US3791251A - Timepiece escapement - Google Patents

Timepiece escapement Download PDF

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Publication number
US3791251A
US3791251A US00259863A US3791251DA US3791251A US 3791251 A US3791251 A US 3791251A US 00259863 A US00259863 A US 00259863A US 3791251D A US3791251D A US 3791251DA US 3791251 A US3791251 A US 3791251A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
staff
unit
balance wheel
impulse pin
roller
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
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US00259863A
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English (en)
Inventor
U Pohlmann
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Bunker Ramo Corp
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Bunker Ramo Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bunker Ramo Corp filed Critical Bunker Ramo Corp
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Publication of US3791251A publication Critical patent/US3791251A/en
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    • 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
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/04—Oscillators acting by spring tension
    • G04B17/06—Oscillators with hairsprings, e.g. balance
    • G04B17/063—Balance construction

Definitions

  • An integral impulse pin and guard roller assembly is mounted adjustably on the balance wheel staff of a clockwork escapement, enabling the escapement to be put into beat easily by simply rotating the impulse pin and roller assembly on the staff to a position where the escapement operates with equal beats.
  • the inner end of the hairspring is directly and non-adjustably attached to the staff.
  • the impulse pin and guard roller assembly is mounted with the impulse pin more remote from the balance wheel than the roller, thus increasing the clearance between balance wheel and escapement lever, over the more conventional arrangement.
  • the impulse pin is a separately made piece, mounted in a hole in the balance wheel or in the guard roller, and the lever pins have been separately made pieces, mounted in holes in the lever.
  • the difficulty of making the pins themselves dimensionally uniform and free of burrs, and of making the holes uniform, smooth and free of burrs, plus the difficulty of press fitting the pins accurately in the holes, give rise tooccasional-instances where the pins, as mounted, are not parallel to their associated staffs, but lean out of alignment. This causes, at best, poor escapement action, and sometimes means that a movement assembly, in completed or nearly completed form, must be discarded, with. loss of the parts and labor which hadenteredintoit.
  • the guard roller is frictionally mounted on. the staff, and the balance wheel, carrying the impulse pin, is also frictionally mounted on the staff, but more tightly than the guard roller. It is necessary to align the impulse pin and the notch of the guard roller so that their center lines coincide in a plane passing through the center line of the balance staff, by assembly in tooling or fixtures which assure this coincidence between the separate parts.
  • the hairspring In either of the constructions just described, to put the movement in beat the hairspring must, in effect, be rotated with respect to the impulse pin and guard roller. For this reason, the inner end of the hairspring has customarily been attached to a collet which is frictionally mounted on the balance staff. To make the in beat" adjustment, the balance wheel is held, and the hairspring collet is rotated on the staff until a position is found in which the beats are equal.
  • the guard roller and impulse pin are formed as an integral unit, which is frictionally mounted on the balance staff, tightly enough to maintain its positioning under normal operating torques, but capable of being rotated for adjustment to put the movement in beat.
  • This permits the hair-spring to be permanently fixed to the staff, and thus eliminates 0 any need for the usual hairspring collet.
  • the integral construction of the guard roller and impulse pin unit permits mounting of that unit on the balance staff with the impulse pin extending in an axial direction away from the balance wheel, and with the roller located axially between the balance wheel and the pin.
  • the lever is made with its finger and fork reversed from the usual relation to the pallet pins.
  • the lever, finger, fork and pallet pins are preferably made as an integrally molded unit, in which all the proper relations of the respective elements are determined at the time of molding.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a timepiece movement showing a balance wheel and escapement system embodying features of the invention
  • F IG; 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional plan detail view taken substantially along the line II--II of FIG. I;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hairspring showing its attachment to the balance wheel staff;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the combined guard roller and impulse pin
  • FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the combined impulse pin and guard roller.
  • a typical example of a clockwork embodying features of the invention includes spaced frame plates 10 and 11 providing suitable bearings for the journals of an escape wheel staff 12, an escape lever staff 13 and a balance wheel staff 14.
  • Carried by the escape wheel staff 12 is a pinion 15 meshing with a gear 17 operatively coupling the associated clock movement (not shown) with the balance wheel and escape assembly.
  • the pinion 15 is mounted adjacent to one end of the staff 12, and carried adjacent to the opposite end of the staff 12 is an escape wheel 18, controlled by an escape lever 19 mounted on the staff 13.
  • a new and improved impulse pin and guard roller means is provided on and in association with the balance wheel staff 14 and a balance wheel carried corotatably thereby.
  • a unitary molded. guard roller and impulse pin unit 21 is provided.
  • the unit 21 may be made from any suitable moldable plastic, such as an acetal resin available commercially under the trademarks Celcon and Delrin, or it may be made by the well-known pressed powdered metal process.
  • the unit 21 comprises a guard roller 22'having a cylindrical perimeter with an axially extending leverreceiving notch 23 of half-moon cross section formed therein.
  • Axially through the roller 22 extends a bore 24 which is sized to be a snug fit on the balance wheel staff 14.
  • the fit must be sufficiently tight that the unit 21 will not move on the staff in response to the torques occurring in operation, but must permit rotational adjustment relative to the staff by application of sufficient torsional force during manufacture or repair.
  • an impulse pin structure 28 aligned with the notch 23 in the sense that the center line of the notch, the center line of the pin structure 28, and the center line of the bore 24 all coincide in a common plane.
  • the pin structure extends in an axial direction away from the roller 22.
  • the alignment described is preferably provided by molding all parts of the unit 21 in one piece. This assures accuracy of orientation and alignment of the impulse pin 28 not only with respect to the axis of the unit but also with respect to the notch 23, and eliminates necessity for any subsequent adjustment.
  • the unitary type of construction lends itself readily to the addition of an unbalanced weight of predetermined magnitude, which, while not an essential part of the present invention, may'usefully be employed when it is desired to embody the invention of co-pending patent application serialnumber 150,586 in the'escapement.
  • the unit 21 may have a disc-like balance element 25, which can be semicylindrical in general form, and which overhangs the notch 23 and is symmetrically disposed relative thereto.
  • the guard roller and impulse pin unit 21 is mounted on the staff 14 with the guard roller end contiguous to the balance wheel 20 and with the impulse pin 28 extending in the opposite direction from the balance wheel, that is, downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1. Assembly of the unit 21 with the staff is easily effected by an axial pressing operation with the staff received in the bore 24.
  • the escape lever 19 is also desirably made as a molded part, utilizing plastic, powdered metal or similar material as described above for the guard roller and impulse pin unit 21. Assembly of the lever 19 with the lever staff 13 is effected by an axial press fit wherein the staff is received in and through a hub 29 on the lever. As shown, the lever 19 is of elongated form and is pivotally mounted by means of the staff 13 adjacent to and in partially overlying relation to peripheral teeth 30 of the escape wheel 18. Thereby respective escape lever pins or pallet pins 31 integrally molded with the lever and suitably spaced and oriented in position thereon are adapted for alternate timing coaction with the successive teeth 30 in the oscillations of the lever as controlled by the balance wheel assembly.
  • the lever 19 has at one end a fork 32 within which the impulse pin 28 is received.
  • the impulse pin at its outer extremity has a width appropriate to fit in the opening of the fork 32, and radially inward from the outer extremity, it has a relatively narrow part 27 which serves as a supporting or reinforcing tin, and provides clearance for the legs of the fork 32 as they swing relatively around the wider part of the pin when the lever is operating.
  • a guard finger 33 which extends into the roller notch 23.
  • the particular arrangement wherein the lever 19 is adapted to be relatively closely spaced with respect to the escape wheel 18 provides for an especially compact assembly and arrangement in which the pallet pins 31 as well as the finger 33 are adapted to be molded integrally in one piece with the lever, with the pins 31 accurately formed and positioned for optimum effectiveness and without any liability of improper orientation or leaning as is frequently experienced where such pins are separately formed and attached to the lever.
  • the customary hairspring 34 can be secured at its inner end directly to the balance wheel staff 14, as shown in FIG. 3. Such attachment may be effected by welding, soldering, cementing, or otherwise non-adjustably fixing the inner end of the spring to an anchor boss 35 integral with the staff. Welding may be effected by laser beam technique, if desired. Any other means for attaching the end of the hairpsring to the staff may be employed, but the customary collet can be eliminated and the hairspring placed in neutral condition, that is, without any unbalance stresses and to best advantage for isochronism of operation.
  • roller and impulse pin unit 21 is pressed onto the staff 14 with a friction fit less tight than the fit of the balance wheel 20 thereon. Adjustment to place the movement in beat is then accomplished, accordingly, by holding the wheel 20 (or staff 14) and applying torque to 21 to rotate it relative to the staff 14, until a position is obtained where equal beats result.
  • the combination guard roller and impulse pin and the escapement lever made from appropriate plastic materials, lubrication for optimum performance is not critical because the coefficient of friction of the plastic is much lower than that of metal.
  • the adjustable combination guard roller and impulse pin unit which eliminates several machining and hand assembly operations as compared to prior arrangements, simplifies adjustment into beat, assures a high degree of accuracy with regard to the notch and impulse pin alignment, and simplifies assembly with the balance wheel staff.
  • said unit including a guard roller portion having a cylindrical perimeter provided with an axially extending notch for receiving an escape lever finger,
  • a unit according to claim 1 having said bore dimensioned for a frictional grip on the staff sufficient to avoid operating torque displacement but enabling rotary adjustment of the unit on the staff relative to said balance wheel and shaft by the application of a torque greater than normal operating torque.
  • a unit according to claim 1 constructed from plastic material and having said bore dimensioned for frictionally gripping the staff against operating torque displacement but enabling rotary sliding adjustment of the unit on the staff relative to said balance wheel and shaft.
  • a unit according to claim 1 having said bore dimensioned for frictionally gripping the staff against operating torque displacement but enabling rotary sliding adjustment of the unit on the staff relative to said bal ance wheel and shaft, and a hairspring controlling movement of said shaft and connected thereto in a rigid non-adjustable connection.
  • a combination guard roller and impulse pin unit having a guard roller portion relatively rotatably adjustably mounted on the staff contiguous to the balance wheel and provided with a peripheral notch for receiving a guard lever finger;
  • an impulse pin structure on said balance element aligned with said notch and projecting axially away therefrom on the side of said balance element opposite from said balance wheel, and adapted to be engaged by an escape lever fork.
  • balance element comprises a generally semicircular platform.
  • said impulse pin structure includes a radially inner reinforcing fin and a wider radially outer impulse pin portion.
  • said unit comprises a molding made from plastic and provided with a bore through which the staff is engaged in frictional grip sufficient to retain the staff and unit against torsional displacement in operation in a timepiece but yieldable in response to adjustment torque for rotary adjustment of the unit relative to the staff.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Gears, Cams (AREA)
US00259863A 1972-06-05 1972-06-05 Timepiece escapement Expired - Lifetime US3791251A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US25986372A 1972-06-05 1972-06-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3791251A true US3791251A (en) 1974-02-12

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00259863A Expired - Lifetime US3791251A (en) 1972-06-05 1972-06-05 Timepiece escapement

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US3791251A (ja)
JP (1) JPS537819B2 (ja)
CA (1) CA977164A (ja)
DE (1) DE2328319A1 (ja)
FR (1) FR2188209B1 (ja)
GB (1) GB1436578A (ja)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090168611A1 (en) * 2007-12-28 2009-07-02 Gigandet Christophe Driving and transmitting element for an escapement, roller table and escapement equipped with them, and timepiece including them
US20140376337A1 (en) * 2011-12-16 2014-12-25 Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse Timepiece assembly with overmoulded wheel sets
US20150036466A1 (en) * 2012-04-19 2015-02-05 Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse Timepiece balance
US20150268631A1 (en) * 2014-03-24 2015-09-24 Nivarox-Far S.A. One-piece composite impulse pin-safety roller component
CN113267984A (zh) * 2020-01-29 2021-08-17 精工时计株式会社 擒纵调速器、钟表用机芯和钟表

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3108196A1 (de) * 1981-03-04 1982-09-16 Parrenin S.A., 25130 Villers-le-Lac Vorrichtung, die die ankerhemmung insbesondere einer uhr bildet, und verfahren zur herstellung der unruh dieser vorrichtung

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1359005A (en) * 1920-07-26 1920-11-16 Verner Clarence Triple roller for watches
US3335562A (en) * 1965-03-03 1967-08-15 Tissot Horlogerie Anchor escapement for timepieces
US3469392A (en) * 1967-10-10 1969-09-30 Far Fab Assortiments Reunies Balance staff for a roskopf watch
US3481139A (en) * 1965-04-21 1969-12-02 Marcel Dumont Assembly for securing the inner end of a coiled balance spring to a balance staff
US3678683A (en) * 1971-02-26 1972-07-25 Gen Time Corp One-piece roller-impulse member for timepiece escapement

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1067373B (de) * 1955-05-31 1959-10-15 Gebrüder Junghans Ag Tischuhr
FR1316624A (fr) * 1961-12-20 1963-02-01 Anciens Etablissements Duverdr Perfectionnements aux systèmes d'enfourchement des mouvements d'horlogerie
CH988463A4 (ja) * 1963-08-09 1965-11-15
CH430591A (fr) * 1965-01-04 1966-10-31 Tissot Horlogerie Balancier pour mouvement d'horlogerie
DE1523801C3 (de) * 1966-11-03 1974-03-14 Greiner Electronic Gmbh, 7530 Pforzheim Verfahren zur automatisierbaren Befestigung des inneren Hakens einer Spiralfeder an der Unruhe und Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1359005A (en) * 1920-07-26 1920-11-16 Verner Clarence Triple roller for watches
US3335562A (en) * 1965-03-03 1967-08-15 Tissot Horlogerie Anchor escapement for timepieces
US3481139A (en) * 1965-04-21 1969-12-02 Marcel Dumont Assembly for securing the inner end of a coiled balance spring to a balance staff
US3469392A (en) * 1967-10-10 1969-09-30 Far Fab Assortiments Reunies Balance staff for a roskopf watch
US3678683A (en) * 1971-02-26 1972-07-25 Gen Time Corp One-piece roller-impulse member for timepiece escapement

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090168611A1 (en) * 2007-12-28 2009-07-02 Gigandet Christophe Driving and transmitting element for an escapement, roller table and escapement equipped with them, and timepiece including them
US8118480B2 (en) * 2007-12-28 2012-02-21 Chopard Technologies Sa Driving and transmitting element for an escapement, roller table and escapement equipped with them, and timepiece including them
US20140376337A1 (en) * 2011-12-16 2014-12-25 Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse Timepiece assembly with overmoulded wheel sets
US20150036466A1 (en) * 2012-04-19 2015-02-05 Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogere Suisse Timepiece balance
US9285773B2 (en) * 2012-04-19 2016-03-15 Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Timepiece balance
US20150268631A1 (en) * 2014-03-24 2015-09-24 Nivarox-Far S.A. One-piece composite impulse pin-safety roller component
US9223291B2 (en) * 2014-03-24 2015-12-29 Nivarox-Far S.A. One-piece composite impulse pin-safety roller component
CN113267984A (zh) * 2020-01-29 2021-08-17 精工时计株式会社 擒纵调速器、钟表用机芯和钟表
CN113267984B (zh) * 2020-01-29 2024-03-08 精工时计株式会社 擒纵调速器、钟表用机芯和钟表

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA977164A (en) 1975-11-04
JPS4963472A (ja) 1974-06-19
FR2188209B1 (ja) 1977-05-06
JPS537819B2 (ja) 1978-03-22
DE2328319A1 (de) 1973-12-20
GB1436578A (en) 1976-05-19
FR2188209A1 (ja) 1974-01-18

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