EP3686693B1 - Mechanical timepiece regulator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an isochronous, self-starting mechanical watch regulator whose energy consumption is low.

One way to reduce the energy consumption of a mechanical watch regulator is to use a so-called flexible-guided oscillator such as that described by CH709291 . This type of oscillator has the particularity of having on the one hand a large quality factor and on the other hand a small amplitude. These two properties are also found in clock oscillators, which is why the escapements associated with flexible-guided oscillators are often clock escapements such as recoil or rubbing rest escapements. The main drawback of most clock regulators is that they are not self-starting. However, self-starting is an essential characteristic for a regulator intended for a wristwatch. Indeed in this context, an external shock can cause a loss of amplitude of the balance such that the regulator stops. If the regulator is not self-starting, it will then remain blocked.

We thus know, for example, EP1736838 which describes a mechanical oscillator and a grasshopper escapement. The escapement is made up of two elastic strips, each strip of which has one end linked to the balance wheel and a free end working with an escape wheel. The pendulum is pushed by one of its blades to beyond dead center. It is then the pendulum that pushes on the other blade so that the first can release. If the pendulum does not have enough momentum to ensure the release, then the system becomes blocked. This principle cannot therefore be self-starting.

There are also known rubbing rest escapement systems whose impulse is transmitted either directly to an oscillator with flexible guidance such as EP3182213 and WO2017068538 , or indirectly via an elastic blade such as WO2018100122 . The main drawback of a rubbing rest escapement is the high energy consumption of the system due to friction between the lever and the escape wheel. Moreover, the isochronism of this type of escapement is difficult to adjust.

Another type of escapement already associated with a flex-guided oscillator is the detent escapement as EP3059641 . With this type of escapement, the impulse can only be given to the oscillator one alternation out of two, we then speak of a lost blow and this principle, just like the grasshopper escapement, cannot be self-starting .

The document FR 3 048 790 A1 describes a mechanical watch regulator comprising a flexible-guided oscillator. The oscillator disclosed by this document comprises a balance kinematically linked to an elastic suspension arranged to guide and return the balance in an oscillation plane. The escapement comprises an escapement wheel as well as an anchor integrated in the balance wheel and having two arms arranged to alternately receive impulses from the escapement wheel.

The document CH 712 084 B1 describes a watch regulator with a classic balance-spring and in which two detents are used to lock the escape wheel.

The object of the present invention is to propose an isochronous, self-starting mechanical watch regulator whose energy consumption is low.

The watchmaker's mechanical regulator of the invention comprises an oscillator with flexible guidance and a double expansion escapement, the oscillator comprising a balance linked to an elastic suspension arranged to guide and return the balance in an oscillation plane. The escapement comprises an escapement wheel and an anchor integrated in the balance wheel and having two arms arranged to alternately receive impulses from the escapement wheel. The escapement also comprises two detents blocking the escape wheel alternately between two impulses and cooperating with the lever arms to release the escape wheel before each impulse, without direct cooperation between the lever and the escape wheel. exhaust, in the blocking phase and also in the release phase.

Then the escape wheel transmits its impulse directly to the anchor arms.

The main advantage of the invention compared to a traditional watch regulator composed of a balance-spring type oscillator and a Swiss lever escapement is that its power consumption is much lower, typically at least three times lower. . Therefore, the first advantage resulting from this low consumption is that the power reserve of the watch will be longer. This implies that the duration of use of the watch before it stops will be at least three times longer. Second advantage linked to this low energy consumption: the mainspring will take at least three times longer to discharge; its torque will therefore vary less during a given period of time which means, for a given isochronism of the regulator, that the rate variation over this period of time will also be lower. The characteristics of the system which make it possible to minimize this energy consumption will be detailed later.

In one embodiment, each trigger consists of a flexible blade having a fixed end and a free end, these free ends cooperating on the one hand with an arm of the anchor and on the other hand with the wheel. exhaust. These triggers therefore clearly distance themselves from the classic triggers as described in EP3059641 . Indeed, a conventional trigger comprises a rigid structure provided with a pivot, a rigid stop and a flexible blade.

The term “flexible strip” means any prismatic beam (typically of rectangular section) whose thickness is at least 10 times smaller than the length and at least 2 times smaller than the width. The section can change in dimension along the blade and the trajectory along the length of this blade can be straight or curved.

According to this embodiment, the free end of each detent comprises a resting plane which cooperates with the teeth of the escapement wheel to block the latter during the resting phase of the escapement while allowing the balance wheel to oscillate without contact with the escape wheel.

Still according to this same embodiment, the free end of each trigger comprises a release plane which cooperates with the arms of the lever to release the escape wheel before each impulse.

Preferably, the ends of the lever arms comprise impulse planes cooperating with the beak of each tooth of the escape wheel so as to transmit the energy from the escape wheel to the balance wheel. At the end of the impulse, the end of the anchor's impulse plane then becomes the impulse beak and is pushed by the back of one of the teeth of the escape wheel. This constitutes an advantageous configuration but it is clear that the impulse beak could be located only on the escapement wheel and the impulse plane only on the lever or vice versa.

According to this preferred embodiment, the resting planes of the triggers are arranged with respect to the anchor arms in such a way that at the end of the disengagement (made by the anchor) of one or the other of the triggers , the tooth of the escape wheel in contact with the plane of rest of said trigger transits directly on the impulse plane of the anchor arms without falling. A fall is a rotation in vacuum of the escape wheel, often necessary as a transition between two escapement phases to ensure that the system cannot jam but also constitutes a significant loss of energy from any escapement. In this embodiment, a drop is not necessary between the disengagement and the impulse because the escapement wheel only comprises a single toothing on a single level. The resting planes of the triggers, the pallet impulse planes and the toothing of the escape wheel are then all located on the same working plane. Nevertheless, it could be useful to add a drop between the release phase and the impulse phase to prevent the anchor arms from generating a recoil of the escape wheel before the release phase as a result of positioning errors. to the assembly of the parts making up the escapement. It is clear that the overall operation of the system would remain the same but that the energy consumption could be affected. Furthermore, the fact that the escape wheel has only one level and one toothing constitutes an important advantage of the design because it also contributes to reducing the inertia of the escape wheel which is a determining parameter for the energy consumption of the regulator. Indeed, the losses of inertial energy are due to the fact that it is necessary, at each impulse, to considerably accelerate the escape wheel so that it catches up with the balance wheel and transmits its torque to it, this kinetic energy is then lost when the escape wheel strikes the resting plane of the detents. This inertial energy loss can become considerably high compared to other types of loss when using a high frequency oscillator such as a flex-guided oscillator. It is therefore crucial to minimize the inertia of the escape wheel for an escapement operating with this particular type of oscillator.

According to this embodiment, at each period of the oscillator each of the two pulse planes receives a pulse from the escape wheel.

According to this preferred embodiment, the impulse planes of the anchor arms have a curved shape such that, when the escapement wheel transmits its energy to the balance wheel, the escapement wheel is essentially driven by a uniformly accelerated movement. The usefulness of the shape of the impulse planes will be described later.

In one embodiment, the regulator comprises a fixed base comprising two rigid abutments each corresponding respectively to one of the detents, the two rigid abutments being arranged to give a preload torque of its respective detent against the corresponding abutment.

According to this embodiment, at least one of the triggers has one end rigidly linked to an arm cooperating with an adjustment table, this linked end being opposite the said free end of the flexible trigger; the position of this adjustment table can be modified with respect to the fixed base in order to change the orientation of the flexible trigger with respect to its rigid stop, which makes it possible to modify the preload torque of the flexible trigger which is resting against its rigid stop.

In another embodiment, at least one of the triggers cooperates with a stiffening member arranged to modify the active length of the flexible blade of said trigger.

In one embodiment, the anchor comprises a beak cooperating with a tooth of the escapement wheel in such a way that this tooth of the escapement wheel acts as a resting plane in the event that one of the detents n can't block the escape wheel.

The elastic suspension of the oscillator preferably comprises at least two flexible pivot blades.

The balance wheel, lever and detents are typically made of silicon and shaped for DRIE technologies and the inertial body of the balance wheel is obtained by assembling a ring of dense material and a silicon ring. The silicon could be replaced by another material such as silica glass which would be shaped by a typically femto-second laser and possibly followed by chemical attack.

The invention also relates to a timepiece movement or a wristwatch comprising a regulator according to the present invention.

• La figure 1 représente une vue de face d'un régulateur comportant un oscillateur à guidage flexible et un échappement à double détente ;
• La figure 2 représente une vue oblique du même régulateur ;
• La figure 3 représente une vue oblique des fonctions d'entrée de l'échappement ;
• La figure 4 représente une vue oblique des fonctions de sortie de l'échappement ;
• La figure 5 représente une vue de dessus de l'échappement en position de repos d'entrée ;
• La figure 6 représente une vue de dessus de l'échappement en position de dégagement d'entrée ;
• La figure 7 représente une vue de dessus de l'échappement en position d'impulsion d'entrée ;
• La figure 8 représente une vue de dessus de l'échappement en position de fin d'impulsion d'entrée ;
• La figure 9 représente une vue de dessus de l'échappement en position de repos de sortie ;
• La figure 10 représente une manière alternative de régler le défaut d'isochronisme du système.

The characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of several embodiments given solely by way of example, in no way limiting, and by referring to the schematic figures, in which:

• The figure 1 shows a front view of a regulator comprising an oscillator with flexible guidance and a double expansion escapement;
• The figure 2 represents an oblique view of the same regulator;
• The picture 3 represents an oblique view of the escapement input functions;
• The figure 4 represents an oblique view of the escapement output functions;
• The figure 5 shows a top view of the exhaust in the entry rest position;
• The figure 6 shows a top view of the exhaust in the inlet release position;
• The figure 7 shows a top view of the escapement in the entry impulse position;
• The figure 8 shows a top view of the escapement in the end of input pulse position;
• The figure 9 shows a top view of the exhaust in the exit rest position ;
• The figure 10 represents an alternative way of adjusting the isochronism fault of the system.

As shown in figure 1 and 2 , the mechanical watch regulator comprises an oscillator with flexible guidance and a double expansion escapement, the oscillator comprising a balance 1 kinematically linked to an elastic suspension 2a, 2b arranged to guide and return the balance 1 in an oscillation plane. The escapement comprises an escape wheel 3 and an anchor 4 integrated into the balance wheel 1 and having two arms 5, 6 arranged to alternately receive pulses from escape wheel 3. The escapement further comprises two detents 7, 8 alternately blocking escape wheel 3 between two pulses and cooperating with the arms 5, 6 of the anchor to release the escape wheel 3 before each pulse, without direct cooperation between the anchor and the escape wheel.

The oscillator with flexible guidance is composed of an inertial body 1a linked to the elastic suspension 2a, 2b ensuring on the one hand the function of guiding the inertial body 1a in the desired trajectory and on the other hand the function of elastic return.

Each trigger 7, 8 consists of a flexible blade having a fixed end 7a, 8a and a free end 7b, 8b, this free end cooperating on the one hand with an arm 5, 6 of the anchor and on the other hand with escape wheel 3.

The defect of isochronism of the suspension 2a, 2b of the oscillator is corrected by the detents 7, 8. A single detent 7, 8 bears on the pendulum 1 during the additional arc and the two detents 7, 8 are in contact with the balance wheel 1 during the release of the escape wheel and the impulse. The detents 7, 8 being flexible, the rigidity of the regulator varies during the oscillation. Detents 7, 8 therefore tend to reduce the average rigidity of the large-amplitude oscillator. This compensates for the fact that the oscillator's flexible suspension tends to be stiffer on average at high amplitude.

The free end of each trigger 7b, 8b comprises a resting plane 7c, 8c (see figure 2 , 3 and 4 ) which cooperates with the teeth of the escape wheel 3 to lock it during the rest phase of the escapement while allowing the balance wheel 1 to oscillate without contact with the escape wheel 3.

The free end of each detent 7, 8 comprises a release plane which cooperates with the arms 5, 6 of the lever to release the escape wheel 3 before each impulse.

As shown in figure 3 and 4 , the ends of the arms 5, 6 of the lever comprise impulse planes 5a, 6a cooperating with the teeth of the escapement wheel 3 so as to transmit the energy from the escapement wheel 3 to the balance wheel 1. At the end of the first momentum part, the end of the momentum plane 5c, 6c becomes the momentum beak and is pushed by the momentum plane of the escape wheel tooth 3c .

The impulse planes 5a, 6a are advantageously arranged contiguous with the resting planes of the triggers 7c, 8c at the time of release, so as to avoid a fall between the release and the impulse; If it were not avoided, this fall would cause a loss of energy, therefore a lower efficiency of the escapement and therefore a lower amplitude of the balance wheel 1. This effect can be obtained by the fact that the escapement wheel 3 does not comprise a single toothing on a single level and that the escapement wheel 3 is located on the same working plane P as the rest planes 7c, 8c of the detents and the impulse planes of the lever 5a, 6a.

At each period of the oscillator, each of the two pulse planes 5a, 6a of the anchor arms receives a pulse from the escapement wheel 3. These pulse planes 5a, 6a have a domed shape such that, when the escape wheel 3 transmits its energy to the balance wheel 1, the escape wheel 3 is essentially driven by a uniformly accelerated movement. In other words, the impulse planes 5a, 6a are said to be touching, that is to say that they guarantee at least the touching of the beak of the escape wheel 3a against one of the impulse planes 5a, 6a during the pulse phase. This ensures continuous transmission of energy from escape wheel 3 to balance wheel 1. This characteristic is important for escapements cooperating with a flexible-guided oscillator because the latter have the particularity of having a high frequency, typically 10 at 20 Hz, and a low amplitude, typically 5 to 20 degrees. In this context, the pulse phase is brief and the balance wheel 1, for a given amplitude, moves rapidly. In addition, the escape wheel 3 before the impulse is stopped while the balance wheel 1 is close to its maximum speed. Thus, thanks to the touch impulse plane, the escapement wheel 3 will in any case manage to catch up with the balance 1 and transmit its energy to it, whatever the amplitude of the balance 1, from standstill to at its nominal amplitude. Moreover, the light-touch profile implies a variable transmission ratio between the escapement wheel 3 and the lever 4. The torque applied to the lever 4 then increases during the pulse so as to compensate for the increase in restoring torque of the elastic suspension 2a, 2b of the oscillator. So even when the oscillator is at stopping, the torque of the escape wheel 3 is sufficient to complete the pulse, which allows the system to self-start. The regulator comprises a fixed base 9 comprising two rigid stops 10a, 10b each interacting respectively with one of the detents 7, 8; each of these rigid stops is arranged to apply a preload torque to its respective trigger.

The detents 7, 8, when they are not in contact with the balance 1, rest with a preload torque against rigid stops 10a, 10b. The preload torque of at least one of the detents is adjustable and makes it possible to correct the isochronism defect of the watch regulator. In addition, the rigid stops 10a, 10b (see figure 7 ) and the preload torque make it possible to ensure the positioning of the detents 7, 8 during rest periods and to secure their positioning in the event of external shocks.

In the example illustrated by the figures 1 to 9 , the orientation of the trigger 8 is adjustable and makes it possible to adjust the isochronism defect of the watch regulator. The trigger 8 has one end 8a rigidly linked to an arm 13 cooperating with an adjustment table 11. This linked end 8a is opposite the free end 8b of the flexible trigger 8; the position of this adjustment table 11 can be modified with respect to the fixed base 9 in order to change the orientation of the flexible trigger 8 with respect to its rigid stop 10b, thus modifying the preload torque of the flexible trigger 8 pressed against the corresponding rigid stop 10b. It is clear that this mechanism can also be used to achieve fine tuning of the system frequency.

Alternatively and illustrated in figure 10 , still in order to adjust the isochronism or the frequency of the system, the trigger 8 could cooperate with a stiffening member 14 arranged to modify the active length of the flexible blade of the trigger.

Returning to the execution of figures 1 to 9 , each arm of the anchor 4 comprises a beak 5b, 6b cooperating with a tooth of the escapement wheel 3 in such a way that the part 3b of this tooth of the escapement wheel 3 acts as a rest plane in substitution detents 7, 8 in the event that, for example following a shock, one of these fails to block the escape wheel 3.

Furthermore, it is also possible to add blocking planes on the balance 1. These blocking planes, for example following a shock, would prevent one or the other of the detents from pivoting too much and releasing the escape wheel. This blocking would therefore only occur when the escape wheel 3 is in contact with the trigger 7, 8 in question.

• La roue d'échappement 3 commence par être sur le repos de la détente d'entrée 7c (figure 5), la détente d'entrée 7 est en appui sur sa butée 10a et la détente de sortie 8 est en appui sur le bras de sortie 6 de l'ancre.
• Le pivotement du balancier 1 provoque le dégagement de la détente d'entrée 7 par le bras d'entrée de l'ancre 5, ce qui libère la roue d'échappement 3 (figure 6), la détente d'entrée 7 n'est alors plus en contact avec sa butée 10a et est emportée par le bras d'entrée de l'ancre 5.
• La roue d'échappement 3 est maintenant libérée et pivote dans le sens horaire (figure 7), le bec 3a de l'une des dents de la roue d'échappement est en contact avec le plan d'impulsion à effleurement d'entrée 5a et pousse l'ancre 4.
• La roue d'échappement 3 poursuit ensuite son impulsion (figure 8), le plan d'impulsion 3c de la dent poussant le bras d'entrée de l'ancre 5.
• En fin d'impulsion, le bras d'ancre opposé dépose la détente sur sa butée.
• L'impulsion d'entrée est terminée (figure 9), la roue d'échappement 3 chute dans le sens horaire et est bloquée par le plan de repos 8c de la détente de sortie. La détente de sortie 8 est en appui contre sa butée 10b et la détente d'entrée 7 est emportée par le bras d'entrée de l'ancre 5.

The figures 5 to 9 illustrate the sequential operation of the double-detent escapement during the alternation where the balance wheel 1 oscillates clockwise. The main phases of the escapement are as follows:

• The escape wheel 3 begins by being at rest on the inlet trigger 7c ( figure 5 ), the input trigger 7 bears against its stop 10a and the output trigger 8 bears against the output arm 6 of the anchor.
• The pivoting of the balance wheel 1 causes the release of the entry trigger 7 by the entry arm of the pallet 5, which releases the escape wheel 3 ( figure 6 ), the entry trigger 7 is then no longer in contact with its stop 10a and is carried away by the entry arm of the anchor 5.
• Escape wheel 3 is now released and rotates clockwise ( figure 7 ), the beak 3a of one of the teeth of the escape wheel is in contact with the input touch impulse plane 5a and pushes the anchor 4.
• The escape wheel 3 then continues its impulse ( figure 8 ), the impulse plane 3c of the tooth pushing the input arm of the anchor 5.
• At the end of the impulse, the opposite anchor arm deposits the trigger on its stop.
• The input pulse is terminated ( figure 9 ), the escapement wheel 3 drops clockwise and is blocked by the rest plane 8c of the output trigger. The output trigger 8 rests against its stop 10b and the input trigger 7 is carried by the input arm of the anchor 5.

The following alternation then continues in an equivalent manner with the rotation of the balance wheel 1 in the anti-clockwise direction followed by the release, the impulse and the output drop.

In the example illustrated, the elastic suspension 2a, 2b of the oscillator on a flexible pivot comprises two blades but it could comprise more and the chosen topology (here of the Wittrick type according to EP2911012 ) to represent this oscillator is given only by way of example and is in no way limiting.

• à la faible amplitude du balancier requise pour pouvoir être isochrone et peu sensible à la gravité, typiquement entre 8 et 16 degrés,
• à l'absence de frottement dans le pivot flexible du balancier,
• au fait que l'impulsion est transmise directement de la roue d'échappement au balancier ce qui supprime toute perte d'énergie associée à un mobile intermédiaire entre la roue et le balancier,
• au fait que les détentes permettent de limiter les frottements que l'on pourrait avoir durant une éventuelle phase de repos ou de recul,
• à l'absence de chute entre le dégagement de la roue d'échappement et l'impulsion, et
• à la minimisation de l'inertie de la roue d'échappement.

Thanks to the regulator of the present invention, the energy consumption can be very low, less than 0.3 uW (typically 0.25 uW). Such low power consumption is mainly related to:

• the low amplitude of the balance required to be isochronous and not very sensitive to gravity, typically between 8 and 16 degrees,
• the absence of friction in the flexible balance pivot,
• the fact that the impulse is transmitted directly from the escapement wheel to the balance wheel, which eliminates any loss of energy associated with an intermediate mobile between the wheel and the balance wheel,
• the fact that the triggers make it possible to limit the friction that one could have during a possible phase of rest or recoil,
• the absence of a drop between the release of the escape wheel and the impulse, and
• minimizing the inertia of the escape wheel.

Another advantage of the present regulator is that the lack of isochronism of the double expansion escapement naturally compensates for the lack of isochronism of the flexible pivot of the oscillator. This effect is obtained by the fact that unlike classic detent escapements, there is always at least one detent in contact with the balance wheel. Moreover, as previously explained, the isochronism fault of the escapement of the present invention is adjustable, which makes it possible to adapt to the fault of the oscillator which can vary from one oscillator to another due to the manufacturing and assembly inaccuracies of parts.

(1)

Balancier

(1a)

Corps inertiel

(2a, 2b)

Suspension élastique

(3)

Roue d'échappement

(3a)

Bec d'une dent de la roue d'échappement

(3b)

Plan de repos de secours d'une dent de la roue d'échappement

(3c)

Plan d'impulsion d'une dent de la roue d'échappement

(4)

Ancre

(5)

Bras d'entrée de l'ancre

(5a)

Plan d'impulsion du bras d'entrée de l'ancre

(5b)

Bec de secours du bras d'entrée de l'ancre

(5c)

Bec de fin d'impulsion d'entrée de l'ancre

(6)

Bras de sortie de l'ancre

(6a)

Plan d'impulsion du bras de sortie de l'ancre

(6b)

Bec de secours du bras de sortie de l'ancre

(6c)

Bec de fin d'impulsion de sortie de l'ancre

(7)

Détente d'entrée

(7a)

Extrémité fixe de la détente d'entrée

(7b)

Extrémité libre de la détente d'entrée

(7c)

Plan de repos de la détente d'entrée

(7d)

Plan de dégagement de la détente d'entrée

(8)

Détente de sortie

(8a)

Extrémité fixe de la détente de sortie

(8b)

Extrémité libre de la détente de sortie

(8c)

Plan de repos de la détente de sortie

(8d)

Plan de dégagement de la détente de sortie

(9)

Base fixe

(10a)

Butée de la détente d'entrée

(10b)

Butée de la détente de sortie

(11)

Table de réglage

(12)

Guidage flexible du bras de réglage de la précharge

(13)

Bras de réglage

(14)

Organe de rigidification

Finally, the double expansion escapement of the present regulator is self-starting because on the one hand it has no wasted blows unlike the escapements conventional detents and on the other hand it does not require any particular momentum of the balance wheel to allow the release of the escape wheel. Furthermore, the profile of the touch-sensitive impulse planes involves a variable transmission ratio which increases the torque applied to the anchor by the escape wheel at the end of the impulse, which facilitates self-starting.

(1)

Pendulum

(1a)

Inertial body

(2a, 2b)

Elastic suspension

(3)

escape wheel

(3a)

Beak of an escape wheel tooth

(3b)

Emergency resting plane of an escape wheel tooth

(3c)

Impulse plane of an escape wheel tooth

(4)

Anchor

(5)

Anchor entry arm

(5a)

Anchor Entry Arm Impulse Plane

(5b)

Anchor entry arm spare spout

(5c)

Anchor Input Pulse End Beak

(6)

Anchor output arm

(6a)

Anchor Exit Arm Impulse Plane

(6b)

Anchor exit arm emergency spout

(6c)

Anchor Output Pulse End Beak

(7)

Entrance trigger

(7a)

Fixed end of inlet detent

(7b)

Free end of inlet detent

(7c)

Entrance Relaxation Rest Plan

(7d)

Entry trigger clearance plan

(8)

Release trigger

(8a)

Fixed end of output detent

(8b)

Free end of output detent

(8c)

Exit Trigger Rest Plan

(8d)

Exit Trigger Clearance Plan

(9)

Fixed base

(10a)

Inlet trigger stop

(10b)

Output trigger stopper

(11)

Setting table

(12)

Flexible preload adjustment arm guide

(13)

Adjustment arm

(14)

stiffening member

Claims (19)

1. Mechanical timepiece regulator comprising a flexure bearing oscillator and a double detent escapement, the oscillator comprising a balance wheel (1) connected kinematically to an elastic suspension (2a, 2b) arranged to guide and apply a restoring force to the balance wheel (1) in a plane of oscillation, the escapement comprising:

   - an escape wheel (3),

   - an anchor (4) integrated into the balance wheel (1) and having two arms (5, 6) arranged to receive alternately the impulses of the escape wheel (3), and

   two detents (7, 8) shaped to alternately block the escape wheel (3) between two impulses without direct cooperation between the anchor and the escape wheel and also shaped to cooperate with the arms (5, 6) of the anchor to release the escape wheel (3) before each impulse, without direct interaction between the anchor and the escape wheel.
2. Regulator according to claim 1, characterised in that each detent (7, 8) comprises a leaf spring one end of which is fixed (7a, 8a) and one end of which is free (7b, 8b), these free ends interacting both with an anchor arm (5, 6) and with the escape wheel (3).
3. Regulator according to claim 2, characterised in that the free end of each detent (7b, 8b) comprises a locking plane (7c, 8c) interacting with the teeth of the escape wheel (3) to lock it during the locking phase of the escapement while allowing the balance wheel (1) to oscillate without coming into contact with the escape wheel (3).
4. Regulator according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the free end of each detent (7, 8) comprises an unlocking plane 7d, 8d interacting with the anchor arms (5, 6) to release the escape wheel (3) before each impulse.
5. Regulator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the ends of the anchor arms (5, 6) comprise impulse planes (5a, 6a) interacting with the teeth of the escape wheel (3) in such a way that energy is transferred from the escape wheel (3) to the balance wheel (1).
6. Regulator according to claim 5, characterised in that it comprises locking planes of detents (7c, 8c) arranged in relation to the anchor arms (5, 6) in such a way that at the end of the unlocking of one or the other of the detents, the tooth of the escape wheel (3) in contact with the locking plane of said detent transits directly on the impulse plane (5a, 6a) of the anchor arms (5, 6) without dropping.
7. Regulator according to claim 6, characterised in that the escape wheel (3) consists of only a single toothing realised on a single stage and works in the same plane P of operation as the impulse planes of the anchor (5a, 6a) and the locking planes of the detents (7c, 8c)
8. Regulator according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterised in that each of the two impulse planes (5a, 6a) of the anchor arms receives one impulse from the escape wheel (3) for each period of the oscillator.
9. Regulator according to claim 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterised in that the impulse planes (5a, 6a) of the anchor arms have a curved shape.
10. Regulator according to claim 9, characterised in that the impulse planes (5a, 6a) of the anchor arms have a curved shape such that when the escape wheel (3) transfers its energy to the balance wheel, the escape wheel (3) moves with a uniform acceleration.
11. Regulator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the regulator comprises a fixed base (9) comprising two rigid stops (10a, 10b) each respectively interacting with one of the detents (7, 8); each of these rigid stops is arranged to apply a pre-loading torque onto the respective detent.
12. Regulator according to claim 11 when it depends on any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that at least one of the detents (7, 8) comprises an end (8a) connected rigidly to an arm (13) interacting with a tuning table (11), this end (8a) being on the opposite end of said free end (7a, 8a) of said flexible detent (7, 8); the position of this tuning table (11) can be modified in relation to the fixed base (9) in order to change the orientation of the flexible detent (7, 8) in relation to its rigid stop (10a, 10b), thus changing the pre-loading torque of said flexible detent (7, 8) resting against the corresponding rigid stop (10a, 10b).
13. Mechanical timepiece regulator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the detents (7, 8) interacts with a stiffening mechanism (14) arranged to change the active length of the leaf spring of said detent.
14. Regulator according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the anchor (4) comprises a tip (5b, 6b) on each of its arms (5, 6) interacting with a tooth of the escape wheel (3) in such a way that this tooth of the escape wheel (3) acts as a locking plane (3b) in the event that one of the detents (7, 8) does not manage to block the escape wheel (3).
15. Regulator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said elastic suspension (2a, 2b) comprises at least two leaf springs.
16. Regulator according to claim 15, characterised in that a first leaf spring (2a) of the said elastic suspension crosses a second leaf spring (2b) at the location of the centre of gravity of the balance wheel (1) and at 12.5% of the length of each leaf spring from the fixed base (9).
17. Regulator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the balance wheel (1), the anchor (4) and the detents (7, 8) are made of silicon and the inertial body of the balance wheel (1a) is obtained by assembling a ring of dense material and a ring of silicon.
18. Timepiece movement comprising a regulator according to any one of the preceding claims.
19. Wristwatch comprising a regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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