EP1408381B1 - Centrifugal governor of a striking mechanism, particularly in a timepiece - Google Patents

Centrifugal governor of a striking mechanism, particularly in a timepiece Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1408381B1
EP1408381B1 EP02079171A EP02079171A EP1408381B1 EP 1408381 B1 EP1408381 B1 EP 1408381B1 EP 02079171 A EP02079171 A EP 02079171A EP 02079171 A EP02079171 A EP 02079171A EP 1408381 B1 EP1408381 B1 EP 1408381B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
inertia
plate
centrifugal
block
regulator
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EP02079171A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1408381A1 (en
Inventor
Jean Remont
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Montres Breguet SA
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Montres Breguet SA
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Priority to AT02079171T priority Critical patent/ATE438124T1/en
Priority to DE60233141T priority patent/DE60233141D1/en
Priority to EP02079171A priority patent/EP1408381B1/en
Publication of EP1408381A1 publication Critical patent/EP1408381A1/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
    • G04B21/00—Indicating the time by acoustic means
    • G04B21/02—Regular striking mechanisms giving the full hour, half hour or quarter hour
    • G04B21/06—Details of striking mechanisms, e.g. hammer, fan governor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a centrifugal ring regulator, particularly for a timepiece, comprising a turntable about its central axis and provided with two diametrically opposed drive pads, a fixed body having an inner surface of revolution centered on said axis, and two flyweights mutually symmetrical with respect to said axis, each respectively engaged on one of the driving pads and arranged to bear against the inner surface of the body under the effect of the centrifugal force when the plate rotates.
  • a regulator of this kind can be used to limit the speed or rate of any mechanical ringing caused by at least one rotating element, for example in a clock or in a bell watch, whether it is of the passing or repeating type.
  • Such a regulator limits the speed primarily by friction.
  • the speed of the buzzer is stabilized as soon as the regulator reaches a speed of rotation such that the friction produces on its axis an equal and opposite torque to the engine torque that it receives from the drive member of the buzzer.
  • Such a regulator has the disadvantage of undergoing wear which modifies the friction conditions during its lifetime and also produces waste likely to affect the operation of the watch.
  • each weight is formed by a lever whose longest arm contains the center of gravity and whose shortest arm carries a roller which is supported by rolling against a fixed central cylinder.
  • the wear of the regulator members is almost zero, given the low angular velocity of the rollers in contact with the central cylinder, which may be of very small diameter. It can be deduced that a regulator constructed thus provides only a weak resisting torque.
  • the present invention aims to create a centrifugal regulator that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular by having little wear while having a good efficiency, with a size small enough to be incorporated in a watch.
  • centrifugal regulator of the kind indicated in the preamble, characterized in that each weight rests against the inner surface of the body via at least one roller rotatably mounted on the flyweight and arranged for rolling on said inner surface.
  • each weight comprises two of these rollers, which are spaced from each other in the direction of the circumference of the plate.
  • a spring-loaded barrel 2 which drives a gear train 3 connected to a regulating system constituted in this case by a vortex 4.
  • the watch 1 also contains a bell-type bell, comprising a 6 hour hammer, which strikes on a 7 hour stamp, and a minute 8 hammer which strikes on a minute 9 stamp.
  • the hammers are actuated in known manner from a ringing center mobile 10 which is driven by the spring of a barrel 11 through an intermediate mobile 12.
  • a regulator Ring centrifugal 14 is rotated from the center mobile 10 by a multiplier gear train 15, the last element of which is a driving wheel 16 which meshes with a pinion 17 of the regulator 14.
  • the elements of the centrifugal ring regulator 14 are shown in more detail in the Figures 2 to 4 .
  • the gear 17 of the regulator is made of a piece with a shaft 18 whose ends are pivotally mounted by means of stones 23 in a plate 20 and a bridge 21, to rotate about a central axis 22 of the regulator.
  • a circular plate 24 is fixed to the pinion 17 and extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis 22.
  • a regulator body 25 is fixed to the plate 20 by screws 26 and has a cylindrical inner surface 27 whose diameter is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the plate 24. Note that the body 25 could be formed by any fixed part of the watch, such as according to the patent CH 604 237 cited above.
  • the figures 2 and 3 represent the rotating part of the centrifugal regulator shown in figure 2 .
  • Two identical flyweights 30 are mounted movably on the turntable 24. The latter is provided with two driving studs 31 occupying diametrically opposite positions on the plate and each having a cylindrical drum 32 which emerges from the upper face 33 of the tray. Each stud 31 is engaged with a lateral play 34 in a cylindrical hole 35 of the corresponding flyweight 30, the diameter of the hole 35 being substantially greater than that of the stud of the stud 31 to allow the flyweight to move on the plate, at the less in a radial direction thereof.
  • each weight 30 has several localized spans such as 36, while a small gap 37 is provided between the rest of its lower face and the plate 24 to prevent lubrication may stick the weight on the tray.
  • the weight is held upward by a washer 38 driven on the shaft 18.
  • a gap 39 is formed between the two weights 30 to ensure sufficient freedom of movement in the plane of the plate 24.
  • each weight has the shape a segment of a circle that covers almost half of the plateau 24.
  • Two circular rollers 40 are rotatably mounted on each weight 30, each by means of a tenon 41 driven into a corresponding hole of the weight, the tenon having an enlarged head 42.
  • Each roller 40 is disposed in a recess 43 of the weight, so as to be substantially at the same level as the center of gravity CG of the weight.
  • Each roller 40 is made of a hard material, preferably a synthetic stone such as ruby. In the example shown in the drawings, stones of the kind usually used in the bearings of the movements are used. timepiece, in particular with a concave recess 44 around their central hole to facilitate oiling, if any.
  • the rollers 40 emerge slightly at the periphery of the flyweights 30 and are intended to rest while rolling against the inner surface 27 ( figure 2 ) of the body 25 of the regulator.
  • the spacing of the respective axes of the two rollers 40 of a flyweight 30 corresponds to an angle A, which is 90 ° in the example shown, with respect to the axis 22 of the regulator.
  • the total of the amplitudes of the radial reaction forces Fr exerted on the two rollers 40 by the body 25 is greater than the amplitude of the centrifugal force FC acting at the center of gravity CG of the weight. Since the tangential reaction force Ft acting on each roller is proportional to Fr, this means that the larger the angle A, the greater the reaction torque of the regulator.
  • spacing from one another the two rollers 40 of a feeder allows either to increase the resistive torque of the regulator and thus reduce its maximum speed, or to reduce the diameter of the regulator or the mass of its weights.
  • the sliding support of the synthetic stone rollers 40 on the studs 41 which are preferably made of steel, allows high contact pressures and a high rotation speed with a moderate coefficient of friction, even without lubricant, so that the wear is almost zero at this location.
  • the rollers 40 could also be made of a suitable metal, for example cupro-beryllium.
  • the weights can be made of any sufficiently dense material, for example brass or gold.
  • the other elements of the regulator are made of materials customary in the field of watchmaking.
  • a centrifugal regulator according to the invention can be used with any type of mechanical bell.

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  • Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
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Abstract

The shaft (18) of the regulator which has bearings (23) is driven by a multiplying gear train (15,16). A plate (24) is attached to the shaft and drives two hemispherical weights (30) by means of pins (31). The weights each have two rollers made from a synthetic stone such as ruby which bear against the internal surface (27) of a cylinder (25) and stabilize the regulator speed

Description

La présente invention concerne un régulateur centrifuge de sonnerie, notamment pour une pièce d'horlogerie, comportant un plateau rotatif autour de son axe central et muni de deux plots d'entraînement diamétralement opposés, un corps fixe ayant une surface intérieure de révolution centrée sur ledit axe, et deux masselottes mutuellement symétriques par rapport audit axe, engagées chacune respectivement sur l'un des plots d'entraînement et agencées pour s'appuyer contre la surface intérieure du corps sous l'effet de la force centrifuge quand le plateau tourne.The present invention relates to a centrifugal ring regulator, particularly for a timepiece, comprising a turntable about its central axis and provided with two diametrically opposed drive pads, a fixed body having an inner surface of revolution centered on said axis, and two flyweights mutually symmetrical with respect to said axis, each respectively engaged on one of the driving pads and arranged to bear against the inner surface of the body under the effect of the centrifugal force when the plate rotates.

Un régulateur de ce genre est utilisable pour limiter la vitesse ou la cadence de toute sonnerie mécanique entraînée par au moins un élément rotatif, par exemple dans une horloge ou dans une montre à sonnerie, qu'elle soit du type en passant ou à répétition. Un tel régulateur limite la vitesse avant tout par friction. La vitesse de la sonnerie est stabilisée dès que le régulateur atteint une vitesse de rotation telle que les frottements produisent sur son axe un couple égal et opposé au couple moteur qu'il reçoit de l'organe moteur de la sonnerie.A regulator of this kind can be used to limit the speed or rate of any mechanical ringing caused by at least one rotating element, for example in a clock or in a bell watch, whether it is of the passing or repeating type. Such a regulator limits the speed primarily by friction. The speed of the buzzer is stabilized as soon as the regulator reaches a speed of rotation such that the friction produces on its axis an equal and opposite torque to the engine torque that it receives from the drive member of the buzzer.

Par exemple dans le brevet CH 604 237 , il est décrit une montre à répétition dont la sonnerie est entraînée par un ressort de barillet et stabilisée par un régulateur centrifuge du genre indiqué en préambule. Lorsque la sonnerie fonctionne, le plateau tourne et ses deux masselottes tentent à s'écarter l'une de l'autre et à frotter sur la paroi d'une ouverture circulaire d'un pont, produisant ainsi un effet de freinage.For example in the patent CH 604 237 , there is described a repeating watch whose ringing is driven by a mainspring and stabilized by a centrifugal regulator of the kind indicated in the preamble. When the buzzer is running, the turntable rotates and its two flyweights try to move away from each other and rub on the wall of a circular opening of a bridge, thus producing a braking effect.

Un tel régulateur a l'inconvénient de subir une usure qui modifie les conditions de friction au cours de sa durée de vie et produit en outre des déchets susceptibles d'affecter le fonctionnement de la montre.Such a regulator has the disadvantage of undergoing wear which modifies the friction conditions during its lifetime and also produces waste likely to affect the operation of the watch.

Diverses tentatives ont été faites pour pallier ce problème d'usure en utilisant des corps roulants portés par le plateau ou les masselottes. Ainsi, selon le brevet CH 12249 , le plateau comporte des rainures radiales contenant des billes qui roulent contre le corps du régulateur. Dans le brevet CH 14178 , chaque masselotte est formée par un levier dont le bras le plus long contient le centre de gravité et dont le bras le plus court porte un galet qui s'appuie en roulant contre un cylindre central fixe. Selon ce brevet, l'usure des organes du régulateur est presque nulle, vu la faible vitesse angulaire des galets en contact avec le cylindre central, qui peut être de très petit diamètre. On peut en déduire qu'un régulateur construit ainsi ne fournit qu'un faible couple résistant. Ces solutions déjà anciennes n'ont pas pu s'imposer sur le marché, probablement par manque d'efficacité.Various attempts have been made to overcome this wear problem by using rolling bodies carried by the plate or the weights. So according to the patent CH 12249 , the plate has radial grooves containing balls which roll against the body of the regulator. In the patent CH 14178 , each weight is formed by a lever whose longest arm contains the center of gravity and whose shortest arm carries a roller which is supported by rolling against a fixed central cylinder. According to this patent, the wear of the regulator members is almost zero, given the low angular velocity of the rollers in contact with the central cylinder, which may be of very small diameter. It can be deduced that a regulator constructed thus provides only a weak resisting torque. These old solutions have not been able to prevail on the market, probably for lack of efficiency.

La présente invention, comme défini par la revendication 1, vise à créer un régulateur centrifuge qui évite les inconvénients de l'art antérieur, notamment en présentant peu d'usure tout en ayant une bonne efficacité, avec une taille assez petite pour pouvoir être incorporé dans une montre.The present invention, as defined by claim 1, aims to create a centrifugal regulator that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular by having little wear while having a good efficiency, with a size small enough to be incorporated in a watch.

A cet effet, il est prévu un régulateur centrifuge du genre indiqué en préambule, caractérisé en ce que chaque masselotte s'appuie contre la surface intérieure du corps par l'intermédiaire d'au moins un galet monté de manière rotative sur la masselotte et agencé pour rouler sur ladite surface intérieure.For this purpose, there is provided a centrifugal regulator of the kind indicated in the preamble, characterized in that each weight rests against the inner surface of the body via at least one roller rotatably mounted on the flyweight and arranged for rolling on said inner surface.

Ainsi, le corps du régulateur ne subit pratiquement pas de friction, puisque les masselottes ne le touchent pas et que les galets roulent contre lui. La friction s'effectue essentiellement au niveau du pivot portant chaque galet. On verra plus loin que l'usure peut être réduite pratiquement à zéro à cet endroit.Thus, the body of the regulator undergoes practically no friction, since the weights do not touch and that the rollers roll against him. The friction is essentially at the pivot bearing each roller. It will be seen later that wear can be reduced to practically zero at this point.

De préférence, chaque masselotte comporte deux de ces galets, qui sont espacés l'un de l'autre dans la direction de la circonférence du plateau. Plus l'espacement angulaire de ces galets est grand, plus la force d'appui sur chaque galet est grande, pour une valeur donnée de la force centrifuge s'exerçant sur la masselotte. On augmente ainsi les frottements, ce qui permet de diminuer la taille du régulateur ou la masse de chaque masselotte, pour une valeur donnée du couple résistant.Preferably, each weight comprises two of these rollers, which are spaced from each other in the direction of the circumference of the plate. The greater the angular spacing of these rollers, the greater the bearing force on each roller is large, for a given value of the centrifugal force exerted on the flyweight. This increases the friction, which reduces the size of the regulator or the mass of each weight, for a given value of the resistant torque.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront dans la description suivante d'un mode de réalisation préféré, présentée à titre d'exemple non limitatif en référence aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 représente les principaux éléments d'un mouvement de montre à sonnerie, vu du côté du cadran après enlèvement de la platine,
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe partielle suivant la ligne II-II de la figure 1, où on voit l'entier du régulateur de sonnerie,
  • la figure 3 est une vue de dessus de la partie tournante du régulateur de sonnerie, et
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of a preferred embodiment, presented by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • the figure 1 represents the main elements of a striking watch movement, seen from the dial side after removal of the platinum,
  • the figure 2 is a partial sectional view along the line II-II of the figure 1 , where we see the whole ringer regulator,
  • the figure 3 is a top view of the rotating part of the ring regulator, and
  • the figure 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of the figure 3 .

Dans la montre 1 représentée partiellement à la figure 1, on reconnaît certains éléments principaux du mouvement d'horlogerie, notamment un barillet à ressort 2 qui entraîne un rouage 3 relié à un système réglant constitué ici par un tourbillon 4. La montre 1 contient en outre une sonnerie du type grande sonnerie, comportant un marteau des heures 6, qui frappe sur un timbre des heures 7, et un marteau des minutes 8 qui frappe sur un timbre des minutes 9. Les marteaux sont actionnés de manière connue à partir d'un mobile de centre de sonnerie 10 qui est entraîné par le ressort d'un barillet 11 par l'entremise d'un mobile intermédiaire 12. Un régulateur centrifuge de sonnerie 14 est entraîné en rotation à partir du mobile de centre 10 par un train d'engrenage multiplicateur 15, dont le dernier élément est une roue entraîneuse 16 qui s'engrène sur un pignon 17 du régulateur 14.In the watch 1 shown partially in the figure 1 , certain main elements of the watch movement are recognized, in particular a spring-loaded barrel 2 which drives a gear train 3 connected to a regulating system constituted in this case by a vortex 4. The watch 1 also contains a bell-type bell, comprising a 6 hour hammer, which strikes on a 7 hour stamp, and a minute 8 hammer which strikes on a minute 9 stamp. The hammers are actuated in known manner from a ringing center mobile 10 which is driven by the spring of a barrel 11 through an intermediate mobile 12. A regulator Ring centrifugal 14 is rotated from the center mobile 10 by a multiplier gear train 15, the last element of which is a driving wheel 16 which meshes with a pinion 17 of the regulator 14.

Les éléments du régulateur centrifuge de sonnerie 14 sont représentés plus en détail dans les figures 2 à 4. Le pignon 17 du régulateur est fait d'une pièce avec un arbre 18 dont les extrémités sont montées à pivot grâce à des pierres 23 dans une platine 20 et un pont 21, pour tourner autour d'un axe central 22 du régulateur. Un plateau circulaire 24 est fixé au pignon 17 et s'étend dans un plan perpendiculaire à l'axe 22. Un corps de régulateur 25 est fixé à la platine 20 par des vis 26 et présente une surface intérieure cylindrique 27 dont le diamètre est légèrement plus grand que le diamètre extérieur du plateau 24. On notera que le corps 25 pourrait être formé par n'importe quelle pièce fixe de la montre, comme par exemple selon le brevet CH 604 237 cité plus haut.The elements of the centrifugal ring regulator 14 are shown in more detail in the Figures 2 to 4 . The gear 17 of the regulator is made of a piece with a shaft 18 whose ends are pivotally mounted by means of stones 23 in a plate 20 and a bridge 21, to rotate about a central axis 22 of the regulator. A circular plate 24 is fixed to the pinion 17 and extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis 22. A regulator body 25 is fixed to the plate 20 by screws 26 and has a cylindrical inner surface 27 whose diameter is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the plate 24. Note that the body 25 could be formed by any fixed part of the watch, such as according to the patent CH 604 237 cited above.

Les figures 2 et 3 représentent la partie rotative du régulateur centrifuge représenté à la figure 2. Deux masselottes identiques 30 sont montées de manière mobile sur le plateau rotatif 24. Celui-ci est muni de deux plots d'entraînement 31 occupant des positions diamétralement opposées sur le plateau et ayant chacun un fût cylindrique 32 qui émerge de la face supérieure 33 du plateau. Chaque plot 31 est engagé avec un jeu latéral 34 dans un trou cylindrique 35 de la masselotte 30 correspondante, le diamètre du trou 35 étant sensiblement supérieur à celui du fût du plot 31 afin de permettre à la masselotte de se déplacer sur le plateau, au moins dans une direction radiale de celui-ci. Pour glisser aisément sur le plateau 24, chaque masselotte 30 présente plusieurs portées localisées telles que 36, tandis qu'un petit intervalle 37 est ménagé entre le reste de sa face inférieure et le plateau 24 pour éviter que la lubrification risque de coller la masselotte sur le plateau. La masselotte est retenue vers le haut par une rondelle 38 chassée sur l'arbre 18. Un intervalle 39 est ménagé entre les deux masselottes 30 pour leur assurer une liberté de déplacement suffisante dans le plan du plateau 24. Ainsi, chaque masselotte a la forme d'un segment de cercle qui couvre presque la moitié du plateau 24.The figures 2 and 3 represent the rotating part of the centrifugal regulator shown in figure 2 . Two identical flyweights 30 are mounted movably on the turntable 24. The latter is provided with two driving studs 31 occupying diametrically opposite positions on the plate and each having a cylindrical drum 32 which emerges from the upper face 33 of the tray. Each stud 31 is engaged with a lateral play 34 in a cylindrical hole 35 of the corresponding flyweight 30, the diameter of the hole 35 being substantially greater than that of the stud of the stud 31 to allow the flyweight to move on the plate, at the less in a radial direction thereof. To slide easily on the plate 24, each weight 30 has several localized spans such as 36, while a small gap 37 is provided between the rest of its lower face and the plate 24 to prevent lubrication may stick the weight on the tray. The weight is held upward by a washer 38 driven on the shaft 18. A gap 39 is formed between the two weights 30 to ensure sufficient freedom of movement in the plane of the plate 24. Thus, each weight has the shape a segment of a circle that covers almost half of the plateau 24.

Deux galets circulaires 40 sont montés de manière rotative sur chaque masselotte 30, chacun au moyen d'un tenon 41 chassé dans un trou correspondant de la masselotte, le tenon ayant une tête élargie 42. Chaque galet 40 est disposé dans un évidement 43 de la masselotte, de façon à se trouver sensiblement au même niveau que le centre de gravité CG de la masselotte.Two circular rollers 40 are rotatably mounted on each weight 30, each by means of a tenon 41 driven into a corresponding hole of the weight, the tenon having an enlarged head 42. Each roller 40 is disposed in a recess 43 of the weight, so as to be substantially at the same level as the center of gravity CG of the weight.

Chaque galet 40 est fait d'un matériau dur, de préférence une pierre synthétique telle que le rubis. Dans l'exemple représenté dans les dessins, on employe des pierres du genre utilisé habituellement dans les paliers des mouvements d'horlogerie, en particulier avec un évidement concave 44 autour de leur trou central pour faciliter l'huilage, le cas échéant. Les galets 40 émergent légèrement à la périphérie des masselottes 30 et sont destinés à s'appuyer en roulant contre la surface intérieure 27 (figure 2) du corps 25 du régulateur.Each roller 40 is made of a hard material, preferably a synthetic stone such as ruby. In the example shown in the drawings, stones of the kind usually used in the bearings of the movements are used. timepiece, in particular with a concave recess 44 around their central hole to facilitate oiling, if any. The rollers 40 emerge slightly at the periphery of the flyweights 30 and are intended to rest while rolling against the inner surface 27 ( figure 2 ) of the body 25 of the regulator.

Quand la sonnerie est mise en action, la roue 16 entraînée à partir du barillet 11 applique un couple moteur au pignon 17, ce qui fait tourner l'arbre 18 et le plateau 24 autour de l'axe 22. Chaque masselotte 30 est entraînée dans cette rotation par le plot correspondant 31 du plateau et subit donc une force centrifuge FC qui la déplace radialement vers l'extérieur jusqu'à ce que ses deux galets 40 s'appuient en roulant contre la surface 27 du corps 25. Le frottement de chaque galet sur le tenon correspondant 41 freine la rotation du galet et induit, par friction sur la surface 27, une force tangentielle Ft qui s'oppose à la rotation du plateau 24. Les quatre forces Ft produisent, par rapport à l'axe 22, un couple résistant qui s'oppose au couple moteur. La vitesse de rotation du régulateur se stabilise lorsque le couple résistant est égal au couple moteur.When the buzzer is actuated, the wheel 16 driven from the barrel 11 applies a driving torque to the pinion 17, which rotates the shaft 18 and the plate 24 about the axis 22. Each weight 30 is driven into this rotation by the corresponding pad 31 of the plate and is therefore subjected to a centrifugal force FC which moves it radially outwards until its two rollers 40 rest against the surface 27 of the body 25. The friction of each roller on the corresponding post 41 brakes the rotation of the roller and induces, by friction on the surface 27, a tangential force Ft which opposes the rotation of the plate 24. The four forces Ft produce, with respect to the axis 22, a resistant torque that opposes the engine torque. The speed of rotation of the regulator stabilizes when the resisting torque is equal to the motor torque.

Dans la figure 3, on voit que l'espacement des axes respectifs des deux galets 40 d'une masselotte 30 correspond à un angle A, qui est de 90° dans l'exemple représenté, par rapport à l'axe 22 du régulateur. Ainsi, le total des amplitudes des forces de réaction radiales Fr exercées sur les deux galets 40 par le corps 25 est plus grand que l'amplitude de la force centrifuge FC agissant au centre de gravité CG de la masselotte. Comme la force de réaction tangentielle Ft agissant sur chaque galet est proportionnelle à Fr, ceci signifie que plus l'angle A est grand, plus le couple de réaction du régulateur est fort. Autrement dit, espacer l'un de l'autre les deux galets 40 d'une masselotte permet soit d'augmenter le couple résistant du régulateur et donc diminuer sa vitesse maximale, soit de diminuer le diamètre du régulateur ou la masse de ses masselottes.In the figure 3 it can be seen that the spacing of the respective axes of the two rollers 40 of a flyweight 30 corresponds to an angle A, which is 90 ° in the example shown, with respect to the axis 22 of the regulator. Thus, the total of the amplitudes of the radial reaction forces Fr exerted on the two rollers 40 by the body 25 is greater than the amplitude of the centrifugal force FC acting at the center of gravity CG of the weight. Since the tangential reaction force Ft acting on each roller is proportional to Fr, this means that the larger the angle A, the greater the reaction torque of the regulator. In other words, spacing from one another the two rollers 40 of a feeder allows either to increase the resistive torque of the regulator and thus reduce its maximum speed, or to reduce the diameter of the regulator or the mass of its weights.

L'appui glissant des galets 40 en pierre synthétique sur les tenons 41, qui sont de préférence en acier, permet des pressions de contact élevées et une grande vitesse de rotation avec un coefficient de friction modéré, même sans lubrifiant, de sorte que l'usure est quasi nulle à cet endroit. Les mêmes conditions prévalent pour le contact entre les galets 40 et le corps 25. On notera toutefois que les galets 40 pourraient aussi être faits d'un métal approprié, par exemple le cupro-béryllium. Les masselottes peuvent être faites de n'importe quel matériau suffisamment dense, par exemple en laiton ou en or. Les autres éléments du régulateur sont réalisés en matériaux usuels dans le domaine de l'horlogerie.The sliding support of the synthetic stone rollers 40 on the studs 41, which are preferably made of steel, allows high contact pressures and a high rotation speed with a moderate coefficient of friction, even without lubricant, so that the wear is almost zero at this location. The same conditions prevail for the contact between the rollers 40 and the body 25. Note however that the rollers 40 could also be made of a suitable metal, for example cupro-beryllium. The weights can be made of any sufficiently dense material, for example brass or gold. The other elements of the regulator are made of materials customary in the field of watchmaking.

La description qui précède montre que l'invention permet de réaliser un régulateur centrifuge de sonnerie ayant une construction simple et capable de fonctionner pratiquement sans usure, même sans lubrification, pendant une très longue durée de service. De plus, un tel régulateur produit très peu de vibrations et de bruit.The foregoing description shows that the invention makes it possible to produce a centrifugal ring regulator having a simple construction capable of operate virtually without wear, even without lubrication, for a very long service life. In addition, such a regulator produces very little vibration and noise.

Selon une variante, on peut envisager d'avoir un seul galet 40 sur chaque masselotte 30, par exemple en supprimant le galet le plus éloigné du tenon 31 si l'on considère la figure 3, de façon que la force centrifuge FC produise une grande force Fr sur le galet restant grâce à un effet de levier. Toutefois, cela nécessite de renforcer notablement le pivot formé par le tenon 31.According to a variant, it is conceivable to have a single roller 40 on each weight 30, for example by removing the roller furthest from the pin 31 if we consider the figure 3 , so that the centrifugal force FC produces a large force Fr on the remaining roller through a lever effect. However, this requires significantly strengthening the pivot formed by the pin 31.

Un régulateur centrifuge selon l'invention est utilisable avec tout type de sonnerie mécanique.A centrifugal regulator according to the invention can be used with any type of mechanical bell.

Claims (7)

  1. Centrifugal strike work governor, for a timepiece, including a plate (24) that rotates about the central axis thereof (22) and is fitted with two diametrically opposite drive studs (31), a fixed body (25) that has an inner surface of revolution centred on said axis, and two inertia-blocks (30) that are symmetrical to each other relative to said axis, each respectively engaged on one of the drive studs and arranged for abutting against the inner surface (27) of the body via the effect of centrifugal force when the plate is rotating,
    characterized in that each inertia-block (30) abuts against the inner surface (27) of the body via at least one roller (40) that is rotatably mounted on the inertia-block and arranged for rolling over said inner surface.
  2. Centrifugal governor according to claim 1, characterized in that each inertia block (30) includes two of said rollers (40), which are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the circumference of the plate.
  3. Centrifugal governor according to claim 1, characterized in that each inertia-block is mounted on the drive stud (31) with some play (34) at least in a radial direction to the plane.
  4. Centrifugal governor according to claim 2, characterized in that the angular space (A) between the axes of the two rollers of one inertia-block, relative to the centre of the plate, has a value of at least 70 degrees, and preferably at least 90 degrees.
  5. Centrifugal governor according to any of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that each roller (40) is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical part of a stud (41) secured to the plate (24), the roller being made of a harder material than said stud and said body.
  6. Centrifugal governor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each roller (40) is made of synthetic stone, particularly synthetic ruby.
  7. Centrifugal governor according to claim 1, characterized in that each drive stud (31) has a cylindrical shaft (32), which is parallel to said axis (22) and engaged with some lateral play (34) in a hole in the corresponding inertia-block.
EP02079171A 2002-10-07 2002-10-07 Centrifugal governor of a striking mechanism, particularly in a timepiece Expired - Lifetime EP1408381B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT02079171T ATE438124T1 (en) 2002-10-07 2002-10-07 CENTRIFUGAL REGULATOR OF A BEAT MECHANISM, ESPECIALLY IN A CLOCK
DE60233141T DE60233141D1 (en) 2002-10-07 2002-10-07 Centrifugal regulator of a hammer mechanism, especially in a clock
EP02079171A EP1408381B1 (en) 2002-10-07 2002-10-07 Centrifugal governor of a striking mechanism, particularly in a timepiece

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02079171A EP1408381B1 (en) 2002-10-07 2002-10-07 Centrifugal governor of a striking mechanism, particularly in a timepiece

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1408381A1 EP1408381A1 (en) 2004-04-14
EP1408381B1 true EP1408381B1 (en) 2009-07-29

Family

ID=32011019

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02079171A Expired - Lifetime EP1408381B1 (en) 2002-10-07 2002-10-07 Centrifugal governor of a striking mechanism, particularly in a timepiece

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1408381B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE438124T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60233141D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7527423B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2009-05-05 Montres Breguet Sa Watch comprising two tourbillons
EP1944662A1 (en) 2007-01-15 2008-07-16 Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier SA Hour chiming mechanism

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH14178A (en) * 1897-03-24 1897-10-15 Henri Sandoz Speed regulator for repeating watches
CH15833A (en) * 1898-01-07 1898-07-31 Ditisheim & Cie Brake-regulator for watch mechanisms
CH25658A (en) * 1902-04-02 1903-05-31 Mathey Tissot & Co E Speed regulator of the small gear of repeating watches
CH31197A (en) * 1904-07-29 1905-03-15 Le Coultre & Cie Silent moderator for the small gear of repeating watches

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE438124T1 (en) 2009-08-15
EP1408381A1 (en) 2004-04-14
DE60233141D1 (en) 2009-09-10

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