EP3798741B1 - Clockwork - Google Patents

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It concerns, more particularly, a watch movement having a particular frame construction.

State of the art

In so-called "complicated" timepieces, i.e. pieces comprising several additional mechanisms, one of the problems often encountered is a lack of volume in the movement to accommodate the various mechanisms and/or on the dial to accommodate displays, animations and other visual elements. The most commonly used solution, concerning the bulk of the movement, is to increase its thickness, by providing mechanisms on additional (sets of) levels. The movement is thus made very thick, which requires a bulky watch case. The MB&F "Legacy Machine" series of pieces overcomes this problem to a certain extent. In this construction, the balance-spring assembly is mounted between, on the one hand, a first bearing conventionally arranged in the frame and, on the other hand, a second bearing carried by a pair of cantilevered arms surmounting the mechanism and defining a flying bridge. However, the escapement system is still arranged on the frame in a relatively conventional manner, requiring a passage for the balance staff. The fact that one of the bearings for the balance staff is conventionally arranged on the frame implies traditional construction constraints regarding the pivoting on the frame as well as the arrangement of the escapement.

When it comes to arranging displays, animations, etc., a common solution is to place some of these visual elements on the back side of the room, visible through a transparent background. However, these elements do not are not visible when the watch is worn by a user, the latter having to be removed and turned over to be able to consult these displays.

The document EP 2 442 191 discloses a modular display construction, in which a bridge carrying a needle and a gear train for its drive is mounted on an annular rail forming part of the frame and comprising a plurality of openings allowing the said bridge to be fixed at different locations. Other movements having other constructions are also disclosed in the documents EP3226081 , EP0973076 And FR1181584 .

The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a watch movement in which one or other of the aforementioned defects is at least partially overcome.

Disclosure of the invention

• un bâti principal, comprenant typiquement une platine et au moins un pont, servant de support pour une source motrice ainsi que pour au moins un rouage de base agencé pour être entrainé par ladite source motrice ;
• au moins un pont volant monté en porte-à-faux sur un élément dudit bâti principal et s'étendant en superposition de ce dernier.

More specifically, the invention relates to a watch movement as defined by claim 1. This movement comprises:

• a main frame, typically comprising a plate and at least one bridge, serving as a support for a drive source as well as for at least one basic gear train arranged to be driven by said drive source;
• at least one flying bridge mounted cantilevered on an element of said main frame and extending superimposed on the latter.

The flying bridge carries at least one functional element such as a display member, a regulating system (such as a balance-spring-escapement system), an oscillating winding weight or the like, in kinematic connection with said base gear train via a flying gear train comprising a plurality of toothed mobiles. According to the invention, said functional element as well as at least some elements of said flying gear train are entirely supported by said flying bridge. In other words, the members in question are pivoted exclusively on the flying bridge, without the intervention of any bearing located on the main frame. More particularly, said toothed mobiles are mounted on the side of the latter which is opposite the main frame, and the functional element is a display member.

By these means, the functional element can be located superimposed on the main frame, without requiring any bearing carried by the latter. Space in the movement is thus generated, without the obligation to stack even more levels on the main frame, and this not only on the flying bridge but also on the main frame, thus giving more freedom to the manufacturer. Indeed, when the movement is nested, the flying bridge extends into the gap between the main frame and the glass (or alternatively the back which can also be transparent) and thus uses space that is typically unused.

In a particular embodiment, the movement may comprise at least two flying bridges each carrying a respective flying train. The latter may be independent of each other or may mesh with each other at a respective toothed mobile of each flying train in order to transmit torque from one side of the main frame to the other. In particular, this meshing may be carried out at the last mobile of each flying train.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a case closed at least on one side by a glass as well as a movement as described above mounted in said case, said functional element as well as said flying bridge being located between said main frame and said glass.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 est une vue schématique en coupe d'une partie d'un mouvement horloger selon l'invention ;
• Fig. 2 est une vue isométrique d'une partie d'une autre variante d'un mouvement horloger selon l'invention, comprenant deux ponts volants portant des rouages volants qui engrènent entre eux ;
• Fig. 3 est une vue schématique d'une partie d'une autre variante d'un mouvement horloger selon un exemple ne faisant pas partie de l'invention, dans laquelle le pont volant porte le système réglant.

Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of part of a watch movement according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a part of another variant of a watch movement according to the invention, comprising two flying bridges carrying flying gears which mesh with each other;
• Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a part of another variant of a watch movement according to an example not forming part of the invention, in which the flying bridge carries the regulating system.

Embodiments of the invention

There figure 1 schematically illustrates part of a watch movement 1 according to the invention. This movement comprises a main frame 3, comprising a plate and at least one bridge as generally known and which therefore do not need to be described in detail.

The main frame 3 carries a drive source 5, illustrated here as a conventional barrel, housing a mainspring. Other types of drive sources 5 such as an electric motor, may also find application in the movement 1 according to the invention. The drive source 5 may be pivotally mounted between two frame elements or may be mounted in a flying manner, supported exclusively on one of its sides, as is generally known.

The driving source 5 drives a main gear 7, partially illustrated (the remainder of the main gear 7 being schematically illustrated by means of thick arrows), which is supported by the frame and which comprises a plurality of toothed mobiles, one or more belts, chains or the like or a combination of such elements, as generally known. In addition, the type of teeth of the toothed mobiles can be straight, but also inclined, conical, edgewise or the like, depending on the needs of the construction and the shape of the bridge.

In the present case, the gear train 7 also drives a regulating system 9 mounted on the main frame 3, for example of the balance-spring-escapement type of any kind, a mono-, bi- or tri-axial tourbillon, a carousel, or any other known regulating system used to determine the rate of the movement. In addition, each of the regulating systems may or may not be inclined relative to the plane of the main frame 3.

The clockwork movement also comprises a flying bridge 11, mounted in a cantilever manner on the main frame 3, in particular on a bridge or on the plate of the latter. In other words, the flying bridge has an end fixed to the main frame 3 as well as a free end. The flying bridge 11 extends superimposed on the main frame 3 and carries at least one functional element 13, which is, in this case, a hand arranged to display horological information such as seconds, minutes, hours, day, date, week number, moon phase or any other horological information. Instead of a hand, a disk or any other type of display member may be provided. Similarly, the display mechanism may be, for example, retrograde, jumping, or any type of mechanism known to those skilled in the art.

This functional element 13 is entirely supported by the flying bridge 11, by means of a pair of bearings 15a, 15b arranged on either side of the flying bridge 11, or by any other ad hoc arrangement serving to support it. It is obvious that any type of bearing can be envisaged, such as for example ball bearings or any other type of bearing known to those skilled in the art.

The functional element 13 is rotationally secured to an element 17a of a flying gear 17, which consists of three toothed mobiles 17a, 17b, 17c, which are each fully supported by the flying bridge 11 and which form a gear train driven by a drive mobile 7a mounted on the main frame 3 and driven by the drive source 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the mobiles 17a and 17c each comprise a single toothed wheel, while the mobile 17b consists of a wheel and a pinion, but other combinations of toothed elements are also possible. By “fully supported”, it is meant that the pivoting of the mobiles 17a, 17b, 17c takes place exclusively on the flying bridge, without any use of a bearing located on the main frame 3.

As illustrated, and according to the invention, all of the toothed mobiles 17a, 17b, 17c are mounted on the lower side of the flying bridge 11 opposite the main frame 3.

Furthermore, it is also possible to provide several functional elements 13 each integral in rotation with a different mobile 17a, 17b, 17c of the flywheel 17. By adapting the gear ratios appropriately, the flywheel can for example serve as a timer, by displaying the time by means of a functional element 13 integral in rotation of the mobile 17a, and the minutes by a functional element integral in rotation or driven by the mobile 17b or 17c. Thus, depending on the inclination of the mobiles 17a, 17b, 17c of the flying train, it is possible to have an additional functional element integral with several (or all) of the latter with a different inclination from each other, parallel to the axis of its respective mobile. This can give an original aesthetic effect to the timepiece.

As shown in the figure 2 , on which the elements carried by the main frame 3 have not been shown, it is also possible to provide a plurality of flying bridges 11 and flying gears 17, which can mesh with each other at their last mobiles 17a. Alternatively, the two flying gears 17 may not cooperate directly with each other. Such an arrangement will allow the watchmaker to provide, for example, a space in the center of the movement 1, the majority of the elements of the movement being part of the flying gears 17. This space may be transparent, or may contain any object (sculpture, animation, game device, etc.)

In the illustrated variant, each wheel set 17a carries a functional element 13 such as a hand, but it is also possible to provide only one functional element carried by one or the other of the flying gears 17. In this construction, the hands rotate in opposite directions, with an angular speed ratio that depends on the gear ratio between the two wheel sets 17a. It is also possible to interpose a return between the two wheel sets 17a, or to mount one of the hands integral in rotation with the wheel set 17b on one or the other of the flying gears 17. Alternatively, the two flying gears 17 can be used to transmit torque from one side of the main frame to the other, without requiring a crown or bulky gear passing through the latter.

There figure 3 , in which the elements carried by the main frame 3 have also not been shown, illustrates another example not forming part of the invention, in which the regulating system 9 is carried by the flying bridge 11 at instead of being located on the main frame 3. In the illustrated variant, the regulating system 9 comprises a balance 21 - balance spring 23 assembly maintained in oscillation by an escapement system 25 of conventional type, the regulating system 9 being considered as the functional element in this example. Alternatively, a regulating system of any other type (detent escapement, tourbillon, carousel, etc.) can be used.

The balance wheel 21 may be mounted so as to be supported on only one of its sides ("flying balance wheel"), for example by being supported on the flying bridge 11 by means of a ball bearing. Alternatively, the flying bridge 11 may also comprise a plate (not illustrated) carrying a conventional bearing, this plate being fixed to the flying bridge 11 by means of a screw or the like, cooperating with the opening 11a for example.

In the illustrated construction, the mobile 17d is an escape mobile comprising a pinion 17d1 located on the lower side of the flying bridge 11 as well as an escape wheel 17d2 located on the upper side of the flying bridge 11. The latter cooperates with an anchor 25a in a known manner, and clearly illustrates the principle that a mobile can comprise toothed elements located on either side of the bridge 11.

By these means, the balance wheel 21 - balance spring 23 - escapement 25 assembly located on the flying bridge regulates the operation of the base gear train 7 driven by the drive source 5, these last two elements not being shown in the figure 3 .

Other alternatives based on the principles described above are also conceivable. For example, the functional element carried by the flying bridge 11 may be any animation, a display member for any horological information related to time or movement (such as the power reserve), an oscillating weight arranged to wind the barrel 5 or similar.

In view of the above, it is clear that, when the movement 1 is fitted, the flying bridge 11 as well as the functional element 13, 21 are will be interposed between the main frame 3 and a glass, whether on the case side or the back side.

It should also be noted that other standard elements such as a dial, a watch case, winding and/or time-setting means, etc. have not been shown.

Although the invention has been previously described in connection with specific embodiments, other additional variations are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (5)

1. A timepiece movement (1) comprising :

   - a main frame (3) serving as a support for a driving source (5) as well as for at least one base geartrain (7) arranged to be driven by said driving source (5) ;

   - at least one flying bridge (11) cantilever-mounted on an element of said main frame (3) and extending in superposition thereto,

   wherein said flying bridge (11) carries at least one functional element (13; 9) kinematically linked to said base geartrain (7) via a flying geartrain (17) comprising a plurality of toothed organs (17a, 17b, 17c),

   characterized in that said functional element (13) as well as at least some elements of said flying geartrain (17a, 17b, 17c) are entirely supported on said flying bridge (11), said toothed organs (17a, 17b, 17c) being mounted on the side of said flying bridge (11) which faces the main frame (3),

   and in that said functional element is a display member (13).
2. Movement (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least two flying bridges (11) each carrying a respective flying geartrain (17).
3. Movement (1) according to claim 2, in which said flying geartrains (17) mesh with one another.
4. Movement (1) according to claim 3, in which said flying geartrains (17) mesh with each other at the last organ (17a) of each flying geartrain (17).
5. Timepiece comprising a case closed at least on one side by a glass and a movement (1) according to one of the preceding claims mounted in said case, said functional element (13, 9) and said at least one flying bridge (11) being located between said main frame and said glass.

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