Timepiece comprising a device for switching a mechanism of said timepiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10078310-B2
Application number	US-201715634319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2017
Priority date	Jul 1, 2016
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

The vertical coupling/uncoupling device includes a switching member and a control member, the latter being arranged to pivot about an axis of rotation to be able to be driven in rotation step-by-step successively into a plurality of distinct angular positions. The control member and the switching member respectively include a first magnetic structure and a second magnetic structure arranged to exhibit a magnet interaction therebetween. These first and second magnetic structures are arranged such that, depending on the angular position of the control member, a first magnetic force or a second magnetic force is produced, these first and second magnetic forces being oriented along said axis of rotation but in opposite directions. The switching member is subjected to an alternate movement between its first and second stable axial positions when the second magnetic structure is driven in rotation step-by-step in said given direction of rotation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A timepiece including:
a timepiece mechanism capable of switching between a specific first state and a specific second state;
a switching device arranged to be able to switch the timepiece mechanism between said first and second states, said switching device including a control member, which extends in a general plane in which it is subjectable to a movement under the action of an actuation device of said control member, and a switching member at least one part of which is arranged to be subjectable to a movement having a component orthogonal to said general plane;
the switching device being arranged such that said at least one part of the switching member is capable of passing on demand from a first stable axial position to a second stable axial position, to cause a first switch of the timepiece mechanism between the first state and second state thereof, and from the second stable axial position to the first stable axial position to cause a second switch of the timepiece mechanism between the second state and the first state thereof;
wherein the control member is arranged to pivot about an axis of rotation which is perpendicular to said general plane, so as to be drivable step-by-step in a given direction of rotation, successively into a plurality of distinct angular positions; wherein the control member and the switching member respectively include a first magnetic structure and a second magnetic structure arranged to exhibit a magnet interaction therebetween; wherein one of the first and second magnetic structures includes at least a first magnetic pole and the other of said two magnetic structures includes at least a second magnetic pole and a third magnetic pole with opposite polarities, the first and second magnetic structures being arranged such that, in a first angular position of the control member of said plurality of distinct angular positions, the first magnetic pole mainly exhibits a first magnetic interaction with one of the second and third magnetic poles, and such that, in a second angular position of this control member of the plurality of distinct angular positions, this first magnetic pole mainly exhibits a second magnetic interaction with the other of the second and third magnetic poles, the first and second magnetic interactions producing on the switching member a first magnetic force and a second magnetic force respectively, both mainly oriented along said axis of rotation in opposite directions, allowing said at least one part of said switching member to be moved from the first stable axial position to the second stable axial position and vice versa; and wherein said at least one part of the switching member is subjected to an alternate movement between the first and second stable axial positions thereof when the second magnetic structure is driven in rotation step-by-step in said given direction of rotation.

2. The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein the control member is arranged to make steps each corresponding to a pivoting motion of angle π/N, where N>0, such that the first magnetic structure is made to occupy in succession 2N distinct angular positions about said axis of rotation when driven step-by-step, said one of the first and second magnetic structures including N first magnetic poles which are substantially axially oriented and, when N>1, regularly distributed about said axis of rotation, and said other of said two magnetic structures including N second magnetic poles and N third magnetic poles which are substantially axially oriented and regularly distributed about the axis of rotation and at substantially the same distance from said axis of rotation as the first magnetic poles, the second and third magnetic poles being arranged alternately, such that each second magnetic pole is inserted between two third magnetic poles; and wherein, in each of the distinct angular positions of the control member, the N first magnetic poles are located substantially facing the N second magnetic poles or N third magnetic poles.

3. The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein said one of the first and second magnetic structures further includes N fourth magnetic poles of opposite polarity to those of the N first magnetic poles, the first and fourth magnetic poles being regularly distributed about said axis of rotation and arranged alternately such that each fourth magnetic pole is inserted between two first magnetic poles.

4. The timepiece according to claim 3 , wherein said one of the first and second magnetic structures is formed by a multipolar magnetic comprising 2N alternate and axially oriented poles.

5. The timepiece according to claim 3 , wherein said one of the first and second magnetic structures includes 2N bipolar magnets, axially oriented and regularly distributed about said axis of rotation, said bipolar magnets being alternately magnetically oriented in one sense and then the other.

6. The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein said other of the first and second magnetic structures is formed by a multipolar magnet including 2N alternate and axially oriented poles.

7. The timepiece according to claim 2 , wherein said other of the first and second magnetic structures includes 2N bipolar magnets, axially oriented and regularly distributed about said axis of rotation, said bipolar magnets being alternately magnetically oriented in one sense and then the other.

8. The timepiece according to claim 1 , wherein said switching member includes axial guiding arranged to allow an axial translation in both directions of said switching member when said control member is actuated in rotation and to prevent said switching member being driven in rotation upon such actuation.

9. The timepiece according to claim 8 , wherein the timepiece further includes a first stop and a second stop arranged to define respectively the two stable axial positions of the switching member, said switching member abutting against one or other of said first and second stops in the two respective stable axial positions thereof under the action of the magnetic force produced between the first and second magnetic structures.

10. The timepiece according to claim 8 , wherein said switching device forms a coupling/uncoupling device, and wherein said switching member carries a coupling element including a central arbor and arranged to rotate freely in at least one axial position of said first and second stable axial positions, corresponding to a coupled position of the switching device, the coupling element being substantially integral with the switching member in axial translation.

11. The timepiece according to claim 10 , wherein the arbor of said coupling element is at least partly formed of a ferromagnetic material, and wherein a magnetic bearing is arranged inside said switching member to pivot one end of said arbor, said magnetic bearing further ensuring an axial movement of a coupling wheel which is synchronous with that of the switching member in both directions.

12. The timepiece according to claim 10 , wherein one part of said arbor, located on an opposite side to the switching member, is arranged to slide in a jewel hole, said jewel hole forming a bearing mounted in a bar or a plate integral with a base on which is mounted the control member, the coupling element being located at least partly between the bar or the plate and the base.

13. The timepiece according to claim 10 , wherein a bar is fixedly mounted on the switching member to allow at least a central part of said coupling element to be housed between said bar and member, the bar including a bearing in which is arranged one end of the arbor of said coupling element.

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Assignees

• Montres Breguet Sa

Inventors

• Sarchi Davide
• Legeret Benoit
• LENOIR Deirdre
• Rochat Jean-Philippe

Classifications

• G04B11/005

  with magnetic elements · CPC title

• G04F7/0842 Primary

  with start-stop control mechanisms · CPC title

• G04C13/0409 Primary

  monitoring or controlling primary clock or system with more than one primary clock, e.g. for switching-over to standby motor or power system · CPC title