotation of the lever to be housed in the teeth of a peripheral toothed wheel of the cage of the barrel system when the power reserve is at zero, to block the movement.

8. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 1, wherein the blocking part comprises a rod or a stud of the lever to contact a rim of a mechanical oscillator in order to block the movement, when the power reserve is at zero.

9. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 1, wherein the movement comprises the first drive wheel arrangement connected to a discharge outlet of the differential barrel system, and a second drive wheel arrangement connected to a charge output of the differential barrel system, wherein a first drive wheel of the first drive wheel arrangement is fixed to the cage of the barrel system, while a first drive wheel of the second drive wheel arrangement is connected directly to the central axis of the barrel system, and wherein the differential type output rotates the control element, which is a control wheel.

10. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 9, wherein the complementary member at the differential type output is a complementary toothed wheel to mesh with the toothed control wheel.

11. The mechanical horological movement according to claim 1, wherein the lever can be movable in rotation or in a rectilinear manner, wherein the lever comprises a contact element, which is disposed opposite a control portion of the control element or in a control portion of the control element, which is a wheel with a control portion in the shape of a cam with a blocking member on the cam defining a power reserve at zero, and wherein the contact element in the shape of a feeler or a wedge directly contacts the blocking member when the power reserve is at zero to block the movement by the blocking part of the lever.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] The purposes, advantages and features of a mechanical horological movement provided with power reserve detection means will appear better in the following description in a non-limiting manner with regard to the drawings wherein:

[0021] FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c show two three-dimensional top views and a top view of the position shown in FIG. 1b of a first simplified embodiment of the mechanical horological movement provided with power reserve detection means according to the invention,

[0022] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show two three-dimensional top views and a top view of the position shown in FIG. 2b of a second simplified embodiment of the mechanical horological movement provided with power reserve detection means according to the invention, and

[0023] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show two three-dimensional top views and a top view of the position shown in FIG. 3b of a third simplified embodiment of the mechanical horological movement provided with power reserve detection means according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] In the following description, all the components of a mechanical horological movement provided with power reserve detection means, which are well known to a person skilled in the art in this technical field, are only described in a simplified manner.

[0025] FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c show three-dimensional top views of some components of the mechanical horological movement 1 with the power reserve detection means 10, as well as a top plan view in the position of the power reserve means illustrated in FIG. 1b of a first embodiment. The mechanical horological movement 1 for a watch is in the normal operating position in FIG. 1a and in the movement blocking position in FIG. 1b with zero power reserve, as well as in FIG. 1c.

[0026] The mechanical horological movement 1 comprises at least the barrel system 2, which is disposed for example on one face of a watch platen of the movement (not shown) or of another support plate. This barrel system 2 can be with a single barrel or two barrels or more than two well-known barrels and having a charge output and a discharge output, as well as a differential to drive a time base geartrain. In the case shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c, a differential barrel system 2 with a toothed wheel 24 peripheral to the cage of the barrel system 2 can be used to drive at least one large middle finishing geartrain and/or a drive geartrain starting from the axis or shaft 16 of the barrel system 2.

[0027] In general, provision is made of at least one drive wheel connected to the central axis or shaft 16 of the barrel system 2. Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c, there is at least one first arrangement of the drive wheels 7, 7′, a base wheel 7 of which is fixed either on the cage of the barrel system 2 to rotate with the cage, or connected to the central axis or shaft 16 of the barrel system 2. Normally, the cage of the barrel system 2 rotates in the same direction as the central axis or shaft 16 of the barrel system 2.

[0028] Preferably according to the first embodiment, provision is made of the first drive wheel 7, 7′ arrangement and also of a second drive wheel 6, 6′, 6″ arrangement as use is made of a differential barrel system 2. The first drive wheel 7, 7′ arrangement is connected to a differential discharge input, while the second drive wheel 6, 6′, 6″ arrangement is connected to a differential charge input. In this first embodiment, the first drive wheel 7, 7′ arrangement comprises a first base wheel 7 fixed on the cage of the barrel system 2, while the second drive wheel 6, 6′, 6″ arrangement comprises a first base wheel 6 connected directly to the axis or to the central shaft 16 of the barrel system 2.

[0029] The means 10 for detecting the power reserve of the mechanical horological movement 1 comprise a control element 3, which may be a control wheel as shown in this first embodiment, or also a control plate movable in a rectilinear direction. The control wheel 3 is disposed opposite the cage of the barrel system 2, and can be arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation 23 parallel to the central axis 16 of the barrel system 2. A complementary member 8 in the shape of a complementary wheel 8 in this case drives the control wheel 3 in a direction of charge or discharge of the barrel system 2, in particular at the output of a differential.

[0030] In this embodiment, the control wheel 3 comprises an aperture 13 as a control portion, said aperture 13 having a first end 21 to define a complete charge of the barrel system 2 and a second end 22 to define a complete discharge of the barrel system 2 for indicating the power reserve at zero. The aperture 13 is circular-arc shaped with a determined angle and centred on the axis 23 of the control wheel 3 while being parallel to the central axis or shaft 16 of the barrel system 2. The first end 21 of the aperture 13 and second end 22 of the aperture 13 have the shape of circular portions. These circular portions at both ends define half of a circle with a radius corresponding to half the width of the aperture 13.

[0031] The means 10 for detecting the power reserve of the mechanical horological movement 1 also comprise a lever 4, which can preferably be mounted to rotate about a lever axis 14 parallel to the axis of rotation 23 of the control wheel 3 and/or parallel to the central axis 16 of the barrel system 2. The lever 4 comprises a contact element 5 disposed in the aperture 13 of the control element 3, which is the control wheel 3 in this first embodiment, to contact the second end 22 of the aperture 13 during a zero power reserve indication. The lever 4 is pushed in rotation about its lever axis 14 by the second end 22 so that a blocking part 15 of the lever 4 contacts the cage of the barrel system 2 is preferably in contact with an edge 12 of the cage of the barrel system 2. The axis of rotation 14 of the lever is disposed near the blocking part 15 which may be a wedge or a stud fixed under a surface of the lever 4 or directly made integrally with the lever 4 in general. The wedge or the stud does not normally comprise any rib on its periphery so as to bear only against the edge 12 of the barrel system 2 in order to block the movement by friction.

[0032] In one embodiment not shown, the lever 4 can be movable in rotation or in a rectilinear manner. The lever 4 can comprise a contact element 5, which is disposed opposite a control portion 13 of the control element 3 or in a control portion 13 of the control element 3. The control element 3 may be a wheel with a control portion in the shape of a cam with a blocking member on the cam defining a power reserve at zero. The contact element 5 in the shape of a feeler or a wedge directly contacts the blocking member when the power reserve is at zero to block the movement by the blocking part 15 of the lever 4.

[0033] The first drive wheel arrangement also comprises a second wheel 7′ mounted coaxially on the axis of the complementary member 8 in the shape of a wheel, and a first wheel 7 for rotating the second wheel 7′, said first wheel 7 being fixed on the cage of the barrel system 2 at the central axis 16 of the barrel system 2. Preferably, the first wheel 7 is traversed by the central axis or shaft 16 of the barrel system 2. The two wheels 7, 7′ and the complementary wheel 8 are toothed wheels to allow at least the first wheel 7 to drive said second wheel 7′ by meshing. The contact between the second wheel 7′ and the complementary wheel 8, as well as the contact between the third wheel 6″ and the complementary wheel 8 passes through balls. There is a differential effect between the second wheel 7′ and the third wheel 6″ by sandwich contact of said balls. The complementary toothed wheel 8 meshes with the control wheel 3, which comprises toothing at the periphery.

[0034] The second drive wheel 6, 6′, 6″ arrangement for the charge of the barrel system 2 comprises a first wheel 6 directly connected to the central axis or shaft 16 of the barrel system 2. This first toothed wheel 6 meshes with a second toothed wheel 6′ disposed in the same plane as the first wheel 6 and rotating about an axis of rotation 18. This second toothed wheel 6′ is also provided to mesh with a third wheel 6″ disposed between the complementary wheel 8 and the second wheel 7′ of the first drive wheel arrangement and in a coaxial manner.

[0035] Depending on the rotation of the third wheel 6″ of the second arrangement and the second wheel 7′ of the first arrangement, the complementary wheel 8 will rotate in either direction.

[0036] It should be noted that the wheel arrangements described above allow to connect the charging and discharging of the barrel system 2, as an energy reservoir, to the display of the power reserve indication. The second drive wheel 6, 6′, 6″ arrangement transmits the charge of the barrel system 2 (winding) with a good transmission ratio, while the first drive wheel 7, 7′ arrangement transmits the discharge of the barrel system 2 (normal discharge during operation) with the good transmission ratio. The differential is designed to average these two pieces of information and transmit them to the display.

[0037] It should also be noted that the first end 21 of the aperture 13 corresponding to the complete charge of the barrel system 2 contacts either the contact element 5 of the lever 4 or in this case a portion connected to the central axis 16 of the barrel system 2.

[0038] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show two three-dimensional top views and a top view of the position shown in FIG. 2b of a second simplified embodiment of the mechanical horological movement provided with power reserve detection means according to the invention.

[0039] In this second embodiment which comprises components similar to what has been described with reference to FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c. Under these conditions, the entire description of these components will not be repeated. It only refers to the different components.

[0040] In this second embodiment, the essential difference is at the blocking part 15 of the lever 4 which is a tooth capable of coming into the teeth of a peripheral toothed wheel 24 of the cage of the barrel system 2 since the power reserve is at zero to block movement.

[0041] The third embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c differ from the other two embodiments, because it is not a blocking at the cage of the barrel system which takes place when the power reserve is at zero, but a blocking of a rim 30 of a mechanical oscillator. However, the blocking of the movement takes place in the same way as the embodiments described above by the blocking part 15 in contact with the rim 30. The entire description of these elements will therefore not be repeated.

[0042] The various components described above can be in other shapes while guaranteeing direct blocking of the movement when the power reserve is at zero.

[0043] From the description which has just been given, several variant embodiments of the mechanical horological movement with power reserve detection means can be designed by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims.