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
  • G04B15/00—Escapements
  • G04B15/14—Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel
• • 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
  • G04B15/00—Escapements
  • G04B15/06—Free escapements
• • 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
  • G04B17/045—Oscillators acting by spring tension with oscillating blade springs

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates to "more particularly, to a resonator of the watch movement and an assembly comprising such a resonator and an exhaust mechanism. Also, this assembly comprises a balance associated with a spring to form the resonator, and an escape wheel for receiving a torque provided by a spring-type energy spring barrel.
• the rocker and the escape wheel are connected by an alternating stop and transmission system arranged to intermittently block the escape wheel and release under the action of the pendulum and to transmit to the pendulum a parcel of energy to maintain its oscillations.
• the escapement is an essential part of mechanical clockwork movements. It is generally placed between a transmission member (gear train) which transmits a torque supplied by the power source and a resonator which defines the regulating member, in order to maintain and count the oscillations of the regulating member.
• a transmission member train
• resonator which defines the regulating member
• the regulating member is a balance-spiral.
• Current spirals have the disadvantage of developing eccentrically during their expansion and during their contraction.
• Some oscillators work without spirals, but their system is partly magnetic.
• the spiral is replaced by magnets that oppose and repel each other.
• it is the balance and the hairspring that no longer exist and are replaced by a resonator using a magnetic rotor and a sound frequency oscillator.
• the present invention aims to provide an oscillator exhaust assembly without 100% mechanical spiral.
• the invention relates to a clock movement resonator comprising:
• a spring member exerting a restoring force on the moving part.
• the invention also relates to a similar resonator, but wherein said moving part comprises an inertial mass which acts as a pendulum.
• the spring is not a spiral spring.
• the invention also relates to an assembly comprising an exhaust mechanism and a mechanical resonator as presented in the preceding paragraphs, comprising an escape wheel for receiving a torque provided by a power source, the balance and the escape wheel being intended to be connected by an alternating stop and transmission system arranged to intermittently block the escape wheel and release under the action of the balance and to transmit to the balance a parcel of energy to maintain his oscillations
• an exhaust mechanism and a mechanical resonator as presented in the preceding paragraphs, comprising an escape wheel for receiving a torque provided by a power source, the balance and the escape wheel being intended to be connected by an alternating stop and transmission system arranged to intermittently block the escape wheel and release under the action of the balance and to transmit to the balance a parcel of energy to maintain his oscillations
• FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of an assembly comprising an escape mechanism and a mechanical oscillator according to the invention
• FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c provide chronological views of the assembly of FIG. 1, at different stages of its operation
• FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the assembly according to the invention
• FIG. 4 to 12 provide illustrations of different variants of a clockwork resonator according to the invention.
• the invention relates to an assembly formed of an escapement mechanism and a resonator comprising a mechanical oscillator, taking the usual form of a balance wheel 10.
• the exhaust mechanism is intended to maintain the oscillations of the balance wheel 10 by transmitting a parcel of energy supplied by an energy source not shown.
• This energy source can be, conventionally, a barrel.
• This energy source is kinematically connected to an escape wheel 12.
• An alternative stop and transmission system 14 is arranged between the rocker 10 and the escape wheel 12 to block the latter intermittently and release it under the action of the pendulum 10.
• the alternative stop and transmission system 14 is a pivotally mounted anchor and provided with an input pallet 6a and an output pallet 16b for cooperating with the teeth of the escape wheel 12.
• the pallets 16a and 16b are situated at a different level from the general plane of the anchor. They are realized in the form of cylindrical rollers mounted free to rotate on an axis 18a, 18b disposed orthogonally to the general plane of the anchor. These rollers, capable of rotating, substantially reduce the friction between the escape wheel 12 and the anchor, replacing a portion of the slides by rotations.
• the vanes 16a, 16b are arranged to perform the conventional functions of a conventional exhaust: stop, release, pulse, as will be detailed hereinafter with reference to Figures 2a, 2b and 2c.
• an intermediate mobile 20 is mounted freely in rotation. It is pivoted on a pivot whose position is fixed with reference to the axis of the balance 10.
• This intermediate mobile 20 is here represented in the form of a truncated wheel so as to leave the other elements of the exhaust visible, but it can also be a complete wheel.
• the term mobile intermediate must be interpreted broadly which also includes a moving part without pivot.
• the intermediate mobile 20 is provided with a peripheral toothing 22, arranged to be connected kinematically with a pinion 24 coaxial and integral with the rocker 10. The intermediate mobile 20 can be engaged directly with the pinion 24 or via a or several referrals forming a reduction train.
• the intermediate mobile 20 is subjected to the action of a spring member 26 to form a resonator with the balance 10.
• the spring member 26 connects the intermediate mobile 20 and the stop system. alternating and transmission 14. More particularly, a first end of the spring member 26 is fixed on the anchor 14, for example by a clamping pin 28, and on the intermediate mobile 20, by a type of fastening system piton 30.
• the spring member 26 may be made of any material, it may be a rolled wire spring, a coil spring or a profile cut corn is not a spiral spring.
• the introduction of a gear ratio between the rocker 10 and the intermediate mobile 20 has the consequence of reducing the amplitude of this intermediate mobile, which allows to do without a hairspring.
• the spring member 26 may optionally be assimilated to a turn portion, but which defines an angle less than 180 °, It is arranged so that, in the rest position, the center line which connects the axes of the wheel 12, the anchor and the balance 10, is substantially located in the center of the useful portion of the peripheral toothing 22 of the intermediate mobile 20.
• the spring member 26 is likely to be deformed in tension and in compression by relative to its rest position.
• the spring member 26 thus allows to connect in rotation, but with a temporal and spatial shift due to its deformation, the anchor and the intermediate mobile.
• An adjustment system 32 may be further provided to adjust the extreme positions of the anchor.
• the adjustment system 32 comprises a first 32a and a second spring blades 32b, respectively intended for adjusting the first and second extreme positions of the anchor 14, cooperating with a tail 34 that includes the 'anchor.
• the position of the spring blades 32a, 32b can be adjusted by an eccentric 35.
• the advantage of the spring blades 32a, 32b is that their effect is adjusted as a function of the amplitude variations related to the decrease in the torque transmitted by the source of the spring. 'energy.
• the spring blades 32a, 32b can limit and absorb a greater amplitude of the movements of the anchor.
• the spring blades 32a, 32b are less stressed. Any type of limiting and absorbing abutments could be used in place of spring blades 32a and 32b.
• FIG. 3 proposes a second embodiment of the invention.
• the intermediate mobile 20 kinematically connected to the pinion 24 integral with the rocker 10, the intermediate mobile 20 being subjected to the action of the spring member 26 to form a resonator with the pendulum 10.
• the intermediate mobile 20 and the alternative stop and transmission system 14 are mounted along two different axes.
• the intermediate mobile may be only partially toothed, depending on the amplitude provided for its rotation and the part of its periphery that will be used.
• the spring member 26 connects, at one end, the intermediate mobile 20 and, at the other end, an attachment point 36.
• This attachment point 36 is preferably a mobile pin associated with a racket of conventional type, except that the cock is not mounted on the axis of the balance 10, but on a cock bridge independent of the balance 10. It can thus adjust the active length of the spring member .
• Such an arrangement of the intermediate mobile 20 makes it possible to accommodate an alternative stop system and transmission 14 of conventional type. In the example, there is shown a Swiss lever escapement, but one could also consider a relaxation exhaust or other exhaust. Similarly, all the frequencies are conceivable. It is also possible to replace the conventional rocker 10 with a flywheel, circular or cylindrical having the same function.
• This regulator can be inclined at any angle relative to the movement, the teeth connecting the regulator and the intermediate mobile being adjusted to ensure good cooperation between these elements, whatever the relative angle between them,
• the intermediate mobile 20 is balanced.
• Figure 12 proposes a third embodiment of the invention in which two moving parts 20 are pivotally mounted on either side of the pinion 24.
• Each of the moving parts 20 have a toothing 22 in engagement with the pinion 24 so that the moving parts 20 pivot in opposition of phase.
• a spring member 26 connects the two moving parts 20 so as to exert a restoring force tending to bring the moving parts 20 and the pinion 24 into a rest position corresponding to the neutral position of the balance 10.
• the assembly formed by the two moving parts 20, the balance 10 and the spring member 26 thus forms a resonator.
• the spring member 26 is constituted by a coil spring working in tension but any other form of spring member working in traction or compression could be considered.
• FIG 4 there is shown a variant of a resonator according to another aspect of the invention.
• a rocker 10 with a pinion 24 which is integral and coaxal.
• the mobile having the peripheral toothing 22 is here a moving part 20 devoid of pivot. This configuration is therefore particularly interesting from the point of view of friction. More particularly, the movable part 20 is suspended at one end of the spring member 26, which it can form an extension
• the movable part is connected to a frame 40 by the spring member 26 which is formed by a plurality of flexible arms.
• the spring member 26 which is formed by a plurality of flexible arms.
• the flexible arms When the flexible arms are at rest, they are arranged parallel to each other and the pinion 24 meshes with the peripheral toothing 22 substantially in the middle of the latter.
• the flexible arms are arranged so that the peripheral toothing 22 is movable in translation, according to oscillations of the balance.
• the movable part 20 is connected to a central portion 41 by a plurality of flexible arms.
• the moving part 20 can thus be connected by a first pair of flexible arms 26a arranged perpendicularly with reference to the peripheral teeth 22.
• the flexible arms 26a of this first pair join a connecting amount 42 parallel to the teeth 22, and from which a second pair of flexible arms 26b joined the frame 40 or the central portion 41, parallel to the flexible arms 26a of the first pair.
• the flexible arms deform according to different behaviors for each pair, allowing the peripheral toothing 22 to translate.
• the peripheral toothing therefore follows a rectilinear trajectory.
• the moving part and the flexible blades can be made monolithically, by microfabrication techniques, for example based on thermocompensated silicon, diamond, ruby.
• the moving part 20 and the assembly that it forms with the spring member 26 could be made in a composite manner using different materials adapted to each of the functions of the different parts.
• a material with a low coefficient of friction could be used to make the toothing 22, and a material with a high yield of flexibility to realize the flexible arms, each element being reported by appropriate fastening means.
• the moving parts 20 are positioned on either side of a plane passing through the pinion and perpendicular to the plane of the beam. The moving parts thus act in opposition of phase. They are symmetrical and connected to the same frame 40,
• the resonator is provided with flexible arms, as for the variant of Figure 4, but in this example, it comprises only one piece mobile.
• the pairs of flexible arms 26a and 26b extend in two superimposed planes.
• the movable part 20 may be simply located at the end of a spring blade 26 recessed on the frame.
• the peripheral toothing 22 is then capable of moving in a rotation centered on the embedding point 23.
• the moving part 20 and the spring member 26 can be made monolithically.
• a single moving part 20 is engaged with the pinion 24, while in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, two moving parts 20, balanced in mass, meshing with the pinion 24, and act in opposition to the phase .
• an adjustment device comprising two racket type pins or micrometric stops or other adjustable stops, coming from either side of the elastic arm 26 to change the active length of the elastic arm and thus vary the oscillation period of the resonator.
• the arrangements with two moving parts 20 working in opposite phase can compensate for the effects of gravity on the moving parts 20 when they are in the vertical position.
• the compensation of the effects of gravity could also be obtained by a different number of moving parts. For example, one could consider three moving parts moving in translation or rotation and regularly arranged in three directions spaced 120 °.
• the number and arrangement of springs and moving parts are not limited to the examples presented.
• a movable part has an opening 25 in which is disposed the pinion 24, one of the inner faces of the opening being provided with a rack 22.
• This opening 25 also limits the displacements of the moving part 20 relative to the pinion 24 in the directions perpendicular to the axis of the pinion 24, in particular in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the rack 22. This makes it possible to avoid an accidental jump. a tooth of the toothing 22 on the pinion 24 which would cause a desynchronization at the exhaust, and also limit the maximum bending applicable to the elastic arms 26.
• the position of the spring member 26 can be adjusted by means of eccentric adjustment to adjust the penetration of the toothing 22 radially relative to the pinion 24 and position the toothing 22 tangentially relative to the pinion 24 for perform the benchmark setting of the pendulum.
• the contact surfaces of the components of the invention for example the pinion 24, the toothing 22, the moving part 20, the flexion limitation means formed by the limiting planes and by the apertures 25, articulated elements and pi voted on the anchor 14 may be made using hard coating technologies resistant anti-friction type of NFC (Near Frictionless Coating) DLC, Black top, or galvanic deposits and other suitable technologies to reduce friction.
• NFC Near Frictionless Coating
• the escape wheel can be positioned with great flexibility relative to the balance 10, thus providing many opportunities for the skilled person to build his exhaust.
• the moving parts 20 also have their own inertia which is added to that of the balance 10. By increasing the mass or the number of moving parts 20, depending on the desired frequency and the idea of achieving high frequencies, it is possible, for all the embodiments presented, to reduce the size of the balance 10 or to remove it completely. In the case where the pendulum is removed, it is the moving parts 20 which play the role of the balance 10 and form a resonator with the spring member 26. To do this, can be added to the moving part 20 an inertial mass 21. This allows, in embodiments where the moving part is suspended, to increase the mass of the moving part while retaining the advantages of microfabrication, with a moving part and monolithic springs.
• the assembly according to the invention allows to introduce a gear ratio between the rocker 10 and the intermediate mobile. Consequently, the amplitude of the intermediate mobile 20 can be reduced, which therefore makes it possible to dispense with a spiral. It avoids all the disadvantages of spirals, including its adjustment, its asymmetry ...

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)
• Micromachines (AREA)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Citations (4)

• 2013
  • 2013-07-26 CH CH01317/13A patent/CH707187A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2014
  • 2014-03-06 EP EP14708070.9A patent/EP3044637A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-03-06 WO PCT/EP2014/054396 patent/WO2015010797A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2014-03-06 CH CH01952/14A patent/CH710679B1/fr unknown

Patent Citations (4)

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