233results about "Frequency setting mechanism" patented technology

An object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece rate stabilizer that uses an external reference but does not directly inject mechanical vibrations into the balance, and that can stabilize the rate over a long period of time with extremely low power consumption. [Solution] We provide a rate stabilizer for mechanical watches that is based on a statistical driving method with constant pulse width and amplitude and autonomously switches between four modes based on actual current consumption: normal mode using phase shift, ΔΣ1 bit stream mode, low detune frequency hopping mode, and chirp search mode.Without modifying the hairspring at all, we achieve both rate stability and low power consumption while maintaining constant instantaneous energy.

The invention relates to a regulating organ (1) for a clockwork movement comprising an inertial mass, for example an annular balance wheel (23), a balance spring (25), and a regulator system (20) for adjusting the rate of the balance spring (25). The balance spring (25) comprises a wound ribbon (2) and means for adjusting the stiffness of the balance spring having an elastic element (5) arranged in series with the wound ribbon (2). The regulator system (20) comprises a stud holder (31) having a first stud (34) and a second stud (35). The elastic element (5) is arranged between the first stud (34) and the second stud (35), the first stud (34) being movable relative to the second stud (35), the movement of the first stud (34) modifying the stiffness of the balance spring (25).

An object of the present invention is to provide an accuracy improvement device that achieves high accuracy comparable to that of a quartz clock and solves the accuracy problems of conventional mechanical clocks without significantly changing the existing clock structure. 【Means for solving the problem】 A mechanical clock is built-in with an external transmitter separate from the balance wheel, and its pulsation is converted into mechanical vibration by a piezo element, and the vibration energy is transmitted to the balance wheel. As a result, mechanical vibration is transmitted to the balance wheel of the mechanical clock, and the balance wheel is resonated by utilizing the pulling-in phenomenon. Due to this resonance, the vibration of the balance wheel is forcibly synchronized with the frequency of the quartz transmitter, and the accuracy is significantly improved.

To provide a balance spring for a horological regulating member, the balance spring being provided with temperature-dependent adjustment means.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a balance spring, in particular, for a horological regulating member, the balance spring (100) including a flexible strip (2) wound about its own axis multiple turns, the strip (2) having a predefined stiffness. The balance spring (100) has means of adjusting the stiffness of the strip (2) The balance spring (1) also has actuating means (10) for actuating the adjustment means, the actuating means (10) being configured to actuate the adjustment means depending on ambient temperature. The invention also relates to a horological regulating member including such balance spring.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

A balance-spring stud holder includes a clamping part defining three contact zones intended to press against a lateral wall of a projecting part of the balance bridge, a first contact zone being connected to a second contact zone by a first part and to the third contact zone by a second part of the clamping part. The first part has a first stiffness at a second median point of the second contact zone, relative to a first median point of the first contact zone, which is greater than three times a second stiffness that the second part has at a third median point of the third contact zone relative to the first median point of the first contact zone. The first stiffness can be seven times greater than the second stiffness.

A method for the fine adjustment of the rate of a mechanical oscillator with an oscillating inertial mass, equipped, in a first step, with an actuator made of material suitable for irreversible local micro-expansion under the action of laser fires, to impart to an inertia-block a radial travel during suitable laser fires on a writing zone of the actuator, in a second step, the initial rate of the oscillator is set and measured, in a third step, the direction and the value of the deviation required to achieve a predetermined rate range, and of the travel to be imparted to inertia-blocks are calculated, in a fourth step, a writing zone is subjected to femtosecond laser fires to create expansion lines by local molecular expansion to radially deform the actuator, in a fifth step the rate is measured and the third step and fourth step are repeated if required.

The present invention relates to a device (6) for autonomous adjustment of the active length of a balance spring (5), for a balance-spring type oscillator (4, 5), comprising a cock (12) mounted on a plate (13) of a watch movement (2) and in which a balance shaft pivots, the balance spring (5) having an inner end fixed to the balance shaft and an outer end fixed to a stud (8) attached to a stud holder (10), the stud holder (10) being pivotally mounted on the cock (12) concentrically with the balance shaft, and means for modifying the active length of the balance spring (5).

The invention relates to a balance spring, particularly for a resonator mechanism in watchmaking, the balance spring (100) comprising a flexible ribbon (2) wound upon itself in several turns, the ribbon (2) having a predefined stiffness, the balance spring (100) comprising means for adjusting its stiffness, the adjustment means comprising a flexible element (5) arranged in series with the ribbon (2), the flexible element (5) connecting one end (4) of said ribbon (2) to a fixed support (38), so as to add additional stiffness to the ribbon (2), the flexible element (5) preferably having a stiffness greater than that of the ribbon (2), characterized in that the flexible element (5) comprises two flexible parts (15, 16) each connecting the ribbon (2) to the fixed support (38), the two flexible parts (15, 16) being arranged relative to each other by axial symmetry along an axis (A) passing through preferably substantially through the center (0) of the spiral spring.The invention also relates to a clockwork resonator mechanism comprising such a spiral spring.

The invention relates to an assembly for a timepiece movement comprising a first timepiece component (22), for example a balance bridge, and a second timepiece component (30), for example an actuator of an actuation system, the assembly (1) comprising means for assembling the first timepiece component (22) against the second timepiece component (30), the assembly means comprising at least a first stud (43) arranged on the first component (22) and at least a first notch (41) arranged on the second component (30), the first notch (41) comprising a first flexible element (48) arranged inside, such that the stud (43) is held in the first notch (41) by pressing of the flexible element (48) on the stud (43).

Method for adjusting the rate of a basic oscillator of a watch arranged to oscillate at a nominal frequency N0, with a master oscillator generating an excitation frequency NE approximately equal to an integer multiple of this nominal frequency N0, the master oscillator subjecting the watch to excitation or a modulated motion during a transition phase after which the basic oscillator is stabilised at the excitation frequency NE, and a state of display correction method with a winder for mechanical or automatic watches, moving a support carrying the watch and comprising a state of display correction oscillator, having a lower variation of rate value than the initial variation of rate value DI of this basic oscillator, and oscillating at a correction frequency NC to impose oscillation or a motion on the watch, during a state of display correction phase whose duration is adjusted to exactly correct a state of display error measured at the initial moment of actuation.

The watch movement includes a mechanical resonator, formed by a balance wheel and a balance spring (6), a device for adjusting the oscillation frequency of the mechanical resonator, and means for setting the mechanical resonator to its reference point. A movable part (16) of the adjusting device includes means for securing an outer end portion (8) of the balance spring and means for defining the active length of the balance spring. Means for varying the active length of the balance spring include a first toothed wheel (22), carried by the movable part, and a first set of teeth (10), arranged along the outer end portion of the balance spring, with which the first toothed wheel meshes. The securing means hold the outer end portion by friction so as to allow the first toothed wheel to drive this outer end portion via the first set of teeth and thus vary the active length of the balance spring.The first toothed wheel is in mesh relationship with a second toothed wheel, fixed to the support of the resonator, so that when the outer end part undergoes an angular displacement in a selected direction relative to the moving part, this moving part is simultaneously displaced angularly by a corresponding angular distance in the opposite direction.

To provide an assembly of two timepiece components with improved assembly means.SOLUTION: An assembly of a horological movement comprises a first timepiece component (22), for example, a plate extending in a first plane, and a second timepiece component (30), for example, an actuator of an actuation system. The assembly (1) comprises means (40) for assembling the first timepiece component (22) to the second timepiece component (30). The assembly means (40) includes means (50) for positioning the second component (30) on the first component (22) in a plane substantially parallel to the first component (22), and means (60) for bearing on the second component (30) to lock the second component (30) on the first component (22).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

A stud-holder (1) for a regulating member (10) of a horological movement, the regulating member (10) including an inertial mass, for example a balance (23), a balance spring (25) including a strip (2) wound about itself in several turns, and a balance cock (22), the stud-holder (1) including a main body (31) intended to be mounted on the balance cock (42), and a stud (34) mounted on the main body (31) in a first direction, wherein the stud-holder (1) includes an arm (5) extending from the stud (34), the arm (5) being directed in a second direction under the main body (31), the second direction forming a non-zero angle with the first direction, so as to pass at least in part beneath a balance spring (25) held by the stud (34), when the stud-holder (1) is mounted on the regulating member (10).

The utility model relates to a watch movement and a watch. The watch movement comprises a mechanical resonator composed of a balance wheel and a balance spring; means for setting the oscillation frequency of the mechanical resonator; and a mechanism for setting a guide mark on the mechanical resonator. The moving member of the setting device includes a mechanism for attaching the outer end portion of the hairspring and a mechanism for defining the effective length of the hairspring. The mechanism for varying the effective length includes a first gear carried by the moving member and a first tooth arranged along the outer end portion of the hairspring, the first gear meshing with the first tooth. The fastening mechanism retains the outer end portion by friction so that the first gear can drive the outer end portion via the first teeth and thus change the effective length of the hairspring. The first gear is in meshing relationship with a second gear that is integral with the resonator support such that when the outer end portion undergoes angular displacement in a selected direction relative to the moving member, the moving member is simultaneously angularly displaced by a corresponding angular distance in an opposite direction.

A timepiece case including a middle (20) receiving a horological movement (1) having at least one function corrector (10, 12) for carrying out various functions of activating, selecting, resetting and / or correcting a piece of information derived from the current time of the horological movement (1). The middle has a correction member (100), and a control stem (120) moving in translation within the cylindrical body of the correction member. The correction member (100) is mounted such that it slides in the middle (20) between a plurality of stable positions, each of the stable positions modifying the position of the end (122) of the control stem (120) facing the horological movement (1).

The utility model provides a mechanical watch travel time precision fine tuning mechanism, which relates to the technical field of mechanical watches and comprises a mechanical watch main body, a magic tape is fixed at the rear end of the mechanical watch main body, a water absorption pad is attached to one end of the magic tape far away from the mechanical watch main body, and a connecting sleeve is fixed at one end of the mechanical watch main body. An inserting column matched with the mechanical watch main body is arranged in the connecting sleeve, and a fine tuning rotating block is fixed at one end, located outside the connecting sleeve, of the inserting column; when the fine adjustment rotating block needs to be disassembled, only two pulling plates need to be oppositely pulled to drive two connecting plates to move, so that two clamping columns are driven to move out of a clamping cavity and retract into an inner cavity, at the moment, the clamping columns do not limit inserting columns any more, a user can directly move out of the inserting columns and the fine adjustment rotating block to independently replace and maintain the inserting columns and the fine adjustment rotating block, the cost is low, and the practicability is high. And through the elliptical arrangement of the clamping cavity, the insertion column is not influenced to be pulled out slightly, the mechanical watch main body is subjected to fine adjustment processing, and the practicability is higher.

The invention relates to a spiral spring (2) formed from a spiral strip of a determined length for a watch movement, at least a portion of the strip being provided with a scale (40) comprising a plurality of graduations each of which corresponds to a fraction of time of an advance or a delay of the watch movement.

To provide a mechanical assembly allowing secure attachment without resilient deformation of an outer last coil of a balance spring and without use of any adhesive.SOLUTION: An assembly for removable attachment of a balance spring 2 includes means 8 of retaining the balance spring 2 on one hand, and a removable locking part 10 on the other hand. A second free end 18 of an outer last coil 20 of the balance spring 2 includes attachment means in which the retaining means 8 is engaged to ensure the removable attachment of the balance spring 2 by the outer last coil 20. The attachment means is dimensioned such that, in its natural rest position, the balance spring 2 is not in contact with the retaining means 8 engaged with the attachment means. The locking part 10 for the removable attachment of the second free end 18 of the outer last coil 20 of the balance spring 2 is engaged with the retaining means 8 to lock the attachment means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

The invention discloses a tourbillon structure of a mechanical watch with counterweight compensation, and relates to the technical field of mechanical watch application, the tourbillon structure comprises a frame plate, a first direction shaft, an outer tourbillon, a second direction shaft, an inner tourbillon, an escapement mechanism and a transmission system, the outer tourbillon is rotatably connected with the frame plate through the first direction shaft, and the outer tourbillon is rotatably connected with the frame plate through the second direction shaft; the outer tourbillon is rotatably connected with the inner tourbillon through a first direction shaft, the axis of the outer tourbillon is perpendicular to the first direction shaft, the inner tourbillon is rotatably connected with the outer tourbillon through a second direction shaft, the escapement mechanism is arranged on the inner tourbillon, and the escapement mechanism comprises an escapement wheel, an escapement fork and a hairspring balance wheel. And in combination with an inertia fine adjustment mechanism on the balance wheel, collaborative optimization is performed from two levels of frame dynamic balance and speed regulation period, so that the problem of uneven mass distribution easily caused by a complex structure of the double-shaft tourbillon is effectively solved, and frictional resistance and unnecessary energy loss of the rotating frame are remarkably reduced.

The invention relates to a timepiece comprising a mechanical movement and an adjusting device for adjusting the travel time difference, the adjusting device comprising a rotary movable part and an adjusting movable part capable of controlling the angular position of the rotary movable part. The adjustment device further comprises a lever provided with a connecting gear train, the lever being rotatable by a user-actuated button between a disengaged position and a coupled position, in which the adjustment movable is kinematically connected to the movable on the correction device via the connecting gear train, and in which the adjustment movable is kinematically connected to the movable on the correction device via the connecting gear train. The correction device comprises a control spindle equipped with a crown to enable actuation of the movable part, or an adjustment movable part kinematically connected to a driving movable part of an indicator via a connecting gear train, said driving movable part being drivable by the correction device when correcting the data displayed by the indicator, the travel time difference of the timepiece can be adjusted by moving the lever to the coupled position by actuating the button, translating the crown to move the control spindle to a given axial correction position, and then rotating the crown.

The present invention relates to a homogeneous balance staff made of a non-magnetic alloy comprising, by mass percentage, between 50 and 55% Nickel, between 17 and 21% Chromium, between 2.8 and 3.3% Molybdenum, between 4.75 and 5.50% Niobium, between 0 and 1.0% Cobalt, between 0 and 0.35% Manganese, between 0 and 0.30% Copper, between 0.20 and 0.80% Aluminum, between 0.65 and 1.15% Titanium, between 0 and 0.35% Silicon, between 0 and 0.08% Carbon, between 0 and 0.015% Sulfur, between 0 and 0.015% Phosphorus, and between 0 and 0.006% Boron, and the remainder of Iron.

To provide a horological assembly for a regulating member provided with efficient and accurate rate adjustment means.SOLUTION: A horological assembly 10 for a horological regulating member comprises a balance spring 25 having a flexible strip, the flexible strip includes rigid adjustment means, the adjustment means includes a flexible element 5 arranged in series with a strip, the flexible element 5 connects one end 4 of the strip to a rigid support 17, the adjustment means includes prestressing means 6 for applying a variable force or torque to the flexible element 5 so as to vary rigidity of the flexible element 5, the horological assembly 10 includes a stud-holder 1 configured to suspend the balance spring 25, the stud-holder 1 includes a main body 30 connected to the flexible element 5 and a sub-body 33 connected to the prestressing means 6, the sub-body 33 is movable relative to the main body 30, and the sub-body 33 is connected to the main body 30 by a flexure bearing 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

The timepiece movement according to the invention comprises: a control stem (3) movable by pulling the stem in an axial direction; a resonator (4) comprising a rotating balance wheel (10) mounted on a flexible blade; and a mechanism for stopping the swing of the balance wheel. The mechanism comprises a lever (23) connected to the stem such that the lever pivots about a pivot axis (24) when the stem is pulled or pushed, and an auxiliary lever (30) connected to the lever such that the pivot lever causes the auxiliary lever to rotate about a rotation axis (31) separate from the pivot axis (24). The auxiliary lever is arranged such that, when following its angular path starting from the rest position, it stops the balance (10) regardless of the position of the balance when the stem (3) is initially pulled. Furthermore, in the active position, the lever (30) holds the balance in the rest position, which enables the resonator (4) to be automatically restarted when the auxiliary lever (30) returns from the active position to the rest position.

A return member for a balance wheel of a timepiece, replacing a spiral spring. This return member includes 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 has 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 return member may be in an escapement, a clockwork movement or a timepiece comprising such a movement.

A regulating member for a horological movement including an inertial mass, for example a balance, a balance spring, and an index-assembly system for adjusting the rate of the balance spring, the index-assembly system including a stud-holder including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being movable relative to the second portion, wherein the regulating member includes locking device configured to block the second portion of the stud-holder in one position with respect to a plate of the movement.

To overcome some or all of drawbacks in the conventional index systems by providing an actuation system compatible with a regulating device.SOLUTION: A regulating member 1 for a horological movement is provided, including an inertial mass, for example a balance 23, a balance spring 25, a balance cock 22, and an actuation system 20 for adjusting the rate of the balance spring. The balance spring includes a coiled ribbon and means 30 of adjusting stiffness of the balance spring, where the means is provided with a resilient element arranged in series with the coiled ribbon. The adjustment means includes a pre-stress device for applying a variable force or torque to the flexible (resilient) element. The actuation system includes an eccentric 10 for actuating the pre-stress means) of the adjustment means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

The utility model relates to a speed regulating mechanism (1) for a clock movement, which comprises an inertial mass body such as a balance wheel (23), a hairspring (25) comprising a strip (2) wound for multiple circles, and an actuating system used for regulating the travel time difference of the speed regulating mechanism (1), the actuating system comprises an actuator (30) mechanically connected to the hairspring (25), the travel time difference of the speed regulating mechanism can be changed by the displacement of the actuator, the actuator (30) comprises a hook (39) engaged with the hairspring (25), and the stiffness of the hairspring (25) can be changed by the displacement of the actuator (30). The utility model also relates to a clock movement comprising the speed regulating mechanism and a clock comprising the clock movement.

A regulator hand, movement, and timepiece. This device can facilitate hairspring maintenance. The regulator hand of the present invention comprises an inner clip having a pair of legs, with the hairspring play fitting within the gap between the legs; a regulator body that holds the inner clip; and an outer clip having a mounting portion and a receiving portion. The mounting portion is detachably attached to the inner clip or the regulator body, and the receiving portion prevents the hairspring from being dislodged from the legs.