CH715664A2 - Elastic holding member for fixing a timepiece component to a support element. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an elastic holding member (1a) for fixing a timepiece component, for example a balance spring, to a support element (3), for example a shaft. The elastic retaining member (1a) comprises an external structure (4a) capable of being connected to said timepiece component and an internal structure (4b) defining an opening (5) into which the element can be inserted support (3), as well as elastic arms (6a, 6b, 6c) connecting the external and internal structures (4a, 4b) together and helping to secure the support element (3) in the opening (5). Each arm (6a, 6b, 6c) comprises: - at least one perforation (7a, 7b) defined in whole or in part along the body of said arm (6a, 6b, 6c), - an elastic contact zone (8a) with the support element (3), and - elastic peripheral zones (8b) which extend between this contact zone (8a) and the ends of this elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6c), the contact zone ( 8a) having an amount of material greater than the amount of material constituting each of its peripheral zones (8b). The invention also relates to an assembly, for example in one piece, of such an elastic holding member (1a) with a timepiece component.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an elastic retaining member for fixing a timepiece component on a support member.

[0002] The invention also relates to an elastic holding member assembly - timepiece component and an assembly of such an assembly with the support element.

[0003] The invention further relates to a timepiece movement comprising at least one such assembly.

[0004] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a movement.

Background of the invention

In the state of the art, there are known elastic retaining members such as clockwork ferrules which participate in assemblies of balance springs on balance shafts in a clockwork movement and this, by elastic clamping .

[0006] However, such elastic retaining members have the major drawback of imposing, in the context of the production of such assemblies, complex, long and expensive assembly operations due to the fact that these members have holding torques on these balance shafts which are weak and limited.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the drawbacks mentioned above by providing an elastic holding member which has a high holding torque in particular to facilitate / simplify the assembly operations of an assembly of a elastic retainer assembly - timepiece component with a support element.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an elastic retaining member for fixing a timepiece component to a support element comprising an external structure capable of being connected to said timepiece component and an internal structure defining an opening into which the support element can be inserted, said resilient holder comprising resilient arms connecting the external and internal structures to one another and helping to ensure the clamping of the support element in the opening , each arm comprising: <tb> - <SEP> at least one cutout defined in all or part along the body of said arm, <tb> - <SEP> an elastic contact zone with the support element, and <tb> - <SEP> elastic peripheral zones which extend between this contact zone and the ends of this elastic arm, the contact zone comprising a quantity of material greater than the quantity of material constituting each of its peripheral zones.

[0009] Thus, thanks to these characteristics, the elastic retaining member is then able to withstand a substantial elastic clamping and therefore to store a large amount of elastic energy when it is constrained in order to restore a large holding torque, in particular by virtue of a high rigidity of this elastic retaining member induced in particular by substantial volumes (or quantities) of material constituting its rigid arms which include the internal and external structures. It will be noted that these large volumes of material are more precisely included in the contact zones which are put under loads (or under stress) during the insertion of the support element in this retaining member.

[0010] In addition, it will be noted that this elastic holding member is configured so that this storage of elastic energy leads to admissible stresses with regard to the material which constitutes such a holding member, such as silicon.

[0011] In other embodiments: <tb> - <SEP> the contact zone comprises at least two particularly inclined beams arranged in a main cutout of said at least one cutout defined in whole or in part along the body of the elastic arm; <tb> - <SEP> said at least two beams connect the external and internal structures to each other; <tb> - <SEP> the main cutout is essentially a semi-circle in shape; <tb> - <SEP> the main perforation is divided into at least three parts hollowed out by said at least two beams; <tb> - <SEP> at least two recessed parts among said at least three recessed parts have substantially similar volumes; <tb> - <SEP> the hollowed-out part included in its entirety in the contact zone has a volume which is appreciably smaller than that of the other hollowed-out parts of the main opening; <tb> - <SEP> said at least three recessed parts have substantially similar volumes; <tb> - <SEP> central axes of the beams form acute angles with a longitudinal axis of the elastic arm; <tb> - <SEP> the elastic retaining member comprises a single cutout which is a main cutout; <tb> - <SEP> elastic retaining member comprises a main cutout and additional cutouts defined at the ends of this main cutout; <tb> - <SEP> the external and internal structures have different shapes; <tb> - <SEP> the external and internal structures have respectively essentially circular and triangular shapes; <tb> - <SEP> the elastic retaining member comprises an attachment point with the timepiece component; <tb> - <SEP> the elastic retaining member is a ferrule for fixing the timepiece component such as a hairspring to a support element such as a balance shaft, and <tb> - <SEP> the elastic retaining member is made of a material based on silicon.

[0012] The invention also relates to a resilient holding member assembly - timepiece component for a timepiece movement of a timepiece comprising such an elastic retaining member.

[0013] Advantageously, this assembly is in one piece.

[0014] The invention also relates to an assembly for a timepiece movement of a timepiece comprising such an elastic retaining member - timepiece component assembly, said assembly being fixed to a support element.

[0015] The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising at least one such assembly.

[0016] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a timepiece movement.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <tb> - <SEP> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elastic retaining member for fixing a timepiece component on a support element which is here in a stressed state, according to a first mode of realization of the invention; <tb> - <SEP> FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the elastic retaining member for fixing the timepiece component on the support element which is here in a state of rest, according to the first mode of realization of the invention; <tb> - <SEP> FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an elastic holding member for fixing the timepiece component on the support element, according to a second embodiment of the invention, <tb> - <SEP> FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an elastic holding member for fixing the timepiece component on the support element, according to a third embodiment of the invention, and <tb> - <SEP> FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a timepiece provided with a timepiece movement comprising an assembly comprising the support element and a resilient holding member - timepiece component assembly , according to the embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Figures 1 to 5 show several embodiments of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c for fixing a timepiece component 2 on a support member 3. By way of example, the 'elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c can be a ferrule for fixing the timepiece component 2 such as a balance spring to a support element 3 such as a balance shaft.

In these embodiments, this elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c may be included in an assembly 120 elastic retaining member - timepiece component provided for a timepiece movement 110 of a timepiece 100. Such an assembly 120 can be a single piece made of a so-called “fragile” material based for example on silicon. In other variants, this material may be based on quartz or corundum or more generally ceramic.

[0020] It will be noted that in a variant of this assembly, only the elastic retaining member can be made of such a so-called “fragile” material, the timepiece component then being made of another material.

This assembly 120 may form part of an assembly 130 for the timepiece movement 110, by being fixed to the support element 3, for example by elastic clamping. It will be noted that this assembly 130 was designed for applications in the watchmaking field. However, the invention can perfectly well be implemented in other fields such as aeronautics, jewelry, or even the automobile.

[0022] Such an elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c comprises upper and lower surfaces which are preferably planar, as well as internal and external peripheral walls. It further comprises external and internal structures 4a, 4b having different shapes. More precisely, as regards the external structure 4a, it preferably has an essentially circular shape. This outer structure 4a comprises the outer peripheral wall of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c. Such an external structure 4a is intended to be connected to the timepiece component 2 by comprising at least one attachment point 11 provided to be connected to this timepiece component 2. This attachment point 11 preferably projects from the outer peripheral wall. Concerning the internal structure 4b, it has an essentially triangular shape, in particular a shape of an equilateral triangle. This internal structure 4b comprises the internal peripheral wall of this elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c which participates in defining an opening 5 into which the support element 3 is intended to be inserted.

The elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c also comprises elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c in particular three elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c. These arms 6a, 6b, 6c include in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: <tb> - <SEP> of the internal faces included in the internal structure 4b and which together define the internal peripheral wall of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c and therefore also the opening 5 of this retaining member 1a, 1b , 1c, and <tb> - <SEP> of the outer faces included in the outer structure 4a and which together define the outer peripheral wall of the member 1a, 1b, 1c.

It is therefore understood that in this elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, such elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c connect the external and internal structures 4a, 4b to each other, each comprising a part of these internal and external structures . In this elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, these elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c essentially enable the elastic clamping of the support element 3 in the opening 5.

In this configuration, each arm 6a, 6b, 6c comprises at least one cutout 7a, 7b, 7c distributed in whole or in part along the body of said arm. In addition, it comprises an elastic contact zone 8a as well as elastic peripheral zones extending between this contact zone 8a and the ends of this elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. The elastic contact zone 8a is designed to cooperate with a peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3. The peripheral zones 8b are preferably juxtaposed with the contact zone 8a. Such a contact zone 8a comprises a contact interface 12 also called a “point of contact” between the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c and the peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3. In this context, the retaining member elastic 1a, 1b, 1c then comprises three contact zones 8a which participate in achieving precise centering of the timepiece component 2, for example a balance spring, in the timepiece movement 110. In this elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, each contact zone 8a has an amount of material which is substantially greater than the amount of material of the peripheral zones 8b. Such a configuration of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c allows the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c to store a greater amount of elastic energy for the same clamping in comparison with the state maintaining members. of technique. Such a quantity of elastic energy stored in the holding member 1a, 1b, 1c then makes it possible to obtain a greater holding torque of the member on the support element in the assembly 130 of the assembly 120 elastic retaining member - timepiece component with this support element 3. In other words, such a surplus of elastic energy stored in the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c therefore increases the holding torque. In addition, it will be noted that such a configuration of the elastic holding member 1a, 1b, 1c makes it possible to store elastic energy ratios which are 6 to 8 times greater than those of the members for maintaining the state of the body. technical.

In the different embodiments of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, each arm 6a, 6b, 6c comprises a main cutout 7a included in the cutout (s) 7a, 7b, 7c that each arm can include 6a to 6c. This main cutout 7a is preferably distributed in whole or in part along the body of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. In other words, this main cutout 7a which has essentially the shape of a semi-circle presents:

<tb> - <SEP> a diameter which extends substantially parallel to the part of the inner peripheral wall included in each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, and <tb> - <SEP> a radius which is appreciably less than the greatest difference between the internal and external structures of an elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c.

It will be noted in particular that this main cutout 7a extends in the contact zone 8a as well as in the peripheral zones 8b of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c.

The main perforation 7a can be divided by at least two beams 9 into at least three recessed parts 10a, 10b. In these embodiments, the main cutout 7a is divided by two beams 9 into three recessed parts 10a, 10b.

In the first and third embodiments illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, two recessed parts 10b among the three 10a, 10b have substantially similar volumes. It will be noted with regard to the third embodiment, that each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, unlike the other embodiments, comprises a single cutout which is the main cutout 7a. In this context, the recessed part 10a included in its entirety in the contact zone 8a has a volume which is substantially smaller than that of the other recessed parts 10b of the main opening 7a.

In the second embodiment, illustrated in Figure 3, the three recessed parts 10a, 10b have substantially similar volumes and shapes including essentially triangular shapes.

In these different embodiments of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, it will be noted that the recessed part 10a fully included in the contact zone 8a has essentially a triangular shape.

The beams 9 making the division of the main opening 7a into recessed parts 10a, 10b are preferably inclined. In the various embodiments, these inclined beams 9 are two in number and are included in the contact zone 8a of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. These beams 9 participate in interconnecting the external and internal structures 4a, 4b. Central axes A1, A2 of the beams 9 form with a longitudinal axis A3 of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c acute angles α1, α2. It will be noted that this longitudinal axis A3 extends over the largest dimension of this arm 6a, 6b, 6c. Such angles α1, α2 can be substantially similar and then between 45 and 70 degrees, and are preferably 55 degrees.

The central axes A1, A2 of the beams 9 also form an acute angle α3 between them. Such an angle α3 can be between 40 and 90 degrees, and is preferably 70 degrees.

This elastic retaining member 1a, 1b may include additional openings 7b, 7c for adjusting the elasticity of the arms 6a, 6b, 6c of such a member 1a, 1b. For example in the first embodiment, the elastic holding member 1a comprises three additional openings 7b of essentially circular shape which are located in each end of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. In another example, the second embodiment of the holding member 1b comprises in each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c two additional openings 7c bounding the main opening 7a and which are defined at the ends of this main opening 7a. In other words, these two additional openings 7c are respectively included in the two peripheral zones of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c.

The invention also relates to a method of producing the assembly 130 of the assembly 120 elastic retaining member - timepiece component with the support element 3. This method comprises a step of fixing the assembly 120 elastic retaining member - timepiece component with the support element 3. During this step, the support element 3 is inserted into the opening 5 of the resilient retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c. During this insertion, portions of the peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3 comes into contact with the contact interfaces 12 of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c. Such an insertion then generates a deformation of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c in a radial direction B relative to a central axis C of the support element 3 and this, under the action of a constraining force exerted by these portions on the contact interfaces 12. The effect generated by this insertion is visible in FIG. 1 which relates to the first embodiment of the elastic retaining member 1a which is in a stressed state. This deformation of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c is essentially carried out in the contact zones 8a of these arms 6a, 6b, 6c. In these contact zones 8a, the inclined beams 9 which play a role of stiffening element of these arms 6a, 6b, 6c contribute to putting under stress / tension an external portion 20 of the ferrule visible in FIG. 1 when this ferrule is mounted on the axis contributing to elastic tightening. In this context, it will be noted that these beams are stressed in compression in particular in the direction / direction of the arrows D visible in FIG. 1. Thus in such a state of stress, the elastic holding member 1a, 1b, 1c stores a quantity significant elastic energy which contributes to giving it a substantial holding torque allowing in particular an optimal twist by elastic tightening.

Claims (21)

1. Resilient holding member (1a, 1b, 1c) for fixing a timepiece component (2) on a support element (3) comprising an external structure (4a) capable of being connected to said component of timepiece (2) and an internal structure (4b) defining an opening (5) into which the support element (3) can be inserted, said elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) comprising elastic arms (6a, 6b, 6c) connecting the external and internal structures (4a, 4b) to each other and helping to ensure the clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5), each arm (6a, 6b, 6c) comprising: - at least one cutout (7a, 7b, 7c) defined in whole or in part along the body of said arm (6a, 6b, 6c), - an elastic contact zone (8a) with the support element (3), and - elastic peripheral zones (8b) which extend between this contact zone (8a) and the ends of this elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6c), the contact zone (8a) having a quantity of material greater than the quantity of material constituting each of its peripheral zones (8b). 2. Elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the contact zone (8a) comprises at least two beams (9) in particular inclined arranged in a main cutout (7a) of said at least an openwork (7a, 7b, 7c) defined in whole or in part along the body of the elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6c). 3. elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least two beams (9) connect the external and internal structures (4a, 4b) to each other. 4. elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the main perforation (7a) has a shape essentially of a semicircle. 5. Elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the main opening (7a) is divided into at least three recessed parts (10a, 10b) by said at least two beams (9). 6. Elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least two recessed parts (10b) among said at least three recessed parts (10a, 10b) have substantially similar volumes. 7. Elastic retaining member (1a, 1c) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the recessed part (10a) completely included in the contact zone (8a) has a volume which is substantially lower than that of the other recessed parts (10b) of the main cutout (7a). 8. elastic retaining member (1b) according to claim 5, characterized in that said at least three recessed parts (10a, 10b) have substantially similar volumes. 9. elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the central axes (A1, A2) of the beams (9) form with a longitudinal axis (A3) of the elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6c) from acute angles (α1, α2). 10. Elastic retaining member (1c) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a single cutout which is a main cutout (7a). 11. Resilient holding member (1a, 1b) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a main cutout (7a) and additional cutouts (7b, 7c) defined at the ends of this cutout main (7a). 12. elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer and inner structures (4a, 4b) have different shapes. 13. Elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer and inner structures (4a, 4b) respectively have essentially circular and triangular shapes. 14. Elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an attachment point (11) with the timepiece component (2). 15. Elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a ferrule for fixing the timepiece component (2) such as a balance spring to an element. support (3) such as a balance shaft. 16. Resilient holding member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it made of a silicon-based material. 17. Assembly (120) elastic retaining member - timepiece component for a timepiece movement (110) of a timepiece (100) comprising an elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) according to the any of the preceding claims. 18. Assembly (120) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is in one piece. 19. Assembly (130) for a timepiece movement (110) of a timepiece (100) comprising an assembly (120) elastic retaining member - timepiece component according to any one of claims 17 and 18 , said assembly (120) being fixed to a support member (3). 20. Timepiece movement (110) comprising at least one assembly according to the preceding claim. 21. Timepiece (100) comprising a timepiece movement (110) according to the preceding claim.