CH706639A2 - Shock absorber bearing for axle of mobile unit of clockwork element of mechanical watch, has elastic unit arranged to exert axial force on pivot module and permanently fixed to support by material link between elastic unit and support - Google Patents

Abstract

The bearing (100) has a support (200) equipped with a housing for receiving a pivot module (400). The module is arranged to cooperate with an axle. An elastic unit (300) is arranged to exert axial force on the pivot module pivot to maintain the module in the housing. The elastic unit is fixed to the support in a permanent manner by a material link between the elastic unit and the support. The elastic unit is fixed on the support by welding or brazing. The elastic unit includes a spring ring presenting a radial inner extension extended toward a central axis of the ring. An independent claim is also included for a clockwork movement.

Description

The present invention relates to a shock absorbing bearing for an axis of a mobile of a timepiece. The shaft comprises a beam, comprising a support, said support being provided with a housing adapted to receive a pivot system in which the tigeron is inserted. The shock absorbing bearing further comprises elastic means arranged to exert on said pivot system at least one axial force to maintain said pivot module in the housing.

The technical field of the invention is the technical field of fine mechanics.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to bearings for timepieces, particularly of the type for damping shocks. The mechanical watch manufacturers have long since designed numerous devices allowing an axis to absorb the energy resulting from an impact, in particular a side impact, by abutment against a wall of the hole of the base block that it crosses. while allowing a momentary movement of the tigeron before it is brought back to its rest position under the action of a spring.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an inverted double-cone device that is currently used in timepieces on the market.

A support 1, whose base comprises a hole 2 for the passage of the balance shaft 3 terminated by a tigeron 3a, allows positioning a kitten 20 in which are immobilized a pierced stone 4 crossed by the tigeron 3a and 5. The kitten 20 is held in a housing 6 of the support 1 by a spring 10 which comprises in this example radial extensions 9 compressing the pivoting stone 5. The housing 6 comprises two bearing surfaces 7, 7a in FIG. form of inverted cones on which support complementing 8, 8a litters of the kitten 20, said staves to be executed with very high accuracy. In the event of an axial impact, the pierced stone 4, the counter pivot stone 5 and the axis of the balance arm move and the spring 10 acts alone to bring the balance shaft 3 back to its initial position. The spring 10 is dimensioned to have a limit of displacement so that beyond this limit, the balance shaft 3 comes into contact with abutments 14 allowing said axis 3 to absorb the shock, which the rods 3a Axis 3 can not do without breaking. In case of lateral impact, that is to say when the end of the tigeron imbalances the kitten 20 out of its resting plane, the spring 10 cooperates with the complementary inclined planes 7, 7a; 8, 8a to refocus the kitten 20. Such bearings have for example been sold under the trademark Incabloc®. These springs can be made of phynox or brass and are manufactured by traditional means of cutting.

However, a disadvantage of these shock absorbing bearings is that they are removable. Indeed, it is expected that these shock absorbing bearings can be dismountable for service after belly and maintenance operations. Shock absorbing bearings are thus obtained, the mounting of which is not easy. Indeed, some parts such as the support 1 and the spring 10 must be oriented and manipulated in a certain way during the assembly operation to assemble the damping bearing. Therefore, not only the constituent parts of the shock-absorbing bearing are complex, but in addition, total automation of the assembly is not possible and makes said shock-absorbing bearing more expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing to provide a damper damper chcos non-removable timepiece and simple to assemble.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a shock absorbing bearing for an axis of a mobile of a timepiece, said bearing comprising a support provided with a housing adapted to receive a pivot module arranged to cooperate. with said axis, said bearing further comprising elastic means arranged to exert on said pivot module at least one axial force to maintain said module in its housing, characterized in that the elastic means are fixed permanently to the support by a material connection between said elastic means and the support. A first advantage of the present invention is to provide a non-removable shockproof system simple to perform and assemble. Indeed, the present invention has the advantage of having parts that are placed on each other without them having to be manipulated in a particular way. Thus, the assembly process can be automated. This simplicity of the parts and the assembly process makes it possible to have a cheap shock absorber.

In a first advantageous embodiment, the elastic means are fixed on the support by welding / soldering.

In a second advantageous embodiment, the elastic means are fixed on the support by gluing.

In a third advantageous embodiment, the elastic means comprise a spring ring having at least one inner radial extension extending towards the center of said spring ring.

In another advantageous embodiment, said spring ring comprises at least two specific zones of fasteners for fixing said spring ring to the support.

In another advantageous embodiment, said spring ring comprises at least two external radial extensions extending outwardly of said spring ring serving as specific zones of fasteners.

In another advantageous embodiment, the spring ring comprises three external radial extensions and three internal radial extensions.

The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a plate and at least one bridge, said plate comprising an orifice. In said orifice of said plate is inserted a shock absorbing bearing according to the invention.

The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a plate and at least one bridge, said at least one bridge comprising an orifice. In said orifice of said at least one bridge is inserted a shock absorbing bearing according to the invention

In an advantageous embodiment, the support of the damping bearing and said plate are monobloc.

In an advantageous embodiment, the support of the damping bearing and said at least one bridge are monobloc.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a middle part closed by a box and a bottom, the timepiece comprises a watch movement according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The objects, advantages and characteristics of the shock absorbing bearing according to the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the attached drawings in which: <tb> Figs. 1 and 2 <sep> already cited, can schematically represent a shock absorber system timepiece according to the prior art. <tb> Fig. 3 <sep> schematically represents a shock absorber system of a timepiece according to the invention. <tb> Fig. 4 <sep> schematically represents a top view of a spring for the timepiece shock absorber system according to the invention. <tb> Figs. 5 and 6 <sep> schematically represent different views of a preferred embodiment of a spring for the timepiece shock absorber system according to the invention. <tb> Figs. 7 to 9 <sep> schematically represent different variants for the pivot module of the timepiece shock absorber system according to the invention; and <tb> Fig. <Sep> schematically represents a one-piece variant of the shock absorber system of a timepiece according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea which consists in providing a simple non-removable shock absorber system. This shock absorber system is arranged to be mounted on a plate and / or at least one bridge of a watch movement. The watch movement is placed in a timepiece comprising a middle part closed by a bottom and an ice.

Figure 3 shows a shock absorbing bearing also called shockproof system 100. This shock absorbing bearing 100 comprises a support 200. This support 200 is in the form of a base 201, provided with a hole 202, from which extends a peripheral flange 203. The latter has an outer flank 204 and an inner flank 205. This flange 203 defines a housing 206 in which a pivot module 400 is inserted. This classic pivot module 400 comprises a kitten 401, that is to say a piece having a central circular orifice and an outer wall and an inner wall. In the inner wall is inserted a pierced stone 402 whose diameter corresponds to that of the central orifice. The inner wall includes a shoulder so that a counter pivot stone 403 can be attached. The pivot module 400 is then placed in the housing 206 of the support 200 and cooperates with the shank of an axis. Preferably, the support 200, the housing 206 and the pivot module 400 are of circular shape.

The shock absorbing bearing 100 further comprises resilient means 300 which are arranged to cooperate with the pivot module 400 so as to dampen the shocks and to bring the pivot module 400 back to its rest position when the stress related to shocks fades.

Advantageously according to the invention, the resilient means 300 are fixed so as to be integral with the support 200. It is understood that the elastic means 300, once attached to the support 200, can no longer be separated, separated from the support. The elastic means 300 are permanently fixed to the support 200. The fixing of the elastic means 300 to the support 200 is therefore final. To do this, the elastic means 300 are fixed on the support 200 by welding or soldering or gluing. There is then a material connection between the elastic means 300 and the support 200. This link may be glue or solder or solder. The elastic means 300 form a cover placed on the support which holds the pivot module 400 in the housing 206, ie the anti-shock system 100 thus becoming non-removable.

This attachment to the support 200 is at the flange 203. The flange 203 has at its end 207, a surface 207a acting as a bearing surface on which the elastic means 300 can be fixed. The outer flank 204 of the support 200 may also act as a surface on which the elastic means 300 are fixed.

The advantage of such a feature is to allow a shock absorbing bearing 100 simplified because there is no longer the constraint of being removable and therefore the shapes can be simpler.

When assembling the anti-shock system 100, an axial assembly is used. The first step is therefore to provide the support 200. Then, it equips the pivot module 400 which is placed in the housing 206 of the support 200. It comes, then, place and fix the elastic means 300. In the case of means elastic members 300 fixed to the end 207 of the support 200 acting as a bearing surface 207a, the elastic means 300 are simply placed on the support 200. Glue or solder points are then applied to fix said elastic means 300.

In an exemplary embodiment of the elastic means, the elastic means 300 are in the form of a spring ring 301. This spring ring 301 is flat type that is to say it consists of a metal strip that is to say which has a width greater than the thickness. To press said pivot module 400 into the housing 206 of the support 200, the spring ring 301 comprises internal radial extensions 302. These internal radial extensions 302 are constituted by the band forming the ring 301 which is bent inwards towards the inside. 301 These inner radial extensions 301 are preferably evenly distributed over the flat ring 301 so that the spring ring 301 can act homogeneously as can be seen in FIG. 4. Fixing the spring ring 301 to the support 200 is at the level of the circular portions 303 located between the inner radial extensions 302. The spring ring 301 may be made of a metallic material such as brass or any other usable material in watch applications.

In a first advantageous variant, the spring ring 301 comprises specific zones of fasteners 304 as visible in FIGS. 5 and 6. Indeed, in the case of the spring ring 301 visible in FIG. 4, the attachment to the support 200 by the circular portions 303 can cause a change in the properties of the spring ring 301.

However, the specific areas of fasteners 304 are areas arranged to limit the influence of the attachment by welding or gluing on the properties of said spring ring 301. These areas are in the form of external radial extensions 304a s extending to the outside of the ring 301. It is thus clear that these specific zones of fasteners 304 are constituted by the band forming the ring 301 which is bent outwards from the ring 301. Preferably, the external radial extensions 304a are curved less than those of the inner radial extensions 302. It is understood that the distance between the ends of the outer radial extensions 304a and the band forming the ring 301 is greater than the distance between the ends of the inner radial extensions 302 and said band forming the ring 301. The spring ring 301 according to this variant is advantageously dimensioned so that, when the fixing said ring 301 to the support 200, only the specific areas of fasteners 304 formed by the external radial extensions 304a are in contact with the support 200 for fixing. This configuration allows areas other than these specific areas of fasteners 304 to deform freely when axial stress is applied to the pivot module 400 by the axis.

Preferably, the spring ring 301 is arranged to have three internal radial extensions 302 and three specific zones of fasteners 304 that is to say three external radial extensions 304a. The three internal radial extensions 302 are arranged to be offset from each other by 120 °. The three outer radial extensions 304a are arranged to be offset from each other by 120 °. The arrangement of the outer radial extensions 304a and the inner radial extensions 302 is such that the outer radial extensions 304a and the inner radial extensions 302 are alternated and offset 60 ° from each other. It will be understood that between two external radial extensions 304a there is an internal radial extension 302.

The advantage of the shock absorbing bearing 100 is to have no specific orientation. Indeed, as all the constituent parts of said shockproof system 100 are circular, there is no need to orient them relative to each other. The support 200 has no particular areas on which the spring ring 301 must be fixed. In this way, the assembly method of such a shockproof system 100 can be automated to the maximum.

In a second variant, the inner flank 205 has an inclined portion allowing a better centering of the pivot module 400. Indeed, during an axial impact, the axis exerts an axial force on the pivot module 400 so that it lifts and deforms the resilient means 300. These elastic means 300 hold the pivot module 400 so that, when the latter is no longer subjected to stress, the elastic means 300 resume their rest position and plate the module pivot 400 in the housing 206. However, when the pivot module 400 is lifted from the housing 206 by the axis, it is possible that the pivot module 400 is offsets under the effect of a force such as gravity and moves radially. . In this case, when the pivot module 400 resumes its position in the housing 206, the pivot module 400 will come into contact with the inclined portion of the inner side 205. This inclined portion 205 guides the pivot module 400 to its initial position, c ' that is, its rest position so that the pivot module 400 is perfectly centered.

In a third variant, the pivot module 400 is in the monobloc form.

In a first alternative visible in FIG. 7, the pivot module 400 comprises a single stone 410. This single stone 410 is cylindrical in shape having a small height relative to the radius. This single stone 410 comprises, at its central axis, a blind hole 411 in which the spindle of the axis can be inserted. This single-stone configuration 410 makes it possible to have a more compact and simplified pivot module 400 since it makes it possible to have a shockproof system 100 consisting of only three parts: the support 200, the single stone 410 and the spring ring 301. Therefore, the dimensions of the support 200 can be reduced.

In a second alternative visible in FIG. 8, the pierced stone 430 and the pivoting stone 420 are fixed to each other without the intermediary of a kitten. For this, the pivoting stone 420 serves as a kitten. The counter-pivot stone 420 is then provided with a peripheral rim 421 defining a housing 422 in which the pierced stone 430 is placed. This alternative makes it possible to have a simplified pivot module 400 but having dimensions similar to those of a pivot module 400 with a kitten. The dimensions of the support thus remain unchanged to adapt to this alternative.

In another alternative visible in FIG. 9, the pierced stone 450 and the counter-pivot stone 440 are monobloc. The pivot module 400 resembles the pivot module of the second alternative except that instead of having the pierced stone 450 and the counter-pivoting rock 440 fixed to one another, they are directly integral through a Attachment element 445. The advantage of having a single piece while keeping standard dimensions at the same time as the conventional pivot modules comprising a kitten in which are placed a pierced stone and a counter-pivot stone.

In another variant shown in FIG. 10, the support is monoblock with the place on which the shock absorbing bearing is fixed. Indeed, a shock absorbing bearing is arranged to be installed at a bridge or a turntable of a watch movement. This clock movement has through orifices made on the plate or bridges. In these orifices, an anti-shock system 100 are inserted, each orifice being sized so that the support 200 can be driven there.

In order to gain a mounting step, the support is directly carried out on the bridge or decks and to form a damper assembly 1000. The plate and / or bridges form the support 2000 machined to reveal a base 2001 comprising a hole 2002. The support 2000 has a housing 2006 in which the pivot module 400 is placed. The spring ring 301 is fixed on the upper face of the support 2000. This variant also allows to have one piece less because the support 200 no longer exists.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements and / or combinations obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. Shock absorbing bearing (100) for an axis of a mobile of a timepiece, said bearing comprising a support (200) provided with a housing (206) provided for receiving a pivot module (400) arranged to cooperate with said axis, said bearing further comprising elastic means (300) arranged to exert on said pivot module at least one axial force to maintain said module in its housing, characterized in that the elastic means (300) are fixed to permanently supported by a material connection between said elastic means and the support. 2. shock absorbing bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic means (300) are fixed on the support (200) by welding or brazing. 3. shock absorbing bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic means (300) are fixed on the support (200) by gluing. 4. shock absorbing bearing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic means (300) comprise a spring ring (301) having at least one internal radial extension (302) extending towards the central axis of said spring ring. 5. Shock absorber bearing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spring ring (301) comprises at least two specific areas of fasteners (304) for fixing said spring ring to the support. A shock absorbing bearing according to claim 5, characterized in that said spring ring (301) comprises at least two outer radial extensions (304a) extending outwardly of said spring ring serving as specific zones of fasteners (304). ). Shock absorber bearing according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that said spring ring comprises three outer radial extensions (304a) and three inner radial extensions (302). 8. Watch movement comprising a plate (2000) and at least one bridge (2000), said plate comprising an orifice, characterized in that in said orifice of said plate is inserted a shock absorbing bearing (100) of shocks according to one of preceding claims. 9. Watch movement comprising a plate and at least one bridge, said at least one bridge comprising an orifice, characterized in that in said orifice of said at least one bridge is inserted a shock absorbing bearing (100) according to one of the claims. 1 to 7. 10. Watch movement according to claim 8, characterized in that the support (200) of the damping bearing (100) and said plate are monobloc. 11. Watch movement according to claim 9, characterized in that the support (200) of the damping bearing (100) and said at least one bridge are monobloc. 12. Timepiece comprising a middle part closed by a box and a bottom, characterized in that said timepiece comprises a watch movement according to one of claims 8 to 11.