EP2605085A1 - Stoßsicheres System aus Polymer für Uhren - Google Patents

Stoßsicheres System aus Polymer für Uhren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2605085A1
EP2605085A1 EP11193834.6A EP11193834A EP2605085A1 EP 2605085 A1 EP2605085 A1 EP 2605085A1 EP 11193834 A EP11193834 A EP 11193834A EP 2605085 A1 EP2605085 A1 EP 2605085A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pivot
pivot system
bearing according
timepiece
shock absorber
Prior art date
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP11193834.6A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Julien Moulin
Jean-Luc Helfer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
Original Assignee
ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse filed Critical ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
Priority to EP11193834.6A priority Critical patent/EP2605085A1/de
Priority to EP12818483.5A priority patent/EP2791742B1/de
Priority to PCT/EP2012/005138 priority patent/WO2013087201A1/fr
Publication of EP2605085A1 publication Critical patent/EP2605085A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • 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
    • G04B31/06—Manufacture or mounting processes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a shock absorbing bearing for an axis of a mobile of a timepiece.
  • the shaft comprises a beam, comprising a support, said support being provided with a housing adapted to receive a suspended pivot system in which the tigeron is inserted.
  • the technical field of the invention is the technical field of fine mechanics.
  • the present invention relates to bearings for timepieces, and more particularly to the type for damping shocks.
  • Mechanical watch manufacturers have long designed numerous devices for absorbing the energy resulting from a shock by the axis by abutting against a wall of the hole of the base block through which it passes, while allowing a displacement momentum of the tigeron before it is brought back to its position of rest under the action of a spring.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a device, called inverted double cone, which is currently used in timepieces on the market.
  • the kitten 20 is held in a housing 6 of the support 1 by a spring 10 which comprises in this example radial extensions 9 compressing the stone against pivot 5.
  • the housing 6 has two bearing surfaces 7, 7a in the form of inverted cones on which support complementary bearing surfaces 8, 8a of the kitten 20, said litters to be executed with very high accuracy.
  • the counter-pivoting stone 5 moves and the spring 10 acts alone to bring the balance shaft 3 back to its initial position.
  • the spring 10 is dimensioned to have a limit of displacement so that beyond this limit, the axis of the balance comes into contact with abutments allowing said axis to absorb the shock, which the tigerons of the axis does not can do under pain of breaking.
  • the spring 10 cooperates with the complementary inclined planes 7, 7a; 8, 8a to refocus the kitten 20.
  • Such bearings have, for example been sold under the brand Incabloc®.
  • the Incabloc® system springs can be made of phynox, CuBe, Durimphy or brass and are manufactured by traditional cutting methods.
  • Shock absorbing bearings are also known in which the spring, the pierced stone and the counter-pivot stone form a whole.
  • the advantage of these shock absorbing bearings is to be less expensive.
  • the document US 3,942,848 describes a shock-absorbing bearing comprising an annular body intended to be driven in a bridge or a plate.
  • a spring formed to define a conical housing is attached to the body.
  • This housing forms a truss inside which a conical pivot of the balance comes to engage.
  • the pivoting conditions are unfavorable, metal-to-metal pivoting generating significant friction.
  • a bearing of the type crapaudine according to this document US 3,942,848 cooperating with a conical pivot is poorly adapted for a timepiece of quality, the positioning of the balance being imprecise.
  • the fact of using a formed spring to define a conical housing has the disadvantage of having a radial clearance that depends on the game or axial displacement.
  • the conical shape of the spring makes it possible, in good time, to maintain the axis of the wheel. But when the springs deform, the spring moves axially and radially.
  • the conical shape of the spring implies that a radial displacement is also present. It can be seen that the greater the axial displacement, the greater the radial clearance. This shape of the recess is also damaging to the balance shaft in normal times.
  • the pendulum generally has a frost of 0.02 to 0.04 mm resulting in a slight axial displacement of the pendulum when the timepiece stirs when worn.
  • a conical recess then causes a significant radial displacement of the balance shaft when the timepiece is worn.
  • the invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing to provide a shockproof timepiece system that has characteristics of uniform stiffness, which allows a better positioning of the axis of the damped wheel and which is simple to achieve.
  • the invention relates to the shockproof timepiece system cited above which is characterized in that the pivot system is arranged to absorb, at least in part, the shocks suffered by the timepiece mobile and is formed of a part coated at least on the surface with a polymeric material.
  • a first advantage of the present invention is to have a pivot system which combines the suspension function and the pivot function in one piece whereas the systems according to the prior art dissociate these functions with respectively a spring for the suspension function and a set composed of a pierced stone and a stone against pivot for the pivot function. This particular arrangement thus makes it possible to obtain an anti-shock system that is less complex because it has fewer parts to assemble and is less expensive because it requires fewer parts to manufacture.
  • a second advantage is the use of a polymeric material. Indeed, this kind of material provides advantageous mechanical characteristics for both the pivot function and the suspension function.
  • the polymers have tribological properties such that their interaction with other polymers or with metals is facilitated. This therefore reduces the friction between a shaft carrying a metal wheel and the pivot means when said axis is rotated.
  • polymers also called plastics can be easily shaped by simple techniques such as molding, injection. These methods are simple and inexpensive and easily reproducible in series.
  • the pivot system is formed in one piece made of at least partially polymer material.
  • said pivot system is made of totally polymeric material.
  • the polymer is charged.
  • the polymer is chosen from the group comprising polyoxymethylene, polyamide, polyetheretherketone and polyphenylene sulphide.
  • said pivot system is a pellet comprising an annular portion (126a), a central portion (126b) and elastic arms (126d) connecting the central portion to the annular portion, the central portion comprising a recess (126c) so that the pivot which is engaged can rotate freely.
  • the pivot system comprises three resilient arms angularly offset by an angle of 120 °.
  • the recess consists of an opening having a first straight or rectangular portion followed by a trapezoidal portion.
  • An advantage of having a spring with a cylindrical hole in which the pin is inserted is to allow the radial clearance to be independent of the backlash. Thus during an axial displacement, the radial clearance is not changed.
  • This cylindrical hole makes it possible to have a value of total friction almost constant according to the inclination of the watch.
  • the present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of providing a shock absorbing system having a greater reliability and providing better positioning using a polymeric material.
  • the damping bearing 100 is represented at figure 3 , which illustrates a part of a timepiece provided with bearings according to the invention.
  • the damping bearing 100 represented at figure 3 comprises a frame comprising a support 103 in which a lower bearing 101 and an upper bearing 102 are mounted. These bearings 101, 102 are mounted in holes in said support 103.
  • a wheel 105 which may be a rocker, is pivotally mounted in the bearings. This wheel 105 comprises an axis 120 provided at its two ends with tigers 121 carrying pivots 122.
  • the upper bearing 102 comprises an annular piece 127 in the form of a disc having a peripheral wall 128.
  • This annular piece also comprises a flange 129 located on the surface of the disc and contiguous to the wall.
  • This annular piece 127 is pierced with a central hole 130.
  • the bearing 102 further comprises a pivoting means 126 disposed in the housing formed by the peripheral wall 128 and the flange 129.
  • the pivoting means 126 ' is placed on the flange 129 at its periphery so as to be suspended.
  • This pivoting means 126 is fixed to the annular piece 127 by driving, gluing, snapping or held by a ring.
  • pivoting means 126 ', 126' are therefore in contact with the support 101 at the level of the fixing with it.
  • the fact of being suspended allows the pivot means 126 'to be able to refocus perfectly following a displacement due to a shock.
  • the lower bearing 101 is identical in design to the upper bearing 102, that is to say that it comprises an annular piece 124 in the form of a disk having a peripheral wall. This The annular piece also includes a flange located on the surface of the disc and contiguous to the wall. This annular piece 124 is pierced with a central hole 125.
  • the bearing 102 further comprises a pivoting means 126 disposed in the housing formed by the peripheral wall and the flange in a suspended manner. This pivoting means 126 is fixed to the annular piece 124 by driving, gluing, snapping or held by a ring.
  • the dimensions of the lower bearing 101 will be smaller than those of the upper bearing 102 to show that the size of the bearing is easily adjustable and can be reduced.
  • the dimensions of the upper bearing 102 and the lower bearing 101 may be identical.
  • the lower level 101 or higher 102 can be arranged so that the pivoting means 126, 126 'is directly fixed in the support 103 by driving or gluing or welding.
  • Said bearing 101, 102 may comprise a part 200 in the form of a ring which serves to maintain the pivoting means 126, 126 'and a piece 201 in the form of a disk having a peripheral rim 202 and pierced at its center with a hole 125.
  • This piece 201 in the form of a pierced disc is used to serve as a stop and its flange 202 is used to ensure a suspended system.
  • the pivoting means 126, 126 ' is thus held radially by the walls of the hole made in the support 103 and axially by the annular piece 200 and the pierced disk-shaped part 201.
  • the pivoting means 126, 126 ', visible at the figure 4 are in the form of a pellet comprising a full annular portion 126a, a central portion 126b provided with a non-through cylindrical recess 126c and elastic arms 126d.
  • the non-through cylindrical recess 126c has a diameter chosen so that the pivot 122 which is engaged therein can rotate freely with a minimum of play.
  • arm 126d are substantially spirally wound so that they connect the central portion 126b to the annular portion 126a.
  • the pivoting means 126, 126 'of the upper bearing 102 are mounted in the annular part 127 of said upper bearing 102.
  • the pivoting means 126, 126' of the lower bearing 103 are mounted in the hole of the support 103.
  • the wheel is then pivotally mounted by being engaged at its pivots 122 in the non-through cylindrical recesses 126c of the pivoting means 126, 126 'and at its tigger 121 in the holes of the support 103.
  • the wheel 105 In the event of an axial impact, the wheel 105 is subjected to a force that is proportional to the acceleration undergone. This force is transmitted to the bearings by means of the pivots 122. The effect of this force and to deform the elastic arms 126d of the pivoting means 126, 126 'until the axis 120 of the wheel comes to bear , through its tigger 121, against the wall of the holes. In this case, the wheel is then stopped by the axis 120 which abuts on the support 127, 124 serving as a stop. Since the dimensions of the axis 120 are much larger than those of the pivots 122, the energy produced during the impact against the stop is thus transmitted to the axis 120 so as not to damage the pivots 122.
  • the resilient arms are dimensioned so that the tigels 121 come into contact with the annular pieces as soon as an acceleration of about 500g is reached.
  • the pivoting means 126, 126 ' are formed by three curved arms 126d whose attachment points, respectively to the annular portion 126a and the central portion 126b, are angularly offset by 120 degrees. It is obvious that the function elastic could be provided with a different number of arms, or with other forms.
  • the pivoting means 126 comprise a conical recess so that the end of the tigeron can be inserted therein to have a difference in amplitude between the different positions of the watch minimized.
  • This conical recess known from the patent EP 2 142 965 consists of an opening having a first straight or rectangular portion followed by a trapezoidal portion. The rounded tip of the pivot is dimensioned so that its rounded surface can bear against the inclined edge of the trapezoidal profile portion.
  • the pivoting means 126, 126 ' are made of polymers.
  • the polymers used may be polyoxymethylene or POM, polyamide or PA, polyphenylene sulphide or phenyl polysulfide PPS or polyetheretherketone or PEEK or any other polymer that may or may not be loaded.
  • the pivot function it requires a material that supports the friction caused by the rotation of the axis carrying the wheel on said pivot.
  • the material constituting the pivoting means 126, 126 'must cause the least possible friction.
  • the tribological properties of the polymers make it possible to have polymer - polymer and polymer - metal interactions that minimize friction. This facilitates the rotation of the axle carrying the wheel by creating less friction between said axis and the pivoting means. This leads to a decrease in the losses associated with these rubs and therefore more efficient means of pivoting. And, moreover, these friction properties make it possible to envisage dispensing with the lubricant added to improve the interactions between the different parts. Indeed, the fact of using a charged polymer makes it possible to charge said polymer with a lubricant such as oil or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
  • a lubricant such as oil or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
  • the use of the polymers to ensure the suspension function of said anti-shock system is made possible by the combination of a low elastic modulus (from 0.5 to 40 GPa instead of 440 Gpa for ruby or 329GPa for molybdenum or 114 GPa for titanium) and a capacity to withstand strong deformations.
  • the value of the elastic modulus can be compensated by arms of larger dimensions allowing the pivot means 126 to be very resistant to deformation and thus to withstand high stresses due to accelerations of about 500 g.
  • the polymers have the advantage of being able to be shaped using simple methods.
  • One technique used is, for example, injection molding.
  • this material is fed to the front of the plasticizing screw thus providing a supply of material ready to be injected (this is called the dosing phase).
  • the dynamic injection phase can begin.
  • the material present at the front of the plasticizing screw is injected under high pressure inside a mold (or cavity) having the shape of the desired part.
  • This mold can be composed of two matrices assembled to one another.
  • the mold is regulated at a temperature below the transformation temperature (ranging from 15 ° C to 130 ° C in some cases).
  • This step is the one where one applies a constant pressure during a determined time in order to continue to feed the prints even though they are filled. This makes it possible to overcome the shrinkage of the material during its cooling. The room is cooled for a few seconds and then ejected.
  • pivoting means 126, 126 'are in the form of a part such as a pellet made of a material such as metal or ruby or a ceramic or in a denser or harder polymer.
  • This pellet is coated, at least on the surface, by overmoulding of a polymer coating as visible in FIG. figure 6 .
  • Pivoting means 126, 126 'are thus obtained comprising a core in a material which improves the pivot function and polymer spring arms 126d in order to utilize the properties of the polymers for the suspension function.
  • the pivoting means 126, 126 consist of two elements: the pellet made of a material such as metal or ruby or a ceramic or polymer denser or harder and a coating that covers at least partially said pellet.
  • This coating comprises the elastic arms 126d. It is then possible that the manufacturing is carried out by overmolding the coating on the pellet or by producing the coating separately and then assemble said coating and said pellet.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Sliding-Contact Bearings (AREA)
EP11193834.6A 2011-12-15 2011-12-15 Stoßsicheres System aus Polymer für Uhren Withdrawn EP2605085A1 (de)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11193834.6A EP2605085A1 (de) 2011-12-15 2011-12-15 Stoßsicheres System aus Polymer für Uhren
EP12818483.5A EP2791742B1 (de) 2011-12-15 2012-12-13 Stosssicheres system aus polymer für uhren
PCT/EP2012/005138 WO2013087201A1 (fr) 2011-12-15 2012-12-13 Systeme antichoc de piece d'horlogerie en polymere

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11193834.6A EP2605085A1 (de) 2011-12-15 2011-12-15 Stoßsicheres System aus Polymer für Uhren

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2605085A1 true EP2605085A1 (de) 2013-06-19

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11193834.6A Withdrawn EP2605085A1 (de) 2011-12-15 2011-12-15 Stoßsicheres System aus Polymer für Uhren
EP12818483.5A Active EP2791742B1 (de) 2011-12-15 2012-12-13 Stosssicheres system aus polymer für uhren

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12818483.5A Active EP2791742B1 (de) 2011-12-15 2012-12-13 Stosssicheres system aus polymer für uhren

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EP (2) EP2605085A1 (de)
WO (1) WO2013087201A1 (de)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1063131A (en) * 1963-05-10 1967-03-30 Philips Nv Improvements in or relating to method of manufacturing bearings and to bearings madeby such methods
US3758178A (en) * 1972-02-23 1973-09-11 Pareohoc S A Shock absorbing bearing for timepiece and small apparatus
FR2279140A1 (fr) * 1973-12-18 1976-02-13 Epsilon Sarl Palier amortisseur de chocs
US3942848A (en) 1973-04-06 1976-03-09 Seitz S.A. Shock absorbing pivot bearing for rotary watch parts
FR2363727A1 (fr) * 1976-09-06 1978-03-31 Cattin Sa Ets Perfectionnements aux paliers amortisseurs de chocs pour axes ou pivots
EP1696286A1 (de) * 2005-02-23 2006-08-30 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Stoßdämpfende Uhrenlagerung
EP2142965A2 (de) 2007-04-26 2010-01-13 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Schwenkeinrichtung für einen dorn in einer uhr

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1063131A (en) * 1963-05-10 1967-03-30 Philips Nv Improvements in or relating to method of manufacturing bearings and to bearings madeby such methods
US3758178A (en) * 1972-02-23 1973-09-11 Pareohoc S A Shock absorbing bearing for timepiece and small apparatus
US3942848A (en) 1973-04-06 1976-03-09 Seitz S.A. Shock absorbing pivot bearing for rotary watch parts
FR2279140A1 (fr) * 1973-12-18 1976-02-13 Epsilon Sarl Palier amortisseur de chocs
FR2363727A1 (fr) * 1976-09-06 1978-03-31 Cattin Sa Ets Perfectionnements aux paliers amortisseurs de chocs pour axes ou pivots
EP1696286A1 (de) * 2005-02-23 2006-08-30 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Stoßdämpfende Uhrenlagerung
EP2142965A2 (de) 2007-04-26 2010-01-13 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Schwenkeinrichtung für einen dorn in einer uhr

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2791742B1 (de) 2017-04-26
WO2013087201A1 (fr) 2013-06-20
EP2791742A1 (de) 2014-10-22

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