Horological module actuatable at isolated moments, comprising automatic locking means
A horological module ( 1 ) for a horological movement, for example an automaton or a ringing mechanism, the horological module ( 1 ) including 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 geartrain ( 20 ) is actuated by the barrel ( 3 ). An element ( 30 ) automatically locks the mechanical device ( 10 ), and includes 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, in the idle state, and a retracted position, in the operating state).
1 . A horological module ( 1 ) for a horological movement, 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 ); and
automatic locking means ( 30 ) for automatically locking the mechanical device ( 10 ), the automatic locking means ( 30 ) comprising 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, wherein the rotary cam ( 4 ) is mounted to the barrel ( 3 ) such that an axis of rotation of the rotary cam ( 4 ) coincides with an axis of rotation of the barrel ( 3 ) and a rotation of the rotary cam ( 4 ) is integral with a rotation of the barrel ( 3 ).
2 . The horological movement according to claim 1 , wherein the movable body ( 7 ) is configured to automatically pass from the retracted position to the locking position after a predefined time.
3 . The horological module according to claim 2 , wherein the predefined time corresponds to one turn of the barrel ( 2 ).
4 . The horological movement according to claim 1 , 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.
5 . The horological module according to claim 1 , 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 ).
6 . The horological module according to claim 5 , wherein the mechanical device ( 10 ) comprises a regulation pinion ( 19 ) driven by the barrel ( 3 ) when it the regulation pinion ( 19 ) is in rotation by means of the geartrain ( 20 ), the regulation pinion ( 19 ) being mounted to a regulation shaft ( 15 ).
7 . The horological module according to claim 6 , wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) are configured to lock the regulation shaft ( 15 ) when the mechanical device ( 10 ) is in the idle state.
8 . The horological module according to claim 7 , 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 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 brake lever ( 14 ) allows the regulation shaft ( 15 ) to turn.
9 . The horological module according to claim 8 , 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.
10 . The horological module according to claim 9 , wherein the intermediate lever ( 8 ) is configured to actuate the brake lever ( 14 ) to make it 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 ).
11 . The horological module according to claim 10 , 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.
12 . The horological module according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic locking means ( 30 ) comprise on-demand actuation means for moving the movable body ( 7 ) 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 an intermediate lever ( 8 ) when it 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 to the initial position.
15 . The horological module according to claim 1 , 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 ).
16 . A horological movement for a timepiece including the horological module ( 1 ) according to claim 1 .
17 . The timepiece including the horological movement ( 1 ) according to claim 16 .
18 . The horological movement according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical device ( 10 ) furthermore comprises a regulator for regulating a speed of the mechanical device ( 10 ).
19 . The horological movement according to claim 18 , 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 ), and a regulation shaft ( 15 ), the regulation pinion ( 19 ) being mounted to the regulation shaft ( 15 ).