WO2017071903A1

WO2017071903A1 - Watch with improved tightness

Info

Publication number: WO2017071903A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/073144
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolas Debaud; Yves Winkler
Original assignee: Blancpain Sa
Priority date: 2015-10-27
Filing date: 2016-09-28
Publication date: 2017-05-04
Also published as: TW201727406A; EP3163380A1; TWI703418B

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable object which comprises a case forming a housing in which a clock movement with a chiming mechanism is housed, said case comprising a middle closed by at least one cover made of a sapphire material, said cover being attached via an intermediate part separate from said middle and made of an least partially amorphous metal alloy.

Description

WATCH WITH ETAN CHÉTIÉ AMÉLI O RÉ E

The invention relates to a portable object comprising a housing forming a housing in which is housed a watch movement.

BACKGROUND TEHNOLOGICAL

In the field of watchmaking, a traditional architecture is used to perform movements, which may also include ringing mechanisms. Such a striking mechanism can be activated in well-defined periods to signal a programmed alarm or minute repetitions. For a conventional embodiment of a bell watch, the striking mechanism may comprise a stamp. This stamp is usually a circular wire, which surrounds part of the watch movement in a watch cage. This stamp is attached to a stamp holder attached to a watch plate. The vibration of the stamp is produced by the impact of at least one hammer against the stamp in certain periods.

In the case of a ringing watch, such as a musical watch, the sound is produced by the blade vibrations of a keyboard. The keyboard blades are made together with a keyboard heel, which is mounted on the watch plate. For the production of music for example in programmed periods of time, the keyboard blades are lifted and released by pins integral with a cylinder or a rotating disc. Each blade can therefore flex by the action of a corresponding pin of the cylinder or disk, and as soon as it is released, it oscillates mainly at its first natural frequency. The musical keyboard is enclosed in the watch case. As a result, the vibrations generated by the activated blades are transmitted to the display parts of the watch. The display parts of the watch are for example the middle part, the bezel, the ice or the bottom of the box. When a sound is produced either by a stamp struck by a hammer or by one or more blades of the vibrating keyboard, these pieces of clothing are able to radiate the sound produced in the air. In a traditional bell watch, the acoustic efficiency, based on the complex vibro-acoustic transduction of the trim pieces, is low. In order to improve and increase the sound level perceived by the user of the bell watch, the material, the geometry and the boundary conditions of said trim pieces must be taken into account. The configurations of these pieces of clothing are also dependent on the aesthetics of the watch and operating constraints, which may limit the possibilities of adaptation.

It is known in the art of horology to use in a particular electronic watch, a membrane of the acoustic type, which is dedicated to vibro-acoustic transduction. To activate such a membrane in an electronic watch, it is placed a piezoelectric element for example on the membrane to make it vibrate. So that the sound radiation of the membrane is not lost in the watch, which must be sealed, it can be provided a double bottom of the watch case, which is open to the outside. In this case, the bottom of the watch case has one or more openings for transmitting the sound of the vibrating membrane.

With such a construction of an electronic acoustic diaphragm watch, it is often encountered problems of sealing and corrosion of said membrane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art by providing a watch, which is equipped with a clock device, which allows a perfect seal. For this purpose, the invention relates to a portable object comprising a housing forming a housing in which is housed a watch movement, characterized in that said housing comprises a middle part closed by at least one cover, said cover being fixed via a separate intermediate piece said middle made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.

In a first advantageous embodiment, the watch movement comprises a striking mechanism capable of being activated in specific periods to produce a sound, said cover being made of a material radiating the acoustic waves.

In a second advantageous embodiment, the housing comprises a middle part closed by an ice and a bottom.

In a third advantageous embodiment, said bottom is made of a sapphire material radiating the acoustic waves, said bottom being fixed via an intermediate piece made of an at least partially amorphous metallic material.

In a fourth advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is a seal arranged between the middle and the watch ice.

In a fifth advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is a seal arranged between the middle part and the bottom.

In a sixth advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is a support fixed on the middle part comprising a structure having a central opening in which the glass is mounted, said structure being able to allow the mounting of a spectacle system.

In another advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece comprises an annular base from which extends a peripheral flange forming an inner wall and a shoulder, said shoulder being intended to accommodate said bezel system.

In another advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is a structure acting as a support for the ice but also serving as a telescope. In another advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is made of a totally amorphous metal alloy.

In another advantageous embodiment, the metal alloy comprises at least one element which is of the precious type, included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver , iridium or osmium.

In another advantageous embodiment, the housing further comprises a recess for housing a seal.

In another advantageous embodiment, said cover is made of sapphire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The purposes, advantages and characteristics of the ring watch will appear better in the following description on the basis of at least one non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the drawing in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a conventional portable object.

Figures 2a, 2b, 3 show in a simplified manner a first embodiment of the portable object according to the invention. Figures 4 to 7 show in a simplified manner a second embodiment of the portable object according to the invention.

Figures 8 and 9 show in a simplified manner a third embodiment of the portable object according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 therefore represents a simplified partial section of a portable object according to the invention, here a ringing watch 1. The watch comprises a watch case 2 composed essentially of a middle part 4 closed by an ice 3 acting as a cover and a bottom 5. This assembly formed by the middle, the ice and the bottom forming a housing in which a watch movement 20, which is generally mounted on a plate 14, is arranged. Usually the plate 14 is made of a metallic material.

The watch movement may comprise a striking mechanism, not shown. A type of striking mechanism comprises at least one stamp mounted on a stamp holder secured to the plate 14, and at least one hammer rotatably mounted on the plate to strike said stamp in specified periods. The generally circular stamp surrounds the various parts of the watch movement. Such a striking mechanism is provided to signal a programmed alarm or minute repetitions.

This striking mechanism is arranged to produce a sound that is to say an acoustic wave. This acoustic wave is then directed towards a radiating element, that is to say an element promoting the diffusion of this acoustic wave, in particular towards the user.

It is known that materials such as sapphire allow a good diffusion of acoustic waves. Therefore, the ice 3 used to close the caseband 4 is also used to radiate the acoustic wave.

Cleverly according to the invention, the sapphire crystal 3 is sealingly mounted via an intermediate piece 6 acting as a seal. This intermediate piece is then made of a metal material or at least partially amorphous metal alloy comprising at least one metal element such as an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. This metal element may be a precious metal element such as gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium. It will be understood by at least partially amorphous material that the material is capable of solidifying at least partially in the amorphous phase, that is to say that it is subjected to a rise in temperature above its temperature. melting allowing it to locally lose any crystalline structure, said rise being followed by cooling to a temperature below its glass transition temperature allowing it to become at least partially amorphous. Such a material is advantageous because, once heated to reach a temperature between the glass transition temperature Tg and the crystallization temperature Tx of said material, it sees its viscosity greatly decrease without losing its amorphous structure. The amorphous material then becomes easier to shape since it can then perfectly marry all the details of the mold in which it is pressed.

In addition, such an amorphous metallic material allows a better acoustic transmission. Indeed, the acoustic transmission depends on the rigidity of the material that the waves pass through. The rigidity is related to the stiffness, and is defined by the modulus of elasticity E. In the case of a polymer seal, if it ensures a good seal, its lack of rigidity causes an acoustic loss which results in a its less good at listening. For example, a material called Polyoxymethylene or POM is about 3GPa.

However, amorphous metals or metal alloys are by nature metals which have a greater rigidity. For example, an alloy of the Zr41 Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 type has a Young's modulus E of 105 GPa whereas an alloy of the Pt57.5Cu14.7Ni5.3P22.3 type has a Young's E modulus of 98 GPa, which is a value of thirty. times greater than a polymer material of the POM type.

In a first embodiment of the invention visible in the figures

2a and 2b, the caseband is a middle bezel 40 and the intermediate piece 6 made of amorphous metal alloy is a seal 60 placed between said middle bezel 40 and the ice 3. The middle bezel 40 is, for example, made to have a profile , in section, trapezoidal thus forming a middle portion 41 between an upper portion 42 and a lower portion 43. The middle bezel 40 further comprises an outer face 44 and a face 45. The ice 3 is fixed at the level of the upper portion 42. In this respect, the inner face 45 of the middle bezel 40 has, at the upper portion 42, a peripheral shoulder 46. This shoulder 46 has dimensions such as the ice 3 can take support while providing a gap between the ice 3 and the middle bezel 40. This gap 47 is used for the seal. Indeed, the seal 60 of amorphous metal is inserted in this gap to ensure sealing.

To place this seal 60, several methods are possible. One method is to use the shaping properties of the amorphous metal. An amorphous metal preform is then heated to reach a temperature between its glass transition temperature Tg and its crystallization temperature Tx of said material so that the viscosity decreases. The amorphous viscous metal can thus be pressed to fit perfectly all the details of the mold in which it is pressed, here the gap 46 between the ice 3 and the middle bezel 40.

Another method is to use the shaping properties of the amorphous metal to form a ring 61 around the ice 3, the ring 61 acting as a seal 60. The ice 3 and its ring 61 are then mounted by driving at the level of the peripheral shoulder 46 as visible in Figure 3. This method advantageously uses the mechanical properties of the amorphous metal, the latter has a greater elastic deformation and a higher elastic limit. It is thus possible to hunt without plastic deformation and this with a large elastic deformation to ensure a better seal.

In a second embodiment, the middle 400 is used for a telescope 7 can be fixed on it as visible in Figure 4. For this, the intermediate piece 6 made of amorphous metal alloy is shaped to act as support 600. An example of support 600 consists of an annular structure formed by a base 601 surmounted by a peripheral rim 602, this base 601 and this flange 602 form then an inner wall 603 and a shoulder 604. This support 600 then comprises a central opening.

This structure 600 is fixed on the middle part 400 by fixing means. These fastening means may be screws or welding or glue or hunting. Similarly, the fixing means may be anchor points 605, visible in Figure 5, of amorphous metal which are locally heated to be inserted in recesses arranged on the middle part. In addition, an annular-type seal 8 can be used and inserted into a recess 401 to improve the seal as shown in FIG. 6.

When the intermediate piece 600 is fixed, the inner wall 603 is used for assembling the ice, while the shoulder 604 is used for fixing a telescope system 9, this telescope system being fixed or rotating as This eyeglass system 9 is fixed using conventional fastening elements (not shown) for a telescope.

The ice 3 can be fixed in the central opening by driving or by using the shaping properties of the amorphous metals by locally heating the intermediate part 600 to make the material more viscous locally and facilitate the insertion of the ice 3.

It may be possible to perform the step of manufacturing the intermediate part 600 and the assembly step with the ice 3 simultaneously to have a good bond between these two elements.

In a third embodiment, the middle part 4000 is used so that a telescope can be fixed on it. Cleverly according to this embodiment, the intermediate piece 6000 is used as a structure acting as a support for the ice but also bezel as shown in Figure 8. The intermediate piece 6000 then includes a shoulder for the installation of the ice 3 This can be removed or inserted by locally heating the intermediate or assembled piece during the production of said intermediate piece 6000. In Figure 9, it can be seen that an O-ring 8 can be used in addition to improve the seal. This seal 8 is arranged in a recess 4001 of the middle part 4000.

Indeed, the shaping properties of amorphous metals allow them to be used for the manufacture of precise parts.

For assembly, it may be provided that the intermediate part serving as a bezel is manufactured beforehand and then fixed on the middle part, the ice can be fixed by driving or by using the shaping properties of amorphous metals by heating the room locally. intermediate to make the material more viscous locally and facilitate the insertion of ice.

Of course, these embodiments can be applied to a transparent sapphire crystal in the case where the latter is also used as a radiating element for example for a pocket watch. In this case, an intermediate piece made of an amorphous metal alloy is also used.

In addition, it is also possible that the middle is itself made of a sapphire type material.

In a variant, it is conceivable that structures are made at the level of the radiating piece and / or the middle so that the amorphous metal matches these structures and that a better grip is possible.

Of course, it is clear that these modes of execution are not limited to a bell watch and are widely used for a classic watch. Indeed, the intermediate part according to these embodiments alone allows to have a good seal and the maintenance of the ice or the bottom.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements and / or combinations obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Indeed, it can be expected to have a portable object in which the middle part carries a fixed or rotating bezel system and that the ice is mounted at the level of the telescope system. Thus, the amorphous metal alloy intermediate piece will be arranged between the ice and the bezel system. This bezel system can be mounted on the middle through a conventional joint.

Claims

R EV IN DI CATI ON S

1. Portable object (1) comprising a housing forming a housing in which is housed a watch movement, characterized in that said housing (2) comprises a middle part closed by at least one cover (3), said cover being fixed via an intermediate piece ( 6) distinct from said middle part made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.

2. Portable object according to claim 1, characterized in that the watch movement comprises a striking mechanism capable of being activated in determined periods to produce a sound, said cover being made of a material radiating the acoustic waves.

3. Portable object according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (2) comprises a middle (4, 40, 400, 4000) closed by an ice (3) and a bottom (5).

4. Portable object according to claim 3, characterized in that said bottom (5) is made of a material radiating acoustic waves, said bottom being fixed via an intermediate piece (6) made of a metal material at least partially amorphous.

5. Portable object according to claim 3, characterized in that the intermediate piece is a seal (60) arranged between the middle part (40) and the ice

(3) watch.

6. Portable object according to claim 4, characterized in that the intermediate part is a seal (60) arranged between the middle part (40) and the bottom.

7. Portable object according to claim 3, characterized in that the intermediate piece (600) is a support fixed on the middle part comprising a structure having a central opening in which the glass (3) is mounted, said structure being able to allow the mounting a telescope system.

Portable object according to claim 7, characterized in that the intermediate piece (600) comprises an annular base (601) from which extends a peripheral flange (602) forming an inner wall (603) and a shoulder ( 604), said shoulder being intended to accommodate said telescope system.

9. Portable object according to claim 3, characterized in that the intermediate piece (6000) is a structure acting as a support for the ice but also serving as a telescope.

10. Portable object according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate piece (6, 60, 600, 6000) made of a totally amorphous metal alloy.

1 1. Portable object according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal alloy comprises at least one element which is of the precious type, included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, silver, iridium or osmium.

12. Portable object according to one of claims 67 to 1 1, characterized in that the housing further comprises a recess (401, 4001) for accommodating a seal (8).

13. Portable object according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lid is made of sapphire.