CH716389A2 - Watchmaker escapement mobile, escapement mechanism and timepiece. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a horological escapement wheel set (2), in particular an anchor, comprising a pivot (24) defining an axis of rotation (Y) and a body (21) extending in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation , characterized in that the axis of rotation (Y) is oriented perpendicular to the plane of extension of the body (21) and in that the pivot (24) is virtual. The invention also relates to an escapement mechanism (1) equipped with such a mobile and a timepiece comprising such a mobile or such a mobile or such a mechanism.

Description

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a horological escapement wheel set such as an anchor, in particular for Swiss lever escapement mechanisms, fitted with a pivot of the knife pivot type.

[0002] The invention also relates to an escapement mechanism equipped with such a knife-pivot mobile as well as a timepiece comprising such an escapement mobile and/or escapement mechanism.

State of the art

[0003] Lever escapements very certainly constitute the most common category of escapements in mechanical clockwork mechanisms, at the very least in the class of so-called free escapements. Associated with a Regulating Body, typically of the pendulum or balance-spring assembly type, an anchor escapement makes it possible to maintain the oscillations of the said Regulating Body by transmitting to it through regular pulses, at a determined frequency, a fraction of the mechanical energy of the source. mechanical energy of a said watch mechanism, usually comprising at least one barrel spring. Simultaneously, the escapement also makes it possible to count the oscillations of the regulator member and, therefore, to count the time.

[0004] Very many variations of anchor escapements have been proposed in the state of the art and are well known to those skilled in the art in the field of watchmaking. Their limitations, just as well known, are mainly a propensity to disturb the isochronism of the oscillations of the regulating organ due to the successive shocks and frictions between the anchor and the regulating organ on the one hand as well as between the anchor and the escapement mobile on the other hand, These shocks and friction particularly affect the mechanical performance of the escapement; it is usually considered that a Swiss lever escapement, for example, transmits to the regulating organ only 30-40% of the driving force that it receives from the driving source.

[0005] Various technological solutions have been explored to improve the performance of anchor escapements, based in particular on the use of new materials such as silicon in particular, in order to reduce the friction of the anchor, both at the level of its pivot as paddles and fork.

[0006] However, these techniques are much more expensive due to the high technicality and specificity of the production technologies by deep etching of silicon. In addition, the parts thus produced are extremely fragile and their implementation requires even greater know-how and precision on the part of the watchmaker, which limits their exploitation in large series (several thousand to tens of thousands of parts annual), on an industrial scale to date.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to propose a new geometry of an escapement wheel set such as a Swiss clockwork lever for lever escapement mechanisms which can be manufactured according to conventional industrial techniques and in usual materials in the field of watchmaking and which nevertheless makes it possible to significantly reduce the mechanical disturbances such as for example friction, and therefore to improve the performance of a lever escapement.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to propose an escapement and a timepiece comprising a teile anchor, or any other escapement part whose displacement is less than 45 degrees, such as for example a trigger.

Disclosure of Invention

[0009] According to a first object, the present invention thus proposes a horological escapement mobile, in particular a horological anchor, comprising a pivot defining an axis of rotation and a body extending in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation . This mobile is advantageously characterized in that the pivot forms a virtual pivot axis perpendicular to the plane of extension of the body.

[0010]According to one embodiment, the pivot of the escape wheel set is arranged to allow rotation of said wheel set around said axis of rotation at an angle of at most 45°.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the mobile is an anchor and the body is a rod extending substantially along a longitudinal direction contained in said plane and carrying at a first end a first and a second arm and at a second end a fork.

[0012]According to one embodiment, the pivot of the escapement mobile comprises a blade and a counter-blade, the blade or the counter-blade being secured to the body of the mobile when it is able to be secured to a frame element of a watch movement .

[0013] In preferred fashion, the blade has a blade wire and the blade against a groove of complementary shape aufil the blade.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the groove has the shape of a dihedral in a plane perpendicular to the virtual pivot axis of the escapement wheel set.

[0015] According to a second object, the invention also relates to an escapement mechanism, comprising an escapement mobile mobile in rotation about an axis of rotation and equipped with a series of peripheral teeth, and a second mobile, in particular an anchor, as previously described, mobile in rotation around a virtual axis of rotation between two rest positions.

[0016] Preferably, the escapement mechanism comprises a member for returning the second mobile to the rest position.

[0017]Even more preferably, the return member is integral with the second escapement wheel set at a first end, in particular with the pivot, and capable of being secured to a frame element of a watch movement at a second end.

The invention finally relates to a timepiece comprising an escapement mobile and/or an escapement mechanism, as previously described.

Brief description of the drawings

[0019] Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows an escape mechanism comprising an anchor according to the present invention in a first rest position on an entry pallet of the anchor,

- figure 1a represents an enlargement of figure 1 at the blade pivot of the anchor of the mechanism of figure 1,

- Figure 2 represents the escape mechanism of Figure 1 during an impulse phase at the input pallet,

- figure 2a represents an enlargement of figure 2 at the blade pivot of the anchor of the mechanism of figure 1,

- Figure 3 represents the escape mechanism of Figure 1 and 2 in a second rest position on an outlet pallet,

- figure 3a represents an enlargement of figure 3 at the blade pivot of the anchor of the mechanism of figure 3.

Embodiments of the Invention

[0020] Figures 1 to 3 represent a watchmaker escapement mechanism 1 with anchor improved according to a preferred embodiment. This escapement mechanism 1 is equipped with an anchor 2 constituting an escapement mobile according to the present invention. However, the invention applies appropriately to any exhaust part, such as a trigger, rotatable over an angle of at most 45° in function in an exhaust mechanism.

[0021] The anchor 2 conventionally comprises a rod 21 forming a body extending longitudinally along an axis X and carrying at a first end two arms 22 at the free ends of which are arranged integrally with pallets 25e, 25s. At a second end of the rod 21, the anchor 2 comprises a fork 23, partially visible in the figures, and of conventional form in itself, comprising two horns separated by a notch in which extends along the longitudinal axis X of the wand 21 a dart.

The anchor 2 comprises an anchor pivot 24 by which it is adapted to be mounted mobile in rotation around a virtual axis Y defined by said pivot 24 on a frame element of a watch movement such as a plate between an escape wheel set 3 and a regulating organ 4 themselves mounted so as to rotate on a frame element of the watch movement around specific axes of rotation which are parallel, preferably to that Y defined by the anchor pin 24 The longitudinal axis X of extension of the rod 21 is contained in a median plane of the anchor 2 perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation Y defined by the pivot 24.

[0023] In a known manner and not shown in the figures, the escapement wheel set 3 is preferably coupled in use by an escapement pinion coaxial with its axis of rotation to the cog of a watch movement and a source of driving energy of the watch movement such as one or more barrels. Similarly, the regulator member 4 can be a balance-spring assembly, of which only the large plate 41 and the pin 42 are shown in the figures for brevity.

[0024] The anchor 2 thus forms a member for transmitting a motor torque from the exhaust wheel set 3 to the regulating member 4. The pallets 25e, 25s are configured to interact alternately with the teeth 31 of the wheel set. exhaust 3 during phases of rest (FIGS. 1 and 3) during which the pallets hold the exhaust mobile 3 at rest during the free path of the additional arc of the regulator member 4 as well as during phases of impulse (fig. 2) intermediate to the phases of rest during which the escapement mobile 3 transmits, after release of the anchor 2 by action of the pin 42 of the regulating organ 4 on a horn of the fork 23 of the anchor close to the dead point of the escapement, a driving impulse to a pallet 25e, 25s which causes the anchor 2 to pivot on its pivot 24 transmitting the driving fraction to the regulating member 4 so as to maintain its oscillations. The angular displacements of the lever 2 are, again conventionally, limited by pins 5 driven into the plate of the watch movement on either side of the fork 23 of the lever 2.

[0025] The escapement mechanism 1 of the invention is thus similar and as shown in the figures to a classic Swiss lever escapement.

[0026] However, in a specific and advantageous manner, the anchor pivot 24 does not consist of a rod, shaft, pin driven into a suitable orifice of a plate as in a conventional lever escapement, but of a pivot ä blade.

[0027] In addition, specifically to the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention, the anchor 2 is advantageously elastically biased by an elastic biasing means 6 in each rest position in order to provide constant pulling of the mobile escapement on the anchor 2, as will be described later.

[0028] The bladed pivot 24 of the anchor 2 advantageously consists in the first place of a blade 241, defined by a first piece or substantially laminar portion forming a projection on the surface of the rod of the anchor 2 along a plane median P perpendicular to the plane of the rod 21 of the anchor containing the longitudinal axis X thereof and of which an edge defines a edge of the blade 241 f, that is to say a thinnest and most acute edge of the blade 241 of infinitesimal width compared to the other dimensions of the blade 241. In practice the width of the blade wire 241 f is of the order of a few micrometers to tens of micrometers, located in the plane P and passing through the center of gravity of the anchor 2. The anchor pivot 24 secondly comprises a counter-blade 242 able to be fixed on a watch movement frame element such as a plate or a bridge. This counter-blade 242 comprising a groove or notch 243 in the shape of a dihedral, at the bottom of which the blade edge rests. The bottom of the groove 243 and the edge of the blade 241 are advantageously aligned along the longitudinal axis X of the rod 21 and thus define the virtual axis of the anchor pivot 24. Such an anchor pivot configuration 24 is thus similar to the pivot blade described in the applicant's application WO 2016012281 A1.

[0029] It is possible to provide means for limiting displacement in translation by sliding of the blade 241 in the groove 243, for example by a flange, a tailstock or counter-pivot (not shown) closing the dihedral of the counter-blade 242 and holding the blade 241 fixed according to the axis of the anchor pivot 24.

[0030] The anchor 2 can thus pivot, according to a limited angular amplitude, relative to the counter-blade 242 around the virtual axis of the pivot form in contact with the edge of the blade and the bottom of the groove 243, whatever the orientation. pivot tax.

The groove 243 against the blade 242 is shown in the figures as a dihedral; however, it could also have other shapes, provided that the radii of curvature of the edge of the blade 241 and of the bottom of the groove 243 are substantially equal, preferably so that the edge of the blade rolls in the groove more than slides in that -here, said rolling can then be assimilated to a rotation due to the very small radius of the edge of the blade. Minimal friction of anchor pivot 24 is then obtained, and therefore a loss of driving energy transmitted and minimal disturbance of regulating member 4.

[0032] Of course, the respective positions of the blade 241 and of the counter-blade 242 with respect to the anchor 2 could be reversed; the blade 241 could thus be integral with an element of the frame of a watch movement and the counter-blade integral with the rod 21 of the anchor 2.

[0033] Again advantageously, the blade 241 of the anchor pivot 24 is advantageously held in support in the groove 243 by a return member. This return member may, for example, consist of a circlip or a ring fitted together around the counter-blade 242 and an edge of the blade opposite to the edge of the latter. The two elements 241,242 of anchor pivot 24 are thus secured in translation in any direction orthogonal to virtual axis Y of the pivot. Preferably, the restoring force passes through the axis of the pivot so as not to disturb the pivoting.

Advantageously according to the invention, the blade return member 241 is none other than the elastic return member 6 of the anchor 2 arranged to provide a constant pulling force between anchor 2 and mobile d exhaust 3 in each position of rest. For this purpose, the return member 6 can be formed of a leaf spring, one end of which is hooked on the rear edge of the blade 241 opposite to the wire of the latter, as visible in FIGS. 1A, 2A, and 3A especially. The other end of the leaf spring 6 may be secured anywhere by appropriate means (in particular pin, lug, screw or the like) at a fixed point on a frame element of a watch movement. As such, the representation of the leaf spring 6 in the figures is completely arbitrary and has no limiting value of the shape or arrangement of said leaf spring 6 with respect to the other elements of the exhaust mechanism 1 present. In addition, other forms of return members 6 can be envisaged by those skilled in the art in the field of watchmaking, in particular a spiral spring for example.

[0035] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the spring 6 conforms so as to exert a force in the plane P on the blade 241 in order to give it two so-called "bistable" positions; the first position being the blade 241 constrained on the left side of the counter-blade 242 and the second position being that opposite, that is to say the right side of the counter-blade 242. The spring 6 is fixed by any means whatsoever on a fixed support such as the plate of a movement watchmaker.

[0036] The anchor 2, its pivot 24 (the blade 241 and the counter-blade 242) as well as the exhaust wheel set 3 can be made in several elements, preferably but not exclusively of metallic material, assembled together , or even monolithically by stamping or molding and machining or even by LIGA type processes (acronym for "Röntgenlithography, Galvanoformung, Abformung" in German) or deep etching of silicon, or even by additive manufacturing processes, in particular by 3D printing.

[0037] The anchor 2 according to the invention equipped with an anchor pivot 24 of the blade pivot type and the escapement mechanism 1 integrating the latter and recalled by a pulling spring 6 provides a significant reduction in friction. and therefore losses

Claims (12)

energy and efficiency of a classic Swiss lever escapement, which makes it possible to reduce the disturbance of the regulating organ of a watch movement comprising them but also to significantly improve the power reserve by reducing the dissipation driving energy by friction and maintaining a constant pulling force at rest of the escapement mobile. It is therefore thus possible to optimize in a simple, reliable and economical manner an anchor escapement without any significant complexification of the structure and of the adjustment of the latter but with increased performance. [0038] The operation of the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention in this embodiment is substantially identical to that of a conventional Swiss lever escapement. In a first rest position (Fig, 1 and 1A), the exhaust wheel is supported by a tooth 31 on the rest plane of the 25th inlet pallet and the fork 23 is held in abutment against a first pin 5 by pulling effect of the escapement mobile on the anchor 2. In this position, the return spring 6 does not exert any particular action on the anchor 2, apart from the restoring force of the blade 241 in the groove 243 against the blade 242. During this time, the regulator member 4 runs through its additional arc. [0039] During the return of the regulator member 4 to its next alternation, it causes its pin 42 on the fork 23 to disengage the anchor 2 from the exhaust wheel set 3. Substantially at the dead center of the exhaust shown in Figs. 2 and 2A, a tooth 31 of the escapement wheel set 3 imparts an impulse on the corresponding surface of the entry pallet 25e of the anchor 2, as in a conventional Swiss anchor escapement, thereby transmitting a fraction of energy drive to the anchor 2 which pivots around its virtual axis Y at the bearing zone of the blade 241 in the groove 243 of the counter-blade (FIG. 2A) and catches up with the regulating member 4 and transmits an impulse to it corresponding engine. The regulator member 4, the anchor 2 and the mobile escapement 3 all then continue their respective rotation, in this case clockwise in the figures. The anchor 2 then reaches its second position of rest by abutment of its fork 23 against the second pin 5 (Fig. 3) and a tooth 31 of the mobile escapement 3 comes to a halt on the output pallet 25s of the anchor 2. Regulator member 4 then continues its course on its additional arc until its next alternation. Claims 1. Mobile (2) watchmaker escapement, comprising a pivot (24) defining an axis of rotation (Y) and a body (21) extending in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation, characterized in that the pivot (24) defines a virtual axis of rotation (Y) Oriented perpendicular to the plane of extension of the body (21). 2. Watchmaker escapement wheel set according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged to allow said wheel set to rotate around said axis of rotation at an angle of at most 45°. 3. Watchmaker's escapement mobile according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it forms a watchmaking anchor, comprising a strip (21) forming the body of said mobile and extending substantially in a longitudinal direction (X) in said extension plane of said body.. 4. Exhaust mobile (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the anchor pivot (24) comprises a blade (241) and a counter-blade (242), the blade or the counter-blade being integral with the body of the mobile and the other with the blade or the counter-blade being capable of being secured with a frame element of a watch movement. 5. Mobile exhaust (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the blade (241) comprises a blade edge and against the blade (242) a groove (243) of complementary shape to the edge of the blade. 6. Exhaust wheel (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the groove (243) has the shape of a dihedral in a plane perpendicular to the virtual pivot axis (Y) of the wheel. 7. Mechanism (1) exhaust, comprising a mobile exhaust (3) mobile in rotation about an axis of rotation and equipped with a series of teeth (1) devices, and a second mobile, in particular (2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, rotatable about an axis of rotation (Y) virtual between two rest positions. 8. Escape mechanism (1) according to claim 7, in which the second escape mobile is an anchor according to one of claims 3 to 6. 9. Exhaust mechanism according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises a return member (6) of the second exhaust mobile in the rest position. 10. Exhaust mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that the return member (6) is secured to the second exhaust mobile (2) at a first end, in particular to the pivot (24), and adapted to be secured to a frame element of a watch movement at a second end. 11. Timepiece comprising an escape wheel set (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6. 12. Timepiece comprising an escapement mechanism (1) according to one of claims 7 to 10.