IP Library Granted Patent US 12699356
Granted Patent B2
US 12699356 · App. 18/473,681 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Horological module actuatable at isolated moments, comprising automatic locking means

Inventors: Steven Denoreaz (Bellefontaine, FR); Julien Leskerpit (Pontarlier, FR)
Assignee: Montres Jaquet Droz SA
G04B23/03G04B23/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12699356
App. No.
18/473,681
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A horological module ( 1 ) for a horological movement, for example an automaton or a ringing mechanism. The horological module ( 1 ) includes a plate ( 2 ) and a mechanical device ( 10 ) able to pass from an idle state, wherein the mechanical device ( 10 ) is immobile with respect to the plate ( 2 ), to an operating state, wherein at least a part of the mechanical device ( 10 ) is able to move with respect to the plate ( 2 ) when it is actuated. A barrel ( 3 ) provides energy to the mechanical device ( 10 ) and a gear train ( 20 ) is actuated by the barrel ( 3 ). A regulator regulates the speed of the mechanical device ( 10 ) and there is provided an element ( 30 ) for automatically locking the mechanical device ( 10 ), configured to lock the regulator to put the mechanical device ( 10 ) in the idle state.

Claims (22)

1 . A horological module ( 1 ) for a horological movement, the horological module ( 1 ) comprising:

a plate ( 2 ) and a mechanical device ( 10 ) able to pass from an idle state, wherein the mechanical device ( 10 ) is immobile with respect to the plate ( 2 ), to an operating state, wherein at least a part of the mechanical device ( 10 ) is able to move with respect to the plate ( 2 ) when it the mechanical device ( 10 ) is actuated;

a barrel ( 3 ) for providing energy to the mechanical device ( 10 ), the mechanical device ( 10 ) including a geartrain ( 20 ) actuatable by the barrel ( 3 ), the mechanical device ( 10 ) furthermore comprising a regulator for regulating a speed of the mechanical device ( 10 ); and

automatic locking means ( 30 ) for automatically locking the mechanical device ( 10 ), wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) are configured to lock the regulator in order to put the mechanical device ( 10 ) in the idle state,

wherein the regulator comprises a regulation pinion ( 19 ) driven by the barrel ( 3 ) when the regulation pinion ( 19 ) is in rotation by means of the geartrain ( 20 ), the regulation pinion ( 19 ) being mounted secured to a regulation shaft ( 15 ), the automatic locking means ( 30 ) being configured to lock the regulation shaft ( 15 ) in order to put the mechanical device ( 10 ) in the idle state, and

wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) comprise a brake lever ( 14 ) cooperating with the regulation shaft ( 15 ), the brake lever ( 14 ) being able to move about a second rotation pivot ( 22 ) between a contact position wherein the brake lever ( 14 ) is in contact with the regulation shaft ( 15 ) to lock the regulation shaft ( 15 ) and a position distant from the regulation shaft ( 15 ) wherein the brake lever ( 14 ) allows the regulation shaft ( 15 ) to turn.

2 . The horological module according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical device ( 10 ) is in the idle position when the brake lever ( 14 ) is in the contact position, and the mechanical device ( 10 ) is in the operating position when the brake lever ( 14 ) is in the distant position.

3 . The horological module according to claim 2 , wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) comprise a first return spring ( 16 ), acting on the brake lever ( 14 ) to hold the brake lever ( 14 ) in the contact position.

4 . The horological module according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) comprise a rotary cam ( 4 ) and a movable body ( 7 ) cooperating with the rotary cam ( 4 ), the movable body ( 7 ) being able to move between a locking position, wherein the mechanical device ( 10 ) is in the idle state, and a retracted position, wherein the mechanical device ( 10 ) is in the operating state.

5 . The horological module according to claim 4 , wherein the rotary cam ( 4 ) is mounted secured to the barrel ( 3 ).

6 . The horological module according to claim 4 , wherein the rotary cam ( 4 ) is provided with at least one notch ( 5 ), and the movable body ( 7 ) is provided with a finger ( 26 ), the finger ( 26 ) being inserted in the notch ( 5 ) of the rotary cam ( 4 ) when the movable body ( 7 ) is in the locking position, and the finger ( 26 ) being outside the notch ( 5 ) when the movable body ( 7 ) is in the retracted position.

7 . The horological module according to claim 4 , wherein the rotary cam ( 4 ) rotates in the operating state of the mechanical device ( 10 ), and

wherein the movable body ( 7 ) remains in contact with the rotary cam ( 4 ) during the rotation of the rotary cam ( 4 ) in the operating state of the mechanical device ( 10 ).

8 . The horological module according to claim 4 , wherein the movable body ( 7 ) is configured to automatically pass from the retracted position to the locking position after a predefined time.

9 . The horological module according to claim 8 , wherein the predefined time corresponds to one turn of the barrel ( 2 ).

10 . The horological module according to claim 4 , wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) comprise an intermediate lever ( 8 ) carrying the movable body ( 7 ), the intermediate lever ( 8 ) being able to move about a first rotation pivot ( 21 ).

11 . The horological module according to claim 10 , wherein the intermediate lever ( 8 ) is configured to actuate the brake lever ( 14 ) to make the brake lever ( 14 ) pass from the contact position to the distant position, the intermediate lever ( 8 ) being mechanically connected to the brake lever ( 14 ).

12 . The horological module according to claim 10 , wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) comprise on-demand actuation means for moving the movable body ( 8 ) from the locking position to the retracted position.

13 . The horological module according to claim 12 , wherein the actuation means comprise a control lever ( 18 ) able to rotate about a third rotation pivot ( 23 ) between an initial position and a pressed-in position, the control lever ( 18 ) actuating the intermediate lever ( 8 ) when the control lever ( 18 ) is in the pressed-in position.

14 . The horological module according to claim 13 , wherein the actuation means comprise a second return spring ( 16 ) acting on the control lever ( 18 ) to return it the control lever ( 18 ) to the initial position.

15 . A horological movement for a timepiece including the horological module ( 1 ) according to claim 1 .

16 . The timepiece including the horological movement according to claim 15 .