US3465514A - Mainspring slipping ring for a self-winding timepiece - Google Patents
Mainspring slipping ring for a self-winding timepiece Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3465514A US3465514A US694983A US3465514DA US3465514A US 3465514 A US3465514 A US 3465514A US 694983 A US694983 A US 694983A US 3465514D A US3465514D A US 3465514DA US 3465514 A US3465514 A US 3465514A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- mainspring
- spring
- self
- barrel
- slipping
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 title description 11
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
- G04B1/00—Driving mechanisms
- G04B1/10—Driving mechanisms with mainspring
- G04B1/18—Constructions for connecting the ends of the mainsprings with the barrel or the arbor
- G04B1/185—Friction clutch between spring and spring cylinder
Definitions
- a mainspring for a self-winding timepiece of the type including a barrel comprising, a blade, the blade being extended at its outer extremity to provide an end portion of increased thickness, said end portion being integral with the blade and adapted to bear against the inner wall of the barrel in the manner of a slipping ring.
- the outer extremity of the mainspring is generally not rigidly secured to the barrel, as in the conventional watches, but is connected to the barrel through the intermediary of a supplementary elastic blade, called a slipping spring, arranged in such a manner as to bear elastically against the inner wall of the barrel.
- This slipping spring does not move relatively to the barrel so long as the winding of the mainspring is lower than a determined value.
- the slipping spring slips on the inner wall of the barrel, thereby preventing any overwinding of the mainspring even when the automatic Winding continues to operate.
- the slipping spring is secured to the extremity of the outer coils of the mainspring by rivets or, more generally, by points of electric welding.
- the assembling and the securing of the slipping spring to the mainspring are delicate, due to the fact that the longitudinal axes of the mainspring and of the slipping spring must be in very precise alignment.
- the rivets or the welding break away, thereby rendering the watch unusable.
- a primary object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art.
- the mainspring according to the invention is characterized by the fact that its blade is extended, at its outer extremity, by an integral portion of greater thickness, intended to be applied against the inner wall of the barrel in which the mainspring is located and to act as a slipping spring.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a barrel and mainspring for a self-winding watch, and embodying one form of the invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, broken perspective view of the outer extremity of the mainspring contained in the barrel represented in FIG. 1, and
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, broken plan view of a modification of a mainspring embodying the invention.
- the barrel represented in FIG. 1 is designated by 1aand contains a mainspring 2, the inner coil of which is hooked to a core 3 and the outer extremity of which is extended by 3,465,514 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 a portion 2a of greater thickness than that of the main body portion or blade of the mainspring, but formed integrally therewith.
- the portion 2a When the spring is not mounted in the barrel, the portion 2a is reversed with respect to the winding direction of the mainspring, so that once the mainspring is in place in the barrel, it exerts on the inner wall thereof a pressure which depends from its thickness, the end portion 2a of the spring thus acting like a slipping spring.
- the portion 2a of the spring is produced during the rolling of the spring, for instance by varying the distance between the two rollers of the rolling mill during the operation, by means of a servo mechanism setting this distance according to the advance of the rolled strap.
- the thickness of the portion 2a of the mainspring is substantially double that of the main body or blade of the spring; in practise, the thickness of end portion 2a will be about 1.3 to 2 times that of the blade. Of course, this thickness is variable as desired.
- the thickness of the portion 2a is constant throughout its whole length. As seen in plan, this portion has substantially the shape of a rectangle. However, this thickness could vary; for example, the thickness could increase from the free extremity of the portion 2a towards the middle part thereof, and then decrease from the middle part to the inner extremity where it connects to the main body portion or blade of the mainspring.
- the plan view of the end portion of the mainspring would have the general shape of a rhomb; such an arrangement would reinforce, in the middle portion of the slipping spring, the force exerted by the slipping spring on the wall of the barrel.
- a mainspring for a self-winding timepiece of the type including a barrel comprising, a blade, the blade being extended at its outer extremity by an integral end portion of increased thickness, the thickness being constant throughout its length and being between 1.3 and 2 times the thickness of the blade, the thickened end portion being adapted to bear against the inner wall of the barrel in which the spring is disposed for functioning as a slipping ring.
- a mainspring according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the thickness of its end portion acting as a slipping spring is substantially the same throughout the whole length of the end portion.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Springs (AREA)
Description
Sept. 9, 1969 J. H A'UETER 3,465,514
MAINSPRING SLIPPING RING FOR A SELF-WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed Jan. 2, 1968 //YV/WOR Jean HAl/[TER Alforney United States Patent O Int. 01. G04b 1/16 U.S. Cl. 58-86 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mainspring for a self-winding timepiece of the type including a barrel comprising, a blade, the blade being extended at its outer extremity to provide an end portion of increased thickness, said end portion being integral with the blade and adapted to bear against the inner wall of the barrel in the manner of a slipping ring.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Mainsprings for self-winding timepieces.
Description of the prior art In self-Winding watches of the prior art, the outer extremity of the mainspring is generally not rigidly secured to the barrel, as in the conventional watches, but is connected to the barrel through the intermediary of a supplementary elastic blade, called a slipping spring, arranged in such a manner as to bear elastically against the inner wall of the barrel. This slipping spring does not move relatively to the barrel so long as the winding of the mainspring is lower than a determined value. When this winding value of the mainspring is reached, the slipping spring slips on the inner wall of the barrel, thereby preventing any overwinding of the mainspring even when the automatic Winding continues to operate.
The slipping spring is secured to the extremity of the outer coils of the mainspring by rivets or, more generally, by points of electric welding. The assembling and the securing of the slipping spring to the mainspring are delicate, due to the fact that the longitudinal axes of the mainspring and of the slipping spring must be in very precise alignment. Moreover, the rivets or the welding break away, thereby rendering the watch unusable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art.
The mainspring according to the invention is characterized by the fact that its blade is extended, at its outer extremity, by an integral portion of greater thickness, intended to be applied against the inner wall of the barrel in which the mainspring is located and to act as a slipping spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a barrel and mainspring for a self-winding watch, and embodying one form of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, broken perspective view of the outer extremity of the mainspring contained in the barrel represented in FIG. 1, and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, broken plan view of a modification of a mainspring embodying the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The barrel represented in FIG. 1 is designated by 1aand contains a mainspring 2, the inner coil of which is hooked to a core 3 and the outer extremity of which is extended by 3,465,514 Patented Sept. 9, 1969 a portion 2a of greater thickness than that of the main body portion or blade of the mainspring, but formed integrally therewith.
When the spring is not mounted in the barrel, the portion 2a is reversed with respect to the winding direction of the mainspring, so that once the mainspring is in place in the barrel, it exerts on the inner wall thereof a pressure which depends from its thickness, the end portion 2a of the spring thus acting like a slipping spring.
The portion 2a of the spring is produced during the rolling of the spring, for instance by varying the distance between the two rollers of the rolling mill during the operation, by means of a servo mechanism setting this distance according to the advance of the rolled strap.
The effect of this process is that the end portion 2aof the mainspring, constituting the slipping spring, is of slightly less height than the blade of the spring.
In the example represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thickness of the portion 2a of the mainspring is substantially double that of the main body or blade of the spring; in practise, the thickness of end portion 2a will be about 1.3 to 2 times that of the blade. Of course, this thickness is variable as desired. In the case of the spring of FIGS. 1 and 2, the thickness of the portion 2a is constant throughout its whole length. As seen in plan, this portion has substantially the shape of a rectangle. However, this thickness could vary; for example, the thickness could increase from the free extremity of the portion 2a towards the middle part thereof, and then decrease from the middle part to the inner extremity where it connects to the main body portion or blade of the mainspring. In such an embodiment, the plan view of the end portion of the mainspring would have the general shape of a rhomb; such an arrangement would reinforce, in the middle portion of the slipping spring, the force exerted by the slipping spring on the wall of the barrel.
It is to be noted that, as soon as a rolling mill is arranged in such a way as to produce end portions of variable thickness, it is possible to use the mill for obtaining springs, the blades of which are also of variable thickness. Such a construction is shown for the mainspring 4 of FIG. 3, which is provided with an end portion 4a of greater height, constituting a slipping spring, the blade of which is itself of a thickness which decreases from the inner extremity of the mainspring towards its outer extremity.
I claim:
1. A mainspring for a self-winding timepiece of the type including a barrel comprising, a blade, the blade being extended at its outer extremity by an integral end portion of increased thickness, the thickness being constant throughout its length and being between 1.3 and 2 times the thickness of the blade, the thickened end portion being adapted to bear against the inner wall of the barrel in which the spring is disposed for functioning as a slipping ring.
2. A mainspring according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the thickness of its end portion acting as a slipping spring is substantially the same throughout the whole length of the end portion.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 43,464 7/1864 Philippe 58-86 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,496,479 9/1967 France.
1,828 7/1863 Great Britain.
RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner GEORGE H. MILLER, JR., Assistant Examiner
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CH111867A CH593507B5 (en) | 1967-01-24 | 1967-01-24 | MOTOR SPRING FOR AUTOMATIC WINDING WATCH PART. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3465514A true US3465514A (en) | 1969-09-09 |
Family
ID=4202905
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US694983A Expired - Lifetime US3465514A (en) | 1967-01-24 | 1968-01-02 | Mainspring slipping ring for a self-winding timepiece |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3465514A (en) |
CH (1) | CH593507B5 (en) |
DE (1) | DE1673717B2 (en) |
FR (1) | FR1552454A (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3599422A (en) * | 1968-10-29 | 1971-08-17 | Vimetal Sa | Mainspring slipping ring for a self-winding timepiece |
JP2015519578A (en) * | 2012-06-28 | 2015-07-09 | ニヴァロックス−ファー ソシエテ アノニム | Clock spring |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH1687869A4 (en) * | 1969-11-13 | 1972-10-13 | Vimetal S A | Motor spring for timepiece |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US43464A (en) * | 1864-07-05 | Improvement in springs and barrels for time-keepers | ||
FR1496479A (en) * | 1965-11-03 | 1967-09-29 | Girard Perregaux Et Cie S A | Watch |
-
1967
- 1967-01-24 CH CH111867A patent/CH593507B5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1968
- 1968-01-02 DE DE19681673717 patent/DE1673717B2/en active Pending
- 1968-01-02 US US694983A patent/US3465514A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1968-01-22 FR FR1552454D patent/FR1552454A/fr not_active Expired
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US43464A (en) * | 1864-07-05 | Improvement in springs and barrels for time-keepers | ||
FR1496479A (en) * | 1965-11-03 | 1967-09-29 | Girard Perregaux Et Cie S A | Watch |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3599422A (en) * | 1968-10-29 | 1971-08-17 | Vimetal Sa | Mainspring slipping ring for a self-winding timepiece |
JP2015519578A (en) * | 2012-06-28 | 2015-07-09 | ニヴァロックス−ファー ソシエテ アノニム | Clock spring |
US9329571B2 (en) | 2012-06-28 | 2016-05-03 | Nivarox-Far S.A. | Mainspring for a timepiece |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CH111867A4 (en) | 1970-04-15 |
CH593507B5 (en) | 1977-12-15 |
DE1673717A1 (en) | 1971-07-29 |
DE1673717B2 (en) | 1973-06-14 |
FR1552454A (en) | 1969-01-03 |
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