Counting mechanism for timepiece
AssigneeEbauches S.A.
InventorAli Schneiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A counting mechanism for a timepiece in which the drive means therefor oscillates a counting wheel, which in turn drives a co-axially mounted ratchet wheel in one direction. The counting wheel and ratchet wheel are interconnected so that during each oscillation of the counting wheel, both wheels first move in unison in one direction and then the counting wheel alone is driven in the other direction against a resilient coupling member while the ratchet wheel is held stationary by a pawl. The counting wheel is released between each cycle of oscillations, so that it can be returned by the resilient coupling member to its normal position with respect to the ratchet wheel.
Claims8
A counting mechanism for a timepiece comprising
- a counting wheel pivotally mounted for oscillation,
- drive means for oscillating said counting wheel in one direction and then in the other, said drive means being adapted and arranged to release said counting wheel between each oscillating cycle,
- a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted co-axially of said counting wheel for step-by-step rotation in said one direction,
- a retaining pawl for preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel in said other direction, and
- coupling means including a resilient coupler for interconnecting said counting wheel and said ratchet wheel in a predetermined angular relationship to each other such that during each such oscillating cycle said drive means drives said counting and ratchet wheels in unison in said one direction and then drives said counting wheel in said other direction against said resilient coupler out of said predetermined angular relationship with said ratchet wheel, said counting wheel being returned to such relationship with said ratchet wheel by said resilient coupler upon release of said counting wheel by said drive means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.