Epicycloidal Step Motor

The present invention refers to an epicycloidal step motor, comprising a rotor having an external toothing which is in engagement with an internal toothing of a stator. Motors of this type having large dimensions and polyphase excitation are known. However, their success has been limited, and it is difficult to miniaturize them and to simplify their control for an application in watchmaking.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an epicycloidal step motor of small dimensions which is efficient and simple in its design, and which is capable of being used in a watch wherein the rotor of the motor is directly coupled to the seconds hand or to the minute hand. This object is attained in that the stator comprises pole pieces defining stable positions of the rotor and displacements of the rotor between these stable positions, said toothings being in permanent engagement during said displacements.

The invention is explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to a drawing of an embodiment of the motor.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section according to line I--I in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a lateral view with the coils shown in cross-section;

FIG. 3 shows the geometry of the opening or bore of the stator;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the toothings of the rotor and of the stator, respectively;

FIG. 6 shows several positions of the rotor in the stator;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the position of the motor in a watch; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 shows a single-coil embodiment of the motor.

The stator of the motor comprises two pole pieces I and 2 which are axially staggered and have equal openings or bores whose shape is indicated in FIG. 3. The two pole pieces have restrictions 1c, 2c connecting two essentially semi-cylindrical zones of said openings of the pole pieces. However, the two semi-cylindrical zones are formed of two portions with slightly different radii R1, R2 and slightly different eccentricities .delta. and .mu., respectively, resulting in an opening having shoulders 1d, 2d. Between the two pole pieces 1 and 2, the stator is provided with an inner toothing 4 which is in engagement with an external toothing 3 of rotor 5. Rotor 5 is a hollow cylinder which is axially magnetized (N-S) as shown in FIG. 1. Between pole pieces 1 and 2 and toothings 3 and 4, rings 6 and 7 of a suitable material are provided which form an axial bearing for the toothing 3 of rotor 5. However, these bearings allow a free move-ment of the rotor in the radial direction. The stator comprises two coils 8 disposed on cores 9 which are connected to pole pieces 1 and 2 by bridges 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b. Rotor 5 is coupled to a member to be actuated, e.g. the hand of a watch, by means of a non-represented coupling. Since rotor 5 is displaced according to an epicycloidal movement where a rotation is superimposed on radial displacements, said coupling must allow a relative radial displacement between rotor 5 and the driven element. Coils 8 are connected in series or in parallel and excited in common in such a manner that the two coils excite pole pieces 1 and 2 alternatingly in an opposed polarity. This means that coils 8 are alternatingly supplied with pulses having opposed polarities, so that the motor can be controlled by a usual watch electronics.

FIGS. 2 and 6a show a stable position of the rotor in the stator. Due to its permanent magnetization, the rotor is attracted to pole pieces 1 and 2 which are unexcited. According to FIG. 6a, this position of the rotor corresponds to a position 0 of the angular position of the rotor. With the next excitation of the stator, the rotor is displaced to the position shown in FIG. 6b. During this displacement, toothings 3 and 4 stay in engagement, and the angular position of the rotor is changed by 3.degree. , for example. By the end of the excitation pulse, the rotor moves to the stable position of FIG. 6c. The total angular displacement of the rotor during its displacement from the position of FIG. 6a to the diametrically opposed position according to FIG. 6c amounts to 6.degree.. If the rotor is directly coupled to a seconds hand or a minute hand, this displacement, which is produced by one control pulse, corresponds to a displacement of the hand by a second or a minute respectively. The rotor is moved to the position of FIG. 6d by the next excitation pulse and after said pulse returns to the initial position according to FIG. 6a resp. 6e. The angular position of the rotor has been displaced again by 6.degree. by said driving pulse.

FIGS. 4 and 5 indicate the geometry of toothings 3 and 4. If

N1=number of teeth of the stator N2=number of teeth of the rotor D1=external diameter of the stator D2=bottom diameter of the rotor toothing a=angular pitch of the rotor teeth,

the relations connecting these dimensions in a watchmaking application are

and, generally,

The latter dimensions may slightly vary in order to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.

FIGS. 7 and 8 schematically show the possibilities for integrating the motor in a watch movement. According to FIG. 7, rotor 5 of the motor is disposed in the center of support 10 of the movement, while the free space is occupied by battery 11. The rotor is directly coupled to the seconds hand or the minute hand and to the gear-train for the actuation of the other hand(s).

According to FIG. 8, rotor 5 is offset with respect to the center of the movement, to which it is directly coupled by a small seconds hand.

It is also possible to obtain the same function with another shape of the openings or bores of the pole pieces than a circular one.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a motor having a single coil 8. Pole pieces 1 and 2 are fixed on the opposing surfaces of core 9 at equal distances. Otherwise, the construction of the stator and of the rotor and the operation of the motor are the same as illustrated and described above.