Structure with insert and method of assembly

Abstract

A method of assembling an insert provided with an elongated portion terminating in a head with a recess of a structure uses a propulsion tool to guide a first striker with a slider to push a striker in the form of a free projectile, the propulsion tool comprises a dispenser device for controlling the forward or backward movement of the slide for the first striker and a tube guiding the striker comprising a head having an internal profile adapted to the head of the insert to be produced; inserting a rod made of at least partially amorphous material into the tube according to the method, the rod being intended to form an insert; heating the rod to a predetermined temperature; injecting a propulsion fluid into the propulsion tool; and operating a second dispenser slide in the propulsion tool to move the first striker slide at a predetermined speed and drive the striker, which strikes the wand to move the wand until the wand is inserted into the recess and deformed into a volume occupying the interior contour of the head when the striker is moved. A structure includes at least one insert disposed in a recess.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of assembling an insert with a structure.

[0002] The invention also relates to a structure comprising at least one insert, the assembly of said insert with said structure being carried out according to this method.

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of reliable assembly of attached parts, in particular for the watchmaking or jewellery industries. Background Art

[0004] Fastening attachment components to small structures is always a delicate task, especially when such structures are worn by a user (such as in the case of watches or jewelry) and when any protruding elements or at least peripheral elements are subject to shear stress, vibrations or even impacts.

[0005] When seeking to guarantee a reliable attachment, irreversible attachment is not always possible, in which case a high level of resistance to external stresses must be reconciled with reversible attachment, which may be necessary to maintain the object or to change its appearance.

[0006] Additionally, some materials, such as amorphous metals, do not lend themselves to traditional mounting surfaces, such as threads. However, using these materials offers other advantages, so it is necessary to use the appropriate attachment. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to reliably and reversibly attach an insert to a structure, particularly in the preferred but non-limiting case of a watchmaking or jewelry structure, and even more particularly in cases where the insert is made of unusual materials such as amorphous metals.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a method for assembling an insert with a recess of a structure, the insert being provided with an elongated portion terminating in a head in a distal portion, the method using a push tool guiding a first impactor slide to push the impactor in the form of a free projectile, and the push tool comprising a distributor device for controlling the forward or backward movement of the first impactor slide, and a tube for guiding the impactor, the tube comprising a head having an internal contour adapted to the head of the insert to be produced; according to the method, a material rod made of at least partially amorphous material is inserted into the tube, the material rod being intended to form the insert; the material rod is heated to a predetermined temperature; a push fluid is injected into the push tool; and a second distributor slide contained in the push tool is operated to move the first impactor slide at a predetermined speed and drive the impactor by impact, and when the impactor moves in the tube, the impactor impacts the preheated material rod, causing the material rod to move in the tube until the material rod is forced into the recess and deformed so that it occupies the volume of the internal contour of the head.

[0009] Another aspect of the invention relates to a structure comprising at least one insert arranged in a recess, the assembly of said insert with said structure being carried out according to a method as described above, characterised in that said structure is a watchmaking or jewellery component, said insert being an assembly screw, said assembly screw comprising a body and a head, said assembly screw being made of an amorphous alloy, said recess having an internal thread, said recess having a roughness Ra greater than 6 microns, wherein said assembly screw has, in its distal part forming said head, a notch for removing said assembly screw. It should be noted that the head and the body of the screw may have the same or different diameters, in which case the head has the larger diameter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] - Figure 1 A plan view schematically showing the arrangement of the push tool and the particular tube in frontal contact with the structure in order to manufacture and attach the insert;

[0012] - Figure 2 The same component is schematically shown along Figure 1a sectional view of the plane AA of the tube; the pushing tool on the right side of the figure contains a distributor which controls the movement of the striker pushing the striker with a slide, the striker being shown here at the boundary between the pushing tool and the tube; the tube is shown with the insert in two different states: a material rod can be seen near the left end of the tube, which is suitable for producing the insert and is ready to be heated and subsequently struck by the striker, while the left side of the figure shows the insert produced by transforming this material rod, after the material rod has been formed, its internal part is located in a recess provided in the structure for receiving the insert, and its external part is located in the internal contour of the tube head, resting on one of the faces of the structure, the external part of the insert still comprising, approximately along its axis, the indentation formed by the nose of the striker during the striking;

[0013] - Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a side view of the same assembly having a nozzle for injecting or extracting a fluid, in particular a gas, in particular air;

[0014] - Figure 4 schematically shows a side view of a tube in which a rod of material is transformed into an insert;

[0015] - Figure 5 A side view of a dispenser sleeve of an advancement tool is schematically shown;

[0016] - Figure 6 A side view of a sliding member for a striking member is schematically shown;

[0017] - Figure 7 A side view of the striker is shown diagrammatically. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Figures 1 to 3 A schematic diagram of an assembly is shown, which consists of a structure 300 and an insert 2 to be formed from a material rod 1 and attached to the structure 300. The forming / shaping and attachment of the insert are achieved through a tube 200 in which the impact piece 10 circulates, which is capable of such forming / shaping and attachment under the action of a fluid-controlled dispensing and propulsion tool 100. The fluid control can be hydraulic or pneumatic, depending on the size of the facility. For watchmaking or jewelry applications, as shown in the figure without limitation, pneumatic control may be sufficient to provide the energy required for the movement of the impact piece. In this case, the fluid delivered is a gas, in particular air. For more complex and special mechanical applications, such as equipment components in nuclear power plants or similar facilities, the fluid control must be hydraulic, in which case the fluid used is oil. For other applications, the fluid can be a liquid, a gas or a plasma. The example of air used in the embodiment shown in the figure is by no means restrictive.

[0019] The invention more particularly relates to a method for assembling an insert 2 with a structure 300 .

[0020] According to the method, a recess 301 is produced in the structure 300 to receive the insert 2 .

[0021] A rod 1 of material is provided for producing the insert 2 .

[0022] The method for assembling such an insert 2 with such a recess 301 of a structure 300 uses a push tool 100. The push tool 100 guides a first striker slide 11 to push the striker 10, and the push tool includes a distributor device for controlling the forward or backward movement of the first striker slide 11. The push tool 100 includes a tube 200 guiding the striker 10, the tube 200 including a head 202 having an inner profile 203 adapted to the insert 2 to be produced.

[0023] According to the method, a material rod 1 is inserted into a tube 200 and heated to a predetermined temperature, a propelling fluid is injected, and the second distributor slide 30 is operated to move the first impact member slide 11 at a predetermined speed and drive the impact member 10 so that the impact member strikes the preheated rod 1, forcing the rod to enter the recess 301 and deform it so that it occupies the volume of the internal profile 203 of the head 202.

[0024] More particularly and in a non-limiting manner, a propulsion tool 100 is provided, which includes a sleeve 50. On the one hand, the sleeve includes a first cylindrical chamber 13, in which a first impact member sliding member 11 can move, and the first impact member sliding member is arranged to axially push the impact member 10 along an impact direction D. On the other hand, the sleeve includes a distributor device, which includes a second chamber 31 supplied with fluid by an injection or extraction nozzle 21, 22, 23, and a second distributor sliding member 30 can be axially moved in the second chamber 31 along the impact direction D. Secondly, the distributor device includes a second chamber 31 supplied with fluid by an injection or extraction nozzle 21, 22, 23, and the second distributor sliding member 30 can be axially moved in the second chamber 31 along a distribution direction D1 parallel to the impact direction D to control the forward or backward movement of the first impact member sliding member 11.

[0025] A tube 200 is provided comprising, on a first side, a cylindrical body 201 comprising an inner bore arranged to extend / prolong the first chamber 13 and guide the impactor 10, and on a second side a head 202 having an internal profile 203 adapted to the shape of the insert 2 to be produced.

[0026] The tube 200 is attached to the propulsion tool 100 by its first side and the head 202 is placed so that it rests on the structure 300 so that the recess 301 is aligned with the direction D of impact.

[0027] The material rod 1 is inserted into the cylindrical body 201, a heating element is placed around the cylindrical body 201, and the material rod 1 is heated to a predetermined temperature.

[0028] The propelling fluid is then injected into at least one of the injection or extraction nozzles 21, 22, 23, and the second distributor slide 30 is operated to move the first impact slide 11 at a predetermined speed, and drive the impact member 10 to impact the preheated material rod 1 and force the material rod into the recess 301 and deform it so that it occupies the entire volume of the internal contour 203 of the head 202.

[0029] More particularly, the preheated material bar 1 is brought against the structure 300 and then forced into the recess 301 by the action of the impact 10. Even more particularly, the preheated material bar 1 is brought against the structure 300 by fluid pressure.

[0030] The impact piece 10 allows the material to be pre-positioned in its final recess 301 due to its movement and the resulting induced pressure. The venting device allows the pressure to be released so that the impact and forming phase can be carried out. The impact piece 10 acts basically like a forming hammer on a press. The impact piece 10 is free in the example shown, but it must be returned to its position.

[0031] The advancement tool 100 has various passages 33, 34 for communicating the fluid with the grooves of the slider.

[0032] More particularly, the material rod 1 is at least partially made of an amorphous material. Even more particularly, the material rod 1 is made of an amorphous metal.

[0033] More particularly, induction heating elements are used.

[0034] More particularly, the predetermined speed is selected to be in the range of 1 m / s to 5 m / s.

[0035] More specifically, according to the properties of the material rod 1, the predetermined temperature is selected to be in the range of 400°C to 600°C so that the preheated material rod 1 enters a viscous phase.

[0036] Even more particularly, the recess 301 is made with an internal thread or a macro-relief for hooking. Even more particularly, the recess 301 is made with an internal thread whose profile and pitch require the use of ultrasound of a predetermined frequency in combination with the application of mechanical torque via a suitable tool to be removed therefrom.

[0037] More specifically, the recess 301 is manufactured to have a roughness Ra greater than 6 micrometers. For example, a plurality of simple grooves in the inner hole may suffice.

[0038] Even more particularly, the striker 10 is chosen so as to have a relief capable of forming an indentation in the insert 2 , thereby allowing the insert 2 to be manipulated using a wrench or a screwdriver having a profile complementary to that indentation.

[0039] More particularly, the insert 2 is produced in the form of an assembly screw.

[0040] More particularly, the insert 2 is produced in the form of a setting. More particularly, the setting is produced with a recess for removing the setting, which has a setting ring and / or setting claws mounted above / on the side opposite to the recess 301 .

[0041] More specifically, the second dispenser slider 30 is arranged coaxially with the third slider 17, which is arranged to control the release of the propelling fluid when the third slider / propelling fluid is pushed towards the elastic return means 20 by the second dispenser slider 30. This mechanism allows the pressure to be released after the striker 10 moves away from its insertion zone. The movement of the second dispenser slider 30 drives the first striker slider 11, and when the second dispenser slider 30 comes into contact with the third slider 17, it releases the propelling gas.

[0042] The invention also relates to a structure 300 comprising at least one insert 2, the assembly of which with the structure 300 being carried out according to the method. More particularly, the structure 300 is a timepiece component or a jewellery component.

[0043] The invention thus makes it possible to produce a reversible assembly, in particular by injecting amorphous metals, so as to form a screw-like attachment directly from a rod during pre-assembly.

[0044] In short, the system comprises a thrust tool which transmits mechanical energy to a striker, driven at a defined speed, in contact with a rod of material (in particular but not limited to amorphous metal material) which has previously been heated (and, as the case may be, previously displaced into a pre-assembled orifice by means of, for example, air pressure). The striker forms an indentation in the insert thus obtained.

[0045] The insert, in particular an attached insert, can take different forms: a conventionally used assembly screw, a decorative element that does not require assembly (e.g. an applique / inlay, an inlay decoration), a decorative support (e.g. a gemstone in the case of a setting), in particular a combination of a screw-type attachment system and a diamond setting, which, if disassembly is required, can be unscrewed using a special tool once the diamond has been removed from the setting. The insert can be equipped with a special thread to ensure removal, i.e. have a specific tip / distal shape, or be removed using ultrasound of a specific frequency.

[0046] The high velocity of the impactor within the tube facilitates the shaping of the material, in particular amorphous metals, by the impactor.

[0047] The invention makes it possible to produce inserts, in particular screws, which can be removed directly at the point in the component and which are made in particular of amorphous metal.

[0048] The recess for the insert is advantageously made with a special reversible thread for obtaining a screw formed by direct injection.

[0049] The impact piece is simple and inexpensive, and the insert head can be easily manufactured in any shape with a fully customizable indentation.

[0050] By using ultrasound at a specific frequency, the insert can be removed more reliably (in the absence of a standardized indentation).

Claims

1. A method for assembling an insert (2) provided with an elongated portion terminating in a head with a recess (301) of a structure (300), the method using a thrust tool (100) to guide a first striker slide (11) to push a striker (10) in the form of a free projectile, the thrust tool comprising a distributor device and a tube (200), the distributor device being used to control the forward or backward movement of the first striker slide (11), the tube guiding the striker (10), the tube comprising a head (202) having an internal contour (203) adapted to the head of the insert (2) to be produced; According to the assembly method: inserting a rod (1) of material made of at least partially amorphous material into said tube (200), said rod of material being intended to form said insert (2); heating the material rod to a predetermined temperature; injecting a propulsion fluid into the propulsion tool; as well as The second dispenser slide (30) included in the pushing tool is operated to move the first impact member slide (11) at a predetermined speed and drive the impact member (10) by impact, and when the impact member moves in the tube, the impact member impacts the preheated material rod (1), causing the material rod to move in the tube until the material rod is forced to be inserted into the recess (301) and deformed so that it occupies the volume of the internal contour (203) of the head (202).

2. The assembly method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Producing the recess (301) in the structure (300) for receiving the insert (2); Providing the material rod (1) for producing the insert (2); A propulsion tool (100) is provided, the propulsion tool comprising a first cylindrical chamber (13), the first striker slider (11) being movable in the first cylindrical chamber, the striker slider being arranged to push the striker (10) axially in a striking direction (D), and the propulsion tool comprising a distributor device for controlling the forward or backward movement of the first striker slider (11); providing the tube (200) comprising, on a first side, a cylindrical body (201) and, on a second side, the head (202) having the inner profile (203) adapted to the insert (2) to be produced, the cylindrical body comprising an inner bore arranged as an extension of the first cylindrical chamber (13) and guiding the impactor (10); attaching the tube to the propulsion tool (100) via the first side of the tube (200) and bringing the head (202) against the structure (300) by aligning the recess (301) with the impact direction (D); Inserting the material rod (1) into the cylindrical body (201); placing a heating element around the cylindrical body (201); heating the material rod (1) to a predetermined temperature; injecting a propelling fluid into at least one of the injection or extraction nozzles (21, 22, 23); as well as The operation of the second dispenser slide (30) is controlled so that the first impact member slide (11) moves at a predetermined speed, and the impact member (10) is driven to impact the preheated material rod (1) and force the material rod into the recess (301), and deform the material rod so that it occupies the entire volume of the internal contour (203) of the head (202).

3. The assembly method according to claim 2, characterized in that: A heating element is used which is an induction heating element.

4. The assembly method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The thrust tool (100) is produced so that it comprises a sleeve (50), which comprises, on the one hand, the first cylindrical chamber (13) in which the first impact member slide (11) can move, and, on the other hand, a second chamber (31), the second chamber (31) being supplied with fluid by an injection or extraction nozzle (21, 22, 23), in which a second dispenser slide (12) can move axially along a dispensing direction (D1) parallel to the impact direction (D) to control the forward or backward movement of the first impact member slide (11).

5. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The preheated material bar (1) is brought against the structure (300) before it is forced into the recess (301) by the action of the impact member (10).

6. The assembly method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The preheated material rod (1) is brought against the structure (300) by fluid pressure.

7. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The material rod (1) is made of at least partially amorphous material.

8. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The recess (301) is produced with an internal thread or with a macro-relief for hooking.

9. The assembly method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The recess (301) is produced with an internal thread whose profile and pitch are such that removal from the internal thread requires the use of ultrasound at a predetermined frequency in combination with the application of mechanical torque via a suitable tool.

10. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The recess (301) is produced with a roughness Ra greater than 6 micrometers.

11. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The striker (10) is chosen to include a relief which is capable of forming an indentation in the insert (2), thereby allowing the insert (2) to be manipulated using a wrench or a screwdriver having a profile complementary to the indentation.

12. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The insert (2) is produced in the form of an assembly screw.

13. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The insert (2) is produced in the form of a setting.

14. The assembly method according to claim 13, characterized in that: The setting is produced with a recess for removing the setting, the recess of the setting having a setting ring and / or setting claws mounted thereon on the side opposite to the recess (301).

15. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that: The predetermined speed is selected within the range of 1 m / s to 5 m / s.

16. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: The predetermined temperature is selected in the range of 400° C. to 600° C. according to the properties of the material rod (1) so as to make the preheated material rod (1) enter a viscous phase.

17. The assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that: The second dispenser slider (30) is coaxially arranged with the third slider (17), and the third slider (17) is arranged to control the release of the propelling fluid when it is pushed toward the elastic return device (20) by the second dispenser slider (30).

18. A structure (300) comprising at least one insert (2) arranged in a recess, the insert (2) being assembled with the structure (300) according to the assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that The structure (300) is a watchmaking component or a jewelry component, the insert (2) is an assembly screw, the assembly screw is made of an amorphous alloy, the recess (301) has an internal thread, the roughness Ra of the recess (301) is greater than 6 microns, and the assembly screw has a recess in its distal part for removing the assembly screw.

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