FR3000812A1 - Lyre bridge system for watch caliber, has retaining body comprising central housing to retain shock absorber body, and flexible arms extending from retaining body and provided with fixing units at ends to fix flexible arms at plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (1) has a moving element including a rocker arm and a spring (10), which includes an axle whose upper end is engaged in an shock absorber element i.e. Incabloc (RTM: anti-shock device) (3). A retaining body (4) comprises a central housing to retain the shock absorber body in a boltable manner. Two flexible arms (6a, 6b) are extended from the retaining body and provided with fixing units (7a, 7b) at respective ends to fix the flexible arms at a plate. An independent claim is also included for a method for regulating a dead point of a caliber integrating a bridge system.

Description

The present invention relates to a new bridge concept for a watch movement. It also targets calibres with this new bridge and watches equipped with this type of bridge. The operation of a watch, from its energy source to its pendulum assembly, depends on independent elements that constitute the movement also called caliber. A barrel transmits the energy through the wheels of the escapement and by the back and forth of the anchor, the exhaust distributes pulses of force to the whole balance-spiral oscillating and allows the measuring time. In a clockwork movement, each of the components is integral as fixed and driven by tenons, pins, feet-screws, stones and is maintained by bridges. The bridge or mobile bearing is an element made of rigid material with the particular shape including dies, holes and like the plate, it can include tenons, pins and stones whose function is to fix very precisely the clock components the to each other at the turntable ensuring their maintenance, mobility or pivoting through pivots or incablocse. Commonly the bridges are fixed to the plate by keys, pins or screws and each bridge is named after its function bridge of gears, barrel bridge, etc. More precisely, in the 10th century, simple and elongated forms, the cocks, pendulum bridges were richly embellished, engraved and decorated with precious stones. Today, they can be decorated by chamfering or hand-engraving, chemical, laser, etc ... At the extreme and without altering the operation of the movement, the watch is called skeleton, when the bridges are hollowed in order to confer more from transparency to movement. So far, the latest bridge-related achievements have focused on decorations to enhance the movement of the watch. Innovations 30 have also focused on the choice of materials to accentuate the strength and lightness of the movement through drastic tests; dropped from a height of 2.5m a balance spring undergoes a force of 5000 times its weight. However, to date, it has not been proposed to improve the fasteners of the components by optimizing the manufacture of watches, their adjustment and dressing. The object of the present invention is to propose a new bridge concept providing new functionalities with respect to the state of the art, the attachment of which does not require any additional part such as key, pin or screw. This objective is achieved with a bridge system for a watch movement comprising a plate and at least one moving element, including a balance and an associated spring, having an axis whose upper end is engaged in a shock absorbing member, in particular incabloc® type, this bridge system comprising at least one receiving body having a housing adapted to lockably receive said shock-absorbing member, and two flexible arms extending from said main body and provided at their respective ends with means for securing said arms to said platen. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means are constituted by the respective bent ends of the two flexible arms, said bent ends being arranged to be housed in two lugs formed on the plate. In a particular version of the invention, the receiver body permanently integrates the shock absorbing member. The fixing means may be arranged to allow pivoting of said bridge system about a pivot axis integral with the plate. The bridge system according to the invention may advantageously be implemented in a caliber including a spiral whose inner end is fixed to a ferrule integral with the shock absorbing member and the outer end is fixed to the balance. For adjustment purposes, the bridge system according to the invention further comprises means for locking the balance. The bridge system according to the invention comprises, within one and the same piece, a plurality of receiving bodies designed to receive axes of moving parts within the watch movement and several pairs of flexible arms provided with fixing means in as many zones. on the turntable. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for adjusting the dead point of a caliber integrating a bridge system according to the invention and a hairspring with inverted fastenings, characterized in that the neutral setting is obtained by a rotation of the shock absorber system integral with the ferrule, while the rocker is kept blocked. It is also possible to provide a method of adjusting a caliber incorporating a bridge system according to the invention further comprising means for displacing the fastening means in an arc of a circle relative to the plate and provided with a spiral. Inverted fasteners, characterized in that the neutral setting is achieved by a rotation of the bridge system while the balance is kept locked. In the state of the art, a bridge has one end fixed to the plate by one or more screws and, at its other end, is a hole in which is housed a pivot or incabloc in which an axis allows the mobility of a component. (1) According to the present invention, the point of attachment to the bridge is fixed on the plate by two horns called feet which draw an inverted "L" shape, called "male parts" which are themselves housed in two pins said "Female parts" forming integral parts of the plate, the spring effect allows the installation of the two parts by creating a bayonet fixing system making the bridge and the plate integral. With the present invention, the fixing point of the components is no longer composed of a center distance, it is no longer necessary to drive the incablocs® force thus allowing adjustment by finer friction and an assembly disassembly optimized, with a plus high precision and greater flexibility of movement for the watchmaker.

In the present invention, it is a pallier composed of a curved and rigid element which encircle around an axis or pivot by marrying its shape or not and forming two arms which by spring pressure allow a fixation Bayonet to platinum or other bridge or other component through two lugs. Thanks to the embracing of the arms which form the apple of said bridge, the fixed and mobile components are tightened or loosened without being forced out in pivots or incablocs. Due to this spring effect and pin lock locking, the ends of the arms called feet are fixed on the plate and allow a quick attachment without screws thanks to two bayonet cradles or lugs. A spring bridge is thus obtained as a pin spring, hereinafter referred to as "bridge-lyre *". In an optimized version, the Pont-Lyre® and Incabloce or pivot are one, the bridgehead incorporates the function of shock absorber thanks to the flexibility of the arms made with a memory material, l The cushioning obtained is more flexible than with an Incabloc® and in an advantageous version the stones and the lyre spring can be removed. In addition, such a bridge is usually on the so-called "bridge" part of the caliber but can be envisaged on the dial side in different places to maintain several mobile or in opposition to maintain the axis of a mobile. -4. In an advantageous version, such a bridge dedicated to a mobile can have a bayonet attachment system and the bridges can be interconnected n times each being provided with the same fastening system and clamping. In addition, the cock can be raised from two pins that rotate and hold on the platen, allowing a quick change of balance-balance or other fixed or mobile component. In addition, it is possible to consider for the balance bridge two graduated settings of the neutral point in the specific case of a reverse-mounted hairspring in which the incabloct is secured to the ferrule: 10 a- a setting obtained through a rotation of the incabloc® is one with the ferrule, the whole being no longer forced out during his placement. Indeed, during assembly, the two released arms are free and allow friction and progressive tightening with a suitable tool with a borrowing wedding forms or the head of the incabloc®.

In such a case, new incabloc heads or pivots can be envisaged. b- In the same configuration, Incabloc® and ferrule being one, another adjustment is possible from a translation originating from the axis of balance; a radiant rotating shaft located on the plate between two movable fixing lugs and along the periphery of the arc thus created allows the Pont-Lyre® arm to pivot along this axis by providing a finer adjustment of the neutral position. For this purpose, for the two adjustment modes, one or more screws located on the plate can be envisaged to fix the balance rod when adjusting the neutral position.

Indeed, the serge can be blocked by allowing the end of the bolt to be housed in an orifice conforming to its shape when it is out of the plate or from another place or component at its circumference. In an advantageous version of the invention, this concept can be adapted to other bridges, or even to all bridges, thus producing a plurality of interchangeable timepieces or sets of moving parts using the same system. fixing and tightening. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the figures set out below. FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a Pont-Lyre® system according to the invention, implemented in a movement for which the ferrule and the incabloc® are in one piece and the spiral is in reverse fixations; - Figure la is a perspective view of the Pont-lyre® according to Figure 1; - Figure lb is a perspective view of the lugs on the plate according to the invention; Figure 1a is a perspective view of a multi-task bridge-lyre® according to the invention; FIGS. 2a and 2a 'are views respectively in perspective and from above of a Pont-Lyre® fixed to the plate and adjustment of the completed incabloc; Figures 2b and 2b 'are respectively perspective and top views of a Pont-Lyre® in loose mode while the incabloc * is still tight; Figures 2e and 2e 'are respectively perspective and top views of a Pont-Lyre® in loose mode while the Incabloc® is free; Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view of a Lyre® Bridge in a tight mode; Figure 3b is a sectional view of a Lyre® bridge in the loose mode; FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a bridge system according to the invention in which the shell and the incabloc® are in one piece and the hairspring is in reverse fasteners; Figure 5a is an enlarged view of a bridge system according to the invention, showing a retracted cleat and a free serge; Figure 5b is a top view of the bridge system shown in Figure 5a, when the cleat is out and the serge blocked; Figure 6a illustrates a rotation of the incabloc® in a bridge system according to the invention; Figure 6b illustrates a rotation of the Pont-Lyre® on the plate of a movement; FIG. 7a illustrates an example of a control curve for an incabloc® fitted to a bridge system according to the invention; Figure 7b shows an example of a screwdriver adapted to rotate an incabloc® equipping a bridge system according to the invention; FIG. 7c illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the upper part of a shock absorber system used for a bridge system according to the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a bridge system according to the invention on an exhaust wheel axle; and FIG. 9 represents a particular embodiment of a Pont-Lyre® according to the invention, of the "drawbridge" type. The bridge system 1 comprises, with reference to FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b, a main body - or boss - 4 arranged to receive in a central housing 11 a shock absorbing system 3 locked by means of an annular locking piece 2 and adapted to cooperate with the upper end of a shell 8 to which is connected an end of a hairspring 10, and two flexible fixing arms 6a, 6b extending from the apple 4 and provided at their respective ends two bent elements 7a, 7b arranged to be retained respectively by two pins 8a, 8b integral with a plate 22. With reference to Figure 1c, there may be provided a bridge system 60 provided to provide the bridge function for several mobile crews within a caliber. This bridge system 60 thus comprises three receptor bodies or apples 11, 12, 13 and three pairs of flexible attachment arms PI ', PI "and PI". In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a bridge system 1 according to the invention may for example be used for guiding an axle 81 of an escape wheel 80. Reference will now be made to 2a, 2a ', 2b, 2b' and 2c, 2c ', a use of the bridge system 1 to access the spiral 10 and the balance 20 of the caliber.

In nominal operation of the gauge (FIGS. 2a, 2b), the two attachment arms 6a, 6b of the bridge system 1 ("Pont-Lyre®") have their respective ends 7a, 7b held in the lugs 7a, 7b 22. The incabloc® 3 is locked in the head 4 of the bridge system 1. If an operator wishes to intervene on the spiral-balance system, it suffices to exert a lateral pressure on the curved parts Pa, Pb flexible arms 6a, 6b to release the bent ends 7a, 7b of the lugs 8a, 8b on the plate 22, as shown in Figures 2b and 2b '. The operator can then, with reference to FIGS. 2e and 2c ', lift the bridge system 1 which integrates the incabloc® into its apple and directly access the balance spring 10 and the balance shaft 30, for example in order to replace the balance spring and / or the balance. With reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the use of a bridge system according to the invention will now be described when it is implemented in a caliber incorporating a spiral 10 with inverted fastenings with an inner end fixed to a ferrule 8 secured to the incabloc® 3 and an outer end attached to an arm of the balance 20 35 having a serge 21 and fixed to a central axis 30 whose upper end is engaged in the incabloc® 3 and the lower end engaged in a pivot system 31. In Figure 3a, the apple 4 encloses the incabloc® 3 and the latter is blocked. When the operator has cleared the flexible arms out of the pins of the plate and then spreads slightly, the incablocoD 3 is then loosened and released, as shown in Figure 3b. A bridge system 1 according to the invention is particularly suitable for guiding a spiral-balance system in which the hairspring 10 is with inverted fastenings, thus allowing the ferrule 8 and the incabloc® 3 to be made in one piece as shown in Figure 4a.

In order to allow easy adjustment of the dead center of the spiral-balance system of a caliber according to the invention, it is possible to add to a bridge system 100 'a system 5 making it possible to block the strut 21' of the balance 20 ', with reference Figures 5a and 5b. This locking system 5 cooperates with the serge 21 'of a rocker 20' which is provided with indentations 210. It comprises a bolt 53 which can slide in a groove 51 15 formed in the plate 22 having the two lugs 8a, 8b of locking the flexible arms 6a, 6b of the bridge system 100 '. This bolt is designed to be engaged in the indentation 210 of the serge 21 'and therefore has on its front part a shape complementary to that of the indentation 210. It is actuable by translation of a movable catch 50 disposed on the platinum 22.

When the rocker is blocked, an operator can also intervene to adjust the neutral point of the balance-balance system without requiring the removal of the bridge system. In a first version illustrated in Figures 6b and 7b, after loosening the incabloc® 3 by releasing the two flexible arms, an operator can with a screwdriver 60 (or a key) provided with two pins 61 rotate the incabloc® 3 relative to the apple 4. In a second version shown in Figure 6a, the neutral setting can be made by rotating the apple 4 around the incabloc® 3 by means of a device (not shown) for moving the two fixing lugs relative to the plate. In order to allow an easy rotation of the incabloc® 3 for a dead point setting, it is possible to design for its upper part a "Spanner-snake eye" type pattern with two slots 31, 32, as illustrated in FIG. 7c. We can also consider other borrows such as the rosette 30 shown in Figure 7a with a screwdriver suitable for this type of borrows. To make it even easier to operate on a spiral-balance system, it is conceivable, with reference to FIG. 9, a bridge system which is permanently connected to the plate 22 'via a pivot axis 7 'replacing the two lugs 8a, 8b of the previous embodiments. In this configuration, when an operator wishes to intervene on the spiral-balance system integrating for example a 3 'incabloc, a spiral 10' with inverted fastenings and a pendulum 20 'provided with a serge 21' having indentations 23a, 23b, 23c provided to allow a blockage of the balance 20 ', it is sufficient to unlock the apple 40 to release the incabloc® 3' and rotate the point system 1 'around the pivot axis 7'. Of course, the invention is not limited to what has just been described and many other embodiments than those which have just been described are conceivable. 114

Claims (5)

REVENDICATIONS1. Bridge system (1) for a watch movement comprising a plate (22) and at least one moving element, including a rocker (20) and an associated spring (10), having an axis (30) whose upper end is engaged in a shock-absorbing member (3), in particular of the Incabloc® type, this bridge system (1) comprising at least one receiving body (4) comprising a housing adapted to lockably receive said shock-absorbing member (3). ), and two flexible arms (6a, 6b) extending from said main body (4) and provided at their respective ends with means (7a, 7b) for fixing said arms (6a, 6b) to said plate (22). 2. bridge system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means are constituted by the respective bent ends (7a, 7b) of the two flexible arms (6a, 6b), said bent ends being arranged to be able to be housed in two lugs (8a, 8b) formed on the plate (22). 3. Bridge system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving body (4) permanently integrates the shock absorbing member (3). 4. Bridge system (1 ') according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening means (7') are arranged to allow pivoting of said bridge system (1 ') about a pivot axis integral with the platinum (22 '). 5. Bridge system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, implemented in a caliber including a spiral (10) whose inner end is fixed to a ferrule (8) integral with the shock-absorbing member ( 3) and the outer end is fixed to the balance (20). G. Bridge system (100 ') according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means (5) for locking the rocker (20) .35-2- 7. Bridge system ( 60) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises within the same room several receiving bodies (11, 12, 13) provided to receive axes of moving parts within the watch movement and several pairs of flexible arms (PI ', PI ", PI") provided with fixing means in as many areas on the plate. 8. A method for adjusting the dead point of a caliber incorporating a bridge system (1) according to claim 6 and an inverted fastener hairspring according to claim 5, characterized in that the neutral adjustment is obtained by a rotation of the shock absorber system (3) integral with the ferrule, while the rocker (20) is kept locked. 9. A method for adjusting the dead center of a caliber integrating a bridge system according to claim 6 further comprising means for moving the means for fixing the arms in an arc of a circle relative to the plate and provided with a hairspring Inverted fastener arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the dead center setting is obtained by a rotation of the bridge system while the rocker is kept locked. 10. Watch gauge, incorporating a bridge system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.