Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B15/00—Escapements
  • G04B15/06—Free escapements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
  • G04B17/04—Oscillators acting by spring tension
  • G04B17/06—Oscillators with hairsprings, e.g. balance
  • G04B17/063—Balance construction

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a detent escapement for a timepiece, of the type comprising a toothed escape wheel and a rocker, respectively pivoted on a first and a second axis.
• the escapement according to the invention also comprises an expansion bearing a pallet of rest intended to cooperate with a first tooth of the escape wheel, along a certain length of penetration, to block it in a rest phase .
• the trigger is rotatably mounted on a third axis to be able to release the first tooth in a disengagement phase.
• a pulse pallet integral with the balance by presenting a movement coaxial with oscillations of the balance, is intended to cooperate with a second tooth of the escape wheel to receive a pulse of the latter after the rest phase.
• This document describes an exhaust structure comprising a detent having the shape of a rocker pivoted at one of its ends.
• This escapement comprises a pendulum bearing small and large trays on its axis, the small plate carrying a release pallet for rotating the trigger, while the large plate carries a notch performing the function of a pulse pallet, arranged so as to cooperate with the teeth of an escape wheel.
• the trigger comprises, moreover, a rest pallet intended to interact with the teeth of the escapement wheel to block the latter during periods of free oscillation of the balance.
• the trigger To allow the pivoting of the trigger, it carries an elongated spring, which is secured to the trigger in the region of its end by which it pivots and whose free end is located on the trajectory of the pallet of clearance of the small plate.
• the latter acts on the spring, in a first direction of rotation of the balance, to rotate the trigger and allow the escape wheel to turn one step, while it simply crosses the spring by elastic deformation of the latter, in the other direction of rotation of the balance.
• escapement relaxation escapement comes from the fact that during operation, the impulse of the escapement wheel balancer is given only once by oscillation of the latter, which results in a loss of energy due to the inertia of the exhaust wheel lower than in an escapement anchor.
• a main object of the present invention is to provide an alternative structure escapement trigger to obtain a high efficiency and increased security against shock compared to known mechanisms of the prior art.
• the invention relates to an expansion escapement of the type mentioned above, characterized in that it further comprises a limitation plate, coaxial and integral in rotation of the balance, having a periphery comprising a portion substantially circular main and a cutout arranged to be positioned opposite the pallet rest in the disengagement phase.
• the limiting plate is dimensioned so as to define a safety distance, separating the pallet of rest from the main circular portion when they are positioned facing one another, less than the length of penetration of the pallet of rest on the first tooth of the escape wheel.
• the amplitude of the pivoting movements of the trigger is limited, in case of shock, directly by the interaction of the pallet rest and the limiting plate, without it being necessary to provide additional elements to ensure this function.
• the efficiency and the reliability of the escapement according to the present invention are sufficient to allow their implementation in timepieces of small dimensions, in particular because the escape wheel can not be released due to shock intervening outside the clearance phase.
• the above object is achieved while limiting the size of the exhaust to allow its implementation in timepieces of small dimensions, such as wristwatches.
• the line defined by the third axis of the trigger and the pallet rest is substantially perpendicular to the center line, which reduces the size of the exhaust significantly.
• the exhaust comprises a release pallet secured to the beam by being coaxial thereto, while the trigger carries a spring, a portion of which is disposed on the path of the release pallet.
• the balance has a small and a large additional trays, both integral with the balance and centered on the second axis, the small plate carrying the release pallet while the large plate carries the pallet d 'impulse.
• the pulse pallet is carried directly by the limiting plate, the latter then also fulfilling the function of the large conventional tray.
• the pulse pallet has a pulse surface located at a distance from the second axis less than or equal to the mean radius of the limiting plate and that the periphery of the latter also has a recess arranged next to the impulse surface to make it accessible. The cutout is then formed on the opposite side of the pulse pallet with reference to the recess, to allow the release of the pallet rest when the release pallet rotates the trigger.
• the exhaust according to the present invention also comprises an anti-gallop device, that is to say to limit the rotation of the escape wheel to a step unique to each oscillation of the pendulum.
• FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of the detent escapement according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portion of its constituent elements being torn off to make some other visible;
• FIG. 2a shows a simplified top view of the detent escapement visible in Figure 1, in a first phase of its operation;
• Figure 2b shows a view similar to that of Figure 2a, in a second phase of operation
• Figure 2c shows a view similar to that of Figure 2a, in a third phase of operation
• FIG. 2d shows a view similar to that of Figure 2a, in a fourth phase of operation;
• FIG. 3 shows a simplified perspective view of a detail of the exhaust according to a further embodiment;
• FIGS. 4a and 4b are simplified top views of a second detail of the construction of the escapement, respectively according to a first and a second preferred variant embodiment, and [0027] FIG. in simplified perspective of the expansion escapement according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a part of its constituent elements being torn off to make some others visible.
• FIG. 1 represents a simplified perspective view of the basic components of a detent escapement according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Some of these elements, normally hidden, have been made visible to expose the general principle of operation.
• This escapement for a timepiece is intended to be integrated with a watch movement (not shown) including a mechanical energy source, such as a mainspring. Thus, the exhaust is connected to this energy source, via a gear train, by an escape wheel 1.
• the escape wheel 1 is of conventional type and is represented here with fifteen teeth 2, for illustrative non-limiting. It is intended to be mounted on the watch movement by a pivot 3 defining its axis of rotation X1.
• the escapement also includes a rocker whose only location of the pivot 4 is shown schematically for reasons of clarity.
• the rocker is rotatably mounted relative to a second axis, referenced X2 in FIG. 1.
• a large plate 5 and a small plate 6 are integral with the shaft 4 of the beam by being coaxial.
• the small plate is visible in the figures thanks to the fact that a portion of the large plate has been omitted for the purposes of this presentation.
• the large plate 5 carries a pulse pallet 7 whose end having the impulse surface is located at a distance from the axis X2 equal to the general radius of the large plate 5.
• the impulse surface is made accessible by cutting the large plate forming a recess 8 facing this surface.
• the small plate 6 carries a release pallet 9, one end 10 is arranged projecting relative to the periphery of the small plate.
• the angular position of the clearance pallet is predefined with reference to the position of the impulse pallet on the large plate and the skilled person will not encounter any particular difficulty to adjust the relative positions of these two pallets.
• the exhaust comprises an expansion 11 rotatably mounted with reference to a third axis, referenced X3 in Figure 1.
• a spiral spring 12 is fixed by its outer end 13 to the watch movement, while its inner end (not visible) is integral with the trigger 1 1.
• the detent 11 comprises a rectilinear main arm 14 whose central region is mounted on a pivot 15 of X3 axis.
• the main arm carries a cotter pin 16 at a first end 17, while its second end 18 is extended by a bend, itself followed by a short straight portion 19 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the arm main.
• the spiral spring 12 acts on the main arm 14 of the trigger 11 to return the latter in a predefined angular orientation to means of positioning a pin 20, integral with the watch movement and intended to cooperate with a flattened on the first end 17 of the trigger. It may be possible to connect the pin to the watch movement by means of an eccentric to allow an adjustable positioning, in a known manner.
• the trigger 11 carries a pallet rest 21 mounted in the region of the second end 18 of the main arm and intended to cooperate with the teeth 2 of the escape wheel, as it appears on the FIG. 1.
• the detent also bears a stop 22 of substantially semicylindrical shape at the free end of the rectilinear portion 19, in other words, close to the small plate 6.
• An expansion spring 23, of rectilinear general shape, is arranged on the trigger 11 so as to have a first end 24 housed in the slot of the cotter pin 16 and its second end 25 disposed in abutment against the flat portion of the stop 22. It may be noted that the second end 25 has a small angle relative to the general direction of the spring 23, in a conventional manner.
• the short rectilinear portion 19 comprises a finger 26 extending from the central portion of the portion 19, in a direction substantially tangential to the periphery of the small plate 6, and finished in a point.
• the function of this finger 26 will be explained below in connection with the detailed description of the operation of the exhaust which has just been described.
• the main stages of the kinematics of this escapement are conventional insofar as they comprise a rest phase, during which the escape wheel is blocked and the balance makes arcs of free oscillation, a release phase during which the escape wheel is released to transmit a pulse to the beam, and a blockage of the escape wheel initiating a new rest phase during which the balance resumes its free oscillation.
• Figure 2a is a top view of the exhaust shown in Figure 1, the configuration and the relative positions of its various constituent elements being identical to those of Figure 1.
• the rest pallet 21 is arranged to cooperate with the teeth 2 of the escape wheel, more precisely with the tooth 200 at the instant shown in Figure 2a.
• the escape wheel 1 undergoes a permanent force tending to rotate it, clockwise, because of its kinematic connection with the energy source of the movement.
• the interaction of its tooth 200 with the rest pallet 21 ensures its locking in the position of the trigger shown in Figure 2a.
• the balance completes a free oscillation arc in the direction indicated by the arrow F, at the instant shown, because the release pallet 9 carried by the small plate 6 comes into contact with the end 25 of the At the same time, the pulse pallet 7, carried by the large plate 5, is positioned in the region of a tooth 201 adjacent to the tooth 200 but still located out of range of the pallet. impulse.
• the line of centers L is defined as being the line passing through the first and second axes X1 and X2
• the teeth 200 and 201 are located on either side of this line. centers L.
• these teeth are the two teeth of the escape wheel 1 closest to the axis X1 of rotation of the balance.
• this particular feature contributes to reducing the impact of disturbances related to the inertia of the trigger on the pendulum oscillations.
• the straight line passing through the axis X3 and the rest pallet 21 is substantially perpendicular to the line of centers L.
• the finger 26 of the trigger is disposed opposite a flat 28 of the periphery of the small plate 6, formed by a cutting thereof.
• the rest pallet 21 is located opposite a cutout 29 formed in the periphery (partially represented in the form of a broken line) of the large plate 5 on the opposite side to that of the recess 8, with reference to the position of the impulse pallet 7.
• Figure 2b shows the exhaust a short time after that of Figure 2a, when it is at the end of the release phase.
• the rest pallet 21 leaves the tooth 200 of the escape wheel to release the latter, the movement of the pallet rest being made possible, in the particular case shown, because of the presence of the cutout 29 of the large tray.
• the finger 26 of the trigger follows the same movement as the rest pallet approaching the small plate 6, such a movement of the finger being possible due to the presence of the flat portion 28 of the small plate.
• Figure 2c shows the device of the preceding figures at the beginning of the pulse phase.
• the rest pallet has left the tooth 200 by releasing the escape wheel 1, the latter being thus driven in a rotational movement by the energy source of the watch movement, in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow F.
• the clearance pallet 9 has crossed the spring 23 by pivoting the trigger 11 and the beam starts a new arc free oscillation.
• the trigger 11 being simultaneously relieved of the force previously exerted by the release pallet, it is thus subject only to the restoring force of its spiral spring 12 which tends to bring its second end 18 towards the escape wheel 1.
• the rest pallet 21 then moves away from the large plate 5 while the finger 26 moves away from the small plate 6.
• the pendulum continues the ascending arc of free oscillation, while the pallet rest 21 is positioned on the path of the tooth 201 due to the rotational movement of the trigger 11.
• the escape wheel 1 is therefore again locked for a new rest phase, the tooth 201 replacing the tooth 200 in its prior stop function cooperating with the rest pallet of the trigger.
• the tooth 202 has positioned near the large plateau, the side of the center line L opposite that of the tooth 201, waiting for the next pulse phase.
• the pallet 21 is located at a distance from the axis X1 greater than the maximum radius of the large plate 5 while the finger 26 is located at a distance from the axis X1 greater than the maximum radius of the small plate 6.
• the release pallet 9 meets again the end 25 of the expansion spring 23 which, in this sense, can be deformed to disengage the stop 22 of the trigger and, thus allow the passage of the clearance pallet with a minimum of disturbance of the movement of the balance.
• the crossing of the spring by the release pallet is preferably optimized by the completion of a rounded at the edge of the pallet which lifts the spring during the downward arc.
• the spring 23 rests against the abutment 22 as soon as its end 25 is released by the release pallet 9.
• FIG. 2d illustrates the fact that the average radius of the large plate 5 is preferably chosen such that the periphery of the plate defines a stop for the pallet 21 during the rest phases.
• the safety distance separating the pallet from the large platform is preferably less than the penetration length of the pallet rest on the tooth of the escape wheel.
• the implementation of the present invention is not limited to the use of a release pallet associated with a relaxation spring.
• a release pallet associated with a relaxation spring For example, one could alternatively provide a structure such as that described in the patent application EP 1 544 689 A1, already cited in the prior art.
• the device disclosed in this document should then be adapted to take account of the fact that the rest pallet and the part of the trigger which cooperates with the small plate are located on the same side of the trigger with reference to the axis of rotation X3 of the latter.
• the finger acting on the trigger should be disposed near the small plate, while the guide curve ensuring the return of the pallet rest towards the escape wheel should face the axis of rotation X1 of the pendulum, being arranged at a distance from the small plateau.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an anti-gallop system complementary to the device described above to enhance the level of security of the latter. Only the essential elements to the understanding of this system have been represented on this figure.
• the anti-gallop system according to this variant comprises a rocker 40 comprising a fork 41 and pivotally mounted on the watch movement, near the small plate 6. The pivoting amplitude of the rocker is limited by two stops 42, intended to cooperate with the end 43 of the latch farthest from the small plateau.
• the flip-flop 40 further comprises two inclined planes 44 arranged to cooperate with a jumper 45 to define two stable positions of the flip-flop corresponding to the stop positions.
• the fork 41 is arranged sufficiently close to the small plate to be able to interact with the clearance pallet 9.
• the pallet exerts a pressure on the inner surface of the fork for toggle the latch 40 from one extreme position to another.
• the fork 41 defines two stops for the small plate in case of galloping, or rebat, to prevent the pendulum to do more than one turn around its axis X1 pivoting.
• Figures 4a and 4b show particular embodiments of the spring to recall the trigger in a predefined position, thus providing alternatives to the spiral spring 12 which has been previously described in connection with the main mode.
• the spring is formed of a piece with the trigger. Therefore, the latter is shown alone in Figures 4a and 4b, the other constituents of the exhaust being in accordance with what has been explained above.
• Figure 4a shows a first expansion variant 100 comprising a right spring 101 extending in a rectilinear direction from the central region of the trigger, near its axis of rotation X3.
• Figure 4b shows a second expansion variant 110 comprising a spring 111 of sinuous shape.
• the spring 111 has a first end 112 integral with the central region of the trigger 110, while its second end 113 is fixed on the watch movement by any suitable means, such as for example by a hole 114 made directly in its end 113 and, intended to cooperate with a screw or an eccentric to allow adjustment of the return force
• FIG. 5 represents a simplified perspective view, similar to that of FIG. 1, of the detent escapement according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. Part of the components of the exhaust is torn to make some others visible.
• the large plate 50 has a disc shape, of smaller radius than the large plate 5 of the first embodiment, and comprises a notch in which is housed the pulse pallet 7. Due to its reduced diameter, the big plateau 50 does not fulfill the plateau function limitation but simply provides the support function for the pulse pallet, conventionally.
• a limiting plate 51 is provided to fulfill this function in the present embodiment. It is mounted coaxial to small 6 and large trays 50, being integral with the pendulum. It has a periphery of which a main portion 52 is of circular shape, while a cutout 29 is formed in a predefined angular position with reference to the position of the impulse pallet 7, in a manner similar to that described in FIG. relationship with the first embodiment.
• the mean radius of the limiting plate 51 is chosen such that the periphery of the latter is located at a safety distance less than the penetration length of the pallet rest 21 on the teeth of the escape wheel 1 outside the clearance phase.
• the cutout 29 is positioned facing the pallet of rest during the disengagement phase to allow the pivoting of the trigger 11.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Micromachines (AREA)
• Transmission Devices (AREA)
• Steering Controls (AREA)
• Axle Suspensions And Sidecars For Cycles (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)
• Dental Preparations (AREA)
• Adhesives Or Adhesive Processes (AREA)
• Ladders (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-09-30 EP EP05109056A patent/EP1770452A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2006
  • 2006-09-29 JP JP2008532792A patent/JP4898814B2/ja active Active
  • 2006-09-29 DE DE602006006464T patent/DE602006006464D1/de active Active
  • 2006-09-29 RU RU2008117152/28A patent/RU2408042C2/ru active
  • 2006-09-29 US US12/088,242 patent/US7458717B2/en active Active
  • 2006-09-29 WO PCT/EP2006/066884 patent/WO2007039558A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2006-09-29 EP EP06806882A patent/EP1941326B1/de active Active
  • 2006-09-29 ES ES06806882T patent/ES2326340T3/es active Active
  • 2006-09-29 CN CN2006800360570A patent/CN101278240B/zh active Active
  • 2006-09-29 AT AT06806882T patent/ATE429666T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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