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

Abstract

The invention relates to a timepiece movement comprising a regulating member (1) comprising an oscillating mass (19), for example a balance, and a balance spring comprising a flexible strip (2) wound several turns on itself, the strip (2) having a predetermined stiffness to allow the oscillating mass to be subjected to a rotational oscillating motion, the strip (2) comprising an outer end (9), the regulating member (1) comprising elastic compensation means (50) for compensating for external pressure, connecting the outer end (9) to a first support (7) fixed with respect to the timepiece movement, the elastic compensation means (50) being configured to adapt its stiffness as a function of the external pressure, to compensate for the effect of the external pressure 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 a speed regulating component having a hairspring and a pressure compensation device. The invention also relates to a watch movement incorporating such a speed regulating component. Background Technology

[0002] Most modern mechanical watches are equipped with a balance spring and a Swiss lever escapement. The balance spring forms the watch's time base; it is also known as a resonator or regulating mechanism.

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

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

[0005] - Count these reciprocating motions.

[0006] To construct the regulating mechanism, an inertial element, a guide element, and a resilient restoring element are required. Typically, the hairspring acts as the resilient restoring element for the inertial element, which is composed of a balance wheel. This balance wheel is guided to rotate by a pivot, which usually rotates within a ruby ​​sliding bearing.

[0007] Select and determine the frequency for the mechanical resonator to obtain the predetermined rate of the watch movement.

[0008] However, during operation, this mechanical resonator can be disturbed by changes in external parameters, causing the resonator's frequency to change. These parameters include, for example, temperature, pressure, humidity, or gravity. Changes in the resonator frequency can lead to errors in time measurement, which in turn cause timekeeping errors in the watch movement.

[0009] For example, document CH 704687 describes a speed regulating component that includes a hairspring and a component for correcting the position of the hairspring stud to correct hairspring deformation caused by temperature.

[0010] Currently, there are no speed regulating components equipped with compensation devices configured to compensate for changes in ambient pressure. Therefore, when pressure changes, for example due to altitude, the accuracy of the speed regulating component decreases because the pressure difference alters the aerodynamic friction of the component. For instance, an increase in pressure causes a decrease in the oscillation frequency of the speed regulating component. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The object of the present invention is to overcome some or all of the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a watch regulating component with a hairspring, the regulating component having a precise pressure compensation device adapted to the hairspring.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention relates to a regulating component for a watch movement, comprising an oscillating mass, such as a balance wheel, and a hairspring comprising a flexible strip wound around itself several times, the strip having a predetermined stiffness to enable the oscillating mass to perform a rotational oscillating motion, the strip comprising an outer end.

[0013] A significant feature of the invention is that the speed regulating member includes an elastic device for compensating for external pressure, which connects the outer end of the strip to a first support fixed relative to the watch movement. This elastic compensation device is configured to adapt its stiffness to the external pressure in order to compensate for the effect of the external pressure on the speed regulating member.

[0014] With this invention, the prestressing device applies a variable force or torque to the elastic element of the elastic compensation device according to pressure, ensuring that the speed regulating component maintains essentially accurate operation even under significant pressure changes. This is because, when the pressure changes, the prestressing device alters the force or torque applied to the elastic element, thereby changing the stiffness of the assembly including the elastic element and the hairspring. By changing the stiffness of this assembly, the time difference of the speed regulating component can be adjusted. Therefore, when the pressure changes, the elastic device is subjected to mechanical shock so that the time difference of the hairspring can be adjusted according to this change.

[0015] This elastic element alters the stiffness of the attachment point and provides 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. This variable force or torque allows the elastic element to be prestressed, preferably without prestressing the strip and without displacement of the strip's ends. By prestressing the elastic element, its stiffness changes, while the stiffness of the strip remains constant because it is not prestressed and its ends do not displace.

[0016] By altering the flexibility of the elastic element, the stiffness of the resonator (both the stiffness of the strip and the elastic element) changes, thereby altering the resonator's timing error. Preferably, the stiffness of the elastic element is greater than that of the strip, while the flexibility of the elastic element contributes less to the overall stiffness than that of the strip. As a result, the change in the stiffness of the elastic element alters the stiffness of the entire resonator, thus finely adjusting its timing error and allowing for precise adjustment of the time base frequency. This leads to high accuracy in maintaining operation based on pressure.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the elastic compensation device includes an elastic element disposed between the outer end of the strip and a stationary support member, and a prestressing device for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element according to external pressure.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the prestressing device includes a spring portion connected to an elastic element, the spring portion transmitting force or torque to the elastic element.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the prestressing device includes a vacuum diaphragm capsule (diaphragm pressure sensor) whose volume varies according to external pressure in order to transmit a variable force or torque based on the external pressure.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum membrane box includes a movable wall and a non-movable wall connected by at least one spring.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the spring portion includes a first flexible blade connected to an elastic element.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the spring portion includes a translation stage connected to the first flexible blade, and the vacuum diaphragm box is in contact with the translation stage.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the elastic portion includes a first movable element connected to a first flexible blade, and a second movable element connected by a pair of parallel flexible blades.

[0024] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the spring portion includes a second flexible blade connected to the vacuum diaphragm.

[0025] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the elastic element includes a suspended point body and a pair of non-crossing blades that connect the suspended point body to a fixed first support.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the prestressing device is connected to a suspended point body to apply force or torque to the suspended point body.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the speed regulating member includes an adjusting device for adjusting the prestressing device so as to apply a variable force to the prestressing device, for example, on an elongated first movable element.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, apart from the oscillating mass, the speed regulating member extends substantially in the same plane.

[0029] The present invention also relates to a watch movement that includes such a speed regulating component. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of non-limiting example only, in which:

[0031] - Figure 1A cross-sectional plan view of a first embodiment of a speed regulating member provided with a device for compensating pressure is schematically shown, and

[0032] - Figure 2 A cross-sectional plan view of a second embodiment of a speed regulating member provided with a device for compensating for pressure is shown schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Figure 1 and 2 Both illustrations show an embodiment of the regulating member 1, 10 according to the invention, which includes an elastic device 50 configured to compensate for variations in pressure applied to the regulating member 1, 10. Such regulating members 1, 10 are intended to be arranged in a watch movement for regulation.

[0034] In both embodiments, the speed regulating components 1 and 10 include a hairspring with a flexible strip 2 wound around itself multiple times. The flexible strip 2 includes an outer end 9 and an inner end 8.

[0035] Speed ​​regulating components 1 and 10 include an oscillating mass (not shown in the figures), such as an annular balance wheel, which is connected to the inner end 8 of a belt 2. The belt 2 has a predetermined stiffness to enable the oscillating mass to withstand rotational oscillation motion. For example, the oscillating mass includes an axial rotation shaft, to which the inner end 8 of the belt 2 is connected.

[0036] Preferably, except for the oscillating mass that oscillates in a parallel plane above the hairspring, the speed regulating members 1 and 10 extend substantially in the same plane.

[0037] According to the present invention, the speed regulating members 1 and 10 include an elastic device 50 for compensating for external parameters. The device is configured to adapt the stiffness of the elastic element 5 according to the pressure in order to compensate for the effect of the pressure on the speed regulating members 1 and 10.

[0038] The elastic compensation member 50 is configured to adapt its stiffness to changes in ambient pressure in order to compensate for the effects of these changes on the hairspring. The stiffness of the elastic compensation device 50 is preferably greater than that of the strip 2.

[0039] The elastic device 50 includes an elastic element 5 that connects the outer end 9 of the strip 2 to a support 7, which is fixed relative to the watch movement, for example, relative to a fixed plate. The elastic device 50 also includes a prestressing device 6 for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element 5 according to external parameters.

[0040] In this configuration, the elastic element 5 comprises a suspended point 3 and a pair of non-crossing blades 4 connecting the suspended point 3 to the stationary support 7. The suspended point 3 is, for example, a cylinder with a height substantially equal to its diameter, and the non-crossing blades 4 extend from the suspended point 3 to the stationary support 7.

[0041] The elastic element 5 is arranged in the continuation of the flexible strip 2. The hairspring and the elastic element 5 are adjacent, but at the same time, they avoid contact during the oscillation of the oscillating mass.

[0042] The prestressing device 6 is configured to apply force or torque to the suspended point body 3. Therefore, the stiffness of the elastic device is changed by the prestressing device 6 changing the stiffness of the non-crossing blade 4.

[0043] The prestressing device 6 includes a spring portion having a single flexible blade 11 connected to the suspended point body 3. The single flexible blade 11 extends tangentially to the hairspring along the axis of the elastic element and is slightly offset relative to the outer end 9.

[0044] The spring section is also configured to withstand variable forces or torques transmitted to the elastic element 5.

[0045] exist Figure 1 In the first embodiment shown, the spring portion of the prestressing device 6 includes a translation stage 33, which is provided with a first L-shaped movable element 12 and a second support 18 fixed relative to the mechanism. The first movable element 12 is connected to a single flexible blade 11 via one end of a first arm in the L-shape. The second arm in the L-shape includes an outwardly rounded protrusion 53. The translation stage 33 includes two substantially parallel flexible blades 14 connecting the first movable element 12 to the second stationary support 18.

[0046] In order to transmit variable force or torque to the spring section according to external pressure, the prestressing device 6 includes a vacuum diaphragm box.

[0047] This type of diaphragm capsule is typically used to measure atmospheric pressure. For this purpose, the capsule includes a space that is at least partially free of air, and includes a spring-type resilient restoring element within this space to hold the movable walls of the capsule. Thus, when the external pressure increases, the capsule is compressed, and when the external pressure decreases, the capsule expands.

[0048] exist Figure 1 In this case, the vacuum diaphragm includes a volume that can vary according to external pressure.

[0049] For this purpose, the vacuum diaphragm includes a movable wall 13 and a fixed wall 15. An airtight chamber, not shown in the figure, allows a vacuum to be at least partially created within the movable wall 13 and the fixed wall 15.

[0050] The immovable wall 15 is immovable relative to the movement, for example, fixed to the mainplate or a fixed bridge plate. Here, the immovable wall 15 has an schematic parallelepiped shape.

[0051] The movable wall 13 also has an illustrative parallelepiped shape, and the movable wall 13 is arranged to face the immovable wall 15.

[0052] The vacuum diaphragm also includes a spring 16 connecting the movable wall 13 and the immovable wall 15, the spring 16 forming a resilient reset element of the vacuum diaphragm. The spring 16 is disposed between the movable wall 13 and the immovable wall 15.

[0053] Depending on the pressure applied to the movable wall 13, the spring 16 extends, particularly when the pressure decreases, or contracts, particularly when the pressure increases. Therefore, it moves the movable wall 13 closer to or further away from the immovable wall 15.

[0054] The spring portion of the prestressing device 6 is connected to the vacuum diaphragm box, and the spring portion transmits force or torque from the vacuum diaphragm box to the point body 3 of the elastic element 5.

[0055] The function of the translation stage 33 is to convert the separation distance of the membrane box into tension on the point body 3.

[0056] When the pressure changes, the movable wall 13 moves closer to or further away from the immovable wall 15. As a result, the movable element 12 of the translation stage 33 is subjected to a larger or smaller thrust toward the elastic element 5, which is transmitted to the point body 3 via a single flexible blade 11.

[0057] The prestressing device 6 applies a variable thrust to the elastic element 5. As a result, the stiffness of the elastic element 5 changes, allowing the operation of the balance wheel to be adjusted to adapt to external pressure conditions in order to maintain the accuracy of the speed regulating component.

[0058] For example, when the pressure increases, the movable wall 13 moves closer to the immovable wall 15. This movement and proximity result in a decrease in the thrust applied to the point body 3 by the prestressing device 6. Consequently, the stiffness of the elastic element 5 increases.

[0059] On the other hand, when the pressure decreases, the movable wall 13 moves further away from the immovable wall 15. This movement away results in an increase in the thrust applied to the point body 3 by the prestressing device 6. Consequently, the stiffness of the elastic element 5 decreases.

[0060] In the second embodiment, the speed regulating component 10 includes the same hairspring, oscillating mass (not shown in the figure), elastic element 5, and first flexible blade 11 as in the first embodiment.

[0061] In order to apply force or torque to the elastic element 5, the spring portion of the preloading device 6 includes a first elongated movable element 22, which is connected to the flexible blade 11 and disposed in the continuation of the flexible blade 11.

[0062] The spring portion includes a first pair of parallel flexible blades 25 arranged on the same side and connecting the first movable element 22 to the second movable element 28.

[0063] The second movable element 28 is laterally connected to the vacuum diaphragm box 15 via the second flexible blade 21, which is substantially parallel to the first movable element 22 when the speed regulating member 10 is in the rest position.

[0064] The second pair of parallel flexible blades 26 connects the second movable element 28 to a third element 27 that is fixed relative to the watch movement. The second pair of parallel flexible blades 26 and the third immovable element 27 are arranged in series with the first pair of parallel flexible blades 25 and the second movable element 28. The third immovable element 27 is, for example, fixed to a fixed plate.

[0065] An adjustment device, such as a screw, can be added to apply a force 59 to the first movable element 22. By increasing the force 59, the displacement of the vacuum diaphragm is transmitted to the first movable element 22 to a smaller extent, while by decreasing the force, the displacement of the vacuum diaphragm is transmitted to the first movable element 22 to a larger extent. This adjustment device allows the sensitivity of the prestressing device 6 to be adjusted according to the pressure.

[0066] Therefore, when the movable wall 13 moves further away from or closer to the immovable wall 15, the second flexible blade 21 transmits displacement to the second movable element 28, which in turn transmits displacement to the first movable element 22 via the first pair of parallel flexible blades 25. The first movable element 22 is guided by the first translation stage 33 to transmit force or torque to the elastic element 5 via the first flexible blade 11.

[0067] In a manner similar to the first embodiment, pressure changes will cause a change in the volume of the vacuum diaphragm 15, and thus a change in the stiffness of the elastic element 5 and the operation of the speed regulating member 10.

[0068] The present invention also relates to a watch movement (not shown in the figure), which includes the rotary regulating components 1 and 10 as described above.

[0069] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and various modifications can be contemplated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A regulating component (1, 10) for a watch movement, the regulating component comprising an oscillating mass (19) in the form of a balance wheel, and a hairspring comprising a flexible strip (2) wound around itself multiple times, the strip (2) having a predetermined stiffness to allow the oscillating mass to undergo rotational oscillation motion, the strip (2) comprising an outer end (9), characterized in that, The speed regulating component (1, 10) includes an elastic compensation device (50) for compensating for external pressure. The elastic compensation device (50) connects the outer end (9) of the strip (2) to a first support (7) that is fixed relative to the watch movement. The elastic compensation device (50) is configured to adapt its stiffness according to external pressure to compensate for the effect of external pressure on the speed regulating component (1, 10). The elastic compensation device (50) includes an elastic element (5) disposed between the outer end (9) of the strip (2) and a non-movable first support member (7), and a prestressing device (6) for applying a variable force or torque to the elastic element (5) according to external pressure; and The prestressing device (6) includes a vacuum diaphragm box whose volume varies according to external pressure in order to transmit variable force or torque according to external pressure.

2. The speed regulating component according to claim 1, characterized in that, The prestressing device (6) includes a spring portion connected to the elastic element (5), the spring portion transmitting force or torque to the elastic element (5).

3. The speed regulating component according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vacuum diaphragm includes a movable wall (13) and a non-movable wall (15) connected by at least one spring (16).

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

5. The speed regulating component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spring portion includes a translation stage (33) connected to the first flexible blade (11), and the vacuum diaphragm is in contact with the translation stage (33).

6. The speed regulating component according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spring portion includes a first movable element (22) connected to a first flexible blade (11) and a second movable element (28), the first movable element (22) and the second movable element (28) being connected by a pair of parallel flexible blades (25).

7. The speed regulating component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The spring portion includes a second flexible blade (21) that connects the second movable element (28) to the vacuum diaphragm.

8. The speed regulating component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The elastic element (5) includes a suspended point (3) and a pair of non-crossing blades (4) that connect the suspended point (3) to a fixed first support (7).

9. The speed regulating component according to claim 8, characterized in that, The prestressing device (6) is connected to the suspended point body (3) to apply force or torque to the suspended point body (3).

10. The speed regulating component according to claim 6, characterized in that, The speed regulating component includes an adjusting device for adjusting the prestressing device (6) so as to apply a variable force (49, 59) on the prestressing device (6).

11. The speed regulating component according to claim 10, characterized in that, The adjustment device applies a variable force (49, 59) on an elongated first movable element (22).

12. The speed regulating component according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, Apart from the oscillating mass, the speed regulating members (1, 10) extend substantially in the same plane.

13. A watch movement comprising a regulating member (1, 10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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