A natural escapement for horological movement including a balance that moves from a first extreme position to a second extreme position and vice versa by passing through a middle locking position, this balance including a balance wheel on an arbor of which is adjusted a balance plate, the natural escapement also including a first escape wheel set driven by a wheel set of the train of the horological movement and driving in turn a second escape wheel set, the first and second escape wheel sets forming a kinematic chain cooperating with an anchor, the balance plate carrying a second impulse pallet-stone which receives a driving impulse from the first escape wheel set during the first alternation, and a first impulse pallet-stone which receives a driving impulse from the second escape wheel set during the second alternation.

A horological movement includes a resonator and an escapement wheel with flexible teeth, and an anchor formed of two mechanical pallets capable of abutting, when the anchor switches between its two rest positions, with any one of the flexible teeth depending on the angular position of the escapement wheel. Each flexible tooth is arranged to bend by undergoing an elastic deformation under a radial force that can be exerted by one of the two mechanical pallets abutting against this flexible tooth while the escapement wheel has an unfavourable angular position and the resonator is braked by the anchor. Each tooth has an elastic capacity to elastically absorb, in a radial direction, most of a maximum mechanical energy that the mechanical resonator may have during normal operation of the horological movement, to avoid breakage or deterioration of the escapement.

A horological movement includes a resonator and an escapement wheel with flexible teeth, and an anchor formed of two mechanical pallets capable of abutting, when the anchor switches between its two rest positions, with any one of the flexible teeth depending on the angular position of the escapement wheel. Each flexible tooth is arranged to bend by undergoing an elastic deformation under a radial force that can be exerted by one of the two mechanical pallets abutting against this flexible tooth while the escapement wheel has an unfavourable angular position and the resonator is braked by the anchor. Each tooth has an elastic capacity to elastically absorb, in a radial direction, most of a maximum mechanical energy that the mechanical resonator may have during normal operation of the horological movement, to avoid breakage or deterioration of the escapement.

The invention relates in particular to a return member for a balance wheel of a timepiece, replacing a spiral spring. This return member comprises a rake provided with a toothed sector arranged to work together with a balance wheel pinion. The rake has an axis of rotation allowing it to move between two extreme positions, called working positions, separated by a rest position. The return member also comprises two springs arranged to press the rake towards its rest position. Each spring is made up of an elastic blade arranged to store energy, then to return it to the rake. Each elastic blade works alternately so that they never work simultaneously. The invention also relates to an escapement comprising such a return member, a clockwork movement comprising this return member and a timepiece comprising such a movement.

The invention relates in particular to a return member for a balance wheel of a timepiece, replacing a spiral spring. This return member comprises a rake provided with a toothed sector arranged to work together with a balance wheel pinion. The rake has an axis of rotation allowing it to move between two extreme positions, called working positions, separated by a rest position. The return member also comprises two springs arranged to press the rake towards its rest position. Each spring is made up of an elastic blade arranged to store energy, then to return it to the rake. Each elastic blade works alternately so that they never work simultaneously. The invention also relates to an escapement comprising such a return member, a clockwork movement comprising this return member and a timepiece comprising such a movement.

A double escapement mechanism for a watch, clock, or other timepiece. The mechanism comprises first and second escape wheels; a first geared drive wheel having a plurality of teeth for rotating the first escape wheel and a second geared drive wheel having a plurality of teeth for rotating the second escape wheel, the first and second geared drive wheels positioned below and concentric with the first and second escape wheels; a balance wheel positioned above the first and second escape wheels and mounted for rotational movement; a hairspring concentric with the balance wheel and positioned below the first and second geared drive wheels; a roller table having first and second impulse jewels positioned thereon and a roller jewel positioned therebetween; first and second arcuate levers for locking and unlocking the adjacent escape wheel and adjacent to the first and second escape wheels, each arcuate lever having a jewel positioned thereon for locking and unlocking the adjacent escape wheel; a passing spring having a blade positioned between the first and second arcuate levers and extending to the roller table, such that the roller table jewel can deflect the passing spring toward the first arcuate lever to unlock the first escape wheel and can deflect the passing spring toward the second arcuate lever to unlock the second escape wheel.

A double escapement mechanism for a watch, clock, or other timepiece. The mechanism comprises first and second escape wheels; a first geared drive wheel having a plurality of teeth for rotating the first escape wheel and a second geared drive wheel having a plurality of teeth for rotating the second escape wheel, the first and second geared drive wheels positioned below and concentric with the first and second escape wheels; a balance wheel positioned above the first and second escape wheels and mounted for rotational movement; a hairspring concentric with the balance wheel and positioned below the first and second geared drive wheels; a roller table having first and second impulse jewels positioned thereon and a roller jewel positioned therebetween; first and second arcuate levers for locking and unlocking the adjacent escape wheel and adjacent to the first and second escape wheels, each arcuate lever having a jewel positioned thereon for locking and unlocking the adjacent escape wheel; a passing spring having a blade positioned between the first and second arcuate levers and extending to the roller table, such that the roller table jewel can deflect the passing spring toward the first arcuate lever to unlock the first escape wheel and can deflect the passing spring toward the second arcuate lever to unlock the second escape wheel.

A horological regulator mechanism including a resonator mechanism having a virtual pivot and flexure bearing, with a quality factor greater than 1,000, the inertial element whereof indirectly cooperates with a free escapement mechanism, during the operating cycle whereof the resonator mechanism has at least one phase of freedom wherein it is not in contact with the escapement mechanism, this regulator mechanism comprises a pair of components including rubbing surfaces arranged to cooperate and be in contact with one another, whereby the first rubbing surface is formed by the surface of an element comprising silicon carbide.

A horological regulator mechanism including a resonator mechanism having a virtual pivot and flexure bearing, with a quality factor greater than 1,000, the inertial element whereof indirectly cooperates with a free escapement mechanism, during the operating cycle whereof the resonator mechanism has at least one phase of freedom wherein it is not in contact with the escapement mechanism, this regulator mechanism comprises a pair of components including rubbing surfaces arranged to cooperate and be in contact with one another, whereby the first rubbing surface is formed by the surface of an element comprising silicon carbide.

An escapement mechanism of a timepiece, including: a first escapement wheel, a second escapement wheel called an impulse pinion and a drive pinion; the impulse pinion, the drive pinion and the first escapement wheel being mounted on the same axis; an intermediate wheel meshing with the drive pinion; a balance plate carrying a plate peg and a direct impulse pallet stone arranged to cooperate with the first escapement wheel; pallets including a pallet entry cooperating with the plate peg, an impulse pallet stone arranged to cooperate with the impulse pinion, and first and second support pallet stones arranged to cooperate with the first escapement wheel. The first escapement wheel, the drive pinion and the impulse pinion are mounted in this order.