EP2831676B1 - Flexible escapement mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an escapement mechanism comprising a balance wheel and an escape wheel, comprising a one-piece flexible mechanism for transmitting pulses between an ellipse of said balance and teeth of said escape wheel.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a fixed structure and at least one such mechanism.

The invention relates to a timepiece comprising a fixed structure and at least one such mechanism, and / or at least one such clockwork movement.

The invention relates to the field of watch mechanisms, and in particular exhaust mechanisms.

Background of the invention

Watchmaking performance requires high-precision movements with minimal footprint and fewer components to control production, assembly and tuning costs. "LIGA" or "DRIE" technologies make it possible to produce flexible and precise components, and to completely call into question traditional architectures, characterized by a large number of components and delicate adjustments.

The document WO2011 / 120180 A1 ROLEX SA describes an anchor type blocker, with two arms each provided with a pallet to attack the same gear wheel, with two elastic arms connecting this blocker to a chassis allowing its pivoting, and a third elastic element substantially bistable.

The document EP 2,037,335 A2 ENZLER & VON GUNTEN, describes a monoblock anchor, Swiss anchor type, with two arms each provided with a pallet, and having arms constituted by flexible blades connected to a structure and defining a fictitious pivot.

The document EP 2 450 755 A1 NIVAROX describes an escape wheel for a clockwork mechanism, comprising, coaxial and synchronous pivoting about a pivot axis, a plurality of toothed wheels comprising at least one first pulse gear in a first pulse plane and at least one second release gear in a second stop plane parallel or coincident with the first pulse plane. The second release gear comprises at least one moving element which comprises, on the one hand, at least one release tooth movable radially with respect to the pivot axis and biased towards an equilibrium position by first return means, and on the other hand at least one rest tooth biased in a first radial direction to an abutment position by second return means. The release tooth comprises drive means arranged for, when the release tooth moves in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction, cooperate with complementary drive means that includes the rest tooth to drive the tooth of rest in the second radial direction. The drive means, when the release tooth moves in the first radial direction, are arranged to move away from the complementary drive means without driving the rest tooth.

The document EP 2 105 806 A1 GIRARD PERREGAUX SA describes a deformable frame defining two orthogonal axes, comprising a buckling leaf spring in its largest dimension and arranged to restore energy during changes in shape of the bistable blade.

The document EP 2 221 677 A1 ROLEX SA describes an expansion escapement with a pivoting rocker against a spring which pushes a stop element of this rocker towards the escape wheel, the rocker carries a release element which cooperates with a release finger carried by a movable plate in position relative to the balance plate under the effect of the variations of speed of the beam.

The document CH 60813A SHORTILL describes an escapement anchor whose escape wheel has, on both sides of its flange, an alternation of teeth cooperating with palettes anchor mounted in opposition and facing each other.

The document EP 1 967 919 A1 ETA SA describes a tangential pulse exhaust comprising a mobile ring frame, comprising vanes arranged to cooperate with teeth of an escape wheel located inside this ring.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to overcome the limitations of known architectures, by proposing compact mechanisms, of small thickness, and economic to produce.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an escapement mechanism comprising a balance wheel and an escape wheel, comprising a one-piece flexible mechanism for transmitting pulses between an ellipse of said balance and teeth of said escape wheel, characterized in that said escapement mechanism is an escapement mechanism without an anchor, and in that each said tooth comprises a rocker with a flexible pin actuable by a lever that comprises said one-piece flexible mechanism, a low level of said wheel carrying said pegs at a first stop and a second stop that comprises a plate of said mechanism, and a high level of said wheel bearing said levers, and said ellipse being arranged to rotate a said flip-flop which faces it, in a first pivoting direction of said rocker for cooperatively abutting said pin with said second stop by stopping said escape wheel or in a second direction of pivoting said balance opposite said first direction of pivoting to bring its lever to said first stop and to bypass said second stop to said pin allowing rotation of said wheel to the next tooth .

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a fixed structure and at least one such mechanism.

The invention relates to a timepiece comprising a fixed structure and at least one such mechanism, and / or at least one such clockwork movement.

Brief description of the drawings

• les figures 1 et 2 illustrent un échappement sans ancre selon l'invention ;
• la figure 3 représente, sous forme d'un schéma-blocs, une pièce d'horlogerie avec un mouvement comportant un tel mécanisme.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an escapement without anchor according to the invention;
• the figure 3 represents, in the form of a block diagram, a timepiece with a movement comprising such a mechanism.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Many watch mechanisms can be realized with a reduced number of components, preferably using components made of silicon, or by a LIGA or DRIE process, with flexible zones.

These flexible zones can be used to carry out guidance, especially pivoting, and / or to achieve elastic return means.

In the remainder of the description, "flexible guides" are termed linear or rotary guides comprising one or more flexible blades. Their advantages are numerous, and one will quote in particular: precision, absence of friction, absence of hysteresis, absence of wear, no need of lubrication, absence of seizing, monolithic manufacture. The most frequent limitations are: limitation of displacements, weak intensity of forces or restoring torques, sometimes complex kinematics, limitation of the supported load.

The flexible guides can be modified to have a zero rigidity or to have a bistable state in the case of a component working in buckling under the action of forces exerted on both sides of an average direction, either side of which this component can occupy two different stable states.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the invention is applicable to an escapement mechanism 100 for movement 900 or timepiece 1000 comprising at least one balance wheel 300 and at least one escape wheel 400.

According to the invention, the transmission of pulses between said at least one balance wheel 300 and said at least one escape wheel 400 is carried out by a one-piece flexible mechanism 500. This one-piece flexible mechanism 500 comprises at least one probe 600 for cooperation with said at least one escape wheel 400 or respectively said at least one rocker 300. This one-piece flexible mechanism 500 is connected by at least one flexible blade 700, or preferably by a plurality of flexible blades constituting elastic return means, to a fixed structure 800 of said timepiece 1000, or respectively to said at least one escape wheel 400.
The Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an escapement without anchor 140. The rocker 141 comprises a plate with a pin 142. The plate has two pins / stops 143 and 144. An escape wheel 145 has a plurality of teeth 146. Each tooth 146 is a locking mechanism intermittent, and comprises a rocker 147: each latch 147 comprises a rocker pin 148 guided by flexible blades 149. This anchor pin 148 can be actuated by a small lever 150. Each tooth 146 also comprises a pulse plane 151. The escapement wheel mechanism is at two levels: a low level carries the rocker pins 148, and corresponds to the level at which the pins / stops 143 and 144 are disposed, while a high level carries the wheel structure 145 and the levers 150.

The operation is explained on a tooth 146 of the escape wheel 145 just after a pulse, the rocker 141 starting a time shift. During the rotation of the rocker 141 in the clockwise direction, the ellipse 142 rotates the rocker 147, which passes from the position PB to the position PA of FIG. 15, and disengages from the first stop plate 143. The wheel exhaust 146 advances a very low angle until the anchor pin 148 of the rocker 147 abuts against the second platinum stop 144.

When the rocker arm 141 pivots counter-clockwise, the ellipse 142 rotates the rocker 147 facing it, bringing the lever 150 to the PC position, and the rocker bolt 148 bypasses the second stop plate 144. The wheel Exhaust 145 turns to the next tooth. In this movement, the pulse plane 151 of the escape wheel 145 pulses on the ellipse 142.

In a particular variant, a ruby lift is dedicated to the pulse. The special shape of the pins / stops 143 and 144 integral with the plate avoid gallop.

The invention also relates to a clockwork movement 900 comprising at least one such flexible mechanism, and in particular comprising a fixed structure 800 and at least one such mechanism 100.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 1000, in particular a watch, comprising at least one such clockwork movement 900, and / or at least one of the flexible mechanisms described above, in particular having a fixed structure 800 and at least one such a mechanism 100.

Claims (6)

1. Escape mechanism (100) comprising a balance (141) and an escape wheel (145) including a flexible single-piece mechanism (500) for the transmission of impulses between an impulse pin (142) of said balance (141), and teeth (146) of said escape wheel (145), characterized in that said escape mechanism (100) is an escape mechanism with no pallet lever (140), and in that each said tooth (146) includes a lever (147) with a flexible pin (148) that can be actuated by a lifting piece (150) comprised in said flexible single-piece mechanism (500), a low level of said wheel (145) carrying said pins (148) on the same level as a first stop member (143) and a second stop member (144), comprised in a plate (800) of said mechanism (140), and a high level of said wheel (145) carrying said lifting pieces (150), and said impulse pin (142) being arranged to pivot one said lever (147) which faces said impulse pin, in a first pivoting direction of said balance (141) to cause said pin (148) to cooperate in abutment with said second stop member (144) by stopping said escape wheel (145), or in a second pivoting direction of said balance (141) opposite to said first pivoting direction to move the lifting piece (150) thereof opposite said first stop member (143) and to cause said pin (148) to bypass said second stop member (144) allowing said wheel (145) to rotate to the next tooth (146).
2. Timepiece escape mechanism (140) according to claim 1, characterized in that said flexible single-piece mechanism (500) is connected by at least one flexible strip (700) to said plate (800), or to said wheel (145), in that each said pin (148) is guided by flexible strips (149), in that each tooth (146) includes an impulse plane (151), so that, when said balance (141) starts a time movement just after an impulse, said impulse pin (142) pivots said corresponding lever (147), which is released from said first stop member (143), said wheel (145) then advancing through a very small angle until said pin (148) cooperates in abutment with said second stop member (144), and, when said balance (141) pivots anti-clockwise, said impulse pin (142) pivots said lever (147) which faces said impulse pin, moving the lifting piece (150) thereof opposite said first stop member (143), and said pin (148) bypassing said second stop member (144), said wheel (145) rotating to the next tooth (146), said impulse plane (151) imparting an impulse to said impulse pin (142) during said movement.
3. Timepiece escape mechanism (140) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a ruby lifting piece is dedicated to the impulse.
4. Timepiece escape mechanism (140) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said balance (141) does not have a roller.
5. Timepiece movement (900) including at least one said mechanism (100) according to one of the preceding claims.
6. Timepiece (1000) including at least one said movement (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, and/or at least one timepiece movement (900) according to the preceding claim.

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