US3659167A - Electromagnetic device for maintaining a mechanical oscillating or rotary movement - Google Patents

Electromagnetic device for maintaining a mechanical oscillating or rotary movement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3659167A
US3659167A US62522A US3659167DA US3659167A US 3659167 A US3659167 A US 3659167A US 62522 A US62522 A US 62522A US 3659167D A US3659167D A US 3659167DA US 3659167 A US3659167 A US 3659167A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
transistor
coil
contactor
base
electromagnetic device
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
US62522A
Inventor
Hans Ulrich Meyer
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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
Priority claimed from CH1284969A external-priority patent/CH520353A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3659167A publication Critical patent/US3659167A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K33/00—Motors with reciprocating, oscillating or vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
    • 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
    • G04B31/00—Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor
    • G04B31/004—Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor characterised by the material used
    • G04B31/012—Metallic bearings
    • 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
    • G04B31/00—Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor
    • G04B31/004—Bearings; Point suspensions or counter-point suspensions; Pivot bearings; Single parts therefor characterised by the material used
    • G04B31/012—Metallic bearings
    • G04B31/0123—Metallic bearings with metallic ball bearings and metallic roller bearings
    • 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
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G04B37/0066—Cases for wall clocks and balances
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/04—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance
    • G04C3/06—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance using electromagnetic coupling between electric power source and balance
    • G04C3/065—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means wherein movement is regulated by a balance using electromagnetic coupling between electric power source and balance the balance controlling gear-train by means of static switches, e.g. transistor circuits
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/16—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means incorporating an electro-dynamic continuously rotating motor

Definitions

  • An electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of an oscillating or rotating piece, such as the balance wheel of a timepiece comprises a driving coil associated with a magnet on the piece.
  • a contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil is controlled by a pick-up coil to deliver driving pulses to the driving coil.
  • a regulating transistor acts on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the driving pulses as a function of the desired speed of the piece.
  • the emitterbase junction of the regulating transistor is connected to the terminals of the pick up coil and the regulating transistor is connected by its collector and its base to by-pass the baseemitter junction of the contactor transistor.
  • the invention concerns electromagnetic devices, particularly applicable to horological instruments, for maintaining a mechanical oscillating or rotary movement, of the type comprising a pick-up coil and a driving coil interacting with a magnetic system, a driving transistor, and a transistor adjusting the maximal relative speed between the magnetic system and the coils.
  • U, RI constant where U, is the back electromotive force induced in the driving coil at the moment of the driving pulse, R is the resistance of the coil, and I is the current through the coil at the moment of pulse.
  • U,I the power delivered at the moment of pulse
  • U,I the relative speed between the magnetic system and the coils at the moment of pulse which speed is proportional to U,, depends upon the charge.
  • a change of the power of the source feeding the coils for example wearing down of a cell, leads to modification of the regulation of the oscillating or rotating system.
  • an electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of an oscillating or rotating piece comprises a driving coil associated with at least one magnetic element for ensuring maintenance of the said movement, a contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil, the contactor transistor being controlled by a pick-up coil to deliver pulses to the driving coil for maintaining movement of the piece, a regulating transistor acting on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the said pulses as a function of a desired speed of the'piece, the emitter-base junction of the regulating transistor being connected to the terminals of the pick-up coil, and the regulating transistor being connected by its collector and its emitter to by-pass the base-emitter junction of the contactor transistor.
  • FIG. I is a circuit diagram of a circuit according to the invention.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are variants thereof
  • FIGS. 4a and 4b are examples of coupling elements between the pick-up coil and the regulating transistor.
  • FIG. 5 is a graph of the voltage obtained at the terminals of the driving coil, as a function of time, with an assembly according to the invention.
  • a driving coil L, and a pick-up coil L interact with a magnetic element such as a small permanent magnet or an oscillating or rotating piece (not shown).
  • This piece could, for example, be the balance wheel of a timepiece which is caused to oscillate by means of a spiral hairspring.
  • an electro-motive force induced in the pick-up coil L is amplified and supplied to the driving coil L1 to provide a pulse to maintain the motion of the oscillating or rotating piece.
  • FIG. 1 An example of the feed circuit for coils L, and L is shown in FIG. 1.
  • a power source such as a dry cell, is connected to the terminals of driving coil through the collector-emitter circuit of a first transistor T, called the contactor transistor.
  • the base of collector-transistor T is connected to the collector of a second transistor T called the regulating transistor.
  • the transistors T, and T are preferably of the same type and may be of silicon.
  • the pick-up coil L is connected in the baseemitter circuit of the regulating transistor T the emitter of which is also connected to the driving coil L,.
  • transistor T At rest, the base of transistor T, is polarised by connection to the positive terminal of the cell through a resistor R, so that the transistor T, is slightly conducting.
  • a capacitor C can, if necessary, be included in series with resistor R, to eliminate parasitic oscillations.
  • the bases of transistors T, and T are connected by a capacitor C and a resistor R in series.
  • a slight electromotive force induced by the magnetic system upon relative displacement in relation to the pick-up coil L, is transmitted from the latter through the resistor R and the capacitor C to the base of the transistor T,, and the driving coil L,.
  • the coils are both connected in the same direction so that there will be an increase of the relative speed, and consequently the amplitude in the case of an oscillating system.
  • the circuit is adapted to operate by pulses.
  • FIG. 2 shows a variant of the feed circuit with a different arrangement of the coils.
  • FIG. 3 shows another variant of the feed circuit characterized in that a diode D, replaces C and R
  • FIG. 4a shows a modified feed circuit in which resistors R, and R are connected in series and parallel respectively between the base-emitter junction of transistor T and the pick-up coil L
  • Resistor R may have a negative temperature coefficient to shunt the emitter base circuit of the regulating transistor T and compensate for the temperature effect in a determined temperature range.
  • Resistor R may be omitted, provides that the own resistance of coil L be high enough.
  • a Zener-effect diode is connected in series between the pick-up coil L and the base of transistor T The Zener diode is chosen so as to ensure a temperature compensation of the device in a determined temperature range.
  • an electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of a movable piece, said device comprising a driving coil associated with at least one magnetic element for ensuring maintenance of the said movement, and a contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil, the contactor transistor being controlled by a pick-up coil connected to its base and collector circuit to deliver pulses to the driving coil for maintaining movement of the piece, the improvement comprising a regulating transistor acting on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the said pulses as a function of a desired speed of the piece, the emitter-base junction of the regulating transistor being connected to the terminals of the pick-up coil, the regulating transistor being connected by its collector and its emitter to by-pass the base-emitter junction of the contactor transistor, and an impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors.
  • said impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors is a capacitor and a resistor in series.
  • a resistor having a negative temperature coefficient is connected to shunt the emitter-base circuit of the regulating transistor for the purpose of compensating for the temperature change effect in a determined temperature range.
  • a Zener-effect diode is connected in series between the pick-up coil and the base of the regulating transistor for the purpose of obtaining temperature compensation of the device in a determined temperature range.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Relay Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

An electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of an oscillating or rotating piece, such as the balance wheel of a timepiece, comprises a driving coil associated with a magnet on the piece. A contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil is controlled by a pick-up coil to deliver driving pulses to the driving coil. A regulating transistor acts on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the driving pulses as a function of the desired speed of the piece. The emitter-base junction of the regulating transistor is connected to the terminals of the pick up coil and the regulating transistor is connected by its collector and its base to by-pass the baseemitter junction of the contactor transistor.

Description

United States Patent Meyer [54] ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A MECHANICAL OSCILLATING OR ROTARY MOVEMENT Inventor: Hans Ulrich Meyer, Bugnon 24, Renens,
Switzerland Aug. 10, 1970 Filed:
Appl. No.:
Foreign Application Priority Data 58/23, 23 A0, 23 A, 23 V; 331/116, 116M [451 Apr. 25, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,293,568 12/1966 Ganter et a1. ..331/1 16 X Primary Examiner-D. F. Duggan Attorney-Emory L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr.
[ ABSTRACT An electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of an oscillating or rotating piece, such as the balance wheel of a timepiece, comprises a driving coil associated with a magnet on the piece. A contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil is controlled by a pick-up coil to deliver driving pulses to the driving coil. A regulating transistor acts on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the driving pulses as a function of the desired speed of the piece. The emitterbase junction of the regulating transistor is connected to the terminals of the pick up coil and the regulating transistor is connected by its collector and its base to by-pass the baseemitter junction of the contactor transistor.
6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patentd April 25, 1972 3,659,167
INVENTOR HANS 04mm M0519 ATTORNEY ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A MECHANICAL OSCILLATING OR ROTARY MOVEMENT The invention concerns electromagnetic devices, particularly applicable to horological instruments, for maintaining a mechanical oscillating or rotary movement, of the type comprising a pick-up coil and a driving coil interacting with a magnetic system, a driving transistor, and a transistor adjusting the maximal relative speed between the magnetic system and the coils.
The maximal speed of an oscillating system is proportional to its amplitude, which must be as constant as possible for the oscillator to have a good regularity of operation. For a rotating member, it is clear that the speed of rotation must also be as constant as possible.
Different types of regulation have already been proposed. The most usual consists of connecting the driving coil in series with a constant voltage supply, the circuit being closed by the emitter-collector connection of a junction transistor. Another consists of shunting the driving coil by an element limiting the voltage. In a third system, the driving coil is connected to the emitter of the transistor and a voltage-limiting element is connected to the base. For all of these circuits, in the case of an ideal regulation:
U, RI= constant where U, is the back electromotive force induced in the driving coil at the moment of the driving pulse, R is the resistance of the coil, and I is the current through the coil at the moment of pulse. As the power delivered at the moment of pulse is U,I, it is seen that the relative speed between the magnetic system and the coils at the moment of pulse which speed is proportional to U,, depends upon the charge. Hence, a change of the power of the source feeding the coils, for example wearing down of a cell, leads to modification of the regulation of the oscillating or rotating system.
To avoid this disadvantage, it has already been proposed to provide a third coil connected to the input of a regulating transistor the output of which is connected to the terminals of the pick-up coil, which results in shunting the pick-up coil as soon as the voltage induced in the regulating coil exceeds the cut-off of the regulating transistor. However, this type requires a supplementary coil which means an increase in the cost and the bulk, and additionally the regulating transistor clamps the pick-up coil, causing a loss of power which is not negligeable especially taking into account that, for the low currents envisaged, the current gain of the transistor is reduced. 7
According to the invention, an electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of an oscillating or rotating piece comprises a driving coil associated with at least one magnetic element for ensuring maintenance of the said movement, a contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil, the contactor transistor being controlled by a pick-up coil to deliver pulses to the driving coil for maintaining movement of the piece, a regulating transistor acting on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the said pulses as a function of a desired speed of the'piece, the emitter-base junction of the regulating transistor being connected to the terminals of the pick-up coil, and the regulating transistor being connected by its collector and its emitter to by-pass the base-emitter junction of the contactor transistor.
The operating principle and embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. I is a circuit diagram of a circuit according to the invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are variants thereof;
FIGS. 4a and 4b are examples of coupling elements between the pick-up coil and the regulating transistor; and
FIG. 5 is a graph of the voltage obtained at the terminals of the driving coil, as a function of time, with an assembly according to the invention.
A driving coil L, and a pick-up coil L, interact with a magnetic element such as a small permanent magnet or an oscillating or rotating piece (not shown). This piece could, for example, be the balance wheel of a timepiece which is caused to oscillate by means of a spiral hairspring. When the magnetic element passes by the coils L, and L which can be coaxially wound on the same piece, an electro-motive force induced in the pick-up coil L is amplified and supplied to the driving coil L1 to provide a pulse to maintain the motion of the oscillating or rotating piece.
An example of the feed circuit for coils L, and L is shown in FIG. 1. A power source, such as a dry cell, is connected to the terminals of driving coil through the collector-emitter circuit of a first transistor T, called the contactor transistor. The base of collector-transistor T, is connected to the collector of a second transistor T called the regulating transistor. The transistors T, and T are preferably of the same type and may be of silicon. The pick-up coil L is connected in the baseemitter circuit of the regulating transistor T the emitter of which is also connected to the driving coil L,.
At rest, the base of transistor T, is polarised by connection to the positive terminal of the cell through a resistor R, so that the transistor T, is slightly conducting. A capacitor C, can, if necessary, be included in series with resistor R, to eliminate parasitic oscillations. The bases of transistors T, and T are connected by a capacitor C and a resistor R in series.
The operation of the device shown in FIG. 1 is hereinbelow described:
A slight electromotive force induced by the magnetic system upon relative displacement in relation to the pick-up coil L, is transmitted from the latter through the resistor R and the capacitor C to the base of the transistor T,, and the driving coil L,. The coils are both connected in the same direction so that there will be an increase of the relative speed, and consequently the amplitude in the case of an oscillating system.
The circuit is adapted to operate by pulses.
For as long as the electromotive force induced in the pick-- up coil does not reach the cut-off voltage of the regulating transistor T leaving the latter blocked, the voltage measured at the terminals of the driving coil L,, designated by U,,, will have the appearance of the curve (1) in FIG. 5. When the cutoff voltage of the regulating transistor T is reached, this latter becomes conducting and thus reduces the emitter-base voltage of the transistor T,, tending to cause blocking thereof. The pulse on the driving coil L, is thus greatly reduced and will have the appearance of the curve (2) in FIG. 5. The pulse hollow is due to the effect of the counteraction thus obtained. The resistor R improves the regulation by absorbing the slow transient oscillations of the latter.
The above-described regulation is very efficient and is practically independent of the supply voltage and the exterior mechanical load.
FIG. 2 shows a variant of the feed circuit with a different arrangement of the coils.
FIG. 3 shows another variant of the feed circuit characterized in that a diode D, replaces C and R FIG. 4a shows a modified feed circuit in which resistors R, and R are connected in series and parallel respectively between the base-emitter junction of transistor T and the pick-up coil L Resistor R, may have a negative temperature coefficient to shunt the emitter base circuit of the regulating transistor T and compensate for the temperature effect in a determined temperature range. Resistor R may be omitted, provides that the own resistance of coil L be high enough.
.In the modified circuit shown in FIG. 4b, a Zener-effect diode is connected in series between the pick-up coil L and the base of transistor T The Zener diode is chosen so as to ensure a temperature compensation of the device in a determined temperature range.
I claim:
1. (Once Amended) In an electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of a movable piece, said device comprising a driving coil associated with at least one magnetic element for ensuring maintenance of the said movement, and a contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil, the contactor transistor being controlled by a pick-up coil connected to its base and collector circuit to deliver pulses to the driving coil for maintaining movement of the piece, the improvement comprising a regulating transistor acting on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the said pulses as a function of a desired speed of the piece, the emitter-base junction of the regulating transistor being connected to the terminals of the pick-up coil, the regulating transistor being connected by its collector and its emitter to by-pass the base-emitter junction of the contactor transistor, and an impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors.
2. In an electromagnetic device as defined in Claim 1, wherein the contactor transistor is made slightly conductive by connecting its base to the positive terminal of the feed circuit through a resistor.
3. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1,.
wherein said impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors is a capacitor and a resistor in series.
4. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors is a diode.
5. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein a resistor having a negative temperature coefficient is connected to shunt the emitter-base circuit of the regulating transistor for the purpose of compensating for the temperature change effect in a determined temperature range.
6. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein a Zener-effect diode is connected in series between the pick-up coil and the base of the regulating transistor for the purpose of obtaining temperature compensation of the device in a determined temperature range.

Claims (6)

1. (Once Amended) In an electromagnetic device for maintaining movement of a movable piece, said device comprising a driving coil associated with at least one magnetic element for ensuring maintenance of the said movement, and a contactor transistor in the feed circuit of the driving coil, the contactor transistor being controlled by a pick-up coil connected to its base and collector circuit to deliver pulses to the driving coil for maintaining movement of the piece, the improvement comprising a regulating transistor acting on the contactor transistor to adjust the values of the said pulses as a function of a desired speed of the piece, the emitter-base junction of the regulating transistor being connected to the terminals of the pick-up coil, the regulating transistor being connected by its collector and its emitter to by-pass the base-emitter junction of the contactor transistor, and an impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors.
2. In an electromagnetic device as defined in Claim 1, wherein the contactor transistor is made slightly conductive by connecting its base to the positive terminal of the feed circuit through a resistor.
3. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors is a capacitor and a resistor in series.
4. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein said impedance connecting only the bases of the two transistors is a diode.
5. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein a resistor having a negative temperature coefficient is connected to shunt the emitter-base circuit of the regulating transistor for the purpose of compensating for the temperature change effect in a determined temperature range.
6. In an electromagnetic device as defined in claim 1, wherein a Zener-effect diode is connected in series between the pick-up coil and the base of the regulating transistor for the purpose of obtaining temperature compensation of the device in a determined temperature range.
US62522A 1968-05-02 1970-08-10 Electromagnetic device for maintaining a mechanical oscillating or rotary movement Expired - Lifetime US3659167A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1284969A CH520353A (en) 1968-05-02 1968-05-02 Clockwork movement

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3659167A true US3659167A (en) 1972-04-25

Family

ID=4386962

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US62522A Expired - Lifetime US3659167A (en) 1968-05-02 1970-08-10 Electromagnetic device for maintaining a mechanical oscillating or rotary movement

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3659167A (en)
CH (1) CH1284969A4 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3293568A (en) * 1963-02-20 1966-12-20 Junghans Geb Ag Amplitude stabilized electromechanical oscillator

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3293568A (en) * 1963-02-20 1966-12-20 Junghans Geb Ag Amplitude stabilized electromechanical oscillator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH1284969A4 (en) 1971-11-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2974265A (en) Electric clock
US3149274A (en) Electromagnetic vibrating drive
GB1283167A (en) Variable value indicator devices
US3503007A (en) Controllable oscillator
US3293568A (en) Amplitude stabilized electromechanical oscillator
US5402302A (en) Supply circuit for electromagnetic relays
US3659167A (en) Electromagnetic device for maintaining a mechanical oscillating or rotary movement
US2997600A (en) Pulse generator with means for producing pulses independent of load conditions
US3229225A (en) Direct current elapsed time indicator
US3351833A (en) Compensated transistorized electric clock circuit
US3359473A (en) Self-starting electronic oscillating device for clockworks
US3351834A (en) Compensated transistorized electric clock circuit
US3014168A (en) Electronically controlled clock
GB1093028A (en) Improvements in circuit arrangements for compensating for voltage and temperature changes in electrical timepieces
US3454856A (en) Oscillator for a battery operated clock
US3621468A (en) Amplitude stabilized transistor drive circuit for mechanical oscillatory system
US3596461A (en) Electromagnetic driving system for timepieces
US3787783A (en) Time-keeping device with transistor control using oscillating magnet
GB1104071A (en) Improvements in or relating to horological instruments
US2999966A (en) Timepiece comprising an electromagnetically maintained oscillating regulator
US3742385A (en) Cross coupled complementary transistor circuit for single coil electro mechanical oscillator
US3593201A (en) Device for keeping up oscillations of electromagnetic oscillators
US3319185A (en) Temperature compensated, frequency stabilized magnetic oscillator
US3528238A (en) Feeding device of an electric clockwork
US3805132A (en) Electronic circuit for stabilizing the swing amplitude of a mechanical vibrating system