Timepiece regulating organ with a balance spring provided with a gravity compensation device

Abstract

The invention relates to a regulating member (10) for a timepiece movement, comprising: a balance hammer, for example a balance; a balance spring comprising a flexible strip (2) wound several turns on itself, the strip (2) having a predetermined stiffness to enable the balance hammer to perform a rotational oscillating movement, the strip (2) comprising an outer end (9), characterized in that the regulating member (10) comprises elastic means for compensating the direction of the force of gravity with respect to the regulating member (10), the elastic means being configured to adjust its stiffness as a function of the force of gravity to compensate the effect of the force of gravity on the regulating member (10), the elastic means comprising: an elastic element (5) connecting the outer end (9) to a first non-movable support (7) with respect to the timepiece movement; and prestressing means (6) exerting a variable force or torque on the elastic element (5) as a function of the direction of the force of gravity with respect to the regulating member (10). The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a regulating member (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a timepiece with a balance wheel and hairspring, the balance wheel and hairspring being equipped with a gravity compensation device. Background Technology

[0002] Today, most mechanical watches are equipped with a regulating mechanism (balancier-spiral) and a Swiss lever escapement. The regulating mechanism forms the watch's time base. It is also known as a resonator or regulating element.

[0003] The escapement mechanism has two main functions:

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

[0005] - Count these reciprocating motions.

[0006] To construct a mechanical resonator, an inertial element, a guide, and a resilient return element are required. Traditionally, the balance wheel and hairspring act as the resilient return element for the inertial element formed by the balance wheel. The balance wheel is guided to rotate by a pivot, which typically rotates within a sliding bearing made of ruby.

[0007] A frequency is selected for the mechanical resonator, the determination of which is to obtain a predetermined rate for use in the watch movement.

[0008] However, during operation, such a mechanical resonator may be subject to disturbances caused by changes in external parameters, resulting in frequency variations. These parameters could include, for example, temperature, pressure, humidity, or gravity. Frequency variations in the resonator can lead to errors in time measurement, which in turn can cause errors in the rate measurement of the watch movement.

[0009] In the watchmaking industry, some existing technical documents describe regulating components that take into account the effect of the direction of gravity on the regulating components. Therefore, by selecting a predetermined frequency and adjusting the imbalance of the balance wheel, it is possible to minimize the influence of the direction of gravity on the regulating components.

[0010] However, these regulations are not sufficient to reduce the effect of gravity on the adjusting components. Therefore, due to the effect of gravity, the adjusting components cannot achieve very high precision.

[0011] Furthermore, complex functions of regulating components, such as tourbillons or carousels, are known to cause the regulating component to rotate one to two revolutions per minute around its axis of rotation to compensate for the effects of gravity. However, such complex functions are only effective when the timepiece maintains a stable position. When the direction of gravity relative to the regulating component changes rapidly, the rotation of the regulating component is not fast enough to compensate for it. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a timepiece regulating component with a balance wheel and hairspring equipped with an effective and fast gravity compensation device.

[0013] Therefore, the present invention relates to an adjustment component for a watch movement, the adjustment component comprising: a balance wheel weight, such as a balance wheel; a balance spring including a flexible strip wound around itself several times, the strip having a predetermined rigidity to enable the balance wheel weight to perform a rotational oscillating motion, the strip including an outer end.

[0014] A significant feature of the present invention is that the adjusting member includes an elastic device for compensating for the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting member. The elastic device is configured to adjust its stiffness according to gravity to compensate for the effect of gravity on the adjusting member. The elastic device includes: an elastic element whose outer end is connected to a first immovable support relative to the watch movement; and a prestressing device for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element according to the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting member.

[0015] Because of this invention, the prestressing device applies a variable force or torque to the elastic element according to gravity, thus the adjusting component can maintain an accurate rate despite changes in position relative to gravity. In fact, when the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting component changes, the prestressing device alters the force or torque applied to the elastic element, thereby changing the stiffness of the assembly consisting of the balance wheel, hairspring, and elastic element. By modifying the stiffness of the assembly, the rate of the adjusting component is adjusted. Therefore, when the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting component changes, the elastic device experiences a mechanical shock to adjust the rate of the balance wheel and hairspring to adapt to this change. The elastic device reacts very quickly because it adapts instantaneously to the change in the direction of gravity.

[0016] This elastic element alters the stiffness of the connection point and imparts additional flexibility to the resonator. Therefore, the effective stiffness of the resonator comprises the stiffness of the strip and the stiffness of the elastic element. Variable force or torque allows preloading of the elastic element, preferably without preloading the strip or moving its ends. By applying prestress to the elastic element, its stiffness changes, while the stiffness of the strip remains constant because it is not preloaded and its ends do not move. By changing the stiffness of the elastic element, the stiffness of the resonator (i.e., the stiffness of the strip and the elastic element) also changes, thereby altering the resonator's rate. The elastic element is preferably stiffer than the strip, and the flexibility of the elastic element contributes less to the overall stiffness than the strip's contribution. Therefore, changing the stiffness of the elastic element alters the overall stiffness of the resonator, allowing for fine-tuning of its rate, which can accurately adjust the frequency of the time base. Thus, high accuracy can be achieved in maintaining the rate according to gravity.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the prestressing device includes a spring portion connected to an elastic element, which transmits force or torque to the elastic element.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the prestressing device includes a force-bearing block that applies a variable force or torque to the spring portion according to the direction of gravity.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the force-bearing block includes an inclined wall that contacts the spring portion and is movable together with the force-bearing block, so that the variable position of the force-bearing block results in a change in the force applied to the spring portion.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the spring portion includes a flexible blade connected to an elastic element.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the spring portion includes several secondary flexible blades connecting the first and second rigid bodies.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, a first movable rigid body is connected to a flexible blade.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the spring portion includes a translation stage, and the prestressed mass is in contact with the translation stage.

[0024] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the translation stage includes two third-stage blades and a second rigid body.

[0025] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the adjusting member extends substantially in the same plane.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the elastic element includes a suspension body and a pair of non-crossing blades connecting the suspension body to a first immovable support.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the prestressing device is mechanically connected to the suspension to apply force or torque to the suspension.

[0028] The present invention also relates to a watch movement that includes such an adjusting component. Attached Figure Description

[0029] The objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading several embodiments given by way of non-limiting example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0030] - Figure 1 A schematic top view of an adjusting component according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, and

[0031] - Figure 2 Schematic representation based on Figure 1 A side view of the adjusting component of an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This illustrates one embodiment of the adjusting component 10 according to the present invention.

[0033] The regulating component 10 includes a balance spring with a flexible strip 2 wound around it several times. The flexible strip 2 includes an outer end 9 and an inner end 8.

[0034] The adjusting component 10 includes a balance wheel, such as an annular balance wheel (not shown in the figure), which is connected to the inner end 8 of the belt 2. The belt 2 has a predetermined rigidity to enable the balance wheel to perform a rotational oscillating motion. For example, the balance wheel includes an axial rotation shaft, to which the inner end 8 of the belt 2 is connected.

[0035] Preferably, the adjusting member 10 extends substantially in the same plane (x, y) and oscillates in a parallel plane except for the balance wheel hammer, preferably above the balance wheel hairspring.

[0036] According to the present invention, the adjusting member 10 includes an elastic device 15 for compensating for the effect of gravity on the adjusting member 10, so as to adjust the stiffness of the elastic element 5 according to the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting member 10.

[0037] The elastic device 15 includes an elastic element 5, the outer end of which is connected to a non-movable support 7 relative to the watch movement, such as a plate. The elastic device 15 also includes a prestressing device 6 for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element 5 according to the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting member 10.

[0038] The elastic element 5 here includes a suspension body 13 and a pair of non-crossing blades 4 connecting the suspension body 13 and the immovable support 7. For example, the suspension body 13 is a parallelepiped shape, and the non-crossing blades 4 deflect from the suspension body 13 to the immovable support 7.

[0039] The elastic element 5 is arranged on the continuation of the flexible strip 2, with the balance wheel hairspring and the elastic element 5 adjacent to each other, but avoiding contact between them during the oscillation of the balance wheel hammer.

[0040] The prestressing device 6 is configured to apply force or torque to the suspension 13. The prestressing device 6 includes a spring portion with flexible blades 11 connected to the suspension 13. The flexible blades 11 extend along the axis of the elastic element and are offset relative to the outer end 9.

[0041] The outer end 9 of the strip 2 and the flexible blade 11 are connected to the same side of the suspension body 13.

[0042] The flexible blade 11 connects the rigid part of the elastic element 5 to the elbow-shaped first movable rigid body 14 of the prestressing device 6.

[0043] The prestressing device 6 includes a second movable rigid body 19 in the shape of an elbow, and secondary parallel flexible blades 16 connecting the two rigid bodies 14, 19. In the rest position of the prestressing device 6, the cross-sections of the two rigid bodies 14, 19 are substantially parallel and paired. The four secondary blades 16 are substantially perpendicular to the flexible blades 11 in the rest position of the prestressing device 6, and generate a spring effect between the two rigid bodies 14, 19. The spring portion of the prestressing device 6 includes the secondary parallel flexible blades 16.

[0044] The spring portion of the prestressed device 6 further includes two tertiary blades 18 that connect the second body 19 to a second immovable support 17 relative to the watch movement. The tertiary blades 18 form a translation platform for guiding the first rigid body 14. The tertiary blades 18 are substantially parallel to the secondary blades and are arranged on the same side of the second rigid body 19. By moving the second movable rigid body 19, the first movable rigid body 14 is moved in turn via the secondary flexible blades 16, thereby applying a variable force or torque to the suspension body 13. Therefore, the stiffness of the elastic element 5, and the stiffness of the assembly consisting of the elastic element 5 and the balance wheel and hairspring, is variable.

[0045] The prestressing device 6 also includes a force-bearing block 20, the position of which in the adjusting component 10 is sensitive to gravity.

[0046] Due to the action of the third pair of flexible blades 21, the force-bearing block 20 is connected to a third immovable support 22 relative to the movement, such as a plate. Therefore, the force-bearing block 20 can move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the balance wheel and hairspring, i.e., according to the Z-axis.

[0047] The force-bearing block 20 here is a parallelepiped with an inclined plane 23. The force-bearing block 20 is configured such that the inclined plane 23 contacts the rear of the second body 19. The spring effect generated by the four secondary blades 16 presses the second body 19 against the inclined plane 23.

[0048] The inclined plane 23 forms an angle with the plane x and y that is different from 90°.

[0049] The force-bearing block 20 is configured to move along the Z-axis according to gravity.

[0050] When the direction of gravity is perpendicular to the plane of the adjusting member 10 in a first manner opposite to the Z-axis, the force block 20 is pushed downwards, and a portion of the inclined plane 23 moves further away from the second rigid body 19, which moves backward relative to the first movable rigid body 14. Therefore, the stiffness of the elastic element 5 increases, and thus, generally speaking, the stiffness of the adjusting member 10 also increases.

[0051] When the direction of gravity is perpendicular to the plane of the adjusting member 10 in a second manner, opposite to the first manner, according to the Z-axis, the force block 20 is pushed upward, and a portion of the inclined plane is closer to the second rigid body 19, which moves towards the first movable rigid body 14. Therefore, the stiffness of the elastic element 5 is reduced, and thus, generally speaking, the stiffness of the adjusting member 10 is also reduced.

[0052] When the direction of gravity is in the x and y planes of the adjusting component 10, the force-bearing block 20 remains in the average position.

[0053] All intermediate directions of gravity are possible; therefore, the force-bearing block 20, according to this direction, essentially pushes the second rigid body 19 along the portion of the inclined plane 23 that contacts the second rigid body 19.

[0054] According to the direction of gravity, the force-bearing block 20, and therefore the inclined plane 23, rises and falls, thus essentially pushing the second rigid body 19 toward the first rigid body 14. Therefore, according to the direction of gravity relative to the force-bearing block 20, the stiffness of the elastic element 5, and therefore the speed of the adjusting member 10, is changed.

[0055] The present invention also relates to a watch movement not shown in the figures, which includes the adjustment component 10 as described above.

[0056] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the figures, and alternative solutions may be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adjusting component (10) for a watch movement, the adjusting component comprising: Balance wheel hammer; The balance spring includes a flexible strip (2) wound around itself several times, the strip (2) having a predetermined stiffness to enable the balance wheel hammer to perform a rotational oscillating motion, the strip (2) including an outer end (9), characterized in that the adjusting member (10) includes an elastic device for compensating for the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting member (10), the elastic device being configured to adjust its stiffness according to gravity to compensate for the effect of gravity on the adjusting member (10), the elastic device including: an elastic element (5) connecting the outer end (9) to a first immovable support (7) relative to the watch movement; and a prestressing device (6) for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element (5) according to the direction of gravity relative to the adjusting member (10).

2. The adjusting component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The prestressing device (6) includes a force-bearing block (20) that applies a variable force or torque to the elastic element (5) according to the direction of gravity.

3. The adjusting component according to claim 2, characterized in that, The prestressing device (6) includes a spring portion connected to the elastic element (5), which transmits force or torque to the elastic element (5).

4. The adjusting component according to claim 3, characterized in that, The force-bearing block (20) includes an inclined wall (23) that contacts the spring portion. The inclined wall (23) is movable together with the force-bearing block (20). Therefore, the variable position of the force-bearing block (20) results in a change in the force applied to the spring portion.

5. The adjusting component according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The spring portion includes a flexible blade (11) connected to the elastic element (5).

6. The adjusting component according to claim 5, characterized in that, The spring portion includes a plurality of secondary flexible blades (16) connecting the first and second rigid bodies (14, 19).

7. The adjusting component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first movable rigid body (14) is connected to the flexible blade (11).

8. The adjusting component according to claim 7, characterized in that, The spring section includes a translation platform, and the force-bearing block (20) is in contact with the translation platform.

9. The adjusting component according to claim 8, characterized in that, The translation stage includes two third-stage blades (18) and the second rigid body (19).

10. The adjusting member according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The adjustment component (10) extends substantially in the same plane.

11. The adjusting member according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The elastic element (5) includes a suspension body (13) and a pair of non-crossing blades (4) connecting the suspension body (13) and the first immovable support (7).

12. The adjusting component according to claim 11, characterized in that, The prestressing device (6) is mechanically connected to the suspension body (13) to apply force or torque to the suspension body (13).

13. The adjusting member according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The balance wheel hammer is a balance wheel.

14. A watch movement comprising an adjustment element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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