DISENGAGEABLE WINDING DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A HOROLOGICAL BARREL, PROVIDED WITH A SLIDING WINDING GEAR TRAIN

Abstract

A disengageable winding device (1) for a barrel (2) provided with a spring, comprising a ratchet (3) mounted on a winding arbor such that it is rigidly connected thereto, the winding arbor being an arbor for winding the barrel (2), the rotation of which winds up the barrel (2), and a winding gear train (40) meshing with the ratchet (3), the rotation of the winding gear train (40) driving the rotation of the ratchet (3) and that of the winding arbor.

Claims

1. The disengageable winding device (10) for a barrel (2) provided with a spring, comprising: a ratchet (3) mounted on a winding arbor and rigidly connected thereto, the winding arbor being an arbor for winding the barrel (2), the rotation of which winds up the barrel (2), a winding gear train (40) meshing with the ratchet (3), the rotation of the winding gear train (40) driving the rotation of the ratchet (3) and that of the winding arbor, and an actuating wheel set (31) for driving the winding gear train (40) by applying a torque to the winding gear train (40), the actuating wheel set (31) meshing with the winding gear train (40) in an engaged position, the winding gear train (40) being mounted to slide about a rotary arbor (26) out of the engaged position when the torque applied to the winding gear train (40) is substantially greater than a threshold value when the barrel (2) is fully wound up.

2. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the winding gear train (40) and the actuating wheel set (31) are superimposed in the engaged position.

3. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating wheel set (31) is mounted on said rotary arbor (26) and rigidly connected thereto.

4. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating wheel set (31) does not mesh with the winding gear train (40) when the winding gear train (4) is sliding.

5. The winding device according to claim 1, further comprising return means (50) exerting an axial return force on the winding gear train (40) in the direction of the actuating wheel set (31), to hold in the engaged position.

6. The winding device according to claim 5, wherein the return means comprise a spring (30) arranged above the winding gear train (40).

7. The winding device according to claim 5, wherein the winding gear train (40) slides when the torque applied to the winding gear train (40) generates an axial force which is opposite to and greater than the force exerted by the return means (50).

8. The winding device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating wheel set (31) and the winding gear train (40) each comprise a wolf-tooth toothing (24, 25), the two wolf-tooth toothings (24, 25) cooperating with each other.

9. The winding device according to claim 8, wherein the winding gear train (40) and the actuating wheel set (31) each comprise a second radial toothing (22, 27).

10. A horological movement comprising a barrel (2) and the winding device (10) for winding the barrel (2) according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] The purposes, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent after reading several embodiments, which are provided for purposes of illustration only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of a disengageable winding device according to one embodiment of the invention, which device is in the engaged position,

[0027] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the disengageable winding device according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, which device is disengaged,

[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the disengageable winding device according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, which device is in the engaged position,

[0029] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the disengageable winding device according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, which device is disengaged, in particular when the mainspring is fully tightened, and

[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, exploded, perspective view of the disengageable winding device according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a winding device 10, in this case a horological barrel 2, according to the invention.

[0032] The winding device 10 of the barrel 2 comprises a ratchet 3 and a winding gear train 40. The winding gear train 40 meshes with the ratchet 3, so that when the winding gear train 40 is rotated in a first direction, the ratchet 3 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0033] The ratchet 3 is mounted on a winding arbor such that it is rigidly connected thereto, the winding arbor allowing the barrel 2 to be wound up. The winding arbor is preferably cylindrical.

[0034] In the example, the winding arbor is the winding arbor of the barrel 2, the ratchet 3 being arranged on the barrel 2. The ratchet 3 comprises a hub 7 mounted on the winding arbor such that it is rigidly connected thereto.

[0035] In one alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the winding arbor is not mounted on the barrel, the winding arbor comprising a pinion meshing with a wheel set driving the barrel-winding arbor in order to tighten the spring, if the ratchet is not mounted on the barrel.

[0036] The winding gear train 40 is arranged next to the ratchet 3, and preferably extends in the same plane as the ratchet 3.

[0037] The ratchet 3 comprises a first external toothing 11 distributed around the ratchet 3. The first toothing 11 cooperates with a second peripheral toothing 22 arranged on a first wheel 28 of the winding gear train 40. The winding gear train 40 comprises a third toothing 25 arranged under the first wheel.

[0038] The barrel 2 comprises a balance spring (not shown in the figures), arranged inside the barrel 2, which must be tightened, either by a self-winding system or by a manual winding system.

[0039] To this end, the winding device 1 further comprises a gear system 23, for example driven by a self-winding weight (not shown in the figures) of the horological movement. The gear train system 23 can also be driven by a winding stem (not shown in the figures) that can be actuated by means of a winding button, in the case of manual winding.

[0040] An actuating wheel set 31 for the winding of the gear train system 23 actuates the winding gear train 40. The actuating wheel set 31 comprises a second wheel 29 provided with a fourth peripheral toothing 27 cooperating with another wheel set 32 of the gear train system 23. The actuating wheel set 31 comprises a fifth toothing 24 arranged on the second wheel 29, and meshing with the third toothing 25 of the winding gear train 40 in the engaged position.

[0041] Thus, by actuating the gear train system 23, a torque is applied to the ratchet 3, which transmits it, at least in part, to the winding arbor, via the winding gear train 40 driven by the actuating wheel set 31.

[0042] The rotation of the actuating wheel set 31 and of the winding gear train 40 causes the ratchet 3, and thus the winding arbor, to rotate when the barrel 2 is wound.

[0043] To avoid over-winding the barrel 2, the winding gear train 40 is capable of moving from an engaged position in which it drives the ratchet 3.

[0044] In this embodiment, the disengageable winding device 10 comprises a rotary arbor 26, on which the winding gear train 40 is slidably mounted around said rotary arbor 26. The actuating wheel set 31 is mounted on the rotary arbor 26 such that it is rigidly connected thereto.

[0045] The winding gear train 40 meshes with the winding actuating wheel set 31 when it is in the engaged position, and does not mesh with the winding actuating wheel set 31 when it is sliding along the rotary arbor 26.

[0046] Thus, in the engaged position, the actuating wheel set 31 drives the winding gear train 40, and the winding gear train 40 drives the ratchet 3.

[0047] Whereas, after the winding gear train 40 has finished sliding, the actuating wheel set 31 rotates idly and does not drive the winding gear train 40, which is at a distance from the actuating wheel set 31. The ratchet 3 is thus no longer driven by the winding gear train 40.

[0048] The winding gear train 40 and the actuating wheel set 31 are superimposed, one on top of the other. The winding gear train 40 is arranged above the actuating wheel set 31, so that the fifth toothing 24 of the actuating wheel set 31 cooperates with the third toothing 25 of the winding gear train 40 in the engaged position.

[0049] The third toothing 25 and the fifth toothing 25 preferably have wolf-tooth-shaped teeth. In other words, one side of each tooth is less inclined than the other side. This makes it easier for the toothings to slide over each other in a preferred direction of rotation if they are not held sufficiently pressed against each other.

[0050] The winding gear train 40 can slide axially along the axis of the rotary arbor 26. Thus, the winding gear train 40 can move axially from the engaged position and vice-versa.

[0051] In the engaged position, the winding gear train 40 and the actuating wheel set 31 are in contact via the third toothing 25 and the fifth toothing 24, which mesh with each other. Thus, the actuating wheel set 31 drives the winding gear train 4, and thus the ratchet 3.

[0052] However, in the disengaged configuration, the winding gear train 40 and the actuating wheel set 31 are further apart, so that the third toothing 25 and the fifth toothing 24 do not mesh with each other. As a result, the actuating wheel set 31 does not drive the winding gear train 4 or the ratchet 3.

[0053] Moreover, the second toothing 22 of the winding gear train 40 no longer meshes with the first toothing 11 of the ratchet 3, when the winding gear train 40 is disengaged. More specifically, as the winding gear train 40 has slid along the rotary arbor 26, the second toothing 22 has shifted beyond the first toothing 11.

[0054] The winding device 40 further comprises return means 50 exerting an axial return force on the winding gear train 40 in the direction of the actuating wheel set 31, to hold it in the engaged position.

[0055] The return means comprise a spring 30 arranged above the winding gear train 40.

[0056] The winding gear train 40 is mounted on the spring 30, which exerts an axial force on the winding gear train 40 to hold it in the engaged position.

[0057] The spring 30 takes the form of a flexible collar joined to the rotary arbor 26 above the winding gear train 40. The flexible collar is bent or folded over the winding gear train 40 to press thereagainst.

[0058] The flexible collar exerts an axial return force on the winding gear train 40 in the direction of the actuating wheel set 31, so that the third toothing 25 and the fifth toothing 24 cooperate in the engaged position.

[0059] Moreover, the winding gear train 40 slides around the winding arbor 26 when the torque applied to the winding gear train 40 generates an axial force which is opposite to and greater than the force exerted by the return means 50.

[0060] More specifically, thanks to the wolf-tooth-shaped teeth of the third toothing 25 and of the fifth toothing 24, the torque applied to the winding gear train 40 generates a force that pushes the winding gear train 40 in the opposite direction to the force produced by the spring 30.

[0061] Thus, when the torque substantially exceeds a threshold value, the winding gear train 40 slides around the rotary arbor 26 to leave the engaged position. The winding gear train 40 slides by performing a substantially rectilinear axial movement around the rotary arbor 26 from the engaged position to a certain distance from the actuating wheel set 31.

[0062] Above the threshold value, when the torque required to rotate the ratchet 3 is greater than that required to unfold the flexible collar 26 upwards, the winding gear train 40 is pushed by the actuating wheel set 31 thanks to the third toothing 25 and the fifth toothing 24, in particular thanks to the wolf-tooth toothings 24, 25.

[0063] In other words, when the actuating wheel set 31 presses hard on the winding gear train 40, the third wolf-tooth toothing 25 and the fifth wolf-tooth toothing 24 slide over each other without meshing and the winding gear train 40 moves as the flexible collar extends upwards along the rotary arbor 26.

[0064] As a result, the actuating wheel set 31 continues to rotate, but the winding gear train 40 and the ratchet 3 no longer rotate.

[0065] In FIGS. 1 and 3, in the winding configuration, the winding torque exerted on the winding gear train 40 by the actuating wheel set 31 is less than the threshold value, so that the flexible collar does not change shape. The first toothing 12 and the ratchet 3 are thus driven by the winding gear train 40.

[0066] In FIGS. 2 and 4, when the barrel 2 is fully wound, the winding torque exerted on the winding gear train 40 by the actuating wheel set 31 is greater than the threshold value, so that the flexible collar unfolds and the winding gear train 40 moves upwards. In other words, the torque required to rotate the ratchet 3 is too great for the flexible collar, which cannot retain its initial shape.

[0067] These disengagement means protect the barrel 2 from being over-wound and prevent premature wear inside the barrel 2. The winding arbor can thus be blocked when the mainspring is fully tightened, without risking breaking the mainspring 2.

[0068] The barrel 2 further comprises a sixth peripheral toothing 18 configured to cooperate with a seventh toothing of a wheel set of the horological movement. The wheel set is, for example, a third wheel. Once wound, the barrel 2 supplies the energy required to operate the horological movement via the wheel set.

[0069] The invention further relates to a horological movement, not shown in the figures, the movement comprising a barrel and a barrel-winding device as described above.

[0070] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the figures and alternatives can be considered without leaving the scope of the invention.