# US 10,481,557 B2 · Tourbillon and watch with tourbillon > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,557 B2 - Document ID: US10481557B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/713,981 - Filed: 2017-09-25 - Published: 2018-03-29 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-23 - Assignees: Bucherer AG - Applicants: Bucherer AG - Inventors: Joachim Mutrux - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481557B2 ## CPC - G04B 17/285: {Tourbillons or carrousels} - 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 (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) ## Abstract A tourbillon (1) with a rotation cage which is rotatably arranged about a tourbillon axis is provided. The rotation cage mounts a balance wheel (3) and an escapement with an escape wheel (8) and a lever. The tourbillon is characterised in that the rotation cage comprises a bearing wheel (22) which is mounted by bearing elements (13) which engage peripherally on a running surface (11) of the bearing wheel (22). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tourbillon for a watch, the tourbillon comprising a rotation cage rotatably arranged about a tourbillon axis, the rotation cage mounting a balance wheel and an escapement with an escape wheel and a lever, the rotation cage further comprising a bearing wheel, and the tourbillon further comprising a plurality of bearing elements, wherein the bearing wheel is mounted by the bearing elements, wherein the bearing elements engage peripherally on a running surface of the bearing wheel, and wherein at least one of the bearing elements is mounted on a rocker subject to a spring force of a spring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, wherein the running surface forms an outer surface portion and the bearing elements engage on the bearing wheel radially from the outside. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, wherein the bearing elements have a fixed position in the peripheral direction but are rotatable each about a rotation axis, whereby the bearing wheel rolls on the bearing elements give a rotation of the rotation cage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tourbillon according to claim 3, wherein the bearing elements each comprise a ball bearing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The tourbillon according to claim 3, wherein the bearing elements each comprise a slidingly mounted roller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, wherein the bearing elements form a plain bearing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, wherein precisely three of the bearing elements are present. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, wherein the running surface forms a tongue and wherein the bearing elements comprise a groove, into which the tongue engages, in order to form an axial and radial guide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, wherein the running surface forms a groove, and wherein the bearing elements engage into the groove, in order to form an axial and radial guide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, comprising a rotation cage cog, on which a power wheel of a remaining movement engages and via which this power wheel takes up the rotation movement of the rotation cage and, with this, time information, wherein the rotation cage cog is connected to the bearing wheel in a rotationally fixed manner and is arranged axial above or below this. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, comprising a base equipped to be assembled in a fixed manner relative to a housing of the watch in which the tourbillon is mounted, the base comprising a toothing into which toothing a pinion coupled to the escape wheel engages, in order to drive this escape wheel given a rotation movement of the rotation cage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, comprising a base equipped to be assembled in a fixed manner relative to a housing of the watch in which the tourbillon is mounted, wherein at least one of the bearing elements is assembled on the base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tourbillon according to claim 1, wherein the bearing elements are designed in a movable and rolling manner in the peripheral direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tourbillon according to claim 13, wherein the bearing elements are balls. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A watch, comprising a tourbillon according to claim 1, as well as an energy store and a train for transmitting drive force from the energy store onto the tourbillon and for stepping down the rotation movement of the rotation cage, as well as display elements for displaying the time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The watch according to claim 15, wherein the watch is a wrist watch or a pocket watch.