Composite part of timepiece governor comprising mass body

Abstract

The invention relates to a composite part (20) of a timepiece governor (10), said composite part (20) comprising a pallet (21) having a shaft (210) on which an axial shoulder (211) is provided, said pallet (21) being provided with pallet tiles (212) intended to intermittently interact with an escape wheel set (30), said composite part (20) further comprising a mass (213) fastened to the pallet (21), said mass (213) being arranged on the pallet (21), said mass (213) being arranged on the pallet (21). The mass body (213) is made of a material having a greater density than the material constituting the pallet fork (21) such that the maximum radial dimension of the mass body (213) is less than or equal to the maximum radial dimension of the pallet fork (21).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly to components of a watch movement.

[0002] The present invention relates to a composite watch component comprising a mass, which is a component of a speed control mechanism. Background Art

[0003] Controlling the inertia of watch mechanism components, particularly those of the speed control mechanism, is crucial because the dynamic behavior of these components depends on their inertia.

[0004] By using microfabrication processes such as "LIGA" (derived from the German "Lithographische Galvano Abformung", meaning "electroplated patterning by lithography") to produce watch components, components with very fine geometries can be produced, thus optimizing functional contacts. However, these components are very light and generally require a certain amount of inertia to maintain motion, provide impulses, or perform other functions.

[0005] For example, in a speed control mechanism that operates based on repeated impacts between an escape wheel and fork, the oscillation frequency depends in part on the inertia of the escape fork. In addition, due to the repeated impacts, the mechanical stress on the escape wheel and fork is relatively high, so the material selection for their interacting surfaces is very important.

[0006] In addition, in some cases, the escape fork must be given a specific inertia while also complying with the space limitations within the watch movement in which the escape fork is intended to be installed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention relates to a composite watch component of a speed control mechanism, the composite component comprising a mass capable of controlling its inertia.

[0008] More specifically, the present invention relates to a composite watch component of a watch speed control mechanism, the composite watch component comprising an escape fork having a shaft, the shaft being provided with an axial shoulder, the escape fork being provided with escape fork pallets for intermittently interacting with an escape wheel. The composite component further comprises a mass fastened to the escape fork, the mass being made of a material having a greater density than the material constituting the escape fork, such that the maximum radial dimension of the mass is less than or equal to the maximum radial dimension of the escape fork.

[0009] Therefore, on the one hand, the present invention can withstand the mechanical stress to which the escape fork of the speed control mechanism is subjected, and on the other hand, it can control the inertia of the composite component while allowing the composite component to maintain a small size, so that it can be used in watch movements with large space limitations.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the present invention may also include one or more of the following features, which may be considered individually or in any technically feasible combination.

[0011] In certain embodiments, the mass body is made of a material having a density greater than 15.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the mass body is made of a material having a density preferably greater than 19.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the mass body is made of gold, platinum, or an alloy thereof.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the mass body is arranged to abut against an axial shoulder in a manner opposite to the pallet fork.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the mass body has a central through-hole through which the mass body is press-fitted onto the shaft of the pallet fork.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the mass body includes a stack composed of a plurality of rotationally symmetric elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 and Figure 2 show perspective views of a composite watch part according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and according to another embodiment of the present invention, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present invention relates to a composite watch part 20 of a speed control mechanism 10 of a watch movement, which is arranged to be pivotable about a rotation axis.

[0019] Such a speed control mechanism 10 is particularly suitable for regulating the drive of a date, as described in European Patent EP3540524, for example.

[0020] As Figure 1 shown, the composite part 20 includes a pallet fork 21 integrally formed of a single material. The pallet fork 21 has a shaft 210, and an axial shoulder 211 is provided on the shaft 210. For example, the axial shoulder 211 is rotationally symmetric about the rotation axis D. The shaft 210 extends along the rotation axis of the composite wheel pair. The pallet fork 21 also has pallet fork pallets 212. For example, the pallet fork pallets 212 are arranged on the axial shoulder 211 and are used to intermittently interact with the escapement wheel pair 30, particularly with the teeth 300 of the escapement wheel pair 30, as Figure 1As shown. Through the interaction between the pallet fork 212 and the tooth part 300 of the escapement wheel pair 30, the alternating impact between one or the other pallet fork 212 and the teeth of the tooth part 300 is defined. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pallet fork 212 can form an axial shoulder 211 and thus radially extend from the shaft 210.

[0021] In order to mechanically resist the stress generated by the interaction between the pallet fork 212 and the tooth part 300, the pallet fork 21 is made of a suitable material, such as titanium, ceramic, beryllium copper, etc. The pallet fork 21 can also have a coating, such as a coating that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, such as a nickel-phosphorus coating.

[0022] In order to have an appropriate inertia suitable for the adjustment function of the speed regulating mechanism 10, the composite component 20 includes a mass 213 fixed on the pallet fork 21. In particular, the mass 213 abuts against the axial shoulder 211 in a manner opposite to the pallet fork 212. For example, the mass 213 is press-fitted onto the pallet fork 21. For this purpose, in particular, the mass 213 has a central through hole, and when the mass 213 is press-fitted, the shaft 210 of the pallet fork 21 passes through the central through hole and engages with it.

[0023] The mass 213 is made of a material with a greater density than the material constituting the pallet fork 21, and is selected such that the maximum radial dimension of the mass 213 is less than or equal to the maximum radial dimension of the pallet fork 21. In other words, considering the space limitations of the watch movement, the material of the mass 213 is selected such that the maximum radial dimension of the mass 213 does not affect the maximum radial envelope range of the composite component 20. From Figure 1 and Figure 2 it can be seen that the mass 213 is advantageously rotationally symmetric about the axis of rotation of the composite component 20.

[0024] The mass 213 is preferably made of gold, but can also be made of any other material with a density greater than 15 and preferably greater than 19, such as platinum or an alloy of gold or platinum.

[0025] In Figure 1 the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown, the mass 213 consists of a single rotationally symmetric element. However, in other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the mass 213 can include a stack composed of multiple rotationally symmetric elements, as Figure 2 shown. The advantage of this feature is that the volume of the mass 213 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting its mass and ultimately adjusting the inertia of the composite component 20.

[0026] In summary, since it is composite, that is, made of two different materials, the composite component 20 has a desired inertia depending on the function it is to perform, while occupying the smallest possible effective volume.

[0027] Advantageously, the composite component 20 replaces the non-weighted base component.

Claims

1. A composite component (20) of a timepiece speed regulating mechanism (10), characterized in that: The composite component (20) comprises a pallet fork (21) having an axle (210), on which an axial shoulder (211) is arranged, the pallet fork (21) is provided with a pallet fork stone (212), and the pallet fork stone is used to intermittently interact with the escape wheel set (30), and the composite component (20) also comprises a mass body (213) fastened to the pallet fork (21), the mass body (213) is made of a material with a higher density than the material constituting the pallet fork (21), so that the maximum radial dimension of the mass body (213) is less than or equal to the maximum radial dimension of the pallet fork (21).

2. The composite component (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass body (213) is made of a material with a density greater than 15.

3. The composite component (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass body (213) is made of a material with a density greater than 19.

4. The composite component (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass body (213) is made of gold, platinum or an alloy thereof.

5. The composite component (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The mass body (213) rests on the axial shoulder (211) in a manner opposite to the pallet stone (212).

6. The composite component (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The mass body (213) comprises a central through hole and is press-fitted onto the shaft (210) of the pallet fork (21) via the central through hole.

7. The composite component (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The mass body (213) comprises a stack of a plurality of rotationally symmetric elements.

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