Patent classifications
G04B17/26
HOROLOGICAL MOVEMENT EQUIPPED WITH AN OSCILLATOR COMPRISING A PIEZOELECTRIC BALANCE-SPRING
An horological movement includes an analogue time display, a geartrain, a barrel and an electromechanical oscillator, which is formed of a resonator, including a balance and a piezoelectric balance-spring, and a mechanical escapement, and further includes an electronic control circuit connected to an electrical energy source and arranged to be able to control the application of an electrical voltage on at least one electrode of the piezoelectric balance-spring so as to generate driving electrical pulses for the oscillator. The horological movement is configured such that the barrel is capable, in a first main state, of maintaining alone a functional oscillation of the oscillator with a first amplitude, while in a second main state, the electronic control circuit powers the piezoelectric balance-spring to maintain, partially or fully, the oscillation of the resonator with a second amplitude greater than the first amplitude for any spatial orientation, the second amplitude being preferably constant.
Horological limiting device for a watch that includes an oscillator and means for limiting a variation rate of the oscillator
A horological device including an oscillator of a watch and device for stopping this oscillator embedded in a carriage of a tourbillon or karussel, including a rod arranged to axially push a lifting finger into an active blocking position, against a first spring tending to recall same axially into a rest position in which it bears against a carriage wheel, which lifting finger includes a ramp radially repelling a stop finger against a second spring tending to radially distance same from the axis, which stop finger is remote from the axis when the lifting finger is in the rest position thereof, and, in the active blocking position of this lifting finger, the stop finger can interfere with a stop cam integral with a wheel set of the oscillator, in an angular position remote from the dead center position of the oscillator.
Horological limiting device for a watch that includes an oscillator and means for limiting a variation rate of the oscillator
A horological device including an oscillator of a watch and device for stopping this oscillator embedded in a carriage of a tourbillon or karussel, including a rod arranged to axially push a lifting finger into an active blocking position, against a first spring tending to recall same axially into a rest position in which it bears against a carriage wheel, which lifting finger includes a ramp radially repelling a stop finger against a second spring tending to radially distance same from the axis, which stop finger is remote from the axis when the lifting finger is in the rest position thereof, and, in the active blocking position of this lifting finger, the stop finger can interfere with a stop cam integral with a wheel set of the oscillator, in an angular position remote from the dead center position of the oscillator.
Mechanical timepiece comprising a movement which running is enhanced by a regulation device
The mechanical timepiece is equipped with a movement which includes an indicator mechanism of at least one time data item, a mechanical resonator forming a slave oscillator which paces the running of the indicator mechanism, and a mechanical correction device to prevent a possible time drift in the running of the indicator mechanism. The mechanical correction device is formed by a master mechanical oscillator and a mechanical braking device of the mechanical resonator, this braking device arranged to apply periodically to the mechanical resonator mechanical braking pulses at a braking frequency determined by the master mechanical oscillator. Then, the mechanical system, formed by the mechanical resonator and the braking device, is configured to enable the braking device to be able to start the braking pulses preferably at any position of the mechanical resonator. Preferably, the braking pulses have a duration of less than one quarter of a set-point period.
Mechanical timepiece comprising a movement which running is enhanced by a regulation device
The mechanical timepiece is equipped with a movement which includes an indicator mechanism of at least one time data item, a mechanical resonator forming a slave oscillator which paces the running of the indicator mechanism, and a mechanical correction device to prevent a possible time drift in the running of the indicator mechanism. The mechanical correction device is formed by a master mechanical oscillator and a mechanical braking device of the mechanical resonator, this braking device arranged to apply periodically to the mechanical resonator mechanical braking pulses at a braking frequency determined by the master mechanical oscillator. Then, the mechanical system, formed by the mechanical resonator and the braking device, is configured to enable the braking device to be able to start the braking pulses preferably at any position of the mechanical resonator. Preferably, the braking pulses have a duration of less than one quarter of a set-point period.
Rotating resonator with flexure bearing maintained by a detached lever escapement
A timepiece regulator includes a detached lever escapement mechanism, and a resonator with a quality factor Q including an inertia element comprising an impulse pin integral with an inertia element and cooperating with a fork of the lever. This inertia element is subjected to the action of elastic return means directly or indirectly fixed to the plate and is arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set comprised in the escapement mechanism. This resonator mechanism is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main axis (DP), with a flexure bearing subjected to the return force of at least two flexible strips attached to the plate, defining together a virtual pivot with a main axis (DP), the lever pivoting about a secondary axis (DS).
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A HOROLOGICAL DISC AND HOROLOGICAL DISC OBTAINED BY ITS IMPLEMENTATION
A method for manufacturing a horological mobile (10) including: depositing a first thin layer (11) with a first material including at least nickel, the periphery of which defines the contour of the geometry of the horological mobile (10); depositing an intermediate layer (12), with a second material including at least nickel and phosphorus, so as to cover a face of the first thin layer (11), the periphery of which corresponds to that of the geometric shape of the first thin layer (11); depositing a second thin layer (13) with the first material, so as to cover a face of the intermediate layer (12), the periphery of which corresponds to that of the geometric shape of the first thin layer (11), wherein the first and the second thin layer (11, 13) are poorer in phosphorus than the intermediate layer (12), or do not contain any phosphorus.
Rotating resonator with flexure bearing maintained by a detached lever escapement
Timepiece regulator (300) comprising a detached lever (7) escapement mechanism (200), and a resonator (100) including an inertia element (2), which includes an impulse pin (6) cooperating with a fork (8) of the lever (7), and which is subjected to the action of elastic return means (3) fixed to the plate (1) and is arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set (4), this resonator (100) is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main direction (DP), with a flexure bearing returned by flexible strips (5) attached to the plate (1), defining a virtual pivot having a main axis (DP), the resonator (100) is attached to an elastic suspension strip (9) attached to the plate (1), allowing displacement in the main direction (DP), the plate (1) comprising shock absorber stops (11, 12), in the main direction (DP), cooperating with at least one stiff element of the inertial element (2).
Rotating resonator with flexure bearing maintained by a detached lever escapement
Timepiece regulator comprising a detached lever escapement mechanism, and a resonator with a quality factor Q including an inertia element including an impulse pin cooperating with a fork of the lever, subjected to the return force of two flexible strips attached to the plate, defining a virtual pivot having a main axis (DP), the lever pivoting about a secondary axis (DS), and the lift angle (β) of the resonator, during which the impulse pin is in contact with the fork, is less than 10°, and the ratio I.sub.B/I.sub.A between the inertia I.sub.B of the inertia element with respect to the main axis (DP) and the inertia I.sub.A of the lever with respect to the secondary axis (DS) is greater than 2Q.Math.α.sup.2/(0.1.Math.π.Math.β.sup.2), where α is the lift angle of the lever corresponding to the maximum angular travel of the fork.
Rotating resonator with flexure bearing maintained by a detached lever escapement
Timepiece regulator (300) comprising a detached lever (7) escapement mechanism (200), and a resonator (100) with a quality factor Q including an inertia element (2) comprising an impulse pin (6) integral with an inertia element (2) and cooperating with a fork (8) of the lever (7), this inertia element (2) being subjected to the action of elastic return means (3) directly or indirectly fixed to the plate (1) and being arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set (4) comprised in the escapement mechanism (200), this resonator mechanism (100) is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main axis (DP), with a flexure bearing subjected to the return force of at least two flexible strips (5) attached to the plate (1), defining together a virtual pivot with a main axis (DP), the lever (7) pivoting about a secondary axis (DS), and the fork (8) is enlarged in comparison to the fork of a conventional Swiss lever.