Motor module for watches

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10228658-B2
Application number	US-201615357172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A motorization group including power and control devices, and a motor module for watches, with a motor with a coil driving an output wheel set on an output arbor, this motor module includes main mechanical and electrical connectors to a structure or another motor module, and flat links cooperating with another motor module, each coil being electrically connected to two main connectors or to two flat links, more particularly, the flat links of the motor modules are arranged for an electrical connection, a main motor module carrying a main arbor parallel to each output arbor, electrically connected by main connectors or flat links, either to the structure, or to another motor module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motorization group, comprising:
a motor unit including a main motor module, another motor module, and at least one passive sector,
wherein said main motor module and said another motor module each comprise: a receiving wheel;
at least one motor comprising a coil and driving a gear train comprising an output wheel set on an output arbor;
main connectors for mechanical and/or electrical connection; and
flat links, said coil being electrically connected to two of said flat links or to said main connectors,

wherein said main motor module carries a main arbor parallel to said output arbor of the main motor module, and remote from said output arbor of the main motor module,
wherein said flat links of the main motor module and of the another motor module each comprise link means and complementary link means, said link means of the main motor module being arranged to cooperate in a link attachment, in a plane perpendicular to said output arbor of the main motor module, with said complementary link means of said another motor module,
wherein said link means and said complementary link means of said main motor module define an opening angle of a sector extending from a main pivot axis and said main motor module is inscribed in said sector, and
wherein said at least one passive sector has a geometry, gear train, output wheel set, main connectors and flat links, like said main motor module and said another motor module, but said passive sector is devoid of said motor, and said passive sector includes an input wheel driven by said receiving wheel of said main motor module or of said another motor module, said input wheel being arranged to drive said output wheel set of said passive sector via said gear train of said passive sector, every wheel set of the passive sector being idle.

2. The motorization group according to claim 1 , wherein said main arbor carries at least one idle receiving wheel, arranged to be driven by said output wheel set of said main motor module.

3. The motorization group according to claim 2 , wherein said main arbor carries at least one particular idle receiving wheel, which is arranged to be driven by said output wheel set of said another motor module, assembled to said main motor module by said flat links.

4. The motorization group according to claim 1 , wherein said main arbor carries a plurality of idle receiving wheels, independent of each other, each carrying a tube for receiving a display, and each arranged to be driven by said output wheel set of said main motor module or of said another motor module assembled to said main motor module by said flat links, and wherein all said tubes carried by said receiving wheels, fitted on said main arbor, are coaxial and interior to each other.

5. The motorization group according to claim 4 , wherein said main motor module comprises said output wheel set which is a main output wheel set, whose toothing is axially positioned at a height suitable for meshing with a main receiving wheel of said receiving wheels and which is situated at the same height as said main output wheel set on said main arbor, and wherein another receiving wheel of said receiving wheels is positioned on said main arbor at a particular height at which said another receiving wheel can mesh with said output wheel set comprised, at the same height, in said another motor module, assembled to said main motor module by said flat links.

6. The motorization group according to claim 1 , further comprising power and control means configured to control the main motor module and the another motor module.

7. The motorization group according to claim 6 , wherein said power and control means are arranged to control at least one of said main motor module and said another motor module with a time signal, to effect a display of a time magnitude with said display of said motor module concerned.

8. The motorization group according to claim 6 , wherein said power and control means are arranged to control said main motor module and said another motor module with different time signals, to effect a display of a different time magnitude on each of said displays of said motor modules concerned.

9. The motorization group according to claim 1 , wherein said motor unit further includes at least one other nearby motor module, directly or indirectly assembled to said main motor module by said flat links, and said other nearby motor module carrying an output wheel set meshing with a particular idle wheel fitted on said main arbor of said main motor module, and wherein main connectors for mechanical and electrical connection comprised in each said other nearby motor module are arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner with housings of a structure of the motorization group.

10. The motorization group according to claim 1 , wherein said motor unit forms a self-supporting structure.

11. The motorization group according to claim 1 , wherein said opening angle of said main motor module is equal to an opening angle of said another motor module, each opening angle having an angular value that is an integer sub-multiple of 360°, and wherein said flat links of said main motor module and of said another motor module are arranged for a circular connection of said main motor module and of said another motor module around said main arbor.

12. The motorization group according to claim 1 , wherein said flat links of said main motor module and of said another motor module are arranged for a mechanical and electrical connection between said main motor module and of said another motor module.

13. The motorization group according to claim 1 , wherein said main arbor carries a plurality of idle receiving wheels, independent of each other, and each arranged to be driven by said output wheel set of said main motor module or of said another motor module, and wherein each said receiving wheel carries a tube for receiving a display, wherein all said tubes carried by said receiving wheels, fitted on said main arbor, are coaxial and interior to each other, wherein said main motor module comprises said main output wheel set whose toothing is axially positioned at a height suitable for meshing with said main receiving wheel situated at the same height on said main arbor, and wherein said receiving wheel, other than said main receiving wheel, is positioned on said main arbor at a particular height at which said receiving wheel can mesh with said output wheel set comprised, at the same height, in said another motor module.

14. A watch comprising:
the motorization group according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse

Inventors

• Lagorgette Pascal
• Balmer Raphael

Classifications

• G04B13/00

  Gearwork {(gearwork for driving the hands G04B19/02; calibers G04B33/00; dispositions and components for transmission in general F16H)} · CPC title

• G04B33/06

  of extremely flat shape · CPC title

• G04C3/00 Primary

  Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means (clocks driven by synchronous motors G04C15/00) · CPC title

• G04B29/04

  Connecting or supporting parts · CPC title

• G04C3/14 Primary

  incorporating a stepping motor (G04C3/02 - G04C3/12 take precedence {; generating commutating pulses in primary clocks G04C13/0463}) · CPC title