CH707173B1

CH707173B1 - An assembly comprising an escape mechanism and a mechanical oscillator.

Info

Publication number: CH707173B1
Application number: CH02353/12A
Authority: CH
Inventors: Renaud Dominique
Original assignee: Dominique Renaud Sa
Priority date: 2012-11-12
Filing date: 2012-11-12
Publication date: 2017-03-31
Also published as: CH707173A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising an exhaust mechanism and a mechanical oscillator comprising: a balance (10), an exhaust wheel (12) for receiving a torque provided by a power source, the balance (10) And the exhaust wheel (12) being connected by an alternating stop and anchor transmission system (14) for connecting the exhaust wheel (12) and the balance (10) and arranged to lock Intermittently releasing the escape wheel (12) under the action of the balance (10) and for transmitting a particle of energy to the balance (10) in order to maintain its oscillations. According to the invention, the mechanism also comprises a pinion (24) intended to be mounted integral with the balance (10),

Description

Description Domaine technique [0001] La présente invention se rapporte au domaine de l’horlogerie. Elle concerne, plus particulièrement, un ensemble comprenant un mécanisme d’échappement et un oscillateur mécanique. Aussi, cet ensemble comporte un balancier, une roue d’échappement destinée à recevoir un couple fourni par une source d’énergie de type ressort de barillet.

[0002] Le balancier et la roue d’échappement sont reliés par un système d’arrêt alternatif et de transmission agencé pour bloquer de manière intermittente la roue d’échappement et la libérer sous l’action du balancier et pour transmettre au balancier une parcelle d’énergie pour entretenir ses oscillations.

STATE OF THE ART [0003] Exhaust is an essential part of mechanical clock movements. It is generally placed between a transmission member (gear train) which transmits a torque supplied by the energy source and the regulating member, in order to maintain and count the oscillations of the regulating member.

[0004] In current movements, except for clock and pendulum movements equipped with a pendulum rocker, the regulating member is a spiral balance. The present spirals have the disadvantage of developing eccentrically during expansion and during contraction.

[0005] This defect causes unbalance and pressures on the pivots, which result in walking distances.

[0006] Moreover, it is always difficult to control the manufacture of spirals at the industrial level. The efforts to be made to have the know-how and the technologies necessary for reliable industrial production are very important.

[0007] Some oscillators operate without spirals, but their system is partly magnetic. In the first case, the spiral is replaced by magnets which oppose and repel each other. In another case, the balancer and the balance spring no longer exist and are replaced by a resonant regulator using a magnetic rotor and a sound frequency oscillator.

[0008] These partially magnetic systems emerge from the circle of purely mechanical movements. The object of the present invention is to propose a 100% mechanical spiralless oscillator escapement assembly.

Divulguation de l’invention [0009] De façon plus précise, l’invention concerne un ensemble comprenant un mécanisme d’échappement et un oscillateur mécanique, tel que présenté au premier paragraphe de cette demande, caractérisé en ce qu’il comprend en outre un pignon destiné à être monté solidaire du balancier. Ce pignon est relié cinématiquement avec une denture d’un mobile intermédiaire soumis à l’action d’un organe ressort, constitué d’une portion de spire d’angle inférieure à 360°, pour former un résonateur avec le balancier.

[0010] Les revendications dépendantes proposent d’autres caractéristiques de l’invention.

Brève description des dessins [0011] D’autres détails de l’invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description qui suit, faite en référence au dessin annexé dans lequel: la fig. 1 représente un premier mode de réalisation d’un ensemble comprenant un mécanisme d’échappement et un oscillateur mécanique selon l’invention, les fig. 2a, 2b et 2c proposent des vues chronologiques de l’ensemble de la fig. 1, à différentes étapes de son fonctionnement, et la fig. 3 illustre un deuxième mode de réalisation de l’ensemble selon l’invention.

Embodiment of the Invention The invention relates to an assembly formed by an exhaust mechanism and a mechanical oscillator, taking the usual shape of a balance 10. The exhaust mechanism is designed to maintain the oscillations Of the balance 10 by transmitting to it a parcel of energy supplied by a source of energy not shown. This energy source can be, in a conventional manner, a barrel.

This energy source is kinematically connected to an escapement wheel 12. A reciprocating and transmission stop system 14 is arranged between the balance wheel 10 and the escapement wheel 12 to block the latter in an intermittent manner and Release it under the action of the balance 10.

[0014] Dans le mode de réalisation de la fig. 1, le système d’arrêt alternatif et de transmission 14 est une ancre montée pivotante et dotée d’une palette d’entrée 16a et d’une palette de sortie 16b destinées à coopérer avec les dents de la roue d’échappement 12. Dans cette variante, les palettes 16a et 16b sont situées à un niveau différent du plan général de l’ancre. Elles sont réalisées sous la forme de galets cylindriques montés libres en rotation sur un axe 18a, 18b disposé orthogonalement au plan général de l’ancre. Ces galets, susceptibles de tourner, diminuent sensiblement les frottements entre la roue d’échappement 12 et l’ancre, en remplaçant une partie des glissements par des rotations. Les palettes 16a, 16b sont agencées de manière à réaliser les fonctions classiques d’un échappement conventionnel: arrêt, dégagement, impulsion, comme on le détaillera ci-après en référence aux fig. 2a, 2b et 2c.

[0015] Coaxialement à l’ancre 14, un mobile intermédiaire 20 est monté libre en rotation. Ce mobile intermédiaire 20 est ici représenté sous la forme d’une roue tronquée afin de bien laisser visible les autres éléments de l’échappement, mais il peut également s’agir d’une roue complète. Le mobile intermédiaire 20 est doté d’une denture périphérique 22, agencée pour être reliée cinématiquement avec un pignon 24 solidaire du balancier 10. Le mobile intermédiaire 20 peut être en prise directement avec le pignon 24 ou par l’intermédiaire d’un ou de plusieurs renvois formant un train de réduction.

[0016] Le mobile intermédiaire 20 est soumis à l’action d’un organe ressort 26 pour former un résonateur avec le balancier 10. Dans ce mode de réalisation, l’organe ressort 26 relie le mobile intermédiaire 20 et le système d’arrêt alternatif et de transmission 14. Plus particulièrement, une première extrémité de l’organe ressort 26 est fixée sur l’ancre 14, par exemple par un plot de serrage 28 et sur le mobile intermédiaire 20, par un système d’attache de type piton 30.

The spring member 26 may be a wire spring, but is not a spiral spring. It may optionally be assimilated to a portion of turn, but which defines an angle of less than 360 °, preferably less than 180 °. It is arranged so that, in the rest position, the line of centers which connects the axes of the escape wheel 12, the anchor and the balance 10 is substantially situated at the center of the useful part of the Peripheral toothing 22 of the intermediate mobile 20. The spring member 26 is capable of being deformed in tension and in compression relative to its rest position.

The spring member 26 thus makes it possible to connect the anchor and the intermediate wheel in rotation, but with a temporal and spatial shift due to its deformation.

An adjusting spring 32 may also be provided for adjusting the extreme positions of the anchor. Advantageously, in the variant proposed, the adjusting spring 32 comprises a first 32a and a second 32b spring blades respectively intended for adjusting the first and second extreme positions of the anchor 14, cooperating with a shank 34 'anchor. The position of the spring blades 32a, 32b can be adjusted by an eccentric 35. The advantage of the spring blades 32a, 32b is that their effect adjusts as a function of the amplitude variations related to the decrease in the torque transmitted by the source d Of energy. Thus, when the energy source is armed to the maximum, the spring blades 32a, 32b can accept a greater amplitude of the displacements of the anchor. When the energy source is less armed,

[0020] In operation, it can be seen in FIG. 2a the exhaust wheel 12 in the stop position on the output pallet 16b. The anchor rests on the first leaf spring 32a. The balance 10 alternates counterclockwise, causing the intermediate wheel 20 also to rotate clockwise. Under the combined action of moving the intermediate wheel 20 and the spring member 26, the anchor also pivots in a clockwise direction and releases the exhaust wheel 12. In the release phase (FIG. 2b), the exhaust wheel 12 effects the pulse on the output pallet 16b. However, the two phases can not be clearly identified in the drawings, since there are no distinct plans in the usual sense. Then, The escapement wheel 12 falls on the inlet pallet 16a to be again at rest. The anchor is now supported on the second spring leaf 32b.

According to the desired quality and precision, a system specially adapted to promote the disengagement of the fork-like pallets on the anchor 14 and anchor on a plate mounted integrally on the axis of the balance 10 or mounted On another mobile connected to the balance by a gear.

[0022] La fig. 3 propose un deuxième mode de réalisation de l’invention. On retrouve, comme dans le mode de réalisation ci-dessus, le mobile intermédiaire 20 relié cinématiquement au pignon 24 solidaire du balancier 10, le mobile intermédiaire 20 étant soumis à l’action de l’organe ressort 26 pour former un résonateur avec le balancier 10. Cependant, dans ce mode de réalisation, le mobile intermédiaire 20 et le système d’arrêt alternatif et de transmission 14 sont montés selon deux axes différents. Le mobile intermédiaire peut n’être que partiellement denté, en fonction de l’amplitude prévue pour sa rotation et de la partie de sa périphérie qui sera utilisée.

The spring member 26 connects at one end the intermediate wheel 20 and at the other end an attachment point 36. This attachment point 36 is preferably a movable peg associated with A racquet of conventional type, except that the cock is not mounted on the axis of the rocker arm 10 but on a cock bridge independent of the rocker arm 10. It is thus possible to adjust the active length of the spring member . Such an arrangement of the intermediate wheel 20 makes it possible to accommodate an alternative stopping and transmission system 14 of conventional type. In the example, there is shown a Swiss anchor escapement, but an expansion exhaust or any other escapement could also be envisaged. Similarly, all frequencies are conceivable, It is also possible to replace the conventional balance 10 by a flywheel of circular or cylindrical shape having the same function. This regulator can be inclined according to a

Claims

Angle with respect to the movement, the toothings connecting the regulator and the intermediate wheel being adjusted to ensure good cooperation between these elements, whatever the relative angle between them. [0024] It will be noted that, in the example shown, the intermediate wheel 20 is balanced. In addition, two spring members could be arranged on the intermediate wheel 20, these two spring members being disposed symmetrically with respect to the axis of the intermediate wheel 20 so that the influences of the spring members on the axis of the intermediate wheel 20 , Compensate each other. Advantageously, the assembly according to the invention makes it possible to introduce a gear ratio between the balance 10 and the intermediate wheel. Consequently, the amplitude of the intermediate wheel 20 can be reduced, Thus making it possible to dispense with a spiral. [0026] In addition, the fact that the action of the spring does not apply to the balance wheel 10, but further in the gear train, makes it possible to avoid all the disadvantages peculiar to spirals, in particular its adjustment, its asymmetry. To reduce the influence of the spring on the movement of the watch, due to the friction of the axes. It is even possible to have a balance amplitude greater than 360 °. A new type of assembly is therefore proposed, comprising an exhaust mechanism and a mechanical oscillator for a mechanical watch, which makes it possible to dispense with a spiral spring and reduces the influence of the spring on the running of the watch. The person skilled in the art will know how to make various variants based on the above description, given by way of non-limiting example, Without however departing from the protection defined by the claims. claims

1. An assembly comprising an exhaust mechanism and a mechanical oscillator comprising: a balance (10); an escapement wheel (12) for receiving a torque supplied by a power source, the balance (10) and The exhaust wheel (12) being connected by an alternating and anchor transmission system (14) for connecting the exhaust wheel (12) and the balance (10) and arranged to intermittently lock (10) and for transmitting a parcel of energy to maintain its oscillations, characterized in that it comprises a pinion (24) which is connected to the rocker (10) Mounted integral with the balance (10),Said pinion (24) being movably connected with a toothing of an intermediate wheel (20) subjected to the action of a spring member (26) to form a resonator with the rocker arm (10), the spring member 26) being constituted by a portion of turn with an angle of less than 360 °.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate wheel is mounted coaxially and free in rotation with the retaining and transmission stop system, Connects the intermediate wheel and the alternating and transmission stop system (14).

3. An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the anchor of the reciprocating and transmission stop system (14) is provided with an inlet pallet (16a) and an outlet pallet (16b) Said pallets being located at a different level from the general plane of the anchor.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said inlet (16a) and outlet (16b) pallets are cylinders mounted free to rotate on the anchor, along an axis orthogonal to the general plane of the anchor.

5. An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one adjusting spring for defining the extreme positions of the anchor.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate wheel and the retaining and transmission stop system are mounted in two different axes and in that the spring member connects The intermediate wheel and an attachment point (36).

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the attachment point is a mobile peak mounted on a racket.

8. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the anchor of the alternating stopping and transmission system is an anchor of the Swiss anchor type.

9. Ensemble selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit organe ressort (26) est une portion de spire d’angle inférieur à 180°.