Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
  • G04B13/00—Gearwork
  • G04B13/02—Wheels; Pinions; Spindles; Pivots
  • G04B13/021—Wheels; Pinions; Spindles; Pivots elastic fitting with a spindle, axis or shaft
  • G04B13/022—Wheels; Pinions; Spindles; Pivots elastic fitting with a spindle, axis or shaft with parts made of hard material, e.g. silicon, diamond, sapphire, quartz and the like

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a frame and a wheel pivotally mounted on said frame by means of at least one pivot member which comprises a bearing and a pivot engaged in said bearing, the bearing and the pivot having at least their contact surfaces made of at least one material having inherently a low coefficient of friction and a low wear rate, the wheel having at least one board provided with a first hole.
• the term "wheel” is to be taken broadly.
• the pivoting member could also be applied to other moving parts of the timepiece, such as the anchor of the exhaust.
• a wheel pivotally mounted on a frame comprises a shaft provided at both ends of pivots, each engaged in a bearing.
• Pivoting members formed of a bearing and a pivot are traditionally used to ensure axial and radial positioning of rotating parts present in watch movements.
• the pivot is generally made of steel and the bearing is for example made of brass, bronze or ruby, the pairs of materials being chosen so that the friction torque between the bearing and the pivot is the weaker and as constant as possible.
• pivot members made from these pairs of materials do not always give complete satisfaction with regard to the value of the friction torque and the resulting wear. They require the addition of a lubricant interposed between the bearing and the pivot, which tends to deteriorate over time.
• An object of the present invention is to use, in a timepiece, pivoting members whose contact surfaces are made of materials inherently having a low coefficient of friction and a low wear rate, that is to say not requiring such an addition of lubricant. This is particularly the case of bearings and pivots whose contact surfaces are made of diamond, in another material, or a mixture of materials whose coefficient of friction is less than 0.10. Unfortunately, such parts are extremely difficult to manufacture according to the usual machining techniques. They can be obtained for example by the process described in patent EP 1 622 826.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece whose elements made of materials inherently having very low coefficients of friction and a low wear rate, that is to say not requiring no addition of lubricant, can be easily assembled. Disclosure of the invention
• a timepiece comprising a frame and a wheel pivotally mounted on said frame by means of at least one pivoting member which comprises a bearing and a pivot engaged in said bearing, the bearing and the pivot having at least their contact surfaces made of at least one material having intrinsically a low coefficient of friction and a low wear rate, that is to say not requiring any addition of lubricant, the wheel comprising at least one board provided with a first hole.
• said pivoting member comprises a first plate provided with a second hole and forming the bearing, and a second plate provided with a tigeron engaged in said first and second holes, and forming said pivot, said first and second plates being made integral with one of the wheel, the other of the frame.
• the second plate for forming the pivot may comprise a plane element from which a cylindrical element forming the tigeron protrudes, the two elements being in one piece, or a plane element and a cylindrical element. , forming the tigeron, separated.
• the second plate may comprise, on the opposite side to the tigeron, a rod secured to said second plate and the frame. Said rod can be mounted through in said second plate and in said tigeron.
• the board provided with the first hole and the first plate, provided with the second hole may be merged, said first and second holes then being merged.
• said second plate provided with a pivot forming the pivot said second plate is always distinct from the wheel plate, provided with the first hole, so that the pivot is never integrated with said wheel.
• the wheel may comprise two planks provided with a first hole and made integral in rotation, each board being respectively pivotally mounted in the frame by means of said pivot member.
• said boards may comprise around their respective first hole, a metal ring.
• said boards may respectively comprise complementary assembly means, such as lugs, arranged to cooperate together and rotate said boards.
• the rod provided on the second plate of the pivot members can be mounted through in the second plate and in the shank of the pivot member of each plate of the wheel.
• the material having intrinsically a low coefficient of friction and a low wear rate, constituting at least the contact surfaces of the bearing and the pivot, is diamond.
• Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention and a perspective view of the wheel
• Figure 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another variant of the invention
• FIG. 5 is a detail view showing in section the pivot plate and the rod, according to the variant of FIG. 4,
• FIG. a perspective view of the wheel used in the variant of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pivot plate used in the variant of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another variant of the invention;
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view. of a rod used in the variant of Figure 8, and
• Figure 10 is a sectional view of another variant of the invention.
• a material having intrinsically a low coefficient of friction and a low wear rate is defined as any material which provides its own lubrication without the aid of an external lubricant.
• this coefficient of friction is less than or equal to 0.1.
• such a material must be hard enough to have a very low wear rate.
• said material has a hardness greater than or equal to 9 on the Mohs scale.
• said material is diamond. Any other material having a coefficient of friction and a wear rate equivalent to those of diamond can be used. Similarly, it is possible to use the diamond with another material, or any other mixture of materials having a coefficient of friction and a wear rate equivalent to those of diamond alone.
• at least the contact surfaces between the different elements of the timepiece, with the exception of the frame, are made of at least one material having intrinsically a low coefficient of friction and a low rate. wear.
• the elements may also be integrally made of at least one material that inherently has a low coefficient of friction and a low wear rate.
• the frame or only its surface can be made of at least one material having intrinsically a low coefficient of friction and a low wear rate, or any other material.
• a first variant of a timepiece comprising a metal frame consisting of a bridge 1a and a plate 1b, and a wheel having a first plate 2a provided with a toothing and a hole 3a, and a second board 2b provided with a toothing and a hole 3b.
• the boards 2a, 2b are made of diamond, for example by CVD.
• each bearing is formed by a first plate 6a, 6b provided with a hole 8a, 8b, made of diamond, and secured to the bridge 1a and the plate 1b respectively, by driving or by gluing in a corresponding cutout provided on the bridge 1a and the plate 1b.
• the plates 6a, 6b are arranged so that their holes 8a, 8b are placed opposite the holes 3a, 3b of the boards 2a, 2b.
• the bridge or the diamond plate comprising a hole for receiving the tigeron of the second plate, forming a pivot, the first plate provided with the hole and forming the bearing then integral part of said frame.
• Each pivot is formed by means of a second plate 7a, 7b comprising a plane element from which a cylindrical element protrudes, perpendicular to the plane element and forming a tigeron 9a, 9b, so that there is a flange annular peripheral 10a, 10b, against which is positioned axially the board 2a, 2b respectively, for holding the plates 7a, 7b between the two boards 2a and 2b, and to make the second plates 7a, 7b respectively integral with the boards 2a, 2b .
• the plate 7a, 7b is made of diamond.
• the tigeron 9a, 9b is engaged respectively in the hole 3a, 3b of the board 2a, 2b and in the hole 8a, 8b of the first plate 6a, 6b.
• the diameter of the shank 9a, 9b is smaller than that of the hole 8a, 8b of the plate 6a, 6b and the hole 3a, 3b of the board 2a, 2b, respectively.
• the boards 2a and 2b respectively comprise two lugs 12a, 12b in the form of two angular sectors projecting from said board.
• the two lugs 12a, respectively 12b are arranged facing each other concentrically to the hole 3a, respectively 3b.
• the lugs 12a and 12b are arranged in a complementary manner to cooperate in pairs and make the boards 2a and 2b integral in rotation.
• the cumulative thickness of the two flanges 10a and 10b is substantially equal to the height of the lugs 12a or
• the timepiece comprises a metal frame consisting of a bridge 1a and a plate 1b, and a wheel having a first board 2a provided with a toothing and a hole 3a, and a second board 2b provided with 'a toothing and a hole 3b.
• each hole 3a, 3b is bordered by a flange 14a, 14b respectively, projecting towards the bridge 1a and the plate 1b respectively.
• the boards 2a, 2b and their flanges 14a, 14b are made of diamond, for example by CVD.
• the wheel is pivotally mounted on the bridge 1a and the plate 1b by means of two pivot members which each respectively comprise a bearing and a pivot engaged in their respective bearing.
• the plate provided with a hole forming the bearing of the first pivot member is coincident with the board 2a provided with the hole 3a and the flange 14a, said plate then being secured to the wheel.
• the plate provided with a hole forming the bearing of the other pivot member is coincident with the board 2b provided with the hole 3b and the flange 14b.
• Each pivot is formed by means of a second plate 16a, 16b comprising a planar member from which protrudes a cylindrical element perpendicular to the plane element and forming a tigeron 17a, 17b.
• the second plate is never confused with the wheel board, so that the pivot belongs to a separate part of the wheel.
• the bridge 1a and the plate 1b respectively comprise a housing 18a, 18b, in which is housed the plane element of the plate 16a, 16b, and a cut 19a, 19b of smaller dimensions, for the passage of the tigeron 17a, 17b, so that there is an annular peripheral rim 20a, 20b, in which the flange 14a, 14b of the board
• the plate 16a, 16b is diamond and is secured to the bridge 1a and platinum 1b respectively by driving or gluing.
• the tigeron 17a, 17b is engaged respectively in the hole 3a, 3b of the board 2a, 2b, so that the flange 14a, 14b engages in the annular peripheral rim 20a, 20b.
• the diameter of the tigeron 17a, 17b is smaller than that of the hole 3a, 3b of the board
• the boards 2a, 2b are made integral in rotation by means of metal rings 21a, 21b provided on the periphery of the holes 3a and 3b respectively, and welded to one another by laser.
• the timepiece comprises a metal frame consisting of a bridge 1a and a plate 1b, and a wheel comprising a first plate 2a provided with a toothing and a hole 3a, and a second board 2b provided with a toothing and a hole 3b.
• the boards 2a, 2b are made of diamond, for example by CVD.
• the wheel is pivotally mounted on the bridge 1a and the plate 1b by means of two pivoting members which each respectively comprise a bearing and a pivot engaged in their respective bearing.
• the plate provided with a hole forming the bearing of the first pivot member is coincident with the board 2a provided with the hole 3a, said plate then being secured to the wheel.
• the plate provided with a hole forming the bearing of the other pivot member is coincident with the board 2b provided with the hole 3b.
• Each pivot is formed by means of a second plate 25a, 25b comprising a plane element from which protrudes a cylindrical element perpendicular to the plane element and forming a tigeron 26a, 26b, so that there is a annular peripheral rim 27a, 27b, in which the board 2a, 2b circulates respectively.
• a rod 28 mounted through in the second plates 25a and 25b and in the rods 26a and 26b, the rod 28 opening from each plate 25a, 25b on the side opposite the tigeron 26a, 26b for housing in a corresponding housing provided on the bridge 1a and platinum 1b respectively.
• the rod 28 is secured to the plate 1b by driving or gluing one of its ends in the plate 1b, the other end of the rod 28 being free engaged in the bridge 1a, thus allowing the disassembly of the 'together. It is obvious that the rod 28 may be, conversely, driven into the bridge, and left free in the plate. As shown in FIGS.
• the second plates 25a, 25b and the tigels 26a, 26b have a central orifice 29 of circular shape with two flats, the rod 28 having a cylindrical section with two flats, of complementary shape. at the central orifice 29, so as to maintain angularly the plates 25a, 25b relative to the rod 28, and thus make them integral with said rod 28, and therefore the bridge 1a and the plate 1b.
• the plate 25a, 25b is made of diamond.
• the rod 28 is made of a material capable of having a plastic deformation to allow slide and drive the plates 25a, 25b on the rod 28.
• the rod 28 is made for example of steel.
• the tigeron 26a, 26b is engaged respectively in the hole 3a, 3b of the board 2a, 2b, so that the board 2a, 2b engages in the annular peripheral flange 27a, 27b respectively .
• the diameter of the shank 26a, 26b is smaller than that of the hole 3a, 3b of the board 2a, 2b, respectively.
• the board 2a has two lugs 30 in the form of two angular sectors projecting from said board, and arranged facing each other concentrically to the hole 3a.
• the hole 3b of the board 2b has two notches 31, of complementary shape to that of the lugs 30, and arranged facing each other concentrically to the hole 3b.
• the lugs 30 are engaged in the notches 31 to rotate together the boards 2a and 2b.
• the boards 2a and 2b can be made integral in rotation by replacing the notches 31 by two complementary lugs pins 30, such as those shown in Figure 2.
• the lugs can also be replaced by metal rings as used for the variant of FIG. 3.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 there is another variant of the invention, similar to the variant shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the common elements being represented with the same references.
• a rod 35a is mounted through in the second plate 25a and 26 in the shank, the rod 35a opening on the side opposite the tigger 26a to be housed in a corresponding housing provided on the bridge
• the rod 35a is secured to the bridge 1a by driving or sticking its end in the bridge 1a.
• a rod 35b is mounted therethrough in the second plate 25b and in the rod 26b, the rod 35b opening on the opposite side to the rod 26b to be housed in a corresponding housing provided on the plate 1b.
• the rod 35b is secured to the plate 1b by driving or sticking its end in said plate 1b.
• the plate 25a, 25b to form the pivot is the same as that shown in Figure 7.
• each rod 35a, 35b has a cylindrical section with two plates, complementary shape to the orifice central 29 of the plate 25a, 25b, so as to make said plate 25a, 25b secured to the rod 35a, 35b respectively, and therefore the bridge 1a and the plate 1b respectively.
• each rod 35a, 35b carries a flat base 36a, 36b perpendicular to said rod 35a, 35b, of dimensions substantially equal to that of the rod 26a, 26b.
• the rod 35a, 35b is engaged in the orifice 29 of the plate 25a, 25b so that the rod 26a, 26 is in contact with the base 36a, 36b of the rod 35a, 35b respectively, so as to improve the maintenance of the plate 25a, 25b respectively.
• each pivot is formed by means of a second plate 40a, 40b comprising a plane element and a separate cylindrical element, perpendicular to the plane element and forming a taper 41a, 41b respectively engaged in the hole 3a, 3b of the board 2a, 2b forming the bearing.
• a rod 28 mounted through in the second plates 40a and 40b and in the tibers 41a and 41b, the rod 28 opening from each plate 40a, 40b of the side opposite the shank 41a, 41b to be housed in a corresponding housing provided on the bridge 1a and the plate 1b respectively.
• the second plates 40a, 40b and the spurs 41a, 41b have a central orifice of circular shape with two flats, the rod 28 having a cylindrical section with two flats, of complementary shape to the central orifice, so as to maintain angularly the plates 40a, 40b with respect to the rod
• the diamond has a particularly low coefficient of friction, so that it is not even necessary to lubricate. It is thus possible to ensure the pivoting of a wheel or other pivotally mounted piece with diamond-to-diamond friction, using parts easily fabricated by CVD.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
• Sliding-Contact Bearings (AREA)
• Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 2008
  • 2008-12-24 CH CH02020/08A patent/CH700154B1/fr unknown
• 2009
  • 2009-12-16 CN CN2009801518960A patent/CN102257442A/zh active Pending
  • 2009-12-16 EP EP09775200A patent/EP2370864A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-12-16 WO PCT/EP2009/067261 patent/WO2010072629A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-12-16 JP JP2011542771A patent/JP2012514191A/ja active Pending
  • 2009-12-16 US US13/141,876 patent/US8568020B2/en active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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