Classifications

• • 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
• • 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
  • G04B17/20—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency
  • G04B17/28—Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency for the effect of imbalance of the weights, e.g. tourbillon
  • G04B17/285—Tourbillons or carrousels

Definitions

• the tourbillon is a system that reduces the effects of gravitation on the regulating organ. It makes it possible to reduce the differences in walking according to positions.
• the tourbillon mechanisms use a rotating cage within which are found the balance system / spiral and all or part of the exhaust mechanism. This has the consequence of increasing the mass in motion and penalize these systems by reducing the efficiency and accuracy: the inertia of the system is increased.
• the present invention describes an escapement that retains the advantages of A.H. Benoit's escapement and removes the fundamental defect thereof.
• the clearance is effected, depending on the setting, at the moment when the spiral spring of the balance is disarmed or after, on the alternation of return following the alternation where the pulse is transmitted.
• the mechanism consists of an escape wheel provided with a pivot passing through the balance-side bearing. On the end of this pivot is fixed a bearing for receiving one of the pivots of the balance and the end of the spiral spring. The escape wheel and the balance are aligned axially and coupled by the spiral.
• the escape wheel has on its periphery a set of shaped teeth adapted to the operation.
• the escape wheel is provided on its axis with a pinion driven by a gear train constituting the clockwork mechanism.
• the escape wheel has on its periphery a set of teeth, the number and shape adapted, in engagement with the wheel of the timepiece.
• the escape wheel is alternately locked and released in its rotation by a mechanical system object of the present invention.
• This system consists of a part, called rocker or anchor, according to the achievements, which cooperates with the teeth of the escape wheel. It has a pivot axis, a bearing surface for arming the trigger at the end of the impulse, a bearing surface for stopping the escape wheel and the blocking of the armed rocker after the impulse. support surface for locking by the disarmed rocker of the escape wheel during the overturning, bearing surfaces for the stops.
• a return system which, according to the embodiment, may be a spring, a magnetic system or any system based on a force, connects the rocker to a connection system with the frame or a fixed element relative to the rocker. The connection system allows adjustment of the restoring force of the rocker.
• the pivoting angle of the rocker is limited by two stops that can be reduced to an abutment that can be eliminated in the case where the escape wheel serves as a stop for the latch according to the embodiment.
• the set composed of the rocker and the return system forms the trigger.
• This mechanism is intended to release the escape wheel that will transmit the impulse to the spiral at the optimum time.
• the armed rocker After the impulse, the armed rocker is blocked in abutment by a tooth of the escape wheel.
• the bearing surface which stops this tooth has an angle at the radial end of the tooth. When tilting (pulling angle) the bearing surface will move the wheel back (release angle) and provide resistance to release.
• the locking force of the rocker is proportional to the bearing force of the tooth (potential energy of the escape wheel) and the angle of the bearing surface.
• the spiral spring of the balance in the direction of the arming, creates a force that is added to or subtracted from the potential energy of the escape wheel. This has the effect of varying the support force of the escape wheel on the rocker. The clearance occurs when the blocking force is less than the restoring force of the rocker.
• the bearing surface which stops the tooth of the escape wheel, during overturning, may have an angle radially from the end of the tooth. This keeps the rocker in abutment in its position regardless of the bearing force of the tooth, even on a shock.
• the strength of the banded hairspring decreases.
• the impulse is transmitted as soon as the strength of the hairspring becomes lower than the potential energy of the escape wheel.
• the escape wheel transmits the impulse to the hairspring by holding it taut during the pulse angle. After the pulse, the kinetic energy of the escape wheel is converted into heat at the moment of blockage. To arm the system of return of the rocker, we take a part of this energy before the blocking. We increase the efficiency of this exhaust.
• the escape wheel After arming, the escape wheel travels a drop angle due to the clearance angle and manufacturing tolerances. This angle must be reduced to a minimum. If this angle is important, the armed rocker will return to its original position before the tooth of the escape wheel fails to realize the blockage: the time of fall of the tooth must be less than the disarming time of the rocker. The latter is proportional to the weight of the rocker and inversely proportional to the force of the return system. A mechanical system to delay the return of the armed rocker can be implemented according to the realization.
• the escape wheel may comprise, in replacement of the axis, a cylindrical hole provided with bearings that pivot on a tubular axis, fixed to the frame, supporting one of the bearings of the balance, the end the spiral spring is directly connected to the escape wheel, we find the escapement wheel and the balance axially aligned and coupled by the spiral spring.
• This exhaust system can be realized differently by having in engagement with a gear train driven from a power source of the timepiece, a pivoting mechanism, consisting of an eccentric rocker and a system reminder, aligned axially with the balance and coupled by the spiral, cooperating with a fixed escape wheel centered on the pivot axis of this assembly.
• a pivoting mechanism consisting of an eccentric rocker and a system reminder, aligned axially with the balance and coupled by the spiral, cooperating with a fixed escape wheel centered on the pivot axis of this assembly.
• FIG 1 is a perspective view of an exhaust system complete with the spiral balance according to a simplified embodiment.
• FIG 2 is an exploded view of Figure 1 which dissociates the various constituent elements.
• FIG. 3 is a front view and FIG. 4 is a section along a plane passing through the axis of pivoting of the escapement wheel and the balance and the main constituent elements (without expansion) assembled of FIG. 1.
• FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 are the diagrammatic views, seen from above, of the escape wheel 1, the rocker 2, the expansion spring 3 and the two stops 4 of FIG. 1 according to the four phases. exhaust system operation.
• FIG 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment from parts used in a current anchor escapement which serves as a basis for the demonstration exhaust model.
• FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views, seen from above, of the escape wheel 9, the anchor 10, the expansion spring 3 and the two stops 4 of FIG. 9 according to the four operating phases of the exhaust system.
• FIG 14 is a perspective view of a differential return system, replacing the spring return system 3 of Figure 9.
• FIG. 15 is the schematic representation of the differential system of FIG. 14.
• FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an extra-flat exhaust system complete with the seconds wheel.
• FIG 17 is the representation of an axial section plane to the balance and the escape wheel of FIG. 16.
• FIGS. 1 to 8 illustrate a simplified embodiment of this escapement with a decomposition of the positioning of the parts used according to the different operating phases:
• phasel blocking the rocker 2 armed by the tooth 1 of the escape wheel 1.
• phase2 release at the moment when the locking force of the tooth 1 is less than the restoring force of the trigger 2 + 3.
• phase3 stop on overturning of the escape wheel 1 by the tooth 3 on the rocker
• phase4 pulse and arming of the trigger 2 + 3 by the tooth 2 of the escape wheel 1 on the rocker 2.
• FIGS. 10 to 13 illustrate an embodiment of the exhaust from parts used in the current anchor escapements.
• the wheel of a Swiss lever escapement 9 is perfect.
• the anchor 10 can be preserved by reversing the input pallet to suppress the pulse plane and a longitudinal adjustment of the output pallet to retouch the print. It is necessary to reposition the stops 4 of travel of the anchor.
• the return system 3 can be placed on the pivot axis of the anchor or on the end, at the fork ( Figure 9 to 13).
• the anchor must be balanced so that the return force of the trigger is constant on all positions of the system.
• FIGS. 10 to 13 are a decomposition of the positioning of the parts used according to the different phases of operation: FIG. 10 phase 1: locking of the armed anchor by the tooth 1 of the escape wheel 9.
• phase2 release at the moment when the locking force of the tooth 1 is less than the restoring force of the trigger 3 + 10.
• phase3 stop on overturning of the escape wheel 9 by the tooth 3 on the anchor 10.
• phase4 pulse and arming the trigger 3 + 10 by the tooth 2 of the escape wheel 9 on the anchor 10.
• Figures 14 and 15 illustrate an embodiment of a latch reminder system.
• the axis of the anchor 16 in the drawing has an eccentric edge for pivoting which serves as a stop to the connecting piece 15 articulated on the fixed axis 14 and subjected to the bearing force of the pivot 12 according to the torque of train of the gear train 11 proportional to the potential energy of the escape wheel and variable according to the load of the latter at the time of release, we realize a system of return of the differential rocker between the blocking force of the rocker 16 and the force of the return system thereof particularly suited to the principle of this exhaust.
• the bearing 13 is fixed and has an oblong hole which allows the pivot 12 to move along a radial axis in the direction where the bearing force on the connecting piece 15 is maximum.
• Figures 16 and 17 illustrate an exhaust system complete with the seconds wheel (exhaust at 18,000 vibrations / hour), the arrangement of different parts allows an extra-flat embodiment particularly suitable for watch mechanisms.
• the escape wheel 17, coupled to the balance 19 by the spiral spring 18, is provided with bearings 22 ( Figure 17) which pivot on a fixed tubular axis 21 fixed to the frame of the movement not shown.
• the bearing of the rocking pivot 19 on the exhaust wheel side 17 can be fixed in the axis of the tube 21.
• the internal diameter of the tube must allow the lateral displacement without contact of the balance shaft 20 in the event of impact: bearings provided a shockproof system. This embodiment makes it possible to reduce the height of the mechanism.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Gears, Cams (AREA)
• Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-07-08 FR FR1301614A patent/FR3008200A1/fr active Pending
• 2014
  • 2014-06-26 EP EP14750521.8A patent/EP3019916A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-06-26 WO PCT/FR2014/000146 patent/WO2015004336A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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