Timepiece regulating organ with flexible guide provided with temperature compensation means

Abstract

The invention relates to a regulating member (1) for a timepiece movement, comprising an oscillating mass, for example a balance, and a flexible guide having at least two main flexible blades (9) connecting a mobile support (3) to the oscillating mass so as to allow a rotational movement of the oscillating mass about a virtual pivot, characterized in that the regulating member (1) comprises elastic means (50) for compensating the temperature, said elastic means being arranged to connect the mobile support (3) to fixing means (7) for fixing the regulating member (1) on the timepiece movement, said elastic compensation means (50) being configured to adjust its stiffness as a function of the temperature so as to compensate the effect of the temperature on the regulating member (1). The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a regulating member (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an adjustable clock component having a flexible guide with a temperature compensation device. Background Technology

[0002] Today, most mechanical watches are equipped with a balance wheel and hairspring, and a Swiss lever escapement. The balance wheel and spring form the watch's time base. It is also known as the resonator or regulating element.

[0003] As for the escapement mechanism, it performs two main functions:

[0004] - Maintain the reciprocating motion of the resonator;

[0005] - Count these reciprocating motions.

[0006] An inertial element, a guide element, and a resilient return element are required to form the regulating mechanism. Traditionally, a coil spring is used as the resilient return element for the inertial element formed by the balance wheel. The balance wheel is rotatably guided by pivots, which typically rotate within ruby ​​sliding bearings.

[0007] Currently, flexible guides are used as elastic return springs to form a virtual pivot. Flexible guides with virtual pivots can greatly improve watch resonators. The simplest is the crossed blade guide, which consists of two guides with straight blades that are crossed, usually perpendicularly. These two blades can be three-dimensional on two different planes or two-dimensional on the same plane, and then welded at their intersection. However, there are also RCC (Remote Centre Compliance) type non-crossed blade guides, which have non-crossed straight blades. Such resonators are described in documents EP2911012, or documents EP14199039 and EP16155039.

[0008] However, such mechanical resonators can be affected by changes in external parameters during operation, which in turn cause variations in the resonator frequency. These parameters could be, for example, temperature, pressure, humidity, or gravity. Changes in the resonator frequency lead to errors in time measurement.

[0009] Document CH704687 describes an adjustment mechanism including a helical spring and a component for correcting the position of the balance wheel hairspring stud to correct the deformation of the helical spring caused by certain parameters (such as temperature).

[0010] However, such correction components are not only difficult to apply to flexible guides, but also cannot achieve the required level of accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to overcome all or part of the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a watch regulating member with a flexible guide, the flexible guide being provided with a precise temperature compensation device applicable to the flexible guide.

[0012] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a watch regulating member for a watch movement, comprising, for example, an oscillating mass of a balance wheel, and a flexible guide having at least two main flexible blades that connect a movable support to the oscillating mass so that the oscillating mass can rotate about a virtual pivot.

[0013] A significant feature of the present invention is that the adjusting member includes an elastic device for compensating for temperature, the elastic device being configured to connect a bracket to a fixing device for securing the adjusting member to the watch movement, the elastic compensation device being configured to adjust its stiffness according to temperature to compensate for the effect of temperature on the adjusting member.

[0014] This invention allows the prestressing device to apply a variable force or torque to the elastic element based on temperature, ensuring that the regulating member maintains essentially precise operation despite significant temperature variations. This is because, when the temperature changes, the prestressing device alters the force or torque applied to the elastic element, thereby changing the stiffness of the flexible guide. By modifying the stiffness of the flexible guide, the operation of the regulating member is adjusted. Therefore, when the temperature changes, the elastic device is mechanically impacted, causing the operation of the regulating member to adapt to this change.

[0015] The elastic element alters the stiffness of the connection point and provides additional flexibility to the resonator. Therefore, the effective stiffness of the resonator includes the stiffness of the flexible guide and the stiffness of the elastic element. Force or variable torque makes it possible to preload the elastic element, preferably without preloading the flexible guide and without moving its end. By applying prestress to the elastic element, the stiffness of the elastic element changes, while the stiffness of the flexible guide remains constant because no prestress is applied to the flexible guide and its end does not move.

[0016] By changing the stiffness of the elastic element, the stiffness of the resonator (the stiffness of the flexible guide and the stiffness of the elastic element) changes, thereby altering the resonator's operation. Preferably, the elastic element is stiffer than the flexible guide, and the proportion of the elastic element's flexibility in the overall stiffness is smaller than that of the flexible guide. Therefore, changing the stiffness of the elastic element alters the overall stiffness of the resonator, thus finely tuning its operation, making it possible to precisely adjust the frequency of our time base. In this way, extremely high precision is achieved in maintaining the operation according to temperature.

[0017] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the elastic compensation device includes an elastic element disposed between the support and the fixing device, and a prestressing device for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element according to the temperature.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the prestressing device includes a spring component connected to a movable support, the spring component transmitting force or torque to an elastic element through the movable support, the spring component, the movable support, and the elastic element being arranged on the same axis.

[0019] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the prestressing device includes a body that is deformable according to temperature, the deformable body being in at least partial contact with a spring component.

[0020] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the deformable body is an elongated bimetallic strip.

[0021] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the spring component includes a first flexible blade connected to a movable support.

[0022] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the spring component includes a first translation stage connected to a first flexible blade.

[0023] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the deformable body comes into contact with the first translation stage.

[0024] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the spring component includes a spring disposed between the deformable body and the first translation stage.

[0025] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the first translation stage includes a first movable element connected to the first flexible blade.

[0026] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the elastic component includes a first movable element connected to a first flexible blade, a second movable element, and a second flexible blade connected to a heat-deformable body. The first movable element and the second movable element are connected by a pair of parallel flexible blades.

[0027] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the elastic component includes a second flexible blade connected to a heat-deformable body and connected to a second movable element.

[0028] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the adjusting member includes means for adjusting the prestressing device to apply a variable force to the prestressing device, for example, to the first elongated movable element.

[0029] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment device includes a second translation stage disposed at one end of the deformable body, to which a variable force is applied.

[0030] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the two main blades of the flexible guide are intersecting.

[0031] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, apart from the oscillating mass, the adjusting member extends substantially in the same plane.

[0032] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the elastic element includes a pair of non-crossing blades that connect the support to the fixing device.

[0033] The present invention also relates to a watch movement that includes such an adjusting member. Attached Figure Description

[0034] The objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading, with reference to the accompanying drawings, several embodiments given by way of non-limiting example only, wherein:

[0035] - Figure 1 A schematic plan view of an adjusting member equipped with a temperature compensation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0036] - Figure 2 A schematic plan view of an adjusting member equipped with a temperature compensation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown; and

[0037] - Figure 3 A schematic plan view of an adjustment member equipped with a temperature compensation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Figures 1 to 3 Three embodiments of adjusting members 1, 10, and 20 according to the invention are shown, each member including an elastic device 50 configured to compensate for thermal changes applied to the adjusting members 1, 10, and 20. Such adjusting members 1, 10, and 20 are intended to be incorporated into a watch movement for adjusting the movement.

[0039] exist Figures 1 to 3 In the three embodiments, the adjusting components 1, 10, and 20 include a flexible guide 2 and an oscillating mass, such as an annular balance wheel or a bone-shaped component, the component including a main arm and two ends extending on each side of the central arm, the oscillating mass not shown in the figures.

[0040] Preferably, apart from the swing mass, the adjusting members 1, 10, and 20 extend substantially in the same plane, and the swing mass swings in a parallel plane, preferably above the flexible guide 2.

[0041] The flexible guide 2 includes two main flexible blades 9 and a rigid support 3. The flexible guide extends along an axis of symmetry, which is substantially perpendicular to the main axes of the adjusting members 1, 10, and 20. The flexible blades 9 are first connected to the rigid support 3 of the flexible guide 2, and then to fasteners 8 designed to relate to the oscillating mass. The two main blades 9 of the flexible guide 2 are intersecting, preferably straight, and of the same length.

[0042] The rigid bracket 3 has a U-shape, the main flexible blade 2 is connected to the inner side of the base of the U-shape and extends to the outside of the U-shape until the fastener 8.

[0043] According to the invention, the adjusting members 1, 10, and 20 include an elastic device 50 for compensating for temperature, which is disposed on either side of the rigid support 3 so as to connect the rigid support 3 to a fixing device 7 for securing the adjusting members 1, 10, and 20 to the watch movement. The fixing device 7 is, for example, an elongated body designed to be assembled onto the main plate.

[0044] The elastic compensation device 50 is configured to adjust its stiffness according to temperature in order to compensate for the effect of temperature on the adjusting members 1, 10, and 20. The elastic compensation device 50 preferably has a greater stiffness than the intersecting main flexible blades 9.

[0045] The elastic compensation device 50 includes an elastic element 5 disposed between the rigid support 3 and the fixing device 7, and a prestressing device 6 that applies a variable force or torque to the elastic element 5 and the rigid support 3 according to the temperature.

[0046] The elastic element 5 includes a pair of non-crossing blades 4 that connect the rigid support 3 to the fixing device 7. The elastic element 5 is connected to the first outer side of the U-shape and extends perpendicular to the flexible guide 2. The non-crossing blades 4 extend from the rigid support 3 to the fixing device 7 while moving away from each other.

[0047] The prestressing device 6 includes a spring component with a flexible blade 11 connected to the second outer side of the U-shape. The first flexible blade 11 extends perpendicular to the flexible guide 2.

[0048] exist Figure 1 In the first embodiment, the spring component of the prestressing device 6 includes a first translation stage 33, which is provided with an L-shaped first movable element 12 and a second support 13 stationary relative to the main plate of the movement. The first movable element 12 is connected to a flexible blade 11 via one end of the L-shaped first arm. The L-shaped second arm includes a rounded protrusion 53 on its outer side. Furthermore, the first translation stage 33 includes a pair of parallel blades 14 that connect the interior of the L-shaped first arm to the second stationary support 13. Therefore, when the first movable element 12 moves, it is guided by the parallel blades 14.

[0049] The prestressing device 6 also includes a body 15 that can be thermally deformed according to temperature, which applies variable force or torque to the movable element 12.

[0050] In this example, the heat-deformable body 15 is a bimetallic strip whose deformation is caused by temperature. The bimetallic strip has a longitudinally extending body and includes two longitudinally associated elongated portions 51 and 52. These two elongated portions 51 and 52 are formed of different materials, and their heat deformation characteristics differ from each other. Therefore, under the influence of heat, the bimetallic strip deforms laterally, with one end 55 held in place while the other end is movable and deforms the bimetallic strip to bend on one side.

[0051] The bimetallic strip is positioned perpendicular to the movable element 12, so that the first free portion 54 contacts the protrusion 53 on the L-shaped second arm. The holding end 55 is held by a second translation stage 34, which includes a second movable element 18 and a second pair of parallel flexible blades 17 that connect the second movable element 18 to a third support 19, which is stationary relative to the main plate of the movement. The second movable element 18 is L-shaped, with one arm supporting the holding end 55 of the bimetallic strip, while the blades of the second pair of blades 17 connect the inner surface 56 of the second arm to the third stationary support 19. The blades of the second pair of blades 17 are positioned perpendicular to the bimetallic strip in the idle position of the prestressing device 6.

[0052] Under temperature changes, the deformable body 15 (here, the bimetallic strip) bends or straightens, causing the first free portion 54 to exert a force on the protrusion and thus on the first movable element 12, which moves while being guided by the first translation stage 33. Therefore, by means of the first flexible blade 11, the elastic element 5 receives force or torque, thereby changing the stiffness of the elastic element and thus altering the operation of the adjusting member 1.

[0053] Adjustment devices, such as bolts, can be added to apply force 57, particularly at the end of the second arm 58, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bimetallic strip, to the second movable element 18. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the effective length d of the bimetallic strip to specifically adjust the effect of the prestressing device 6 on the elastic element 5 according to external parameters (here, temperature). By moving the second movable element 18 under the guidance of the second translation stage 34, the free portion 54 in contact with the protrusion 53 is altered, thus increasing or decreasing the effective length d of the bimetallic strip.

[0054] Figure 2 The second embodiment of the adjusting member 10 is similar to the first embodiment. The difference lies in the first translation stage 33, which does not directly contact the movable body 15 and does not have any protrusions.

[0055] The prestressing device 6 also includes a spring 21 that connects the first movable element 12 to a movable body 22, which includes protrusions 53 similar to those in the first embodiment. The spring 21 provides additional flexibility. The movable body 22 is preferably held between two walls 23 that guide the movement of the movable body 22.

[0056] Therefore, the protrusion 53 is not on the first movable element 12, but on the movable body 22, and the first movable body does not directly contact the deformable body 15.

[0057] Therefore, when the bimetallic strip bends or straightens, it applies a larger or smaller force to the movable body 22, and transmits this larger or smaller force to the first movable element 12 via the spring 21, allowing the movable body 22 to move between the guide walls 23. In other respects, the operation is the same as in the first embodiment. Thus, the elastic element 5 is subjected to variable forces or torques, which alter the stiffness of the elastic element and thus the stiffness of the flexible guide 2.

[0058] exist Figure 3 In a third embodiment, in order to apply force or torque to the elastic element 5, the spring component of the prestressing device 6 includes a first elongated movable element 29, which is connected at one end to and arranged in a straight line with the flexible blade 11.

[0059] The first pair of parallel flexible blades 25 connect the first movable element 29 to the second movable element 28.

[0060] The second movable element 28 is connected to the thermally deformable body 15 via the second flexible blade 31, which is substantially parallel to the first movable element 29.

[0061] In this embodiment, the heat-deformable body 15 is preferably a bimetallic strip disposed perpendicular to the second flexible blade 31 and perpendicular to the first elongated movable element 29. The second flexible blade 31 is connected to the top of the free portion of the bimetallic strip, and the bimetallic strip is held at its bottom by a fixing bracket 32.

[0062] Therefore, when the bimetallic strip is bent or straightened, the second flexible blade 31 transmits motion to the second movable element 28, and the second movable element transmits force to the first elongated movable element 29 through the second pair of parallel flexible blades 25.

[0063] In a manner similar to the first embodiment, changes in temperature will cause changes in the stiffness of the elastic element 5, thereby causing changes in the operation of the regulating member.

[0064] A third pair of parallel flexible blades 26 connects the second movable element 28 to the third element 27, which is stationary relative to the main plate of the movement. The third pair of parallel flexible blades 26 and the third movable element 27 are superimposed on the second pair of parallel flexible blades 25 and the second movable element 28. The second movable element 28 and the two parallel flexible blades 26 form a translation stage, and the second movable element 28 is guided to translate relative to the third stationary element 27 to transmit motion to the first elongated movable element 29 via the second pair of parallel flexible blades 25. Therefore, the first elongated movable element 29 transmits force or torque to the elastic element 5 through the first flexible blades 11.

[0065] An adjustment device, such as a screw, can be added to apply a force 49 to the first elongated movable element 29. By increasing the force 49, the movement of the bimetallic strip is transmitted to the first movable element 29 more weakly, while by decreasing the force, the movement of the bimetallic strip is transmitted to the first movable element 29 more strongly. The adjustment device allows the sensitivity of the prestressing device 6 to be adjusted according to temperature.

[0066] The present invention also relates to a watch movement not shown in the figures, the movement comprising the adjustment components 1, 10, and 20 as described above.

[0067] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the figures, and various variations can be conceived without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0068] In the described embodiments, the flexible blades are preferably straight. Furthermore, flexible blades of the same type preferably have the same length. The flexible blades may be continuously flexible, or may only have a flexible portion, such as a neck.

Claims

1. Regulating member (1, 10, 20) for a timepiece movement, comprising a swinging mass, a flexible guide (2) having at least two main flexible blades (9) connecting a mobile support (3) to the swinging mass to make it perform a rotational movement about a virtual pivot, characterized in that, The adjusting member (1, 10, 20) includes an elastic device (50) for compensating for temperature, the elastic device being configured to connect a movable bracket (3) to a fixing device (7) for fixing the adjusting member (1, 10, 20) to the watch movement, the elastic device (50) being configured to adjust its stiffness according to temperature in order to compensate for the effect of temperature on the adjusting member (1, 10, 20); The elastic device (50) includes an elastic element (5) disposed between the movable support (3) and the fixing device (7), and a prestressing device (6) that applies a variable force or torque to the elastic element (5) according to the temperature.

2. The adjusting member according to claim 1, characterized in that, The prestressing device (6) includes a spring component connected to a movable bracket (3), which transmits force or torque to an elastic element (5) by means of the movable bracket (3), and the spring component, the movable bracket (3) and the elastic element (5) are arranged on the same axis.

3. The adjusting member according to claim 2, characterized in that, The prestressing device (6) includes a deformable body (15) that can deform according to temperature, and the deformable body (15) is at least partially in contact with the spring component.

4. The adjusting member according to claim 3, characterized in that, The deformable body (15) is a slender bimetallic strip.

5. The adjusting member according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spring component includes a first flexible blade (11) connected to the movable support (3).

6. The adjusting member according to claim 5, characterized in that, The spring component includes a first translation stage (33) connected to the first flexible blade (11).

7. The adjusting member according to claim 6, characterized in that, The deformable body (15) comes into contact with the first translation stage (33).

8. The adjusting member according to claim 7, characterized in that, The spring component includes a spring (21) disposed between the deformable body (15) and the first translation stage (33).

9. The adjusting member according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first translation stage includes a first movable element (12) connected to the first flexible blade (11).

10. The adjusting member according to claim 5, characterized in that, The spring component includes a first movable element (29) connected to a first flexible blade (11), a second movable element (28) and a second flexible blade (31) connected to a deformable body (15), the first movable element (29) and the second movable element (28) being connected by a pair of parallel flexible blades (25).

11. The adjusting member according to claim 10, characterized in that, The spring component includes a second flexible blade (31) which is connected to the deformable body (15) and to a second movable element (28).

12. The adjusting member according to claim 3, characterized in that, The adjusting member includes a means for adjusting the prestressing device (6) so as to apply a variable force (49, 57) to the prestressing device (6).

13. The adjusting member according to claim 12, characterized in that, The adjustment device includes a second translation stage (34) located at one end of the deformable body (15), and a variable force (57) is applied to the second translation stage (34).

14. The adjusting member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The two main flexible blades (4) of the flexible guide (2) are intersecting.

15. The adjusting member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Apart from the oscillating mass (2), the adjusting components (1, 10, 20) extend essentially in the same plane.

16. The adjusting member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The elastic element (5) includes a pair of non-crossing blades (4) that connect the movable support (3) to the fixing device (7).

17. The adjusting member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The oscillating mass is the balance wheel.

18. The adjusting member according to claim 10, characterized in that, The adjusting member includes a means for adjusting the prestressing device (6) to apply a variable force (49, 57) on the first movable element (29).

19. A watch movement comprising an adjustment member (1, 10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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