EP2876504A1 - Screwless clock stud holder - Google Patents

Abstract

Assembly (20) for holding a clock spring (21) comprising a stud (1) and a stud holder (2), which comprises means (6) for fixing said stud holder (2) an escape mechanism (30), said peak (1) having a lateral bearing surface (7) defining a direction of support or support of said spiral spring (21). Said bolt carrier (2) is in two parts, and comprises a rigid structure (5) carrying said fastening means (6), and a leaf spring (8) pressed against said rigid structure (5) and comprising at least one elastic lip (9) defining with said structure (5) a chamber (10) for receiving said pin (1) and cooperating with said lateral bearing surface (7) of said pin (1) for maintaining said pin (1) in indexed and blocking position.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a holding or supporting assembly of a clockwork spiral spring, comprising a stud and a stud holder, which stud holder comprises means for fixing said stud holder to an escape mechanism, and said stud having at least one orientation surface defining a direction of support or support of said spiral spring.

The invention also relates to a clock escapement mechanism comprising at least one such holding assembly.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such escape mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such movement.

The invention relates to the field of watch exhaust mechanisms.

Background of the invention

On many calibres of very large series, the stud, constituting the external attachment point of the spiral spring, is clipped on a bolt carrier which is a stamped flat piece.

On high-end creations, the stud is screwed into a stud holder which is a machined component. The fixing screw then works between his foot and his nets. The head is never blocked, resulting in regular breakages, following the torsional forces experienced when the foot is blocked on the peak, and when the operator continues to screw.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to provide a solution for maintaining the outer turn of the hairspring, which is compatible with high-end movements, and to solve the recurring problem of holding the screws by a screw-free fixing solution.

To this end, the invention relates to a holding or supporting assembly of a spiral clockwork spring, comprising a stud and a stud holder, which stud holder comprises means for fixing said stud holder to a mechanism exhaust, said peak having at least one orientation surface defining a direction of support or support of said spiral spring, characterized in that said bolt carrier is in two parts, and comprises a rigid structure carrying said fastening means, and a leaf-spring pressed against said rigid structure and comprising at least one elastic lip defining with said structure a receiving chamber of said pin and cooperating with said at least one orienting surface of said peak for maintaining said pin in indexed and blocking position.

According to a characteristic of the invention, said lateral bearing surface constitutes an orientation surface which defines a single direction of the outer end of said spiral spring.

The invention also relates to a clock escapement mechanism comprising at least one such holding assembly.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such escape mechanism.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such movement, characterized in that said piece is a watch.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle et en perspective, un mécanisme d'échappement comportant un ensemble de maintien de ressort-spiral selon l'invention, dans une position de présentation du piton, porteur de la spire externe du spiral, au niveau d'une section d'introduction de cet ensemble de maintien, qui est fixé sur une structure du mécanisme d'échappement telle un coq de balancier ;
• la figure 2 représente, de façon schématisée et en perspective éclatée, cet ensemble de maintien, comportant une structure rigide dans une première variante d'épaisseur constante, une lame-ressort, et le piton agencé pour coopérer avec cet ensemble ;

• la figure 3 représente, de façon schématisée et en perspective, la lame-ressort de la figure 2;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon schématisée et en perspective, une structure rigide dans une deuxième variante sur deux niveaux;
• la figure 5 est un schéma-blocs représentant une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un mouvement lequel comporte un mécanisme d'échappement incluant un ressort-spiral maintenu par un ensemble selon l'invention.

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 figure 1 represents, schematically, partially and in perspective, an escapement mechanism comprising a spiral-spring holding assembly according to the invention, in a position of presentation of the stud, carrying the outer coil of the spiral, at the level of an introduction section of this holding assembly, which is fixed on a structure of the escapement mechanism such as a balance cock;
• the figure 2 represents, schematically and in exploded perspective, this holding assembly, comprising a rigid structure in a first constant thickness variant, a leaf-spring, and the piton arranged to cooperate with this set;

• the figure 3 represents, schematically and in perspective, the leaf-spring of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 schematically shows in perspective a rigid structure in a second variant on two levels;
• the figure 5 is a block diagram showing a timepiece comprising a movement which comprises an escapement mechanism including a spiral spring held by an assembly according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

To eliminate the maintenance of the bolt by screw, the invention makes use of a fastening element comprising elastic return means to, firstly allow the introduction or the extraction of a bolt by exerting on him a certain effort, and secondly maintain this pin in the operating position in a single stop position

The invention thus relates to an assembly 20 for holding or supporting a spiral spring 21 of timepieces, comprising a stud 1 and a stud holder 2. This stud holder 2 comprises means 6 for fixing the stud holder 2 to an escape mechanism 30, such as a rocker cock, as visible on the figure 1 .

The stud 1 comprises at least one lateral bearing surface 7 defining a direction of support or support of such a spiral spring 21,

According to the invention, this stud holder 2 is in at least two parts, and comprises a rigid structure 5 carrying fastening means 6, and a spring blade 8 pressed against this rigid structure 5. This leaf spring 8 comprises at less an elastic lip 9 defining with the rigid structure 5 a receiving chamber 10 of the pin 1. This elastic lip 9 cooperates with this at least one lateral bearing surface 7 of the pin 1, for maintaining the pin 1 in the indexed position and blocking. In sum, the pin 1 is pinched between the elastic lip 9 of the leaf spring 8, and a notch 53 of the rigid structure 5, visible on the figure 2 .

Preferably, the lateral bearing surface 7 constitutes an orientation surface which defines a single direction of the outer end of the spiral spring 21.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment where the bolt carrier 2 is in two parts, which is economical because each of the two components it comprises is very simple to achieve, and perfectly compatible with large series sizes. This bolt carrier 2 in two parts, is still a minimum footprint. Indeed, preferably, and as visible in the figures, the leaf spring 8 envelops, at least partially, the rigid structure 5, and the total space, in the direction D of the pivot axis of the balance, is the total between the total thickness of the rigid structure 5, and the thickness of a sheet metal sheet in which the leaf spring 8 is preferably formed.

The leaf spring 8 illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 , is preferably sheet metal cut and folded, it does not require any other particular machining. It is inexpensive, which makes it possible to use, with the same carrying structure 31 of the exhaust mechanism 30, and with the same rigid structure 5, several spring blades 8 of different sizes to cooperate with so many models of pitons. different geometries.

The rigid structure 5 may, depending on its dimensioning, be machined, or also made by stamping in a thicker and more rigid material than the spring blade 8. The figure 2 shows a first variant of constant thickness, very economical, which lends itself to such a stamped embodiment. The figure 4 shows a second variant of rigid structure 5 on two levels, which is preferably machined.

The assembly of the holding assembly 20 according to the invention makes it possible to simplify the machining and the production of the bolt carrier, since it is no longer necessary, contrary to the prior art, to make a bore or a housing similar for receiving the stud 1, nor tapping to cooperate with a locking screw.

The nonlimiting embodiments, illustrated by the figures, allow a great ease of assembly, combined with a low manufacturing cost.

Preferably, the stud 1 comprises, on either side of the at least one lateral bearing surface 7 which it comprises to define the orientation of the outer end of the hairspring 21, stop surfaces 11, 12, to limit the movement of this stud 1 in the direction D of the axis of the spring-hairspring 21 relative to the clamp constituted by the whole of the rigid structure 5 and the leaf spring 8. In the illustrated variant, the elastic lip 9 of the leaf spring 8 has two edge surfaces 91 and 92 which are parallel (and each located in a plane perpendicular to the direction D) and cooperates with this lateral bearing surface 7, which is here constituted by a plate 16, delimited by these stop surfaces 11 and 12. Preferably, in the various variants shown, the lateral bearing surface 7 is a flat 16 parallel to the axis D of the spiral spring 21 .

In a foolproof version, it is possible to define the distance E1 between the stop surfaces 11 and 12 equal to the distance E between these stop surfaces 11 and 12 for holding without axial play. Thus, in this foolproof version, this at least one lateral bearing surface 7 is fitted to the stop surfaces 11, 12 to define a single position of the bolt 1 in the direction of the axis D of the spiral spring 21.

In another variant, it is possible to leave a certain clearance allowing a limited axial adjustment of the piton 1, by choosing the difference E1 greater than the distance E, from the value of the desired adjustment range.

In another variant, the stud 1 has no stopping surface, on at least one side in the direction D.

To facilitate the introduction or the extraction of the stud 1 with respect to this holding assembly 20, the rigid structure 5 and / or the leaf spring 8 comprises an introduction ramp 13, 14, for the tangential introduction (according to the arrow of the figure 1 ), or conversely the tangential extraction of the piton 1 between the rigid structure 5 and the leaf spring 8. This simple or compound ramp facilitates this insertion in the chamber 10 against the elastic return force of the spring blade 8. The same is true for the extraction. When the pin 1 is pressed against this ramp and the spring blade 8, it is easy to lift the elastic lip 9, to allow the pin to reach its position mounted in the chamber 10 delimited by a notch 15 forming a threshold. introduction or extraction.

On the illustrated variants, the chamber 10 is located, on the side of the leaf spring 8, in a clearance 80 visible on the figure 3 , the pin 1 bearing on a rear face 93 of the elastic lip 9, and, on the side of the rigid structure 5, in a notch 53. This notch 53 is delimited on the one hand by an input sector, of preferably radiated, constituting such a ramp 13, and secondly by a flat 51. This plate 51 may, according to the embodiment chosen, or remain at a distance from the elastic lip 9, or, as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 , bear in support a portion 94 of the elastic lip 9, only one end 95 cantilevered cooperating in support with the pin 1. Other variants are conceivable without departing from the invention, which consists in pinching the pin between a rigid structure and an elastic spring blade.

The chamber 10 is designed, in all variants, to immobilize the stud 1 in a single position in projection in a plane perpendicular to the axis D.

Preferably, the rigid structure 5 and / or the leaf spring 8 comprises a notch 15 at the chamber 10, corresponding to the threshold of introduction or extraction.

For the optimal relative positioning between the rigid structure 5 and the leaf spring 8, in an advantageous embodiment illustrated in the figures, the rigid structure 5 comprises a notch 17 (or a slot, or the like) or a pin arranged to cooperate with a lug 18 or respectively a notch that comprises the spring-blade 8, to rigidly rotate the rigid structure 5 and the leaf-spring 8 pressed one on the other. In a variant not shown, the leaf spring may also comprise at least three tabs bent at 90 ° as the elastic blade 9, and located on a bore 81 or a peripheral rim 82 of the leaf spring 8, arranged to cooperate with a bore 58 or a peripheral rim 59 of the rigid structure 5, to ensure their perfectly coaxial assembly.

This relative positioning makes it possible to synchronize the rigid structure 5 and the leaf spring 8, either during their assembly, or in a setting phase if it is decided to leave a restricted angular mobility to the holding assembly 20 to make a setting Angular position of the pin 1. Naturally, the mechanism then requires at least means for maintaining in position this assembly 20 with respect to the structure 31.

Preferably, the rigid structure 5 is of substantially annular shape for maintaining it resting on a structure 31, in particular a rocker arm, of the escapement mechanism 30, around the axis D of the spiral spring 21.

Preferably, the leaf spring 8 is substantially annular in shape for its support in abutment between such a structure 31 and the rigid structure 5, or in support of the rigid structure 5 over their entire common periphery, around the axis D of the coil spring 21. Advantageously, the rigid structure is mounted on the structure 31 so as to trap the leaf spring 8.

In an economical embodiment, the rigid structure 5 comprises at least one face 51, 52, perpendicular to the axis D of said spiral spring 21, and preferably this rigid structure 5 comprises two faces 51, 52 parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis D of the spiral spring 21.

The particular case of the rigid structure 5 on two levels of the figure 4 allows compatibility with an escapement mechanism originally equipped with a traditional bolt carrier, its higher manufacturing cost is offset by the advantage offered by a better guidance of the bolt 1, on a greater height .

The invention also relates to a clock escapement mechanism comprising at least one such holding assembly 20.

The invention also relates to a watch movement 40 comprising at least one such exhaust mechanism 30.

• la vis d'un porte-piton traditionnel à vis est remplacée par un composant découpé, peu coûteux ;
• l'usinage de la structure rigide formant porte-piton est fortement simplifié, voire remplacé par un étampage ;
• le mécanisme est d'un niveau esthétique et de qualité compatible avec des mouvements horlogers de haut de gamme ;
• un réglage axial du piton reste possible ;
• le mécanisme selon l'invention est interchangeable, dans un mouvement existant, avec un porte-piton traditionnel.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 50 comprising at least one such movement 40. More particularly, this piece 50 is a watch. In short, the invention provides various advantages:

• the screw of a traditional screw bolt carrier is replaced by a cut component, inexpensive;
• the machining of the rigid structure forming bolt carrier is greatly simplified, or even replaced by a stamping;
• the mechanism is of an aesthetic level and quality compatible with high-end watch movements;
• an axial adjustment of the piton remains possible;
• the mechanism according to the invention is interchangeable, in an existing movement, with a traditional bolt carrier.

Claims (15)

Assembly (20) for holding or supporting a spiral spring (21) of watchmaking, comprising a peg (1) and a peg carrier (2), which peg carrier (2) comprises fixing means ( 6) from said bolt carrier (2) to an escapement mechanism (30), said bolt (1) having at least one lateral bearing surface (7) defining a direction of holding or supporting a said spring hairspring (21), characterized in that said peg carrier (2) is in two parts, and comprises a rigid structure (5) carrying said fixing means (6), and a leaf spring (8) pressed against said structure rigid (5) and comprising at least one elastic lip (9) defining with said structure (5) a chamber (10) for receiving said peak (1) and cooperating with said at least one lateral bearing surface (7) of said peak (1) for maintaining said stud (1) in the indexed and locking position. Assembly (20) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said lateral bearing surface (7) constitutes an orientation surface which defines a single direction of the outer end of said spiral spring (21). Assembly (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said stud (1) comprises, on either side of said at least one lateral bearing surface (7), stop surfaces (11; 12) to limit the travel of said pin (1) in the direction of the axis of said spiral spring (21). Assembly (20) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one lateral bearing surface (7) is fitted to said stop surfaces (11; 12) to define a single position of said pin (1) in the direction of the axis (D) of said spiral spring (21). Assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rigid structure (5) and / or said leaf spring (8) comprises an introduction ramp (13; 14) for the tangential introduction of said peak (1) between said rigid structure (5) and said leaf spring (8) and its insertion in said chamber (10) against the elastic return force of said leaf spring (8). Assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rigid structure (5) and / or said leaf spring (8) comprises a notch (15) at said chamber (10). Assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral bearing surface (7) is a flat (16) parallel to the axis (D) of said spiral spring (21). Assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rigid structure (5) comprises a notch (17) or a lug (18) arranged to cooperate with a lug (18) or respectively a notch (17) said spring blade (8) comprises, for securing in rotation said rigid structure (5) and said leaf spring (8) pressed one on the other. Assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rigid structure (5) is of substantially annular shape for maintaining it resting on a structure (31) of said exhaust mechanism (30), around the axis (D) of said spiral spring (21). Assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spring blade (8) is substantially annular in shape for maintaining it in abutment between a structure (31) of said exhaust mechanism (30) and said structure rigid (5), or bearing on said rigid structure (5) over their entire periphery, about the axis (D) of said spiral spring (21). Assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said rigid structure (5) comprises at least one face (51; 52) perpendicular to the axis (D) of said spiral spring (21). Assembly (20) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said rigid structure (5) has two faces (51; 52) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis (D) of said spiral spring (21). Clock exhaust mechanism (30) comprising at least one assembly (20) according to one of the preceding claims. Clockwork movement (40) comprising at least one escape mechanism (30) according to the preceding claim. Timepiece (50) comprising at least one movement (40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is a watch.

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