CH711573A2

CH711573A2 - Watch movement comprising a flexible guiding system.

Info

Publication number: CH711573A2
Application number: CH01409/15A
Authority: CH
Inventors: Chabloz David
Original assignee: Patek Philippe Sa Geneve
Priority date: 2015-09-29
Filing date: 2015-09-29
Publication date: 2017-03-31
Also published as: EP3356891A1; WO2017055986A1; EP3356891B1

Abstract

The watch movement according to the invention comprises a frame and a mechanism mounted in or on the frame, the mechanism comprising a flexible guide system comprising a fixing part (1) and a movable part (2) connected by elastic guide parts (3). The flexible guide system (1, 2, 3) is located partly at least in an opening (5) of a frame element (6) and is secured to the side wall of the frame (5).

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a watch movement, in particular for a wristwatch, comprising a flexible guide system.

[0002] Flexible guide systems are designed to allow the movement of a component in a direction determined in rotation or in translation without friction. These systems include resilient guide portions which connect a movable portion constituting said component to a fixing portion for securing the flexible guide system to a support such as the platen of a watch movement. Examples of such systems are described in the documents EP 2 037 335, EP 2 273 323 and WO 2011/120 180. They all have the disadvantage of occupying an important place in the movement, notably in height.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims at remedying or at least attenuating this disadvantage and proposes for this purpose a timepiece movement comprising a frame and a mechanism mounted in or on the frame, the mechanism comprising a flexible guide system Comprising a fastening part and a movable part connected by elastic guide parts, characterized in that the flexible guide system is partly located at least in an opening of a frame element and is fastened by its fastening part to The side wall of said opening.

By definition, the fastening part and the mobile part are more rigid or have a more rigid part than the elastic parts.

[0005] The mechanism comprises all or part of the moving components of the movement. It may include a plurality of said flexible guide systems for guiding a plurality of components.

[0006] The frame may be the fixed frame of the movement or a mobile frame mounted on the fixed frame and carrying the mechanism.

Advantageously, the flexible guide system is fixed to the side wall of said opening by elastic deformation of the fastening part, which deformation may be purely elastic or which may be an elastic component of plastic and elastic deformation ( drive-out).

[0008] La partie de fixation peut comprendre une première partie annulaire reliée à la partie mobile par les parties élastiques de guidage et une deuxième partie annulaire entourant la première partie annulaire et reliée à cette dernière par des parties de liaison discrètes.

[0009] En variante, la partie de fixation peut comprendre une première partie reliée à la partie mobile par les parties élastiques de guidage et des bras élastiques reliant la paroi latérale de ladite ouverture à la première partie.

[0010] Ledit élément du bâti peut être une platine ou un pont.

[0011] Ladite ouverture peut être circulaire et/ou traversante.

[0012] Typiquement, la partie de fixation entoure la partie mobile.

[0013] De préférence, le système de guidage flexible est monolithique.

[0014] The mechanism may comprise a component integral with the movable part and situated outside the opening.

[0015] Such a component may be a balance, an escapement anchor, a lever or a rocker, for example.

[0016] In particular, the component may be a clutch rocker carrying a clutch wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flexible guide system according to a first embodiment of the invention, driven into an opening of a frame element (platen or bridge) of a watch movement; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of a watch movement comprising a flexible guide system according to the invention, the latter being driven into an opening in the watch movement plate and guiding a clutch rocker; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a flexible guide system according to a second embodiment of the invention, Driven in an opening of a frame member (platen or bridge) of a watch movement; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a flexible guide system according to a third embodiment of the invention, driven into an opening of a frame element (platen or bridge) of a watch movement.

[0018] En référence à la fig. 1, un système de guidage flexible selon un premier mode de réalisation de l’invention comprend une partie de fixation 1 et une partie mobile 2 reliées par des lames élastiques 3. Dans l’exemple représenté, les lames élastiques 3 sont du type «lames croisées non séparées» et se croisent ainsi physiquement en un point 4. Les lames élastiques 3 forment un pivot flexible permettant à la partie mobile 2 d’être guidée sans frottements en rotation autour du point 4. La partie de fixation 1, la partie mobile 2 et les lames élastiques 3 sont coplanaires. La partie de fixation

Claims

1 has an annular shape which surrounds the mobile part 2. A radial protuberance 1a located on the inside face of the fixing part 1 serves as a stop for surfaces 2a of the mobile part 2 to limit the angular displacement of the mobile part 2 by The fastening part 1 is driven into an opening 5 which the plate or a bridge 6 of the fixed frame of a watch movement presents. The opening 5 is preferably circular and through, as illustrated. In FIG. 1, the plate or the bridge 6 comprising the opening 5 is shown schematically in the form of a ring. By virtue of this arrangement, the flexible guide system 1, 2, 3 is integrated in the fixed frame of the movement and frees up space for the other movable components of the movement, in particular in height. Furthermore, There is great freedom for the placement of the flexible guide system 1, 2, 3 in the movement, since it suffices to provide an opening in the plate or a bridge and to introduce the flexible guide system 1, 2, 3. It goes without saying that this principle can also be applied to a mobile frame of the movement mounted on the fixed frame, for example to a tourbillon cage. [0020] The mobile part 2 could constitute a component of the movement, such as a balance. In the example shown, however, the movable part 2 carries assembly means, for example studs or pins 7, through which a mobile component of the movement can be made integral with the mobile part 2. This mobile component is then located Out of the opening 5. This mobile component is for example a lever or rocker such as a clutch rocker 8 carrying a clutch wheel 9 as shown in FIG. 2. It could, alternatively, be a rocker or an anchor for exhaust for example. In FIG. 2, the movement mechanism of which the flexible guide system 1, 2, 3 is part is shown partially and designated by the reference numeral 20. In a second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, slots 10 formed in the fixing part 1 divide the latter into two concentric annular parts 11, 12 connected to one another by discrete connection parts 13. The outer annular part 11 undergoes the stresses During the displacement of the flexible guide system 1, 2, 3 in the opening 5 of the frame. The inner annular part 12 is substantially insulated from the driving stresses by the slots 10. The crossing point 4 of the resilient blades 3, around which the mobile part 2 is pivoted, is thus substantially not displaced during the driving operation. Which increases the operating accuracy of the component. [0022] In a third embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 4, the fixing part 1 comprises an inner annular part 14 which surrounds the movable part 2 and is connected to the latter by the elastic blades 3 and external elastic arms 15 which are connected to the inner annular part 14 by a part of The elastic arms 15 are in contact with the side wall 5a of the opening 5 and hold the flexible guide system 1, 2, 3 in the opening 5 by their elastic deformation. Unlike the first and second embodiments (FIGS. 1 and 3) in which the flexible guide system 1, 2, 3 is forced into the opening 5 and the fixing part 1 undergoes an elastic and plastic deformation , The elastic component of the deformation ensuring the holding of the system 1,2,3 in the opening 5, the flexible guide system 1,2,3 according to the third embodiment (FIG 4) can be fixed to the wall Lateral opening 5a of the opening 5 by bringing the elastic arms 15 towards each other, then being introduced into the opening 5 and then releasing the elastic arms 15 so as to exert constraints against the side wall 5a of The opening 5. The flexible guide system according to the invention can be made in a monolithic manner, For example in silicon or in any other suitable material according to the deep reactive ion etching technique known as "DRIE" (Deep Reactive Ion Etching), nickel, nickel alloy or any other suitable material according to the LIGA technique (lithography, galvanoplasty, molding ), Steel, copper-beryllium, nickel silver or other metal alloys by milling or electroerosion, or metallic glass by molding. The flexible guide system according to the invention could define another type of flexible pivot than a pivot with non-separated crossed blades, for example a pivot with separate crossed blades or a pivot with an offset center of rotation known as "RCC" (Remote Center Compliance). Alternatively, the flexible guide system could be a linear guide system. [0025] Furthermore, The fixing part 1 could be fixed to the side wall 5a of the opening 5 in a manner other than by purely elastic deformation or deformation, for example by gluing or welding. claims

1. A watch movement comprising a frame and a mechanism mounted in or on the frame, the mechanism comprising a flexible guide system comprising a fixing part and a movable part connected by parts, Characterized in that the flexible guide system (1, 2, 3) is located at least partially in an opening (5) of a frame element (6) and is fixed by the elastic guide part (3) (1) to the side wall (5a) of said opening (5).

2. The watch movement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible guide system is fixed to the lateral wall of said opening by elastic deformation of the attachment portion. 1).

3. Mouvement horloger selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la partie de fixation (1) est chassée dans ladite ouverture (5).

4. Mouvement horloger selon la revendication 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la partie de fixation (1) comprend une première partie annulaire (12) reliée à la partie mobile (2) par les parties élastiques de guidage (3) et une deuxième partie annulaire (11) entourant la première partie annulaire (12) et reliée à cette dernière par des parties de liaison discrètes (13).

5. Mouvement horloger selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la partie de fixation (1) comprend une première partie (14) reliée à la partie mobile (2) par les parties élastiques de guidage (3) et des bras élastiques (15) reliant la paroi latérale (5a) de ladite ouverture (5) à la première partie (14).

6. The watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said element is a plate of the frame.

7. Watchmaking movement according to claim 1, characterized in that said element (6) is a bridge of the frame.

8. A watch movement according to claim 1, wherein said opening (5) is circular.

9. Watch movement according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening (5) is through-going.

10. The watch movement according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part surrounds the movable part.

11. The watch movement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible guide system is monolithic.

12. Watchmaking movement according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a component secured to the movable part and situated outside the opening.

13. Watchmaking movement according to claim 12, characterized in that the component is a rocker, an exhaust anchor, a lever or a rocker.

14. The watch movement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the component is a clutch rocker bearing a clutch wheel.