EP1543386B1 - Mechanical parts - Google Patents

Mechanical parts Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1543386B1
EP1543386B1 EP03702274A EP03702274A EP1543386B1 EP 1543386 B1 EP1543386 B1 EP 1543386B1 EP 03702274 A EP03702274 A EP 03702274A EP 03702274 A EP03702274 A EP 03702274A EP 1543386 B1 EP1543386 B1 EP 1543386B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
diamond
parts
spiral spring
mechanical
manufacture
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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EP03702274A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1543386A2 (en
Inventor
Pierre Gygax
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Fore Eagle Co Ltd
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Fore Eagle Co Ltd
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B31/00—Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor
    • G04B31/02—Shock-damping bearings
    • G04B31/04—Shock-damping bearings with jewel hole and cap jewel
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B1/00—Driving mechanisms
    • G04B1/10—Driving mechanisms with mainspring
    • G04B1/14—Mainsprings; Bridles therefor
    • G04B1/145—Composition and manufacture of the springs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B15/00—Escapements
    • G04B15/14—Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/04—Oscillators acting by spring tension
    • G04B17/06—Oscillators with hairsprings, e.g. balance
    • G04B17/066—Manufacture of the spiral spring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/06—Dials
    • G04B19/12—Selection of materials for dials or graduations markings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the use of a particular material, diamond, for the manufacture of a spiral spring, intended to enter the composition of a watch movement.
  • the invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such spiral spring.
  • diamond in the industry is known; in particular as a precious stone, for decorative purposes, or else with regard to the qualities of hardness of the diamond, as a cutting element or an abrasive element.
  • the diamond has other qualities, low coefficient of friction, impact resistance, mechanical resistance, low density, high modulus of elasticity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, ability not to be scratch and transparency.
  • These various qualities can advantageously be used, alone or in combination, for the manufacture of mechanical parts, such as for example parts in friction and to resist wear or parts to resist shocks or parts to be totally or partially transparent as well as elastic parts, parts of this kind being commonly used in watchmaking or micromechanics.
  • the document EP 0.732.635 discloses mechanical parts consisting of a substrate, preferably silicon, covered with a layer which may be diamond. A mechanical part thus formed has the disadvantages of any part composed of a juxtaposition of different materials.
  • the article entitled: "Manufacturing of single-crystal diamond microcomponents" referenced in XP 000485931 describes mechanical parts obtained by cutting a diamond plate Monocrystalline.
  • the parts obtained by this process are of the order of 400 ⁇ m in diameter and 13 ⁇ m in thickness, more than 10 times smaller in diameter and more than 3 times thinner than the spiral springs required in watchmaking obtained according to the method of the invention.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to propose the use of diamond, natural or synthetic, for making spiral springs.
  • the first unclaimed example of a mechanical part shown in figure 1 relates to the use of diamond for the manufacture of cam parts, in particular in the example shown in the hour cam of a mechanical timepiece.
  • the wear of the diamond parts is significantly less than that of the corresponding parts made of conventional materials; this feature brings a further advantage, the long life of the parts where the sharp angles must continue as found on some cams.
  • the advantage of the strong mechanical strength of the diamond, combined with its low density of the order of 3.5 kg / dm 3 allows for a mobile lever 11 much finer, or section and mass significantly lower , that the corresponding lever made of conventional material this leading to a net decrease in the inertia of this element.
  • FIG. 2 Another unclaimed example of diamond use is shown in figure 2 where we see a portion of an exhaust device of a known type of clockwork according to a position of operation.
  • many mechanical shocks occur between the various components; in particular between two teeth 200 of the escape wheels 2 coming into contact, between the blocking lever 201 of the blocker 20 and the teeth 200 of the escape wheels 2, between the blocking portions 202 and the teeth 200 of the escape wheels 2, and between the horns 203 of the blocker 20 and the locking pins 21 and the lifting 22 of the balance.
  • some of the component parts are also subject to friction from one part to the other; for example the teeth 200 of the wheels 2 between them or against the locking lever 201 or the blocking portions 202 of the blocker 20, and between the lifting 22 and the horns 203 of the blocker 20.
  • the same advantages as mentioned above concerning the friction and wear of parts in contact are therefore found for these parts.
  • the figure 3 shows a date display device 3 comprising two disks or rings 30 and 31, normally superimposed but shown here laterally offset to better understand their operation.
  • Each of the discs 30 and 31 is numbered, engraved or printed, the numbering 300 of the disc 30 ranging from 1 to 15 while the numbering 301 of the disc 31 is from 16 to 31.
  • Each of the discs 30 and 31 is rotated by the watch movement of the watch on which they are mounted so that during the first 15 days of the month, each digit of the numbering 300 of the disc 30 is successively visible behind a wicket of the dial of the watch, not shown on FIG, while the 16 th to the last day of the month, the disc 30 is stationary and has its portion behind said aperture 302, this portion 302 being transparent so as to make visible the scroll dial 310 of the disk 31.
  • Such a device has the advantage of allowing a date display of larger size than by a device with a single disk.
  • known devices using materials customary to such devices have a relatively large thickness, consequently increasing that of the watch.
  • the numbering 300 of the disc 30 is disposed on the underside of said disc, while that 310 of the disc 31 is disposed on its upper face, so that the planes on which are arranged the two numbering are closest possible from each other to facilitate the comfort of reading the date.
  • the portion of the disk 30 bearing the numbering 300 with the exception of the portion 302, will be coated with an opaque layer 301, so as to hide the numbering 310 of the disk 31 during the first 15 days of the month.
  • the disk 31 may also be provided with an opaque layer 311. It should be noted that for the operation of the device it is not absolutely essential that the lower disk 31 is also diamond because it is not necessary that this disc be transparent on one of its portions.
  • the scratch resistance quality of the diamond is also appreciated in this case, avoiding that the transparent portion 302 is scratched. in use. This quality is therefore used in combination with the qualities of transparency and mechanical strength already mentioned.
  • the spiral spring 4 of the Figures 4 and 5 is obtained by a known method of etching a thin diamond plate.
  • the example of the figure 4 it comprises the flange 40 for fixing the inner end of the spiral spring and the turns 41 of the spiral spring, while the example of the figure 5 further comprises a flange 42 for attaching the ferrule to the outer end of the spiral spring.
  • a first advantage of making a spiral spring by etching a thin diamond plate rather than by strapping a wire therefore appears from these figures, namely the possibility of including in one piece one or two flanges of end 40 or 42 with the turns 41.
  • Yet another advantage of this method of manufacture is that it is possible to obtain a last turn 43, or a portion thereof, with a circular pattern and not spiral. The etching thus making it possible to give the shape and the desired section to each portion of the spiral spring, it thus becomes possible to balance the spiral spring directly to the etching as well as to soften or stiffen it in one or more selected areas.
  • the intrinsic physical parameters of the diamond still make it advantageous to use this material for the manufacture of spiral springs.
  • the modulus of elasticity of the diamond being about six times higher than that of the steel usually used for this purpose and its mechanical resistance to breaking being approximately ten times higher than that of steel, it is possible, for a determined oscillation frequency, to greatly reduce the cross section. , respectively the mass of the spiral spring diamond.
  • the low density of the diamond further enhances this effect.
  • Such a spiral diamond spring despite its small section, will have a much better impact resistance than conventional hairspring because the stresses to which it is subjected mainly depend on its mass and its acceleration.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Carbon And Carbon Compounds (AREA)
  • Crystals, And After-Treatments Of Crystals (AREA)
  • Audible-Bandwidth Dynamoelectric Transducers Other Than Pickups (AREA)
  • Micromachines (AREA)

Abstract

The use of diamond as raw material for producing mechanical parts offers many advantages: the low friction factor of said material makes it usable for friction parts as well as the impact strength thereof makes it appropriately usable for certain parts. The mechanical strength of the material makes it possible to reduce the sizes of the mechanical parts and even to cut out holes therein. The high value of the coefficient of elasticity makes it possible to produce the parts exposed to elastic stress such as spiral springs.

Description

La présente invention concerne l'utilisation d'un matériau particulier, le diamant, pour la confection d'un ressort spiral, destiné à entrer dans la composition d'un mouvement d'horlogerie. L'invention concerne aussi une pièce d'horlogerie comportant au moins un tel ressort spiral.The present invention relates to the use of a particular material, diamond, for the manufacture of a spiral spring, intended to enter the composition of a watch movement. The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such spiral spring.

L'utilisation du diamant dans l'industrie est connue ; notamment comme pierre précieuse, à titre décoratif, ou alors en regard des qualités de dureté du diamant, comme élément de coupe ou élément abrasif.The use of diamond in the industry is known; in particular as a precious stone, for decorative purposes, or else with regard to the qualities of hardness of the diamond, as a cutting element or an abrasive element.

A côté de cette qualité de dureté, le diamant possède encore d'autres qualités, faible coefficient de frottement, résistance aux chocs, résistance mécanique, faible masse volumique, module d'élasticité élevé, faible coefficient de dilatation thermique, capacité de ne pas être rayable et transparence. Ces diverses qualités peuvent avantageusement être utilisées, seules ou en combinaison, pour la confection de pièces mécaniques, comme par exemple des pièces en frottement et devant résister à l'usure ou des pièces devant résister aux chocs ou des pièces devant être totalement ou partiellement transparentes ainsi que des pièces élastiques, des pièces de ce genre étant couramment utilisées en horlogerie ou en micromécanique.Besides this quality of hardness, the diamond has other qualities, low coefficient of friction, impact resistance, mechanical resistance, low density, high modulus of elasticity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, ability not to be scratch and transparency. These various qualities can advantageously be used, alone or in combination, for the manufacture of mechanical parts, such as for example parts in friction and to resist wear or parts to resist shocks or parts to be totally or partially transparent as well as elastic parts, parts of this kind being commonly used in watchmaking or micromechanics.

Le document EP 0.732.635 décrit des pièces mécaniques constituées d'un substrat, de préférence du silicium, recouvert d'une couche pouvant être du diamant. Une pièce mécanique ainsi constituée comporte les inconvénients de toute pièce composée d'une juxtaposition de matériaux différents.The document EP 0.732.635 discloses mechanical parts consisting of a substrate, preferably silicon, covered with a layer which may be diamond. A mechanical part thus formed has the disadvantages of any part composed of a juxtaposition of different materials.

L'article intitulé : « Fabrication of single-crystal diamond microcomponents » référencié sous XP 000485931 décrit des pièces mécaniques obtenues par taillage d'une plaque de diamant monocristallin. Les pièces obtenues par ce procédé sont de l'ordre de 400 µm de diamètre et de 13 µm d'épaisseur, soit plus de 10 fois plus petites en diamètre et plus de 3 fois plus minces que les ressorts spiraux nécessaires en horlogerie obtenus selon le procédé de l'invention.The article entitled: "Manufacturing of single-crystal diamond microcomponents" referenced in XP 000485931 describes mechanical parts obtained by cutting a diamond plate Monocrystalline. The parts obtained by this process are of the order of 400 μm in diameter and 13 μm in thickness, more than 10 times smaller in diameter and more than 3 times thinner than the spiral springs required in watchmaking obtained according to the method of the invention.

Le but de l'invention est donc de proposer d'utiliser du diamant, naturel ou synthétique, pour la confection des ressorts spiraux.The object of the invention is therefore to propose the use of diamond, natural or synthetic, for making spiral springs.

Ce but est atteint en proposant un ressort spiral conforme à l'invention comme décrit dans la revendication 1, des variantes d'exécution étant mentionnées dans les revendications dépendantes, une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un tel ressort spiral étant décrite dans la revendication 7.This object is achieved by proposing a spiral spring according to the invention as described in claim 1, variant embodiments being mentioned in the dependent claims, a timepiece comprising such a spiral spring being described in claim 7.

La description ci-dessous montre à titre d'exemple quelques applications pratiques du diamant pour la fabrication de pièces mécaniques, étant bien entendu que d'autres applications peuvent encore être envisagées. Dans cette description, d'autres avantages de l'utilisation du diamant à cet usage sont mentionnés. Cette description est à considérer en regard du dessin annexé comportant les figures où :

  • la figure 1 représente un premier exemple non revendiqué d'utilisation de diamant pour la confection de pièces mécaniques, soit pour la confection de pièces de came,
  • la figure 2 représente un autre exemple non revendiqué d'utilisation de diamant pour la confection de pièces mécaniques, soit pour la confection de pièces d'un échappement d'horlogerie,
  • la figure 3 représente encore un autre exemple non revendiqué d'utilisation de diamant pour la confection de pièces mécaniques, soit pour la confection de disques ou couronnes d'affichage de date,
  • la figure 4 représente un exemple d'utilisation de diamant pour la confection de pièces mécaniques selon l'invention soit pour la confection d'un ressort spiral, et
  • la figure 5 représente une autre forme d'exécution d'un ressort spiral en diamant.
The following description shows by way of example some practical applications of diamond for the manufacture of mechanical parts, it being understood that other applications can still be envisaged. In this description, other advantages of using diamond for this purpose are mentioned. This description is to be considered with reference to the appended drawing including the figures in which:
  • the figure 1 represents a first unclaimed example of the use of diamond for making mechanical parts, either for the manufacture of cam parts,
  • the figure 2 represents another unclaimed example of the use of diamond for making mechanical parts, or for making parts of a watch exhaust,
  • the figure 3 represents yet another unclaimed example of the use of diamond for the manufacture of mechanical parts, either for the manufacture of disks or crowns of date display,
  • the figure 4 represents an example of use of diamond for the manufacture of mechanical parts according to the invention for the manufacture of a spiral spring, and
  • the figure 5 represents another embodiment of a spiral spring diamond.

Le premier exemple non revendiqué de pièce mécanique montré à la figure 1 concerne l'utilisation du diamant pour la confection de pièces de came, notamment dans l'exemple représenté de la came des heures d'une pièce d'horlogerie mécanique.The first unclaimed example of a mechanical part shown in figure 1 relates to the use of diamond for the manufacture of cam parts, in particular in the example shown in the hour cam of a mechanical timepiece.

On y voit la came des heures 1, entraînée en rotation par la roue dentée 10 sur l'axe 100, et actionnant séquentiellement le levier mobile 11. Dans une pièce d'horlogerie mécanique, l'énergie à disposition est extrêmement faible ; en conséquence les frottements doivent être réduits au minimum, notamment pour les pièces en contact qui peuvent difficilement être lubrifiées, comme c'est le cas pour les pièces représentées ici. En confectionnant la came 1 et le levier mobile 11 en diamant, le frottement entre ces deux pièces est réduit d'un facteur 20 par rapport aux pièces correspondantes en métal ou en Si et d'un facteur 10 par rapport aux mêmes pièces recouvertes de téflon. L'énergie nécessaire à l'actionnement de la came est donc réduite d'un facteur correspondant. Par ailleurs, l'usure des pièces en diamant est nettement moindre que celle des pièces correspondantes en matériaux usuels ; cette caractéristique amène encore un avantage supplémentaire, soit la grande longévité des pièces où les angles vifs doivent perdurer comme on les trouve sur certaines cames. De plus, l'avantage de la forte résistance mécanique du diamant, alliée avec sa faible masse volumique de l'ordre de 3.5 kg/dm3 permet de réaliser un levier mobile 11 nettement plus fin, soit de section et de masse nettement plus faibles, que le levier correspondant réalisé en matériau conventionnel ceci amenant à une nette diminution de l'inertie de cet élément.It shows the hour cam 1, driven in rotation by the toothed wheel 10 on the axis 100, and sequentially actuating the movable lever 11. In a mechanical timepiece, the energy available is extremely weak; therefore the friction must be minimized, especially for the parts in contact that can hardly be lubricated, as is the case for the parts shown here. By making the cam 1 and the mobile lever 11 diamond, the friction between these two parts is reduced by a factor of 20 relative to the corresponding pieces of metal or Si and a factor of 10 compared to the same parts covered with Teflon . The energy required to actuate the cam is reduced by a corresponding factor. In addition, the wear of the diamond parts is significantly less than that of the corresponding parts made of conventional materials; this feature brings a further advantage, the long life of the parts where the sharp angles must continue as found on some cams. In addition, the advantage of the strong mechanical strength of the diamond, combined with its low density of the order of 3.5 kg / dm 3 allows for a mobile lever 11 much finer, or section and mass significantly lower , that the corresponding lever made of conventional material this leading to a net decrease in the inertia of this element.

Un autre exemple non revendiqué d'utilisation du diamant est représenté à la figure 2 où on voit une portion d'un dispositif d'échappement d'un mouvement d'horlogerie de type connu selon une positon de fonctionnement. On distingue les deux roues d'échappement 2, le bloqueur 20 oscillant entre les deux goupilles d'arrêt 21 ainsi qu'une portion du balancier portant la levée 22. Lors du fonctionnement du dispositif d'échappement, de nombreux chocs mécaniques surviennent entre les divers composants ; notamment entre deux dents 200 des roues d'échappement 2 entrant en contact, entre le levier de blocage 201 du bloqueur 20 et les dents 200 des roues d'échappement 2, entre les portions de blocage 202 et les dents 200 des roues d'échappement 2, ainsi qu'entre les cornes 203 du bloqueur 20 et respectivement les goupilles d'arrêt 21 et la levée 22 du balancier.Another unclaimed example of diamond use is shown in figure 2 where we see a portion of an exhaust device of a known type of clockwork according to a position of operation. There are two escape wheels 2, the blocker 20 oscillating between the two locking pins 21 and a portion of the balance carrying the lift 22. During operation of the exhaust system, many mechanical shocks occur between the various components; in particular between two teeth 200 of the escape wheels 2 coming into contact, between the blocking lever 201 of the blocker 20 and the teeth 200 of the escape wheels 2, between the blocking portions 202 and the teeth 200 of the escape wheels 2, and between the horns 203 of the blocker 20 and the locking pins 21 and the lifting 22 of the balance.

Vu la résistance aux chocs du diamant, nettement plus élevée que celle des matériaux usuels, tout ou partie, de certaines ou de l'ensemble des pièces constitutives du dispositif d'échappement ci-dessus, ou de tout autre dispositif mécanique soumis à des chocs répétitifs, peut être réalisé en diamant.Given the impact resistance of the diamond, significantly higher than that of the usual materials, all or part of some or all of the component parts of the exhaust system above, or any other mechanical device subjected to shocks repetitive, can be made of diamond.

Par ailleurs, dans un dispositif d'échappement comme ci-dessus, en plus des chocs mentionnés, certaines des pièces constitutives sont aussi soumises à des frottement d'une pièce contre l'autre ; par exemple les dents 200 des roues 2 entre elles ou contre le levier de blocage 201 ou les portions de blocage 202 du bloqueur 20, ainsi qu'entre la levée 22 et les cornes 203 du bloqueur 20. Les mêmes avantages que mentionnés précédemment concernant le frottement et l'usure de pièces en contact se retrouvent donc pour ces pièces.Furthermore, in an exhaust system as above, in addition to the shocks mentioned, some of the component parts are also subject to friction from one part to the other; for example the teeth 200 of the wheels 2 between them or against the locking lever 201 or the blocking portions 202 of the blocker 20, and between the lifting 22 and the horns 203 of the blocker 20. The same advantages as mentioned above concerning the friction and wear of parts in contact are therefore found for these parts.

Vu la forte résistance mécanique du diamant, environ 10 fois supérieure à celle des métaux usuels et 8 fois supérieure à celle du Si, il devient possible d'ajourer les pièces mécaniques soumises aux chocs, comme on le voit pour la roue dentée de gauche sur la figure, pour le bloqueur 20 ainsi que la levée 22 du balancier. Il est évident que les pièces décrites dans l'exemple précédent montrant une came peuvent aussi être ajourées.Given the strong mechanical strength of the diamond, about 10 times higher than that of the usual metals and 8 times that of the Si, it becomes possible to open the mechanical parts subjected to shocks, as seen for the gear on the left on the figure, for the blocker 20 and the lifting 22 of the balance. It is obvious that the parts described in the previous example showing a cam can also be perforated.

En complément ou au lieu d'un tel ajourage, on peut simplement fortement diminuer l'épaisseur des pièces en question en utilisant des lames de diamant de très faible épaisseur. L'utilisation de pièces de faible épaisseur permet de fortement diminuer les masses en mouvement, ce qui en diminue l'inertie ainsi que l'énergie nécessaire à leur mise en mouvement. La diminution des dimensions des pièces mécaniques d'un mouvement d'horlogerie permet évidemment de produire de tels mouvements de dimensions réduites.In addition to or instead of such an opening, one can simply greatly reduce the thickness of the parts in question using very thin diamond blades. The use of thin parts greatly reduces the moving masses, which reduces the inertia and energy required for their movement. The reduction in the dimensions of the mechanical parts of a clockwork movement obviously makes it possible to produce such movements of reduced dimensions.

Encore une autre utilisation non revendiquée du diamant est représentée à la figure 3 où c'est la caractéristique de transparence, associée à celle de forte résistance mécanique de ce matériau qui sont utilisées ici.Yet another unclaimed use of the diamond is represented in the figure 3 where it is the characteristic of transparency, associated with that of strong mechanical strength of this material which are used here.

La figure 3 montre un dispositif d'affichage de date 3 comprenant deux disques ou couronnes 30 et 31, normalement superposés mais représentés ici décalés latéralement afin de mieux comprendre leur fonctionnement. Chacun des disques 30 et 31 porte une numérotation, gravée ou imprimée, la numérotation 300 du disque 30 allant de 1 à 15 alors que la numérotation 301 du disque 31 va de 16 à 31. Chacun des disques 30 et 31 est entraîné en rotation par le mouvement d'horlogerie de la montre sur laquelle ils sont montés de manière à ce que durant les 15 premiers jours du mois, chaque chiffre de la numérotation 300 du disque 30 soit successivement visible derrière un guichet du cadran de la montre, non représenté sur la figure, alors que du 16ème au dernier jour du mois, le disque 30 reste immobile et présente sa portion 302 derrière ledit guichet, cette portion 302 étant transparente de manière à rendre visible le défilement de la numérotation 310 du disque 31.The figure 3 shows a date display device 3 comprising two disks or rings 30 and 31, normally superimposed but shown here laterally offset to better understand their operation. Each of the discs 30 and 31 is numbered, engraved or printed, the numbering 300 of the disc 30 ranging from 1 to 15 while the numbering 301 of the disc 31 is from 16 to 31. Each of the discs 30 and 31 is rotated by the watch movement of the watch on which they are mounted so that during the first 15 days of the month, each digit of the numbering 300 of the disc 30 is successively visible behind a wicket of the dial of the watch, not shown on FIG, while the 16 th to the last day of the month, the disc 30 is stationary and has its portion behind said aperture 302, this portion 302 being transparent so as to make visible the scroll dial 310 of the disk 31.

Un tel dispositif, connu en soi, a l'avantage de permettre un affichage de date de plus grande dimension que par un dispositif à un seul disque. Par contre, les dispositifs connus utilisant des matériaux habituels à de tels dispositifs ont une épaisseur relativement importante, augmentant en conséquence celle de la montre.Such a device, known per se, has the advantage of allowing a date display of larger size than by a device with a single disk. On the other hand, known devices using materials customary to such devices have a relatively large thickness, consequently increasing that of the watch.

Au contraire, dans le dispositif d'affichage utilisant des disques ou de des couronnes 30 et 31 en diamant, vu la forte résistance mécanique du diamant, il devient possible d'obtenir des disques ou couronnes 30 et 31 de très faible épaisseur, réduisant d'autant l'épaisseur de la montre.On the contrary, in the display device using diamond discs or crowns 30 and 31, given the strong mechanical strength of the diamond, it becomes possible to obtain discs or crowns 30 and 31 of very small thickness, reducing as much as the thickness of the watch.

De manière préférentielle la numérotation 300 du disque 30 est disposée sur la face inférieure dudit disque, alors que celle 310 du disque 31 est disposée sur sa face supérieure, de manière à ce que les plans sur lesquels sont disposées les deux numérotations soient le plus proche possible l'un de l'autre afin de faciliter le confort de lecture de la date. De préférence la portion du disque 30 portant la numérotation 300, à l'exception de la portion 302, sera revêtue d'une couche opaque 301, de manière à cacher la numérotation 310 du disque 31 durant les 15 premiers jours du mois. Afin d'uniformiser la lecture de la date sur tout le mois, le disque 31 peut aussi être muni d'une couche opaque 311. Il est à remarquer que pour le fonctionnement du dispositif il n'est pas absolument indispensable que le disque inférieur 31 soit aussi en diamant vu qu'il n'est pas nécessaire que ce disque soit transparent sur une de ses portions.Preferably the numbering 300 of the disc 30 is disposed on the underside of said disc, while that 310 of the disc 31 is disposed on its upper face, so that the planes on which are arranged the two numbering are closest possible from each other to facilitate the comfort of reading the date. Preferably the portion of the disk 30 bearing the numbering 300, with the exception of the portion 302, will be coated with an opaque layer 301, so as to hide the numbering 310 of the disk 31 during the first 15 days of the month. In order to standardize the reading of the date on all month, the disk 31 may also be provided with an opaque layer 311. It should be noted that for the operation of the device it is not absolutely essential that the lower disk 31 is also diamond because it is not necessary that this disc be transparent on one of its portions.

Vu que les deux disques 30 et 31 sont en rotation l'un par rapport à l'autre dans des plans très proches, la qualité de résistance aux rayures du diamant est aussi appréciée dans ce cas, évitant que la portion transparente 302 ne se raye à l'usage. Cette qualité est donc utilisée en combinaison avec les qualités de transparence et de résistance mécanique déjà mentionnées.Since the two discs 30 and 31 are rotated relative to one another in very close planes, the scratch resistance quality of the diamond is also appreciated in this case, avoiding that the transparent portion 302 is scratched. in use. This quality is therefore used in combination with the qualities of transparency and mechanical strength already mentioned.

Selon l'invention, le ressort spiral 4 des figures 4 et 5 est obtenu par un procédé connu de gravage d'une plaque mince en diamant. Dans l'exemple de la figure 4 il comprend la flasque 40 de fixation de l'extrémité intérieure du ressort spiral et les spires 41 du ressort spiral, alors que l'exemple de la figure 5 comprend en outre une flasque 42 de fixation de la virole sur l'extrémité extérieure du ressort spiral.According to the invention, the spiral spring 4 of the Figures 4 and 5 is obtained by a known method of etching a thin diamond plate. In the example of the figure 4 it comprises the flange 40 for fixing the inner end of the spiral spring and the turns 41 of the spiral spring, while the example of the figure 5 further comprises a flange 42 for attaching the ferrule to the outer end of the spiral spring.

Un premier avantage d'une fabrication d'un ressort spiral par gravage d'une plaque mince en diamant plutôt que par estrapadage d'un fil apparaît donc de ces figures, soit la possibilité d'inclure en une seule pièce une ou deux flasques d'extrémité 40 ou 42 avec les spires 41. Encore un autre avantage de ce mode de fabrication est qu'il est possible d'obtenir une dernière spire 43, ou un portion de cette dernière, avec un tracé circulaire et non en spirale. Le gravage permettant donc de donner la forme et la section voulue à chaque portion du ressort spiral, il devient ainsi possible d'équilibrer le ressort spiral directement au gravage ainsi que de l'assouplir ou le rigidifier dans une ou des zones sélectionnées.A first advantage of making a spiral spring by etching a thin diamond plate rather than by strapping a wire therefore appears from these figures, namely the possibility of including in one piece one or two flanges of end 40 or 42 with the turns 41. Yet another advantage of this method of manufacture is that it is possible to obtain a last turn 43, or a portion thereof, with a circular pattern and not spiral. The etching thus making it possible to give the shape and the desired section to each portion of the spiral spring, it thus becomes possible to balance the spiral spring directly to the etching as well as to soften or stiffen it in one or more selected areas.

Les paramètres physiques intrinsèques du diamant rendent encore avantageuse l'utilisation de cette matière pour la fabrication de ressorts spiraux. Le module d'élasticité du diamant étant environ six fois plus élevé que celui de l'acier utilisé habituellement à cet usage et sa résistance mécanique à la rupture étant environ dix fois plus élevée que celle de l'acier, il est possible, pour une fréquence d'oscillation déterminée, de fortement diminuer la section, respectivement la masse du ressort spiral en diamant. La faible masse volumique du diamant améliore encore cet effet. Un tel ressort spiral en diamant, malgré sa faible section, aura une bien meilleure résistance aux chocs qu'un spiral conventionnel vu que les sollicitations auxquelles il est soumis dépendent essentiellement de sa masse et de son accélération.The intrinsic physical parameters of the diamond still make it advantageous to use this material for the manufacture of spiral springs. The modulus of elasticity of the diamond being about six times higher than that of the steel usually used for this purpose and its mechanical resistance to breaking being approximately ten times higher than that of steel, it is possible, for a determined oscillation frequency, to greatly reduce the cross section. , respectively the mass of the spiral spring diamond. The low density of the diamond further enhances this effect. Such a spiral diamond spring, despite its small section, will have a much better impact resistance than conventional hairspring because the stresses to which it is subjected mainly depend on its mass and its acceleration.

A côté de ces caractéristiques constructives, le comportement à l'usage d'un spiral en diamant sera meilleur que celui d'un spiral conventionnel vu que son coefficient de dilatation thermique vaut la moitié de celui de l'Invar.Beside these constructive characteristics, the behavior with the use of a diamond spiral will be better than that of a conventional spiral as its coefficient of thermal expansion is half that of the Invar.

D'autres qualités du diamant sont très favorables à l'utilisation de ce matériau pour la fabrication de pièces mécaniques telles ou de même nature que celles décrites précédemment. En particulier lors de la fabrication d'une pièce par masking et gravage chimique d'une lame de diamant, on peut obtenir une précision d'usinage de l'ordre du micron, ce qui est nettement meilleur que la précision qu'il est possible d'obtenir sur des pièces métalliques. De même, la verticalité des flancs est améliorée relativement à celle obtenue avec des pièces en Si. La stabilité dimensionnelle d'une pièce en diamant est aussi nettement supérieure à celle obtenue sur les pièces connues ; ceci est aussi un avantage important pour ies pièces de grande précision. Un autre aspect intéressant est le fait que le diamant est inrayable, ce qui permet de manipuler facilement les pièces en diamant sans risque de les endommager. Finalement l'aspect esthétique d'une pièce en diamant, à fortiori si elle est ajourée, améliore sensiblement l'aspect visuel favorable de la portion visible d'un mouvement d'horlogerie.Other diamond qualities are very favorable to the use of this material for the manufacture of such mechanical parts or of the same nature as those described above. Particularly when manufacturing a part by masking and etching a diamond blade, it is possible to obtain a machining precision of the order of one micron, which is much better than the accuracy that is possible. to get on metal parts. Similarly, the verticality of the flanks is improved relative to that obtained with Si parts. The dimensional stability of a diamond piece is also significantly higher than that obtained on known pieces; this is also an important advantage for high precision parts. Another interesting aspect is the fact that the diamond is scratch-proof, which makes it easy to handle diamond parts without the risk of damaging them. Finally the aesthetic appearance of a diamond piece, especially if it is perforated, significantly improves the visual appearance of the visible portion of a watch movement.

Plusieurs exemples d'application possible du diamant à la fabrication de pièces mécaniques ont été représentés et décrits ci-dessus, uniquement à titre illustratif des possibilités d'utilisation du diamant pour la fabrication de pièces mécaniques. Il est donc bien entendu que le diamant peut être utilisé pour encore bien d'autres types de pièces ou de dispositifs mécaniques que ceux décrits précédemment. Dans certains des exemples ci-dessus, les deux pièces en contact étaient décrites comme entièrement en diamant. Selon les applications seules les parties en contact de frottement ou de choc ou devant être transparentes de deux pièces mécaniques peuvent être faites en diamant. Par ailleurs, par diamant, il est entendu qu'il peut s'agir tout autant de diamant naturel que de diamant synthétique, soit de diamant cristallisé à base de carbone.Several examples of possible application of diamond to the manufacture of mechanical parts have been shown and described above, solely as an illustration of the possibilities of using the diamond for the manufacture of mechanical parts. It is therefore understood that the diamond can be used for many other types of parts or mechanical devices than those described above. In some of the above examples, the two parts in contact were described as entirely diamond. According to the applications only the parts in contact with friction or shock or to be transparent of two mechanical parts can be made of diamond. Furthermore, by diamond, it is understood that it can be as much natural diamond as synthetic diamond, or crystallized diamond based on carbon.

Claims (7)

  1. A spiral spring (4), designed to form part of a clock movement and to be set in motion by said clock movement, characterised in that said spiral spring (4) is made entirely from diamond.
  2. The spiral spring (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that it is made from a diamond plate.
  3. The spiral spring (4) according to claim 2, characterised in that it is made by etching a diamond plate.
  4. The spiral spring (4) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the diamond used for its manufacture is synthetic diamond.
  5. The spiral spring (4) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the spires (41) of the spring are made in a single piece with at least one end fixing flange (40, 42).
  6. The spiral spring (4) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the cross-section of the spires (41) varies over the length of said spiral spring.
  7. Clock component, comprising at least one spiral spring (4) according to any of claims 1 to 6.
EP03702274A 2002-09-25 2003-03-04 Mechanical parts Expired - Lifetime EP1543386B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH161702 2002-09-25
CH16172002 2002-09-25
CH18582002 2002-11-06
CH185802 2002-11-06
PCT/CH2003/000151 WO2004029733A2 (en) 2002-09-25 2003-03-04 Mechanical parts

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EP1543386A2 EP1543386A2 (en) 2005-06-22
EP1543386B1 true EP1543386B1 (en) 2008-10-22

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AU (1) AU2003205503A1 (en)
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WO (1) WO2004029733A2 (en)

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EP1837722B1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2016-02-24 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Micro-mechanical component in an insulating material and method of manufacture thereof
KR20070096834A (en) 2006-03-24 2007-10-02 에타 쏘시에떼 아노님 마누팍투레 홀로게레 스위세 Micro-mechanical part made of insulating material and method of manufacturing the same
EP1837721A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-26 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Micro-mechanical piece made from insulating material and method of manufacture therefor
EP1850193B1 (en) * 2006-04-28 2019-06-12 Patek Philippe SA Genève Method of force fitting one piece in another piece
EP2102717B1 (en) 2006-12-21 2013-06-26 CompliTime S.A. Mechanical oscillator for timepiece
CH706020B1 (en) 2007-09-07 2013-07-31 Patek Philippe Sa Geneve Motor spring for watch movement barrel with increased running time.
EP2107433B1 (en) * 2008-04-02 2016-07-27 Manufacture et fabrique de montres et chronomètres, Ulysse Nardin Le Locle S.A. Method for assembling a part on an axle
CH700640B1 (en) 2009-03-19 2014-09-30 Mhvj Manufacture Horlogère Vallée De Joux Timepiece leaner and stronger.
CH700657B1 (en) * 2009-03-24 2014-10-15 Louis Vuitton Malletier Sa mysterious watch.
EP2233989A1 (en) * 2009-03-24 2010-09-29 Manufacture et fabrique de montres et chronomètres Ulysse Nardin Le Locle SA Hairspring and its index-assembly
CH701783B1 (en) 2009-09-07 2015-01-30 Manuf Et Fabrique De Montres Et Chronomètres Ulysse Nardin Le Locle S A spiral spring watch movement.
EP2363762B1 (en) * 2010-03-04 2017-11-22 Montres Breguet SA Timepiece including a high-frequency mechanical movement
RU2565835C2 (en) * 2011-07-21 2015-10-20 Те Свотч Груп Рисерч Энд Дивелопмент Лтд Functional micromechanical assembly
EP2549339A1 (en) * 2011-07-21 2013-01-23 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Functional micromechanical assembly
EP2581794A1 (en) * 2011-10-14 2013-04-17 The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. Functional micromechanical assembly
CH708926A3 (en) 2013-12-05 2015-07-31 Tgm Développement Sa C O Etude Tissot Diamond mechanical part and method of manufacturing a mechanical diamond part for watch movement.
CH708925A1 (en) 2013-12-05 2015-06-15 Tgm Développement Sa C O Etude Tissot diamond mechanical room to watch movement.
JP6206877B2 (en) * 2014-03-06 2017-10-04 セイコーインスツル株式会社 Escapement, watch movement and watch
JP6347439B2 (en) * 2014-03-06 2018-06-27 セイコーインスツル株式会社 Escapement, watch movement and watch

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FR2739494B1 (en) * 1995-09-29 1997-11-14 Suisse Electronique Microtech PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING MICROMECHANICS PARTS WITH A DIAMOND PART CONSISTING OF AT LEAST ONE TIP, AND MICROMECHANICAL PARTS WITH AT LEAST ONE DIAMOND TIP
CH691008A5 (en) * 1997-01-15 2001-03-30 Rado Montres Sa scratchproof watch crystal, transparent and watch case equipped with such a drink.
US6755566B2 (en) * 2001-02-15 2004-06-29 Konrad Damasko Clockwork

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Publication number Publication date
AU2003205503A8 (en) 2004-04-19
EP1543386A2 (en) 2005-06-22
WO2004029733A3 (en) 2004-07-08
AU2003205503A1 (en) 2004-04-19
WO2004029733A2 (en) 2004-04-08
ATE412205T1 (en) 2008-11-15
DE60324292D1 (en) 2008-12-04

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