US3638419A - Horological hairspring regulator - Google Patents

Horological hairspring regulator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3638419A
US3638419A US126741A US3638419DA US3638419A US 3638419 A US3638419 A US 3638419A US 126741 A US126741 A US 126741A US 3638419D A US3638419D A US 3638419DA US 3638419 A US3638419 A US 3638419A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
hairspring
regulator
balance
arms
oscillation
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
Application number
US126741A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gunther Rudolph Diersbock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Timex Group USA Inc
Original Assignee
Timex Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Timex Corp filed Critical Timex Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3638419A publication Critical patent/US3638419A/en
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • G04B18/00—Mechanisms for setting frequency
    • G04B18/02—Regulator or adjustment devices; Indexing devices, e.g. raquettes

Definitions

  • a regulator includes two spaced apart arms having slots which surround the hairspring.
  • the regulator is designed to impart a positive isochronism characteristic to the hairspring in order to permit synchronizing of the balance wheel motor.
  • the frequency of balance oscillation is thus made dependent on amplitude of oscillation.
  • the present invention relates to horology and more particularly to a regulator for timepieces.
  • regulators in timepieces are conventional and many watch designs include regulators which contact the hairspring to vary the effective length thereof. During the life of a watch, the regulator may be adjusted to maintain the timekeeping characteristics by increasing or decreasing the active length of the spiral hairspring.
  • U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,307,841; 2,482,351 and 3,517,503 and Swiss Pat. No. 338,770 are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,307,841; 2,482,351 and 3,517,503 and Swiss Pat. No. 338,770.
  • the present invention relates to a regulator for imparting a positive isochronism characteristic to the oscillator of a watch.
  • the frequency of balance oscillation is made dependent on amplitude of oscillation. This facilitates synchronization of the balance whee'l particularly by a quartz controlled time standard.
  • the regulator comprises a base portion which is rotatably mounted to the bridge and two arms, each of which include downwardly extending flange portions with openings to accommodate the hairspring.
  • the first regulator arm which includes a side portion in contact with the hairspring is used to position the hairspring in the center of the slot of the second regulator arm and to vary the effective length of the hairspring.
  • the hairspring vibrates within the slot in the second regulator arm.
  • the angle between the two regulator arms and the width of the slot in the second regulator arm are designed to produce the desired isochronism characteristic.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a unique regulator for imparting a positive isochronism characteristic to an oscillator which isochronism characteristic will not be disturbed by moving the regulator.
  • FIG. 1 is side view of the balance assembly and regulator comprising the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the regulator of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the subject regulator
  • FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a typical isochronism-characteristic effected by the present invention.
  • FIGS. 57 illustrated schematically the operation of the subject regulator.
  • the balance staff is journaled at one end in a bearing 11 on the front frame 12.
  • the other end of the staff 10 is journaled in bearing 13 on the balance bridge 14.
  • the balance wheel 16 is mounted to the staff 10 and may include a coil 17 mounted thereon for oscillation past stationary magnets attached to the dial ring 20.
  • a hairspring I8 is mounted to the hub 19 and is also affixed to the bracket 21.
  • the hairspring 18 is inserted through the aperture 22 in bracket 21 and mounted firmly thereto by tapered pin 23.
  • the hairspring 18 which may be a conventional spring is used to store the kinetic energy of the balance wheel 16 during oscillation.
  • the movement itself is powered by cell 25 which transmits power through contact spring 30 to contact pin 35 on the balance wheel 16.
  • the regulator 24 comprises an end portion or base 26 having a substantially circular configuration with a gap 27 between the respective portions 28 and 29.
  • the portions 28 and 29 are spread apart for mounting on hub 31 which is located on balance staff 10.
  • the regulator 24 is mounted parallel to and slightly above the hairspring 18 in the watch assembly.
  • the other end of the regulator 24 comprises a pair of arms 32 and 33, which are spaced apart a predetermined distance along the arc of a circle corresponding to the hairspring 18. Another way of stating the spacial relationship of the arms 32 and 33 is to specify the angle between the arms.
  • the arm 32 runs directly off the body portion 34 while arm 33 is joined thereto by a bridge portion 36 which is positioned at an angle to the body 34.
  • Regulator arms 32 and 33 each include an upwardly extending flange portion 37 and 38 respectively having respective slots 39 and 41 extending therethrough.
  • Arm 32 includes a projecting portion 42 which is located before the slot 39 and contacts the hairspring 18 to limit the effective length thereof.
  • the other purpose of arm 33 is to position the hairspring 18 in the center of slot 41.
  • the hairspring l8 normally vibrates within the slot 41 in a manner to be described hereinafter.
  • the angle a and the width .r of the slot 41 are selected to provide the desired isochronism characteristic.
  • the frequency of balance oscillation is made dependent on the amplitude of oscillation.
  • the typical isochronism characteristic achieved by regulator 24 which is illustrated in FIG. 4, differs from the normal design wherein frequency would be independent of amplitude. This facilitates synchronization of the balance wheel 16 particularly in quartz type watches.
  • the regulator 24 functions on the hairspring 18 in the manner shown in FIGS. 5-7.
  • the hairspring 18 will vibrate between positions a and b and will not touch the regulator arm 33 as it moves back and forth within the slot 41.
  • the effective length of the hairspring 18 is from the inner point to the theoretical outer pinning point (P 80).
  • the balance wheel will oscillate at a low frequency. The low frequency as may be seen from the graph of FIG. 4.
  • the hairspring 18 will vibrate between positions a and b and rest for about 40 percent of the period on the regulator arm 33. Effective length of the hairspring will be from inner pinning point to the theoretical outer pinning point (P 240). The frequency of the balance wheel will thus increase.
  • the hairspring 18 will vibrate between positions a and b and will rest for approximately 80 percent of the period on the regulator arm 33.
  • the effective length of the hairspring 18 is from the inner pinning point to the theoretical outer pinning point (P 560) which results in a further increase in balance motor frequency.
  • a regulator which comprises:
  • a regulator in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the regulator arms are spaced apart at a predetermined angle which remains constant.
  • the flange of the first regulator arm includes a portion which contacts the hairspring in order to position the hairspring normally in the opening of the second regulator arm spring, a regulator comprising:
  • second means located at a predetermined constant angle from the first means and having a slot therein of constant dimension to be engaged by the hairspring, said second means in combination with said first means imparting a positive isochronism characteristic to the hairspring which will not be disturbed by moving the regulator.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)
  • Piezo-Electric Or Mechanical Vibrators, Or Delay Or Filter Circuits (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US126741A 1971-03-22 1971-03-22 Horological hairspring regulator Expired - Lifetime US3638419A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12674171A 1971-03-22 1971-03-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3638419A true US3638419A (en) 1972-02-01

Family

ID=22426438

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US126741A Expired - Lifetime US3638419A (en) 1971-03-22 1971-03-22 Horological hairspring regulator

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3638419A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5226465B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU452804B2 (fr)
BE (1) BE780593A (fr)
CA (1) CA945382A (fr)
CH (2) CH567294A (fr)
DE (2) DE2211969B2 (fr)
FR (1) FR2130566B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1345125A (fr)
IT (1) IT952347B (fr)
NL (1) NL7203749A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4083179A (en) * 1975-11-04 1978-04-11 Eta A.G. Ebauches Fabrik Regulator key for watch movements
US6612734B1 (en) * 1999-07-29 2003-09-02 Seiko Instruments Inc. Mechanical timepiece with stud adjustment mechanism
US20050013201A1 (en) * 2003-06-07 2005-01-20 Muhle-Glashutte Gmbh Precision regulating device
US20110222377A1 (en) * 2010-03-12 2011-09-15 Ching Ho oscillator system
US20140029389A1 (en) * 2012-07-25 2014-01-30 Nivarox-Far S.A. Anti-trip balance spring for a timepiece

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0464349U (fr) * 1990-10-17 1992-06-02

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2183062A (en) * 1932-07-27 1939-12-12 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Alternating-current directcurrent clock
US2307841A (en) * 1939-12-15 1943-01-12 Marti Fritz Regulating device for watches
US3517503A (en) * 1969-05-23 1970-06-30 Timex Corp Horological hairspring device
US3564840A (en) * 1969-11-20 1971-02-23 Timex Corp Horological regulator

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH264668A (fr) * 1946-08-23 1949-10-31 Colomb Henri Dispositif régulateur pour mouvements d'horlogerie à balancier et spiral.

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2183062A (en) * 1932-07-27 1939-12-12 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Alternating-current directcurrent clock
US2307841A (en) * 1939-12-15 1943-01-12 Marti Fritz Regulating device for watches
US3517503A (en) * 1969-05-23 1970-06-30 Timex Corp Horological hairspring device
US3564840A (en) * 1969-11-20 1971-02-23 Timex Corp Horological regulator

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4083179A (en) * 1975-11-04 1978-04-11 Eta A.G. Ebauches Fabrik Regulator key for watch movements
US6612734B1 (en) * 1999-07-29 2003-09-02 Seiko Instruments Inc. Mechanical timepiece with stud adjustment mechanism
US20050013201A1 (en) * 2003-06-07 2005-01-20 Muhle-Glashutte Gmbh Precision regulating device
US7036977B2 (en) * 2003-06-07 2006-05-02 Mühle-Glashütte GmbH Nautische Instrumente & Feinmechanik Precision regulating device
US20110222377A1 (en) * 2010-03-12 2011-09-15 Ching Ho oscillator system
CN102193486A (zh) * 2010-03-12 2011-09-21 精艺工程研发所有限公司 振动器系统
US8770828B2 (en) * 2010-03-12 2014-07-08 Microtechne Research & Development Center Ltd. Oscillator system
CN102193486B (zh) * 2010-03-12 2015-07-22 精艺工程研发所有限公司 振动器系统
US20140029389A1 (en) * 2012-07-25 2014-01-30 Nivarox-Far S.A. Anti-trip balance spring for a timepiece
US9016934B2 (en) * 2012-07-25 2015-04-28 Nivarox—FAR S.A. Anti-trip balance spring for a timepiece
RU2616895C2 (ru) * 2012-07-25 2017-04-18 Ниварокс-Фар С.А. Противоударная пружина баланса часов

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3989472A (en) 1973-09-13
BE780593A (fr) 1972-07-03
CA945382A (en) 1974-04-16
FR2130566A1 (fr) 1972-11-03
GB1345125A (en) 1974-01-30
FR2130566B1 (fr) 1974-10-18
CH384972A4 (fr) 1975-04-15
JPS5226465B1 (fr) 1977-07-14
DE2211969A1 (de) 1972-10-12
AU452804B2 (en) 1974-08-23
DE2211969B2 (de) 1973-09-13
CH567294A (fr) 1975-09-30
DE7209449U (de) 1974-06-06
DE2211969C3 (fr) 1974-04-11
IT952347B (it) 1973-07-20
NL7203749A (fr) 1972-09-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
GB818678A (en) Electric timepieces
US3638418A (en) Alarm wristwatch
US3638419A (en) Horological hairspring regulator
US3736743A (en) Timepiece regulating mechanism
JP2019113535A (ja) バランスばねの有効長を自律的に調整するデバイス
JP6703203B1 (ja) ひげぜんまい調整機構、てんぷ受ユニット、ムーブメント及び時計
US3945197A (en) Timepiece
US3698179A (en) Contact assembly for electric watches
US3901018A (en) Timepiece
US3487633A (en) Dial train friction device
GB825233A (en) Improvements in or relating to electric time-pieces
US3283495A (en) Electronic watch
US3483693A (en) Adjustable horological balance bridge
US3564840A (en) Horological regulator
US3628323A (en) Miniaturized electronic watch
GB1502069A (en) Mechanism for use in a timepiece
US3683613A (en) Miniaturized movement for an electronic timepiece
US3641761A (en) Watch transducer
US2924102A (en) Escapement mechanism
GB828357A (en) Improvements in or relating to a watch or clock
US3224183A (en) Electrically actuated time integrating device
US3056253A (en) Electrically operated oscillatory system for timepieces
US3328657A (en) Electronic watch
US3529415A (en) Electric watch contact assembly
US3429119A (en) Regulator of timepiece

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331