JP2019109226A - System for fixing timepiece movement in small clock case - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a fixation system in which reliability and structure stability are improved.SOLUTION: A system (10) for fixing a timepiece movement (2) to a small clock case (30) element (3) comprises at least one clamp (1), in particular at least two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, which is intended to come into contact firstly with the movement and secondly with the small clock case element, the at least one clamp being made of a superelastic alloy and/or of a shape memory alloy, particularly of a nickel-titanium alloy such as Nitinol.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The invention relates to a system for securing a watch movement to a miniature watch case element. The invention also relates to a watch unit comprising the system. The invention further relates to a watch comprising the system or the unit. The invention finally relates to the system or the unit or the method of operation of the clock.

  In general, two or three casing clamps are used to attach or fix the watch movement in a small watch case, in particular in the barrel.

  When the movement is mounted in the case, each casing clamp is inserted into a notch formed in the inner periphery of the cylinder and then fixed to the movement via the fixing means.

  The notch is shaped so that the clamp can exert a suitable pre-load that meets the predetermined criteria, which allows the movement to be pressed against the barrel of the case. One of the criteria is, for example, the minimization of the range of movement of the movement and the given shape and material clamp for a given strength of impact, without the risk of plastic deformation of the clamp.

  Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the construction of such a clamp casing device. At least one clamp 1 * is pressed against the flat and parallel surfaces 2a *, 3a * associated with the movement 3 * and the barrel 3 * of the case 30 * respectively. The clamp 1 * is therefore elastically deformed such that when attaching the movement, the elastic restoring force of the clamp holds the surface 2b * of the movement 2 * against the surface 3b * of the barrel 3 *. The clamp is in this case held on the movement by means of the screw 4 *.

  However, such solutions can cause problems. In fact, there is a risk of plastic deformation of the clamp during assembly and / or under the influence of shocks. This can lead to a risk of losing contact between the movement and the torso or of the clamps coming off.

European Patent Application Publication No. 2458456

  The object of the present invention is to provide a system for fixing a watch movement in a small watch case, which overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks and makes it possible to improve the devices known from the prior art. In particular, the present invention proposes a fastening system whose reliability and structural stability are improved over the systems known from the prior art.

  According to a first aspect of the invention, a system for securing a watch movement is defined by the following definitions.

1. A system for securing a watch movement to a miniature watch case element, said system comprising
At least one clamp, in particular at least two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, intended to contact the movement and secondly the watch case element firstly;
A device for altering the stiffness of the at least one clamp, in particular for altering the bending stiffness of the at least one clamp, when the movement is fixed and / or displaced relative to the watch case element;
Including the system.

2. In the device for changing the rigidity of the at least one clamp, the movement is fixed to the small watch case element, or with respect to the small watch case element, the first surface of the movement is the second surface of the case element Are arranged such that the bending length of the at least one clamp is changed, in particular when the bending length of the at least one clamp is reduced, when displaced from the resting position abutting the The system according to definition 1.

3. The contact of the supporting force or the first bending end of the at least one clamp with the movement and / or the contact of the supporting force or the second bending end of the at least one clamp with the case element may be performed by the movement. A definition which is fixed to a small watch case element or modified relative to the small watch case element when the first surface of the movement is displaced from a rest position abutting the second surface of the case element The system according to 1 or 2.

4. The device for changing the stiffness of the at least one clamp is such that the movement is fixed to the case element and the movement is in a rest position in which the first surface of the movement abuts the second surface of the case element The first gap between the clamp and the point of the movement to which the clamp can contact by bending the clamp, wherein the value of the first gap is smaller than Lc1 or smaller than Lc1 / 3, Or less than Lc1 / 4, and / or the value of the first gap is greater than Lc1 / 60, or greater than Lc1 / 30, where Lc1 is the plane of the third surface of the movement to which the clamp can be weighted Lc1 is between Lf / 10 and Lf, where Lf is the bending clamp length A device for changing the stiffness of at least one clamp, wherein the movement is fixed to the case element, the movement being in a rest position in which the first surface of the movement abuts the second surface of the case element And a second gap between the clamp and a point of the case element to which the clamp can contact by bending the clamp, the value of the second gap being smaller than Lc2, or Lc2 Less than 1/3, or less than Lc2 / 4, and / or the value of the second gap is greater than Lc2 / 60, or more than Lc2 / 30, where Lc2 can be weighted by the clamp Lc2 is between Lf / 10 and Lf, where Lf is the length of the projection of the five surfaces onto said plane Serial measured at rest, according to any one of the definitions 1 3 system.

5. The device for changing the stiffness of the at least one clamp comprises
A third surface that forms a first non-zero angle with a fourth surface to which the clamp weights when the movement is in a rest position in which the first surface of the movement abuts the second surface of the case element; And / or fifth the clamp forms a second non-zero angle with the sixth surface to which it weights when the movement is in the rest position in which the first surface of the movement abuts the second surface of the case element. surface,
A system according to any one of Definitions 1 to 4, including.

6. The first angle is smaller than 45 °, smaller than 20 °, smaller than 15 °, smaller than 10 °, and / or larger than 1 °, larger than 2 °, and / or the second angle is 45 ° The system according to Definition 5, wherein the system is smaller, or smaller than 20 °, or smaller than 15 °, smaller than 10 °, and / or larger than 1 °, or larger than 2 °.

7. The first surface is flat, and / or the second surface is flat, and / or the third surface is flat, and / or the fourth surface is flat, and / or the fifth surface is flat. The system according to Definitions 5 or 6, wherein and / or said sixth surface is flat.

8. The system according to Definitions 5 or 6, wherein the third surface is curvilinear, in particular the third surface is a cylindrical portion and / or the fifth surface is curvilinear, in particular the fifth surface is a cylindrical portion.

9. The at least one clamp comprises a cross section, the second moment of the cross section along the longitudinal axis, in particular by a change of the width and / or the thickness and / or a profile of maximum stress of the cross section of the at least one clamp A system according to any one of Definitions 1 to 8, which varies so as to be constant or substantially constant over at least part of the length, in particular over at least half of the length of the clamp.

10. The at least one clamp is made of a superelastic alloy and / or a shape memory alloy, in particular a nickel-titanium alloy such as nitinol, or the at least one clamp is made of a nickel alloy System described in

11. 11. A system according to any one of the definitions 1 to 10, wherein the at least one clamp comprises an element fixed to the movement or the case element, in particular a screw passage.

  According to a first aspect of the invention, a watch unit is defined by the following definition.

12. A watch unit, in particular a watch movement and / or a miniature watch case element or a miniature watch case, comprising a system according to any one of the definitions 1 to 11.

13. 12. A watch unit according to definition 12, wherein the small watch case element is a torso.

14. 13. Watch unit according to definition 12 or 13, wherein the third surface is formed on the movement and / or the fourth surface is formed on the case element.

15. The case element includes a casing ring and / or the fourth surface is at least partially formed on the casing ring, and / or the movement includes a casing ring, and / or the third surface is at least on the casing ring. A watch unit according to definition 12 or 13, partially formed.

  According to a first aspect of the invention, a watch is defined by the following definition:

16. A watch, in particular a watch, comprising a unit according to any one of Definitions 12 to 15 and / or a system according to any one of Definitions 1 to 11.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, a system for securing a watch movement is defined by the following definitions.

17. A system for securing a watch movement to a small watch case element, said system comprising at least one clamp, in particular at least two, intended to contact the movement and secondly the small watch case element firstly. A system comprising two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, said at least one clamp being made of superelastic alloy and / or shape memory alloy, in particular of nickel-titanium alloy such as nitinol.

18. The at least one clamp comprises a cross section, the second moment of which the cross section moment is along the longitudinal axis, in particular by the change of the width and / or the thickness and / or the profile of the maximum stress of the cross section being the at least one clamp The system according to Definition 17, wherein the system changes to be constant or substantially constant over at least a portion of the length, in particular over at least half of the length of the clamp.

19. 17. A system according to definition 17 or 18, wherein the at least one clamp comprises an element for securing to the movement or the watch case element, in particular a screw passage.

20. The system according to any one of Definitions 17 to 19, wherein the thickness of the at least one clamp is 0.5 mm or more.

21. The system according to any one of Definitions 17 to 20, wherein the bending length of the at least one clamp is less than or equal to 1.35 mm.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, a watch unit is defined by the following definition.

22. A watch unit, in particular a watch movement or a watch case element, comprising a system according to any one of the definitions 17-21.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, a watch is defined by the following definitions.

23. A unit according to definition 22, and / or a watch, in particular a watch, according to any one of definitions 17 to 21.

  The features of the first and second aspects can be combined, except where they are not logically or technically compatible.

  The attached drawings show, by way of example, two embodiments of a watch according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly known from the prior art. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly known from the prior art. FIG. 3 shows two states of the first embodiment of the watch. FIG. 4 shows two states of the first embodiment of the watch. FIG. 5 shows two states of the second embodiment of the watch. FIG. 6 shows two states of the second embodiment of the watch. FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of a first clamp configuration that can be used in the anchoring system according to the invention. FIG. 8 is a summary table illustrating the behavior of clamps having the same shape in various embodiments. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the behavior of the fastening system of FIG. 8 when the movement is displaced relative to the case. FIG. 10 is a detailed perspective view of a second clamp configuration that can be used with the anchoring system according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a third clamp configuration that can be used with the anchoring system according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a detailed view of an example of the shape of the movement surface that is intended for engagement with the clamp. FIG. 13 is a detailed view of an example of the shape of the movement surface that is intended for engagement with the clamp. FIG. 14 is a view of a third embodiment of the watch in the resting position. FIG. 15 is a graph showing the restoring force on the movement as a function of the displacement of the movement relative to the case for various types of clamps. FIG. 16 is a graph showing the restoring force on the movement as a function of the displacement of the movement relative to the case for various types of clamps. FIG. 17 is a graph showing the resiliency of the movement as a function of the displacement of the movement relative to the case for various types of clamps.

  A first embodiment of a watch 400 is described below with reference to FIGS. The watch is, for example, a small watch, specifically a watch. The watch includes a miniature watch housing or a miniature watch case 30 that includes the barrel 3. The small watch case 30 accommodates the watch movement 2. The movement may be a mechanical movement or an electronic movement.

  The watch movement 2 and / or the small watch case element 3 and / or the small watch case 30 comprise or contribute to a system 10 for securing the watch movement 2 to the element 3 of the small watch case 30 It can be formed or composed. The small watchcase element may, for example, be a barrel or a magnifying ring.

The system 10 for securing the watch movement 2 to the small watch case element 3 is
-At least one clamp 1, in particular at least two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, which are intended to be in contact, firstly with the movement and secondly with the small watchcase element;
Changing the stiffness of the at least one clamp, in particular the bending stiffness of the at least one clamp, when fixing the movement to the case element and / or when the movement is displaced relative to the mini watchcase element And a device 2a '.

  The system is characterized by the use of an elastic casing clamp, the stiffness of which depends on the load applied thereto, in particular the displacement of the watch movement relative to the small watch case on impact or when attaching the movement to the case It can be changed according to According to another aspect, the system is characterized in that it implements a casing which is particularly hard and which is very insensitive to changes in manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances. This embodiment has the advantage of proposing a long-lasting fastening system, which in particular in the case of the impact of a miniature watch, the risk of plastic deformation of the clamps contributing to the assembly, and / or the timing of the fastening means of the clamps. The possibility of premature removal is particularly prevented.

  The stiffness of the clamp is characterized by the strength of the bending caused by the load or a given attempt. The stiffness of the clamp can be adjusted by changing the effective length of the clamp and / or by changing the support point or surface when loaded. Devices for changing the stiffness exploit this possibility.

  The device for changing the stiffness of the at least one clamp is preferably a watch from the rest position when the movement is fixed to the watch case element or the first surface 2b of the movement abuts the second surface 3b of the case element It is arranged such that, when displaced relative to the case element, the bending length of the at least one clamp is changed, in particular the bending length of the at least one clamp is reduced. The first surface 2 b is, for example, a dial of a movement. The second surface 3b is, for example, a bearing surface formed on the case, for example, on the cylinder.

  With the movement mounted in the case, at least one clamp 1 is pressed against the surface 2A of the movement. At least one clamp weights the surface 3A of the case, in particular the end of the surface 3A of the case. The surface 3A is, for example, the support area of the recess 31 or recess 31 provided in the case element, in particular in the cylinder. For this reason, the clamp 1 is elastically deformed so that the elastic restoring force of the clamp holds the surface 2 b of the movement 2 against the surface 3 b of the case 3 when the movement is attached. The clamp is in this case held on the movement by means of the screw 4. The screw 4 is screwed, for example, into a female screw provided in the movement. The screw passes through a hole 14 made in the clamp 1. The head of the screw weights the surface of the clamp 1. The first and second surfaces 2b and 3b are, for example, flat. Both surfaces are preferably perpendicular to the axis A1 of the movement. The axis A1 is perpendicular to the plane of the movement, in particular perpendicular to the plane of the frame of the movement, and / or the axis A1 is parallel to the direction in which the movement is inserted into the watch case element 3.

  The effective bending length Lf of the clamp corresponds to the limiting part of the total length L of the clamp. The effective bending length Lf extends between a first area forming the first bending end 12 and a second area forming the second bending end 13. The first end 12 is located at the contact boundary between the movement and the clamp. The second end 13 is located at the contact boundary between the case and the clamp. The length La is the length of the clamp that bears on the movement. The length may be non-continuous. The length extends between the end boundaries where the clamp 1 bears on the movement.

  In a first embodiment, the support surface 2A of the movement comprises at least one surface portion 2a 'which forms an angle α with the frame of the movement. The portion 2a 'is adjacent to the portion 2a where the screw 4 presses the clamp against the frame of the movement. The portion 2a is, for example, flat. For this purpose, the surface portion 2a 'has a non-zero angle α with the portion 2a to which the clamp weights when the movement is in the rest position in which the first surface 2b of the movement abuts the second surface 3b of the case element. Form.

  When mounting the movement 2 in the case 30, the clamp 1 is elastically deformed by contact with all or part of the surface 3A under the action of the screw 4. The clamp is elastically deformed over the axial distance of the interference, which corresponds to the interference of the object between the case and the clamp before elastic deformation of the clamp. When the movement is housed in the case, the clamp is pressed against the surface 2A and held in a pretensioned state via the screw 4. In various configurations, the bending length Lf of the clamp is defined in particular by the shape of the surface 2A. Within the specific structure illustrated in FIG. 3, Lf ≒ La / 1.5, which is maintained until the clamp returns to contact with the part 2a ′, in particular during an impact whose strength is greater than a predetermined threshold value. 1 Give rigidity to the clamp. As shown in FIG. 4, when the threshold is reached, the movement is axially displaced by a distance d with respect to the case. As a result, the clamp contacts the portion 2a '. The contact changes the support point of the clamp, which in particular prevents the plastic deformation of the clamp, in particular by the minimal axial displacement of the movement by increasing the restoring force, while increasing the restoring force of the clamp Make it possible to The shape of the part 2a 'gives the clamp at least a second stiffness which is maintained until the elastic return of the clamp is released, i.e. while the part 2a' and the clamp are in contact. Furthermore, the portion 2a 'allows stress to be distributed over the larger surface of the clamp, thus preventing the concentration of excessive stresses which may exceed the elastic limit of the material from which the clamp is manufactured. to enable.

  When changing from the configuration of FIG. 3 to the configuration of FIG. 4, the bending length Lf of the clamp is variable, and in particular, the length is between La / 4 (FIG. 4) and La / 1.5 (FIG. 3) It may be. Specifically, the length Lf in this case can be suddenly changed from La / 1.5 to La / 4 between the configuration of FIG. 3 and the configuration of FIG. 4. The manner of attachment of the clamp can also be changed suddenly by changing from a similar configuration to the embedded beam to a similar configuration to the four-point bending beam.

  The angle α is preferentially strictly less than 45 °, or less than 20 °, or less than 15 °, or less than 10 °. The angle α is preferentially greater than 1 °, in particular greater than 2 °. For this reason, the part 2a 'should be distinguished from the simple bevel resulting from the production of the surface 2A. Furthermore, the portion 2a 'may occupy all or part of the surface 2A.

  Of course, it is possible to press the clamp against the part 2a 'when assembled, i.e. when mounting or fixing the movement in the case, i.e. when the distance d separating the movement and the case is zero. The advantage of this arrangement is that during assembly of the movement, the generated restoring force of the clamp is increased without generating more stress than that which may cause residual deformation of the clamp.

  For this purpose, the contact of the first flexing end 12 of the clamp with the supporting force or the movement takes place when the movement is fixed to the small watchcase element or the first surface 2b of the movement is against the second surface 3b of the case element It is changed when it is displaced relative to the watch case element from the resting position it abuts.

  In the first embodiment, the device for altering the stiffness of at least one clamp comprises a portion 2a '. The portion 2a 'is, for example, a plane.

  A second embodiment of a watch 400 is described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. According to a second embodiment, the watch is distinguishable from the watch of the first embodiment only by a device that changes the stiffness of at least one clamp.

  In the second embodiment, the support surface 3A of the case comprises at least one surface portion 3a 'which forms an angle β with the frame of the movement or with a plane perpendicular to the axis A1 of the movement. The portion 3a 'is adjacent to the portion 3a where the clamp rests, in the stationary position of the movement or when securing the movement in the case. The part 3a is, for example, a plane, for example perpendicular to the axis A1 of the movement. Therefore, the surface 3A portion 3a 'forms an angle β with the surface 3A portion 3a.

  When mounting the movement 2 in the case 30, the clamp 1 is elastically deformed by the contact with all or part of the surface 3A under the action of the screw 4. The clamp is elastically deformed over the axial distance of the interference, which corresponds to the interference of the object between the case and the clamp before elastic deformation of the clamp. When the movement is housed in the case, the clamp is pressed against the surface 2A and held in pretension via the screw 4. In various configurations, the bending length Lf of the clamp is defined in particular by the shape of the surface 3A. Within the particular structure illustrated in FIG. 5, Lf ≒ La / 2.5, which is maintained until the clamp returns to contact with the part 3a ′, in particular during an impact whose strength is greater than a predetermined threshold value. 1 Give rigidity to the clamp. As shown in FIG. 6, when the threshold is reached, the movement is axially displaced by a distance d with respect to the case. As a result, the clamp contacts the portion 3a '. The contact changes the support point of the clamp, which in particular prevents the plastic deformation of the clamp, in particular by the minimal axial displacement of the movement by increasing the restoring force, while increasing the restoring force of the clamp Make it possible to The shape of the part 3a 'gives the clamp at least a second stiffness which is maintained until the elastic return of the clamp is released, i.e. while the part 3a' and the clamp are in contact.

  During the transition from the configuration of FIG. 5 to the configuration of FIG. 6, the bending length Lf of the clamp is variable, and in particular, the length is between La / 4 (FIG. 6) and La / 2.5 (FIG. 5) It may be. Specifically, the length Lf in this case can be changed from La / 2.5 to La / 4 between the configuration of FIG. 5 and the configuration of FIG.

  The angle β is preferentially strictly less than 45 °, or less than 20 °, or less than 15 ° or less than 10 °. The angle β is preferentially greater than 1 °, in particular greater than 2 °. For this reason, the part 3a 'should be distinguished from a simple bevel resulting from the production of the surface 3A. Furthermore, the portion 3a 'may occupy all or part of the surface 3A.

  Of course, when mounting the movement in the case, i.e. when the distance d separating the movement and the case is zero, the clamp can be pressed against the portion 3a '. The advantage of such a configuration is to increase the restoring force generated by the clamp during assembly of the movement, without generating any stresses that could lead to residual deformation of the clamp.

  For this purpose, the support force or the contact of the second flexing end 13 of the clamp with the case element may occur when the movement is fixed to the small watch case element or the first surface 2b of the movement is on the second surface 3b of the case element It is changed when it is displaced relative to the watch case element from the resting position it abuts.

  In a second embodiment, the device for altering the stiffness of at least one clamp comprises a portion 3a '. The portion 3a 'is, for example, a plane.

  A third embodiment of the watch 400 is described below. The embodiment is shown in FIG. The third embodiment is a mixture of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. For this reason, in the third embodiment, the device for changing the stiffness of at least one clamp comprises the inclined part of the movement, which in particular (especially like part 2a 'of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) 2.) engaging at least one clamp and an inclined portion on the case element intended to engage the at least one clamp (in particular as in the part 3a 'of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) Intended to match.

  For this reason, the contact of the first bending end 12 of the clamp with the supporting force or movement and the contact of the second bending end 13 of the clamp with the supporting force or the case element occur when the movement is fixed to the small watch case element. Or, it is changed when the first surface 2b of the movement is displaced relative to the watch case element from the rest position against the second surface 3b of the case element.

  In various embodiments, an apparatus for altering the stiffness of the clamps is advantageously provided for each clamp. Preferably, in the same watch, the device for changing the stiffness of the clamps is identical in each clamp.

  Each clamp may have a parallelepiped shape or a substantially parallelepiped shape, as shown in FIG.

  For example, one clamp may be a beam. Some or all of the clamps may be beams.

  For example, one clamp may be at least 1.2 times, or at least 1.5 times, or at least 1 greater than its greater transverse dimension (width) L 'measured in the longitudinal direction, transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction It may have a length L which is .8 times or at least twice as long. The lengths and widths are shown in FIGS. 7, 10 and 11. Some or all of the clamps can have such a shape.

  Advantageously, the or each clamp comprises a cross section S, the moment of inertia of the cross section of which varies along the longitudinal axis 11 of the clamp.

  In the first alternative shown in FIG. 10, the width L ′ of the clamp varies along the longitudinal axis 11. This variation is present between the fastening element 14 and the end 15 of the clamp, in particular over more than half of the part extending between the fastening element 14 and the end 15 of the clamp. The width L ′ preferably decreases as the end 15 is approached.

  In the second alternative shown in FIG. 11, the thickness e of the clamp varies along the longitudinal axis 11. This variation is present between the fastening element 14 and the end 15 of the clamp, in particular over more than half of the part extending between the fastening element 14 and the end 15 of the clamp. The thickness e preferably decreases as the end 15 is approached.

  The change in width and / or thickness and / or shape of the clamp is such that the profile of the maximum stress of the cross section over at least a part of the length of the clamp, in particular between the fixing element 14 and the end 15 of the clamp, in particular It may be such that the cross section changes so as to be constant or substantially constant over more than half of the portion extending between the end 15 of the clamp. In other words, the clamp may in particular have a profile of equal resistance to bending, or "equal stress". More generally, the cross section of the clamp may be varied to optimally distribute and minimize internal stress.

  In all the embodiments described above, the part 2a 'has been described as being formed on a movement and the part 3a' as being formed on a case element.

  In all the embodiments described above, the movement is provided to be mounted directly in the torso. However, alternatively, the movement may be attached to other case elements to be added to the barrel, in particular the back or the bezel.

  Of course, the watch unit 200 may also include a casing ring or a magnifying ring, which may be rigidly connected to the movement or torso by the connected fixing means. In this situation, the portion 2a 'may be formed at least partially on the casing ring and the portion 3a' may be formed at least partially on the casing ring.

  In all the embodiments described above, the casing clamp has been described as being fixed on the movement. Alternatively, the fixing means of the clamp may be mounted on the casing ring. As a further alternative, the fixing means of the clamp may be mounted on the case element, in particular on the cylinder.

  In all the embodiments described above, portions 2a 'and 3a' have been described as planar portions.

  However, alternatively, the portion 2a 'and / or the portion 3a' may be convex or curvilinear, and may have the shape of a cylindrical portion, as is particularly shown in FIG. 12 for the portion 2a '.

  Further alternatively, the part 2a 'and / or the part 3a' may be non-continuous, and in particular may be formed in steps as shown in FIG. 13 for the part 2a '.

  More generally, and preferably, the clamp and the bending of the clamp with the movement fixed to the case element, with the movement being stationary with the first surface 2b of the movement abutting the second surface 3b of the case element. There may be a gap e1 (FIG. 3) between the point of the movement to which the clamp can contact. The value of gap e1 is smaller than Lc1, or smaller than Lc1 / 3, or smaller than Lc1 / 4, and / or the value of gap e1 is larger than Lc1 / 60, or larger than Lc1 / 30, where Lc1 is a partial It is the projection length of the 2a 'movement onto the plane of the frame. Furthermore, the length Lc1 is between Lf / 10 and Lf, where Lf is measured at rest.

  More generally, and preferably, the clamp and the bending of the clamp with the movement fixed to the case element, with the movement being stationary with the first surface 2b of the movement abutting the second surface 3b of the case element. There can be a gap e2 (FIG. 14) between the point of the case element to which the clamp can contact. The value of gap e2 is smaller than Lc2, or smaller than Lc2 / 3, or smaller than Lc2 / 4, and or the value of gap e2 is larger than Lc2 / 60, or larger than Lc2 / 30, where Lc2 is a partial It is the projection length to the plane of the case element of 3a '. Furthermore, the length Lc2 is between Lf / 10 and Lf, where Lf is measured at rest.

  Whatever clamp alternatives, each clamp has an element 14 which secures to the movement or case element. For example, the element is the passage hole 14 for the passage of the screw 4.

  Whatever the clamp alternative, the clamp may be made of steel or superelastic alloy and / or shape memory alloy, in particular of nickel-titanium alloy or nickel alloy such as nitinol.

  The clamp 1 may or may not be flat, whatever the clamp alternative. Thus, the clamp may have a curved shape. The clamp 1 may optionally have a symmetrical shape.

  FIG. 8 has the same shape (L = 3.3 mm, L '= 2.05 mm, Lf = 1.0 mm, e = 0.35 mm) of constant cross section for various assembly configurations A, B, C, D. The tabulation table which reports the behavior of the clamp made of the same material (Durnico steel) is shown.

  Configuration A corresponds to the prior art casing configuration shown in FIGS.

  Configuration B corresponds to the casing configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

  Configuration C corresponds to the casing configuration of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

  Configuration D corresponds to the casing configuration of the third embodiment shown in FIG.

  For the same case-clamp interference I, which defines a predetermined elastic deformation of the clamp, the elastic restoring force F which the clamp produces as a result of an impact of a predetermined strength on the piece differs considerably depending on the configuration. This results in a substantially different axial displacement d of the movement relative to the respective case, so that depending on the configuration, the residual deformation Def of the clamp can occur to a greater or lesser extent.

  The table of FIG. 8 in particular makes it possible to propose a particularly rigid assembly, while configurations B, C, D minimize residual deformation of the clamp, while the clamps of configuration A are particularly suitable during impact. It emphasizes the fact that large plastic deformation occurs due to the excessive axial displacement d that occurs in it. Given the above, in the structure of Def> I, the plastic deformation of the clamp of this case releases the movement from the cylinder, i.e. loses the contact between the movement and the cylinder. Thus, after impact, the movement is no longer mounted in a satisfactory manner in the case. Advantageously, configuration D can limit the displacement of the movement relative to the case to the maximum and limit the residual deformation of the clamp to the maximum.

  FIG. 9 illustrates the stiffness characteristics of the respective clamps of configurations A, B, C, D according to their axial displacement or deformation d ', where d' = d + I. Unlike the curves that show the stiffness properties of the clamps that contribute to configuration A, the curves that illustrate the stiffness properties of the clamps that contribute to configurations B, C, D each have an inflection point. This is in particular the first clamp stiffness (d ′ ≦ I + d0) when assembling the movement and in particular the predetermined strength at which the movement is released from the case by a distance d greater than d0 (clamp axial displacement d ′> I + d0) To provide a second clamping stiffness during impact, the distance d0 being specific to the shape of the embodiment and being able to accommodate movement displacements which result in a new clamping contact with the movement or the case element. More generally, the clamp may have a first stiffness and a second stiffness, for example when mounting the movement in the case element, or the movement is assembled and the second after an impact of a predetermined strength. It may have rigidity.

  Figure 9 shows the clamping of configurations B, C, D by changing the active length or changing the support point or surface when pulled, whether during assembly of the movement or during impact of the miniature watch case after assembly of the movement Emphasize the adjustment of the stiffness of

  As mentioned above, the clamp can be made of steel, in particular Durnico steel. Shape memory alloys such as nitinol can be advantageously selected because of their superelastic properties. The alloy clamp has in fact the advantage of producing a force that changes significantly less than the Durnico steel clamp over a predetermined threshold of prestress. This is due to the change in phase of the material according to the rate of deformation depending on the load exposed during the casing or during the impact. For this reason, such properties are particularly advantageous for overcoming the fluctuations of the forces caused by changes in the assembly configuration caused by manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances of the movement and the case, so that a particularly robust assembly device can be proposed It is.

  Furthermore, the superelastic alloy clamp can generate a very large elastic restoring force as compared to clamps known from clamp casing devices known from the prior art. For this reason, the choice of the material is particularly advantageous for the purpose of increasing the casing stiffness, the advantages of which are emphasized in Applicants' studies and as disclosed in the patent application WO 02 / 086,200, ie to eg hard surfaces. Significantly reduces the acceleration to which the movement is exposed during an impact.

  The invention also relates to the method of operation of the anchoring system that is the subject of the invention, in particular to the method of operation of the above-described embodiment. In the method of operation and / or in the various embodiments described above, the fixing system changes the stiffness of the at least one clamp, in particular at least when the movement is fixed and / or the movement is displaced relative to the watch case element. It has an action including the step of changing the bending rigidity of one clamp.

  In particular, the movement is fixed and / or at least one when the movement is displaced relative to the small watchcase element from the rest position in which the first surface 2b of the movement abuts the second surface 3b of the small watchcase element. The bending length of the clamps is changed, in particular the bending length of at least one clamp is reduced.

  For this purpose, in a second aspect of the invention, the watch 400, in particular the watch or unit 200, comprises a system 10 for securing the watch movement 2 to the small watch case 30 element 3, the system comprising: Second, it comprises at least one clamp 1 intended to be in contact with the watch case element, in particular at least two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, at least one clamp being a superelastic alloy and / or shape It is made of a memory alloy, in particular a nickel-titanium alloy such as nitinol.

  Nitinol is a superelastic and shape memory alloy. In fact, in the temperature range corresponding to the use of clamps (e.g. -10 [deg.] C. to 40 [deg.] C.), nitinol is in the austenite phase and is therefore superelastic.

  Nitinol is an alloy of nickel and titanium, both elements being present in about the same percentage, ie about 55% by weight or 60% by weight of nickel and about 45% by weight or 40% by weight of titanium, in some cases Alloying elements such as chromium, cobalt or niobium are present in smaller proportions. Other shape memory alloys such as AuCd, CuAlBe, CuAlNi, or CuZnAl exist in single crystal or polycrystalline form.

  Furthermore, the alloy may be subjected to a specific heat treatment to obtain its superelastic properties.

  For example, a 60 NiTi alloy is nominally made of 60% by weight nickel and 40% by weight titanium. The 55NiTi alloy is nominally made up of 55 wt% nickel and 45 wt% titanium. The Nitinol # 1 alloy comprises 54.5% to 57% by weight of nickel, 43.0% to 45.5% by weight of titanium, up to 0.25% by weight, in particular chromium, cobalt, copper, It is made of iron or other elements such as niobium.

  The research-based Nitinol alloy, the result of which is shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, is made up in particular of about 56% by weight of nickel, about 44% by weight of titanium and alloying elements such as Cr, Cu, Fe.

  For example, the CuAl12Be (0.45-0.68) alloy is nominally composed of 12 wt% aluminum, 0.45 wt% to 0.68 wt% beryllium, and the balance copper.

  For example, the CuAl13Ni4 alloy consists nominally of 83 wt% copper, 13 wt% aluminum, and 4 wt% nickel.

  All the materials mentioned above are suitable for clamp manufacture.

  For example, FIG. 15 shows a graph showing the change in the restoring force that the two clamps produce within their elastic range, according to the “interference I” pretension condition, after the movement has been encased according to configuration A They are made of Durnico steel (curve 6) and made of nitinol (curves 5a, 5b), respectively. In this case, the "equal stress" shape is similar to that shown in FIG. 10, with Lf = 1.35 mm and a larger dimension width L 'of 2.05 mm. However, the thickness is different, the Durnico steel clamp e = 0.37 mm and the nitinol clamp e = 0.7 mm.

  The graph shows a curve 5a, 5b different from the curve 6 having only a single limited part, comprising two different parts 5a, 5b of substantially different slopes. In the assembled configuration, the nitinol clamp is prestressed to function in accordance with the characteristics of the portion 5b of the curve. Thus, for a given interference, the change in force produced by the nitinol clamp is minimized compared to the change that the Durnico steel clamp can produce.

  It is also possible to modify the shape of the nitinol clamp with respect to clamps known from the prior art in order to harden the casing maximally and to include superelastic properties in the alloy in the casing phase. For example, it is also possible to increase the thickness e of the nitinol clamp relative to the thickness of the Durnico steel clamp and / or minimize the bending length Lf which is optionally constant depending on the load.

  Preferably, in the nitinol clamp, e 0.5 0.5 mm.

  Preferably, in the nitinol clamp, Lf ≦ 1.35 mm.

  For example, FIG. 16 is a graph showing the change in the restorative force produced by each of the two clamps within its elastic range, depending on the “interference I” pretension condition, after the movement is put into the case according to configuration A. The clamps are made of Durnico steel (curve 6) and nitinol (curves 5a, 5b) respectively. In this case, the “equal stress” shape is similar to that shown in FIG. 10, with Lf = 1.35 mm and a larger dimension width L ′ of 2.05 mm. However, the thickness is different, the Durnico steel clamp e = 0.37 mm and the nitinol clamp e = 1.75 mm.

  In this case, without any risk of residual deformation of the nitinol clamp, an elastic restoring force is observed which increases significantly compared to that produced by the Durnico steel clamp.

  At the same time, the length Lf of the clamp can be reduced to limit the increase in thickness of the clamp. For example, FIG. 17 is a graph showing the change in the restorative force produced by each of the two clamps within its elastic range, according to the “interference I” pretension condition, after the movement has been encased according to configuration A. The clamps are made of Durnico steel (curve 6) and nitinol (curves 5a, 5b) respectively. In this case, the "equal stress" shape is similar to that shown in FIG. 10, with a larger dimension width L 'of 2.05 mm. However, the thickness is different, the Durnico steel clamp is e = 0.37 mm and the nitinol clamp is e = 0.5 mm. The length Lf is also different, the Durnico steel clamp is Lf = 1.35 mm and the nitinol clamp is Lf = 0.72 mm.

  Without the risk of residual deformation of the nitinol clamp, a significantly increased elastic restorative force is observed compared to the elastic restorative force generated by the Durnico steel clamp. Furthermore, for interference with a change, the change in force that causes the nitinol clamp is minimized compared to the change that the Durnico steel clamp can produce. Thus, according to a second aspect of the invention, the system is characterized in that it is particularly robust and implements a casing that is highly insensitive to changes in manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances.

  In the embodiment known from the prior art and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bending effective length Lf * of the clamp corresponds to the limiting part of the total length L * of the clamp. The length Lf * is in particular sufficiently less than the supporting length La * of the clamp for the movement, in particular Lf * ≒ La * / 4. The length Lf * may also prove to be insufficient when mounting the movement in the case, which may reduce the residual deformation of the clamp, which may reduce the elastic restoring force potentially generated by the clamp. There is a risk of causing it. This scenario can lead in particular to a loss of contact between the surfaces 2b * and 3b *, respectively associated with the movement 2 * and the case 3 *. The scenario may also reduce the head 4 screw attempts, which may lead to the risk of premature screw loosening of the screw 4 *.

  Conversely, in view of the above considerations, as the length Lf * is increased, the length Lf * is in particular with respect to a predetermined threshold for resistance to impacts and / or a predetermined displacement of the movement after mounting the movement in the case With respect to the range, it may prove to be excessive, which may cause residual deformation of the clamp, which may reduce the elastic restoring force potentially generated by the clamp.

  For this reason, with materials known from the prior art, which can be selected for producing the clamp, the volume obtained at the contact of the movement and the case completely avoids the risk of residual plastic deformation of the clamp from the predetermined impact threshold value. Not enough to do.

  The solutions described herein can solve these problems, and the fastening system is more robust and / or more reliable due to the material used for the clamp and / or the shape on which the clamp is based. Can have sex. In fact, with the solution described here in particular, the stiffness of the casing elastic clamp is dependent on the load applied to it, in particular in the casing and / or during the impact, in particular the displacement of the watch movement relative to the small watch case. Can change.

  As used herein, "superelastic alloy" preferably means an alloy having a deformation of more than 2%, or more than 5%, or more than 8%.

  In the present specification, the weight percentages of elements are indicated as "% by weight".

Reference Signs List 1 clamp 2 movement 2b first surface 3 case element 3b second surface 4 screw 12 first bending end 13 second bending end 30 small watch case 200 watch unit 400 watch

Claims (7)

  A system (10) for securing a watch movement (2) to a small watch case (30) element (3), said system being able to contact the movement first and secondly the small watch case element Contemplated comprising at least one clamp (1), in particular at least two clamps, preferably three clamps or four clamps, said at least one clamp being made of super elastic alloy and / or shape memory alloy, in particular nitinol The system is made of nickel-titanium alloy. The at least one clamp comprises a cross section, the second moment of which crosses along the longitudinal axis (11), in particular by a change of the width and / or the thickness and / or a profile of maximum stress of the cross section Varying to be constant or substantially constant over at least a portion of the length of one clamp, in particular over at least half of the length of the clamp,
The system of claim 1. The at least one clamp comprises an element (14), in particular a screw (4) passage hole, which is fixed to the movement or the watch case element.
A system according to claim 1 or 2. The thickness (e) of the at least one clamp is at least 0.5 mm,
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The bending length (Lf) of the at least one clamp is 1.35 mm or less
The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   6. A watch unit (200), in particular a watch movement or a watch case element, comprising a system according to any one of the preceding claims.   A watch (400), in particular a watch, comprising the unit according to claim 6 and / or the system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.