CH718146A2 - Dewar device for watch components. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a Dewar device (1) for mechanical and/or functional components (2) of a watch (3), said device (1) being provided with a strap and a case (4) comprising an enclosure (5) in which is capable of being arranged a case (6) of said watch (3) and at least one reversible connecting element (7) fixing said case (6) of watch (3) in said enclosure ( 5) of the box (4) by keeping it away from all the elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the box (4) defining this enclosure (5), said at least one reversible connecting element (7) being provided with 'a body forming a structure (8) comprising at least one recessed area (9).

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, in particular adapted to operate under extreme temperatures, the Dewar device comprising at least one connecting element for arranging a box of the watch in its case.

Technology background

[0002] An electronic watch conventionally comprises a bracelet and a watch case comprising several electrical or electronic components. It is known in the state of the art that some of these components cannot withstand extreme temperatures, and cease to operate correctly at these temperatures. Typically, LCD liquid crystal displays using light-emitting diodes or quartz tolerate temperatures not exceeding approximately 80°C (degrees Celcius), and not dropping below 0. °C. However, in particular environments such as for example space or lunar missions, the temperatures can frequently reach values of the order of substantially −150° C. to +125° C.

[0003] There is therefore a need to be able to use a watch, in particular an electronic watch, in environments where such extreme temperatures can prevail.

Summary of the invention

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, said device being provided with a bracelet and a case comprising an enclosure in which is capable of be arranged a case of said watch and at least one reversible connecting element fixing said watch case in said enclosure of the case by keeping it away from all the elements of the case defining this enclosure, said at least one reversible connecting element being provided with a body forming a structure comprising at least one recessed area.

[0005] Thanks to the Dewar device formed by the case and the watch case, the mechanical and/or functional components of the watch are protected from any extreme temperatures between -150 and +125 degrees Celsius that may prevail outside said device. In addition, said at least one connecting element ensuring the fixing of the watch case to the case participates in ensuring very good thermal insulation of the case by preventing any heat loss from this case 6 of the watch, in particular by radiation. Thus, such a Dewar device makes it possible to use mechanical and/or functional components in contexts and environments where the temperatures can be extreme, such as for example during space exploration missions such as the exploration of the planet Mars. or the moon. This also makes it possible to ensure the rationalization of costs as well as to maintain a reasonable complexity for the components used in watches requested for such missions.

In other embodiments: the structure comprises a plurality of substantially different or strictly different recessed zones; the structure comprises a plurality of recessed areas having substantially similar or strictly similar shapes; the structure is a lattice structure; said structure is a lattice structure; at least one connecting element performs a reversible attachment of the watch case to an inner peripheral wall of the enclosure of the case; said at least one connecting element performs a reversible attachment of the watch case to a bottom of the case; said at least one connecting element is the only connecting element ensuring the reversible fixing of the watch case in the enclosure of the case; said enclosure is under vacuum or near vacuum; the case comprises a crystal whose surface is substantially greater or strictly greater than a crystal of the watch case; a crystal of the watch case is arranged opposite a crystal of the case when the watch case is arranged in said enclosure; the device comprises a middle part on which said bracelet is fixed; said elements of the case defining said enclosure are a crystal, an inner peripheral wall of a middle part and a bottom of this case.

Brief description of figures

Other features and advantages will emerge clearly from the description given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a schematic representation of a Dewar device for mechanical and/or functional components of a watch, according to one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 a view on a larger scale of a body forming a structure comprising at least one recessed zone belonging to a reversible connecting element capable of ensuring the fixing of a watch case in a case of said device, according to the mode of realization of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[0008] Figure 1 shows an isothermal timepiece device 1 for mechanical and/or functional components 2 of a watch 3 also called Dewar timepiece device or more simply in the following description "Dewar device". Such a Dewar device 1 for mechanical and/or functional components 2 of a watch 3 is capable of participating in conferring good thermal insulation on mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3 of which a box 6 must be arranged in this case 4 of the device 1 in order to provide such insulation to these components 2. In other words, this Dewar device 1 is in particular formed by the combination of its case 4 and of the case 6 of the watch 3 in order to achieve an insulation suitable thermal for these mechanical and/or functional components 2. In this configuration, the case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in an enclosure 5 while being kept remote or at a distance from all the elements 10a to 10c of the case 4 defining this said enclosure 5, namely a crystal 10a, an inner peripheral wall 12 of a middle part 10c and a bottom 10b of this case 4. It will be noted that this inner peripheral wall 12 is also that of said enclosure 5.

[0009] This distance or this distance is configured (e) from at least one connecting element 7 that we describe below, to (or to participate in) reducing or even eliminating any thermal conduction between the inner peripheral wall of middle 10c and/or back 10b and/or crystal 10a with case 6 of watch 3 in particular with an outer face of this case 6. This outer face comprises the outer surfaces of the crystal, of the middle and of the back of this box 6 of watch 3.

[0010] It will be noted that such a box 6 is included in a watch 3 which can be an electronic watch, for example a quartz watch or even a mechanical watch.

[0011] The mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3, mentioned above, include in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: a watch movement, a dial, hands, rings, seals and/or electronic components and/ or electrical 2. It will be noted in particular that such electronic and/or electrical components include, for example, a display device, a processor, a memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator , etc...

It is therefore understood that in this configuration, this Dewar device 1 has the same properties and characteristics as a well-known Dewar tube/vase in the state of the art. As we have previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of this Dewar device 1 participate in giving it good thermal insulation with regard to particularly extreme temperatures that may prevail in the external environment in which such a device 1 can be located.

In this context, this device 1 therefore comprises the case 4 which comprises the middle part 10c on which is mounted a bracelet allowing a user of this device 1 to wear it. This box 4 also includes the crystal 10a and the bottom 10b mentioned above. In this device 1, it will be noted that crystal 10a preferably comprises a surface which is substantially greater or strictly greater than crystal 11 of case 6 of watch 3.

As we have seen, the glass 10a, the middle part 10c and the bottom 10b of this device 1 together define the enclosure 5 of this case 4 which is capable of receiving the box 6 of the watch 3. These three elements 10a to 10c of case 4, middle 10c, crystal 10a and back 10b can be separate elements which are joined together to build this enclosure 5. Alternatively, middle 10c and back 10b of case 4 can form together a one-piece piece, said one-piece piece defining an opening opposite the bottom 10b which is capable of being closed by the crystal 10a and this, in a reversible and sealed manner. In another alternative way, middle 10c and crystal 10a of case 4 can together form a one-piece piece, said one-piece piece defining an opening opposite crystal 10a which can be closed by bottom 10b, also reversible and waterproof.

The middle part 10c and the bottom 10b are preferably made, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, of a metallic material, of glass or of thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resins reinforced with carbon or glass fibers or even of ceramic materials. It will be noted that when middle 10c and back 10b are transparent or semi-transparent, for example being made of glass, peripheral wall 12 of middle 10c and the inner face of back 10b can be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating, such as for example a layer of silver.

[0016] In addition, the device 1 may comprise an interferometric filter arranged on an outer face of the case 4, namely on an outer peripheral wall of the middle part 10c and/or the outer faces of the crystal 10a and of the bottom 10b of this box. 6 of watch 3. This interferometric filter can be a grid or a lattice forming a coating on this outer face of the case 4. This grid or lattice has a mesh whose dimensions are such that they only allow certain wavelengths to pass predetermined values of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically the wavelengths of the visible range. It will be noted that such a filter participates in ensuring blocking of heat losses by radiation, in particular blocking of infrared waves while allowing the dial of the watch to be read by allowing visible wavelengths generally less than approximately 600 nm to pass.

[0017] Furthermore in this device 1, when the box 6 of the watch 3 is arranged in the enclosure 5 of the case 4, the space defined between this box 6 and the inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle part 10c, the bottom 10b and the glass 10a is empty of material or almost empty. In other words, enclosure 5 is under vacuum or almost under vacuum.

[0018] In order to ensure the maintenance of the case 6 of the watch 3 in this enclosure 5, the Dewar device 1 and in particular the case 4 comprises at least one connecting element 7 performing a reversible fixing of the box 6 of the watch 3 on the inner peripheral wall 12 and/or on the bottom of this case 4. This connecting element 7 which is also called "reversible connecting element" comprises two ends, a first of which is connected to the case 4. Such connecting element 7 is configured to participate in the reduction of thermal conduction between case 4 and case 6 of watch 3. As will be seen later, the body of this element 7 has a particular structure 8 which contributes to to ensure a reduction in heat losses to the external environment of the Dewar device and therefore to ensure an internal temperature in the case 6 of the watch 3 which is stable. In other words, a temperature which authorizes or allows optimum operation of the components 2 of the watch 3.

More specifically, this first end can be connected in such a way: removable on the inner peripheral wall 12 and/or on the bottom of this case 4, for example by clipping or interlocking; non-removable, either fixed or irremovable, on this inner peripheral wall 12 and/or on this bottom of the case 4.

It will be noted that when the first end of this connecting element 7 is irremovably connected to the inner peripheral wall 12 and/or to the bottom 10b, it is then fixed to the latter two, for example by gluing or even by welding. .

The second end of this connecting element 7 which is intended to be connected to the case 6 of watch 3, is preferably detachably. To do this, this second end comprises an attachment zone which is configured to be linked/connected to an attachment zone of the case 6 of the watch 3 instead of the bracelet of this watch 3. By way of example, this fixing zone of this second end is able to ensure reversible fixing on a bar included in this fastening zone of this watch 3 or to replace this bar.

This connecting element 7 is provided with a body forming/comprising a structure 8 comprising at least one recessed area 9. This recessed area 9 is an empty part of the body of this connecting element 7 or even a part which has been hollowed out of the material constituting the rest of the body of this element 7. In other words, each hollowed out zone 9 is a through opening, a blind opening, a cell or even a perforated zone included in the body of this element 7. It is therefore understood that the structure 8 of such a connecting element 7 comprises this said at least one recessed area 9 as well as a non-recessed area of this body.

Referring to Figure 2, such a structure 8 may include a plurality of recessed areas. In this structure 8, the recessed areas have similar shapes. It is understood that in other variants, the recessed areas may have different shapes. In this context, such a structure 8 comprising several recessed zones can be a lattice structure 8 such as a microlattice structure or a nanolattice structure, or even a lattice structure 8 which can also be called a triangulated system.

[0024] Such a structure 8 of the connecting element 7 improves the behavior of the case 6 of the watch 3 in the case 4 by presenting a very good mechanical resistance to any stresses that such a connecting element 7 is likely to undergo within the framework of the use of the Dewar device 1 in particular during the application of an acceleration, a deceleration and/or a sudden (e)/violent (e)/sudden change of direction by this Dewar device 1 for example during a shock. Furthermore, it will be noted that such a structure 8 gives this connecting element 7 a mechanical strength greater than a connecting element of the state of the art which would have a mass substantially similar or strictly similar to the connecting element 7 of the present invention.

In addition, this structure 8 is capable of reducing the capacity of this connecting element 7 to diffuse heat between the inner peripheral wall 12 and/or the bottom 10b where the first end of this element 7 is fixed and the box 6 of shows 3 either to reduce or limit the thermal conductivity. In such a structure 8, the reduced section of one or more parts of the non-recessed zone and/or the length of the thermal path(s) defined by this or these parts of the non-recessed zone between the two ends of this element of connection 7, participates (ent) in limiting or even preventing any heat loss from the case 6 of watch 3.

To improve these advantages provided by such a structure to the connecting element 7, the materials used for the manufacture of this structure preferably also have low thermal conductivity properties and / or high mechanical strength. By way of example, these materials may include: steel, titanium, ceramics or polymers.

In the present embodiment shown in Figure 1, the case 4 preferably comprises two reversible connecting elements 7 fixing the case 6 of the watch 3 on the inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle part 10c of this case 4. These connecting elements 7 hold case 6 of watch 3 at a distance from crystal 10a and bottom 10b of case 4 and also from inner peripheral wall 12 of middle part 10c which is that of enclosure 5. In other words, these two elements link 7 avoid any direct contact between case 6 of watch 3 and crystal 10a, bottom 10b and this inner peripheral wall 12 of middle part 10c.

[0028] Such a distance is configured according to: the position of the first end on the inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle part 10c between the crystal 10a and the back 10b of the case 4, and/or the shape of each connecting element 7, in other words the shape of the body forming the structure 8 defined/extending between the two ends of this connecting element 7, and/or the length of the body forming the structure 8 extending between these two ends of the connecting element 7.

[0029] In addition, these connecting elements 7 contribute to arranging the case 6 of the watch 3 in this case 4 so that the crystal 11 of this case 6 of the watch 3 is arranged facing the crystal 10a of the case 4 of so that the information included on the dial and/or the display interface of this watch 3 can be perceived through the transparent crystal 10a of the case 4 by the user carrying the Dewar device 1.

[0030] Thus, such a Dewar device 1 provides the mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3 with very good thermal insulation with respect to the external environment by reducing or even preventing heat loss by radiation from the components arranged in the box 6 watch for a long time. Thus, when the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, typically of the order of −125 to +125° C., the temperature inside the enclosure 5 remains substantially equal to the temperature present in case 6 of watch 3 during its arrangement in case 4, typically around 20°C. It will be noted that whatever the temperature conditions prevailing in the environment of the Dewar device 1, the temperature present in the case 6 of the watch 3 is a temperature which does not hinder the correct operation of the watch. This temperature is maintained over a period which is 5 to 18 times longer than the period during which such a watch case would be capable of preserving an operating temperature of its components 2 by being located directly in such an environment where such temperatures prevail. in particular extreme (that is to say by being located outside the housing of the Dewar device). It is thus conceivable that such a configuration makes it possible to protect the mechanical and/or functional components 2 of the watch 3, as well as to participate in ensuring their operation in an optimal manner under extreme outside temperature conditions.

Claims (13)

1. Dewar device (1) for mechanical and/or functional components (2) of a watch (3), said device (1) being provided with a strap and a case (4) comprising an enclosure ( 5) in which is capable of being arranged a case (6) of said watch (3) and at least one reversible connecting element (7) fixing said case (6) of watch (3) in said enclosure (5) of the box (4) by keeping it away from all the elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the box (4) defining this enclosure (5), said at least one reversible connecting element (7) being provided with a body forming a structure (8) comprising at least one recessed area (9). 2. Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said structure (8) comprises a plurality of recessed areas (9) substantially different or strictly different. 3. Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said structure (8) comprises a plurality of recessed areas (9) having substantially similar or strictly similar shapes. 4. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said structure (8) is a lattice structure. 5. Dewar device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said structure (8) is a lattice structure. 6. Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one connecting element (7) performs a reversible fixing of the case (6) of the watch (3) to an inner peripheral wall (12) of the enclosure (5) of the box (4). 7. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one connecting element (7) performs a reversible fixing of the case (6) of the watch (3) to a bottom of the box (4). 8. Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one connecting element (7) is the only connecting element (7) ensuring the reversible fixing of the case (6) of the watch ( 3) in the enclosure (5) of the box (4). 9. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chamber (5) is under vacuum or near vacuum. 10. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (4) comprises a glass (10a) whose surface is substantially greater than or strictly greater than a glass (11) of the box (6) watch (3). 11. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a crystal (11) of the case (6) of the watch (3) is arranged opposite a crystal (10a) of the case (4) when the case (6) of the watch (3) is arranged in said enclosure (5). 12. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a middle part (10c) on which said bracelet is fixed. 13. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing elements (4) defining said enclosure (5) are a glass (10a), an inner peripheral wall (12) of a middle (10c) and a bottom (10b) of this case (4).