US 6,367,966 B1 · Timepiece

Abstract

A fourth wheel 8 disposed in a torque transmission path and to which a second hand is mounted includes a pinion 8a and a gear 8b. Therefore, when the gear 8b engages a fifth-wheel first intermediate wheel 9, the diametrical dimension from a center of rotation of the fourth wheel 8 to a portion where it engages the fifth-wheel first intermediate wheel 9 can be made large, so that, even when the fourth wheel 8 is decentered, the amount by which the second hand gets shifted can be made small by making the effects of the decentering at the center-of-rotation side small. In addition, since the fourth wheel 8 is disposed so as not to overlap a mainspring 1a, the width of the mainspring 1a can be made correspondingly small. Thus, the length of time a timepiece continues operating can be increased by increasing the torque of the mainspring 1a without increasing the thickness of the entire timepiece.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A timepiece, comprising:

a mainspring;
a second hand;
a wheel train operably engaged with the mainspring and comprising a plurality of wheels including
a second hand wheel to which the second hand is mounted, the second hand wheel including a pinion and a gear, each of which is rotatably mounted about the same axis of rotation and the gear being disposed so as not to overlap the mainspring;
and
a speed-regulating device that regulates a speed of rotation of the wheel train;
wherein the second hand is disposed so that torque developed by the mainspring is transmitted to the speed-regulating device.

4 more elements

A timepiece, comprising:

spring means for generating rotational motion;
second hand means for indicating time in second increments;
torque transmitting means operably engaged with the spring means for transmitting torque developed by the spring means, the torque transmitting means comprising a plurality of wheel means including
second hand wheel means for supporting the second hand means, the second hand wheel means including pinion means and gear means, each of which is rotatably mounted about the same axis of rotation;
generating means for receiving a rotational force from the torque transmitting means, the generating means including inductive means;
and
means, including electronic circuit means, for controlling a period of rotation of the generating means for regulating a speed of rotation of the torque transmission means;
wherein the second hand means is disposed so that torque of the spring means is transmitted to the speed regulating means;
and
wherein the torque transmitting means is disposed so as not to overlap the inductive means.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Timepiece

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Timepiece

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Abstract

Claims38