EP3665533A1 - Pièce d'horlogerie mécanique immergée - Google Patents

Pièce d'horlogerie mécanique immergée

Info

Publication number
EP3665533A1
EP3665533A1 EP19701177.8A EP19701177A EP3665533A1 EP 3665533 A1 EP3665533 A1 EP 3665533A1 EP 19701177 A EP19701177 A EP 19701177A EP 3665533 A1 EP3665533 A1 EP 3665533A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
timepiece
fluid
liquid
pump
flow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19701177.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Morten Beyer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Montre Liquide AG
Original Assignee
Montre Liquide AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Montre Liquide AG filed Critical Montre Liquide AG
Publication of EP3665533A1 publication Critical patent/EP3665533A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G04B37/02—Evacuated cases; Cases filled with gas or liquids; Cases containing substances for absorbing or binding moisture or dust
    • 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
    • G04B1/00—Driving mechanisms
    • G04B1/26—Driving mechanisms driven by liquids or gases; Liquid or gaseous drives for mechanically-controlled secondary clocks
    • 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
    • G04B15/00—Escapements

Definitions

  • the invention concerns timepieces, especially mechanical timepieces that do not rely on an electrical motor for driving the timepiece gears. More specifically, the invention concerns mechanical watches.
  • a watch is a timepiece intended to be carried or worn by a person. It is designed to keep working despite the motions caused by the person's activities.
  • a wristwatch is designed to be worn around the_wrist, attached by some kind of strap or bracelet.
  • a conventional mechanical movement uses an escapement mechanism to control and limit the unwinding of the mainspring, converting what would otherwise be a simple unwinding into a controlled and periodic energy release.
  • a conventional mechanical movement uses an escapement comprising a balance wheel together with a balance spring (also known as a hairspring) to control motion of the gear system of the watch.
  • a conventional escapement transfers energy to the timekeeping element (the "impulse action") and allows the number of its oscillations to be counted (the "locking action").
  • the impulse action transfers energy to the balance wheel to replace the energy lost to friction and other similar factors during its cycle and keep the timekeeper oscillating.
  • the escapement is driven by force from the mainspring, transmitted through the timepiece's gear train.
  • the instant invention is specifically concerned with mechanical movement timepieces that do not use a balance wheel/balance spring type escapement. Instead, the invention uses an escapement based on resistance to the flow of a fluid, especially a liquid.
  • Liquid-driven escapements are known in the art. They are generally based on deriving equal incremental portions of liquid from a (continuous or discontinuous) flow of liquid, generally water, and counting the portions. The assumption is that the flow of liquid will be even and will not change with time, so that the number of portions will be in direct proportion with the passing of time. While the invention is based on a fundamentally different concept, this prior art will now be described in some more detail:
  • US patent 3,540,208 discloses a watch with an oil-filled chamber housing a piston.
  • the piston has a through-boring and is moved by a mainspring through the chamber, which causes the oil to flow through the boring. The speed of this flow determines the time it takes for the pistons to move through the chamber.
  • the piston When the piston has reached the end of its travel path, it must be moved back into its starting position, and this interrupts the time measuring process.
  • this watch is not capable of continuous uninterrupted time measurement.
  • the invention departs from the idea of generating discrete, incremental portions of liquid, the number of which indicates the passing of time.
  • the invention uses a precisely controlled flow of a fluid, which is preferably a liquid under the operating conditions of the timepiece, to control and regulate the unwinding of the timepiece’s power source, which is preferably a mainspring.
  • the power source need not be a spring.
  • the mainspring drives a pump which causes the flow of the liquid through a flow control device, such as a settable valve. This flow meets a certain flow resistance depending on the setting of the flow control device.
  • the flow of the liquid corresponds to the performance of the pump, so that limiting the flow by setting the flow control device correspondingly limits the performance of the pump:
  • the flow through the flow control device is reduced, the operation of the pump is correspondingly reduced, since the flow control device acts to brake the pump.
  • Setting the flow control device to a specific flow rate of the liquid thus effectively controls the unwinding of the mainspring, since the mainspring is mechanically linked to the pump. If the flow is even and constant with time, it can be used to measure and display the passing of time, by monitoring the unwinding of the mainspring, e. g. by monitoring the action of the pump.
  • the pump is preferably a continuous flow pump, i. e. it can maintain a continuous flow of the liquid, and therefore a continuous uninterrupted measurement of time, also during the necessary winding or setting steps.
  • the invention can basically be defined as a timepiece with an escapement based on resistance to the flow of a fluid. Note that in this operation, it is not necessary to monitor or measure the amount of liquid passing the valve, as in the above- mentioned Chinese prior art. The flow rate of the liquid is irrelevant. The only relevant action is setting the flow control device to a flow rate at which the unwinding of the mainspring drives the clockwork at the right speed to correctly indicate the time.
  • preferred embodiments of the inventive timepiece comprise a windable spring (i. e. a mainspring) as its main or sole power supply. Where necessary, two or more mainsprings can be used in a stacked arrangement., to increase the power reserve of the timepiece.
  • the timepiece may have a fairly conventional crown arrangement for winding the spring, for setting the time display etc.
  • the timepiece comprises a fluid, the flow resistance of which is used in the escapement.
  • the fluid is a liquid over the complete set of conditions to which the timepiece may be exposed.
  • Such conditions preferably include conditions of above 10 KPa pressure and above 220 K., and up to 500 MPa and up to 400 K.
  • Suitable liquids comprise basically all liquids which meet the above conditions and are sufficiently stable over extended time periods, without exhibiting relevant chemical and/or physical change to their properties. Specifically, suitable liquids will show no chemical decomposition or other reaction, under the conditions prevailing in the timepiece, over years or even decades, even when exposed to light.
  • the most preferred such liquids are silicone oils, especially silicone oils with no reactive functional groups.
  • a silicone oil is any liquid polymerized siloxane with organic side chains. Since in the invention, reactivity should be as reduced as possible, the siloxanes forming the liquid will have inert side chains showing as little reactivity as possible.
  • One example of a preferred silicone oil is PSF-20cSt Pure Silicone Fluid, a polydimethylsiloxane oil available from Clearco Products.
  • the timepiece of the invention uses the flow resistance of the fluid, preferably liquid, in its escapement.
  • the timepiece in order to create the required flow, internally comprises a pump arranged for pumping the liquid.
  • the pump is driven by the windable mainspring, usually through a set of gearwheels to create the optimum power supply for the pump.
  • the pump is preferably a mechanical pump and most preferably a gear pump.
  • the pump can be a piston pump, a membrane pump, a bellows pump or any other suitable type of pump, that is capable of continuous operation, said operation being uninterrupted as long as the driving force provided by the mainspring is sufficient to drive the pump.
  • the timepiece preferably comprises a, preferably adjustable, flow control device arranged to limit the flow of the fluid therethrough.
  • the liquid is pumped through the flow control device by the pump, which is driven by the unwinding of the mainspring.
  • the flow control device limits the flow of the liquid and thereby acts as a brake on the pump.
  • the running speed of the pump is determined by the flow of the liquid through the flow control device., irrespective of the power reserve stored in the mainspring.
  • the pump can be connected to the flow control device via a pressure reduction device, which makes sure that the input pressure of the flow control device is suitable and constant.
  • the flow control device determines the speed with which the mainspring unwinds and keeps this speed constant.
  • the running speed of the pump since the running speed of the pump depends on the flow rate of the fluid through the flow control device, the running speed of the pump can be directly used to measure and indicate the passing of time.
  • the time measuring and displaying functions can be realized in that the fluid exiting the flow control device is conducted to a drive unit driven by the fluid and the running speed of the drive unit is used to indicate the passing of time.
  • the drive unit can e. g. comprise a rotor, which is driven by the output flow from the flow control device.
  • the flow control device is a valve, preferably a valve arranged for adjustable throughput of fluid, and most preferred a needle valve with adjustable aperture.
  • the valve especially needle valve, can be arranged such that it can be set or adjusted from the outside without having to open the timepiece. It is e. g. contemplated to have an inbuilt connector that extends to the exterior of the timepiece and permits such adjustment, comparable to the known crown device which permits setting of the time hands, and winding the mainspring.
  • the flow control device will have a temperature compensation feature, to ensure that the flow rate of the liquid through the flow control device is independent of the liquid’s temperature.
  • the temperature compensation can be based on selecting at least one material with a thermal expansion performance that compensates for changes in the liquid’s temperature. This can be achieved by selecting a homogenous material, e. g. a polymeric material, or a non-homogenous material, e. g. a bimetallic material, with said characteristics.
  • the flow control device is a needle valve
  • the needle can be made from a suitable polymeric material and arranged in a holder, to automatically compensate for the temperature fluctuations to which a timepiece is usually exposed (say, between 5°C and 65°C).
  • Such arrangements are basically known e. g. from hydraulic suspension controls and can easily be adapted for use in the invention.
  • the timepiece is internally substantially, preferably completely, filled with the fluid, which is preferably a liquid.
  • the fluid which is preferably a liquid.
  • the invention uses preferably a hatching“ movement with all its mechanical parts completely immersed in the liquid that also serves to provide the escapement function. This has several advantages, e. g. in that no sophisticated seals are needed, even when the timepiece is intended to be exposed to very high external liquid pressures, such as in deep diving operations, since there is no relevant difference in compressibility between the liquid, such as silicone oil, in the timepiece, and the external liquid such as seawater.
  • the pump supplying liquid to the flow control device may simply take the liquid in from the liquid fill in the timepiece, and the flow control device may release the flow of liquid back into the interior of the time piece in basically any desired fashion. Except for the connection between the pump outlet and the flow control device inlet, there is no need for any special pressure-resistant or pressure- proof conduits.
  • the timepiece When the timepiece is completely filled with liquid, thermal expansion of the liquid may pose a problem beyond affecting the flow control device.
  • the timepiece must be able to accommodate increasing or decreasing liquid volumes without bursting or sucking external fluid in.
  • the invention may in preferred embodiments therefore have a compensation device arranged to compensate for increasing or decreasing liquid pressure in the timepiece, preferably comprising a membrane or bellows arranged to expose its outer surface to the interior of the timepiece, while its interior surface is exposed to the ambient exterior of the timepiece.
  • the bellows will be compressed when the liquid in the timepiece expands, and will expand when the liquid contracts.
  • the compensation device can be arranged to expand and compress in the opposite direction.
  • the inventive timepiece can correspond to a conventional mechanical watch. It can specifically have gearing, hands, a watch face etc. like any customary watch.
  • the invention could thus be put into operation basically by replacing the escapement mechanism of a conventional mechanical watch with the escapement of the invention, and filling the watch with the invention’s liquid.
  • the housing is filled with a liquid, such as a dimethicone oil. The movement is thus submerged in the liquid.
  • the timepiece is powered by a mainspring 1, which drives the timepiece’s movement when it unwinds.
  • the mainspring 1 drives a pump 3 through suitably arranged gearing 2.
  • the pump 3 is a hydraulic pump such as a gear pump.
  • the pump 3 When driven by the mainspring 1 through the gearing 2, the pump 3 sucks in liquid from the amount of liquid filling the housing.
  • the pump 3 pumps the liquid into a duct 4, which connects the pump’s outlet to a valve 5.
  • the valve 5 is adjustable such that its throughput can be set, and comprises a temperature compensation feature, which renders the valve’s throughput temperature independent.
  • the throughput of the valve 5 controls the speed of the pump 3, since the pump 3 cannot run faster than the passage of liquid through the valve 5 permits. Since the pump 3 is mechanically connected to the mainspring 1 by gearing 2, the speed of pump 3 controls the unwinding of the mainspring 1.
  • the timepiece will have hands or some other device for indicating time on a dial or clockface (not shown). These can be moved by connecting them, in a fashion known per se, to the movement, e. g. at the gearing 2 or the pump 3.
  • the escapement shown in the Figure can replace the mechanical escapement in a known timepiece, connected thereto via suitable gearing.
  • the timepiece is constructed basically as in the first embodiment.
  • the gearpump of the first embodiment is however replaced by a continuous flow piston pump.
  • the piston pump (6) comprises three expansion and compression chambers (8) which in this embodiment are formed by cylinders (30) housing pistons (80) reciprocatingly movable therein, said cylinders being arranged in a star-shaped configuration, as is schematically shown in Fig. 3
  • the number of expansion and compression chambers can be different. Preferably, there are at least two such chambers, to avoid dead center problems.
  • the pump may comprise membrane or bellows pump elements instead of the cylinder-and piston elements of the second embodiment.
  • the arrangement may be other than star-shaped.
  • the pistons (80) are commonly driven by a crankshaft (70) at the center of the pump (6), said crankshaft being driven by the mainspring of the watch through suitable gearing.
  • the pistons (80) are connected to the crankshaft (70) by piston rods (40).
  • Fig. 2 shows a single cylinder unit (7) of the type used in the second embodiment, but not combined with two other cylinders as in Fig. 3.
  • the cylinder unit (7) has a cylinder head (10) which closes the cylinder (30) at the top end thereof.
  • the cylinder covers houses an intake valve (90) and an exhaust valve (20) which serve to control the continuous flow of liquid in the expansion and compression chamber (8). Both valves (90,20) are spring-loaded so that they are normally closed (NC valves).
  • the piston (80) is driven to reciprocate in the cylinder (30) by crankshaft (70) via piston rod (40).
  • the intake valve (90) opens and lets liquid flow from the housing into chamber (8).
  • the intake valve (90) closes.
  • exhaust valve (20) opens and lets liquid flow out of chamber (8).
  • the cylinder units do not have the bottom part and oil sump (60) shown in Fig. 2. Instead, they share a crankcase (50) which has the crankshaft (70) at its center, so that all cylinder units can be commonly driven by said crankshaft (70).
  • Exhaust valve (20) lets the liquid flow into a duct (not shown) which connects all cylinder units to a valve, like valve (5) in the first embodiment.
  • This valve thus receives all liquid exiting the cylinder units, and its setting controlls the back pressure building up at every exhaust valve (20).
  • This back-pressure acts to controll the working speed of the cylinder units, similar to the function of the gearpump in the first embodiment.
  • the ducts connecting all cylinder unit outlets to the common adjustable valve, cf. Fig. 1, valve (5), can e. g. be made of metal tubing, which has the mechanical strenght to bear the liquid pressure.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une pièce d'horlogerie à échappement basée sur la résistance à l'écoulement d'un fluide, comprenant une pompe agencée pour pomper en continu et sans interruption ledit fluide.
EP19701177.8A 2018-02-09 2019-01-16 Pièce d'horlogerie mécanique immergée Withdrawn EP3665533A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102018001049 2018-02-09
DE102018007229.1A DE102018007229B4 (de) 2018-09-13 2018-09-13 Mechanische Uhr mit eingetauchtem Werk
PCT/EP2019/051047 WO2019154601A1 (fr) 2018-02-09 2019-01-16 Pièce d'horlogerie mécanique immergée

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3665533A1 true EP3665533A1 (fr) 2020-06-17

Family

ID=69646472

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19701177.8A Withdrawn EP3665533A1 (fr) 2018-02-09 2019-01-16 Pièce d'horlogerie mécanique immergée

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3665533A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE102018007229B4 (fr)
WO (1) WO2019154601A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20190235442A1 (en) * 2018-02-01 2019-08-01 Preciflex Sa Timebase regulated by fluid flow

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016162745A1 (fr) * 2015-04-07 2016-10-13 Preciflex Sa Dispositif d'indication
EP2836249B1 (fr) * 2012-04-12 2018-08-15 Preciflex SA Indicateur capillaire compensé

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE577333C (de) * 1932-04-21 1933-05-29 Eugene Jeffery Zeitschalter mit regelbarer Schliessdauer fuer Gasleitungen
US3540208A (en) * 1968-05-22 1970-11-17 Bruce A Kock Hydraulic watch
US3783598A (en) * 1972-10-26 1974-01-08 E Parr Instrument for indicating time
US4028877A (en) * 1976-05-03 1977-06-14 Jackson J. Shinkle Fluid operated clock
US4262348A (en) * 1979-07-16 1981-04-14 Hess Richard H Liquid operated clock
US7245561B2 (en) * 2001-02-03 2007-07-17 James David Coleman Water feature
EP1862874B1 (fr) * 2006-06-02 2010-05-12 Montres Rado S.A. Dispositif d'affichage pour un instrument portable, tel qu'une montre
EP1862873A1 (fr) * 2006-06-02 2007-12-05 Montres Rado S.A. Dispositif d'affichage pour un instrument portable, tel qu'une montre
JP2010533848A (ja) * 2007-07-17 2010-10-28 クレアリュクス・ソシエテ・アノニム 時計機構および時計
WO2011021098A1 (fr) * 2009-08-21 2011-02-24 Lucien Vouillamoz Indicateur visuel et distributeur de fluide
CH701885B1 (fr) * 2009-09-18 2016-03-15 Preciflex Sa Montre-bracelet.
WO2015150909A2 (fr) * 2014-04-03 2015-10-08 Preciflex Sa Systèmes et procédés pour indiquer une quantité
CH708596A1 (de) * 2013-09-19 2015-03-31 Lukas Moser Vorrichtung zum Anzeigen einer Zeit und Verfahren zur Steuerung einer solchen Vorrichtung.
US20170248917A1 (en) * 2014-09-11 2017-08-31 Preciflex Sa System for providing an indication using a meniscus mobilizer and elastic reservoirs, and methods, indicators and timepieces related thereto

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2836249B1 (fr) * 2012-04-12 2018-08-15 Preciflex SA Indicateur capillaire compensé
WO2016162745A1 (fr) * 2015-04-07 2016-10-13 Preciflex Sa Dispositif d'indication

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2019154601A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102018007229A1 (de) 2020-03-19
DE102018007229B4 (de) 2020-07-02
WO2019154601A1 (fr) 2019-08-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN102656526B (zh) 流体视觉指示器
JP6457407B2 (ja) 温度駆動巻きシステム
US20210034014A1 (en) Submerged mechanical timepiece
EP3665533A1 (fr) Pièce d'horlogerie mécanique immergée
US20100118661A1 (en) Watch movement and watch
JP6280611B2 (ja) 浮上速度インジケータ機構及びそのような機構を備えるダイバーズウォッチ
EP3521944A1 (fr) Base temporelle régulée par écoulement de fluide
CN105593768A (zh) 利用弹性贮存器的能量储存和释放器件以及与之相关的方法和计时器
CN107132749B (zh) 一种机械手表用擒纵结构
RU233407U1 (ru) Баланс часового механизма парашютного полуавтомата
SK8253Y1 (sk) Mechanizmus nástenných drevených hodín
CN121263750A (zh) 手表的能量调节器
CN107145054B (zh) 一种控制机械手表各指针精确移动的多擒纵控制方法
CN201373984Y (zh) 竹筒水钟
Bernstein Exquisite Coupling [From the Editor]
RU2551258C1 (ru) Устройство и способ теплового автоматического завода часов и часового механизма
Sorge et al. On the birth and growth of pendulum clocks in the early modern era
RU139166U1 (ru) Устройство теплового автоматического завода часов и часового механизма
US20220062531A1 (en) Mechanically wound infusion pump
RU2545467C1 (ru) Способ приведения в движение механических часов, устройство для автоматического приведения в движение часового механизма, механизм часов, содержащий устройство для автоматического приведения в движение часового механизма, механические часы, содержащие устройство для автоматического приведения в движение часового механизма
Moline et al. Operating principles, common questions, and performance data for an atmospheric driven Atmos clock
RU2526554C1 (ru) Устройство индикации критического запаса хода часового механизма и часы с устройством индикации критического запаса хода (варианты)
RU2664378C1 (ru) Часы с анимированными фигурами
JP2016085220A (ja) 時計調整システムおよび調整方法
CN120065673A (zh) 一种用于机械表的自动报时装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20200212

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20211215

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20220426