EP3210082A2

EP3210082A2 - Mechanical watch movement regulating member

Info

Publication number: EP3210082A2
Application number: EP15787179.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olivier Karlen; Eric Klein; Jonathan ZÜRCHER; Alexis HERAUD
Original assignee: Richemont International SA
Current assignee: Richemont International SA
Priority date: 2014-10-24
Filing date: 2015-10-23
Publication date: 2017-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-23
Also published as: JP2017531806A; WO2016062889A3; WO2016062889A2; JP6482660B2; CN107003640A; CH710278B1; CH710278A1; EP3210082B1; CN107003640B

Abstract

A mechanical watch movement regulating member (1) comprises an escape-wheel (5) and a vibrating oscillator (3) provided with at least two vibrating arms (31', 32') and pallets (4, 4') firmly joined to said vibrating arms and comprising two members (40) arranged to interact directly with the teeth of the escape-wheel (5), maintaining the periodic alternations of the vibrating oscillator (3) and causing the escape-wheel (5) to advance with each oscillation alternation.

Description

Regulating organ for a mechanical watch movement

Technical area

The present invention relates to a regulating member, or oscillator, for a mechanical watch movement comprising an escape wheel and a vibrating oscillator, in other words a resonator, including at least two vibrating members or arms, for example a blade of the type tuning fork, and an anchor portion for cooperating with the escape wheel. The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such a regulating member. This regulating member is intended to replace a conventional regulating member generally comprising a sprung balance and the associated exhaust.

State of the art [0002] In a clockwork movement, the function of the escapement is to transmit the energy received by the gear train, itself driven by the mainspring, to the regulating member constituted by the assembly sprung balance. This escapement generally comprises an independent anchor oscillating about an axis pivoted in the plate. The mechanical connection between the anchor and the resonator, constituted by the plate carrying the pin which abuts against each of the horns of the anchor, is relatively complicated. In addition, the sprung balance assembly requires a delicate adjustment. Finally, such resonators are generally limited to oscillation frequencies of 10 Hz at most.

Document CH1685665 describes an exhaust device comprising an anchor secured to a vibrating member where the anchor is arranged in such a way that it oscillates perpendicularly to the plane of the escape wheel. The anchor is fixed by embedding or welding, at the end of a vibrating blade embedded by its end in a rigid support. A tuning fork or a resonator derived from the tuning fork can be used instead of the vibrating blade, one of the branches bearing the anchor and the other branch oscillating freely while synchronizing with the first branch. The document CH442153 describes an escapement comprising a tuning fork, acting as a primary resonator, and a vibrating blade, acting as a secondary resonator, at the end of which is fixed an anchor provided with two lifts diametrically opposite to the center of the escape wheel. Under the effect of the shock of a tooth of the escape wheel against one of the lifts, the oscillating blade oscillates, the amplitude of its oscillation allowing the anchor to come lightly hit the end of one of the branches of the tuning fork which oscillates in turn to its own frequency.

EP2574994 discloses a mechanical resonator comprising a tuning fork type oscillator cooperating with an anchor mounted to rotate and whose angular positions can lock and unlock an escape wheel. This resonator has the disadvantage that the frills necessary for the so-called free operation between the members mounted on the fork leg and the organs, in this case a fork, of the anchor result in loss phases at each alternation of the oscillator. These phases are known in the watch industry under the term lost path. On the other hand, the number of parts and their setting makes the implementation of this system very delicate.

Brief summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a regulating member for a mechanical watch movement comprising an escape wheel and a vibrating oscillator provided with at least two vibrating arms and an integral anchor portion of said vibrating arms and comprising at least two members arranged so that to cooperate alternately with the teeth of the escape wheel, so as to maintain periodic alternations of the vibrating oscillator and to advance the wheel

exhaust at each alternation of oscillations. [0007] Preferably, the arms and the anchor portion are formed in one piece. According to one embodiment, the regulating member may be made from a process or a combination of subtractive and / or additive microfabrication processes, from a single substrate of a non-magnetic material or materials. whose combination will be non-magnetic. The chosen materials can be of type metallic or non-metallic, or a combination of both. The nonmagnetic metal materials may comprise at least partially metallic materials such as metal alloys, composites comprising at least one metal as well as at least partially amorphous metal alloys. Suitable non-metallic nonmagnetic materials may include glasses (including quartz), ceramics, glass-ceramics and metalloids, for example silicon, which may be machined from a wafer and a method of appropriate microfabrication, such as the DRIE.

This solution has the advantage over the prior art to have a small footprint and require a number of parts less than that normally required in a conventional assortment or in a regulating organ tuning fork type.

In addition, the high oscillation frequency of this solution makes it possible to have a better stability and precision of the operation of the oscillating member when wearing, and allows a greater Q quality factor, while reducing the adjustment needs.

Brief description of the figures

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 represents a view from above of a vibrating oscillator, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 represents a view from above of the vibrating oscillator in cooperation with an escape wheel, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 3a to 3d illustrate the oscillation of the vibrating oscillator of FIG. 1 according to a first basic oscillation mode (FIG. 3a), a second mode (3b), a third mode (FIG. 3c) and a fourth mode (FIG. Figure 3d), according to one embodiment; FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the vibrating oscillator comprising weights, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the vibrating oscillator comprising weights, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows the vibrating oscillator comprising stops, according to one embodiment;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the regulating member, having a second oscillator, according to another embodiment;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the vibrating oscillator, according to yet another embodiment;

FIG. 9 represents a detailed view of the teeth of the wheel

exhaust cooperating with members of an anchor portion of the vibrating oscillator, according to one embodiment;

Figure 10 illustrates the regulating member having an on / off mechanism, according to one embodiment;

Figure 11 shows a variant of the regulating member comprising a second oscillator;

FIG. 12 shows another variant of the vibrating oscillator comprising a plurality of detachable elements;

FIG. 13 represents a view from above of the vibrating oscillator, according to another exemplary variant;

Figure 14 shows a schematic view of another variant of the vibrating member;

Figure 15 shows the regulating member according to another embodiment;

Figure 16 shows the regulating member, still according to another embodiment;

Figure 17 schematically illustrates vibrating elements, according to various embodiments. Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

According to the invention, the regulating member comprises an escape wheel and a vibrating oscillator (or resonator), comprising at least two vibrating arms, which is coupled in one piece with an anchor portion. In particular, each vibrating oscillator vibrating arm carries a member, such as a lift, in other words a pallet, adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the escape wheel. Wheel

Exhaust can then be advantageously arranged between the vibrating arms and anchor part the vibrating oscillator.

Figures 1 and 2 show a top view of a regulating member 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Here, the regulating member 1 comprises an escape wheel 5 and a vibrating oscillator 3 including two arms each comprising a vibrating element 31 ', such as a vibrating blade, and a mass element 32. In this embodiment, the 3 vibrating elements of each arm are part of a single vibrating element 31 forming a tuning fork, and the regulating member 1 also comprises a base 2 intended to be mounted on a plate or other fixed part of a watch movement, or on an intermediate frame (not shown) mounted itself on said watch movement, and on which the vibrating element 31 is fixed in the vicinity of its nodal point, via a foot 9 of limited rigidity to allow a mode tuning fork operating mode (that is, the foot can also vibrate). In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the vibrating elements 31 'has a distal end 36. The mass element 32 here comprises two separate mass elements 32', each extending from the distal end 36. one of the elements 31 '. Advantageously, the frequency of the regulating member 1 can be controlled by varying the size of the vibrating element 31 and / or the size of the mass element 32. Here, by mass element 32 is meant a substantially more mass element and more rigid that the vibrating element 31. In other words, it is the mass element 32 which mainly constitutes the inertia of the vibrating oscillator 3.

The anchor portion 4 of the regulating member 1 comprises in this embodiment two anchor parts 4 ', each of the anchor parts 4' extending from the mass element 32 'near the distal end 36'. one of the arms 31 '. Each of the anchor parts 4 'comprises a member, here in the form of a lift 40, adapted to cooperate with the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5. Preferably, the base 2, the arms 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor parts 4 'generally extend in the same reference plane P, in an arc of a circle. 12. Mounting means 20 may be provided in the base 2 so as to fix the base 2 to the frame receiving the regulating member 1 by screwing 21. The base 2 may however be fixed by any other appropriate means.

For the remainder of the description will be adopted in a non-limiting manner transverse directions "x" and longitudinal "y", defining the reference plane P in which extends the regulating member 1, and an axis " z "perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse orientations. In Figure 1, the guidelines

transverse "x" and longitudinal "y" are shown in the plane of the page and the z axis comes out of the page.

The regulating member 1 is intended to cooperate with the escape wheel 5 (shown in Figure 2). Preferably, the escape wheel 5 is housed in an interior space 11 delimited by its arms, or not the vibrating elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor parts 4 '(or more generally the anchor part 4) . The escape wheel 5 is pivotally mounted around the center 12 so that a toothing 50 of the escape wheel 5 comes into cooperation with the lifts 40. In this configuration, the vibrating elements 31 ', the mass elements 32 'and the anchor parts 4' are in the same reference plane P as the escape wheel 5 and are generally concentric with the pivot axis of the wheel

exhaust 5.

The vibrating elements 3 are capable of oscillating in the manner of a tuning fork from their end fixed to the base 2. When they oscillate, the vibrating elements 31 'maintain the mass elements 32' and the anchor parts 4 'also in oscillation. In particular, the elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor portions 4 'are capable of oscillating according to a first fundamental oscillation mode, as illustrated in FIG. 3a (the displacements shown in FIGS. are not to scale). In the first mode of oscillation, the two elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor parts 4 'oscillate in the reference plane P asymmetrically. In other words, the elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor parts 4 'move together, in a movement back and forth in the same direction in the reference plane P. In Figure 3a, the movement of the elements 31', mass elements 32 'and anchor parts 4' is indicated by the arrows and their displacement is compared to their rest position by the contour lines. When the regulating member 1 cooperates with the escape wheel 5 and oscillates in the first mode of oscillation, the anchor parts 4 'oscillate and the lifts 40 alternately receive pulses of the teeth of the wheel of 5, so as to alternately lock and release the escape wheel 5 and maintain the periodic oscillations of the vibrating oscillator 3. The regulating member 1 allows the successive escape of two teeth 50 so that the wheel exhaust 5 advances a tooth in a back and forth motion of the anchor portions 4 ', that is alternately.

Figures 14a and 14b show the regulating member 1 according to another embodiment wherein the regulating member 1 comprises a vibrating element formed of two blades 31 fixed to a base 2 at their proximal end. Each of the two blades 31 carries, at their distal end, a mass arm 32 comprising a tooth 40 of an anchor portion 4. An escape wheel 5 is placed between the two mass arms 32 so as to cooperate with the teeth 40. The vibrating elements 31 oscillate from their proximal end, driving in translation in a movement back and forth the two mass arms 32 '. In particular, the teeth 40 alternately receive pulses of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5, so as to alternately lock and release the escape wheel 5 and maintain the periodic oscillations of the vibrating oscillator 3.

It is possible to equip each anchor portion 4 of more than one member 40 so that the escape wheel 5 advances at a different speed than a tooth alternately, as shown in Figure 14. For example, by equipping each anchor portion 4 with two members 40 instead of one, and distributing them in such a way that only one member 40 of the four (distributed over two anchor portions 4) co-operates with a tooth 50 of the escape wheel 5 at each oscillation, we obtain in such a configuration an advance of half a tooth alternately, or an advance of a tooth for two alternations. In the same way, the rotation frequency can be further reduced by the addition of more than two members 40 per anchor portion 4. In such a configuration, it is also easy to modify the functions of the members 40, so that some participate only in the release of the wheel 5 while others participate in the release and the impulse, or the maintenance of the resonator, thus obtaining an escape said lost strokes, whose performance is generally higher, as it is the case of relaxation exhausts.

It is also obvious that such exhaust variants could equally well apply, with the necessary adaptations, to any other type

an exhaust system, such as, for example, and without being limited to anchor, expansion, cylinder or tangential escapements, or

non-contact exhausts, such as magnetic exhausts.

In the configuration of Figures 1 and 2, the oscillating arms formed by the vibrating elements 31 'and the mass elements 32', play the role of a regulating member, and the anchor arms 4 'with the levées 40 and the wheel 5 play the role of an exhaust member, in a conventional clock movement.

In one embodiment, the regulating member 1 comprising the vibrating blade 31, the mass element 32 and the anchor 4 is manufactured in one piece. For example, the regulating member 1 may be made of the same material, preferably a non-magnetic material. This material may be of non-metallic type such as from the group comprising metalloids (in particular silicon), glasses (especially quartz), borosilicate, fused silica, ceramics or even vitro ceramics. The material may also be an at least partially metallic material, or comprise a crystalline or amorphous metal or metal alloy, composites comprising at least one metal element or any other material suitable for precision machining. The regulating member 1 can be manufactured by a microfabrication process (additive or subtractive method), advantageously from a single substrate, such as for example a single wafer in the case of silicon (monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous). The escape wheel 5 may also be made of the same material as the oscillating member, possibly on the same wafer. The frequency of the first mode of oscillation of the regulating member 1 as well as the duration in time of the oscillation (or damping rate of the oscillation) can be modified by changing the moment of inertia of the mass elements 32 '. A higher moment of inertia of the mass elements 32 'results in a lower oscillation frequency of the regulating member 1 and a longer oscillation time (less rapid oscillation damping).

In a variant, the mass elements 32 'are arranged in such a way that the center of gravity of the assembly formed by a vibrating element 31' and a mass element 32 'is substantially at the distal end 36 of the arm 31 ', that is to say at the junction between the arm 31' and the mass element 32 '.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the regulating member 1, according to an embodiment in which at least one of the two mass elements 32 'comprises a flyweight 34. The flyweight 34 makes it possible to modify the moment of rotation. inertia of the mass element 32 'without substantially increasing the bulk of the vibrating oscillator 3. The weight 34 is advantageously made of a material having a higher density than that used for the rest of the vibrating oscillator 3 (and therefore mass elements 32 '). For example, the weight 34 may be made of gold or any other metal or dense alloy. The weight 34 can be machined by a conventional method and assembled, by gluing, brazing, bonding, screwing or pinning. It is also possible to grow material, for example by galvanic growth, by sintering or other additive processes applicable to microcomponents, on one or more faces of the vibrating oscillator 3. FIG. side of the regulating member 1, according to a variant in which the weight 34 is manufactured by the addition of material, for example by growth of material, on the surface of at least one of the mass elements 32 '. In FIG. 5, the weight 34 appears as a coating over the mass element 32 '. The growth of material can be carried out over the entire surface or a portion of the surface of the mass elements 32 '. The added material can

to understand gold, a gold alloy or any other material making it possible to increase the density of the mass element 32 '. The addition of material can also be achieved in the thickness of at least one of the two mass elements 32 '. Alternatively, the addition of material can be made with the same material as that forming the mass elements 32 '(and the rest of the regulating member 1). More generally, the oscillation frequency of the vibrating oscillator 3 can be adjusted by modifying the inertia of the mass elements 32 'and / or the weights 34. In particular, the frequency can be increased by ablation of material on at least one of the mass elements and / or at least one flyweight. The ablation of material may be performed by laser machining, by breaking detachable elements (as described in document CH656044) or by any other appropriate method. If detachable elements are used, they can be made during the same operation as the manufacturing operation of the regulating organ. FIG. 12 illustrates the vibrating oscillator 3 according to a variant in which the mass elements 32 'carry a plurality of detachable elements 37 at each of their ends. Each of the detachable elements 37 can be removed from the mass element 32 'by breaking at a reduced section 37' of the detachable element 37. On the other hand, the frequency of the regulating member can be reduced by increasing the length of the vibrating elements 31 'and / or the mass elements 32' of the regulating member, in particular by eliminating one or more of the elements 37 ".

In Figure 12, the elements 37 all have the same size and the same mass. According to one variant, to obtain a finer adjustment with a larger range, detachable elements with different masses are used. By way of example, the detachable elements can be dimensioned into five different masses in order to correspond, respectively, to a correction of: 1 s / d, 2 s / d, 4 s / d, 8 s / d, and 16 s / day. In this way, it is possible to correct from 1 to 31 s / d by detaching a combination of appropriate elements.

The regulating member 1 can also oscillate according to other modes

of oscillations (harmonics) than the first oscillation mode described above. For example, FIG. 3b illustrates the vibrating oscillator 3 oscillating in a second oscillation mode, in which the vibrating elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor portions 4 'oscillate in the reference plane P (according to FIG. directions

transverse "x" and longitudinal "y") symmetrically. In the second mode of oscillation, the vibrating elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor parts 4 'move together, successively towards the center 12 and away from the center 12. It will be understood that this mode of oscillation is not favorable to the function of the anchor of the regulating organ 1 since the lifts 40 are narrowed towards the wheel 5 exhaust and separate successively, not allowing the regulation of the pivoting of the escape wheel 5.

A third and fourth oscillation mode are respectively illustrated in Figures 3c and 3d, in which the two blade arms 31 ', the mass arms 32' and the anchor arms 4 'oscillate out of the reference plane P (along the "z" axis). In the third oscillation mode (FIG. 3c), the vibrating elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor portions 4 'oscillate asymmetrically so that one of the lifts 40 ascends along the axis "z" and the other lift 40 descends along the axis "z". In the fourth mode of oscillation (FIG. 3d), the vibrating elements 31 ', the mass elements 32' and the anchor portions 4 'oscillate symmetrically so that the two lifts 40 move up and down together along the axis "z ".

The oscillation frequency of the different modes of oscillation depends on the geometry of the vibrating oscillator 3 and, as discussed above, can be adjusted by changing the moment of inertia of the mass element 32. periodic oscillations corresponding to the first oscillation mode where the vibrating oscillator 3 oscillates in the reference plane may have a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to 5Ό00 Hz, but preferably between 10 Hz to 400 Hz, or between 60 Hz and 5Ό00 Hz, or between 60 Hz and 200 Hz. In one embodiment, the moment of inertia of the mass element 32 is modified so that the oscillation frequency of the first oscillation mode is about At 100 Hz, the oscillation frequency of the second oscillation mode is about 128 Hz, and the oscillation frequency of the third and fourth oscillation modes is about 183.5 Hz and 205.8 Hz, respectively. At a frequency of 100 Hz, the time of a rest phase of the regulating member 1 is about 1 ms, and the time of a pulse phase is a little more than 1 ms.

The regulating member 1 is thus very little disturbed by the friction or impact during the contacts between the lifts 40 with the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5.

In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 10, the regulating member 1 comprises an on / off mechanism 60 comprising a lever 61 actuated by the pull tab 62 of a time setting mechanism and configured to stop and keep the regulating member 1 stationary, by stopping the vibrating elements 31 'and the mass elements 32' of the vibrating oscillator 3 in an unbalanced position, corresponding to one of the two extreme positions of the vibrating oscillator 3 in normal operating mode (or an eccentric position with respect to the escape wheel 5) so as to provide a self-starting function of a movement watchmaker. Preferably, the regulating member 1 is started in the first oscillation mode. The vibration of the regulating member in either one of the second, third and fourth modes of oscillation can be prevented by blocking the vibration of these modes by stops or by other means. For example, FIG. 6 shows the regulating member 1 comprising abutments 6, according to one embodiment in which each of the abutments 6 is formed integral with one of the mass elements 32 'in the plane P so as to come into position. abutting against each other when the regulating member 1 oscillates symmetrically. The stops 6 thus prevent the vibrating oscillator 3d'osciller according to the second oscillation mode. Similarly, stops (not shown) can also be configured to prevent the movement of the vibrating oscillator 3 along the "z" axis, or along the "x", "y" and "z" axes. in case of shock.

Still according to another embodiment, the regulating member 1 comprises a setting mechanism of the reference point. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the adjustment mechanism takes the form of an adjustment fork 8 integral with the base 2 and arranged to cooperate without play with an adjusting eccentric 80 (see FIG. 2) pivoting in the plate (or any other fixed part of the movement or frame in which the regulating member is mounted). The eccentric adjustment 80 is configured to move in the reference plane P so as to cause, by

through the adjustment range 8, the vibrating oscillator 3 rotates about a pivot point shown by the number 22 in Figures 1, 2 and 8. According to the direction of movement of the eccentric adjustment 80 , the vibrating oscillator 3 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise so as to adjust the penetration of the lifts 40 relative to the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5.

The adjustment amplitude may, for example, be of the order of approximately ± 120 μιη. The adjustment range 8 may be sufficiently flexible so as to absorb any gaps between the adjustment range 8 and the eccentric adjustment 80, and thus ensure immediate drive of the vibrating oscillator 3 in both directions of rotation. In another variant of the embodiment, the base 2 comprises stops for limiting the transverse movement in the reference plane P (see the elements 6 'in the variant of Figure 8). Such stops can be oriented on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the escape wheel. The oscillation of the vibrating oscillator 3 can be disturbed by the impulse of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel on its lifts. In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the regulating organ 1 comprises a second oscillator 7 arranged to oscillate freely, that is to say, without being disturbed by the lifts 40. The second oscillator 7 can be coupled to the oscillation of the regulating organ 1 by sympathetic resonance. The second oscillator 7 thus makes it possible to reduce the disturbances due to the impact of the teeth 50 on the lifts 40.

The transmission and the coupling of the vibrations between the vibrating oscillator 3 which cooperates with the escape wheel 5, and the second oscillator 7 can be done by means of support materials (mechanical resonance), an ambient fluid (acoustic resonance) or by magnetic coupling. In the case of a coupling via an ambient fluid, the surface of the vibrating oscillator 3 can be modified (for example by nano structuration) so as to increase the displaced wave pressure and thus promote the quality synchronization. Alternatively, or in combination, the geometry of the regulating member 1 can be modified In the case of a magnetic coupling, the second free oscillator 7 can be mounted under a controlled atmosphere, for example in a magnetically permeable capsule (not shown), so as to improve the quality factor of the regulating member 1. In general, the second oscillator 7 contributes to the improvement of the quality factor of the regulating member 1. [0038] Another variant of such a double oscillator is also illustrated in FIG. 11. Here the second resonator 7 comprises a second vibrating element 71 also divided into two elements or vibrating arms 71 'and a second mass element 72 also divided into two mass elements 72' of to give a balanced configuration almost in the shape of "H" to the regulating organ 1. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and that various modifications and simple variants can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. . Figure 8 shows the regulating member 1 according to another embodiment in which the base 2 is arranged in the inner space 11 of the vibrating oscillator 3, but in a lower plane below the wheel

5. The configuration of the vibrating oscillator 3 of FIG. 8 is more compact. In this configuration, the base 2 may comprise stops 6 'which prevent the transverse movements of the anchor arms 4' in the reference plane P.

Figures 9a and 9b show a detail view of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5, according to one embodiment. Each of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5 comprises an inclined plane of impulse 51 and an inclined plane 52. Each of the lifts 40 also includes an inclined plane 41 but does not include a pulse plane, the top 42 of the lift 40 having rather a peak shape. The configuration of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5 and the lifts 40 in this embodiment allows the lifts 40 to receive the pulses of the teeth 50, and to maintain the oscillations of the vibrating oscillator 3 while advancing the exhaust wheel 5 in one direction or the other. In other words, the regulating member 1 can operate irrespective of the direction of rotation of the escape wheel 5. FIG. 9a shows a lift 40 in engagement with the impulse plane 51 of a tooth 50 during the phase pulse, while Figure 9b shows a lift 40 engaged with the rest plane 52 of a tooth 50 during the rest phase. In order to limit possible rebounds of the lifts 40 during the pulse on the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5, the latter can be provided with elastic arms 53 (Figure 2) so as to absorb shocks of the lifted 40 on the teeth 50.

The regulating member 1 may comprise heat compensation means including compensating coatings, zero thermoelastic coefficient materials, and other means similar to those used on the rockers, for example bimetallic structures, or others. For example, if the vibrating oscillator 3 is made of silicon, it may comprise a coating of silicon dioxide deposited on at least a portion of its surface. Alternatively, the thermal compensation means of a vibrating oscillator made of silicon may be one of the means described in document CH699780 of the applicant.

The geometry of the vibrating oscillator 3 and in particular of its vibrating elements can be modified in different ways. For example, according to one variant each vibrating element, each mass element and / or each anchor part can be assimilated together as a single element or vibrating arm of the regulating organ. According to another exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the vibrating elements 31 'have a different shape with an intermediate section bent in the other direction, which makes it possible to stiffen the blades (the lifts of the anchor part are not visible in FIG. this figure).

Furthermore, the members of the anchor portion (4, 4 ') adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the escape wheel can take different forms, just like the teeth of the escape wheel.

Figure 15 shows another embodiment of the regulating member 1 in which the mass element 32 allow the anchor portion 4, 40 to rotate about a single axis. In particular, the mass element 32 comprises two elements 32 'extending generally in the same plane P in an arc of a circle with respect to a center 12. The escape wheel 5 is disposed in the interior space 11 delimited by these mass arms 32 ', each carrying a tooth 4 of the anchor part 4. The escapement wheel 5 is pivotally mounted around the center 12 so that a toothing (not shown) of the escape wheel 5 comes into effect. cooperation with the teeth 40. The escape wheel 5 is in the same plane P as the wheel

exhaust 5, the latter being concentric with a circle inscribed by the mass arms 32 '. Vibrating elements 31 (blades or others) are arranged in a star (here three vibrating elements 31 angularly spaced by about 120 °) and fixed at a proximal end of a base 2 having the shape of a circular arc. The distal end of the vibrating elements 31 is attached to the mass element 32 via a foot 9. In operation, the oscillation of the vibrating elements 31 gives a

oscillation motion in the plane P as indicated by the arrow 90 in fig 2.

FIG. 16 represents another configuration of the regulating organ 1 in which the vibrating oscillator 3 comprises a mass element 32, the vibrating oscillator 3 constituting the time base of the regulating member 1. The mass element 32 includes the anchor portion 4 and the members 40 configured to cooperate

directly with the escapement mobile 5 so as to maintain oscillations of the first resonator 3 and to oscillate the escapement mobile 5 with each alternation of oscillations. In particular, in this example, the vibrating oscillator 3 is formed of three vibrating elements 31 extending radially from a center 12 in a plane P. The vibrating elements 31 are angularly spaced about 120 ° from each other. other. Each of the vibrating elements 31 is fixed at its proximal end (near the center 12) to a base 2 intended to be mounted on a plate or any other fixed part of a clockwork movement or on an intermediate frame mounted itself on said movement watchmaker. The distal end 35 of each of the vibrating elements 31 is fixed to the mass element 32. Each of the vibrating elements 31 can therefore vibrate or oscillate freely between its distal and proximal end.

According to one embodiment, mounting means 20 may be provided in the base 2 so as to fix the base 2 to a frame 10. The frame 10 may comprise a cage as shown in Figure 12. The frame 10 is intended to be mounted fixed or mobile on a watch movement (not shown). Alternatively, the base 2 is mounted directly on the watch movement, for example on a plate or a bridge.

The frame 10 has the advantage of facilitating assembly, disassembly, adjustment and dedicated operations within the framework of the after-sales service of the oscillator 1. The frame 10 can take the form of a cage (as in Figure 1) or a capsule. The frame 10 can be mounted and adjusted on a part of the movement, for example the plate, in order to cooperate with the gear which it regulates.

Still according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the escape wheel is an escape wheel 5 pivotally mounted around a shaft 54, itself mounted in a bridge 21 fixed with the base 2. The bridge may comprise an upper bridge 21 and a lower bridge 21 '.

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates various vibrating elements 31. The vibrating elements 31 may be constituted so as to limit the stresses, in particular at their ends (proximal and distal). This can be done using distributed load beams (Figure 17b), multi-leaf vibrating elements (Figures 17a and 17d), or by modifying the local section of a beam by making local openings (Figure 17b). 17e), holes for example. It is also possible to lengthen the active blade length without increasing the length of the vibrating element by producing "serpentine" type structures (FIG. 17c), which make it possible to reduce the loads in a very significant manner. Finally, it is possible to reduce the risk of breaks in the recesses by softening the sharp angles, which generally represent primers of rupture or fatigue.

On the other hand, we know of vibratory phenomena the existence of nodes along the vibrating structures and whose spacing is a direct function of the resonance frequency. We can thus vary the section along the blade (Figure 17b) so as to favor certain frequencies and / or remove the harmonics and thus maximize the energy and the quality factor of the resonator. It is obvious that a combination of several of the means mentioned above may also be considered in order to combine the advantages.

By way of illustration, but without being limiting, in the case of a mass resonator M (expressed in g) and comprising several vibrating elements 31 formed of simple beams of stiffness k (expressed in mN.m / rad) and characterized by a height h and a thickness e, a ratio k / M between 0.1 and 1.0 and a ratio w / e between 3 and 20 give particularly satisfactory results.

A characteristic of the various configurations described above is that the mass element 32 is supported only by the base 2 via the vibrating element 31. In this way, the friction is considerably reduced. it is found in the case of a regulating member of the spiral balance type. The regulating member of the present invention also has a novel aesthetic and can be advantageously incorporated in a watch movement of a watch in a manner to make them visible to the wearer of the watch. For example, the regulating member may be mounted above or below the motor member of the movement. To also give an indication of seconds, the escape wheel 5 may be adapted to rotate at a speed of one revolution per minute.

Reference numbers used in the figures

1 regulating organ

11 interior space

12 center

2 base

21 is

22 pivot point

3 vibrating oscillator

31 vibrating element

31 'arms

32 mass element

32 'mass element

34 weights

35 weights

36 distal end of a blade arm

37 detachable element

37 'reduced section of detachable element

4 anchor part

4 'anchor part

40 organ or raised

41 rest plan of the lift

42 tooth tip

5 escape wheel

50 tooth of the escape wheel

51 tooth impulse plan

52 rest plan of the tooth

53 arms of the escape wheel

6 stop

6 'stop

60 on / off mechanism

61 lever

62 zipper

7 second oscillator

71 second vibrating element

71 'second vibrating element

72 second mass element

72 'second mass element

8 adjustment range

80 eccentric adjustment

9 feet

P reference plane

Claims

claims

1. Regulating organ (1) for a mechanical watch movement

comprising an escape wheel (5) and a vibrating oscillator (3) provided with at least two vibrating arms (31 ', 32') and an anchor portion (4, 4 ') integral with said vibrating arms and comprising members ( 40) arranged to cooperate directly with the teeth of the escape wheel (5), so as to maintain periodic alternations of the vibrating oscillator (3) and to advance the escape wheel (5) at each alternation of oscillations.

2. which each vibrating arm (31, 31 ') is fixed and supported only to a base (2) intended to be mounted on a fixed or movable part of the watch movement.

3. The regulating member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least two vibrating arms (31 ', 32') of the vibrating oscillator (3) and the anchor part (4, 4 ') are arranged generally concentrically with a center (12) of the vibrating oscillator (3) coinciding with the pivot axis of the escape wheel (5).

4. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vibrating arms (3, 32 ') and the anchor part (4, 4') are generally arranged in the same reference plane ( P) as the escape wheel.

5. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4,

wherein said periodic oscillations correspond to a first oscillation mode where the vibrating oscillator (3) oscillates in the reference plane (P), so that the members (40) of the anchor portion (4) move in the same direction to successively engage with the teeth (50) of the escape wheel (5).

6. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5,

wherein said periodic oscillations of the first oscillation mode have a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to 5Ό00 Hz, preferably from 10 Hz to 400 Hz.

7. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6,

further comprising one or more stops adapted to prevent the vibrating oscillator (3) from oscillating in a different oscillation mode than the first mode

oscillation, and particularly to oscillate out of the reference plane (P).

8. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each vibrating arm (31, 31 ') is composed of at least one bar, of continuous or discontinuous section, constant or variable, or the combination many of these variants

9. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said at least two vibrating arms (31 ', 32') of the vibrating oscillator (3) includes a vibrating element (3) and a mass element (32 '), and in that the anchor portion comprises an anchor portion (4') on each vibrating arm.

10. The regulating member (1) according to claim 9,

wherein each vibrating element (3) has a distal end (36);

and wherein each mass element (32 ') extends from the distal end (36) of the corresponding vibrating element (3).

11. The regulating member (1) according to claim 10,

wherein each of the anchor portions (4 ') extends from one of the mass members (32') near the distal end (36) of the corresponding vibrating member (31 ').

12. The regulating member (1) according to claim 11,

wherein the center of gravity of the assembly formed by a vibrating element (31 ') and a mass element (32') of an arm is substantially at the distal end (36) of the vibrating element (31 '). ) corresponding.

13. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 9 to 12,

wherein the vibrating elements (31) are part of a single vibrating element (31) which is fixed adjacent its nodal point to the base (2).

14. The regulating member (1) according to claim 13,

wherein the base (2) extends in an arc relative to the center (12). The regulating member (1) according to claim 12,

wherein the base (2) is arranged in an interior space (11) delimited by the vibrating arms.

15. The regulating member (1) according to claim 9, wherein the massive elements (32 ') of each arm form a single massive element (32).

16. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, being made of a non-magnetic material.

17. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibrating oscillator (3) and / or the escape wheel (5) are made of a non-metallic material comprising metalloids, glasses , ceramics and vitroceramics.

18. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the vibrating oscillator (3) and / or the escape wheel (5) are made of a metallic material comprising metal alloys, composites comprising at least one metal and at least partially amorphous metals.

19. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the vibrating oscillator (3) and / or the escape wheel (5) are made by combinations of metallic and non-metallic materials.

20. The regulating member (1) according to claim 16, wherein the vibrating oscillator (3) is made from a single substrate, preferably a substrate of glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic or silicon, the last being preferably chosen in the form of a wafer.

21. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibrating oscillator (3) comprises at least one weight (34) solidaire each vibrating arm (3, 32 ') so as to modify the moment of inertia of the regulating member and / or reduce its bulk.

22. The regulating member (1) according to claim 21,

wherein the weight (34) is made of a material having a density greater than that in which the mass elements (32 ') are formed.

23. The regulating member (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the weight (34) is obtained by additive or subtractive method and assembled by means adapted to the selected materials and required tolerances, preferably by gluing, brazing, welding, bonding, screwing, crimping or pinning.

24. The regulating member (1) according to claim 21, wherein the weight

(34) is obtained by growth of material on the resonator (3).

25. The regulating member (1) according to claim 21,

wherein the weight (34) is made in one piece with the vibrating element and the mass element (31 ', 32') and in the same material as these.

26. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an on / off mechanism configured to stop and hold the vibrating oscillator (3) in a position of imbalance and to provide a damping function. self-starting of the regulating member (1).

27. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a setting mechanism of the reference point (8, 80) for adjusting the penetration of the members (40) relative to the teeth (50). the escape wheel (5).

28. The regulating member (1) according to claim 27,

wherein the landmark adjustment mechanism comprises an adjustment fork (8) arranged to cooperate without play with an adjustment eccentric (80) of in order to cause the vibrating oscillator (3) to rotate about a pivot point (22).

29. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second oscillator (7) coupled to the oscillation of the vibrating oscillator (3) by sympathetic resonance and oscillating at the same frequency as the oscillator (3) or at a different frequency, preferably at a multiple or fractional frequency thereof.

30. The regulating member (1) according to claim 29,

wherein coupling to the oscillation is achieved by mechanical resonance or acoustic resonance or magnetic coupling.

31. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 29,

wherein coupling to the oscillation is effected by magnetic coupling and the second oscillator (7) is mounted under a controlled atmosphere.

32. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the teeth (50) of the escape wheel (5) and the members (40) of the anchor portion (4) are arranged so to help move the wheel forward

exhaust (5) in one direction or the other.

33. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 32,

wherein a pulse plane (51) and a rest plane (52) of each of the teeth (50) are inclined.

34. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the geometries of the teeth (50) of the escape wheel (5) and the lifts of the anchor portion (40) are chosen so as to ensure a self-starting when the wheel is subjected to a torque, in particular by promoting an unstable position of the oscillator.

35. The regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 33,

wherein the escape wheel comprises shock absorbing arms (53) when the members (40) of the anchor portion (4) receive the pulses of the teeth (50).

36. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibrating oscillator (3) is made of silicon and comprises thermocompensation means.

37. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the oscillation frequency of the vibrating oscillator (3) is adjusted by reducing the inertia of at least one of the mass elements (32, 32 ') by ablation of material, preferably by ablation of the mass element (32, 32') and / or a weight (34).

38. The regulating member (1) according to claim 30,

in which the ablation of material is carried out by breaking at least one of a plurality of detachable elements, of identical or different masses, made on the mass elements (32, 32 ') during the same operation as the manufacturing operation or during a subsequent adjustment operation of the regulating member.

39. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the oscillation frequency of the vibrating oscillator (3) is adjusted by modifying the stiffness of the arms (31 ', 32'), preferably by modifying their quadratic moment and / or the local stiffness of the material and / or by increasing the length of the arms (3, 32 '), preferably by increasing the length of the vibrating blade (31).

40. The regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the escape wheel (5) rotates at a speed of one revolution per minute.

41. Watch movement comprising a regulating member (1) according to one of the preceding claims.