Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
  • G04C5/00—Electric or magnetic means for converting oscillatory to rotary motion in time-pieces, i.e. electric or magnetic escapements
  • G04C5/005—Magnetic or electromagnetic means
• • 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
  • G04B15/06—Free escapements
  • G04B15/08—Lever escapements
• • 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
• • 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
  • G04B17/045—Oscillators acting by spring tension with oscillating blade springs

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a tuning fork mechanical resonator mechanical free escapement, comprising a tuning fork type oscillator, at least a first oscillating branch is intended to oscillate on either side of a first axis and carries at least one first peg associated with at least one first fork tine of an anchor, for pivoting the anchor between first and second angular positions and alternately lock and release an escape wheel.
• such a mechanism allows, in connection with a mechanical energy source, to maintain the oscillations of the oscillator is the tuning fork and thus define a resonator.
• the high quality factor of an oscillator as a tuning fork makes it attractive in the context of a watch application.
• the present invention also relates to a watch movement provided with such a resonator and a timepiece, particularly but not exclusively of the wristwatch type, provided with such a watch movement.
• patent FR 73414 A issued in the name of Louis-Institut-Clis Breguet on the basis of a request filed in 1866, describes a pendulum whose mechanical oscillator is a tuning fork.
• a first branch of this tuning fork carries an anchor having two arms arranged to cooperate with an escape wheel, to alternately lock and release the latter.
• the anchor does not rotate on the frame of the watch movement, as is usually the case, but has the same oscillating movement as the end of the branch of the tuning fork that carries it.
• the escapement designed is not free type, since, on the one hand, the anchor has a permanent contact with the escape wheel and, on the other hand, the anchor ensures the attachment of the anchor on the branch of the tuning fork and therefore never leave the anchor.
• Such an exhaust therefore has the corresponding disadvantages, namely greater wear and chronometric disruption than a free exhaust.
• Max Hetzel is at the origin of a large number of patented inventions, relating to the implementation of a tuning fork as oscillator, which led to the p ro
• the Accutron (trademark) wristband sold by Bulova Swiss SA sold by Bulova Swiss SA.
• the Accutron watch however includes an electronic resonator since each branch of the corresponding tuning fork carries a permanent magnet associated with an electromagnet mounted fixed on the frame of the watch.
• the operation of each electromagnet is controlled by the vibrations of the tuning fork, by means of the magnets which it carries, in such a way that the vibrations of the tuning fork are maintained by the transmission of periodic magnetic pulses from the electromagnets to the permanent magnets.
• One of the branches of the tuning fork actuates a pawl for rotating the mobile wheels of the finishing gear of the watch. This construction does not lend itself to the use of the ratchet to ensure the maintenance oscillations of the tuning fork.
• Patent CH 594201 from a deposit dating from 1972, describes a dual oscillator resonator system.
• the frequency stability of the oscillations of a tuning fork is exploited, by magnetic interaction, to stabilize the oscillations of a balance of conventional shape, therefore having a lower quality factor than that of the tuning fork.
• the branches of the tuning fork, on the one hand, and the balance, on the other hand carry permanent magnets arranged to cooperate with each other. The corresponding interaction makes it possible both to maintain oscillations of the tuning fork and to stabilize oscillations of the pendulum in frequency.
• this mechanism is necessarily coupled to a mechanical escapement to convert the periodic oscillations of the balance in a unidirectional movement to ensure the training of mobile phones. a finishing gear.
• the balance is coupled to a conventional mechanical escapement arranged to maintain the oscillations. Consequently, the mechanism described in this document makes it possible to improve the frequency stability of the oscillations of a balance wheel, but this is done at the cost of a complexity and a significantly greater space requirement compared to a conventional mechanics at a higher speed. only oscillator.
• the high quality factor of the tuning fork is only partially used in the solution presented since, in the end, it is the pendulum which controls the movements of the finishing gear train, in a similar way to what is being done. works in classical systems.
• a main object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of known tuning fork resonators of the prior art, by proposing a resonator for mechanical timepiece, in particular for a wristwatch, having a quality factor and a high isochronism as well as an escapement of free type.
• the frequency of oscillations of a tuning fork is much greater than that of a sprung balance.
• the aforementioned Accutron has its tuning fork that vibrates at a frequency of 360Hz, compared to the 4Hz balance springs of most current mechanical watches.
• the adaptation of a conventional free escapement so that it operates in relation to a tuning fork is not obvious.
• the higher vibration frequency of the tuning fork should result in greater energy expenditure and component wear than with a sprung balance.
• the amplitude of the vibrations of a clock maker is small.
• the amplitude of the vibrations of the Accutron tuning fork is
• the higher operating frequency and the reduced amplitude imply that the corresponding exhaust should act on a larger portion of the oscillation of the tuning fork and the disturbance due to the exhaust should therefore be greater. only in the conventional case.
• the lateral amplitude of the oscillations of a branch dedia pa son that is to say re su iva ntunedi rect ion substantially perpendicular to the direction of the branch, is likely to vary greatly up to 50% compared to an average value according to Max Hetzel. Because of this variation, the ankle must be able to move out of the fork so as not to be disturbed during an additional arc greater than the average, that is to say to ensure that the vibration of the oscillator is free during the additional arc, a necessary condition for the realization of a free escape. We must therefore solve the difficulty related to the problem of entry and exit of the ankle with reference to the anchor fork.
• the implementation of a tuning fork in unemon tre-bracelet involves a problem in terms of size.
• the tuning fork used in the Accutron model has a length of 25mm, compared to the current diameter of a pendulum, of the order of 10mm.
• the Applicant After verifying the feasibility of a resonator of the type mentioned above, in terms of operating frequency and energy consumed, the Applicant sought to solve the problem residing in the construction of a resonator allowing take into account the small amplitude of the oscillations of the branches of a tuning fork.
• the present invention relates more particularly to a resonator of the type described above, characterized in that it comprises integral conversion member of the first ankle and arranged for,
• the first tooth has an axial displacement amplitude, substantially in the direction of the first axis, during the pivoting of the anchor, greater than the displacement amplitude of the first pin substantially in the direction of the first axis.
• the present invention provides that the amplitude of the axial movements of the teeth of the anchor fork is greater than that of the peg, a conversion member being provided to ensure the good cooperation between these elements and, finally, allow the proper functioning of a free exhaust.
• the conversion member can be made in various forms without departing from the scope of the present invention.
• the present invention allows to implement a mechanical resonator for a timepiece comprising a tuning fork associated with a free exhaust.
• the anchor comprises a frame having first and second arms respectively carrying the first and second fork teeth.
• the anchor is secured to an anchor rod for mounting on the watch movement, the first and second arms extend substantially from the anchor rod.
• the anchor comprises first and second additional arms intended to cooperate alternately with the escape wheel, these first and second arms, on the one hand, and the first and second additional arms, on the other hand, being able to all be arranged in the same plane, or in two separate planes.
• the resonator comprises a second escape wheel, arranged to cooperate with either the same anchor, or with an additional anchor arranged to cooperate with the second branch of the oscillator.
• Figures 1a and 1b show illustrative diagrams of constraints to be taken into account for the implementation of the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for watch movement according to a first embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for watch movement according to a first embodiment of the resonator of Figure 2;
• Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for watch movement according to a second embodiment of the resonator of Figure 2;
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for watch movement according to a third embodiment of the resonator of Figure 2;
• FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e show views of a functional detail of the resonator of FIG. 2, in successive configurations, and
• FIG. 7 represents a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for a watch movement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• Figures 1a and 1b show illustrative diagrams of constraints to be taken into account for the implementation of the present invention, specifically in terms of geometry to respect, to ensure good cooperation between a tuning fork branch and an exhaust anchor fork.
• FIG. 1a illustrates schematically the displacement of an anchor, of radius R, to evaluate which relation exists between the angle of rotation that it travels, between first and second rays, and the displacement of its next end. the direction of the second radius, that is to say substantially in the axis of the tuning fork branch.
• the bold lines 201 and 202 illustrate the first and second positions that the anchor can take when it pivots in response to an impulse transmitted by a branch of tuning fork, shown schematically by the fine lines 203 and 204.
• the branch of the tuning fork (line 203) must be able to pass in front of a first of its fork teeth without touching it, whereas when found in the position of the line 202, it must be able to transmit an impulse to the branch of the tuning fork (line 204), by the other tooth of its fork, to maintain oscillations of the tuning fork.
• the clearance phase corresponds to about 2 degrees of pivoting of the anchor.
• the branch of the tuning fork leaves a first tooth of the fork after pushing it, there remain 3 degrees of pivoting at the anchor during which the other tooth must present an axial displacement sufficient to be able to transmit a pulse to the branch of the tuning fork.
• This angle of 3 degrees corresponds to an axial displacement of 0.005mm.
• the lift starts at an angle of the order of 15 degrees and ends at an angle of the order. 9 degrees.
• the axial displacement of the peg is generally of the order of 0.046 mm (for a 0.7 mm diameter of the peg trajectory), which gives a relative axial displacement of the order of 0.05 mm between the ankle and the corresponding fork tooth of the anchor.
• the fork has a well defined width, to facilitate entry of the ankle.
• Figure 1b schematically illustrates the displacement of a range of width 2S.
• the width 2S of the fork facilitates the entry of the peg into the fork by contributing to the axial displacement mentioned above, since it is of the same order as the angle a: a rotation of an angle a of a horizontal arm of length S gives a vertical displacement of -S.sin (a) is about -S. at. So, if the fork has a height R, in the axial direction, and the wall of each of its teeth is at a distance S from the axis then, for a small rotation of angle a, the axial displacement due to R is about Ra 2 and the displacement due to S is about S. a.
• the situation is more complex because the movement of its branch or blade is almost linear, while with the pendulum the plateau pin has a rotational movement.
• the vertical displacement is - 0.00005mm, so imperceptible for the application that interests us.
• the fork should have walls at least 2.5mm apart with reference to the axis of the anchor, for a total length of 5mm.
• FIG. 2 represents a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for a watch movement according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• This resonator comprises an oscillator 1 of tuning fork type, here substantially U-shaped in a non-limiting manner, the base 2 is intended to be secured to a frame member of a watch movement (not shown for more information). clarity) to allow the branches 3 and 4 to vibrate with reference to the base, in known manner.
• the tuning fork may have a different shape, such as, for example, and preferably a shape similar to that described and illustrated in US Pat. No. 3,447,31 1.
• the vibration amplitude of the tuning fork is very small and would not be suitable for producing a conventional resonator, simply replacing the balance spring system with a tuning fork.
• the Applicant has carried out research to develop a tuning fork mechanical resonator for a watch movement comprising a conversion member arranged for,
• the teeth of the anchor fork have an axial displacement amplitude, ie substantially in the direction of the axis of the diving arm, during the pivoting of the anchor, greater than the displacement amplitude end of the tuning fork branch substantially in its axial direction.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a resonator according to an illustrative mode of the invention.
• the free end 5 of a first leg 3 of the tuning fork is provided with a support 6 carrying first and second pins 7 and 8 filling the function of the tray peg in a conventional system, as will be apparent from the detailed description of Figures 6a to 6e.
• the support 6 has an elongate shape, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the first leg 3, being fixed thereto by its middle, the pins 7, 8 being disposed at its respective ends.
• the pegs 7, 8 cooperate with an anchor 10, more precisely with first and second teeth 1 1 and 12 of the anchor defining an anchor fork.
• the anchor 10 comprises a frame intended to be pivotally mounted on a frame member of the watch movement by means of an anchor rod 14.
• the frame has first and second arms 15, 16 extending from the anchor rod and each of which carries one of the teeth 1 1, 12 at its free end.
• the frame further has first and second additional arms 18, 19 also extending from the anchor rod 14 and respectively carrying first and second vanes 21, 22 arranged to cooperate with the teeth of a exhaust wheel 24, substantially conventional.
• the anchor 10 is intended to pivot between a first position in which one of its vanes 21, 22 locks the escape wheel 24 in rotation and a second position in which the other pallet locks the escape wheel . When the anchor pivots between one and the other position, the escape wheel is released to turn.
• the distance between the pins 7 and 8 is slightly less than the distance between the teeth 1 1 and 12 to ensure the proper operation of the resonator.
• the resonator according to the present invention allows a similar operation to that of conventional resonators, in particular due to the fact that the oscillator carries two pins 7 and 8 instead of a single pin, and by the particular geometry of the anchor fork.
• the solution illustrated by way of non-limiting indication not only makes it possible to ensure the anchor an amplitude of sufficient rotation for its good cooperation with the escape wheel, but also to ensure that the pins 7 and 8 can take turns in the fork and drive the anchor appropriately, and they can also get out , symmetrically.
• lever arm of the anchor can be modified by changing the distances between the anchor rod and the fork teeth, on the one hand, and between the anchor rod and the pallets, on the other hand, to adapt the geometry of the anchor as needed.
• a reduction of the lever arm of the fork makes it possible to increase the angle of rotation of the anchor and therefore the range of displacement of the pallets.
• FIG. 3 represents a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for a watch movement according to a first alternative embodiment of the resonator of FIG. 2.
• the resonator is generally the same as in FIG. 2, with the difference that the first and second additional arms 18, 19 of the anchor 10 extend in a second plane different from that containing the first and second arms 15. 16.
• the mediators, on the one hand, of the first and second arms, and, on the other hand, of the first and second additional arms have between them an angle of order of 80 degrees.
• the escape wheel can be arranged in a different plane from that of the tuning fork and at a distance from it lower than in the case of the embodiment of Figure 2.
• Such a configuration reduces the size of the entire tuning fork-exhaust and lends itself better to its integration into a wristwatch.
• FIG. 4 represents a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for a watch movement according to a second alternative embodiment of the resonator of FIG. 2.
• the mediators of the first and second arms 15, 16, of a part and, first and second additional arm 18, 19, on the other hand have between them an angle of the order of 120 degrees.
• FIG. 5 represents a diagrammatic front view of a mechanical resonator for a watch movement according to a third embodiment of the resonator of FIG. 2.
• the mediators of the first and second arms 15, 16, of a part and, first and second additional arms 18, 19, on the other hand have between them an angle of the order of 180 degrees.
• the escape wheel and the tuning fork may optionally be at least partially superimposed, in particular to reduce the size of the entire tuning fork-escapement as mentioned above.
• FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d and 6e show views of an operating detail of the resonator of FIG. 2, in successive configurations operating on a half-wave of oscillations of the first branch 3.
• the first leg 3 of the tuning fork ends in the direction of the arrow, to the left of the figure, just before starting in the opposite direction.
• the first pallet 21 of the anchor 10 cooperates with the toothing of the escape wheel 24 to lock the latter in rotation.
• the exhaust is here at rest.
• An impulse phase of the anchor to the first pin 7 then occurs, as shown in Figure 6d, to ensure the maintenance of oscillations of the first branch 3 of the tuning fork.
• the second half-alternation then begins and the same phases occur again in the same chronological order, in a conventional manner.
• the largest distance between the different positions that take his teeth 1 1, 12 must be important, in any case greater than double the amplitude of the vibrations of the branch 3 of the tuning fork, which, it is weak as has been noted above and insufficient alone to move the anchor satisfactorily. This largest distance is that between the respective positions that take the first and second teeth after they underwent the impulse of the corresponding peg, during the phases of disengagement.
• the resonator according to the invention comprises a conversion member comprising two pins 7.8 associated with two teeth 1 1, 12 spaced apart to ensure sufficient rotation of the anchor.
• Figure 7 shows a schematic front view of a mechanical resonator for watch movement according to a second embodiment of the present invention, to achieve a similar result.
• the anchor 100 here has a more conventional shape, with a range 101 of reduced width with reference to that illustrated in the previous figures.
• the conversion member implemented in the present embodiment uses the principle of the lever arm.
• [001 1 1] It comprises a rocker 1 10 to be pivotally mounted on a frame member of the watch movement, by means of a pivot 1 1 1.
• the latch comprises, at a first end, a first peg 1 12 pivotally mounted on the free end 5 of the first leg 3 of the tuning fork and, at a second end, a second peg 1 13 engaged between the teeth of the fork 101 to cooperate with it and rotate the anchor 100 when the first leg 3 vibrates.
• the maximum distance between the different positions that can occupy the teeth of the range 101 is greater than twice the amplitude of the vibrations of the branch 3 of the tuning fork.
• the structure of the conversion member ensures both a good transmission of pulses from the anchor to the tuning fork to maintain the oscillations of the latter and a good transmission of pulses from the tuning fork to the tuning fork. anchor to rotate the latter with an amplitude that ensures proper operation of the associated exhaust.
• the lever makes it possible to amplify the amplitude of vibration of the blade of the tuning fork. More precisely, in FIG. 6, the lever arm used is equal to the ratio of the distance between the second peg 1 13 and the pivot 1 1 1 over the distance between the first peg 1 12 and the pivot 1 1 1.
• a conventional anchor can be used, provided to provide a suitable lever ratio.
• the conversion member and the anchor are preferably arranged in such a way that a lever arm is created between the peg of the tuning fork and the escape wheel, to ensure sufficient amplitude for oscillations of the anchor teeth.
• the invention is not limited to a resonator comprising a single escape wheel or a single anchor. Indeed, a second escape wheel could be associated with the anchor or an additional anchor cooperating with the second branch of the tuning fork.
• the silicon compound manufacturing technology is particularly well suited to the production of the elements that have been described, in particular because it guarantees good manufacturing precision and the silicon elements in contact with each other. the others have reduced friction with reference to materials commonly used in the watchmaking field. These specific characteristics of silicon are magnified here because of the high vibration frequency of the tuning fork.

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• 2011
  • 2011-09-29 EP EP11183371A patent/EP2574994A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2012
  • 2012-09-27 WO PCT/EP2012/069122 patent/WO2013045573A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2012-09-27 CN CN201280048079.4A patent/CN103858061B/zh active Active
  • 2012-09-27 EP EP12762633.1A patent/EP2761378B1/de active Active
  • 2012-09-27 JP JP2014532387A patent/JP5988255B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-09-27 US US14/348,317 patent/US9134705B2/en active Active
• 2014
  • 2014-12-17 HK HK14112648.5A patent/HK1199311A1/xx unknown

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