WO2017068538A9

WO2017068538A9 - Oscillator for a mechanical timepiece movement

Info

Publication number: WO2017068538A9
Application number: PCT/IB2016/056341
Authority: WO
Inventors: Olivier Karlen; Eric Klein; Alexis HERAUD; Jonathan ZÜRCHER
Original assignee: Richemont International Sa
Priority date: 2015-10-23
Filing date: 2016-10-21
Publication date: 2017-06-08
Also published as: JP2018531390A; EP3365734A1; WO2017068538A1; EP3365734B1; CN108139712B; CN108139712A; JP6646743B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oscillator for adjusting a mechanical timepiece movement, the oscillator (1) comprising an escapement wheel (5) and a resonator (3) that forms the time base of the oscillator (1); the resonator (3) including a mass element (32) that is kept in oscillation by at least two vibrating elements (31); the mass element (32) including at least one anchor portion (4) that is rigidly connected to the mass element (32), and is configured so as to directly engage with the escapement wheel (5) in order to maintain oscillations of the resonator (3), and so as to allow the escapement wheel (5) to move with each alternation of the oscillations; the first resonator (3) also including a base (2) that is intended to be mounted in a stationary or movable manner on the timepiece movement; the mass element (32) being supported only by the base (2) via the vibrating element (31).

Description

Oscillator for a mechanical watch movement

Technical area

The present invention relates to an oscillator for the regulation of a watch movement for an oscillation frequency up to 5 kHz and a better stability and accuracy of the oscillator to wear. The oscillator also allows a greater quality factor Q, while reducing the need for adjustment. The oscillator is intended to replace a conventional oscillator comprising in particular a sprung balance and its escapement anchor pivoted on its own axis. The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such an oscillator.

STATE OF THE ART [0002] In a clockwork movement, the function of the escapement is to transmit the energy received by the gear train, itself driven by the mainspring, to the resonator constituted by the balance-sprung assembly. . This escapement generally comprises an independent anchor oscillating about an axis pivoted in the plate. The mechanical connection between the anchor and the resonator, constituted by the plate carrying the pin which abuts against each of the horns of the anchor, is relatively complicated. In addition, the sprung balance assembly requires a delicate adjustment. Finally, such resonators are generally limited to oscillation frequencies of 10 Hz at most.

US3440815 discloses an exhaust device comprising an integral anchor of a vibrating member wherein the anchor is disposed in such a way that it oscillates perpendicularly to the plane of the escape wheel. The anchor is fixed by embedding or welding, at the end of a vibrating blade embedded by its end in a rigid support. A tuning fork or a resonator derived from the tuning fork can be used instead of the vibrating blade, one of the branches bearing the anchor and the other branch oscillating freely while synchronizing with the first branch. The document CH442153 describes an escapement comprising a tuning fork, acting as a primary resonator, and a vibrating blade, acting as a secondary resonator, at the end of which is fixed an anchor provided with two pallets diametrically opposite to the center of the escape wheel. Under the effect of the shock of a tooth of the escape wheel against one of the lifts, the oscillating blade oscillates, the amplitude of its oscillation allowing the anchor to come lightly hit the end of one of the branches of the tuning fork which oscillates in turn to its own frequency.

WO2013045573 discloses a mechanical resonator comprising a tuning fork type oscillator cooperating with an anchor mounted to rotate and whose angular positions can lock and unlock an escape wheel. This resonator has the disadvantage that the frills necessary for the so-called free operation between the members mounted on the fork leg and the organs, in this case a fork, of the anchor result in loss phases at each alternation of the oscillator. These phases are known in the watch industry under the term lost path. On the other hand, the number of parts and their setting make the implementation of this system very delicate.

In an improved variant of the above document presented in the document EP2645189, in particular in Figure 11, an anchor is movably mounted on resilient arms and cooperates in a conventional manner with a balance to count the oscillations of the latter . In order to disturb the oscillation of the resonator as little as possible, especially in the vertical positions, the anchor part should be as light as possible. The arms supporting the anchor can have a bistable type of behavior, a very energy-consuming configuration at each alternation, and which does not allow to maintain oscillations of the pendulum when the energy received from the gear is less than that required to pass from one bistable state to another.

EP2911012 discloses a mechanical resonator held in oscillation on flexible blades by a fixed base on the movement, the flexible blades allowing oscillations of the resonator around a virtual point of rotation. This document provides for the possibility of equipping the moving part with an organ having the usual function of a plateau pin to cooperate with a

exhaust. Thus, the configuration of this invention always comprises an anchor separate from the resonator, which does not reduce the number of parts and the number of disruptive friction at each contact between the parts.

Brief summary of the invention

The present invention relates to an oscillator for the regulation of a mechanical watch movement, the oscillator comprising an escapement mobile and a resonator constituting the time base of the oscillator; the resonator comprising a mass element held in oscillation by at least two vibrating elements; the mass element comprising at least one anchor part, integral with the mass element and configured to cooperate directly with the escapement mobile so as to maintain oscillations of the resonator and to let the mobile escape move at each alternation of oscillations; the first resonator further comprising a base to be mounted fixed or movable on the watch movement; the mass element being supported only by the base via the vibrating element.

By mechanical movement means any clock mechanism using a regulation mechanism, including the main wheel of the watch movement, but also any wheel or additional module using such a regulation, it uses the same base time or not, such as

chronograph, a striking mechanism such as those encountered in the mechanisms of alarms or minute repetitions, an astronomical train, without being limited to these mechanisms.

The oscillator according to the invention allows a high oscillation frequency and a better stability and accuracy of the oscillator to wear.

In the oscillator of the invention, the anchor portion is integral with the mass element. Compared to conventional oscillators, the oscillator of the invention therefore comprises a small footprint and requires a lower number of parts, especially in comparison with an oscillator equipped with a balance-spiral

conventional, an anchor and an escape mobile.

Brief description of the figures

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of an oscillator comprising a resonator comprising vibrating elements, according to one embodiment;

Figure 2 shows the resonator, according to one embodiment; Figure 3 shows the resonator, according to another embodiment;

Figure 4 illustrates the resonator, according to yet another embodiment; Figure 5 schematically illustrates different morphologies of the vibrating elements;

Figure 6 shows the resonator with vibrating elements, according to one embodiment;

Figure 7 shows the resonator with vibrating elements, according to another embodiment;

Figures 8, 9a, 10 and 11 show the resonator with vibrating elements, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 9b illustrates the resonator cooperating with an escape wheel, according to one embodiment;

Figure 10 shows the oscillator, according to another embodiment;

Figure 11 shows a detail of the resonator of the oscillator of Figure 10; Figures 12a to 12d illustrate the oscillator, according to other embodiments;

Figure 13 shows yet another configuration of the oscillator; FIG. 14 represents the oscillator, according to another embodiment; Figures 15a and 15b show a bottom view of the oscillator of Figure 14; FIG. 16 represents the oscillator, according to another embodiment; Figures 17a and 17b show a view of the oscillator side of the figure

16;

Figures 18a and 18b illustrate the oscillator, according to other embodiments;

Figure 19 shows the oscillator, according to yet another embodiment;

FIG. 20 illustrates an on / off mechanism for the oscillator, according to one embodiment;

Figures 21a and 21b show a detail view of teeth of an escape wheel of the oscillator, according to one embodiment;

Figures 22 and 23 show the resonator, according to other embodiments; and

Figure 24 shows a sectional view of the oscillator, according to one embodiment.

Example (s) of embodiment

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an oscillator 1 according to one embodiment. The oscillator 1 comprises an escapement mobile 5 and a resonator 3 constituting the timebase of the oscillator. The resonator 3 comprises a mass element 32 held in oscillation by at least two vibrating elements 31. The mass element 32 comprises an anchor portion 4 configured to cooperate directly with the escapement wheel 5 so as to maintain oscillations of the first resonator 3 and to let the escapement mobile 5 move with each alternation of oscillations.

In particular, the resonator 3 is formed of three vibrating elements 31 extending radially from a center 12 in a plane P. For the remainder of the description, it will adopt non-limiting transverse orientations "x and longitudinal "y", defining the reference plane P in which the oscillator 1 extends, and an axis "z" perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse orientations, as represented by the coordinate system shown in the figures. .

FEUI LLE RECTI FIED (RULE 91) ISA / EP The vibrating elements 31 are spaced angularly about 120 ° from each other. Each of the vibrating elements 31 is fixed at its proximal end (close to the center 12) to a base 2 intended to be mounted on a plate 10 or any other fixed part of a clockwork movement or on an intermediate frame mounted itself on said watch movement. The distal end 35 of each of the vibrating elements 31 is fixed to the mass element 32. Each of the vibrating elements 31 can therefore vibrate or oscillate freely between its distal and proximal end. In general, and independently of the arrangement of the vibrating elements 31, the mass element 32 is supported only by the base 2 via the vibrating element 31.

According to one embodiment, mounting means 20 may be provided in the base 2 so as to fix the base 2 to a frame 10. The frame 10 may comprise a cage as illustrated in FIG. frame 10 is intended to be mounted fixed or mobile on a watch movement (not shown). Alternatively, the base 2 is mounted directly on the watch movement, for example on a plate or a bridge.

The frame 10 has the advantage of facilitating assembly, disassembly, adjustment and dedicated operations within the framework of the after-sales service of the oscillator 1. The frame 10 can take the form of a cage (as in Figure 1) or a capsule. The frame 10 can be mounted and adjusted on a part of the movement, for example the plate, in order to cooperate with the gear which it regulates.

Still according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the escape wheel is an escape wheel 5 pivotally mounted around a shaft 54, itself mounted in a fixed bridge 21 with the base 2. The bridge may comprise an upper bridge 21 and a lower bridge 21 '.

Figure 2 shows another example of the resonator 3 in which the vibrating elements 31 are not shown. In this example, the base 2 extends to form the lower bridge 21 'in which the lower pivot of the shaft 54 can be mounted. FIG. 3 shows another example in which the base 2 of the resonator 3 extends to form the lower bridge 21 'which comprises a guide stone 55 for receiving the lower pivot of the shaft 54.

The pivots of the shaft 54 can be mounted directly (Figure 2) or via a guide stone 55 (Figure 3). In the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3, the bridges 21, 21 'can thus be seen as elements of the frame 10 which form part of the resonator 3. On the other hand, the frame can also comprise the base 2 of the resonator 3 which is extends in the plane P so as to receive the resonator 3 and one of the pivots of the shaft 54 of the escapement mobile 5. In other words, the frame 10 in which the oscillator 1 of the invention is mounted can be partially integrated in the resonator 3. Again in the examples shown in Figures 15 and 13, one of the pivots of the shaft 54 of the escapement mobile 5 can be mounted on the bridge 21 ', while the other pivot is maintained in the part of the frame 10 which will be assembled on the watch movement. The mass element 32 comprises three portions of the mass element 32 'also extending radially from the base 2, centered on the center 12, in plane P. The portions 32' are angularly spaced apart from each other. 120 ° from each other. In such a configuration, the mass element 32 is fixed to the base 2, and therefore to a fixed part of the movement when the oscillator 1 is mounted in the movement, by means of the resonator 3, here vibrating elements 31 When they oscillate, the vibrating elements 31 thus cause the mass element 32 also to oscillate.

In the example of Figure 1, the three portions 32 'of the mass element 32 consist of a so-called skeletal openwork structure. This skeletal structure comprises a multitude of recesses 36. The mass, or the inertia, of the mass element 32 is therefore mainly determined by the wall 33 of the portions 32 '. Each of the vibrating elements 31 may be housed inside each of the portions 32 ', for example in a housing 38 formed in the wall 33 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the vibrating elements 31 comprises a vibrating blade. The anchor portion 4 is constituted by the arc formed between the two adjacent portions 32 'and a member 40 carried by each of the adjacent portions 32'. In this configuration, the escape wheel 5 is housed in an interior space 11 delimited by the anchor portion 4 so as to cooperate with the anchor portion 4.

In operation, the oscillation of the vibrating elements 31 oscillates the portions 32 'and the anchor portion 4 having the members 40. The vibrating elements 31, the portions 32' and the anchor portion 4 oscillate in the same plane P around the center 12. The members 40 of the anchor portion 4 cooperate with the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5 so as to maintain oscillations of the resonator 3 and to advance the escape wheel 5 of a tooth 50 with each alternation of oscillations. In particular, the members 40 alternately receive pulses of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5, so as to alternately lock and release the escape wheel 5 and maintain the periodic oscillations of the resonator 3. The oscillator 1 thus allows the successive escape of teeth 50 in such a way that the escape wheel 5 advances in a back-and-forth movement of the anchor part 4. The escapement wheel 5 pivots in the same plane P as that in which oscillates the first resonator 3 and the anchor part 4.

Figure 4 illustrates the resonator 3 according to another embodiment in which the members 40 are arranged at the ends of the portions 32 '. Each of the portions 32 'comprises the members 40 so that, in this configuration, the escape wheel 5 can be mounted in one or other of the interior spaces 11 delimited by each of the anchor portions 4 between each of the two portions. 32 'adjacent. In general, the vibrating elements 31 of the resonator 3 may take various forms, including the shape of a beam, a vibrating blade or any other shape promoting resonance at frequencies within a desired range of 10 Hz. at 5000 Hz, with a high quality factor, and meeting the congestion requirements required for the application. As shown schematically in Figure 5, the vibrating elements 31 may be formed so as to limit stress, especially at their ends (proximal and distal). This can be done by using distributed load beams (FIG. 5b), multi-leaf vibrating elements (FIGS. 5a and 5d), or by modifying the local section of a beam by making local openings (FIG. 5e), holes for example. It is also possible to lengthen the active blade length without increasing the length of the vibrating member by producing "serpentine" type structures (FIG. 5c), which make it possible to reduce the loads in a very significant manner. Finally, it is possible to reduce the risk of breaks in the recesses by softening the sharp angles, which generally represent primers of rupture or fatigue.

On the other hand, we know vibratory phenomena the existence of nodes along the vibrating structures and whose spacing is a direct function of the resonance frequency. We can thus vary the section along the blade (Figure 5b) so as to favor certain frequencies and / or remove the harmonics and thus maximize the energy and the quality factor of the resonator. It is obvious that a combination of several of the means mentioned above may also be considered in order to combine the advantages.

By way of illustration, but without being limiting, in the case of a mass resonator M (expressed in g) and comprising several vibrating elements 31 formed of simple beams of stiffness k (expressed in mN.m / rad) and characterized by a height h and a thickness e, a ratio k / M between 0.1 and 1.0 and a ratio w / e between 3 and 20 give particularly satisfactory results.

For example, in the example of Figure 1, the vibrating elements 31 are blades. According to another embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, each of the vibrating elements 31 comprises a blade having a folded portion 31 ', for example of the meander or serpentine type. In the example of Figure 6, the folded portion 31 'comprises folds oriented in the radial direction while in the example of Figure 7, the folded portion 31' comprises folds oriented in the angular direction relative to the center 12. Other examples of resonators 3 are shown in FIGS. 8, 9a, 9b, 10 and 11. According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9a, the mass element 32 comprises two diametrically opposed portions 32 '. . Each of the portions 32 'comprises two vibrating elements 31 in the form of a single blade in FIG. 8 and having a folded portion 31' in FIG. 9a.

Figure 9b shows the resonator cooperating with an escape wheel 5 via two members 40 of the anchor portion. The escape wheel 5 is mounted in the bridge 21 integral with the resonator 3.

FIG. 10 shows oscillator 1 according to another embodiment in which the mass element 32 of the resonator 3 comprises four portions 32 'angularly spaced about 90 ° from each other, each of the portions comprising a vibrating element 31. The resonator is shown cooperating with an escape wheel 5 via two anchor part members 40. The resonator 3 is mounted on a frame 10 comprising an upper part 14 forming a cage for the oscillator 1. FIG. 11 shows a detail of the resonator of the oscillator of FIG. 10 in which the vibrating elements 31 are not

represented.

According to another embodiment illustrated in Figures 12a to 12d, the resonator comprises a mass element 32 has a substantially annular shape 32. The anchor portion 4 comprises two members 40 fixed on the mass element 32. The mobile ( wheel) 5 is pivotally mounted in a parallel plane P 'to the plane P in which oscillates the first resonator 3, below the resonator 3 in the example shown. The members 40 of the anchor portion 4 are thus arranged so as to cooperate with the teeth 50 of the escapement wheel 5 situated in the lower plane P ', for example by extending downwards, axially with respect to the element In operation, the escapement wheel 5 pivots in the parallel plane P 'to the oscillation plane P of the mass element 32a.

In the example of Figure 12a, the vibrating elements 31 have a circular arc shape. FIG. 12b shows the resonator of FIG. 12a comprising two pairs of vibrating elements 31, each pair comprising two vibrating elements 31 in a semicircle facing each other resulting in a cylindrical shape. FIG. 12c shows the resonator of FIG. 12a comprising three pairs of vibrating elements 31 according to FIG. 12b. Figure 12d shows the resonator of Figure 12a wherein each of the vibrating elements 31 comprises two parallel blades 31 'arranged radially. The resonator 3 comprises segments 39 arranged concentrically with the serge 32a but of smaller diameter than this. During the oscillation of the resonator 3, the segments 39 come to press against one of the blades 31 ', in the direction of pivoting of the resonator 3. The restoring force of the blade 31' pushes the segments 39 in the reverse direction, allowing the oscillation of the resonator 3. In the various embodiments of the oscillator 1 described so far, the mass element 32 of the resonator 3 is driven in oscillation according to a rotary movement, in other words, according to a movement pivoting around its center 12.

An advantage of these configurations where the resonator 3 is driven in oscillation according to a rotary movement comprises maintaining the differences in operation between the different positions of the oscillator 1 in the gravitational field or during shocks.

FIG. 13 represents another configuration of the oscillator 1, in which the mass element 32 comprises two portions 32 'extending generally in the same plane P in an arc of a circle with respect to a center 12.

5 is disposed in the interior space 11 delimited by the mass portions 32 ', each carrying a member 40 of the anchor portion 4. The mobile

exhaust 5 is pivotally mounted around the center 12 so that a toothing (not shown) of the escape wheel 5 comes into cooperation with the members 40. The escape wheel 5 is in the same plane P that the wheel

exhaust 5, the latter being concentric with a circle inscribed by the mass portions 32 '. The vibrating element 31 comprises blades 31 'arranged in a star (here three blades angularly spaced by about 120 °) and fixed at a proximal end to the base 2 having the shape of a circular arc. The distal end 35 of the blades 31 'is fixed to the mass element 32 via a foot 9. In operation, the oscillation of the blades 31' gives an oscillation movement in the plane P as indicated by the arrow 90 in fig 13. The superposition of the center of gyration and the center of mass of the resonator 3 of the oscillator 1 of FIG. 13 further minimizes the sensitivity of the system to the accelerations to which it could be subjected.

The oscillator 1 of the invention may however also include a resonator where the mass element 32 is maintainable in oscillation in a translational motion.

Such an embodiment is illustrated in Figure 14, the resonator comprises a vibrating element 31 formed of two blades 31 'attached to the base 2 at their proximal end. Each of the two blades 31 'carries, at their distal end 35, a mass portion 32' comprising a member 40 of an anchor portion 4. An escape wheel 5 is placed between the two mass portions 32 'so as to cooperate with the members 40. The vibrating elements 31 oscillate from their proximal end, driving in translation in a movement back and forth the two mass portions 32 '. In particular, the members 40 alternately receive pulses of the teeth (not shown) of the escape wheel 5, so as to alternately lock and release the escape wheel 5 and maintain the periodic oscillations of the resonator 3.

The output of the resonator 3 may be disturbed by vibrating elements 31 resonating at different frequencies. The efficiency of the resonator 3 can also be disturbed by the resonance of the vibrating elements 31 which are fixed at one of their ends to the same base 2 and at the other end to the same mass element 32, and which would oscillate with different amplitudes. It is therefore advantageous for the vibrating elements 31 to resonate substantially at an amplitude (radial or transverse) which is substantially the same. In the example of Figure 14, the two mass portions 32 'are rigidly connected, so that the blades 31' and the mass portions 32 'oscillate substantially at the same frequency and the same amplitude.

The vibrating elements 31 oscillating substantially at the same frequency can ensure any loss due to asynchronous movements of one or the other of the vibrating elements 31. Thus, it is essential to obtain the best quality factor that all the vibrating members resonate at the same frequency.

Although most of the manufacturing processes that can be used for the manufacture of the oscillator 1 in principle make it possible to ensure perfect replication of the geometries of the vibrating elements 31, the use of a material with an anisotropic structure, such as that certain monocrystalline silicas with orientation of the type {001}, will not allow a perfect dimensional replication. In this case, geometry corrections may allow, in the case of a configuration with a number of vibrating elements distributed in such a way that they are not all in the same crystallographic axis, to compensate for the dimensional variation and ensure a unique resonant frequency of all the vibrating elements.

In the case of a resonator 1 made of a material with at least partially pasty structure such as certain glasses, it will be possible to use the structural modification of the material locally by exposing it by irradiation with a femtosecond laser. .

The oscillator 1 of the invention is particularly intended for high frequencies ranging from 10Hz to 5'000Hz, the ideal frequency range being between 10Hz and 400Hz.

Figures 15a and 15b show a view from below of the oscillator 1 of Figure 14, illustrating the movements in translation back and forth of the mass element 32 with each of the members 40 of the anchor portion 4 engaging with the teeth of the escape wheel 5 or disengaging it.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the oscillator 1 comprises an escapement wheel 5 which pivots in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane P in which the first resonator 3 oscillates, the mass element 32 and anchor part 4. In particular, the resonator 3 comprises two blades 31 'oscillating in torsion around an axis 91 in the plane P. The distal end 35 of each of the blades 31' is fixed to the mass element 32 having the shape a serge. The members 40 of the anchor portion 4 are fixed, for example, on the inner periphery of the mass element 32. The escapement wheel 5 can be housed inside the mass element 32 so as to cooperate with the members 40 of the anchor portion 4. In this configuration, the vibrating element formed of the two blades 31 'and the mass element 32 oscillate like a torsion pendulum. The blades 31 'may consist of double blades excited at frequencies whose modes are asymmetrical and out of the plane P. [0051] FIGS. 17a and 17b show a view of the side of the oscillator 1 of FIG. 16, illustrating the oscillating movements about the axis 91, coincident to the Y axis, of the mass element 32 with each of the members 40 of the anchor portion 4 engaging with the toothing of the escape wheel 5 or disengaging it.

While an anchor portion 4 provided with two members 40 can leave a tooth 50 at each alternation, it is also possible to equip the anchor portion 4 with a larger number of members 40, and varying the spacing between the members 40, so that the escape wheel 5 advances at a different speed.

According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 18a and 18b, each anchor portion 4 is provided with four members 40 instead of two, distributed in such a way that a single member 40 of the four cooperates with a tooth 50 of the escape wheel 5 at each oscillation. Such a configuration makes it possible to obtain an advance of half a tooth alternately, ie an advance of a tooth for two alternations.

In the same way, the rotation frequency can be further reduced by the addition of more than two members 40 per anchor portion 4, 4 '. In this case, it is easy to modify the functions of the members 40, so that some participate only in the release of the wheel 5 while others participate in

release and impulse, the maintenance of the resonator 3, thus obtaining a so-called exhaust escapement, whose performance is generally higher, as is the case of detent escapements. It is also obvious that such exhaust variants could equally well apply, with the necessary adaptations, to any other type

exhaust that those shown in Figures 1 and 18, such as for example and without being limited to escapements anchor, expansion, cylinder or tangential type or escapements without contact, such as magnetic escapements.

The oscillator 1 can be produced from a method or a combination of subtractive and / or additive microfabrication processes, from a single substrate of a preferably non-magnetic material or of base materials. combined with each other and whose final material will preferably be non-magnetic. The materials chosen may be metallic or non-metallic, or a combination of both.

The nonmagnetic metallic materials comprise at least partially metallic materials such as metal alloys, composites comprising at least one metal and metal alloys at least

partially amorphous. Non-metallic non-magnetic materials selected include glasses (including quartz), ceramics, glass-ceramics, metalloids, such as silicon, and non-metallic composites.

Preferably, the oscillator 1 is made from a single substrate, preferably a glass, ceramic, glass-ceramic or silicon substrate, the latter preferably being chosen in the form of a wafer. or in the form of a substrate which is amenable to high precision and / or repeatability microfabrication operations such as DRIE or selective volume etching microfabrication, known as ISLE (In Selective Volume) Etching), which combines femtosecond laser irradiation and chemical etching, and is particularly suitable for certain families of glasses.

Some non-metallic materials being more fragile, one can resort to at least a partial recovery of the surface of the finished component by a layer of a protective material, such as diamond, which provides a protective hard layer and having more tribological properties advantageous. Diamond is used in particular for the recovery of certain silicon components.

Advantageously, the frequency of the oscillator 1 can be controlled by varying the dimensions of the vibrating elements 31 and / or the dimensions of the mass element 32.

The oscillation frequency of the different modes of oscillation depends on the geometry of the oscillator 1 and can be adjusted by modifying the moment of inertia of the mass element 32. For this purpose, but also in order to modify the ratio between its inertia and its bulk, and depending on the nature of the substrate used for producing the resonator 3, it may be necessary to modify the inertia of the resonator, and more particularly of its mass element 32.

A higher moment of inertia of the mass element 32 results in a lower oscillation frequency of the oscillator 1 and a longer oscillation time (less rapid damping of the oscillations). The moment of inertia of the mass element 32 can be modified by adding or removing weights on the mass element 32. Returning to FIG. 1, such weights 34 are housed in the recesses 36. the weights 34 can be added and detached from the mass element 32 so as to be able to modify the moment of inertia of the mass element 32. The weight or weights 34 make it possible to modify the moment of inertia of the mass element 32 and therefore the resonator 3, without substantially increasing the size of the oscillator 1.

Thus, it is possible to use reported 34 flyweights which can be assembled by means adapted to the selected materials and required positioning and dimensioning tolerances. The weights 34 can be joined to the mass element 32 by bonding, brazing, welding or bonding processes, after having covered the substrate, if necessary, with a suitable layer, or having treated its surface to optimize the accession, or even favor a partial diffusion. It is also possible to modify the moment of inertia of the resonator 3 by growing the material, for example by galvanic growth, by sintering or other additive processes applicable to microcomponents, on one or more of the faces. of the resonator 3 (for example, the mass element 32). It is also possible to use mechanical methods of assembly such as screwing, crimping or shoring, pinning or mounting in an elastic structure, by clamping.

The weight 34 is advantageously manufactured in a material having a density greater than that used for the rest of the resonator 3. For example, the weight 34 may be made of gold or any other metal or dense alloy. Depending on the amount of inertia to be modified, it is also possible to use flyweights with a density equal to or even less than that of the resonator material, the fineness of adjustment then being improved.

If the weights 34 required have the same density as that of the base material, we can achieve them in the same material, even in one piece, while still considering them as weights, to the extent that their sizing will be chosen to fulfill the above function.

In order to adjust the frequency after manufacture of the resonator 3, especially to match the mechanism with which it cooperates, such as the watch movement which it regulates, it is possible to modify the inertia of the mass element 32 and / or flyweights 34. In particular, the frequency can be increased by ablation of material on the mass element 32 and / or the flyweight 34.

Ablation of material may be performed by machining (mechanical, laser, chemical or other), by breaking detachable elements (as for example described in document CH656044) or by any other appropriate method. If detachable elements are used, they can be made during the same operation as the manufacturing operation of the resonator 3.

The weights 34 may all have the same size and the same mass. Alternatively, to get a finer setting with a larger range, you can use weights 34 with different masses. By way of example, the weights 34 can be dimensioned into five different masses in order to correspond, respectively, to a correction of: 1 s / d, 2 s / d, 4 s / d, 8 s / d, and 16 s / day. In this way, it is possible to correct from 1 to 31 s / d by detaching a combination of appropriate elements.

Another way of modifying the frequency of the oscillations of the resonator 3 is to modify the rigidity of the vibrating elements 31, preferably by modifying their quadratic moment and / or the local stiffness of the material.

Figure 19 shows the oscillator 1 according to another embodiment. The oscillator 1 comprises a first resonator 3 similarly configured to that illustrated in FIG. 14. The oscillator 1 furthermore has a second resonator 7. The second resonator 7 has no anchor portion 4 and does not cooperate with the mobile exhaust (not shown in Figure 19). The second resonator 7 is configured to be able to oscillate freely, that is to say, without being disturbed by the anchor portion 4 of the first resonator 3.

The second oscillator 7 can be coupled to the oscillation of the first resonator 3 of the oscillator 1 by sympathetic resonance. The second oscillator 7 thus makes it possible to reduce the disturbances caused by the anchor portion 4 during the operation of the oscillator 1, for example, disturbances due to the impact of the teeth 50 of the escapement wheel 5 on the members 40 of the anchor portion 4 .

The transmission and the coupling of the vibrations between the first resonator 3 which cooperates with the escapement mobile 5 and the second resonator 7, can be done by means of support structures (mechanical resonance), a ambient fluid (acoustic resonance) or magnetic coupling. In the case of a coupling via an ambient fluid, the surface of the regulating member 1 can be modified (for example by nano structuration) so as to increase the displaced wave pressure and thus promote the quality synchronization. Alternatively or in combination, the geometry of the oscillator 1 can be modified. In the case of a magnetic coupling, the second free resonator 7 can be mounted under a controlled atmosphere, for example in a magnetically permeable (not shown), so as to improve the quality factor of the regulating member 1. In general, the second oscillator 7 contributes to the improvement of the quality factor of the resonator 3.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20, the oscillator 1 comprises an on / off mechanism 60 comprising a lever 61 actuated by the pull tab 62 of a time-setting mechanism and configured to stop and maintain stopping the oscillator 1, stopping the vibrating elements 31 of the oscillator 1 in an unbalanced position, corresponding to one of the two extreme positions of the resonator 3 in normal operating mode (or an eccentric position relative to the escape wheel 5) so as to provide a self-starting function of a watch movement. Preferably, the oscillator 1 is turned on in the first oscillation mode. In order to avoid excessive displacements of the resonator in the event of an impact, stops (not shown) can be configured so as to limit the movement of the oscillator 1 along the "x", "y" and "z" axes in case significant shock. The self-starting function can also advantageously be facilitated by the realization of specific geometries on the organs of the anchor portion of the resonator 40 and the teeth of the exhaust mobile 50, the combination of which, in addition to responding to the required exhaust functions, will promote an unstable position of the oscillator, forcing a particular movement of the two elements together from the equilibrium position of the resonator when it cooperates with any organ.

Figures 21a and 21b show a detail view of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5, according to one embodiment. Each of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5 comprises an inclined plane of impulse 51 and an inclined plane 52. Each of the lifts 40 also includes an inclined plane 41 but does not include a pulse plane, the top 42 of the lift 40 having rather a tip shape, the end may have a more or less pronounced round. The configuration of the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5 and the lifts 40 in this embodiment allows the lifts 40 to receive the pulses of the teeth 50, and to maintain the oscillations of the resonator 3 while advancing the wheel of exhaust 5. In order to limit possible rebounds of the lifts 40 during the pulse on the teeth 50 of the escape wheel 5, the latter may be provided with elastic arms 53 so as to absorb the shocks of the lifts 40 on the teeth 50.

The oscillator 1 may comprise thermal compensation means including compensating coatings, zero thermoelastic coefficient materials, locally modified structure materials, and finally other means similar to those used on the rockers, for example structures bimetallic, or others.

For example, if the oscillator 1 is made of silicon, it may comprise a coating of silicon dioxide deposited on at least a portion of its surface. Alternatively, the thermal compensation means of a regulating member 1 of silicon may be one of the means described in the document CH699780 of the applicant.

In another embodiment, the regulating member is made of a material of the family of glasses and the thermocompensation is obtained by coating based on aluminum oxide whose thermoelastic coefficient is of opposite sign to that of the substrate.

In yet another embodiment, the resonator is made of a vitreous material having a first thermoelastic coefficient and the

thermocompensation is obtained by local modification of a portion of the organs, so as to give this portion a second thermoelastic coefficient compensating for the first, this modification being preferably obtained by irradiation.

The resonator 3 may be made of silicon and the thermocompensation obtained by providing a material having a thermoelastic coefficient of opposite sign to that of silicon, and distributed uniformly or discontinuously on the surface and / or within the material composing the vibrating elements 31. The thermocompensation material may be a silicon dioxide (Si0 ₂ ).

In the resonator 3 described here, the anchor portion 4 is secured to the mass element 32. The anchor portion 4 is secured to the mass element 32 by any appropriate means. For example, the anchor portion 4 is made integral with the mass element 32 by bonding, welding or other means of fixing the anchor portion 4 to the mass element 32. The anchor portion 4 can also be integrally formed with the mass element 32, especially during the manufacture of the resonator 1. The resonator 3 does not require the addition of a separate anchor, advantageously to reduce the number of parts and the number of disruptive friction at each contact between the parts.

In order to reduce the number of parts in the gear train and / or to simplify its numbers, which determine the gear ratios between the wheels of the gear train with which it cooperates, for example to display information of specific periods, The oscillator may be sized so as to give its escapement wheel a singular rotation speed. For example, the escape mobile may rotate in one second, or in integer or fractional multiples.

The oscillator 1 can be designed in such a way that its mobile

exhaust 5 cooperates with its resonator 3 according to several modes, in particular to make a pairing between resonator 3 and the mobile escape 5. Figure 22 for this purpose the resonator 3, similar to that of Figure 11 , equipped with three anchor parts 4, each comprising a member 40 disposed at the end of two adjacent mass portions 32 '(only one anchor portion 4 is completely visible). For example, such an arrangement may comprise an anchor part 4 for an internal space 11. This arrangement makes it possible to position the resonator 3 with respect to the escapement device 5 in 3 different angular positions to make it cooperate with the most appropriate anchor part 4. to reach the

desired performance. In the same way, Figure 23 shows a resonator 3 with four anchor parts 4, each anchor portion 4 being intended to cooperate with the escapement mobile 5 according to four different modes.

[0090] While these variants already offer pairing possibilities

Advantageously, there are still other ways of pairing the two members together to make the oscillator more widely usable for a wide range of watch movements, as for example in the case of calibers having close pairs but the difference does not not allow to use the same oscillator.

Thus, the mobile escape 5 itself can be sized according to several variants that extend the pairing to more classes

oscillator.

In another manner, FIG. 24 shows a sectional view of the oscillator 1, facing the plane passing through two members 40 of the anchor portion 4 cooperating with the escapement wheel 5, according to one embodiment . The resonator 3 comprises in its height a plurality of anchor portions 4 of different geometries, but which can cooperate with the same escapement mobile 5. By changing the positioning of the escapement wheel 5 in the Z plane of the resonator 3, it is thus possible to obtain additional variants that could also allow, in special cases, to adapt the running of the watch to the conditions of wear of its owner.

The selection of the stage 8 of the resonator 3 with which the mobile

5 cooperating exhaust can be made in different ways, Figure 24 showing an exhaust mobile having a flexible mounting plate exhaust, supported on a plurality of bearing surfaces cut in its shaft, each bearing these bearing one or several facets or flats intended to ensure the rotational drive of both without sliding. In this case, the pinion of the escapement mobile will be mounted directly on the mobile and will be fixed, while the watchmaker can suitably move the board of the escapement mobile 5 to cooperate with the anchor portion 4 appropriate. The ease of implementation of this solution with regard to handling and flexibility (no assembly / disassembly is required) is particularly intended for operations in which such operations would be disadvantageous (industrialization, after-sales service). sale, etc.). [0095] In another way, again with reference to FIG. 24, the escapement wheel 5 can cooperate with the anchor portion 4,40 which is placed outside the median plane of the resonator 3, the anchor portion 4,40 defining a first plane outside the median plane of the resonator. The resonator 3 then comprises a second anchor portion 4,40 for each anchor portion 4,40 placed on this first plane out of the median plane, the anchor parts 4,40 being placed inversely symmetrical (to perform the same functions when the organs do not allow reversible functions). The pairing is then done by reversing the mounting direction of the resonator 3 and the mobile escape 5, the escape wheel being advantageously mounted centered on its shaft 54. [0096] The set of matching solutions previously proposed can naturally be combined to further extend the pairing ranges, the combination of an escape mobile variant 5 and appropriate anchor parts 4, 40 of the resonator 3 to obtain the same frequency range for a variable torque transmitted to the escapement mobile 5. The case where the resonator 3 has several anchor parts 4 which may be different (in the case of pairing) or identical. This latter variant has the advantage of being able to use the same resonator 3 to regulate several separate wheels, the oscillator 1 comprising in this case a plurality of escape wheels 5 each cooperating with a dedicated wheel. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and that various modifications and simple variants can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. . For example, the geometry of the oscillator 1 and in particular the geometry of the vibrating elements 31 can be modified in different ways. For example, each resonator 3, each mass element 32 and / or each anchor portion 4 can be assimilated together as a single vibrating element or element of the oscillator.

Furthermore, the members 40 of the anchor portion 4 adapted to cooperate with the teeth 50 of the exhaust mobile 5 can take different forms.

In another alternative embodiment not shown, stops limit the transverse movement in the plane P. Such stops can be oriented on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the mobile exhaust, and mounted on the frame for to receive the oscillator 1. The stops can also be integrated directly into the geometry of the resonator 3, preferably to its moving part, that is to say the mass element 32 or the anchor part 4, without excluding other solutions. The regulating organ and the escapement of the present invention also have an unprecedented aesthetic and they can be advantageously incorporated in a watch movement of a watch in a manner to make them visible to the wearer of the watch. For example, the regulating member and the exhaust can be mounted above or below the motor member of the movement. To also give an indication of the seconds, the escape wheel may be adapted to rotate at a speed of one revolution per minute.

Reference numbers used on the figures oscillator 41 rest plane of the lift frame 42 tooth top internal space 5 mobile exhaust, wheel center exhaust

upper part of the frame 50 tooth of the escape wheel base 51 tooth impulse plane mounting means 52 rest plane of the tooth bridge, upper bridge 53 exhaust wheel arm 'lower bridge 54 shaft

first resonator 6 stop

vibrating element 60 on / off mechanism 'folded portion, blade 61 lever

mass element 62 zipper

mass fraction 7 second resonator

8 floor wall

9 foot weight

distal end 90 direction of oscillation recesses 91 axis

detachable element P plan

reduced section of detachable element P 'parallel plane

housing

segment

anchor part

lifting

Claims

claims

Oscillator for the regulation of a mechanical watch movement, the oscillator (1) comprising an escapement wheel (5) and a first resonator (3) constituting the time base of the oscillator (1); the first resonator (3) comprising a mass element (32) held in oscillation by at least two vibrating elements (31); the mass element (32) comprising at least one anchor portion (4), integral with the mass element (32) and configured to cooperate directly with the escapement wheel (5) so as to maintain oscillations of said first resonator (3) and to let the mobile escapement (5) move with each alternation of oscillations;

the first resonator (3) further comprising a base (2) to be fixed or movable on the watch movement; and

the mass element (32) being supported only by the base (2) via the vibrating element (31).

2. The oscillator according to claim 1,

wherein said at least two vibrating elements (31) have substantially the same natural frequency and / or oscillate with the same amplitude.

3. The oscillator according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the at least two vibrating elements (31) extending radially in a plane (P) from the base (2), at least one distal end (35) of each of the vibrating elements (31) being attached to the mass element (32).

4. The oscillator according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein said at least one anchor portion (4) comprises at least two members (40) for cooperating with the escape wheel (5).

5. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 4,

wherein the escapement wheel (5) pivots substantially in the same plane (P) as, or in a plane parallel (Ρ ') to, that in which oscillates the first resonator (3).

6. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 4,

wherein the escapement wheel (5) pivots in a plane substantially

perpendicular to the plane (P) in which oscillates the first resonator (3).

7. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 6,

wherein the first resonator (3) comprises at least two vibrating elements (31) extending in a plane (P) from the base (2); a distal end (35) of each of the vibrating elements (31) being attached to the mass element (32).

8. The oscillator according to claim 5,

wherein the mass element (32) comprises at least two portions (32 ') extending radially between the base (2) and the distal end (35) of the vibrating elements (31).

9. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 8,

wherein the anchor portion (4) comprises at least two members (40).

10. The oscillator according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein each of the vibrating members (31) comprises a vibrating blade or beam.

11. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 10,

wherein each of the vibrating elements (31) comprises a folded portion (31 ') of meander or serpentine type.

The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 11,

wherein each of the vibrating elements (31) has an arcuate shape.

13. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 12,

wherein each of the vibrating elements (31) has a cylindrical shape.

The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 13,

wherein each of the vibrating elements (31) comprises at least two parallel blades (31 ') arranged radially.

15. The oscillator according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein said at least one anchor portion (4) is configured to cooperate directly with teeth (50) of the escape wheel (5) so as to pivot said escape wheel (5) at each oscillation alternation .

16. The oscillator according to claim 15,

wherein the anchor portion (4) comprises at least two members (40) arranged so that only one member (40) cooperates with a tooth (50) of the wheel

exhaust (5) at each oscillation, so that the escape wheel (5) pivots a half tooth (50) at each alternation of oscillations.

17. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 16,

wherein the vibrating blade is of rectangular section with a stiffness to mass ratio between 0.1 and 1.0, and the ratio of the height to the thickness is between 3 and 20.

18. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 17,

wherein the first resonator (3) oscillates with a frequency between 10 Hz and 5Ό00 Hz.

19. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 18,

wherein the mass element (32) comprises at least one flyweight (34) which can be added and detached from the mass element (32) so as to be able to modify the moment of inertia of the mass element (32).

20. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 19,

further comprising a frame (10) arranged to receive the oscillator (1) and intended to be mounted fixed or movable on the watch movement.

21. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 20,

wherein the resonator (3) is thermocompensated.

22. The oscillator according to claim 21,

in which the resonator (3) is made of silicon and the thermocompensation is obtained by providing a thermocompensation material having a thermoelastic coefficient of opposite sign to that of silicon.

23. The oscillator according to claim 22,

wherein the thermocompensation material is silicon dioxide.

24. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 23,

wherein the oscillation frequency of the oscillator (1) is adjustable by changing the mass of the mass element (32).

25. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 24,

wherein the resonator (3) is balanced in all positions so as to have a variation of no more than two seconds between the different positions.

26. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 25,

further comprising a second resonator (7) coupled to the oscillation of the first resonator (3) by sympathetic resonance and oscillating at a multiple frequency, equal to or fractional to that of the first resonator (3).

27. The oscillator according to claim 26,

wherein the coupling to the oscillation comprises a magnetic coupling; and wherein the second oscillator (7) is mounted under a controlled atmosphere.

28. The oscillator according to one of claims 1 to 27,

further comprising an on / off mechanism configured to stop and hold the resonator (3) in an unbalanced position and to provide a self-starting function of the oscillator (1).

29. The oscillator according to claim 28,

in which the geometries of the anchor part (4) and / or the escape wheel (5) are chosen so as to ensure a self-starting when the wheel is subjected to a torque.

30. The oscillator according to one of the preceding claims wherein the resonator comprises several sets of members intended to cooperate with several escape mobile.

31. Watchmaking movement with at least one gear comprising an oscillator (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

Clock movement comprising an oscillator (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the oscillator cooperates with several mobiles, each being intended to cooperate with separate gear.