Device for immobilising and/or winding a marine chronometer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10401797-B2
Application number	US-201715730900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Nov 2, 2016
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A marine chronometer including a watch tiltably mounted on a support with a gimbal suspension, the chronometer support also includes a cradle movable in translation between a rest position wherein the watch is free to move on the gimbal suspension, and a holding position wherein the watch is resting on the cradle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A marine chronometer, comprising:
a watch tiltably mounted on a support with a gimbal suspension, the marine chronometer support also comprises a cradle movable in translation between a rest position wherein the watch is free to move on the gimbal suspension, and a holding position wherein the watch is resting on the cradle,
wherein the cradle comprises magnetic means capable of cooperating with associated magnetic means of the watch to immobilise the watch in the cradle when the cradle is in the holding position.

2. The chronometer according to claim 1 , wherein the cradle is movable in translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support.

3. The chronometer according to claim 1 , wherein the cradle has an intermediate position between the rest position and the holding position, an intermediate position wherein the magnetic means of the cradle are adapted to cooperate with the associated magnetic means of the watch to orient the watch in the cradle.

4. The chronometer according to claim 1 , also comprising magnetic insulation means movable between:
an insulating position wherein, when the cradle is in the rest position, the insulation means form a magnetic screen between the magnetic means of the cradle and the magnetic means of the watch, and
a retracted position wherein, when the cradle is in the holding position, the magnetic insulation means are inactive.

5. The chronometer according to claim 4 , wherein the magnetic insulation means are driven in motion by the cradle.

6. The chronometer according to claim 1 , wherein the cradle comprises an annular rotating stator comprising a plurality of magnetic devices distributed around an inner periphery of the stator to form the magnetic means of the cradle.

7. The chronometer according to claim 6 , wherein the stator is a toothed wheel adapted to mesh with a winding pinion when the cradle is in the holding position.

8. The chronometer according to claim 7 , wherein the watch comprises a mechanical timepiece mechanism driven by a barrel and a barrel-winding mechanism comprising a winding rotor in mesh with a barrel-winding train, and wherein the winding rotor comprises a plurality of magnetic devices distributed around an external periphery of the rotor to form the magnetic means of the watch adapted to cooperate with the magnetic means of the cradle when the cradle is in the holding position or in an intermediate position.

9. The chronometer according to claim 1 , wherein the support comprises:
at least one holding arbor on which the cradle is slidably mounted, and
a scissor-lift type mechanism for sliding the cradle along the holding arbor between the holding position and the rest position.

10. The chronometer according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic means of the cradle include magnets and the magnetic means of the watch include magnets.

11. A marine chronometer comprising:
a watch tiltably mounted on a support with a gimbal suspension,
wherein the marine chronometer watch comprises a mechanical movement driven by a barrel and comprising a winding rotor in mesh with a barrel-winding train, and
wherein the support comprises a winding means, movable between:
a winding position wherein the winding rotor of the watch is magnetically coupled to the winding means, and
a rest position wherein the winding rotor of the watch is free to rotate with respect to the winding means.

12. The chronometer according to claim 11 , wherein the winding means comprises an annular stator comprising a plurality of magnetic devices distributed around an inner periphery of the stator, the stator being movable between the winding position and the rest position, the stator being a toothed wheel adapted to mesh with a winding pinion when the stator is in the winding position.

13. The chronometer according to claim 12 , wherein the winding pinion is disposed outside a case and is independent from the watch.

14. A marine chronometer comprising:
a watch tiltably mounted on a support with a gimbal suspension, the marine chronometer support also comprises a cradle movable in translation between a rest position wherein the watch is free to move on the gimbal suspension, and a holding position wherein the watch is resting on the cradle,
wherein the support comprises:
at least one holding arbor on which the cradle is slidably mounted, and
a scissor-lift type mechanism for sliding the cradle along the holding arbor between the holding position and the rest position.

15. The chronometer according to claim 14 , wherein the cradle is movable in translation along the holding arbor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support.

16. The chronometer according to claim 14 , wherein the scissor-lift type mechanism includes a lever and two pairs of connecting rods.

17. The chronometer according to claim 16 , wherein each pair of connecting rods includes a first connecting rod with a first end pivotally connected to the support and a second end connected to the holding arbor, and a second connecting rod with a first end pivotally connected to the support.

18. The chronometer according to claim 17 , wherein the first connecting rod is pivotally connected to the second connecting rod.

19. The chronometer according to claim 17 , wherein second ends of the second connecting rods are connected via a mechanical link.

20. The chronometer according to claim 17 , wherein the lever is pivotally connected to the support and the second connecting rod such that rotation of the lever raises or lowers the scissor-lift type mechanism.

Assignees

• Montres Breguet Sa

Inventors

• Mace Jerome

Classifications

• G04B3/006

  Mechanical winding up; winding up with special equipment (removably-mounted keys G04B3/02; winding up equipment for clocks with automatic winding up equipment G04B5/00) · CPC title

• G04B37/1426 Primary

  Means whereby the clockwork piece may move with regard to its suspension device · CPC title

• G04B37/1473 Primary

  Supports and feet for supporting the clockwork (cases for standing clockworks in general G04B37/0066) · CPC title

• G04B3/02

  Removably-mounted keys or the like {(special tools for clockworks with difficult access, universal keys for watches with a small crown G04B3/006; keys with means preventing overwinding G04B3/06; protecting means preventing overwinding G04B3/10)} · CPC title

• G04B17/28

  for the effect of imbalance of the weights, e.g. tourbillon · CPC title