DETENT ESCAPEMENT FOR A TIMEPIECE

Abstract

A detent escapement includes an escape wheel with teeth regularly spaced along a perimeter and a balance having an impulse pallet and receiving driving impulses via the teeth, the balance performing an alternation during which it receives a driving impulse and an alternation without a driving impulse, the detent escapement also including a hook pivotally mounted on the balance and held bearing by an elastic member against an abutment, the detent escapement including a pivotable detent which includes a first arm which collaborates with the escape wheel to block the latter before the start of the driving impulse, as well as a second arm to allow the escape wheel to disengage from its engagement with the first arm at the start of the driving impulse, and which limits the pivoting of this detent to only part of the oscillation of the balance, the detent being configured to again block the escape wheel after the latter has finished providing the driving impulse to the impulse pallet of the balance.

Claims

1. A detent escapement provided to regulate the operation of a timepiece movement, said detent escapement comprising an escape wheel provided with a plurality of teeth regularly spaced along a perimeter and a balance, the balance being equipped with an impulse pallet with which said balance receives driving impulses via the teeth of the escape wheel, the balance being moved by an oscillating movement during which the balance performs, for each oscillation, an alternation during which the balance receives a driving impulse and an alternation without a driving impulse, the detent escapement also comprising a hook pivotally mounted on the balance and held bearing by an elastic member against an abutment, the detent escapement being completed by a detent which is able to pivot and which comprises a first arm which collaborates with the escape wheel to ensure blocking the latter just before the start of the driving impulse, as well as a second arm which collaborates with the hook of the balance to allow the escape wheel to disengage from its engagement with the first arm at the start of the driving impulse, and which limits the pivoting of this, said detent to only part of the oscillation of the balance, the detent also being arranged so that, by cooperation with the escape wheel, its return to the position wherein it again blocks the escape wheel after the latter has finished providing the driving impulse to the balance is assisted by said escape wheel, the detent escapement finally comprising a pulling device which opposes a resistance to the disengagement of the escape wheel during shocks applied to the horological movement when the latter is in its rest position on the detent.

2. The detent escapement according to claim 1, wherein the first arm of the detent carries a rest pallet against which the escape wheel is bearing by one of its teeth just before the start of a driving impulse, and a disengagement pallet against which the pivoting hook of the balance is bearing just before the start of the driving impulse, the pivoting hook being arranged so as to push back the disengagement pallet and to pivot the detent at the start of the part of the alternation of the balance where the impulse takes place, so that the rest pallet disengages from the tooth of the escape wheel with which it is engaged and allows this said escape wheel to provide the driving impulse to the balance, and the pivoting hook being arranged so that, during the alternation without impulse of the balance, it is retracted by performing a pivoting movement when it passes at the level of the disengagement pallet, so that the passage of the balance has no influence on the detent during said alternation without impulse, the detent also carrying a return pallet arranged so that the rest pallet again gradually penetrates in the perimeter of the teeth of the escape wheel when the latter finishes providing the driving impulse to the impulse pallet of the balance.

3. The detent escapement according to claim 2, characterised in wherein the return pallet is arranged so that, while the escape wheel continues to provide the driving impulse to the impulse pallet of the balance by one of its teeth, it drives the return pallet of the detent by another of its teeth, so that the rest pallet again gradually penetrates in the perimeter of the teeth of the escape wheel.

4. The detent escapement according to claim 2, characterised in wherein the first arm and the second arm are rigidly connected to each other and form an assembly capable of pivoting on a rod.

5. The detent escapement according to claim 3, characterised in wherein the first arm and the second arm are rigidly connected to each other and form an assembly capable of pivoting on a rod.

6. The detent escapement according to claim 4, wherein the first and second arms are connected to each other with a rivet.

7. The detent escapement according to claim 4, wherein the first and second arms are made in one piece.

8. The detent escapement according to claim 4, wherein the first and second arms extend in two planes which are parallel and distant from each other, so that the rest and return pallets on the one hand, and the disengagement pallet on the other hand, are stepped.

9. The detent escapement according to claim 4, wherein the rest and return pallets are disposed on either side of the pivot axis.

10. The detent escapement according to claim 4, wherein the rest and return pallets are parallelepipedal in shape, terminated in inclined planes and extend parallel to each other.

11. The detent escapement according to claim 4, wherein the second arm carries a shock-resistant member intended to penetrate into a clearance made in the periphery of a balance plate when the escape wheel finishes providing the driving impulse to the balance.

12. The detent escapement according to claim 4, wherein the pivoting travel of the detent is limited by an impulse abutment on the one hand, and by a rest abutment on the other hand, the detent abutting against the impulse abutment when the escape wheel communicates a driving impulse to the balance, and the detent abutting against the rest abutment when the escape wheel returns to its rest position.

13. The detent escapement according to claim 11, wherein the elastic member is carried by the plate of the balance.

14. The detent escapement according to claim 12, wherein the elastic member is carried by the plate of the balance.

15. The detent escapement according to claim 2, wherein the pulling device is formed by the rest pallet a rest plane of which forms an angle α with a perpendicular raised over a radius of the detent, at the point of contact of the tooth and the rest pallet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0047] Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows of an exemplary embodiment of a detent escapement according to the invention, this example being given purely in an illustrative and non-limiting manner only in connection with the appended drawing on which:

[0048] FIG. 1, already mentioned, is a schematic representation of a detent escapement according to the prior art comprising a leaf spring and a detent spring;

[0049] FIG. 2, already mentioned, is a representation of a first embodiment of a pivoted detent escapement according to the prior art;

[0050] FIG. 3, already mentioned, is a representation of a second embodiment of a pivoted detent escapement according to the prior art, also called a Breguet detent;

[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the detent escapement according to the invention in its entirety;

[0052] FIG. 5A is a schematic representation of the detent escapement according to the invention in its rest position;

[0053] FIG. 5B is a view similar to that of FIG. 5A, the detent escapement being in a position wherein the escape wheel begins to disengage from its engagement with the rest pallet and can provide a driving impulse to the balance;

[0054] FIG. 5C is a view similar to that of FIG. 5B wherein the escape wheel rotates and transmits its motor torque to the impulse pallet of the balance;

[0055] FIG. 5D is a view similar to that of FIG. 5C, the escape wheel continuing to provide the driving impulse to the balance while driving the return pallet of the detent;

[0056] FIG. 5E is a view similar to that of FIG. 5D wherein the escape wheel finishes providing the driving impulse to the balance, while the rest pallet is again in the perimeter of the teeth of the escape wheel;

[0057] FIG. 5F is a view similar to that of FIG. 5E wherein the escape wheel is at rest, while the balance pivots in the clockwise direction and performs its idle alternation, also called coup perdu;

[0058] FIG. 6 illustrates, in the case of a detent escapement of the prior art of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, the angle traversed by the balance plate and the trajectory described by the detent spring during the coup perdu, and

[0059] FIG. 7 illustrates, in the case of a detent escapement according to the invention, the angle traversed by the balance plate and the trajectory described by the pivoting hook during the coup perdu.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0060] The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea which consists in providing a detent escapement wherein the release of the escape wheel to provide the driving impulse to the balance during the first alternation of an oscillation, and the return, without energy input, of this balance to its initial position during the second alternation, also called “coup perdu”, of the same oscillation, are performed without assistance from a spring carried by the detent and without a return spring. Thanks to the invention, it is thus possible to dispense with the springs conventionally used in detent escapements, which are known to be very delicate to be machined, fragile and sensitive to wear. Furthermore, since the escape wheel is in direct engagement with the balance, there is a constant match between the mechanical energy supplied by the barrel spring and the energy supplied to the balance. If the barrel spring is highly wound, the escape wheel provides the balance with a high mechanical impulse, the amplitude of oscillation of the balance is also high and the force consumed to release the escape wheel is high; conversely, if the barrel spring is slightly wound, the escape wheel provides the balance with a mechanical impulse of low intensity, so that the amplitude of oscillation of the balance weakens as the force consumed for the release of the escape wheel.

[0061] Consequently, for its operation, the detent escapement according to the invention does not oppose high mechanical resistance when the barrel spring is slightly wound, so that its isochronic properties are not affected. Moreover, according to another aspect of the invention, the return of the detent to the position wherein it ensures blocking the escape wheel after the latter has provided the driving impulse to the balance is assisted by the wheel escapement itself, without the need for a spring. The manufacture of the spiral escapement according to the invention is therefore facilitated and the reliability of its operation significantly increased.

[0062] Designated by general reference numeral 74, the detent escapement shown in FIG. 4 is intended to be mounted in a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch (not shown). This detent escapement 74 comprises in particular an escape wheel 76 provided with a plurality of regularly spaced teeth 78. This escape wheel 76 is conventionally driven by the gear train 80 of the timepiece which receives its driving force from one or more barrel springs (not shown in the drawing).

[0063] The detent escapement 74 is completed by a balance 82 mounted on a rod 84 and whose oscillations are maintained by a spiral spring 88. On the side of its last coil on the inside 90, the spiral spring 88 is conventionally fixed on the rod 84 of the balance 82 by means of a collet 92, while on the side of its last coil on the outside 94, the spiral spring 88 is fixed to a stud 96.

[0064] As can be seen in FIG. 5A, the balance 82 is equipped with an impulse pallet 98 by means of which the balance 82 receives driving impulses via the teeth 78 of the escape wheel 76. This impulse pallet 98 is, in a preferred but non-limiting manner, in the shape of a small piece of ruby, sapphire, garnet or the like in the shape of a parallelepiped, embedded in the balance 82 and terminated at its free end by an inclined plane 100.

[0065] A hook 102 pivotally mounted on the balance 82 and held bearing against an abutment 104 by an elastic member 106 can also be seen in FIG. 5A. In the example shown in the drawing, the elastic member 106 is carried by the balance 82. This elastic member 106 of the simple spring type acts as the detent spring in conventional detent escapements. Its function is to allow the detent body to disengage from its engagement with the escape wheel at the start of the driving impulse. Once again, it is observed that the detent escapement according to the invention does not also comprise a return spring.

[0066] According to the invention, the detent escapement 74 also comprises a detent 108. This detent 108 is formed of a first and a second arm, respectively 110 and 112, these first and second arms 110 and 112 being rigidly connected to each other, for example by means of a rivet 114, and being able to pivot on a rod 116. In the example shown in the drawing, the first and second arms 110 and 112 are manufactured separately from each other, then assembled to each other, for example by riveting. It goes without saying that these first and second arms 110 and 112 can just as easily be made in one piece, for example by moulding.

[0067] The first arm 110 carries a rest pallet 118 at a first end, and a return pallet 120 at a second end. These rest 118 and return 120 pallets are disposed on either side of the pivot axis 116 of the detent 108; they are preferably in the shape of two small pieces of ruby, sapphire, garnet or the like in the shape of a parallelepiped and are embedded in each of the ends of the first arm 110. These rest 118 and return 120 pallets are terminated by inclined planes 122 and 124 through which they cooperate with the teeth 78 of the escape wheel 76. These rest 118 and return 120 pallets extend preferably but not necessarily parallel to one another.

[0068] As for the second arm 112, it carries at one of its ends a disengagement pallet 126 of the same type as the other pallets described above and terminated at its free end by an inclined plane 128. This second arm 112 also carries a shock-resistant device 130.

[0069] FIG. 4 further shows that the balance 82 comprises a plate 132 in the periphery of which is made a clearance 134 into which the shock-resistant member 130 is penetrated under conditions which will be detailed below. It is also observed that the first and second arms 110 and 112 extend in two planes which are parallel and distant from each other, so that the rest and return pallets 118 and 120 on the one hand, and the disengagement pallet 126 on the other hand are stepped.

[0070] Finally, the travel of the first arm 110 and therefore of the detent 108 as a whole is limited by an impulse abutment 136 on the one hand, and by a rest abutment 138 on the other hand.

[0071] In FIG. 5A, the escape wheel 76 has rotated in the clockwise direction and is in its rest position wherein it is bearing by one of its teeth 78 against the rest pallet 118 carried by the first arm 110 of the detent 108. As for the balance 82, it has rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, so that its pivoting hook 102 is in contact with the disengagement pallet 126 of the second arm 112.

[0072] In FIG. 5B, the balance 82 always tends to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction, so that its pivoting hook 102 pushes back the disengagement pallet 126 of the second arm 112, which pivots the entire detent 108 in the clockwise direction. Under the effect of this pivoting, the rest pallet 118 is disengaged from its engagement with the tooth 78 of the escape wheel 76, which enables the latter to rotate freely in the clockwise direction.

[0073] In FIG. 5C, the escape wheel 76 rotates freely in the clockwise direction and transmits, via one of its teeth 78, a driving impulse to the impulse pallet 98, which causes the balance 82 to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction.

[0074] In FIG. 5D, the escape wheel 76 continues to provide the driving impulse to the impulse pallet 98 of the balance 82 through one of its teeth 78, while by another of its teeth 78 it drives the return pallet 120 of the detent 108. The entire detent 108 thus tends to rotate in the counter-clockwise direction, so that the rest pallet 118 again gradually penetrates in the perimeter of the teeth 78 of the escape wheel 76. It is also observed that, in the position illustrated in FIG. 5D, the shock-resistant member 130 is located at the bottom of the clearance 134 made in the plate 132 carried by the balance 82, in order not to interfere with the pivoting of the detent 108 during the impulse phase which extends from FIG. 5A to FIG. 5E. During the remainder of the oscillation of the balance 130, the function of this shock-resistant member 130 is, by contact with the plate 132 of the balance 130, to limit the pivoting of the detent 108 in the event of a shock applied to the horological movement and to prevent the accidental unlocking of the escape wheel 76 when the latter is in its rest position on the detent 108.

[0075] In FIG. 5E, the escape wheel 76 finishes providing the driving impulse to the impulse pallet 98 of the balance 82 and the rest pallet 118 is again in the perimeter of the teeth 78 of the escape wheel 76.

[0076] In FIG. 5F, the escape wheel 76 is at rest, bearing by one of its teeth 78 on the rest pallet 118. From this moment, the escape wheel 76 is held against the rest pallet 118 with a certain force. This is a safety device for maintaining the escape wheel 76 while the balance 82 performs its idle alternation also called coup perdu, a device called pulling device which opposes a resistance to the disengagement of the rest pallet 118 during shocks applied to the timepiece. The pulling is generally defined by an angle α formed by a rest plane 140 of the rest pallet 118 and a perpendicular 142 raised over a radius 144 of the detent 108, at the point of contact 146 of the tooth 78 and the rest pallet 118. The value of the pulling angle α is in a preferred but non-limiting manner comprised between 5° and 20°, knowing that the higher this value, the better the immunisation of the escapement to shocks and accelerations, but the more the escape wheel will have difficulty disengaging from its engagement with the detent at the start of the driving impulse, which affects the mechanical efficiency and the isochronism of the escapement. Conversely, the lower the value of the pulling angle α, the easier it will be for the escape wheel to escape the engagement with the detent at the start of the driving impulse and therefore the better the efficiency and the isochronism. On the other hand, the resistance of the detent escapement according to the invention to shocks will be less. As for the balance 82, it pivots in the clockwise direction and performs its idle alternation also called coup perdu. During the return movement of the balance 82, the pivoting hook 102 retracts when it passes at the level of the disengagement pallet 126 by performing a pivoting movement according to a radius close to that of the balance 82, so that the passage of the balance 82 has no influence on the detent 108 during said alternation without impulse. Indeed, as illustrated in FIG. 6, in the case of a detent escapement of the prior art, during the coup perdu, given that the detent spring 18 is deformed over a large radius and that its free end traverses a trajectory 148 which is substantially tangent to the external diameter of the plate 22 of the balance 24, this plate 22 traverses an angle β of 13.8°. On the contrary, according to the invention (see FIG. 7), the pivoting centre of the pivoting hook 102 is offset with respect to a centre line 150 which joins the pivoting centre of the detent 108 to the pivoting centre of the balance 102 and the free end of the pivoting hook 102 pivots according to a radius smaller than the radius according to which the detent spring 18 of the prior art is deformed and describes a trajectory 152 which is more oriented towards the centre of the balance plate 82. Consequently, the angle γ traversed by the plate of the balance 82 during the coup perdu is much smaller, typically of the order of 2.5° in the present case, so that the detent escapement according to the invention is much less disturbed, which has a beneficial effect on the isochronism of the escapement.

[0077] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and that various simple modifications and variants can be considered by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be understood in particular that instead of the rest 118, return 120 and disengagement 126 pallets, the detent 108 could be provided with surfaces that are integral therewith and by which it would cooperate directly with the escape wheel 76 and the balance 82.

NOMENCLATURE

[0078] 1. Detent escapement [0079] 2. Escape wheel [0080] 4. Teeth [0081] 6. Stone [0082] 8. Body [0083] 10. Detent [0084] 12. Beak [0085] 14. Frame [0086] 16. Leaf spring [0087] 18. Detent spring [0088] 20. Disengagement pallet [0089] 22. Plate [0090] 24. Balance [0091] 26. Impulse pallet [0092] 28. Detent escapement [0093] 30. Escape wheel [0094] 32. Teeth [0095] 34. Stone [0096] 36. Body [0097] 38. Detent [0098] 42. Frame [0099] 44. Detent spring [0100] 46. Disengagement pallet [0101] 48. Plate [0102] 50. Balance [0103] 52. Impulse pallet [0104] 54. Return spring [0105] 56. Last outer coil [0106] 58. First inner coil [0107] 60. Point [0108] 62. Detent [0109] 64. Pivot axis [0110] 66. Hook [0111] 68. Plate [0112] 70. Balance [0113] 72. Spring [0114] 74. Detent escapement [0115] 76. Escape wheel [0116] 78. Escape wheel teeth [0117] 80. Gear train of the timepiece [0118] 82. Balance [0119] 84. Rod [0120] 88. Spiral spring [0121] 90. Last coil on the inside [0122] 92. Collet [0123] 94. Last coil on the outside [0124] 96. Stud [0125] 98. Impulse pallet [0126] 100. Inclined plane [0127] 102. Pivoting hook [0128] 104. Abutment [0129] 106. Elastic member [0130] 108. Detent [0131] 110. First arm [0132] 112. Second arm [0133] 114. Rivet [0134] 116. Pivot axis [0135] 118. Rest pallet [0136] 120. Return pallet [0137] 122. Inclined plane [0138] 124. Inclined plane [0139] 126. Disengagement pallet [0140] 128. Inclined plane [0141] 130. Shock-resistant member [0142] 132. Plate [0143] 134. Clearance [0144] 136. Impulse abutment [0145] 138. Rest abutment [0146] α Pulling angle [0147] 140. Rest plane [0148] 142. Perpendicular [0149] 144. Radius [0150] 146. Point of contact [0151] 148. Trajectory [0152] β. Angle [0153] 150. Centre line [0154] 152. Trajectory [0155] γ. Angle