Patent US3705478A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3665697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Driving mechanism for electronically controlled timepiece
Assignee: SOC SUISSE POUR L'INDUSTRIE HORLOGERE SA
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Filing: 1970-11-18
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-11-18
Abstract
Abstract A ratchet wheel in the driving mechanism of a timepiece, having pointed teeth alternately engageable by a pair of dogs on opposite ends of an electromagnetically impelled balance lever, coacts with a retaining pawl in the form of a bar or reed swingable about a fulcrum on a line perpendicular to the trailing flank of a tooth engaged by a transverse end face of the pawl. Upon a stepping of the ratchet wheel by the balance lever, the tooth immediately following the one heretofore engaged by the pawl strikes a side face thereof with sufficient force to drive the end face of the pawl out of the orbit of the ratchet teeth, against a magnetic or elastic biasing force, so that this following tooth can move into the engagement position without further contact with the pawl until the latter returns to its blocking position.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Dome
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 03:14
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C13/00; G04C13/08; G04C13/10; G04B; G04B11/00; G04B11/02; G04B11/04; G04C5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A driving mechanism for a timepiece, comprising: a unidirectionally rotatable ratchet wheel forming part of a gear train for driving the hands of said timepiece, said ratchet wheel being provided with pointed teeth forming sloping rear flanks as viewed in the direction of rotation thereof; electromagnetically operable stepping means engageable with said teeth for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel by increments equal to one tooth division; an elongate pawl member engageable with said teeth at a location offset frOm said stepping means, said pawl member having an end face positioned to contact the rear flank of an aligned tooth between advances of said ratchet wheel and being swingable about a fulcrum lying on a line perpendicular to said rear flank in a contact position in which said end face obliquely intersects the orbit of said teeth; and biasing means urging said pawl member into wherein contact position against the direction of advance of said ratchet teeth, said pawl member having a side face adjoining said end face and spacedly confronting the tip of an oncoming tooth immediately following said aligned tooth whereby said oncoming tooth strikes said side face during the next stepping of said ratchet wheel, the mass of said pawl member being so related to the force of said biasing means as to cause deflection of said pawl member under the impact of said oncoming tooth to an extent and for a time sufficient to let the tip of said oncoming tooth clear said pawl member during the remainder of the stepping movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A driving mechanism for a timepiece, comprising: a unidirectionally rotatable ratchet wheel forming part of a gear train for driving the hands of said timepiece, said ratchet wheel being provided with pointed teeth forming sloping rear flanks as viewed in the direction of rotation thereof; electromagnetically operable stepping means engageable with said teeth for periodically advancing said ratchet wheel by increments equal to one tooth division; an elongate pawl member engageable with said teeth at a location offset frOm said stepping means, said pawl member having an end face positioned to contact the rear flank of an aligned tooth between advances of said ratchet wheel and being swingable about a fulcrum lying on a line perpendicular to said rear flank in a contact position in which said end face obliquely intersects the orbit of said teeth; and biasing means urging said pawl member into wherein contact position against the direction of advance of said ratchet teeth, said pawl member having a side face adjoining said end face and spacedly confronting the tip of an oncoming tooth immediately following said aligned tooth whereby said oncoming tooth strikes said side face during the next stepping of said ratchet wheel, the mass of said pawl member being so related to the force of said biasing means as to cause deflection of said pawl member under the impact of said oncoming tooth to an extent and for a time sufficient to let the tip of said oncoming tooth clear said pawl member during the remainder of the stepping movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said perpendicular line terminates substantially at the tip of said aligned tooth in said contact position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising stop means for blocking the swing pawl member past said contact position under the urging of said biasing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said pawl member consists at least partly of ferromagnetic material, said biasing means including a magnet tending to draw said pawl member against said stop means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said magnet has two pole pieces bracketing said pawl member, said stop means being adjustably disposed between said pole pieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said pawl member comprises an elastic reed clamped at an end remote from said ratchet wheel and provided at its opposite end with an enlarged head forming said end and side faces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said stepping means comprises a two-armed balance lever having a dog at each end alternately engageable with the teeth of said ratchet wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said stepping means further comprises a spiral spring anchored to said lever and a mobile electromagnetic coil mechanically connected with said spiral spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said stepping means includes a source of periodic current pulses, said spiral spring being electrically conductive and being connected in series with said coil across said source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 7 45*said rear flank includes an angle of substantially 45* with the radius of said ratchet wheel passing through the tip of the corresponding tooth, at least one of said dogs having a beveled face engageable with said rear flank for advancing said ratchet wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |