EP2549339A1 - Functional micromechanical assembly - Google Patents
Functional micromechanical assembly Download PDFInfo
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- EP2549339A1 EP2549339A1 EP11005979A EP11005979A EP2549339A1 EP 2549339 A1 EP2549339 A1 EP 2549339A1 EP 11005979 A EP11005979 A EP 11005979A EP 11005979 A EP11005979 A EP 11005979A EP 2549339 A1 EP2549339 A1 EP 2549339A1
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- Prior art keywords
- layer
- assembly according
- contact surface
- functional assembly
- micromechanical functional
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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
- G04B31/004—Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor characterised by the material used
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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
- G04B1/00—Driving mechanisms
- G04B1/10—Driving mechanisms with mainspring
- G04B1/14—Mainsprings; Bridles therefor
- G04B1/145—Composition and manufacture of the springs
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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
- 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
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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
- G04B15/00—Escapements
- G04B15/14—Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a micromechanical functional assembly comprising a first part comprising a first layer defining a first contact surface intended to come into frictional contact with a second contact surface defined by a second layer, said second layer belonging either to said first piece, or at least a second micromechanical component constituting with said first part said assembly. It relates more particularly to a pair of micromechanical watchmaking parts cooperating mechanically with each other such as an escape wheel and pallets of anchor.
- the main object of the present invention is to provide a tribological solution for scrubbing micromechanical components without lubrication reliably and durably, especially in horological applications and which overcomes at least the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.
- the invention also aims to provide a functional assembly of micromechanics, in particular watchmaker, comprising moving elements with improved tribological characteristics that do not require post-processing steps such as polishing.
- the invention relates to a micromechanical functional assembly comprising at least a first part comprising a first layer defining a first contact surface intended to come into frictional contact with a second contact surface defined by a second layer, said second layer belonging to either to said first part or to at least one second micromechanical component constituting said assembly with said first part, the latter being characterized in that the first and second layers are each formed of at least 50% carbon. atoms of carbon, and in that they have at least at the level of the first and second contact surfaces orientations of crystalline planes surface different from each other.
- the first and second layers of the one or more micromechanical parts arranged in such a configuration have a greater resistance to wear. Furthermore, the energy losses due to friction between two contact surfaces of the layers are greatly reduced so that the micromechanical functional assembly thus has better tribological characteristics compared to pairs of antagonistic friction surfaces of the same structure.
- the phenomenon resulting from the friction of surfaces of identical structure commonly referred to by the English term "interlocking", is removed by the arrangement of the present invention.
- at least said first layer has at least at its contact surface a microcrystalline structure, and preferably said first and second layers have at least at their contact surface each a microcrystalline structure.
- the grain size of said first and / or second layers at least at their respective contact surface is greater than 200 nm and less than 10 micrometers.
- the crystalline planes of said first and / or second layers have, at least at their respective contact surface, respective orientations. different in predetermined directions, and for example involving the direction ⁇ 100 ⁇ or direction ⁇ 111 ⁇ .
- the crystalline planes of said first layer having an orientation in the ⁇ 100 ⁇ direction at least at the first contact surface and the crystalline planes of said second layer having an orientation in the ⁇ 111 ⁇ direction will be associated. at the level of the second contact surface.
- the average angle defined by the normals at the crystalline planes of the layers ⁇ 100 ⁇ and ⁇ 111 ⁇ at least at their respective contact surface is between 10 ° and 70 °, preferably between 40 ° and 40 ° C. 50 °, and more preferably 45 °.
- the first piece is made of solid mono or polycrystalline diamond.
- the average roughness (Rms) of one of the first or second contact surfaces is between 80 nm and 3 micrometers.
- the average roughness of the other of the first or second contact surface is smaller and preferably at least one and a half times smaller, typically between 50 nm and 2 micrometers.
- said first and / or second friction layer defining said first contact surface and / or said second contact surface covers a first and / or a second substrate to form said first and / or said second room covered with a.
- the first and / or second substrate may be of silicon or steel or ceramic, with or without an intermediate layer of chromium, titanium, nickel type, etc.
- the latter may be nitrided, carburized, oxidized or crude.
- the first and / or second part are made of solid mono or polycrystalline diamond thus directly defining the first and / or second contact surfaces. That said first and / or said second layer are deposited on a substrate or solid, the thickness of these layers is at least greater than 150 nm. For massive pieces, the thickness of the first layer can reach up to 1 mm. For parts with a substrate, the first and / or second deposited layer can be up to 50 microns thick.
- the functional micromechanical assembly of the present invention finds advantageous applications in the field of watchmaking.
- the first piece may be a pallet and the second piece an escape wheel or vice versa.
- the first piece may be an axis of a mobile and the second piece a bearing or vice versa.
- the first and second parts may be gear wheels.
- the contact surfaces of the parts in contact with friction do not undergo irreversible degradation of their tribological performance and have good stability. It is possible to provide an operation of a mobile watchmaking system, such as a Swiss lever escapement without lubrication of the pallet / escape wheel contact, with performances at least equivalent to the standard references.
- the friction layers (solid or on substrate) of the present invention are immediately effective, without having to modify by post-treatment the nature of the friction surfaces (for example by polishing, surface termination, etc.).
- it may be a cylinder spring formed of a blade, a front face of said blade forming said first contact surface, and the rear face of said blade forming said second contact surface.
- a part can come into frictional contact with two or more parts other parts. In this case, the friction surfaces of the parts coming into contact with each other will present orientations of the crystalline planes, different from each other according to the invention.
- the layers of the present invention are advantageously formed by hot filament CVD technology or by microwave technology.
- Diamond can also be massive, with or without growth.
- the orientations of the desired crystalline planes are obtained by varying in particular the proportions of reactive gases in the deposition chamber as well as the pressure and temperature parameters, as for example described in FIG. publication of Y. Avigal et al, "[100] - Textured diamond films for tribological applications” published by Elsevier in the journal Diamond and Related Materials, vol.
- the figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a pair of micromechanical parts 10 and 20 according to the invention.
- the first part 10 comprises a substrate 15 on which is deposited a diamond layer 11 having a contact surface 11a intended to come into contact with friction with a second contact surface defined by a second layer 21.
- the layer 11 is at the level of contact surfaces 11a have crystalline planes oriented in a predetermined direction, namely the ⁇ 111 ⁇ direction. At least at the contact surface 11a.
- layer 11 is microcrystalline, with grain sizes greater than 200 nm and roughness Rms greater than 80 nm.
- the micromechanical part 20 comprises a substrate 25 on which is deposited the diamond layer 21 having a contact surface 21a in opposed to the surface 11a of the micromechanical part10.
- the layers 11 and 21 thus form friction layers.
- the layer 21 At least at the level of the contact surface 21 at the layer 21 has its crystalline planes oriented in a predetermined direction namely the direction ⁇ 100 ⁇ . In practice these crystal planes are substantially inclined with respect to the friction direction F because of unavoidable growth defects specific to the conventional method for obtaining the layer 21.
- the layer 21 At least at the level of the contact surface 21a, the layer 21 is microcrystalline, and has grain sizes greater than 200 nm.
- the layers 11 and 21 therefore have different crystalline plane orientations and in this example, these two orientations are according to the directions ⁇ 100 ⁇ and ⁇ 111 ⁇ .
- the angle ⁇ which is the average angle formed by the normals N11 and N21 at the crystalline planes of the contact surfaces 11a and 21 a ⁇ is between 10 ° and 70 °, preferably between 40 ° and 50 ° and more preferably 45 °.
- the angle ⁇ moy corresponds to the average of the angular differences of crystalline orientations ⁇ of the two contact surfaces 11a and 21a. This angle is easily calculated by the skilled diamond because it is an important criterion in the control of the diamond deposition process.
- the figure 2 shows again the micromechanical part 20, considered in isolation, so as to illustrate the angle of "tilt” ⁇ .
- This angle is measured between the local normal to the surface 21a on the one hand and on the other hand to the normal NF to the theoretical friction plane PF (dashed in the figure) which is defined by the direction of friction F and a straight line G belonging to the theoretical surface defining the surface 21 a.
- the angle ⁇ is calculated with respect to the theoretical plane of friction PF. It represents the average of the angles ⁇ i between the normal N25 and the normal at the planes ⁇ 100> N21 at the figure 2 .
- the angle ⁇ moy is preferably less than 30 °, and more preferably less than 10 °.
- the layers 11 and 21 have a thickness of at least 150 nm and preferably about 2.5 micrometers in order to obtain homogeneous crystalline plane orientations.
- the layers 11 and 21 defining the surfaces 11a and 21a each comprise carbon having at least 50% carbon atoms.
- these layers can be formed of diamond, graphite DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) or a combination of these materials.
- the surfaces 11a and / or 21a are at least partially covered with a covering layer of a material other than that constituting the layers 11 and / or 21.
- These covering layers may for example be formed of a film of gold, nickel or titanium.
- These cover layers should preferably not have a thickness greater than 100 nm.
- the surface texture of the first and second contact surfaces advantageously has the orientations of the crystalline planes on the surface, different from each other according to the invention.
- the layers 11 and 21 of the micromechanical parts 10 and 20 are depositable on substrates made of all types of materials suitable for deposition of diamond layer, DLC (Diamond Like Carbon), or graphite.
- the substrates 15 and 25 may be chosen from the set of materials comprising ceramics, silicon, deoxidized silicon, oxidized silicon, nitrided silicon, silicon carbide and steels.
- the realization of the contact surfaces 11a and 21a of the invention can also be envisaged without using a substrate for one and / or the other of the micromechanical parts. Indeed the surfaces 11a and / or 21a can according to a variant of the invention be derived from monocrystalline or polycrystalline solid diamond.
- the figure 3 shows an example of application of the invention to the realization of a clock escapement in which an anchor 30 comprises a pallet 31 which cooperates with a tooth 40 of an escape wheel 41.
- the pallet 31 has a rest plane A and a pulse plane B which cooperate with the rest planes C and pulse D of the tooth 40.
- the resting planes A and B pulse have for example a contact surface conforming to the surface 11a and the planes C and D then have a contact surface conforming to the surface 21a respectively described in connection with the figure 1 and 2 .
- These planes A, B, C, D correspond to highly stressed areas and subject to high levels of friction and / or contact.
- the anchor 30 can come from material with the pallet 31.
- a barrel spring blade 50 has a front face 50a and a rear face 50b which respectively conform to the contact surfaces 11a and 21a described in connection with the Figures 1 and 2 .
- the micromechanical parts 10 and 11 consist of a mobile axis such as a pivot and a bearing such as a stone or a pair of gear wheel teeth, or any other pair of elements highly subject to intense mechanical tribological stress or not.
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Abstract
Description
La présente invention concerne un ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique comprenant une première pièce comprenant une première couche définissant une première surface de contact destinée à venir en contact de frottement avec une deuxième surface de contact définie par une deuxième couche ladite deuxième couche appartenant, soit à ladite première pièce, soit à au moins une deuxième pièce de micromécanique constituant avec ladite première pièce ledit ensemble. Elle concerne plus particulièrement un couple de pièces micromécaniques horlogères coopérant mécaniquement l'une avec l'autre telles qu'une roue d'échappement et des palettes d'ancre.The present invention relates to a micromechanical functional assembly comprising a first part comprising a first layer defining a first contact surface intended to come into frictional contact with a second contact surface defined by a second layer, said second layer belonging either to said first piece, or at least a second micromechanical component constituting with said first part said assembly. It relates more particularly to a pair of micromechanical watchmaking parts cooperating mechanically with each other such as an escape wheel and pallets of anchor.
Les récentes constructions de mouvements horlogers mécaniques avec un échappement silicium revêtu de diamant (palettes et roue d'échappement), et sans lubrification liquide volontaire du contact palette/roue d'échappement ne fonctionnent pas de manière satisfaisante. En effet le pouvoir réglant d'un tel échappement non lubrifié est inférieur à ceux des dispositifs d'échappement comprenant une lubrification conventionnelle. La demanderesse a constaté dans certains cas que l'échappement non lubrifié cessait de fonctionner après quelques heures suite à une dégradation irréversible des performances tribologiques des revêtements de l'échappement.Recent constructions of mechanical watch movements with a diamond coated silicon escapement (pallets and escape wheel), and without voluntary liquid lubrication of the pallet / escape wheel contact, do not work satisfactorily. Indeed, the regulating power of such an unlubricated exhaust is lower than those of exhaust devices comprising conventional lubrication. The Applicant has found in some cases that the unlubricated exhaust stopped working after a few hours following an irreversible degradation of the tribological performance of the exhaust liners.
La seule approche d'échappement revêtu de diamant non lubrifiée qui semble efficace consiste à polir préalablement les surfaces de frottement en diamant avant leur montage dans le mouvement horloger. Cela est toutefois laborieux et incompatible avec les exigences d'une fabrication industrielle avec un prix de revient acceptable.The only exhaust approach coated with non-lubricated diamond that seems effective is to polish the diamond friction surfaces before mounting them in the watch movement. However, this is laborious and incompatible with the requirements of an industrial manufacture with an acceptable cost price.
Dans les applications micromécaniques, la plupart des couches diamant utilisées sont de nature nanocristallines (taille de grains <50nm, Ra<50nm) car intuitivement, l'homme du métier croit que p!us les surfaces sont lisses, mieux elles frottent les unes sur les autres.In micromechanical applications, most of the diamond layers used are of a nanocrystalline nature (grain size <50 nm, Ra <50 nm) because, intuitively, the person skilled in the art believes that the surfaces are smooth, the better they rub on each other. others.
Le but principal de la présente invention est de fournir une solution tribologique permettant de faire frotter des composants micromécaniques sans lubrification de manière fiable et durable notamment dans des applications horlogères et qui pallie au moins les inconvénients de l'art antérieur mentionnés plus haut.The main object of the present invention is to provide a tribological solution for scrubbing micromechanical components without lubrication reliably and durably, especially in horological applications and which overcomes at least the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above.
L'invention a également pour objet de fournir un ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique, en particulier horloger, comportant des éléments mobiles avec des caractéristiques tribologiques améliorées qui ne nécessitent pas d'étapes de post traitement tel qu'un polissage.The invention also aims to provide a functional assembly of micromechanics, in particular watchmaker, comprising moving elements with improved tribological characteristics that do not require post-processing steps such as polishing.
A cet effet l'invention concerne un ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique comprenant au moins une première pièce comprenant une première couche définissant une première surface de contact destinée à venir en contact de frottement avec une deuxième surface de contact définie par une deuxième couche ladite deuxième couche appartenant, soit à ladite première pièce soit à au moins une deuxième pièce de micromécanique constituant avec ladite première pièce ledit ensemble, ce dernier étant caractérisé en ce que les première et deuxième couches sont formées chacune de carbone à hauteur d'au moins 50% d'atomes de carbone, et en ce qu'elles présentent au moins au niveau des première et deuxième surfaces de contact des orientations de plans cristallins en surface différentes l'une de l'autre.To this end, the invention relates to a micromechanical functional assembly comprising at least a first part comprising a first layer defining a first contact surface intended to come into frictional contact with a second contact surface defined by a second layer, said second layer belonging to either to said first part or to at least one second micromechanical component constituting said assembly with said first part, the latter being characterized in that the first and second layers are each formed of at least 50% carbon. atoms of carbon, and in that they have at least at the level of the first and second contact surfaces orientations of crystalline planes surface different from each other.
Grâce à un tel agencement, il est possible de faire fonctionner un couple de pièces micromécaniques, comme par exemple le couple palettes d'ancre/roue d'échappement d'un mouvement horloger sans lubrification. La demanderesse a constaté que les performances tribologiques d'un tel ensemble fonctionnel dans cette application sont aussi bonnes voire meilleures que celles des échappements de l'état de l'art avec lubrification liquide.With such an arrangement, it is possible to operate a pair of micromechanical parts, such as the pair pallets anchor / escape wheel of a watch movement without lubrication. The applicant has found that the tribological performance of such a functional assembly in this application is as good or better than that of the exhausts of the state of the art with liquid lubrication.
Les première et deuxième couches de la ou desdites pièces micromécaniques agencées selon une telle configuration présentent une plus grande résistance à l'usure. Par ailleurs, les pertes énergétiques dues aux frottements entre deux surfaces de contact des couches sont fortement réduites de sorte que l'ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique présente ainsi de meilleures caractéristiques tribologiques par rapport à des couples de surfaces de frottement antagonistes de même structure. Le phénomène résultant de la mise en frottement de surfaces de structure identique, couramment désigné par le terme anglais « interlocking », est supprimé par l'agencement de la présente invention. Selon un mode de réalisation avantageux de l'invention, au moins ladite première couche présente au moins au niveau de sa surface de contact une structure microcristalline, et de préférence lesdites première et deuxième couches présentent au moins au niveau de leur surface de contact chacune une structure microcristalline. Typiquement, la taille des grains desdites première et/ou deuxième couches au moins au niveau de leur surface de contact respective est supérieure à 200nm et inférieure à 10 micromètres.The first and second layers of the one or more micromechanical parts arranged in such a configuration have a greater resistance to wear. Furthermore, the energy losses due to friction between two contact surfaces of the layers are greatly reduced so that the micromechanical functional assembly thus has better tribological characteristics compared to pairs of antagonistic friction surfaces of the same structure. The phenomenon resulting from the friction of surfaces of identical structure, commonly referred to by the English term "interlocking", is removed by the arrangement of the present invention. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least said first layer has at least at its contact surface a microcrystalline structure, and preferably said first and second layers have at least at their contact surface each a microcrystalline structure. Typically, the grain size of said first and / or second layers at least at their respective contact surface is greater than 200 nm and less than 10 micrometers.
Selon une variante préférée de ce mode de réalisation, les plans cristallins desdites première et/ou deuxième couches présentent au moins au niveau de leur surface de contact respective chacune des orientations différentes selon des directions prédéterminées, et par exemple faisant intervenir la direction {100} ou la direction {111}.According to a preferred variant of this embodiment, the crystalline planes of said first and / or second layers have, at least at their respective contact surface, respective orientations. different in predetermined directions, and for example involving the direction {100} or direction {111}.
De préférence, on associera les plans cristallins de ladite première couche présentant une orientation selon la direction {100} au moins au niveau de la première surface de contact et les plans cristallins de ladite deuxième couche présentant une orientation selon la direction {111} au moins au niveau de la deuxième surface de contact.Preferably, the crystalline planes of said first layer having an orientation in the {100} direction at least at the first contact surface and the crystalline planes of said second layer having an orientation in the {111} direction will be associated. at the level of the second contact surface.
Selon une caractéristique avantageuse, l'angle moyen défini par les normales aux plans cristallins des couches {100} et {111} au moins au niveau de leur surface de contact respective est compris entre 10° et 70°, de préférence entre 40° et 50°, et plus préférentiellement de 45°.According to an advantageous characteristic, the average angle defined by the normals at the crystalline planes of the layers {100} and {111} at least at their respective contact surface is between 10 ° and 70 °, preferably between 40 ° and 40 ° C. 50 °, and more preferably 45 °.
Selon un mode de réalisation avantageux la première pièce est réalisée en diamant massif mono ou polycristallin.According to an advantageous embodiment, the first piece is made of solid mono or polycrystalline diamond.
De préférence, la rugosité moyenne (Rms) d'une des première ou deuxième surfaces de contact est comprise entre 80 nm et 3 micromètres. La rugosité moyenne de l'autre des première ou deuxième surface de contact est plus faible et de préférence au moins une fois et demi plus faible, typiquement comprise entre 50 nm et 2 micromètres.Preferably, the average roughness (Rms) of one of the first or second contact surfaces is between 80 nm and 3 micrometers. The average roughness of the other of the first or second contact surface is smaller and preferably at least one and a half times smaller, typically between 50 nm and 2 micrometers.
Selon une variante de réalisation de l'invention, ladite première et/ou deuxième couche de frottement définissant ladite première surface de contact et/ou ladite deuxième surface de contact recouvre un premier et/ou un deuxième substrat pour former ladite première et/ou ladite deuxième pièce recouvert d'une. Typiquement le premier et/ou le deuxième substrat peut être en silicium ou en acier ou en céramique, avec ou sans couche intermédiaire de type chrome, titane, nickel, etc.. Dans le cas d'un substrat en silicium, ce dernier peut être nitruré, carburé, oxydé ou brut.According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said first and / or second friction layer defining said first contact surface and / or said second contact surface covers a first and / or a second substrate to form said first and / or said second room covered with a. Typically the first and / or second substrate may be of silicon or steel or ceramic, with or without an intermediate layer of chromium, titanium, nickel type, etc. In the case of a silicon substrate, the latter may be nitrided, carburized, oxidized or crude.
Selon une autre variante, la première et/ou la deuxième pièce sont réalisées en diamant massif mono ou polycristallin définissant ainsi directement les première et/ou deuxième surfaces de contact. Que ladite première et/ou ladite deuxième couche soient déposées sur un substrat ou massive, l'épaisseur de ces couches est au moins supérieure à 150nm. Pour des pièces massives, l'épaisseur de la première couche peut atteindre jusqu'à 1 mm. Pour des pièces avec substrat, la première et/ou deuxième couche déposée peut atteindre jusqu'à 50 micromètres d'épaisseur.According to another variant, the first and / or second part are made of solid mono or polycrystalline diamond thus directly defining the first and / or second contact surfaces. That said first and / or said second layer are deposited on a substrate or solid, the thickness of these layers is at least greater than 150 nm. For massive pieces, the thickness of the first layer can reach up to 1 mm. For parts with a substrate, the first and / or second deposited layer can be up to 50 microns thick.
L'ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique de la présente invention trouve des applications avantageuses dans le domaine de l'horlogerie. En particulier, la première pièce peut être une palette et la deuxième pièce une roue d'échappement ou inversement. Dans une autre application horlogère, la première pièce peut être un axe d'un mobile et la deuxième pièce un palier ou inversement. Selon une autre application de ce domaine, les première et deuxième pièces peuvent être des dentures de roues d'engrenage. Dans un tel couple d'éléments, les surfaces de contact des pièces en contact de frottement ne subissent pas de dégradation irréversible de leurs performances tribologiques et présentent une bonne stabilité. Il est possible de prévoir un fonctionnement d'un système mobile horloger, tel qu'un échappement à ancre suisse sans lubrification du contact palette/roue d'échappement, avec des performances au moins équivalentes aux références standard. Les couches de frottement (massive ou sur substrat) de la présente invention, notamment de diamant, sont immédiatement performantes, sans avoir à modifier par post-traitement la nature des surfaces de frottement (par exemple par polissage, terminaison de surface, etc.). Dans une application horlogère n'impliquant qu'une seule pièce selon l'invention, celle-ci peut être un ressort de barillet formée d'une lame, une face avant de ladite lame formant ladite première surface de contact, et la face arrière de ladite lame formant ladite deuxième surface de contact. Il va de soi que dans des applications particulières l'ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique de l'invention, une pièce peut venir en contact de frottement avec deux ou plus pièce autre pièces. Dans ce cas, les surfaces de frottement des pièces venant en contact l'une avec l'autre présenteront des orientations des plans cristallins, différentes l'une de l'autre conformément à l'invention.The functional micromechanical assembly of the present invention finds advantageous applications in the field of watchmaking. In particular, the first piece may be a pallet and the second piece an escape wheel or vice versa. In another watch application, the first piece may be an axis of a mobile and the second piece a bearing or vice versa. According to another application of this field, the first and second parts may be gear wheels. In such a pair of elements, the contact surfaces of the parts in contact with friction do not undergo irreversible degradation of their tribological performance and have good stability. It is possible to provide an operation of a mobile watchmaking system, such as a Swiss lever escapement without lubrication of the pallet / escape wheel contact, with performances at least equivalent to the standard references. The friction layers (solid or on substrate) of the present invention, in particular diamond, are immediately effective, without having to modify by post-treatment the nature of the friction surfaces (for example by polishing, surface termination, etc.). . In a horological application involving only one part according to the invention, it may be a cylinder spring formed of a blade, a front face of said blade forming said first contact surface, and the rear face of said blade forming said second contact surface. It goes without saying that in particular applications the functional micromechanical assembly of the invention, a part can come into frictional contact with two or more parts other parts. In this case, the friction surfaces of the parts coming into contact with each other will present orientations of the crystalline planes, different from each other according to the invention.
Les couches de la présente invention sont avantageusement formées par la technologie CVD à filament chaud ou par la technologie micro-onde. Le diamant peut aussi être massif, issu ou non d'une croissance. Les orientations des plans cristallins souhaitées (par exemple {100} et {111}) sont obtenues en faisant notamment varier les proportions de gaz réactifs dans l'enceinte de dépôt ainsi que les paramètres de pressions et températures comme cela est par exemple décrit dans la publication de
D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique selon l'invention ressortiront également de la description détaillée suivante de modes de réalisation de cet ensemble, cette description étant effectuée à l'aide des dessins annexés, donnés à titre d'exemples nullement limitatifs et dans lesquels :
- la
figure 1 est une représentation schématique en vue agrandie d'un exemple de deux surfaces de contact de deux pièces micromécaniques formant un ensemble fonctionnel de micromécanique et présentant respectivement des orientations de plans cristallins {111} et {100} selon l'invention; - la
figure 2 est une représentation schématique en vue agrandie de la surface de contact d'une des pièces micromécaniques de lafigure 1 qui présente une orientation selon la direction {100} et illustrant l'angle de tilt de chacun des plans cristallins {100} ; - la
figure 3 est une vue partielle de coté d'une palette présentant un plan de repos A et un plan d'impulsion B coopérant avec les pians de repos C et d'impulsion D d'une roue d'échappement, les plans A et B définissant la première surface de contact et les plans C et D définissant la deuxième face de contact selon l'invention ; et - la
figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'une lame de ressort de barillet présentant une face avant et une face arrière définissant respectivement les première et deuxième surfaces de contact selon l'invention ;
- the
figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation in an enlarged view of an example of two contact surfaces of two micromechanical parts forming a micromechanical functional assembly and presenting respectively {111} and {100} crystalline plane orientations according to the invention; - the
figure 2 is a schematic representation in enlarged view of the contact surface of one of the micromechanical parts of thefigure 1 which has an orientation in the {100} direction and illustrates the tilt angle of each of the {100} crystal planes; - the
figure 3 is a partial side view of a pallet having a rest plane A and a pulse plane B cooperating with the rest P C and pulse D of an escape wheel, the planes A and B defining the first contact surface and the planes C and D defining the second contact face according to the invention; and - the
figure 4 is a top view of a leaf spring leaf having a front face and a rear face respectively defining the first and second contact surfaces according to the invention;
La
La pièce micromécanique 20 comporte un substrat 25 sur lequel est déposée la couche de diamant 21 présentant une surface de contact 21a en opposition à la surface 11a de la pièce micromécanique10. Les couches 11 et 21 forment ainsi des couches frottement.The
Au moins au niveau de la surface de contact 21 a la couche 21 présente ses plans cristallins orientés selon une direction prédéterminée à savoir la direction {100}. En pratique ces plans cristallins sont sensiblement inclinés par rapport à la direction de frottement F en raison de défauts de croissance inéluctables propres au procédé conventionnel d'obtention de la couche 21. Au moins au niveau de la surface de contact 21a, la couche 21 est microcristalline, et présente des tailles de grains supérieures à 200nm.At least at the level of the
Au moins au niveau des surfaces de contact 11a et 21 a destinées à venir en contact de frottement l'une avec l'autre les couches 11 et 21 présentent donc des orientations de plans cristallins différentes et dans cet exemple, ces deux orientations sont selon les directions {100} et {111}. En se référant à la
La
L'angle α est calculé par rapport au plan théorique de frottement PF. Il représente la moyenne des angles αi entre la normale N25 et la normale aux plans <100> N21 à la
Typiquement les couches 11 et 21 présentent une épaisseur d'au moins 150nm et de préférence d'environ 2,5 micromètres afin d'obtenir des orientations de plans cristallins homogènes.Typically, the
Pius généraiement les couches 11 et 21 définissant les surfaces 11 a et 21 a comportent chacune du carbone à hauteur d'au moins 50% d'atomes de carbone. Par exemple, ces couches peuvent être formées de diamant, de DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) de graphite ou d'une combinaison de ces matériauxGenerally, the
Selon une variante de réalisation non représentée les surfaces 11 a et/ou 21a sont recouvertes au moins partiellement d'une couche de couverture d'un autre matériau que celui constituant les couches 11 et/ou 21. Ces couches de couverture pourront par exemple être formées d'un film d'or, de nickel ou de titane. Ces couches de couverture ne devront de préférence pas présenter une épaisseur supérieure à 100nm. Dans ce cas, la texture superficielle des première et deuxième surfaces de contact présente avantageusement les orientations des plans cristallins en surface, différentes l'une de l'autre conforme à l'invention.According to an alternative embodiment not shown the
Les couches 11 et 21 des pièces micromécaniques 10 et 20 sont déposables sur des substrats réalisés en tous types de matériaux adaptés au dépôt de couche de diamant, de DLC (Diamond Like Carbon), ou de graphite. Par exemple les substrats 15 et 25 pourront être choisis parmi l'ensemble de matériaux comprenant les céramiques, le silicium, le silicium désoxydé, le silicium oxydé, silicium nitruré, le silicium carburé et les aciers.The
La réalisation des surfaces de contact 11a et 21 a de l'invention peut être également envisagée sans utiliser de substrat pour l'une et/ou l'autre des pièces micromécaniques. En effet les surfaces 11a et/ou 21a peuvent selon une variante de l'invention être issues de diamant massif monocristallin ou polycristallin.The realization of the contact surfaces 11a and 21a of the invention can also be envisaged without using a substrate for one and / or the other of the micromechanical parts. Indeed the
La
A la
Néanmoins, il est évident pour un homme du métier que l'invention peut être étendue à d'autres modes de réalisation non représentés dans lesquels par exemple, les pièces micromécaniques 10 et 11 sont constituées d'un axe de mobile tel qu'un pivot et d'un palier tel que une pierre ou d'un couple de dentures de roues d'engrenage, ou tout autre couple d'éléments fortement sujets à d'intenses sollicitations mécaniques de nature tribologique ou pas.Nevertheless, it is obvious to one skilled in the art that the invention can be extended to other embodiments not shown in which for example, the
Les signes de références dans les revendications n'ont aucun caractère limitatif. Les verbes "comprendre" et "comporter" n'excluent pas la présence d'autres éléments que ceux listés dans les revendications. Le mot "un" précédant un élément n'exclut pas la présence d'une pluralité de tels éléments.The reference signs in the claims are not limiting in nature. The verbs "understand" and "include" do not exclude the presence of elements other than those listed in the claims. The word "a" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.
Claims (23)
Priority Applications (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP11005979A EP2549339A1 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2011-07-21 | Functional micromechanical assembly |
CN201280036285.3A CN103765330B (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2012-07-17 | Functional micromechanical component |
RU2014106519/28A RU2565835C2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2012-07-17 | Functional micromechanical assembly |
EP12737539.2A EP2734897B1 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2012-07-17 | Functional micromechanical assembly |
PCT/EP2012/064017 WO2013011032A1 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2012-07-17 | Micromechanical functional assembly |
US14/233,303 US9958830B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2012-07-17 | Functional micromechanical assembly |
JP2014520643A JP5823038B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2012-07-17 | Functional micromachine assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP11005979A EP2549339A1 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2011-07-21 | Functional micromechanical assembly |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2549339A1 true EP2549339A1 (en) | 2013-01-23 |
Family
ID=45530781
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP11005979A Withdrawn EP2549339A1 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2011-07-21 | Functional micromechanical assembly |
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EP (1) | EP2549339A1 (en) |
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DE10062933A1 (en) * | 2000-12-16 | 2002-07-18 | Lothar Schmidt | Anchor escapement for a clock mechanism has a choice of material for anchor wheel teeth and anchor pallets of very different hardness that prevents wear without use of a lubricant |
WO2004029733A2 (en) * | 2002-09-25 | 2004-04-08 | Fore Eagle Co Ltd | Mechanical parts |
FR2920890A1 (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-13 | Patek Philippe Sa | ENGINE SPRING FOR WATCHMAKING MOVEMENT BARREL HAVING INCREASED MARKET PERIOD |
WO2009115519A1 (en) * | 2008-03-18 | 2009-09-24 | Complitime Sa | Pivot member |
CH699110A1 (en) * | 2008-07-10 | 2010-01-15 | Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd | Mechanical component i.e. escape wheel, fabricating method for timepiece, involves assembling attachment on component such that component is ready to be mounted without requiring to touch component, and liberating component from substrate |
CH702314B1 (en) * | 2007-02-16 | 2011-06-15 | Patek Philippe Sa Geneve | Bush for mechanical timepiece i.e. watch, has bearing provided with hole to receive pivot, where bush is formed of monocrystalline material, where faces of hole are plane and are situated for planes of monocrystalline material |
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2011
- 2011-07-21 EP EP11005979A patent/EP2549339A1/en not_active Withdrawn
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DE10062933A1 (en) * | 2000-12-16 | 2002-07-18 | Lothar Schmidt | Anchor escapement for a clock mechanism has a choice of material for anchor wheel teeth and anchor pallets of very different hardness that prevents wear without use of a lubricant |
WO2004029733A2 (en) * | 2002-09-25 | 2004-04-08 | Fore Eagle Co Ltd | Mechanical parts |
CH702314B1 (en) * | 2007-02-16 | 2011-06-15 | Patek Philippe Sa Geneve | Bush for mechanical timepiece i.e. watch, has bearing provided with hole to receive pivot, where bush is formed of monocrystalline material, where faces of hole are plane and are situated for planes of monocrystalline material |
FR2920890A1 (en) * | 2007-09-07 | 2009-03-13 | Patek Philippe Sa | ENGINE SPRING FOR WATCHMAKING MOVEMENT BARREL HAVING INCREASED MARKET PERIOD |
WO2009115519A1 (en) * | 2008-03-18 | 2009-09-24 | Complitime Sa | Pivot member |
CH699110A1 (en) * | 2008-07-10 | 2010-01-15 | Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd | Mechanical component i.e. escape wheel, fabricating method for timepiece, involves assembling attachment on component such that component is ready to be mounted without requiring to touch component, and liberating component from substrate |
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