Patent Grant
9201398
The invention relates to an oscillating mechanism for a timepiece movement, comprising a first rigid element and a second rigid element, each one designed to be fixed on a different element of said movement and at least one of which is mobile relative to the other and pivots about a theoretical pivot axis.
The invention also relates to a mobile element for transmitting energy for a timepiece movement, comprising such an oscillating mechanism, between at least one first emitter mobile element of said movement, on the one hand, and at least one second receiver mobile element of said movement, on the other hand, said oscillating mechanism allowing at least one degree of freedom by pivoting about said theoretical pivot axis.
The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such an oscillating mechanism.
The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such an oscillating mechanism.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy in order to decouple the inertia of one part of a train of wheels in a timepiece movement comprising, on the one hand, an escapement and, on the other hand, a second mobile element of inertia which is greater than that of said escapement, by interposition of said mobile element for transmitting energy, either directly or in a train of wheels, between said escapement and said second mobile element in order to allow rapid pivoting of said escapement before said second mobile element is set in motion with each impulse.
The invention relates to the field of micromechanics and more particularly the field of clock/watch making.
The manufacture of oscillating mechanisms for micromechanics, and in particular for clock/watch making, often resorts to elastic restoring means generally formed by springs. Being delicate to implement, these components are in addition difficult to position and require a qualified workforce or/and expensive apparatus. Such springs are generally made of steel in order to have a long lifespan and at the same time a large restoring moment. Manufacture thereof is very much dependent upon the quality of the initial material used but also upon the thermal treatments which are effected. For this reason, manufacture of springs is not very reproducible and all the mechanisms incorporating them must be subject to regulation or adjustment.
Elastic restoring means in the form of shape memory materials are also known, such as vulcanised rubber or certain elastomers. The use of elastic blocks of this type is known in heavy mechanical engineering, often in conjunction with a silent-block function or more generally for damping. Apart from the fact that their use in micromechanics is difficult, it is observed that precisely these properties of damping vibrations, and therefore of damping oscillations, run counter to the objective if, on the contrary, maintaining an oscillation is desired, with the minimum of damping.
Some devices have been developed with elastic wheels, for instance a mobile element of the train of watchworks, according to document CH 343 897 in the name of Rolex, comprises an elastic linking device which becomes taut under the influence of the motor spring when the escapement wheel is stationary or during its slight backward movement before disengagement, and slackens at the moment of disengagement so as to act on the set of pallets with a constant force in order to reduce the separation between the teeth of the escapement wheel and the impulse plane of the pallet stones of the set of pallets at the beginning of each impulse movement.
Elastic wheels are known from documents CH 6659 in the name of Lambert, with S-shaped arms, or also DE 271 4020 in the name of Beiter, with spiral arms, or also EP 1 580 624 in the name of Pierre Kunz, which has a mobile element which is sufficiently elastic to undergo displacements without changing its centre difference of axes and without changing its meshing ratio, or EP 1 457 844 in the name of Pierre Kunz which uses a spacer made of elastic foam in place of the elastic arms of the preceding case. Anti-noise pinions with an elastic structure are also known from document FR 2 641 351 in the name of Alcatel, and also wheels comprising integrated dampers as in document EP 1 253 275 in the name of Siemens.
The invention proposes to provide, for the fields of micromechanics and clock/watch making, a reliable alternative to the use of traditional springs as means for maintaining an oscillation. This alternative is in demand just as much for micromechanical productions as for nanotechnologies.
To this end, the invention relates to an oscillating mechanism for a timepiece movement, comprising a first rigid element and a second rigid element, each one designed to be fixed on a different element of said movement and at least one of which is mobile relative to the other and pivots about a theoretical pivot axis, characterised in that said oscillating mechanism is flexible with a variable geometry, whilst being produced in a monobloc manner, and comprises first elastic restoring means which produce a direct or indirect elastic connection between said first rigid element and an intermediate rigid element, and comprises at least second elastic restoring means which produce a direct or indirect elastic connection between said intermediate rigid element and said second rigid element, and also characterised in that said first rigid element, said first elastic restoring means, said intermediate rigid element, said second elastic restoring means, and said second rigid element are coplanar according to the same plane, and are designed to be deformed according to said plane.
According to a feature of the invention, said oscillating mechanism assumes a configuration of the butterfly type, comprising at least one intermediate rigid element, formed by at least one rigid arm which extends between said first rigid element disposed in the vicinity of said pivot axis and said second rigid element forming a peripheral part, to which it is connected respectively by said first elastic restoring means formed by at least one first elastic blade, and by said second elastic restoring means formed by at least one second elastic blade, said rigid part forming an intermediate mass which is mobile substantially by pivoting about said pivot axis.
According to another feature of the invention, said oscillating mechanism assumes a configuration of the RCC pivot type with four necks, comprising two said rigid intermediate elements forming two non-aligned arms, each extending between said first rigid element disposed in the vicinity of said pivot axis and said second rigid element forming a peripheral part, to which it is connected respectively by said first elastic restoring means formed by at least one first elastic blade, and by said second elastic restoring means formed by at least one second elastic blade.
According to a particular feature, said first rigid element or said second rigid element comprises means for receiving an impulse exerted counter to said first elastic restoring means and said second elastic restoring means, which together form elastic restoring means which are designed to make said first rigid element oscillate about said pivot axis, said elastic restoring means forming a virtual elastic pivot which releases said oscillating mechanism from any fixing on arbor or pivot, and said elastic restoring means comprise means for balancing the forces exerted on said first rigid element in order to keep its instantaneous pivot axis as close as possible to said pivot axis.
The invention also relates to a mobile element for transmitting energy for a timepiece movement, comprising such an oscillating mechanism, between at least one first emitter mobile element of said movement, on the one hand, and at least one second receiver mobile element of said movement, on the other hand, said oscillating mechanism allowing at least one degree of freedom by pivoting about said theoretical pivot axis, characterised in that said first elastic restoring means and said second elastic restoring means together form elastic restoring means which produce a direct or indirect elastic connection between a first axial part and a second peripheral part, said first axial part being situated in the vicinity of said pivot axis and cooperating with said first emitter mobile element or respectively the second receiver mobile element, and said second peripheral part being at a radial spacing from said pivot axis and cooperating with said second receiver mobile element or respectively the first emitter mobile element, and said elastic restoring means being designed, as the case may be, to absorb, to store or to set free the energy during an angular deflection by pivoting about a secondary axis which is parallel to or coincides with said pivot axis, between said first axial part and said second peripheral part.
According to a feature of the invention, said first axial part and said second peripheral part are coaxial in the free state, and said elastic restoring means are again designed to keep said first axial part and said second peripheral part coaxial during deformation of said elastic restoring means.
The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such an oscillating mechanism.
The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such an oscillating mechanism.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy in order to decouple the inertia of one part of a train of wheels in a timepiece movement comprising, on the one hand, an escapement and, on the other hand, a second mobile element of inertia which is greater than that of said escapement, by interposition of said mobile element for transmitting energy, either directly or in a train of wheels, between said escapement and said second mobile element in order to allow rapid pivoting of said escapement before said second mobile element is set in motion with each impulse.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be understood better upon reading the description which will follow, with reference to the appended drawings where:
The invention relates to the field of micromechanics and more particularly the field of clock/watch making.
The invention relates to an oscillating mechanism 1 for a timepiece movement 1000. This oscillating mechanism 1 comprises a first rigid element 200 and a second rigid element 600, each one designed to be fixed on a different element of the movement 1000 and at least one of which is mobile relative to the other and pivots about a theoretical pivot axis D.
According to the invention, this oscillating mechanism 1 is flexible with a variable geometry, whilst being produced in a monobloc manner. It comprises first elastic restoring means 300 which produce a direct or indirect elastic connection between the first rigid element 200 and an intermediate rigid element 400. It comprises at least second elastic restoring means 500 which produce a direct or indirect elastic connection between this intermediate rigid element 400 and the second rigid element 600.
Furthermore, the first rigid element 200, the first elastic restoring means 300, the intermediate rigid element 400, the second elastic restoring means 500 and the second rigid element 600 are coplanar according to a plane P, and are designed to be deformed preferably according to plane P.
In a preferred embodiment, as can be seen in the Figures, the first elastic restoring means 300 comprise at least one elastic blade 301, and the second elastic restoring means 500 comprise at least one elastic blade 501.
In an embodiment variant, the first elastic restoring means 300 comprise a plurality of elastic blades 301 which are substantially radial relative to the pivot axis D, and the second elastic restoring means 500 comprise a plurality of elastic blades 501 which are substantially radial relative to the pivot axis D.
In an advantageous implementation of the invention, the first elastic restoring means 300 or/and the second elastic restoring means 500 comprise a plurality of elastic blades which form dihedrons with a V substantially radial relative to the pivot axis D, and the point of the V of which is directed towards the pivot axis D.
In a variant which can be seen in
For preference, the oscillating mechanism 1 is symmetrical relative to a plane of symmetry PS passing through the pivot axis D and perpendicular to the plane P:
As can be seen in
Another advantageous embodiment which can be seen in
For preference, the first elastic restoring means 300 or/and the second elastic restoring means 500 have an angular deflection limited by means for limiting the angular deflection.
In another implementation, as can be seen in
In this implementation, the rigid element which does not form the anchorage, here the first rigid element 200 in the case of the Figures, comprises means for receiving an impulse exerted counter to the first elastic restoring means 300 and second elastic restoring means 500. The latter together form elastic restoring means 10 which are designed to make the first rigid element 200 oscillate about the pivot axis D. The elastic restoring means 10 form a virtual elastic pivot which releases the oscillating mechanism 1 from any fixing on arbor or pivot. For preference, the elastic restoring means 10 comprise means for balancing the forces exerted on the first rigid element 200, or/and on the intermediate rigid element 400, or/and on the second rigid element 600, in order to keep its instantaneous pivot axis as close as possible to the pivot axis D.
Advantageously the oscillating mechanism 1 comprises stopping means or at least one pawl, in order to retain it in position at a distance from its equilibrium position, either all or part of the elements which make up the elastic restoring means 10, or/and the first rigid element 200, or/and the second rigid element 600.
For preference and allowing an industrial production which is very precise and at the same time economical, the oscillating mechanism 1 is monobloc and produced in a micromachinable material, or silicon, or silicon oxide, or quartz, or one of their compounds, or an alloy originating from MEMS technology, or an alloy such as obtained by the “LIGA” process, or in a combination of these materials. For preference, the chosen material is a rigid material of a Young's modulus greater than 80,000 MPa. Such micromachinable materials lend themselves particularly well to production by layers such as presented above, with at least two layers, for example two or three layers on which the various components of the elastic restoring means 10 are distributed and linked to each other.
In a particular application, such as can be seen in
In another particular application, such as can be seen in
In a combined version, which is particularly advantageous, of these two particular applications and which can be seen in
In this case, advantageously the oscillating mechanism 1 is produced in the two parts of an “SOI” wafer, i.e. “device” for the set of pallets and its elastic pivot, and for the rotary mechanical oscillator and its elastic centre, and “handle” for anchoring the set of pallets and the mechanical oscillator and for the centering boring 95 of an escapement wheel.
In another application, not represented in the Figures, the oscillating mechanism 1 forms a ring mechanism escapement for a timepiece.
In another application, not represented in the Figures, the oscillating mechanism 1 forms a mobile escapement element which is situated between a spring barrel and a set of pallets at the level of the interface between a pinion and an escapement wheel of an escapement mechanism for a timepiece.
In another application, not represented in the Figures, the oscillating mechanism 1 forms a coupling of the timer mechanism for the timepiece.
In the particular embodiments illustrated in
In these particular embodiments of
In an advantageous embodiment of this particular embodiment of
In the variant of
For preference, all the first elastic elements 11 of the same oscillating mechanism 1 are identical. For preference, all the second elastic elements 14 of the same oscillating mechanism 1 are identical. For preference all the third components 6 of the same oscillating mechanism 1, when it comprises them, are identical.
To return to the second elastic element 14, like the first elastic element 11, it extends preferably radially relative to the axis D and from either the first elastic element 11 or a third component 6 interposed between the second component 5 and the first component 3, up to the first component 3.
In the variant of
In an advantageous embodiment, which can be seen in
For preference, the first component 3 is connected rigidly to the second component 5 by at least one arm 8 and preferably by a plurality of arms 8. For preference, each arm 8 has greater rigidity than that of each of the elastic restoring means 10.
In total, in this variant of
In a preferred manner, as can be seen in
Advantageously, in order to compensate for all the forces, so as to bring the first instantaneous pivot axis of the first component as close as possible to the axis D, the oscillating mechanism 1, in the free state and stationary, is symmetrical relative to a plane of symmetry PS, here P1, perpendicular to the axis D and passing through at least one anchorage 2.
With the same objective, the oscillating mechanism 1, in the free state and stationary, is preferably symmetrical relative to another plane of symmetry PS, here a plane P2 perpendicular to the axis D and perpendicular to a straight line joining the two anchorages 2; 2A when it comprises two disposed in this way.
In a preferred embodiment combining these two symmetries, the oscillating mechanism 1, in the free state and stationary, is symmetrical relative to the axis D.
More generally, the oscillating mechanism 1 can comprise a plurality of anchorages 2 with an external device, which sets of pallets are equidistant from each other and relative to the axis D.
Preferably, as can be seen in
Preferably, as can be seen in
When the oscillating mechanism 1 comprises at least one third component 6 which is connected to the anchorage 2 by at least one first elastic element 11, and to the first component 3 by at least one second elastic element 14, it advantageously comprises, at the level of the first component 3, second means for limiting the angular deflection 18 of the third component 6. And the anchorage 2 again forms other means for limiting the angular deflection of the third component 6 at the level of the lateral faces 6A, 6B.
Preferably, the range of inertia of the first component 3 relative to the axis D is greater than that of the second component 5 relative to the same axis.
In an advantageous, rigid embodiment, the first component 3 and the second component 5 are produced in the form of a lattice of thin blades or thin flexible blades.
In an advantageous, rigid embodiment, the third component 6 is produced in the form of a lattice of thin blades or thin flexible blades.
The first component 3 and the third component 6 can also be heavy, according to the level of inertia which is desired for these components.
In the preferred embodiment represented in the Figures, the elastic deformation of the components of the oscillating mechanism 1 is essentially planar, all the components being deformed elastically according to the same plane or according to planes which are parallel to each other. In the case of particular requirements associated with the kinematics, whilst preserving a substantially planar first component 3, it is possible, in an embodiment variant not illustrated by the Figures, to design the oscillating mechanism 1 so that the elastic deformation of some of its components comprises a component according to a normal to the plane P of the first component 3.
In a particular embodiment, in an embodiment variant not illustrated by the Figures, the elastic restoring means 10 are distributed over a plurality of parallel layers, and the elements which compose them are provided and joined to each other so as to allow an angular deflection of the first mobile component 3 with greater amplitude than that which is allowed by the deflections of the components, and by the support positions which they can represent one for the other. Any amplitude can thus be produced, in particular greater than one revolution of 360° of the first component 3.
For certain particular applications, the oscillating mechanism 1 comprises stopping means or at least one pawl in order to keep in position, at a distance from its position of equilibrium, all or part of the elements which make up the elastic restoring means 10, or also to keep in position, at a distance from its position of equilibrium, the first mobile component 3, or also to keep in position, at a distance from its position of equilibrium, the second mobile element 9.
The invention relates to the use of such an oscillating mechanism 1 for the production of a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 in order to decouple the inertia of one part of a train of wheels in a timepiece movement 1000 or a timepiece 10000.
The invention relates in particular to the application of such a mobile element for transmitting energy to a mechanism with constant force, where the mobile element for transmitting energy 100 forms an energy reservoir, termed “buffer”, between the spring barrel and the escapement of a timepiece, thus allowing a constant moment to be transmitted to the escapement. The person skilled in the art will easily be able to use the mobile element according to the invention in order to integrate it in a device with constant force of the Jeanneret type, such as described in the document “Théorie générale de l'horlogerie, de Léopold Defossez, Chambre Suisse de l'Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds”, (General theory of clock/watch making), volume II, page 129.
The invention also allows decoupling of the inertia of one part of a train of wheels: in the case of a tourbillon, for example, the inertia of the train of wheels to be set in motion with each impulse is large and impairs the efficiency of the escapement. A flexible wheel according to the invention, interposed between the elements with great inertia and the escapement, makes it possible for the escapement to be displaced rapidly before the great inertia is set in motion, indeed improving, in this way, the efficiency of the escapement. This application is particularly innovative and uses the compactness of the mobile element according to the invention advantageously.
If the invention is useful to store energy, before delivering it at the correct moment to a receiver mobile element, it is also entirely expedient for protecting a fragile element of a movement against impacts, or more generally, against high accelerations. In particular, its application for protecting a fragile escapement against impacts is efficacious. In fact, during stopping or during impacts on the hands, the moment transmitted into the train of wheels can be momentarily much greater than the moment of the spring barrel. If one typically has an escapement made of fragile material, such as silicon or another material obtained by MEMS technologies or obtained by a “LIGA” process or similar, possibly extremely skeletal in order to lighten it, there is a risk of breakage. Flexibility of a mobile element 100 according to the invention, judiciously placed in the train of wheels, makes it possible to absorb part of the energy of the impact. One finds similar protection to this offered by a wheel according to the patent OMEGA EP1870784, however with the difference that the invention makes it possible to use a rigid, non-deformable peripheral part, which is advantageous if it concerns a toothing, as can be seen in
The functions which are most advantageous to exploit are:
protection of a friction coupling during impacts or in normal operation;
for the same reasons as in the point above, a friction coupling might slide momentarily during an impact: external impact or stopping of the escapement. Flexibility in the train of wheels makes it possible to reduce the instantaneous moment peak transmitted through the coupling, for example in the case of a timer;
gearing without play: superposition of two faces, connected to each other by an angular restoring spring, in order to sandwich the teeth of a pinion.
The means which are used can consist of a face which is pivoted freely on the axis of the pinion, or a pinion pivoted on the axis of the face, with restoring spring (spiral spring or helical spring) between the pinion and the face.
It is possible to employ a plurality of types of flexible guides, guiding and flexibility are therefore combined:
flexible arms
elastic system, termed butterfly, as can be seen in
RCC pivot (remote centre compliance) with four necks, such as can be seen in
In a preferred application, as can be seen in the Figures, and in particular
According to the invention, the first elastic restoring means 300 and the second elastic restoring means 500 together form elastic restoring means 10 which produce a direct or indirect elastic connection between a first axial part 200 and a second peripheral part 600. The first axial part 200 is situated in the vicinity of the pivot axis D and cooperates with the first emitter mobile element 2E or respectively the second receiver mobile element 3R, and the second peripheral part 600 is at a radial spacing from the pivot axis D and cooperates with the second receiver mobile element 3R or respectively the first emitter mobile element 2E. These elastic restoring means 10 are designed, as the case may be, to absorb, to store or to set free the energy during an angular deflection, by pivoting about a secondary axis D1 which is parallel to or coincides with the pivot axis D, between the first axial part 200 and the second peripheral part 600. For preference, the first axial part 200 and the second peripheral part 600 are coaxial in the free state, and the elastic restoring means 10 are also designed to keep the first axial part 200 and the second peripheral part 600 coaxial during deformation of the elastic restoring means 10.
According to a feature of the invention, the second peripheral part 600 is rigid and non-deformable.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic connection produced by the elastic restoring means 10 is substantially planar in a plane perpendicular to the theoretical pivot axis D.
According to a feature of the invention, the angular deflection by pivoting of the second peripheral part 600 is of several degrees or several tens of degrees.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic restoring means 10 comprise at least one arm 70 which extends between said first axial part 200 and said second peripheral part 600, and this arm 70 comprises at least one elastic part.
According to a feature of the invention, the arm 70 is elastic.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic restoring means 10 comprise at least one arm 70 comprising at least one rigid part 120 which extends between the first axial part 200 and the second peripheral part 600, to which it is connected respectively by at least one first elastic blade 80 and by at least one second elastic blade 90.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic restoring means 10 comprise a plurality of such arms 70 which are situated in planes which are parallel to or coincide with each other and are all perpendicular to the theoretical pivot axis D.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic restoring means 10 comprise at least one arm 70 comprising a plurality of rigid parts 120 which extend between the first axial part 200 and the second peripheral part 600, to which they are connected respectively by at least one first elastic blade 80A of a first of the rigid parts 120A and by at least one second elastic blade 90B of a second said rigid part 120B, these rigid parts 120 being connected to each other exclusively by an elastic part 130.
According to a feature of the invention, this elastic part 130 comprises at least one elastic blade 140.
According to a feature of the invention, as can be seen in
According to a feature of the invention, as can be seen in
According to a feature of the invention, the two arms 70 form between them an angle which is substantially centred on the theoretical pivot axis D and close to 90°.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic restoring means 10 have an angular deflection which is limited to a pivot movement of the first part 200 relative to the second part 600, determined by the means for limiting the angular deflection.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic restoring means 10 have a rigidity which is very much less than that of the first part 200 and of the second part 600, in a ratio less than 0.30 relative to the lowest of the rigidities of the first part 200 or of the second part 600.
According to a feature of the invention, the elastic restoring means 10 are formed by blades which are substantially radial relative to the theoretical pivot axis D.
In a variant of the invention, not represented in the Figures, at least one of the elastic restoring means is produced in the form of a spiral spring. In a particular embodiment, the oscillating mechanism 1 is a monobloc spiral balance wheel made of silicon or similar.
According to a feature of the invention, the mobile element for transmitting energy 100 is produced in a micromachinable material, or silicon, or quartz or one of their compounds, or an alloy originating from MEMS technology, or an alloy such as obtained by the “LIGA” process, or a material which is at least partially amorphous. In a particular embodiment, it is produced in a combination of some of these materials, the material being a rigid material with a Young's modulus greater than 80,000 MPa.
The invention also relates to a timepiece movement 1000 comprising at least one such mobile element for transmitting energy 100.
The invention also relates to a timepiece 10000 comprising at least one such movement, or/and at least one such mobile element for transmitting energy 100, or/and at least one such oscillating mechanism 1.
It is understood that the application field of the invention is extremely wide.
The invention makes is possible to obviate the difficulties of manufacture and adjustment, or even of assembly and connection which are linked to certain components such as the spiral springs. It provides a very compact solution to the problem of producing mechanical oscillators of the mass-spring type. The invention makes it possible to produce a mechanism of very low thickness and permits new possibilities for equipment in timepieces, in particular with the always consumer-linked complications of volume. The possibility of doing without pivots represents great technological progress in clock/watch making.
The manufacturing precision is very high thanks to the use of micromachinable materials, in particular silicon or silicon oxide or similar. Controlling the masses, and especially the inertias, is complete. This signifies that a direct consequence of using the invention is very great simplification in adjustments on a timepiece, i.e. reduction in adjustments.
Of course, this technology can be directly used in the field of nanotechnologies, for the production of rotary actuators, oscillators or others.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 for decoupling the inertia of one part of a train of wheels in a timepiece movement comprising, on the one hand, an escapement and, on the other hand, a second mobile element of inertia which is greater than that of said escapement, by interposition of said mobile element for transmitting energy 100 either directly or in a train of wheels, between said escapement and said second mobile element in order to allow rapid pivoting of said escapement before said second mobile element is set in motion with each impulse.
The invention also relates to the use of a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 where said second mobile element is a tourbillon or a carousel.
The invention also relates to the use of a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 where said escapement comprises an escapement wheel formed by such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 in order to absorb excess energy in a train of wheels of a timepiece movement when a moment transmitted to said train of wheels by an impact or high acceleration or during stopping of the escapement is momentarily very much higher than the moment of a spring barrel feeding said movement with energy, by producing at least one of the elements of said train of wheels in the form of said mobile element for transmitting energy 100.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 for a said timepiece movement comprising an escapement, characterised in that said escapement comprises an escapement wheel formed by a said mobile element for transmitting energy 100.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 in order to absorb excess energy in a timepiece movement comprising a train of wheels and at least one friction coupling, when a moment transmitted to said train of wheels by an impact or high acceleration or during stopping of the escapement is momentarily very much higher than the moment of a spring barrel feeding said movement with energy, by producing at least one of the said elements of said train of wheels in the form of a said mobile element for transmitting energy 100, in order to reduce the instantaneous moment peak transmitted through said friction coupling.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 for a said timepiece movement of a timer comprising at least one friction coupling.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 for a timepiece movement comprising, between a spring barrel for storing energy and an escapement, a train of wheels comprising at least one said mobile element for transmitting energy 100 in order to form an energy reservoir buffer between said spring barrel and said escapement in order to transmit a constant moment to said escapement.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 for a timepiece movement comprising two faces connected to each other by an angular restoring spring formed by a said mobile element for transmitting energy 100, in order to sandwich the teeth of a pinion and to form a meshing mechanism without play.
The invention also relates to the use of such a mobile element for transmitting energy 100 in a timepiece movement in which said first emitter mobile element 2E or else said second receiver mobile element 3R of said movement 1000 is kept fixed in anchorage relative to a bottom plate or to a bridge which said timepiece movement comprises.
Of course the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is able to have various variants and modifications which will be evident to the person skilled in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1198/10 | Jul 2010 | CH | national |
| 10191774 | Nov 2010 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2011/061244 | 7/4/2011 | WO | 00 | 3/28/2013 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012/010408 | 1/26/2012 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 965505 | Ecaubert | Jul 1910 | A |
| 965506 | Ecaubert | Jul 1910 | A |
| 2274832 | Hobbs | Mar 1942 | A |
| 20040237688 | Kunz | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20050217169 | Kunz | Oct 2005 | A1 |
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| 20080008051 | Marmy et al. | Jan 2008 | A1 |
| 20100054089 | Maier et al. | Mar 2010 | A1 |
| 20120014229 | Mallet et al. | Jan 2012 | A1 |
| 20130188461 | Mallet et al. | Jul 2013 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 6659 | Dec 1893 | CH |
| 166267 | Dec 1933 | CH |
| 343897 | Dec 1959 | CH |
| 474 101 | Feb 1969 | CH |
| 479 105 | Apr 1969 | CH |
| 27 14 020 | Oct 1978 | DE |
| 2714020 | Oct 1978 | DE |
| 1 253 275 | Oct 2002 | EP |
| 1 457 844 | Sep 2004 | EP |
| 1 580 624 | Sep 2005 | EP |
| 2 037 335 | Mar 2009 | EP |
| 2037335 | Mar 2009 | EP |
| 2 641 351 | Jul 1990 | FR |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report Issued Aug. 24, 2011 in PCT/EP11/61244 Filed Jul. 4, 2011. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130176829 A1 | Jul 2013 | US |
