CH706543A2 - Escapement mechanism for movement of timepiece, has pinion arranged to cooperate with gear train, where pinion is connected to escapement wheel by helicoidal spring that is able to partially decouple wheel from gear train - Google Patents

Abstract

The escapement mechanism has an escapement wheel (1) arranged to cooperate with a control mechanism, and an additional pinion (2) arranged to cooperate with a gear train, where the pinion has a degree of freedom in pivoting about a pivot axis (D) with respect to the escapement wheel. The pinion is connected to the escapement wheel by a helicoidal spring (30) that is able to partially decouple the wheel from the gear train, where the helicoidal spring is arranged to exert a return torque between the wheel and the pinion. An independent claim is also included for a timepiece movement.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a watch exhaust mechanism comprising, coaxial with each other about a common pivot axis, an escape wheel arranged to cooperate with a regulating mechanism, and at least an additional gear arranged to cooperate with a gear train.

According to a feature of the invention, said decoupling spring is a spiral spring mounted connected to said additional pinion or in a housing that includes said additional pinion, and said first end is integral with a shafted bearing that includes said wheel .

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one regulating mechanism, at least one finishing gear train transmitting, from means for generating or storing energy, energy to at least one such mechanism exhaust.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such watch movement.

The invention also relates to a use of a flexible guide.

The invention relates to the field of watch mechanisms, and more particularly the field of escape mechanisms.

Background of the invention

The operation of a clockwork escapement mechanism is always influenced by the inertia of the mobiles that the escape wheel carries, whether it be a cog, an anchor, a a whirlwind, a carousel, or a needle, this list being in no way limiting, since it is a question of countering the negative influence on the running of the exhaust of any element likely to slow down the setting in motion this escape wheel.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to reduce, for a watch exhaust mechanism, the influence of the inertia of the onboard mobile by the escape wheel.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a watch exhaust mechanism comprising, coaxial with each other about a common pivot axis, an escape wheel arranged to cooperate with a regulating mechanism , and at least one additional pinion arranged to cooperate with a finishing gear train, characterized in that said at least one additional gear comprises, with respect to said wheel, a degree of freedom in pivoting about said pivot axis, and is connected to said wheel by decoupling means capable of at least partially decoupling said wheel of said train.

According to a feature of the invention, said decoupling means are elastic return means arranged to exert a return torque pivoting between said wheel and said additional pinion.

According to a feature of the invention, said elastic return means comprise at least one decoupling spring whose one end is integral with said wheel and a second end is integral with said additional pinion.

According to a feature of the invention, said decoupling spring is a spiral spring mounted connected to said additional pinion or in a housing that includes said additional pinion, and said first end is integral with a shafted bearing that includes said wheel .

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one regulating mechanism, at least one finishing gear train transmitting, from means for generating or storing energy, energy to at least one such mechanism exhaust system, characterized in that said exhaust mechanism comprises at least one anchor vortex or / and at least one anchor carousel.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one regulating mechanism, at least one finishing gear train transmitting, from means for generating or storing energy, energy to at least one such mechanism. exhaust system, characterized in that said exhaust mechanism comprises at least one coaxial vortex or / and at least one coaxial carousel.

The invention further relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such clockwork movement.

The invention also relates to a use of a flexible guide, for decoupling the input and output of an exhaust mechanism to reduce the influence of the inertia of the onboard mobile by said escape wheel of this exhaust mechanism.

The invention also relates to a use of a flexible guide, for uncoupling the input and output of a coaxial escapement mechanism to reduce the influence of the inertia of the on-board mobile by said wheel. exhaust of this coaxial exhaust mechanism.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <tb> fig. 1 <sep> represents, schematically and in perspective, a part of an exhaust mechanism according to the invention, in the application to a coaxial escapement, and in a monobloc embodiment of at least one additional gear and a decoupling spiral spring according to the invention; <tb> fig. 2 <sep> shows, schematically and in section through the pivot axis, a mechanism similar to that of FIG. 1, wherein the spiral spring decoupling according to the invention is fixed in a conventional manner, firstly to an exhaust wheel axle, and secondly to an additional pinion pivotally movable relative to the wheel of the invention. exhaust carried by this axis; <tb> fig. 3 <sep> shows, schematically and in plan view, the mechanism of FIG. 1 <tb> fig. 4 <sep> represents, schematically and in perspective, a variant, for a Swiss lever escapement mechanism application, wherein the decoupling spring according to the invention is a helical spring; <tb> fig. 5 <sep> represents, schematically and in perspective, a variant, for an escape mechanism, in the application to a coaxial escapement, and in a monobloc embodiment of the supplementary pinion, of the escape wheel axle , and decoupling means, wherein the latter are constituted by a combination of resilient blades and intermediate masses which are interposed between the exhaust wheel axle and the additional pinion; <tb> fig. 6 <sep> is a graphical representation of the torque available to the escape wheel as a function of time, as compared between two escapements equipped or not with the invention; <tb> fig. 7 <sep> is a graphical representation of the amplitude of pivoting, as compared between two escapements equipped or not with the invention, and subject or not to the influence of embedded mobile high inertia; <tb> fig. 8 <sep> is a diagram representation of a timepiece comprising a movement with an exhaust mechanism equipped according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The operation of a clockwork escapement mechanism is always influenced by the inertia of the mobiles that the escape wheel carries, whether it be a cog, an anchor, a a whirlwind, a carousel, or a needle, this list being in no way limiting, since it is a question of countering the negative influence on the running of the exhaust of any element likely to slow down the setting in motion this escape wheel.

The invention proposes to limit the influence of the inertia of these mobiles on the operation of the exhaust mechanism, and improve the performance and performance of this exhaust mechanism.

In the present description will be used the concept of "inertia seen by the escape wheel", or "reported on the escape wheel", which returns, by analogy, to qualify the torque available to the wheel The relationship is linear: for example an inertia drop relative to the escape wheel of 25% is equal to an increase in the available torque to the escape wheel of 25%.

In a conventional configuration, the escape wheel is the last element to be set in motion. All the elements upstream of the escape wheel consume the equilibrium torque (movement at rest, that is to say when the balance oscillates freely) and the escape wheel only gets a fraction of this torque to accelerate.

The invention proposes a particular configuration, called "REFLEX", for "flexible escape wheel", where, on the contrary, the escape wheel starts moving first.

The invention thus relates to a 100 watchmaking exhaust mechanism comprising, coaxial to one another about a common pivot axis D, an escape wheel 1 arranged to cooperate with a regulating mechanism 10, and at least one additional pinion 2 arranged to cooperate with a finishing gear 20.

Generally, the gear movement, especially at the level of the gear train 20, linked to the additional pinion 2, tends, due to its high inertia and weight, to slow down the escape wheel 1.

To limit this slowdown, it is necessary to decouple the system, that is to say uncouple the escape wheel 1 from the rest of the gear.

According to the invention, this at least one additional gear 2 comprises, relative to the escape wheel 1, a degree of freedom pivoting about the pivot axis D, and is connected to this wheel 1 by decoupling means 30 capable of at least partially decoupling the escape wheel 1 from the gear train 20.

These decoupling means 30 are chosen with a very low inertia, and make the buffer between the escape wheel 1 and the additional pinion 2.

In a preferred implementation, illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 4, these decoupling means 30 are resilient return means 30 arranged to exert a pivotal return torque between the wheel 1 and the additional pinion 2.

In the particular embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, these resilient return means 30 comprise at least one decoupling spring 3, a first end A of which is integral with the escape wheel 1, and a second end B of which is integral with the additional pinion 2. Usually, as visible in fig. 2, the spring 3 can be brazed, glued, welded, driven, riveted, or fixed by any other usual method to the watchmaker, on the escape wheel 1 and the additional pinion 2.

The additional gear 2 is free to pivot relative to the escape wheel 1, at least within a certain range of angular amplitude which is limited by the embodiment of the decoupling means 30.

In a manner specific to the invention, no stop hinders the angular travel of the pinion 2, only the elongation of the decoupling means 30 makes the limitation, by contact between the turns for example.

In the particular variant of FIG. 1, the escape wheel 1, the additional gear 2, and the decoupling spring 3 together form a one-piece component, in which the spring 3 is not attached, but comes directly from manufacture, especially in a micro-machinable material performed by a "LIGA" process or the like.

Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate the case where the decoupling spring 3 is a spiral spring, and FIG. 4 the case where it is a coil spring.

For the variants of Figs. 1 to 3, the decoupling spring 3 is a spiral spring mounted connected to the additional gear 2 or in a housing 21 that includes the additional gear 2. A first end A of this spring 3 is integral with a shafted bearing 11 that includes the wheel 1, and a second end B is integral with the additional gear 2.

The escape wheel 1, these figs. 1 to 3, is that of a coaxial exhaust mechanism 100, and comprises, coaxial with each other about the pivot axis D, at least one exhaust plate 1a, and at least one exhaust pinion 1b, which both are integral in pivoting of an exhaust wheel axle 1c. According to the embodiment of the escape wheel 1, these components can be made independently, or be twinned, for example with the pinion 1b and the axis 1c forming a single piece, or the board 1a and the axis 1c forming a single piece, or the board 1a and the pinion 1b forming a single piece, or be a monobloc component manufactured and comprising the board 1a and the pinion 1b and axis 1c. It is on such a coaxial escapement, or on any mechanical movement equipped with a tourbillon / carousel, that the mechanism of the invention has the strongest effect

In the case of FIG. 4, the decoupling spring 3 is a helical spring mounted connected to the additional pinion 2 or in a housing 21 that includes this additional pinion 2. A first end A of this spring 3 is integral with a shafted bearing 11 that comprises the wheel of 1, and a second end B is integral with the additional gear 2.

The application of the invention to a coaxial escapement mechanism is interesting because, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and 5, the additional gear 2 is of relatively large diameter, which accommodates the spring 3 in a housing 21 of the pinion 2, without requiring the occupation of an additional volume.

Another particular variant is illustrated, without limitation, in FIG. 5: the decoupling means 30 are constituted by a combination of elastic blades 55, 56, and intermediate masses 52, 53, which are interposed between an exhaust wheel axle 1c and the additional pinion 2. The wheel axle 1c door exhaust arms 51, bearing outer masses 52, which are connected by first elastic blades 55 to inner masses 53, which are still connected, at junction areas B1, B2, B3, B4, additional pinion 2 by second elastic blades 56.

According to the invention, the decoupling means 30, in particular the resilient return means 30, have a pre-armature pivoting between 10 ° and 90 ° for a maximum torque of the energy supply means of the gear train. Finishing 20. Particularly in the usual case of energy storage at one or more barrels, it is the zero hour armed position of these barrels.

Advantageously, for the illustrated applications, and in particular for a coaxial escapement, the resilient return means 30 have a pivoting pre-armature of between 20 ° and 40 ° for a maximum torque of the feed means. energy of the finishing train 20. A value between 30 ° and 40 ° gives very satisfactory results, whatever the caliber.

For optimal operation and without loss of energy detrimental to performance, the elastic return means 30 comprise one or more springs 3 which have a pre-arming pivoting with an upper limit such that their successive turns 4 remain without contact with each other in the different operating positions of said exhaust mechanism 100. This explains that the arming is preferably limited to a value close to 40 °, so as to ensure this mode of operation.

In the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3, the fixing of the decoupling means 30 allows an axial clearance of between 0 and 50 micrometers, and preferably between 0 and 10 micrometers, between an axial bearing surface 22 that includes the additional pinion 2 and a complementary axial bearing surface 12 that includes the pinion exhaust 1b. Preferably, this game value is strictly positive, to minimize any loss due to friction.

In the same way, a radial clearance between 1 and 30 micrometers, and preferably between 5 and 10 micrometers, exists between a radial surface 23 that includes the additional pinion 2 and a complementary radial surface 13 that includes the axis d 1c exhaust.

In the so-called "REFLEX" configuration, specific to the invention, the escape wheel is thus moving first. The inertia of the decoupling means, in particular the decoupling spring 3 in the case of FIGS. 1 to 3, is calculated very low, it is the escape wheel 1 which moves first, relative to the additional pinion 2.

The escape wheel 1 has at its disposal all the balance pair to do this. The rest of the gear is set in motion independently of the escape wheel 1, to equilibrate with a given time offset. In the particular application of figs. 1 to 3, to a coaxial escapement mechanism, this time offset is set at the value of 4 to 5ms for the additional gear.

Measurements performed on a caliber "ETA" A04.A31 equipped with decoupling means according to FIG. 2 of the invention show that the board 1a and the pinion 1b rotate approximately twice as fast as the additional pinion 2, the total function during 8ms, including 4ms for the board 1a alone. The two elements, plate 1a and additional pinion 2 are set in motion almost at the same time, but the board 1a, thanks to the spring decoupling spring 3, rotates twice as fast as the additional pinion 2. The acceleration of the wheel d Exhaust 1 is before that of the gear train.

In short, everything put around the exhaust is decoupled. The improvement in operation is all the more spectacular as the embedded components are of high inertia (complications, cages, large needles).

FIG. 6 is a graphical explanation of the torque available to the escape wheel as a function of time. In solid line is represented the torque in a conventional exhaust mechanism: after an initial bearing corresponding to the equilibrium pair CE, the available torque decreases in stages, for a moment TA, with a loss of available torque related to each of the elements that it is necessary to accelerate upstream of the escape wheel, finally, after a considerable time, at a time TC, to the available torque CD when the escape wheel accelerates. The dotted line shows the pair with the same mechanism provided with decoupling means according to the invention: it is no longer necessary to wait for the instant TC, since, very shortly after the instant TA, the available torque is reached at the moment TB.

FIG. 7 illustrates a simulation of vortex cage drive (whose inertia reported to the escape wheel is close to 57 mg.mm2, while the inertia of the escape wheel is between 6 and 8 mg. The ordinate of the diagram shows the amplitude HB Oh, in degrees, the group on the left shows a movement not equipped with the tourbillon cage, in the left column equipped with the invention, the right column not equipped with the invention: we see that, lacking a significant inertia to embark, the result is similar.The group on the right shows the same movement equipped with a tourbillon cage, left column equipped with the invention, the right column not equipped with the invention: this time we see that the "REFLEX" movement according to the invention stabilizes the amplitude (even a slight gain of 5 °), whereas for a motion not equipped with the invention, the amplitude fall of about 20%, from 236 ° to 185 °. asque therefore the negative effect due to the inertia of a tourbillon cage.

The invention also relates to a watch movement 200 comprising at least one regulating mechanism 10, at least one finishing gear train 20 transmitting, from means for generating or storing energy, energy to at least such an escape mechanism 100: According to the invention this escape mechanism 100 comprises at least one anchor vortex and / or at least one anchor carousel.

The invention also relates to a watch movement 200 comprising at least one regulating mechanism 10, at least one finishing gear train 20 transmitting, from means for generating or storing energy, energy to at least such an escape mechanism 100. According to the invention this escape mechanism 100 comprises at least one coaxial tourbillon and / or at least one coaxial carousel.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 300 comprising at least one such watch movement 200,

The invention also relates to the use of a flexible guide, to decouple the input and output of an exhaust mechanism to reduce the influence of the inertia of the on-board mobile by the wheel of escape of this exhaust mechanism.

And in particular to a coaxial escapement mechanism, as visible in FIG. 5.

The invention provides many advantages to the operation of an exhaust mechanism.

In the case of a coaxial escapement, the escape mechanism 100 thus equipped "takes" and about 25% of inertia provided by the gear train to the system, thanks to the decoupling means 30. The output gain is the order of 15%, the amplitude gain is close to 8%.

The contribution of the invention is all the more spectacular that the onboard inertia is stronger.

Thus, in the application to a vortex or a carousel, whose inertia of the cage is very large compared to that of the escape wheel, with a coaxial exhaust mechanism, the inertia view the exhaust wheel is reduced by 50%, the efficiency gain is close to 30%, and the amplitude gain is close to 15%.

In the application to a vortex or a carousel, with a Swiss lever escapement mechanism, the inertia seen by the escape wheel is reduced by 80%.

Another usual application relates to the drive of a large second hand, always very detrimental to the exhaust due to its high inertia.

In addition to reducing the influence of the inertia of the rest of the movement with respect to the exhaust mechanism, the invention provides, again, a protection, particularly in the case of a fragile exhaust, against shocks , especially on the needles.

A smoothing effect of the torque at the exhaust is another favorable effect of the invention.

The amplitude variations during the disarming of the engine cylinder are also attenuated by the implementation of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Clock escapement mechanism (100) comprising, coaxial with one another around a common pivot axis (D), an escape wheel (1) arranged to cooperate with a regulating mechanism ( 10), and at least one additional pinion (2) arranged to cooperate with a finishing train (20), characterized in that said at least one additional pinion (2) has, relative to said wheel (1), a degree free pivoting about said pivot axis (D), and is connected to said wheel (1) by decoupling means (30) capable of at least partially decoupling said wheel (1) of said train (20). 2. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said decoupling means (30) are resilient return means (30) arranged to exert a return torque pivotally between said wheel (1) and said additional gear (2). 3. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said elastic return means (30) comprise at least one decoupling spring (3), a first end (A) is integral with said wheel (1). ) and a second end (B) is integral with said additional gear (2). 4. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that said decoupling spring (3) is a spiral spring mounted connected to said additional gear (2) or in a housing (21) that comprises said additional gear ( 2), and said first end (A) is integral with a shafted bearing (11) that comprises said wheel (1). 5. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that said decoupling spring (3) is a helical spring mounted connected to said additional gear (2) or in a housing (21) that comprises said additional gear ( 2), and said first end (A) is integral with a shafted bearing (11) that comprises said wheel (1). 6. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said elastic return means (30) have a pre-arming pivoting between 10 ° and 90 ° for a maximum torque of power supply means of said work train (20). 7. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that said elastic return means (30) have a pre-arming pivoting between 20 ° and 40 ° for a maximum torque of the feed means. energy of said work train (20). 8. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said elastic return means (30) comprise one or more springs (3) which have a pre-arming pivoting with a limit upper such that their turns (4) successive remain without contact with each other in the different operating positions of said exhaust mechanism (100). 9. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said exhaust mechanism (100) is a coaxial escapement mechanism which said wheel (1) comprises, coaxial with each other around said pivot axis (D), at least one exhaust plate (1a) and at least one exhaust pinion (1b) integral with an exhaust shaft (1c). 10. Exhaust mechanism (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fixing of said decoupling means (30) allows a play of between 0 and 10 micrometers between an axial bearing (22) that comprises said additional gear (2 ) and a complementary axial surface (12) that comprises said exhaust pinion (1b), and in that a radial clearance between 5 and 10 micrometers exists between a radial bearing surface (23) that comprises said additional pinion (2) and a complementary radial surface (13) that comprises said exhaust axis (1c). 11. A clockwork movement (200) comprising at least one regulating mechanism (10), at least one finishing gear train (20) transmitting, from means for generating or storing energy, at least one energy Exhaust mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said exhaust mechanism (100) comprises at least one anchor vortex or / and at least one anchor carousel. 12. A watch movement (200) comprising at least one regulating mechanism (10), at least one finishing gear train (20) transmitting, from means for generating or storing energy, at least one energy Exhaust mechanism (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said exhaust mechanism (100) comprises at least one coaxial vortex or / and at least one coaxial carousel. 13. Timepiece (300) comprising at least one watch movement (200) according to claim 11 or 12. 14. Using a flexible guide, for decoupling the inlet (1) and the output (2) of an exhaust mechanism (100) to reduce the influence of the inertia of the mobile onboard by said wheel of exhaust (1) of this exhaust mechanism (100). 15. Use of a flexible guide, for decoupling the input (1) and the output (2) of a coaxial exhaust mechanism (100) in order to reduce the influence of the inertia of the on-board mobile devices by said wheel exhaust (1) of this coaxial exhaust mechanism (100).