EP3781993B1 - Free direct escapement mechanism for watches. - Google Patents

Free direct escapement mechanism for watches. Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3781993B1
EP3781993B1 EP19718355.1A EP19718355A EP3781993B1 EP 3781993 B1 EP3781993 B1 EP 3781993B1 EP 19718355 A EP19718355 A EP 19718355A EP 3781993 B1 EP3781993 B1 EP 3781993B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
escapement
impulse
plane
pallet
pinion
Prior art date
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EP19718355.1A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3781993A1 (en
Inventor
Dominique Renaud
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Besse Francois
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Individual
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Priority claimed from EP18167638.8A external-priority patent/EP3557334A1/en
Priority claimed from EP18172526.8A external-priority patent/EP3570117A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP3781993A1 publication Critical patent/EP3781993A1/en
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Publication of EP3781993B1 publication Critical patent/EP3781993B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B15/00—Escapements
    • G04B15/06—Free escapements
    • G04B15/08—Lever escapements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B15/00—Escapements
    • G04B15/06—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
    • G04B15/00—Escapements
    • G04B15/14—Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B5/00—Automatic winding up
    • G04B5/02—Automatic winding up by self-winding caused by the movement of the watch
    • G04B5/04—Automatic winding up by self-winding caused by the movement of the watch by oscillating weights the movement of which is limited
    • G04B5/08—Automatic winding up by self-winding caused by the movement of the watch by oscillating weights the movement of which is limited acting in both directions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a free direct escapement mechanism.
  • the invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such an escapement mechanism.
  • Lever escapements certainly constitute the most common category of escapements in mechanical clockwork mechanisms, at least in the class of so-called free escapements.
  • a lever escapement Associated with a regulating organ, typically of the pendulum or balance-spring assembly type, a lever escapement makes it possible to maintain the oscillations of said regulating organ by transmitting to it by regular pulses, at a determined frequency, a fraction of the mechanical energy of the source of mechanical energy for a said watch mechanism, usually comprising at least one barrel spring.
  • the escapement also makes it possible to count the oscillations of the regulating organ and, consequently, to count the time.
  • lever escapements have been proposed in the state of the art and are well known to those skilled in the art in the field of watchmaking. Their limitations, just as well known, are mainly a propensity to disturb the isochronism of the oscillations of the regulating organ due to the successive shocks and frictions between the anchor and the regulating organ on the one hand as well as the anchor and the escapement wheel on the other hand, as well as low mechanical efficiency, mainly for the same reasons. Indeed, it is usually considered that a lever escapement only transmits to the regulating organ a limited quantity, of the order of only 30%, of the driving force that it receives from the driving source.
  • Robin-type lever mechanisms have the advantage of better efficiency than Swiss lever escapement mechanisms.
  • the Robin escapement is an escapement that combines the advantages of the detent escapement (high efficiency and direct transmission of energy between the escape wheel and the balance wheel) with those of the lever escapement (better operating safety) . It is a free escapement with direct impulse from the escapement wheel to the balance wheel, the anchor of the escapement mechanism essentially constituting a rocker fitted with two resting pallets and which rocks between two extreme rest positions of the escapement wheel outside the pulse phases. Their efficiency is acclaimed because they allow a substantial gain in energy transmission to the regulator compared to a Swiss lever escapement, the energy transmitted being around 50%.
  • the object of the present invention is also to provide a direct and free horological escapement mechanism which is as simple and reliable to implement as a Swiss lever escapement but which benefits from singularly improved chronometric performances, analogous at least to those of direct impulse escapements without however presenting their difficulties of implementation.
  • the invention finally aims to provide a timepiece comprising such an escapement mechanism.
  • the present invention proposes a lever escapement mechanism according to claim 1, as well as a timepiece provided with such an escapement and defined in claim 20.
  • this escapement mechanism is characterized in that the resting device is arranged to undergo a pull of the escapement wheel set into each rest position and that the teeth of the escapement wheel set and the pallets of The pulses are configured and arranged in such a way that the pulses occur outside the plane P1 of the escape wheel set.
  • the mechanism of the invention thus proposes in an inventive way to release the place of impulse of the escapement wheel set to the pulse pallets integral with the regulator of the plane P1 in which the escape wheel extends and performs its rotation. It is thus possible to reduce the dimensions of the portion of the teeth of the active escapement wheel set to provide an effective impulse on the impulse plane of the impulse pallets, while allowing off impulse, thanks to the associated draw, a free path of the regulator in rotation on its axis during which the impulse pallets describe a track between the teeth of the escapement wheel set parallel to the plane P1 of the latter.
  • At least part of the teeth of the escape wheel set form a projection perpendicular to the plane P1 of said escape wheel set.
  • a projection easily makes it possible to shift the pulse location of the escapement wheel set to the pulse vanes integral with the regulator outside the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set.
  • the at least one resting pallet is preferably arranged on the resting device to cooperate with the teeth of the escapement wheel set at least partially in the plane P1 of said escapement wheel set.
  • the impulse pallets are arranged integral in rotation with the regulating member such that their impulse plane describes a trace whose width, measured in a trace of the escapement mechanism , is at most equal to half the pitch separating two teeth of the escape wheel set. It is thus ensured that the regulator member can alternate freely between the teeth of the escapement wheel set, more particularly between the projecting parts of the teeth, without risk of shocks between the impulse pallets and the teeth of the escapement wheel set.
  • the impulse vanes are arranged integral in rotation with the regulating member such that the angle of lift to the regulating member is between 10° and 35°, preferably between 15° and 30°. °.
  • the resting device comprises a resting anchor provided with a first and a second resting pallets and integral with a return lever mounted so as to be able to rotate around an axis between two resting positions. passing through the release position, said rest and release positions being determined by at least two stops on either side of a first end of the return lever and a complementary release member arranged at a second end of said return lever.
  • This embodiment has the advantage of great simplicity of adjustment, using an anchor resting device capable of being controlled in a more conventional manner by the return lever interacting directly with pins or limit stops on the one hand and the disengagement lifting of the regulator member on the other hand by means of a fork or the like as described later.
  • the complementary release member can advantageously be formed of an almond-shaped ring in which extends the axis of the regulator so that the control lift moves without contact along the walls. internals of said ring during normal operation of the escapement mechanism, said ring defining a control cam, a control lift release notch being formed in the internal wall of said ring in a position of alignment with a longitudinal axis of the lever reminder.
  • the almond-shaped ring thus forms a safety feature for the escapement.
  • the additional release member may be formed of a fork comprising two horns separated by a notch and devoid of stinger or the like, said horns being symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the return lever passing through the axis of rotation and the center of the notch and extending from said notch along an arc of a circle.
  • said impulse pallets are fixed on an impulse plate integral with the regulator member and extending in a plane P2 parallel to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set.
  • the teeth of the escapement wheel set then comprise an impulse finger projecting with respect to the plane P1 to engage the impulse plane of the impulse pallets outside of said plane P1, the radial ends of the said impulse and rest teeth describing the circular path C.
  • control lift is a pin secured to the impulse plate.
  • the resting device comprises a return lever carrying at a first end said resting pallet and being mounted so as to be able to rotate around an axis between the resting position and the release position, determined by at least one stopper and at least one control cam arranged integral in rotation with said regulator member.
  • This embodiment has the advantage of requiring only one rest pallet, and providing a simple and compact exhaust structure.
  • the complementary release member comprises a release arm secured to the return lever and provided at a free end with a release tooth arranged to cooperate with said control lift in said release position.
  • control cam has a cam surface and a cam notch formed in said cam surface to cooperate with a cam follower formed at a second end of the return lever opposite said resting paddle, said control cam and said return lever being arranged respectively such that said cam follower falls into said cam notch in said release position and is pushed out of the notch to pivot the return lever and bring the resting pallet into the trajectory of the mobile exhaust in the rest position.
  • control lift can be a pallet fixed on a plate integral in rotation with the regulating member and movable in a plane P3 parallel and distinct from the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set.
  • control cam may comprise a ring and a notch formed on an internal field of said ring, a pin forming a cam follower at the free end of the release lever extending in said ring, such that said follower cam falls into said cam notch under the action of the release lift in said release position and is pushed back out of the notch to pivot the return lever and bring the resting pallet into the path of the escapement wheel set in the release position rest.
  • the ring may be formed with a peripheral groove on the cam and the control lift may be a pin fixed to the control cam in a position radially aligned with said cam notch with respect to the axis of rotation of the regulating organ.
  • the impulse vanes are each fixed on an impulse plate integral with the regulator member and extending respectively in a first plane P2' and a second plane P2", the planes P2', P2 " being symmetrical with respect to the plane P1 of the escape wheel set.
  • the escapement wheel set then comprises a regular alternation of teeth comprising an impulse bar projecting symmetrically with respect to the plane P1 of said escapement wheel set to engage the impulse pallets outside of said plane P1 and of teeth devoid of projections with respect to the plane P1, the radial ends of said teeth describing the circular path C.
  • the present invention proposes a free escapement mechanism 1 of a new kind, designed and arranged to exploit and combine, in a free escapement with direct impulses, the advantages of reliability, simplicity of adjustment and self-starting of a Swiss lever escapement, well known to watchmakers for decades, by singularly improving its performance by significantly reducing the angle of lift to the regulating organ while allowing a large amplitude in rotation of the latter, thus offering a much higher quality factor than known exhausts.
  • direct pulse operation promotes high energy efficiency.
  • a free direct impulse escapement mechanism 1 comprising an escape wheel set 2 provided with a series of peripheral teeth 3, a resting device 4 arranged to cooperate in abutment with a tooth 3 of the escape wheel set 2 in a rest position and undergo in this position a pulling, and impulse members 9 adapted to be secured to a regulating member 5 such as a balance-spring so that the latter periodically receives an impulse from a tooth 3 of the mobile escapement 2 in order to maintain its oscillations, said teeth 3 and the pulse members 9 being configured and arranged in such a way that the pulses occur outside the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set form at their free end a projection of length, measured perpendicular to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 3, greater than the thickness that of the rim 22 of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • This projection defines a substantially triangular shape represented schematically in the figures by a shoulder line at the end of each tooth 3.
  • the impulse members 9, for example made up of ruby pallets, of the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention are advantageously arranged integral in rotation with the regulator member 5 such that their impulse plane describes a trace whose width, measured in a trace of the escapement mechanism, is at most equal to half the pitch separating two teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2. It is thus possible to configure the escapement 1 such that the angle of lift to the regulator 5 is between 10° and 35°, preferably between 15° and 30°, in d 'other words weaker than at all escape mechanism known to date.
  • the resting device 4 is itself configured to disturb the operation of the regulating member 5 to a minimum and therefore to cooperate with the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set at least partially, and preferably totally, in the plane P1 of said wheel set. escapement 2. Associated with the particular configuration of the protrusions of the teeth 3, this gives the escapement wheel set 2 the ability to cooperate alternately with the resting device 4 and the impulse members 9 in superposed and intersecting parallel planes of said teeth 31.
  • the pulse and rest phases of the escapement mechanism of the invention thus intervene not only in a separated from each other but in planes, or levels, different from the mechanism, which allows great compactness of construction and a minimum of disturbances, while offering a wide choice of frequency and amplitude of operation of the regulating member due to the possible entanglement of the circumscribed circles of the escapement wheel set 2 and its teeth 3 and of the impulse members 9.
  • the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention is presented more particularly in the figures in two particular embodiments, represented respectively in figures 1 to 7 and to figures 8 to 13 .
  • the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention comprises an escape wheel set 2 extending in a plane P1 and provided with peripheral teeth 3 and mounted mobile in rotation around an axis of rotation X1 perpendicular to this plane P1 Said teeth 3 define by their free ends a circular path C during the rotation of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • this escapement wheel set 2 is associated with an escapement pinion 21 driven on a pivot of axis X1 common to the escapement wheel set 2 and by which this latter can be coupled for use to the going train and the driving source of a watch movement in which the escapement mechanism 1 is integrated to sustain the oscillations of a regulating member 5 of the movement, mounted so as to rotate around an axis of rotation X2.
  • the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 each comprise a portion forming a projection on the surface of the escapement wheel set 2 to allow the transmission of pulses to the regulator 5 outside the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • These projections are formed in this embodiment by an impulse finger 31 projecting with respect to the plane P1 to engage at each step of rotation of the escapement wheel set 2 the impulse plane 9p of a first or a second impulse pallets 9 fixed on an impulse plate 91 integral with the regulator member 5 and extending in a plane P2 parallel to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • said impulse pallets 9 are fixed on the plate 91 by any appropriate means and they also extend, as is apparent from the figure 1 , 3 and 5 in particular, projecting perpendicular to the plane P2 of the plate 91 in the direction of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • the impulse fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 and pulse vanes 9 integral with regulator 5 are thus arranged "head to tail" to ensure their interaction outside of said plane P1, and more particularly here between the planes P1 and P2 of the escape wheel set and plate d pulse 91 respectively.
  • the impulse surfaces 9p of the impulse pallets 9 on which the fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 slide and act comprise a flat surface. They can also advantageously have a curved, concave or convex shape, in order to provide a progressive acceleration to the impulse or even to symmetrize the impulse on each of the impulse pallets 9 with respect to the axis X2 of the regulating member 5
  • it is possible to act directly on the layout of the escapement by acting on the displacements of the pulse pallets 9 with respect to the escapement wheel set 2, in terms of their angular values, their speeds and the torques transmitted.
  • the escapement mechanism 1 also comprises a resting device 4, itself rotatable around an axis of rotation X3.
  • the axes of rotation X1, X2, X3 of the escapement wheel set 2, of the regulating member 5 and of the resting device 4 are preferably mutually parallel.
  • the regulating member 5, which is not part of the escapement mechanism 1 as such, may consist of a balance-spring well known to those skilled in the watchmaking art or any other oscillating regulating member, such as for example a knife resonator(s) as proposed by the applicant in the patent application WO 2016/012281 A1 .
  • the resting device 4 comprises a return lever 42 in the form of a bar mounted so as to be able to rotate on a pivot around the axis X3 and to which is attached an anchor 43, formed of material with the return lever 42, riveted or driven on the pivot of rotation of the latter, at the ends of the arms of which are arranged two resting pallets 41 each having a resting plane 41r intended to alternately form a resting surface in abutment for the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 in two extreme positions in rotation of the return lever 42 around its axis X3, called rest positions, one position of which is shown in figures 5 and 6 .
  • the pivoting of the return lever 42 in rotation around the axis X3 to move the rest anchor 43 between the two rest positions is controlled as in a conventional lever escapement by the regulating member 5 acting on a first end of the return lever 42.
  • This interaction occurs on each alternation in a so-called release position by means of a control lift 6, for example formed by a pin 61, fixed to the impulse plate 91 on a complementary release member 44 formed at said first end 42 of the return lever 42.
  • the angular movement of the return lever 42 is also limited by limitation stops 7, for example formed by pins, arranged on either side of the second end of the return lever 42. These stops 7 determine the rest positions of the rest anchor 43 such that each rest pallet 41 is located in the trajectory C defined by the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set when the return lever 42 comes into contact with one of the stops 7. Maintaining the return lever 42 and the anchor of rest 43 then intervenes during the free travel of the regulating organ 5 after impulse by pulling effect of the escapement wheel set 2 on the rest anchor 43 and the return lever 42.
  • the return lever 42 and the rest anchor 43 are arranged with respect to the regulator member 5 and the escapement wheel set 2 such that, in the neutral position of the escapement shown in fig. 1 , the rest pallets 41 are located at a distance from the axis of rotation X1 of the escapement wheel set 2 greater than the radius of the circumscribed circle C of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2, when at the same time the ends of the pallets pulse 9 intersect said circumscribed circle C, and are therefore thus located at a distance from the axis of rotation of escapement wheel set 3 less than radius R.
  • the impulse planes 9p of the impulse pallets 9 are located on the trajectory of the fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set, while the rest pallets 41 are located outside this trajectory.
  • the rotation of the escape wheel set 3 necessarily causes the engagement by a finger 31 of a pulse plane 9p of a pulse pallet 9 and the driving of the regulator member 5 in rotation about its axis. This ensures a self-starting character to the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention.
  • the impulse fingers 31 and impulse pallets 9 are also shaped to ensure that in each rest position the impulse pallets 9 can completely circulate between the fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2, thus ensuring a maximum amplitude of angular movement to the regulating member 5, which in this case can go up to 300°.
  • the rear flank of the fingers 31 is chamfered, thus giving a triangular shape to the fingers 31, so as to release clearance J for passage of the rear end of each impulse paddle 9 during the free path of the regulating member 5 in the rest position of escape wheel set 2.
  • the complementary release member 44 is advantageously formed of an almond-shaped ring 443 in which extends the axis X2 of the regulator 5.
  • This ring 443 is configured such that during normal operation of the escapement mechanism 1 the control lever 6 integral with the regulating member 5 circulates without contact along the internal walls 444 of said ring, which thus define a control cam 8 for releasing the return lever 42.
  • a release notch 45 is formed in the wall internal of said ring 443 in a position of alignment with a longitudinal axis of the return lever passing through the axis of rotation X3 thereof.
  • This release notch allows, in a conventional manner, the fall of the control pin 61 at each alternation of the regulator so as to cause the pivoting of the return lever 42 and the release of the resting anchor.
  • a ring 443 has the advantage, through a very simple configuration, of providing not only clearance but also the safety of the escapement, the internal walls of the ring preventing in the event of shocks any untimely release outside the impulse.
  • the additional release member 44 could, however, take another form than that shown on the figures 1 to 7 . It could in particular be formed of a fork comprising two horns separated by a notch and devoid of dart or the like, said horns being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of return lever 42 passing through axis of rotation X3 and the center of the notch and extending from said notch along an arc of a circle.
  • the figures 8 to 13 represent a second embodiment of the escapement mechanism of the invention.
  • This embodiment is distinguished from the previous one by a simplification of the resting device 4, which comprises only one resting pallet 4 whose movement is controlled by a release device of the trigger type.
  • only one tooth 3 out of two of the escape wheel set 2 actually participates in the pulses by acting alternately on two parallel pulse levels on either side of the plane P1 of the escape wheel set 2, as described below. .
  • the escapement mechanism 1 of this second embodiment comprises an escapement wheel set 2 extending in a plane P1 mounted to move in rotation about an axis of rotation X1 perpendicular to this plane P1.
  • the escapement wheel set 2 is provided with peripheral teeth 3 defining by their free ends a circular path C during the rotation of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • the number of teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 in this second embodiment is equal to twice that of the escapement wheel set of the escapement mechanism according to the first embodiment, this in particular to compensate for the removal of the second rest pallet 41 from the rest device 4, as will be described later.
  • the escapement wheel 2 is associated with an escapement pinion 21 driven on a pivot axis X1 common to the escapement wheel 2 and by which the latter can be coupled in use to the going train and the driving source of a watch movement in which the escapement mechanism 1 is integrated to maintain the oscillations of a regulating member 5 of the movement, mounted so as to be able to rotate about an axis of rotation X2.
  • the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 comprise a regular alternation of teeth 3 comprising an impulse bar 32, forming two symmetrical projections on either side of the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2 and of teeth 3 devoid of projections and contained substantially in the plane P1, as in an ordinary escapement mobile 2.
  • the impulse bars 32 shaped in practice such two fingers 31 of the first embodiment symmetrical with respect to the plane P1, are arranged to engage an impulse plane 9p of a first and a second impulse pallet 9 fixed respectively on an impulse plate upper 91 and a lower impulse plate 92 integral with regulating member 5 and extending respectively in two planes P2', P2" which are parallel and symmetrical with respect to plane P1 of escapement wheel set 2.
  • the impulse pallets 9 also extend, as can be seen from the figure 8 , 10 and 12 in particular, projecting perpendicularly to the planes P2', P2" of the plates 91, 92 in the direction of the escapement wheel set 2.
  • Each impulse pallet 9 is thus arranged "head to tail" with one of the projecting portions of the strips of pulse 32 formed one tooth out of two of the escapement wheel set so as to provide pulses alternately between the plane P1 and the plane P2' on the one hand and between the plane P1 and the plane P2" on the other hand on each alternation of the regulator 5.
  • the impulse surfaces 9p of the impulse pallets 9 on which the strips 32 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 slide and act comprise a flat surface. They can also advantageously have a curved, concave or convex shape, in order to provide a progressive acceleration to the impulse or even to symmetrize the impulse on each of the impulse pallets 9 with respect to the axis X2 of the regulating member 5
  • it is possible to act directly on the layout of the escapement by acting on the displacements of the pulse pallets 9 with respect to the escapement wheel set 2, in terms of their angular values, their speeds and the torques transmitted.
  • the escapement mechanism 1 also comprises a resting device 4, mounted so as to be able to rotate around an axis of rotation X3.
  • This resting device 4 is, as previously presented, of an extreme simplification and comprises only a single resting pallet 41, arranged at a first end of an arcuate return lever 42 movable in rotation around a pivot of axis X3 between a rest position, shown fig. 8 , 9 and 11 a release position, shown in figure 13 .
  • These two positions are determined by a stopper 7, formed of a single pin, and a control cam 8 arranged integral in rotation with said regulator member 5.
  • the pivoting of the return lever 42 in rotation around the axis X3 between the rest position and the release position is controlled by the regulator member 5 via a release lift 6 acting on a complementary release member 44 secured to the lever 42 on the one hand and the control cam 8 acting directly on the return lever 42 on the other hand.
  • the control lift 6 is a pallet 61 fixed on a plate 62 secured to the regulator member 5 and arranged on the upper impulse plate 91.
  • the lifting release pallet 61 and its plate 62 are thus movable in a plane P3 parallel and distinct from the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2 and from the planes P2', P2" of the impulse plates 91, 92.
  • the control lift 6 is arranged to trigger the disengagement of the rest device 4 from its position of rest, that is to say more particularly to release the rest pallet 41 from its engagement against a tooth 3 of the escapement wheel set in order to allow the transmission by the latter of an impulse on one of the impulse pallets 9 at each alternation of the regulator 5.
  • the release lift 6 cooperates for this with a complementary release member 44 formed by a release arm 441 fixed in rotation to the return lever 42, and driven in the present example on the pivot of the said release lever. recall 42.
  • the release arm nt 441 comprises at a free end a release tooth 442 on the sides of which the release pallet 61 bears in the release position, prior to the impulse, and pushes the release arm 41 to pivot the return lever 42 around its axis X3 in a counterclockwise direction (according to the convention of the figures) clearance.
  • control cam 8 which controls the rotation of the return lever 42 at the level of a free end 421 of the latter opposite to the pallet. rest 41 and forming a cam follower.
  • the control cam 8 is formed of a shaft of axis X2 integral with and/or forming part of the axis or pivot of the regulator member 5, said shaft being set between the upper impulse plates 91 and lower 92.
  • the cylindrical peripheral surface 81 of this shaft forms a cam surface in which a clearance notch 82 is formed.
  • the return lever 42 is arranged vis-à-vis the escapement wheel set 2 and the regulator member 5 such that, in the rest position, it rests on the stop 7 and its end 421 is arranged facing, but without contact, the cam surface 8, the rest pallet 41 resting on its rest plane 41r against a tooth 3 of the escapement wheel set.
  • said end 421 comes into contact with said cam surface 81, preventing the rotation of the return lever 42 and therefore any disengagement of the rest pallet 41.
  • Such disengagement is only permitted in the position release, wherein the cam follower 421 falls into the cam notch 82 concomitantly with the pushing of the release pallet 61 on the tooth 442 of the release arm 41.
  • the release and rest phases are thus controlled and secured in a simple manner by the control cam 8, without risk of untimely release in the event of shocks and out of impulses, even at high frequency of oscillations of the regulating member 5.
  • the control cam 8 is formed of a ring having a circular internal wall or field forming a cam surface 81 in which a cam notch 82 is cut.
  • the ring 8 can be formed of a circle concentric with the axis X2 and secured to the regulator 5 by gluing or any other means of securing to the upper impulse plate 91.
  • the ring 8 can also be made of material in one piece form with the plate pulse 91.
  • the release lift 6 is then formed of a finger or feeler 61 secured to the regulating member 5 and whose free end is aligned and partially penetrates the notch 82 of the ring.
  • the cam follower 421 consists of a pin or the like driven into the free end of the release lever 441 extending into said ring 8.
  • the cam follower 421 falls into said cam notch 82 under the action of the release lift 61 in said release position and is pushed out of the notch 82 facing the inner cam surface 81 of the ring in the release position. rest.
  • the ring forming a cam 8 could also be formed by a circular groove on the upper impulse plate 91 in which the cam follower pin 421 would be housed, said groove comprising a so-called notch of cam and the control lift 6 then being formed by a pin aligned radially with the cam notch with respect to the axis of rotation X2 of the regulating member 5.
  • the escapement mechanism 1 in the second embodiment of the figures 8 to 13 is also self-starting.
  • the return lever 42 is arranged with respect to the regulator member 5 and the escapement wheel set 2 such that, in the disengaged position, therefore just before the neutral point of the escapement, the rest pallet 41 deviates from the radius of the circumscribed circle C to the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2, when at the same time the ends of the impulse pallets 9 intersect said circumscribed circle C, and are therefore thus located at a distance from the axis of rotation of the escape wheel set 3 less than the radius R.
  • the impulse planes 9p of the impulse pallets 9 are located on the trajectory C of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set, while the rest pallet 41 is out of this trajectory.
  • the rotation of the escapement wheel set 3 necessarily causes the engagement by a bar 32 of an impulse plane 9p of an impulse pallet 9 and the drive of the regulating member 5 in rotation around its axis and the start of the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention.

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Description

Domaine techniqueTechnical area

La présente invention se rapporte au domaine de l'horlogerie. Elle concerne, plus particulièrement, un mécanisme d'échappement direct libre.The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a free direct escapement mechanism.

L'invention concerne également une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un tel mécanisme d'échappement.The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such an escapement mechanism.

Etat de la techniqueState of the art

Les échappements à ancre constituent très certainement la catégorie d'échappements la plus commune dans les mécanismes d'horlogerie mécanique, à tout le moins dans la classe des échappements dits libres. Associé à un organe régulateur, typiquement de type pendule ou ensemble balancier-spiral, un échappement à ancre permet d'entretenir les oscillations dudit organe régulateur en lui transmettant par des impulsions régulières, à une fréquence déterminée, une fraction d'énergie mécanique de la source d'énergie mécanique d'un dit mécanisme horloger, comportant usuellement un ressort de barillet au moins. Simultanément, l'échappement permet également de compter les oscillations de l'organe régulateur et, partant, de compter le temps.Lever escapements certainly constitute the most common category of escapements in mechanical clockwork mechanisms, at least in the class of so-called free escapements. Associated with a regulating organ, typically of the pendulum or balance-spring assembly type, a lever escapement makes it possible to maintain the oscillations of said regulating organ by transmitting to it by regular pulses, at a determined frequency, a fraction of the mechanical energy of the source of mechanical energy for a said watch mechanism, usually comprising at least one barrel spring. At the same time, the escapement also makes it possible to count the oscillations of the regulating organ and, consequently, to count the time.

De très nombreuses variations d'échappements à ancre ont été proposées dans l'état de la technique et sont bien connues de l'Homme de l'art dans le domaine de l'horlogerie. Leurs limitations, tout aussi bien connues, sont principalement une propension à perturber l'isochronisme des oscillations de l'organe régulateur en raison des chocs et frottements successifs entre l'ancre et l'organe régulateur d'une part ainsi que l'ancre et le mobile d'échappement d'autre part, ainsi qu'un faible rendement mécanique, principalement pour les mêmes raisons. En effet, on considère usuellement qu'un échappement à ancre ne transmet à l'organe régulateur qu'une quantité limitée, de l'ordre de 30% uniquement, de la force motrice qu'il reçoit de la source motrice.Very many variations of lever escapements have been proposed in the state of the art and are well known to those skilled in the art in the field of watchmaking. Their limitations, just as well known, are mainly a propensity to disturb the isochronism of the oscillations of the regulating organ due to the successive shocks and frictions between the anchor and the regulating organ on the one hand as well as the anchor and the escapement wheel on the other hand, as well as low mechanical efficiency, mainly for the same reasons. Indeed, it is usually considered that a lever escapement only transmits to the regulating organ a limited quantity, of the order of only 30%, of the driving force that it receives from the driving source.

Les échappements à ancre sont en revanche plébiscités pour leur fiabilité de fonctionnement et sont en outre auto-démarrant.Lever escapements, on the other hand, are acclaimed for their operational reliability and are also self-starting.

Les mécanismes à ancre de type Robin présentent l'intérêt d'un meilleur rendement que les mécanismes d'échappement à ancre suisse. L'échappement Robin est un échappement qui combine les avantages de l'échappement à détente (hauts rendements et transmission directe d'énergie entre la roue d'échappement et le balancier) à ceux de l'échappement à ancre (meilleure sécurité de fonctionnement). C'est un échappement libre à impulsion directe du mobile d'échappement au balancier, l'ancre du mécanisme d'échappement constituant essentiellement une bascule munie de deux palettes de repos et qui bascule entre deux positions de repos extrêmes de la roue d'échappement en dehors des phases d'impulsion. Leur rendement est plébiscité car ils permettent un gain substantiel de transmission d'énergie au régulateur en comparaison d'un échappement à ancre suisse, l'énergie transmise étant de l'ordre de 50%.Robin-type lever mechanisms have the advantage of better efficiency than Swiss lever escapement mechanisms. The Robin escapement is an escapement that combines the advantages of the detent escapement (high efficiency and direct transmission of energy between the escape wheel and the balance wheel) with those of the lever escapement (better operating safety) . It is a free escapement with direct impulse from the escapement wheel to the balance wheel, the anchor of the escapement mechanism essentially constituting a rocker fitted with two resting pallets and which rocks between two extreme rest positions of the escapement wheel outside the pulse phases. Their efficiency is acclaimed because they allow a substantial gain in energy transmission to the regulator compared to a Swiss lever escapement, the energy transmitted being around 50%.

Toutefois, l'angle de levée de l'ancre Robin est très réduit (de l'ordre de 5°) comparativement aux ancres suisse classiques (de l'ordre de 15° environ), ce qui rend difficilement applicable la solution de sécurisation habituelle de ces dernières par dard et plateau. Pour cela des solutions alternatives ont été proposés dans les documents EP 1 122 617 B1 et EP 2 444 860 A1 ou encore EP 2 407 830 B1 . Ces mécanismes d'échappement Robin et dispositifs de sécurisation associés sont cependant délicats à mettre en œuvre, si bien qu'ils n'ont jamais connu un développement commercial et industriel massif, que leurs performances techniques intrinsèques pouvaient justifier.However, the Robin anchor's lifting angle is very small (about 5°) compared to conventional Swiss anchors (about 15°), which makes it difficult to apply the usual securing solution. of the latter by dart and plateau. For this, alternative solutions have been proposed in the documents EP 1 122 617 B1 and EP 2 444 860 A1 or EP 2 407 830 B1 . These Robin escapement mechanisms and associated safety devices are however tricky to implement, so much so that they have never experienced massive commercial and industrial development, which their intrinsic technical performance could justify.

On connaît aussi le document EP 1 983 390 A1 , qui divulgue un mécanisme d'échappement avec un organe régulateur portant deux palettes d'impulsions, et un mobile d'échappement sur deux plans (deux séries de dents), portant une troisième palette d'impulsion.We also know the document EP 1 983 390 A1 , which discloses an escapement mechanism with a regulating member carrying two impulse pallets, and an escapement mobile on two planes (two series of teeth), carrying a third impulse pallet.

Le but de la présente invention est aussi de procurer un mécanisme d'échappement horloger direct et libre qui soit aussi simple et fiable à mettre en œuvre qu'un échappement à ancre suisse mais bénéficiant de performances chronométriques singulièrement améliorées, analogues au moins à celles des échappements à impulsion directe sans toutefois présenter leurs difficultés de mise en œuvre.The object of the present invention is also to provide a direct and free horological escapement mechanism which is as simple and reliable to implement as a Swiss lever escapement but which benefits from singularly improved chronometric performances, analogous at least to those of direct impulse escapements without however presenting their difficulties of implementation.

L'invention à enfin pour but de proposer une pièce d'horlogerie comportant un tel mécanisme d'échappement.The invention finally aims to provide a timepiece comprising such an escapement mechanism.

Divulguation de l'inventionDisclosure of Invention

A cet effet, la présente invention propose un mécanisme d'échappement à ancre selon la revendication 1, ainsi qu'une pièce d'horlogerie munie d'un tel échappement et définie à la revendication 20.To this end, the present invention proposes a lever escapement mechanism according to claim 1, as well as a timepiece provided with such an escapement and defined in claim 20.

L'invention propose ainsi selon un premier objet un mécanisme d'échappement libre à impulsion directe pour pièce d'horlogerie, comportant:

  • un mobile d'échappement, s'étendant dans un plan P1 et mobile en rotation autour d'un premier axe de rotation perpendiculaire à ce plan et doté d'une série de dents périphériques, lesdites dents définissant par leur extrémités lors de la rotation du mobile d'échappement une trajectoire circulaire C,
  • Un dispositif de repos comportant au moins une palette de repos agencée pour coopérer en butée avec une dent du mobile d'échappement dans une position de repos dudit dispositif de repos au moins,
  • au moins une levée de commande apte à être solidarisée à un organe régulateur pivotant autour d'un axe de rotation pour coopérer avec au moins un organe de dégagement complémentaire du dispositif de repos pour dégager à chaque alternance dudit organe régulateur le dispositif de repos du mobile d'échappement dans une position de dégagement,
  • des palettes d'impulsions apte à être solidarisées audit organe régulateur pour coopérer chacune sur un plan d'impulsion avec une dent du mobile d'échappement pour transmettre une impulsion directe audit organe régulateur.
The invention thus proposes, according to a first object, a direct impulse free escapement mechanism for a timepiece, comprising:
  • an escape wheel, extending in a plane P1 and mobile in rotation around a first axis of rotation perpendicular to this plane and provided with a series of peripheral teeth, said teeth defining by their ends during the rotation of the escape wheel a circular trajectory C,
  • A resting device comprising at least one resting pallet arranged to cooperate in abutment with a tooth of the escapement wheel set in a resting position of said at least one resting device,
  • at least one control lift capable of being secured to a regulating member pivoting around an axis of rotation to cooperate with at least one complementary release member of the resting device to release each alternation of said regulating member the resting device of the mobile exhaust in a release position,
  • pulse pallets capable of being secured to said regulating member to each cooperate on a pulse plane with a tooth of the escapement wheel set to transmit a direct pulse to said regulating member.

Conformément à l'invention, ce mécanisme d'échappement se caractérise par le fait que le dispositif de repos est agencé pour subir un tirage du mobile d'échappement dans chaque position de repos et que les dents du mobile d'échappement et les palettes d'impulsions sont configurées et agencées de telle sorte que les impulsions interviennent hors du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement.In accordance with the invention, this escapement mechanism is characterized in that the resting device is arranged to undergo a pull of the escapement wheel set into each rest position and that the teeth of the escapement wheel set and the pallets of The pulses are configured and arranged in such a way that the pulses occur outside the plane P1 of the escape wheel set.

Le mécanisme de l'invention propose ainsi de manière inventive de sortir le lieu d'impulsion du mobile d'échappement aux palettes d'impulsions solidaires du régulateur du plan P1 dans lequel le mobile d'échappement s'étend et effectue sa rotation. On peut ainsi réduire les dimensions de la portion des dents du mobile d'échappement active pour procurer une impulsion efficace sur le plan d'impulsion des palettes d'impulsion, tout en permettant hors impulsion, grâce au tirage associé, un parcours libre du régulateur en rotation sur son axe au cours duquel les palettes d'impulsion décrive une trace entre les dents du mobile d'échappement parallèlement au plan P1 de celui-ci. On peut ainsi, en jouant sur l'orientation du plan d'impulsion des palettes d'impulsion obtenir un angle de levée au régulateur très réduit en comparaison des échappements connus, avec une amplitude en rotation maximale, pouvant aller jusqu'à 300°, procurant ainsi un très bon facteur de qualité au mécanisme de l'invention, lequel est en outre auto-démarrantThe mechanism of the invention thus proposes in an inventive way to release the place of impulse of the escapement wheel set to the pulse pallets integral with the regulator of the plane P1 in which the escape wheel extends and performs its rotation. It is thus possible to reduce the dimensions of the portion of the teeth of the active escapement wheel set to provide an effective impulse on the impulse plane of the impulse pallets, while allowing off impulse, thanks to the associated draw, a free path of the regulator in rotation on its axis during which the impulse pallets describe a track between the teeth of the escapement wheel set parallel to the plane P1 of the latter. It is thus possible, by playing on the orientation of the impulse plane of the impulse pallets, to obtain a very reduced angle of lift to the regulator in comparison with known exhausts, with a maximum amplitude in rotation, which can go up to 300°, thus providing a very good quality factor to the mechanism of the invention, which is also self-starting

Selon une forme de réalisation, au moins une partie des dents du mobile d'échappement forment une saillie perpendiculairement au plan P1 du dit mobile d'échappement. Une telle saillie permet facilement de décaler le lieu d'impulsion du mobile d'échappement aux palettes d'impulsions solidaires du régulateur hors du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement.According to one embodiment, at least part of the teeth of the escape wheel set form a projection perpendicular to the plane P1 of said escape wheel set. Such a projection easily makes it possible to shift the pulse location of the escapement wheel set to the pulse vanes integral with the regulator outside the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set.

Par opposition aux palettes d'impulsion, la au moins une palette de repos est préférentiellement agencée sur le dispositif de repos pour coopérer avec les dents du mobile d'échappement au moins partiellement dans le plan P1 dudit mobile d'échappement. Ceci permet notamment d'assurer une bonne stabilité et un bon tirage du mobile d'échappement sur le mécanisme de repos pendant les phases de repos sans perturbation de l'organe régulateur qui effectue alors son alternance libre en rotation entre les dents du mobile d'échappement.As opposed to impulse pallets, the at least one resting pallet is preferably arranged on the resting device to cooperate with the teeth of the escapement wheel set at least partially in the plane P1 of said escapement wheel set. This makes it possible in particular to ensure good stability and good pulling of the escapement wheel set on the rest mechanism during the rest phases without disturbing the regulating member which then performs its free rotation alternation between the teeth of the wheel set. exhaust.

Selon une forme de réalisation du mécanisme de l'invention, les palettes d'impulsion sont agencées solidaires en rotation de l'organe régulateur tel que leur plan d'impulsion décrive une trace dont la largeur, mesurée dans un tracé du mécanisme d'échappement, est au plus égale à la moitié du pas séparant deux dents du mobile d'échappement. On assure ainsi que l'organe régulateur puisse parcourir son alternance libre entre les dents du mobile d'échappement, plus particulièrement entre les parties saillantes des dents, sans risque de chocs entre les palettes d'impulsion et les dents du mobile d'échappement.According to one embodiment of the mechanism of the invention, the impulse pallets are arranged integral in rotation with the regulating member such that their impulse plane describes a trace whose width, measured in a trace of the escapement mechanism , is at most equal to half the pitch separating two teeth of the escape wheel set. It is thus ensured that the regulator member can alternate freely between the teeth of the escapement wheel set, more particularly between the projecting parts of the teeth, without risk of shocks between the impulse pallets and the teeth of the escapement wheel set.

Selon une forme avantageuse de réalisation, les palettes d'impulsion sont agencées solidaires en rotation de l'organe régulateur tel que l'angle de levée à l'organe régulateur soit compris entre 10° et 35°, de préférence entre 15° et 30°.According to an advantageous embodiment, the impulse vanes are arranged integral in rotation with the regulating member such that the angle of lift to the regulating member is between 10° and 35°, preferably between 15° and 30°. °.

Dans un mode de réalisation, le dispositif de repos comporte une ancre de repos munie d'une première et d'une seconde palettes de repos et solidaire d'un levier de rappel monté mobile en rotation autour d'un axe entre deux positions de repos en passant par la position de dégagement, lesdites positions de repos et de dégagement étant déterminées par au moins deux butées d'arrêt de part et d'autre d'une première extrémité du levier de rappel et un organe de dégagement complémentaire agencée à une seconde extrémité dudit levier de rappel. Ce mode de réalisation présente l'avantage d'une grande simplicité de réglage, utilisant un dispositif de repos à ancre apte à être commandé de manière plus classique par le levier de rappel interagissant directement avec des goupilles ou butées de limitation d'une part et la levée de dégagement de l'organe régulateur d'autre part au moyen d'une fourchette ou analogue comme décrit par la suite.In one embodiment, the resting device comprises a resting anchor provided with a first and a second resting pallets and integral with a return lever mounted so as to be able to rotate around an axis between two resting positions. passing through the release position, said rest and release positions being determined by at least two stops on either side of a first end of the return lever and a complementary release member arranged at a second end of said return lever. This embodiment has the advantage of great simplicity of adjustment, using an anchor resting device capable of being controlled in a more conventional manner by the return lever interacting directly with pins or limit stops on the one hand and the disengagement lifting of the regulator member on the other hand by means of a fork or the like as described later.

Ainsi dans ce mode de réalisation l'organe de dégagement complémentaire peut être formé de façon avantageuse d'un anneau en amande dans lequel s'étend l'axe du régulateur de telle sorte que la levée de commande se déplace sans contact le long des parois internes dudit anneau lors du fonctionnement normal du mécanisme d'échappement, ledit anneau définissant une came de commande, une encoche de dégagement de la levée de commande étant formée dans la paroi interne dudit anneau dans une position d'alignement avec un axe longitudinal du levier de rappel. L'anneau en amande forme ainsi une sécurité de fonctionnement de l'échappement.Thus in this embodiment the complementary release member can advantageously be formed of an almond-shaped ring in which extends the axis of the regulator so that the control lift moves without contact along the walls. internals of said ring during normal operation of the escapement mechanism, said ring defining a control cam, a control lift release notch being formed in the internal wall of said ring in a position of alignment with a longitudinal axis of the lever reminder. The almond-shaped ring thus forms a safety feature for the escapement.

En variante, l'organe de dégagement complémentaire peut être formé d'une fourchette comportant deux cornes séparées par une encoche et dépourvue de dard ou analogue, lesdites cornes étant symétriques par rapport à un axe longitudinal du levier de rappel passant par l'axe de rotation et le centre de l'encoche et s'étendant depuis ladite encoche suivant un arc de cercle.Alternatively, the additional release member may be formed of a fork comprising two horns separated by a notch and devoid of stinger or the like, said horns being symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the return lever passing through the axis of rotation and the center of the notch and extending from said notch along an arc of a circle.

Préférentiellement, lesdites palettes d'impulsion sont fixées sur un plateau d'impulsion solidaire de l'organe régulateur et s'étendant dans un plan P2 parallèle au plan P1 du mobile d'échappement.Preferably, said impulse pallets are fixed on an impulse plate integral with the regulator member and extending in a plane P2 parallel to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set.

Les dents du mobile d'échappement comportent alors un doigt d'impulsion saillant par rapport au plan P1 pour engager le plan d'impulsion des palettes d'impulsion hors dudit plan P1, les extrémités radiales desdites dents d'impulsion et de repos décrivant la trajectoire circulaire C.The teeth of the escapement wheel set then comprise an impulse finger projecting with respect to the plane P1 to engage the impulse plane of the impulse pallets outside of said plane P1, the radial ends of the said impulse and rest teeth describing the circular path C.

Avantageusement dans ce mode de réalisation, la levée de commande est une cheville solidaire du plateau d'impulsion.Advantageously in this embodiment, the control lift is a pin secured to the impulse plate.

Dans un autre mode de réalisation du mécanisme d'échappement de l'invention le dispositif de repos comporte un levier de rappel portant à une première extrémité ladite palette de repos et étant monté mobile en rotation autour d'un axe entre la position de repos et la position de dégagement, déterminées par au moins une butée d'arrêt et au moins une came de commande agencée solidaire en rotation dudit organe régulateur. Ce mode de réalisation présente l'avantage de ne requérir qu'une seule palette de repos, et procurer une structure simple et compacte d'échappement.In another embodiment of the escapement mechanism of the invention, the resting device comprises a return lever carrying at a first end said resting pallet and being mounted so as to be able to rotate around an axis between the resting position and the release position, determined by at least one stopper and at least one control cam arranged integral in rotation with said regulator member. This embodiment has the advantage of requiring only one rest pallet, and providing a simple and compact exhaust structure.

Dans ce mode de réalisation, l'organe complémentaire de dégagement comporte un bras de dégagement solidaire du levier de rappel et muni à une extrémité libre d'une dent de dégagement agencé pour coopérer avec ladite levée de commande dans ladite position de dégagement.In this embodiment, the complementary release member comprises a release arm secured to the return lever and provided at a free end with a release tooth arranged to cooperate with said control lift in said release position.

De plus, la came de commande comporte une surface de came et une encoche de came formée dans ladite surface de came pour coopérer avec un suiveur de came formé à une seconde extrémité du levier de rappel opposée à ladite palette de repos, ladite came de commande et ledit levier de rappel étant agencés respectivement tels que ledit suiveur de came tombe dans ladite encoche de came dans ladite position de dégagement et soit repoussé hors de l'encoche pour pivoter le levier de rappel et amener la palette de repos dans la trajectoire du mobile d'échappement dans la position de repos.Additionally, the control cam has a cam surface and a cam notch formed in said cam surface to cooperate with a cam follower formed at a second end of the return lever opposite said resting paddle, said control cam and said return lever being arranged respectively such that said cam follower falls into said cam notch in said release position and is pushed out of the notch to pivot the return lever and bring the resting pallet into the trajectory of the mobile exhaust in the rest position.

Dans ce mode de réalisation particulier, la levée de commande peut être une palette fixée sur un plateau solidaire en rotation de l'organe régulateur et mobile dans un plan P3 parallèle et distinct du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement.In this particular embodiment, the control lift can be a pallet fixed on a plate integral in rotation with the regulating member and movable in a plane P3 parallel and distinct from the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set.

Alternativement, la came de commande peut comporter un anneau et une encoche formée sur un champ interne dudit anneau, une goupille formant suiveur de came à l'extrémité libre du levier de dégagement s'étendant dans ledit anneau, de telle sorte que ledit suiveur de came tombe dans ladite encoche de came sous l'action de la levée de dégagement dans ladite position de dégagement et soit repoussé hors encoche pour pivoter le levier de rappel et amener la palette de repos dans la trajectoire du mobile d'échappement dans la position de repos.Alternatively, the control cam may comprise a ring and a notch formed on an internal field of said ring, a pin forming a cam follower at the free end of the release lever extending in said ring, such that said follower cam falls into said cam notch under the action of the release lift in said release position and is pushed back out of the notch to pivot the return lever and bring the resting pallet into the path of the escapement wheel set in the release position rest.

Dans cette alternative, l'anneau peut être formé d'une gorge périphérique sur la came et la levée de commande peut être une cheville fixée sur la came de commande dans une position alignée radialement avec ladite encoche de came par rapport à l'axe de rotation de l'organe régulateur.In this alternative, the ring may be formed with a peripheral groove on the cam and the control lift may be a pin fixed to the control cam in a position radially aligned with said cam notch with respect to the axis of rotation of the regulating organ.

Dans ce mode de réalisation, les palettes d'impulsion sont fixées chacune sur un plateau d'impulsion solidaire de l'organe régulateur et s'étendant respectivement dans un premier plan P2' et un second plan P2", les plans P2', P2" étant symétriques par rapport au plan P1 du mobile d'échappement.In this embodiment, the impulse vanes are each fixed on an impulse plate integral with the regulator member and extending respectively in a first plane P2' and a second plane P2", the planes P2', P2 " being symmetrical with respect to the plane P1 of the escape wheel set.

Pour coopérer avec lesdites palettes d'impulsion et la palette de repos du dispositif de repos, le mobile d'échappement comporte alors une alternance régulière de dents comportant une barrette d'impulsion saillante symétriquement par rapport au plan P1 dudit mobile d'échappement pour engager les palettes d'impulsion hors dudit plan P1 et de dents dépourvues de saillies par rapport au plan P1, les extrémités radiales desdites dents décrivant la trajectoire circulaire C.To cooperate with said impulse pallets and the resting pallet of the resting device, the escapement wheel set then comprises a regular alternation of teeth comprising an impulse bar projecting symmetrically with respect to the plane P1 of said escapement wheel set to engage the impulse pallets outside of said plane P1 and of teeth devoid of projections with respect to the plane P1, the radial ends of said teeth describing the circular path C.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres détails de l'invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description qui suit, faite en référence aux dessins annexés dans lequel :

  • La figure 1 représente en perspective un mécanisme d'échappement selon l'invention dans un premier mode de réalisation et un organe régulateur associé tel qu'un balancier représenté schématiquement;
  • La figure 2 représente le mécanisme d'échappement de la figure 1 en vue de dessus, au point mort de l'échappement ;
  • La figure 3 représente une vue de face du mécanisme d'échappement de la figure 1 au point mort de l'échappement ;
  • La figure 4 représente le mécanisme d'échappement de la figure 1 en vue de dessus, à la fin d'une phase d'impulsion;
  • La figure 5 représente une vue de face du mécanisme d'échappement de l'invention à la fin d'une phase d'impulsion telle que représentée à la figure 4 ;
  • La figure 6 représente le mécanisme d'échappement de la figure 1 en vue de dessus, en position de repos pendant l'alternance libre du régulateur;
  • La figure 7 représente un agrandissement de la figure 6 montrant un jeu de passage entre l'arrière d'une palette d'impulsion et un plan d'impulsion d'une dent du mobile d'échappement du mécanisme ;
  • La figure 8 représente en perspective un mécanisme d'échappement selon l'invention dans un second mode de réalisation, comportant un dispositif de repos à une seule palette de repos et un bras de dégagement;
  • La figure 9 est une vue de dessus du mécanisme d'échappement de la figure 8 ;
  • La figure 10 est une vue de face du mécanisme d'échappement de la figure 9.
  • Les figures 11 à 13 représentent une variante du mécanisme d'échappement des figures 8 à 10 dans laquelle le mécanisme de repos comporte une came de commande annulaire et un suiveur de came solidaire d'un bras de dégagement.
Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • The figure 1 shows in perspective an escapement mechanism according to the invention in a first embodiment and an associated regulating member such as a balance shown schematically;
  • The figure 2 represents the escapement mechanism of the figure 1 seen from above, at the neutral point of the exhaust;
  • The picture 3 shows a front view of the escapement mechanism of the figure 1 exhaust neutral;
  • The figure 4 represents the escapement mechanism of the figure 1 in top view, at the end of a pulse phase;
  • The figure 5 shows a front view of the escapement mechanism of the invention at the end of a pulse phase as shown in figure 4 ;
  • The figure 6 represents the escapement mechanism of the figure 1 seen from above, in the rest position during the free alternation of the regulator;
  • The figure 7 represents an enlargement of the figure 6 showing a passage clearance between the rear of an impulse pallet and an impulse plane of a tooth of the escapement mobile of the mechanism;
  • The figure 8 shows in perspective an escapement mechanism according to the invention in a second embodiment, comprising a resting device with a single resting pallet and a release arm;
  • The figure 9 is a top view of the escapement mechanism of the figure 8 ;
  • The figure 10 is a front view of the escapement mechanism of the figure 9 .
  • The figures 11 to 13 represent a variant of the escapement mechanism of the figures 8 to 10 wherein the rest mechanism comprises an annular control cam and a cam follower integral with a release arm.

Modes de réalisation de l'inventionEmbodiments of the Invention

La présente invention propose un mécanisme d'échappement libre 1 d'un genre nouveau, conçu et agencé pour exploiter et combiner, dans un échappement libre à impulsions directes, les avantages de fiabilité, simplicité de réglage et d'auto-démarrage d'un échappement à ancre suisse bien connu des horlogers depuis des décennies en améliorant singulièrement les performances de celui-ci par une réduction significative de l'angle de levée à l'organe régulateur tout en autorisant une grande amplitude en rotation de ce dernier, offrant ainsi un facteur de qualité bien supérieur aux échappements connus. En outre, le fonctionnement à impulsions directes favorise un haut rendement énergétique.The present invention proposes a free escapement mechanism 1 of a new kind, designed and arranged to exploit and combine, in a free escapement with direct impulses, the advantages of reliability, simplicity of adjustment and self-starting of a Swiss lever escapement, well known to watchmakers for decades, by singularly improving its performance by significantly reducing the angle of lift to the regulating organ while allowing a large amplitude in rotation of the latter, thus offering a much higher quality factor than known exhausts. In addition, direct pulse operation promotes high energy efficiency.

Il présente avantageusement une structure très simple et compacte, compatible avec l'utilisation d'organes régulateur de type balancier-spiral classiquement employés dans les montres de poche ou montre-bracelet, en offrant la possibilité inédite de travailler au niveau du régulateur avec de faibles amplitudes et à hautes fréquences ou inversement avec de grandes amplitudes d'oscillations et de plus faibles fréquences, dans tous les cas avec des performances accrues, que ce soit en terme d'isochronisme ou de chronométrie, en comparaison de la majorité des mécanismes à ancres existants.It advantageously has a very simple and compact structure, compatible with the use of regulator members of the balance-spring type conventionally employed in pocket watches or wristwatches, by offering the unprecedented possibility of working at the level of the regulator with low amplitudes and at high frequencies or vice versa with large oscillation amplitudes and lower frequencies, in all cases with increased performance, whether in terms of isochronism or chronometry, compared to the majority of lever mechanisms existing.

Ces avantages combinés sont obtenus selon l'invention et comme représenté sur les figures 1 à 13 par un mécanisme 1 d'échappement libre à impulsion directe, comportant un mobile d'échappement 2 doté d'une série de dents 3 périphériques, un dispositif de repos 4 agencé pour coopérer en butée avec une dent 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 dans une position de repos et subir dans cette position un tirage, et des organes d'impulsion 9 apte à être solidarisée à un organe régulateur 5 tel qu'un balancier-spiral pour que ce dernier reçoive périodiquement une impulsion d'une dent 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 afin d'entretenir ses oscillations, lesdites dents 3 et les organes d'impulsion 9 étant configurées et agencées de telle sorte que les impulsions interviennent hors du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 2.These combined advantages are obtained according to the invention and as shown in the figures 1 to 13 by a free direct impulse escapement mechanism 1, comprising an escape wheel set 2 provided with a series of peripheral teeth 3, a resting device 4 arranged to cooperate in abutment with a tooth 3 of the escape wheel set 2 in a rest position and undergo in this position a pulling, and impulse members 9 adapted to be secured to a regulating member 5 such as a balance-spring so that the latter periodically receives an impulse from a tooth 3 of the mobile escapement 2 in order to maintain its oscillations, said teeth 3 and the pulse members 9 being configured and arranged in such a way that the pulses occur outside the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2.

Ceci est permis selon l'invention par une conformation originale des dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2, dont au moins une partie forment une saillie perpendiculairement au plan P1 du dit mobile d'échappement, ainsi que d'une configuration et orientation ajustée des organes d'impulsions 9, de manière à ce que les plans d'impulsions respectifs desdites dents 3 et desdits organes d'impulsion 9 interagissent de manière directe hors du plan P1 dudit mobile d'échappement 2 à chaque alternance de l'organe régulateur au plus proche du point mort du mécanisme, donc avec un faible angle de levée et un minimum de perturbations de l'organe régulateur à l'impulsion. Le tirage au repos permet lui d'assurer une marche libre de l'organe régulateur lors des phases de repos sur toute son amplitude de déplacement entre les parties saillantes des dents du mobile d'échappement 2.This is permitted according to the invention by an original conformation of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2, at least part of which form a projection perpendicular to the plane P1 of said escapement wheel set, as well as an adjusted configuration and orientation of the pulse members 9, so that the respective pulse planes of said teeth 3 and of said pulse members 9 interact directly outside the plane P1 of said escapement wheel set 2 at each alternation of the regulating member at the closer to the neutral point of the mechanism, therefore with a low angle of lift and a minimum of disturbances of the regulating organ at the impulse. Pulling at rest enables it to ensure free movement of the regulating member during phases of rest over its entire range of movement between the projecting parts of the teeth of escapement wheel set 2.

En pratique, les dents 3 du mobile d'échappement forment en leur extrémité libre une saillie de longueur, mesurée perpendiculairement au plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 3, supérieure à l'épaisseur celle de la serge 22 du mobile d'échappement 2. Cette saillie définie une forme sensiblement triangulaire représentée schématiquement sur les figures par un trait d'épaulement à l'extrémité de chaque dent 3. De plus, les organes d'impulsion 9, par exemple constitués de palettes de rubis, du mécanisme d'échappement 1 de l'invention sont avantageusement agencés solidaire en rotation de l'organe régulateur 5 tel que leur plan d'impulsion décrive une trace dont la largeur, mesurée dans un tracé du mécanisme d'échappement, est au plus égale à la moitié du pas séparant deux dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2. On peut ainsi configurer l'échappement 1 de telle sorte que l'angle de levée au régulateur 5 compris entre 10° et 35°, de préférence entre 15° et 30°, en d'autres termes plus faible que tout autre mécanisme d'échappement connu à ce jour.In practice, the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set form at their free end a projection of length, measured perpendicular to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 3, greater than the thickness that of the rim 22 of the escapement wheel set 2. This projection defines a substantially triangular shape represented schematically in the figures by a shoulder line at the end of each tooth 3. In addition, the impulse members 9, for example made up of ruby pallets, of the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention are advantageously arranged integral in rotation with the regulator member 5 such that their impulse plane describes a trace whose width, measured in a trace of the escapement mechanism, is at most equal to half the pitch separating two teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2. It is thus possible to configure the escapement 1 such that the angle of lift to the regulator 5 is between 10° and 35°, preferably between 15° and 30°, in d 'other words weaker than at all escape mechanism known to date.

Le dispositif de repos 4 est quant à lui configuré pour perturber au minimum la marche de l'organe régulateur 5 et donc pour coopérer avec les dents 3 du mobile d'échappement au moins partiellement, et de préférence totalement, dans le plan P1 dudit mobile d'échappement 2. Associé à la configuration particulière des saillies des dents 3 cela procure au mobile d'échappement 2 la capacité à coopérer alternativement avec le dispositif de repos 4 et les organes d'impulsion 9 dans des plans parallèles superposés et sécants desdites dents 31. Les phases d'impulsions et de repos du mécanisme d'échappement de l'invention interviennent ainsi non seulement de manière séparées les unes des autres mais dans des plans, ou niveaux, différents du mécanisme, ce qui autorise une grande compacité de construction et un minimum de perturbations, tout en offrant un large choix de fréquence et d'amplitude de fonctionnement de l'organe régulateur de par l'enchevêtrement possible des cercles circonscrits du mobile d'échappement 2 et ses dents 3 et des organes d'impulsion 9.The resting device 4 is itself configured to disturb the operation of the regulating member 5 to a minimum and therefore to cooperate with the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set at least partially, and preferably totally, in the plane P1 of said wheel set. escapement 2. Associated with the particular configuration of the protrusions of the teeth 3, this gives the escapement wheel set 2 the ability to cooperate alternately with the resting device 4 and the impulse members 9 in superposed and intersecting parallel planes of said teeth 31. The pulse and rest phases of the escapement mechanism of the invention thus intervene not only in a separated from each other but in planes, or levels, different from the mechanism, which allows great compactness of construction and a minimum of disturbances, while offering a wide choice of frequency and amplitude of operation of the regulating member due to the possible entanglement of the circumscribed circles of the escapement wheel set 2 and its teeth 3 and of the impulse members 9.

Le mécanisme d'échappement 1 de l'invention est présenté plus particulièrement sur les figures sous deux modes de réalisation particuliers, représentés respectivement aux figures 1 à 7 et aux figures 8 à 13.The escapement mechanism 1 of the invention is presented more particularly in the figures in two particular embodiments, represented respectively in figures 1 to 7 and to figures 8 to 13 .

En référence tout d'abord au premier mode de réalisation, le mécanisme d'échappement 1 de l'invention. Il comporte un mobile d'échappement 2 s'étendant dans un plan P1 et muni de dents 3 périphériques et monté mobile en rotation autour d'un axe de rotation X1 perpendiculaire à ce plan P1 Lesdites dents 3 définissent par leurs extrémités libres une trajectoire circulaire C lors de la rotation du mobile d'échappement 2. De façon classique, ce mobile d'échappement 2 est associé à un pignon d'échappement 21 chassé sur un pivot d'axe X1 commun au mobile d'échappement 2 et par lequel ce dernier peut être accouplé à l'usage au rouage de finissage et la source motrice d'un mouvement horloger auquel le mécanisme d'échappement 1 est intégré pour entretenir les oscillations d'un organe régulateur 5 du mouvement, monté mobile en rotation autour d'un axe de rotation X2.With reference first of all to the first embodiment, the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention. It comprises an escape wheel set 2 extending in a plane P1 and provided with peripheral teeth 3 and mounted mobile in rotation around an axis of rotation X1 perpendicular to this plane P1 Said teeth 3 define by their free ends a circular path C during the rotation of the escapement wheel set 2. Conventionally, this escapement wheel set 2 is associated with an escapement pinion 21 driven on a pivot of axis X1 common to the escapement wheel set 2 and by which this latter can be coupled for use to the going train and the driving source of a watch movement in which the escapement mechanism 1 is integrated to sustain the oscillations of a regulating member 5 of the movement, mounted so as to rotate around an axis of rotation X2.

Conformément à l'invention, les dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 comportent chacune une portion formant saillie à la surface du mobile d'échappement 2 pour permettre la transmission des impulsions au régulateur 5 hors du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 2. Ces saillies sont formées dans ce mode de réalisation par un doigt d'impulsion 31 saillant par rapport au plan P1 pour engager à chaque pas de rotation du mobile d'échappement 2 le plan d'impulsion 9p d'une première ou d'une deuxième palettes d'impulsion 9 fixées sur un plateau d'impulsion 91 solidaire de l'organe régulateur 5 et s'étendant dans un plan P2 parallèle au plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 2. Avantageusement, lesdites palettes d'impulsion 9 sont fixées sur le plateau 91 par tout moyen approprié et elles s'étendent elles aussi, comme cela ressort des figures 1, 3 et 5 en particulier, en saillie perpendiculairement au plan P2 du plateau 91 en direction du mobile d'échappement 2. Les doigts d'impulsion 31 des dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 et palettes d'impulsion 9 solidaires du régulateur 5 sont ainsi disposées « tête-bêche » pour assurer leur interaction hors dudit plan P1, et plus particulièrement ici entre les plans P1 et P2 du mobile d'échappement et plateau d'impulsion 91 respectivement.In accordance with the invention, the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 each comprise a portion forming a projection on the surface of the escapement wheel set 2 to allow the transmission of pulses to the regulator 5 outside the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2. These projections are formed in this embodiment by an impulse finger 31 projecting with respect to the plane P1 to engage at each step of rotation of the escapement wheel set 2 the impulse plane 9p of a first or a second impulse pallets 9 fixed on an impulse plate 91 integral with the regulator member 5 and extending in a plane P2 parallel to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2. Advantageously, said impulse pallets 9 are fixed on the plate 91 by any appropriate means and they also extend, as is apparent from the figure 1 , 3 and 5 in particular, projecting perpendicular to the plane P2 of the plate 91 in the direction of the escapement wheel set 2. The impulse fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 and pulse vanes 9 integral with regulator 5 are thus arranged "head to tail" to ensure their interaction outside of said plane P1, and more particularly here between the planes P1 and P2 of the escape wheel set and plate d pulse 91 respectively.

Tel que représentées, les surfaces d'impulsions 9p des palettes d'impulsion 9 sur lesquelles glissent et agissent les doigts 31 des dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 comportent, une surface plane. Elles peuvent également avantageusement présenter une forme incurvée, concave ou convexe, afin de procurer une accélération progressive à l'impulsion ou encore symétriser l'impulsion sur chacune des palettes d'impulsion 9 par rapport à l'axe X2 de l'organe régulateur 5. Ainsi on peut jouer directement sur le tracé de l'échappement, en agissant sur les déplacements des palettes d'impulsions 9 par rapport au mobile d'échappement 2, au niveau de leurs valeurs angulaires, de leurs vitesses et des couples transmis.As shown, the impulse surfaces 9p of the impulse pallets 9 on which the fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 slide and act comprise a flat surface. They can also advantageously have a curved, concave or convex shape, in order to provide a progressive acceleration to the impulse or even to symmetrize the impulse on each of the impulse pallets 9 with respect to the axis X2 of the regulating member 5 Thus it is possible to act directly on the layout of the escapement, by acting on the displacements of the pulse pallets 9 with respect to the escapement wheel set 2, in terms of their angular values, their speeds and the torques transmitted.

Le mécanisme d'échappement 1 comporte également un dispositif de repos 4, lui-même mobile en rotation autour d'un axe de rotation X3. Les axes de rotations X1, X2, X3 du mobile d'échappement 2, de l'organe régulateur 5 et du dispositif de repos 4 sont de préférence parallèles entre eux. L'organe régulateur 5, qui ne fait pas partie du mécanisme d'échappement 1 en tant que tel, peut être constitué d'un balancier-spiral bien connu de l'homme du métier horloger ou tout autre organe régulateur oscillant, comme par exemple un résonateur à couteau(x) tel que proposé par le déposant dans la demande de brevet WO 2016/012281 A1 .The escapement mechanism 1 also comprises a resting device 4, itself rotatable around an axis of rotation X3. The axes of rotation X1, X2, X3 of the escapement wheel set 2, of the regulating member 5 and of the resting device 4 are preferably mutually parallel. The regulating member 5, which is not part of the escapement mechanism 1 as such, may consist of a balance-spring well known to those skilled in the watchmaking art or any other oscillating regulating member, such as for example a knife resonator(s) as proposed by the applicant in the patent application WO 2016/012281 A1 .

Le dispositif de repos 4 comporte un levier de rappel 42 en forme de barrette montée mobile en rotation sur un pivot autour de l'axe X3 et duquel est solidaire une ancre 43, formée de matière avec le levier de rappel 42, rivée ou chassée sur le pivot de rotation de celui-ci, aux extrémités des bras de laquelle sont agencées deux palettes de repos 41 présentant chacune un plan de repos 41r destiné à former alternativement une surface de repos en butée pour les dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 en deux positions extrêmes en rotation du levier de rappel 42 autour de son axe X3, dites positions de repos, dont une position est représentée aux figures 5 et 6.The resting device 4 comprises a return lever 42 in the form of a bar mounted so as to be able to rotate on a pivot around the axis X3 and to which is attached an anchor 43, formed of material with the return lever 42, riveted or driven on the pivot of rotation of the latter, at the ends of the arms of which are arranged two resting pallets 41 each having a resting plane 41r intended to alternately form a resting surface in abutment for the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 in two extreme positions in rotation of the return lever 42 around its axis X3, called rest positions, one position of which is shown in figures 5 and 6 .

Le pivotement du levier de rappel 42 en rotation autour de l'axe X3 pour déplacer l'ancre de repos 43 entre les deux positions de repos est commandé comme dans un échappement à ancre classique par l'organe régulateur 5 agissant sur une première extrémité du levier de rappel 42. Cette interaction intervient sur chaque alternance dans une position dite de dégagement par le biais d'une levée de commande 6, par exemple formé d'une cheville 61, fixée au plateau d'impulsion 91 sur un organe de dégagement complémentaire 44 formé à ladite première extrémité 42 du levier de rappel 42. Cette interaction induit le pivotement du levier de rappel 42 autour de l'axe X3 et ainsi le dégagement de l'ancre de repos 43, plus exactement d'une des palettes de repos 41, d'une dent 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 préalablement à une impulsion donnée par une autre dent 3 du mobile d'échappement sur un des organes d'impulsion 9 de l'organe régulateur 5. De plus, le débattement angulaire du levier de rappel 42 est également limité par des butées de limitation 7, par exemple formées par des goupilles, disposées de part et d'autre de la seconde extrémité du levier de rappel 42. Ces butées 7 déterminent les positions de repos de l'ancre de repos 43 tel que chaque palette de repos 41 soit situées dans la trajectoire C définies par les dents 3 du mobile d'échappement lorsque le levier de rappel 42 entre en contact d'une des butées 7. Le maintien du levier de rappel 42 et de l'ancre de repos 43 intervient ensuite durant le parcours libre de l'organe régulateur 5 après impulsion par effet de tirage du mobile d'échappement 2 sur l'ancre de repos 43 et le levier de rappel 42.The pivoting of the return lever 42 in rotation around the axis X3 to move the rest anchor 43 between the two rest positions is controlled as in a conventional lever escapement by the regulating member 5 acting on a first end of the return lever 42. This interaction occurs on each alternation in a so-called release position by means of a control lift 6, for example formed by a pin 61, fixed to the impulse plate 91 on a complementary release member 44 formed at said first end 42 of the return lever 42. This interaction induces the pivoting of the return lever 42 around the axis X3 and thus the disengagement of the rest anchor 43, more precisely one of the rest pallets 41, of a tooth 3 of the escape wheel set 2 prior to an impulse given by another tooth 3 of the escape wheel set on one of the impulse members 9 of the regulator member 5. In addition, the angular movement of the return lever 42 is also limited by limitation stops 7, for example formed by pins, arranged on either side of the second end of the return lever 42. These stops 7 determine the rest positions of the rest anchor 43 such that each rest pallet 41 is located in the trajectory C defined by the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set when the return lever 42 comes into contact with one of the stops 7. Maintaining the return lever 42 and the anchor of rest 43 then intervenes during the free travel of the regulating organ 5 after impulse by pulling effect of the escapement wheel set 2 on the rest anchor 43 and the return lever 42.

Comme cela ressort des figures 2 et 3, le levier de rappel 42 et l'ancre de repos 43 sont agencés par rapport à l'organe régulateur 5 et le mobile d'échappement 2 de telle sorte que, dans la position de point mort de l'échappement représentée à la fig. 1, les palettes de repos 41 soient situées à une distance de l'axe de rotation X1 du mobile d'échappement 2 supérieure au rayon du cercle circonscrit C aux dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2, quand dans le même temps les extrémités des palettes d'impulsion 9 coupent ledit cercle circonscrit C, et sont donc ainsi situées à une distance de l'axe de rotation du mobile d'échappement 3 inférieure au rayon R.As emerges from figure 2 and 3 , the return lever 42 and the rest anchor 43 are arranged with respect to the regulator member 5 and the escapement wheel set 2 such that, in the neutral position of the escapement shown in fig. 1 , the rest pallets 41 are located at a distance from the axis of rotation X1 of the escapement wheel set 2 greater than the radius of the circumscribed circle C of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2, when at the same time the ends of the pallets pulse 9 intersect said circumscribed circle C, and are therefore thus located at a distance from the axis of rotation of escapement wheel set 3 less than radius R.

Par cette configuration, au point mort de l'échappement 1, les plans d'impulsions 9p des palettes d'impulsion 9 sont situés sur la trajectoire des doigts 31 des dents 3 du mobile d'échappement, alors que les palettes de repos 41 sont situées hors de cette trajectoire. Aussi, la rotation du mobile d'échappement 3 entraine nécessairement l'engagement par un doigt 31 d'un plan d'impulsion 9p d'une palette d'impulsion 9 et l'entrainement de l'organe régulateur 5 en rotation autour de son axe. On assure ainsi un caractère auto-démarrant au mécanisme d'échappement 1 de l'invention.By this configuration, in neutral of the escapement 1, the impulse planes 9p of the impulse pallets 9 are located on the trajectory of the fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set, while the rest pallets 41 are located outside this trajectory. Also, the rotation of the escape wheel set 3 necessarily causes the engagement by a finger 31 of a pulse plane 9p of a pulse pallet 9 and the driving of the regulator member 5 in rotation about its axis. This ensures a self-starting character to the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention.

Selon une autre caractéristique avantageuse, les doigts d'impulsion 31 et palettes d'impulsion 9 sont également conformées pour assurer que dans chaque position de repos les palettes d'impulsions 9 puissent totalement circuler entre les doigts 31 des dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2, assurant ainsi une amplitude maximale de débattement angulaire à l'organe régulateur 5, pouvant en l'espèce aller jusqu'à 300°. A cet effet, comme cela ressort en particulier des figures 6 et 7, le flanc postérieur des doigts 31 est chanfreiné, donnant ainsi une forme triangulaire aux doigts 31, de manière à libérer un jeu J de passage de l'extrémité postérieure de chaque palette d'impulsion 9 lors du parcours libre de l'organe régulateur 5 dans la position de repos du mobile d'échappement 2.According to another advantageous characteristic, the impulse fingers 31 and impulse pallets 9 are also shaped to ensure that in each rest position the impulse pallets 9 can completely circulate between the fingers 31 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2, thus ensuring a maximum amplitude of angular movement to the regulating member 5, which in this case can go up to 300°. To this end, as is apparent in particular from the figure 6 and 7 , the rear flank of the fingers 31 is chamfered, thus giving a triangular shape to the fingers 31, so as to release clearance J for passage of the rear end of each impulse paddle 9 during the free path of the regulating member 5 in the rest position of escape wheel set 2.

Dans l'exemple représenté sur les figures 1 à 7, l'organe de dégagement complémentaire 44 est avantageusement formé d'un anneau en amande 443 dans lequel s'étend l'axe X2 du régulateur 5. Cet anneau 443 est configuré de telle sorte que durant le fonctionnement normale du mécanisme d'échappement 1 la levée de commande 6 solidaire de l'organe régulateur 5 circule sans contact le long des parois internes 444 dudit anneau, qui définissent ainsi une came de commande 8 du dégagement du levier de rappel 42. Une encoche de dégagement 45 est formée dans la paroi interne dudit anneau 443 dans une position d'alignement avec un axe longitudinal du levier de rappel passant par l'axe de rotation X3 de celui-ci. Cette encoche de dégagement permet, de façon classique, la chute de la cheville de commande 61 à chaque alternance du régulateur de manière à provoquer le pivotement du levier de rappel 42 et le dégagement de l'ancre de repos. Un tel anneau 443 présente l'avantage par une configuration très simple de procurer non seulement le dégagement mais aussi les sécurités de l'échappement, les parois internes de l'anneau empêchant en cas de chocs tout dégagement intempestif hors impulsion.In the example shown on the figures 1 to 7 , the complementary release member 44 is advantageously formed of an almond-shaped ring 443 in which extends the axis X2 of the regulator 5. This ring 443 is configured such that during normal operation of the escapement mechanism 1 the control lever 6 integral with the regulating member 5 circulates without contact along the internal walls 444 of said ring, which thus define a control cam 8 for releasing the return lever 42. A release notch 45 is formed in the wall internal of said ring 443 in a position of alignment with a longitudinal axis of the return lever passing through the axis of rotation X3 thereof. This release notch allows, in a conventional manner, the fall of the control pin 61 at each alternation of the regulator so as to cause the pivoting of the return lever 42 and the release of the resting anchor. Such a ring 443 has the advantage, through a very simple configuration, of providing not only clearance but also the safety of the escapement, the internal walls of the ring preventing in the event of shocks any untimely release outside the impulse.

L'organe de dégagement complémentaire 44 pourrait cependant revêtir d'autre forme que celle représentée sur les figures 1 à 7. Il pourrait notamment être formé d'une fourchette comportant deux cornes séparées par une encoche et dépourvue de dard ou analogue, lesdites cornes étant symétriques par rapport à l'axe longitudinal du levier de rappel 42 passant par l'axe de rotation X3 et le centre de l'encoche et s'étendant depuis ladite encoche suivant un arc de cercle.The additional release member 44 could, however, take another form than that shown on the figures 1 to 7 . It could in particular be formed of a fork comprising two horns separated by a notch and devoid of dart or the like, said horns being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of return lever 42 passing through axis of rotation X3 and the center of the notch and extending from said notch along an arc of a circle.

Les figures 8 à 13 représentent un second mode de réalisation du mécanisme d'échappement de l'invention. Ce mode de réalisation se distingue du précédent par une simplification du dispositif de repos 4, qui ne comporte qu'une seule palette de repos 4 dont le déplacement est commandé par un dispositif de dégagement de type détente. En outre, seule une dent 3 sur deux du mobile d'échappement 2 participe effectivement aux impulsions en agissant alternativement sur deux niveaux parallèles d'impulsion de part et d'autre du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 2, comme décrit par la suite.The figures 8 to 13 represent a second embodiment of the escapement mechanism of the invention. This embodiment is distinguished from the previous one by a simplification of the resting device 4, which comprises only one resting pallet 4 whose movement is controlled by a release device of the trigger type. In addition, only one tooth 3 out of two of the escape wheel set 2 actually participates in the pulses by acting alternately on two parallel pulse levels on either side of the plane P1 of the escape wheel set 2, as described below. .

En référence aux figures 8 et 10 en particulier, le mécanisme d'échappement 1 de ce second mode de réalisation comporte un mobile d'échappement 2 s'étendant dans un plan P1 monté mobile en rotation autour d'un axe de rotation X1 perpendiculaire à ce plan P1. Le mobile d'échappement 2 est muni de dents 3 périphériques définissant par leurs extrémités libres une trajectoire circulaire C lors de la rotation du mobile d'échappement 2. Le nombre de dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 dans ce second mode de réalisation est égal au double de celui du mobile d'échappement du mécanisme d'échappement selon le premier mode de réalisation, ceci pour compenser notamment la suppression de la seconde palette de repos 41 au dispositif de repos 4, comme il sera décrit par la suite. Classiquement, le mobile d'échappement 2 est associé à un pignon d'échappement 21 chassé sur un pivot d'axe X1 commun au mobile d'échappement 2 et par lequel ce dernier peut être accouplé à l'usage au rouage de finissage et la source motrice d'un mouvement horloger auquel le mécanisme d'échappement 1 est intégré pour entretenir les oscillations d'un organe régulateur 5 du mouvement, monté mobile en rotation autour d'un axe de rotation X2.With reference to figure 8 and 10 in particular, the escapement mechanism 1 of this second embodiment comprises an escapement wheel set 2 extending in a plane P1 mounted to move in rotation about an axis of rotation X1 perpendicular to this plane P1. The escapement wheel set 2 is provided with peripheral teeth 3 defining by their free ends a circular path C during the rotation of the escapement wheel set 2. The number of teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 in this second embodiment is equal to twice that of the escapement wheel set of the escapement mechanism according to the first embodiment, this in particular to compensate for the removal of the second rest pallet 41 from the rest device 4, as will be described later. Conventionally, the escapement wheel 2 is associated with an escapement pinion 21 driven on a pivot axis X1 common to the escapement wheel 2 and by which the latter can be coupled in use to the going train and the driving source of a watch movement in which the escapement mechanism 1 is integrated to maintain the oscillations of a regulating member 5 of the movement, mounted so as to be able to rotate about an axis of rotation X2.

De façon originale, les dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 comprennent une alternance régulière de dents 3 comportant une barrette d'impulsion 32, formant deux saillies symétriques de part et d'autre du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 2 et de dents 3 dépourvues de saillies et contenues sensiblement dans le plan P1, comme dans un mobile d'échappement 2 ordinaire. Les barrettes d'impulsion 32, conformées en pratique tels deux doigts 31 du premier mode de réalisation symétriques par rapport au plan P1, sont agencées pour engager un plan d'impulsion 9p d'une première et d'une deuxième palette d'impulsion 9 fixées respectivement sur un plateau d'impulsion supérieur 91 et un plateau d'impulsion inférieur 92 solidaires de l'organe régulateur 5 et s'étendant respectivement dans deux plans P2', P2" parallèles et symétriques par rapport au plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 2.Originally, the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 comprise a regular alternation of teeth 3 comprising an impulse bar 32, forming two symmetrical projections on either side of the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2 and of teeth 3 devoid of projections and contained substantially in the plane P1, as in an ordinary escapement mobile 2. The impulse bars 32, shaped in practice such two fingers 31 of the first embodiment symmetrical with respect to the plane P1, are arranged to engage an impulse plane 9p of a first and a second impulse pallet 9 fixed respectively on an impulse plate upper 91 and a lower impulse plate 92 integral with regulating member 5 and extending respectively in two planes P2', P2" which are parallel and symmetrical with respect to plane P1 of escapement wheel set 2.

Les palettes d'impulsion 9 s'étendent elles aussi, comme cela ressort des figures 8, 10 et 12 en particulier, en saillie perpendiculairement aux plans P2', P2" des plateaux 91, 92 en direction du mobile d'échappement 2. Chaque palette d'impulsion 9 est ainsi disposée « tête-bêche » avec une des portions saillantes des barrettes d'impulsion 32 formées une dent sur 2 du mobile d'échappement de manière à procurer des impulsions alternativement entre le plan P1 et le plan P2' d'une part et entre le plan P1 et le plan P2" d'autre part sur chaque alternance du régulateur 5.The impulse pallets 9 also extend, as can be seen from the figure 8 , 10 and 12 in particular, projecting perpendicularly to the planes P2', P2" of the plates 91, 92 in the direction of the escapement wheel set 2. Each impulse pallet 9 is thus arranged "head to tail" with one of the projecting portions of the strips of pulse 32 formed one tooth out of two of the escapement wheel set so as to provide pulses alternately between the plane P1 and the plane P2' on the one hand and between the plane P1 and the plane P2" on the other hand on each alternation of the regulator 5.

Tel que représentées, les surfaces d'impulsions 9p des palettes d'impulsion 9 sur lesquelles glissent et agissent les barrettes 32 des dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2 comportent, une surface plane. Elles peuvent également avantageusement présenter une forme incurvée, concave ou convexe, afin de procurer une accélération progressive à l'impulsion ou encore symétriser l'impulsion sur chacune des palettes d'impulsion 9 par rapport à l'axe X2 de l'organe régulateur 5. Ainsi on peut jouer directement sur le tracé de l'échappement, en agissant sur les déplacements des palettes d'impulsions 9 par rapport au mobile d'échappement 2, au niveau de leurs valeurs angulaires, de leurs vitesses et des couples transmis.As shown, the impulse surfaces 9p of the impulse pallets 9 on which the strips 32 of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2 slide and act comprise a flat surface. They can also advantageously have a curved, concave or convex shape, in order to provide a progressive acceleration to the impulse or even to symmetrize the impulse on each of the impulse pallets 9 with respect to the axis X2 of the regulating member 5 Thus it is possible to act directly on the layout of the escapement, by acting on the displacements of the pulse pallets 9 with respect to the escapement wheel set 2, in terms of their angular values, their speeds and the torques transmitted.

Le mécanisme d'échappement 1 comporte également un dispositif de repos 4, monté mobile en rotation autour d'un axe de rotation X3. Ce dispositif de repos 4 est, comme précédemment présenté, d'une extrême simplification et ne comporte qu'une palette de repos 41 unique, agencée à une première extrémité d'un levier de rappel 42 arqué mobile en rotation autour d'un pivot d'axe X3 entre une position de repos, représentée fig. 8, 9 et 11 une position de dégagement, représentée à la figure 13. Ces deux positions sont déterminées par une butée d'arrêt 7, formée d'une goupille unique, et une came de commande 8 agencée solidaire en rotation dudit organe régulateur 5.The escapement mechanism 1 also comprises a resting device 4, mounted so as to be able to rotate around an axis of rotation X3. This resting device 4 is, as previously presented, of an extreme simplification and comprises only a single resting pallet 41, arranged at a first end of an arcuate return lever 42 movable in rotation around a pivot of axis X3 between a rest position, shown fig. 8 , 9 and 11 a release position, shown in figure 13 . These two positions are determined by a stopper 7, formed of a single pin, and a control cam 8 arranged integral in rotation with said regulator member 5.

Le pivotement du levier de rappel 42 en rotation autour de l'axe X3 entre la position de repos et la position de dégagement est commandé par l'organe régulateur 5 via une levée de dégagement 6 agissant sur un organe de dégagement complémentaire 44 solidaire du levier 42 d'une part et la came de commande 8 agissant directement sur le levier de rappel 42 d'autre part.The pivoting of the return lever 42 in rotation around the axis X3 between the rest position and the release position is controlled by the regulator member 5 via a release lift 6 acting on a complementary release member 44 secured to the lever 42 on the one hand and the control cam 8 acting directly on the return lever 42 on the other hand.

Dans le mode de réalisation représenté aux figures 8 à 10, la levée de commande 6 est une palette 61 fixée sur un plateau 62 solidaire de l'organe régulateur 5 et disposé sur le plateau d'impulsion supérieur 91. La palette de dégagement 61 de levée et son plateau 62 sont ainsi mobiles dans un plan P3 parallèle et distinct du plan P1 du mobile d'échappement 2 et des plans P2', P2" des plateaux d'impulsion 91, 92. La levée de commande 6 est agencée pour déclencher le dégagement du dispositif de repos 4 de sa position de repos, c'est-à-dire plus particulièrement libérer la palette de repos 41 de son engagement contre une dent 3 du mobile d'échappement afin de permettre la transmission par celui-ci d'une impulsion sur une des palettes d'impulsion 9 à chaque alternance du régulateur 5. La levée de dégagement 6 coopère pour cela avec un organe de dégagement complémentaire 44 formé par un bras de dégagement 441 solidaire en rotation du levier de rappel 42, et chassé dans le présent exemple sur le pivot dudit levier de rappel 42. Le bras de dégagement 441 comporte à une extrémité libre une dent de dégagement 442 sur les pans de laquelle la palette de dégagement 61 prend appui dans la position de dégagement, préalablement à l'impulsion, et pousse le bras de dégagement 41 pour faire pivoter le levier de rappel 42 autour de son axe X3 dans un sens antihoraire (selon la convention des figures) de dégagement.In the embodiment shown in figures 8 to 10 , the control lift 6 is a pallet 61 fixed on a plate 62 secured to the regulator member 5 and arranged on the upper impulse plate 91. The lifting release pallet 61 and its plate 62 are thus movable in a plane P3 parallel and distinct from the plane P1 of the escapement wheel set 2 and from the planes P2', P2" of the impulse plates 91, 92. The control lift 6 is arranged to trigger the disengagement of the rest device 4 from its position of rest, that is to say more particularly to release the rest pallet 41 from its engagement against a tooth 3 of the escapement wheel set in order to allow the transmission by the latter of an impulse on one of the impulse pallets 9 at each alternation of the regulator 5. The release lift 6 cooperates for this with a complementary release member 44 formed by a release arm 441 fixed in rotation to the return lever 42, and driven in the present example on the pivot of the said release lever. recall 42. The release arm nt 441 comprises at a free end a release tooth 442 on the sides of which the release pallet 61 bears in the release position, prior to the impulse, and pushes the release arm 41 to pivot the return lever 42 around its axis X3 in a counterclockwise direction (according to the convention of the figures) clearance.

Cette rotation du levier 42 pour dégager la palette de repos 41 du mobile d'échappement est toutefois sécurisée par la came de commande 8 qui contrôle la rotation du levier de rappel 42 au niveau d'une extrémité libre 421 de ce dernier opposée à la palette de repos 41 et formant suiveur de came. A cet effet, la came de commande 8 est formée d'un fût d'axe X2 solidaire et/ou formant partie de l'axe ou pivot de l'organe régulateur 5, ledit fût étant enchâssé entre les plateaux d'impulsion supérieur 91 et inférieur 92. La surface périphérique cylindrique 81 de ce fût forme une surface de came dans laquelle une encoche 82 de dégagement est formée. Le levier de rappel 42 est agencé vis-à-vis du mobile d'échappement 2 et de l'organe régulateur 5 tel que, dans la position de repos, il prenne appui sur la butée 7 et son extrémité 421 soit disposée en regard, mais sans contact, de la surface de came 8, la palette de repos 41 étant en appui son sur plan de repos 41r contre une dent 3 du mobile d'échappement. Ainsi, en cas de chocs, ladite extrémité 421 entre en contact de ladite surface de came 81, empêchant la rotation du levier de rappel 42 et donc tout dégagement de la palette de repos 41. Un tel dégagement n'est permis que dans la position de dégagement, dans laquelle le suiveur de came 421 tombe dans l'encoche de came 82 concomitamment à la poussée de la palette de dégagement 61 sur la dent 442 du bras de dégagement 41. Cette chute du suiveur de came 421 dans l'encoche libère le levier 42 en rotation qui tourne sous la poussée subie par le bras 441, libérant la palette de repos 4. Le mobile d'échappement 2 effectue une rotation et donne au passage une impulsion au régulateur 5 via une barrette 32 d'impulsion sur une palette d'impulsion 9. Durant la rotation de l'organe régulateur 5 sous l'impulsion de la roue d'échappement 2 le suiveur de came 421 est repoussé par la surface de came 81 alors que le régulateur entame son alternance libre, ce qui fait pivoter le levier de rappel 42 en sens horaire ramenant la palette de repos 41 dans la trajectoire C du mobile d'échappement proposant ainsi la butée nécessaire à la phase de repos et sous l'effet du tirage contraindre le levier de rappel 42 contre la butée d'arrêt 7.This rotation of the lever 42 to disengage the rest pallet 41 from the escapement wheel set is however secured by the control cam 8 which controls the rotation of the return lever 42 at the level of a free end 421 of the latter opposite to the pallet. rest 41 and forming a cam follower. For this purpose, the control cam 8 is formed of a shaft of axis X2 integral with and/or forming part of the axis or pivot of the regulator member 5, said shaft being set between the upper impulse plates 91 and lower 92. The cylindrical peripheral surface 81 of this shaft forms a cam surface in which a clearance notch 82 is formed. The return lever 42 is arranged vis-à-vis the escapement wheel set 2 and the regulator member 5 such that, in the rest position, it rests on the stop 7 and its end 421 is arranged facing, but without contact, the cam surface 8, the rest pallet 41 resting on its rest plane 41r against a tooth 3 of the escapement wheel set. Thus, in the event of impact, said end 421 comes into contact with said cam surface 81, preventing the rotation of the return lever 42 and therefore any disengagement of the rest pallet 41. Such disengagement is only permitted in the position release, wherein the cam follower 421 falls into the cam notch 82 concomitantly with the pushing of the release pallet 61 on the tooth 442 of the release arm 41. This fall of the cam follower 421 into the notch releases the lever 42 in rotation which rotates under the thrust undergone by the arm 441, releasing the rest pallet 4. The escapement mobile 2 performs a rotation and gives the passage an impulse to the regulator 5 via a bar 32 of impulse on a impulse pallet 9. During the rotation of the regulator member 5 under the impulse of the escapement wheel 2 the cam follower 421 is pushed back by the cam surface 81 while the regulator begins its free alternation, which rotates the return lever 42 in s clockwise bringing the rest pallet 41 back into the trajectory C of the escape wheel set thus providing the necessary stop for the rest phase and under the effect of the draw force the return lever 42 against the stop stop 7.

Les phases de dégagement et de repos sont ainsi commandées et sécurisées de manière simple par la came de commande 8, sans risque dégagement intempestif en cas de chocs et hors impulsions, même à haute fréquence d'oscillations de l'organe régulateur 5.The release and rest phases are thus controlled and secured in a simple manner by the control cam 8, without risk of untimely release in the event of shocks and out of impulses, even at high frequency of oscillations of the regulating member 5.

Les figures 11 à 13 représentent le mécanisme d'échappement 1 dans son second mode de réalisation doté d'un mécanisme de dégagement et de sécurité alternatif. Dans cette variante de réalisation, la came de commande 8 est formée d'un anneau présentant une paroi ou champ interne circulaire formant surface de came 81 dans laquelle est creusée une encoche de came 82. Dans l'exemple représenté, l'anneau 8 peut être formé d'un cercle concentrique à l'axe X2 et solidaire du régulateur 5 par collage ou tout autre moyen de solidarisation sur le plateau d'impulsion supérieur 91. L'anneau 8 peut également être réalisé de matière sous forme monobloc avec le plateau d'impulsion 91. La levée de dégagement 6 est alors formée d'un doigt ou palpeur 61 solidaire de l'organe régulateur 5 et dont l'extrémité libre est alignée et pénètre partiellement dans l'encoche 82 de l'anneau.The figures 11 to 13 represent the escapement mechanism 1 in its second embodiment provided with an alternative release and safety mechanism. In this variant embodiment, the control cam 8 is formed of a ring having a circular internal wall or field forming a cam surface 81 in which a cam notch 82 is cut. In the example shown, the ring 8 can be formed of a circle concentric with the axis X2 and secured to the regulator 5 by gluing or any other means of securing to the upper impulse plate 91. The ring 8 can also be made of material in one piece form with the plate pulse 91. The release lift 6 is then formed of a finger or feeler 61 secured to the regulating member 5 and whose free end is aligned and partially penetrates the notch 82 of the ring.

Le suiveur de came 421 est constitué d'une goupille ou analogue chassée à l'extrémité libre du levier de dégagement 441 en s'étendant dans ledit anneau 8.The cam follower 421 consists of a pin or the like driven into the free end of the release lever 441 extending into said ring 8.

Ainsi, comme représenté à la figure 13 et conformément aux principes de fonctionnement définis précédemment en référence aux figures 8 à 10, le suiveur de came 421 tombe dans ladite encoche de came 82 sous l'action de la levée de dégagement 61 dans ladite position de dégagement et est repoussé hors encoche 82 en regard de surface de came 81 interne de l'anneau dans la position de repos.Thus, as shown in figure 13 and in accordance with the operating principles previously defined with reference to the figures 8 to 10 , the cam follower 421 falls into said cam notch 82 under the action of the release lift 61 in said release position and is pushed out of the notch 82 facing the inner cam surface 81 of the ring in the release position. rest.

Dans une autre variante de réalisation non représenté, l'anneau formant came 8 pourrait également être formé d'une gorge circulaire sur le plateau d'impulsion supérieur 91 dans laquelle la goupille suiveur de came 421 serait logée, ladite gorge comportant une dite encoche de came et la levée de commande 6 étant alors formée d'une cheville alignée radialement avec l'encoche de came par rapport à l'axe de rotation X2 de l'organe régulateur 5.In another variant embodiment, not shown, the ring forming a cam 8 could also be formed by a circular groove on the upper impulse plate 91 in which the cam follower pin 421 would be housed, said groove comprising a so-called notch of cam and the control lift 6 then being formed by a pin aligned radially with the cam notch with respect to the axis of rotation X2 of the regulating member 5.

Enfin, comme dans le mode de réalisation des figures 1 à 7, le mécanisme d'échappement 1 dans le second mode de réalisation des figures 8 à 13 est également auto-démarrant. Comme cela ressort de la figure 13 en particulier, le levier de rappel 42 est agencé par rapport à l'organe régulateur 5 et le mobile d'échappement 2 de telle sorte que, en position de dégagement, donc juste avant le point mort de l'échappement, la palette de repos 41 s'écarte du rayon du cercle circonscrit C aux dents 3 du mobile d'échappement 2, quand dans le même temps les extrémités des palettes d'impulsion 9 coupent ledit cercle circonscrit C, et sont donc ainsi situées à une distance de l'axe de rotation du mobile d'échappement 3 inférieure au rayon R.Finally, as in the embodiment of figures 1 to 7 , the escapement mechanism 1 in the second embodiment of the figures 8 to 13 is also self-starting. As emerges from the figure 13 in particular, the return lever 42 is arranged with respect to the regulator member 5 and the escapement wheel set 2 such that, in the disengaged position, therefore just before the neutral point of the escapement, the rest pallet 41 deviates from the radius of the circumscribed circle C to the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set 2, when at the same time the ends of the impulse pallets 9 intersect said circumscribed circle C, and are therefore thus located at a distance from the axis of rotation of the escape wheel set 3 less than the radius R.

Par cette configuration, au point mort de l'échappement 1, les plans d'impulsions 9p des palettes d'impulsion 9 sont situés sur la trajectoire C des dents 3 du mobile d'échappement, alors que la palette de repos 41 est hors de cette trajectoire. Aussi, la rotation du mobile d'échappement 3 entraine nécessairement l'engagement par une barrette 32 d'un plan d'impulsion 9p d'une palette d'impulsion 9 et l'entrainement de l'organe régulateur 5 en rotation autour de son axe et le démarrage du mécanisme d'échappement 1 de l'invention.By this configuration, at neutral point of the escapement 1, the impulse planes 9p of the impulse pallets 9 are located on the trajectory C of the teeth 3 of the escapement wheel set, while the rest pallet 41 is out of this trajectory. Also, the rotation of the escapement wheel set 3 necessarily causes the engagement by a bar 32 of an impulse plane 9p of an impulse pallet 9 and the drive of the regulating member 5 in rotation around its axis and the start of the escapement mechanism 1 of the invention.

Claims (20)

  1. Direct impulse free escapement mechanism (1) for a timepiece, comprising:
    - an escapement wheel and pinion (2), extending in a plane P1 and rotatable about an axis of rotation (X1) perpendicular to this plane and provided with a series of peripheral teeth (3), said teeth (3) defining by their ends during rotation of the escapement wheel and pinion a circular trajectory C,
    - a locking device (4) comprising at least one locking pallet-stone (41) arranged to cooperate in abutment with a tooth (3) of the escapement wheel and pinion (2) in at least one locking position of said locking device (4),
    - at least one control pallet (6) capable of being attached to a regulating organ (5) pivoting about an axis of rotation (X2) in order to cooperate with at least one complementary unlocking organ (44) of the locking device (4) in order to release the locking device (4) from the escapement wheel and pinion (2) in an unlocking position at each vibration of said regulating organ (5),
    - impulse pallet-stones (9) capable of being attached to said regulating organ (5) to cooperate each on an impulse plane (9p) with a tooth (3) of the escapement wheel and pinion (2) to transmit a direct impulse to said regulating organ (5);
    characterised in that the locking device (4) is arranged to undergo a draw by the escapement wheel and pinion (2) in each locking position and in that the teeth (3) of the escapement wheel and pinion (2) and the impulse pallet-stones (9) are configured and arranged such that the impulses occur outside the plane P1 of the escapement wheel and pinion (2).
  2. Escapement mechanism according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one part of the teeth (3) of the escapement wheel and pinion form a projection (31, 32) perpendicular to the plane P1 of said escapement wheel and pinion (2).
  3. Escapement mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the at least one locking pallet-stone (41) is arranged on the locking device (4) to cooperate with the teeth (3) of the escapement wheel and pinion at least partially in the plane P1 of said escapement wheel and pinion (2).
  4. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that each impulse pallet-stone (9) is arranged so as to be integral in rotation with the regulating organ (5) such that its impulse plane describes a trace whose width, measured in a trace of the escapement mechanism, is at most equal to half the pitch separating two teeth (3) of the escapement wheel and pinion.
  5. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each impulse pallet-stone (9) is arranged integral in rotation with the regulating organ (5) such that the angle of lift at the regulating organ (5) is between 10° and 35°, preferably between 15° and 30°.
  6. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the locking device (4) comprises a locking anchor (43) provided with a first and a second locking pallet-stone (41) and integral with a return lever (42) rotatably mounted about an axis (X3) between two locking positions passing through the unlocking position, said locking and unlocking positions being determined by at least two retaining stops (7) on either side of a first end of the return lever (42) and a complementary unlocking organ (44) arranged at a second end of said return lever (42).
  7. Escapement mechanism according to claim 6, characterised in that the complementary unlocking organ (44) is formed of a almond-shaped ring (443) in which the axis (X2) of the regulating organ (5) extends so that the control pallet (6) moves without contact along the inner walls of said ring (443) defining a control cam (8), a unlocking notch (45) of the control pallet (6) being formed in the inner wall of said ring (443) in a position aligned with a longitudinal axis of the return lever.
  8. Escapement mechanism according to claim 6, characterised in that the complementary unlocking organ (44) may be formed by a fork comprising two horns separated by a notch and devoid of a guard pin or the like, said horns being symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the return lever (42) passing through the axis of rotation (X3) and the centre of the notch and extending from said notch along an arc of a circle.
  9. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises first and second impulse pallet-stones (9) fixed to an impulse plate (91) integral with the regulating organ and extending in a plane P2 parallel to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel and pinion (2).
  10. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the teeth (3) of the escapement wheel and pinion comprise an impulse finger (31) projecting from the plane P1 to engage the impulse plane of the impulse pallet-stones (9) out of said plane P1, the radial ends of said impulse and locking teeth describing the circular trajectory C.
  11. Escape mechanism according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the control pallet (6) is a pin (61) integral with the impulsion plate (91).
  12. Escape mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that locking device (4) comprises a return lever (42) carrying at a first end said locking pallet-stone (41) and being rotatably mounted about an axis (X3) between the locking position and the release position, determined by at least one retaining stop (7) and at least one control cam (8) arranged so as to be rotationally rigid with said regulating organ (5).
  13. Escapement mechanism according to claim 12, characterised in that the complementary unlocking organ (44) comprises a unlocking arm (441) integral with the return lever and provided at a free end of a unlocking tooth (442) arranged to cooperate with said control pallet (6) in said unlocking position.
  14. Escapement mechanism according to claims 12 or 13, characterised in that the control cam (8) comprises a cam surface (81) and a cam notch (82) formed in said cam surface for cooperation with a cam follower (421) formed at a second end of the return lever (42) opposite to said locking pallet-stone (41), said control cam (8) and said return lever (42) being respectively arranged such that said cam follower (421) falls into said cam notch (82) in said unlocking position and is pushed out of the notch (82) to pivot the return lever (42) in the locking position.
  15. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the control pallet (6) is a pallet (61) fixed on a plate (62) integral in rotation with the regulating organ (5) and movable in a plane P3 parallel to and distinct from the plane P1 of the escapement wheel and pinion.
  16. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterised in that the control cam (8) comprises a ring and a cam notch (82) formed on an inner rim of said cam surface ring (81), a cam follower pin (421) at the free end of the unlocking lever (441) extending into said ring such that said cam follower (421) falls into said cam notch (82) in said unlocking position and is pushed out of said cam notch (82) to pivot the return lever (42) to the locking position.
  17. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 12 or 13 and claim 16, characterised in that the control pallet (6) is a pin fixed to the control cam in a position radially aligned with said cam notch with respect to the axis of rotation (X2) of the regulating organ.
  18. Escapement mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 5 and 12 to 17, characterised in that it comprises first and second impulse pallet-stones (9) each fixed to an impulse plate (91) integral with the regulating organ (5) and extending respectively in a first plane P2 and a second plane P2', the planes P2, P2' being symmetrical with respect to the plane P1 of the escapement wheel and pinion.
  19. Escapement mechanism according to claim 18, characterised in that the escapement wheel and pinion (2) comprises a regular alternation of teeth (3) comprising an impulse bar (32) projecting symmetrically with respect to the plane P1 of said escapement wheel and pinion to engage the impulse pallet-stones (9) out of said plane P1 and teeth (3) devoid of projections with respect to the plane P1, the radial ends of said teeth (3) describing the circular trajectory C.
  20. Timepiece comprising an escapement mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 19.
EP19718355.1A 2018-04-17 2019-04-17 Free direct escapement mechanism for watches. Active EP3781993B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP18167638.8A EP3557334A1 (en) 2018-04-17 2018-04-17 Escapement mechanism with lock pallet and timepiece comprising such an escapement mechanism
EP18172526.8A EP3570117A1 (en) 2018-05-16 2018-05-16 Escapement mechanism for timepiece
EP18195289.6A EP3557335A1 (en) 2018-04-17 2018-09-18 Free direct escapement mechanism for timepiece part
PCT/EP2019/059890 WO2019201977A1 (en) 2018-04-17 2019-04-17 Free direct escapement mechanism for a timepiece

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EP3781993A1 EP3781993A1 (en) 2021-02-24
EP3781993B1 true EP3781993B1 (en) 2022-03-23

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EP18195289.6A Withdrawn EP3557335A1 (en) 2018-04-17 2018-09-18 Free direct escapement mechanism for timepiece part
EP19718355.1A Active EP3781993B1 (en) 2018-04-17 2019-04-17 Free direct escapement mechanism for watches.

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EP18195289.6A Withdrawn EP3557335A1 (en) 2018-04-17 2018-09-18 Free direct escapement mechanism for timepiece part

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US (1) US11860575B2 (en)
EP (2) EP3557335A1 (en)
JP (1) JP7428695B2 (en)
CN (1) CN112334843B (en)
WO (1) WO2019201977A1 (en)

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EP4080292B1 (en) * 2021-04-23 2023-11-08 Montres Breguet S.A. Timepiece mechanism for displaying at least a single indication of the time and timepiece comprising such a mechanism

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US258646A (en) * 1882-05-30 Albert heberle
CH26397A (en) 1902-01-13 1903-08-31 Hermann Voigt Frederick Watch escapement
FR1009853A (en) * 1948-07-02 1952-06-04 Sophisticated exhaust mechanism
EP1122617B1 (en) 2000-02-07 2007-08-01 Audemars Piguet (Renaud et Papi) SA Locking device for timepiece
CH696943A5 (en) * 2003-12-04 2008-02-15 Montres Breguet Sa Detent escapement for e.g. wrist watch, has rest pallet returning to rest position by mounting flank of notch, where flank is inclined so that nose climbs flank when small plate rotates in one direction
EP1983390B1 (en) * 2007-04-18 2009-11-04 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Lever escapement comprising two escape wheels
EP2105806B1 (en) * 2008-03-27 2013-11-13 Sowind S.A. Escapement mechanism
CH703338A2 (en) * 2010-06-22 2011-12-30 Omega Sa Coaxial escapement mobile for coaxial escapement system of timepiece, has secondary tooth formed of single piece with board, where board is formed of hub connected to primary tooth using arm
JP2012008002A (en) * 2010-06-24 2012-01-12 Seiko Instruments Inc Calendar mechanism and timepiece equipped with such calendar mechanism
EP2407830B1 (en) 2010-07-15 2014-11-05 Rolex Sa Timepiece
ES2770334T3 (en) 2010-10-21 2020-07-01 Audemars Piguet (Renaud Et Papi) Sa Regulating mechanism for watch piece
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CN107505826B (en) * 2013-02-25 2020-06-30 精工电子有限公司 Temperature compensation type balance wheel and manufacturing method thereof, clock movement and mechanical clock
JP6236164B2 (en) * 2013-12-23 2017-11-22 ニヴァロックス−ファー ソシエテ アノニム Non-contact cylinder escapement mechanism for timepiece
CH709905A2 (en) 2014-07-21 2016-01-29 Dominique Renaud Sa Pivot blade.
CH709946B1 (en) * 2014-07-24 2019-06-28 Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse Watch exhaust mechanism comprising at least one limit stop of the stroke of a stop.
EP3070537A1 (en) * 2015-03-18 2016-09-21 L. Leroy S.A. Time base comprising an escapement with direct pulse and constant force
CN107924157B (en) * 2015-08-25 2019-12-13 西铁城时计株式会社 Escapement mechanism for a timepiece
CH711928A2 (en) * 2015-12-18 2017-06-30 Montres Breguet Sa Coupled clock oscillators.
JP2018048958A (en) 2016-09-23 2018-03-29 シチズン時計株式会社 Escapement of mechanical timepiece

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JP2021522522A (en) 2021-08-30
US20210173342A1 (en) 2021-06-10
CN112334843B (en) 2022-04-05
WO2019201977A1 (en) 2019-10-24
EP3781993A1 (en) 2021-02-24
EP3557335A1 (en) 2019-10-23
CN112334843A (en) 2021-02-05
JP7428695B2 (en) 2024-02-06
US11860575B2 (en) 2024-01-02

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