Escapement lever for a swiss anchor escapement, swiss anchor escapement and timepiece movement

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of for swiss anchor escapement (50) escapement fork (21), the escapement fork (21) includes the prong (22) designed as the engagement on oval component (23) of balance wheel (35), and the in tile arm (11) and the out tile arm (12) designed as the engagement with escapement moving element (30), the in tile arm (11) and the out tile arm (12) all include escapement fork tile (25,26), the escapement fork tile (25) on the in tile arm (11) and / or the escapement fork tile (26) on the out tile arm (12) include the side wall (27,28) located in the opposite side of locking surface, the side wall (27,28) has the arc-shaped portion (29,33) curved towards the inside of the escapement fork tile (25,26).The utility model further relates to swiss anchor escapement (50) and clock movement.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an escapement fork with an arc-shaped escapement fork for a watch escapement mechanism, as well as an escapement mechanism and watch movement incorporating such an escapement fork. Background Technology

[0002] In most mechanical watches, the energy required to drive the hands (e.g., the hour and minute hands) is stored in the mainspring barrel and then released through the balance spring system. This balance spring system consists of a flywheel called the balance wheel, which is combined with a spring called the hairspring, which is a ribbon wound into a spiral shape.

[0003] The inner end of the hairspring is attached to the spindle that rotates integrally with the balance wheel; the outer end of the hairspring is attached to the hairspring stud mounted on the outer stud retainer, which itself is attached to the fixed bar clamp (or balance clamp).

[0004] The rotation of the balance wheel is maintained by the escapement mechanism, and its oscillations are also counted by the escapement mechanism. This escapement mechanism includes an escape fork driven by low-amplitude oscillating motion. The escape fork has two or three pallets that engage with the teeth of the escapement element / escape wheel. When engaged in this way, the escapement element is forced into a stepping rotational motion, the frequency of which is determined by the oscillation frequency of the escape fork, which itself coincides with the oscillation frequency of the balance wheel system.

[0005] The oscillation frequency of a traditional escapement is about 4 Hz, or approximately 28,800 vibrations per hour (A / h). Skilled watchmakers strive to ensure that the balance wheel system oscillates isochronously and stably (i.e., the time difference remains constant).

[0006] The escapement fork in the escapement mechanism is designed to establish a mechanical connection between the balance wheel and the escapement moving parts. Therefore, the positioning of the escapement fork is crucial to ensure proper engagement with the other two components.

[0007] Typically, the escape fork is molded as a single piece, including a fork head that engages with an elliptical component on the balance wheel, and at least two arms, each typically fitted with an escape fork bearing and engaging with the escapement mechanism. The body of the escape fork is mounted on a spindle with pivots at both ends. During assembly, these pivots are inserted into bearing housings arranged on the bar plate or mainplate.

[0008] Currently, the hairspring can be replaced by a flexible guide as an elastic component to form a virtual pivot. Flexible guides with virtual pivots can significantly improve watch resonators. The simplest is a cross-shaped pivot, consisting of two guides with intersecting straight stripes. These two stripes can be three-dimensional structures in two different planes, or two-dimensional structures in the same plane (in which case they are welded / securely joined together at the intersection). Furthermore, there are RCC (remote center compliance) guides with non-intersecting stripes, where the straight stripes do not intersect. Such resonators are described in documents EP14199039 and EP16155039.

[0009] However, when this flexible guide is used, the amplitude of the balance wheel is much smaller, with a rotation angle of about 20 degrees, while the rotation angle corresponding to the hairspring is 330 degrees, and the oscillation frequency of the balance wheel is much higher than that of the balance wheel equipped with a hairspring.

[0010] Therefore, a new escapement mechanism configuration has been developed to adapt to a speed regulating mechanism with a flexible guide.

[0011] In most mechanical watch movements, the escapement pivot, escapement fork pivot, and balance wheel pivot are located in the same plane. Viewed from above, the positions of these three axes form a straight line, a configuration known as "straight alignment." However, this arrangement takes up considerable space.

[0012] In some watch movement configurations, the three axes are positioned in a bent shape. In other words, the escapement, pallet fork, and balance wheel are not aligned, but arranged in a triangle, each located at one of the three vertices of the same triangle. This arrangement can reduce the size of the watch movement.

[0013] Typically, the escapement fork head and escapement fork plate are at the same height within the movement. Furthermore, because the fork head engages with the elliptical component on the balance wheel and the fork plate engages with the teeth on the escapement mechanism, a certain distance must be maintained between the fork head and the fork plate to prevent collision between the elliptical component and the teeth on the escapement mechanism. This is why a linear "centering" layout is usually adopted.

[0014] Therefore, on the one hand, the relative position (especially the center distance) between the escape fork and the escapement mechanism must be precisely defined. On the other hand, the relative position (especially the center distance) between the escape fork and the balance wheel must also be precisely defined.

[0015] Since the pallet fork bearings and fork head are usually the same component (pallet fork) and are joined at roughly the same height, it is difficult to meet both of the above requirements at the same time.

[0016] In the Swiss anchor escapement, the teeth of the escapement element have an impact beak-like portion that extends at least partially tangentially toward the rear of the teeth relative to the direction of rotation of the escapement element. This impact beak-like portion provides a larger impact surface for contacting the escapement fork pads on the escapement fork.

[0017] However, this tooth configuration increases the risk of impact with the escapement fork pads on the escapement fork because the teeth are larger. In fact, when the escapement fork pads move between the two teeth to lock the escape wheel, they must not come into contact with the side of the escape wheel teeth.

[0018] Therefore, the arrangement of the escapement fork shoes relative to the escapement wheel teeth is crucial. It is necessary to design and supply escapement fork shoes capable of engaging with such teeth.

[0019] The escape forks used in known Swiss anchor escape mechanisms include escape fork plates made of synthetic materials or ceramics with straight walls.

[0020] To avoid impact, the escape fork bearings are arranged on the escape fork to be separate from the escape wheel teeth, maintaining a minimum safe distance from the teeth when moving between them.

[0021] However, the greater the safety distance, the greater the impact on the mechanism's performance, leading to a significant decrease in the mechanism's performance.

[0022] Furthermore, new technologies enable the use of innovative materials with unique advantages to manufacture components. For example, silicon can be used to manufacture components. Utility Model Content

[0023] The present invention aims to provide an escapement fork for a Swiss anchor escapement mechanism, which avoids the above-mentioned defects, and in particular, improves the performance of the escapement mechanism while maintaining a sufficient safe distance between the escapement fork pads and the teeth on the escapement moving parts during the operation of the escapement mechanism.

[0024] Therefore, this utility model relates to an escapement fork for the escapement mechanism of a Swiss anchor-type watch, the escapement fork including a fork head designed to engage with an elliptical component on the balance wheel, and a wheel inlet arm and a wheel outlet arm designed to engage with the escapement movement component, the wheel inlet arm and the wheel outlet arm both including escapement fork pads, the escapement fork pads being designed to engage with teeth on the escapement movement component.

[0025] A significant feature of this invention is that the pallet fork on the infeed arm and / or the pallet fork on the outfeed arm includes sidewalls on opposite sides of the locking face, the sidewalls having arcuate portions that curve toward the inside of the pallet fork.

[0026] This curved section thus increases the safe distance between the escapement fork and the teeth of the escapement moving parts (especially the teeth with impact beak-like parts), while ensuring that the escapement mechanism has sufficient performance.

[0027] In fact, this curved section can reduce the thickness of the escapement fork bearing in a specific area (the area closest to the teeth of the escapement mechanism).

[0028] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the escapement fork on the advance arm includes an outer wall having the arcuate portion.

[0029] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the escapement fork on the escapement arm includes an inner wall having the arcuate portion.

[0030] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the sidewall of the escapement fork is designed to avoid contact with the teeth of the escapement moving part.

[0031] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the arc-shaped portion includes two cut surfaces, the angle formed by the two cut surfaces being between 90° and 160°, preferably between 105° and 150°, or even between 120° and 140°.

[0032] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the escapement fork includes an impact surface that forms an angle with the sidewall, the angle preferably being between 20° and 70°, or even between 30° and 60°.

[0033] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the escapement fork bearing is at least partially made of silicon-containing material, preferably entirely made of silicon-containing material.

[0034] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the escapement fork is at least partially made of silicon-containing material, preferably entirely made of silicon-containing material.

[0035] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the escapement fork includes a spindle, and the fork head, the pallet arm, and the pallet release arm are mounted on the spindle.

[0036] This utility model also relates to an escapement mechanism, which includes an escapement movement component and the aforementioned escapement fork, wherein the escapement movement component includes a toothed portion.

[0037] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the tooth is provided with an impact beak-like portion.

[0038] This utility model also relates to a watch movement, which includes a main plate, a balance wheel, a balance bridge, a flexible guide, and the aforementioned escapement mechanism, wherein the balance wheel is suspended by the flexible guide.

[0039] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the balance wheel, the escapement mechanism, and the escapement fork are arranged to form a bent shape, wherein the bending angle is less than 90°, preferably less than 70°, or even less than 60°. Attached Figure Description

[0040] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of specific embodiments of the invention, provided only as illustrative and not limiting examples, and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] - Figure 1 A schematic top view of a clock module including a regulating mechanism and an escapement mechanism;

[0042] - Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic side view of the clock module in the image;

[0043] - Figure 3 For inclusion Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of the watch movement of the watch module;

[0044] - Figure 4 This is a schematic top view of an escapement mechanism including an escapement moving part according to the third embodiment of the present utility model;

[0045] - Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged schematic top view of a portion of the escapement mechanism; and

[0046] - Figure 6 This is a schematic perspective view of the escapement fork according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0047] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the watch module 10, there is a Swiss anchor escapement 50 associated with the regulating mechanism 60.

[0048] The speed regulating mechanism 60 includes a balance wheel 35 and a rotating flexible guide 32 for the balance wheel 35, while the escapement mechanism 50 includes an escapement motion 30 and an escape fork 21.

[0049] The balance wheel 35 has a bone-like structure, with a longitudinal portion 36 and arc-shaped transverse portions 37 at both ends of the longitudinal portion 36. The balance wheel 35 also includes a stop / limiter installed in the middle of the longitudinal portion 36 and concentric with the virtual axis of rotation, and screws 39 arranged in the transverse portion 37 for adjusting the moment of inertia of the balance wheel.

[0050] The balance wheel 35 is mounted on the flexible guide 32 so that it can rotate and oscillate about a virtual axis of rotation. The flexible guide 32 is directly connected to the balance wheel 35.

[0051] The flexible guide 32 is equipped with at least two flexible strips 37, which in this example are two pairs of intersecting flexible strips 37 arranged in series to form a double pivot, thereby increasing the rotation angle of the balance wheel 35.

[0052] The escapement mechanism 30 includes a hub 3, two sets of strips 5 and 16, and an outer peripheral toothed portion 24. The outer peripheral toothed portion 24 includes a plurality of teeth 18 arranged at the connection between the free end of the first set of strips 5 and the free end of the second set of strips 16. In addition, the second set of strips 16 is arc-shaped.

[0053] The tooth 18 is bent to form an impact beak-like portion, which at least partially extends toward the rear of the tooth 18 along the tangential direction of the escapement 30 relative to the rotation direction of the escapement 30.

[0054] The escapement mechanism 50 also includes a second watch movement 20 that meshes with the first escapement movement 30. For example, the second watch movement 20 is a second hand movement. The teeth on the second watch movement 20 mesh with the pinion 3 on the first escapement movement 30.

[0055] The balance wheel 35 includes an elliptical member 23 extending below it for engaging with the fork head 22 on the escapement fork 21. The elliptical member 23 is attached to the balance wheel 35.

[0056] The center line connecting the balance wheel 35, the escapement component 30, and the escape fork 21 is bent. This is different from the conventional escapement mechanism, in which the line is roughly straight and the escape fork is positioned on this line between the balance wheel and the escapement component.

[0057] Therefore, the balance wheel 35, the escapement mechanism 30, and the escapement fork 21 are located at the three vertices of the triangle.

[0058] The bending angle is less than 90°, preferably less than 70°, or even less than 60°. Therefore, the balance wheel 35, the escapement mechanism 30, and the escape fork 21 are arranged in a compact manner.

[0059] The escape fork 21 is equipped with two arms 11 and 12, namely the advance arm 11 and the exit arm 12, each of which has an escape fork pad 25 and 26 at its end that engage with the teeth 18 on the escapement movement 30.

[0060] The pallet fork pads 25 and 26 on the pallet fork arm 11 and the pallet arm 12 of the pallet fork 21 engage with the pallet moving member 30 and alternately interact with the teeth 18 on the pallet moving member 30 in order to adjust the time difference.

[0061] The escapement fork 21 also includes a laterally extending longitudinal portion 14, the end of which is provided with a fork head 22 for engaging with the elliptical component 23 on the balance wheel 35.

[0062] In addition, the escapement fork 21 includes a spindle 5 that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal portion 14 and the fork head 22, through which the escapement fork 21 can be rotatably mounted in the movement.

[0063] The escape fork 21 includes a radially extending elongated body 31, which is arranged to engage with a stop (not shown in the figures). The stop serves to prevent the escape fork 21 from over-rotating.

[0064] The slender body 31 is roughly positioned at the height of the entry and exit arms 11 and 12 on the escape fork 21.

[0065] The fork head 22, along with the infeed arm 11 and the outfeed arm 12, are arranged as two parts on the spindle 5. The fork head 22 is located at a first height of the spindle 5, while the infeed arm 11 and the outfeed arm 12 are located at a second height of the spindle 5.

[0066] Thus, the two heights are spaced apart by a predetermined distance D0 along the axial direction of the mandrel 5. Preferably, this predetermined distance is between one-quarter and three-quarters of the mandrel length.

[0067] For example, the second height is located roughly at the lower end of the spinal axis, while the first height is located roughly in the middle of the spinal axis.

[0068] Preferably, the length of the spindle 5 roughly corresponds to the height of the watch movement (measured from the movement plate 2).

[0069] exist Figure 3 middle, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The clock module is arranged in the clock movement 1, which is especially used for watches.

[0070] In addition to the watch module 10, the watch movement 1 also includes a plate 2 and a clamping plate for supporting the various components of the watch module 10.

[0071] Specifically, the watch movement 1 includes a balance bridge 4 arranged above the balance wheel. The balance wheel thus oscillates between the main plate 2 and the balance bridge 4. For example, the balance bridge 4 includes an upper stop for vertically holding the balance wheel 35.

[0072] The watch movement 1 also includes an escapement plate 6, which pivotally supports the shaft of the escapement movement 30.

[0073] The escapement mechanism 30 is pivotally mounted between the main plate 2 and the escapement clamp 6. The balance wheel 35 is therefore pivotally mounted between the balance clamp 4 and the main plate 2.

[0074] The spindle 5 includes a first pivot 7 disposed at its first end and a second pivot 8 disposed at its second end.

[0075] The first pivot 7 is pivotally mounted on the plate 2, and the second pivot 8 is pivotally mounted on the balance wheel 4. Therefore, the escapement fork 21 is pivotally mounted between the balance wheel 4 and the plate 2, and the spindle 5 extends beyond the balance wheel 35 (at its height position).

[0076] To this end, the balance plate 4 includes a first bearing seat 13 for the balance wheel 35 and a second bearing seat 15 for the escape fork 21. The first bearing seat 13 acts as a stop in the event of an impact and is concentric with the virtual axis of rotation defined by the flexible guide 32. The distance D1 between the center of the first bearing seat 13 and the center of the second bearing seat 15 is a predetermined value to ensure optimal engagement between the fork tip 22 on the escape fork 21 and the elliptical component 23 on the balance wheel 35.

[0077] The mechanism plate 2 includes a third bearing seat 16 for the balance wheel 35, a fourth bearing seat 17 for the spindle 5 on the escape fork 21, and a fifth bearing seat 9 for the escapement movement 30. The distance D2 between the center of the fourth bearing seat 17 and the center of the fifth bearing seat 9 is a predetermined value to ensure optimal engagement between the pad arm 11 and the pad arm 12 on the escape fork 21 and the escapement movement 30.

[0078] The escapement plate 6 includes a sixth bearing housing for the pivot on the escapement movement 30.

[0079] This arrangement of the escape fork 21 better ensures, on the one hand, the engagement between the pallet arm 11 and the pallet release arm 12 on the escape fork 21 and the escapement movement 30, and on the other hand, better the engagement between the fork head 22 and the elliptical component 23. In reality, the spindle 5 is unlikely to be excessively tilted relative to the plate 2.

[0080] Since the escape fork 21 and the balance wheel 35 are arranged between the plate 2 and the balance plate 4, the center distance D1 defined on the balance plate 4 between the second pivot 8 of the escape fork 21 and the pivot of the balance wheel 35 remains constant and is unlikely to change during assembly.

[0081] Similarly, the center distance D2 defined on the plate 2 between the first pivot 7 of the escapement fork and the pivot of the escapement movement 30 remains constant and does not change during assembly.

[0082] According to this utility model, Figures 4 to 6 In the pallet fork 21, the pallet fork 25 of the pallet arm 11 and the pallet fork 26 of the pallet arm 12 include sidewalls 27 and 28 with arcuate portions 33 and 29.

[0083] In this embodiment, each of the two escapement fork pads 25 and 26 includes sidewalls 27 and 28 with arcuate portions 33 and 29.

[0084] The arc-shaped portions 33 and 29 are located on one side of the free end of the pallet fork 25 and 26 facing the tooth 18. Therefore, the sidewalls 27 and 28 of each pallet fork 25 and 26 are located on the opposite side of the locking face.

[0085] The pallet fork 25 on the inlet arm 11 includes an outer wall 27 that curves inward toward the inside of the pallet fork 25, and the pallet fork 26 on the outlet arm 12 includes an inner wall 28 that curves inward toward the inside of the pallet fork 26.

[0086] In this embodiment, the arc-shaped portions 29 and 33 include two cut surfaces 34 and 39, the angle formed by these two cut surfaces being between 90° and 160°, preferably between 105° and 150°, or even between 120° and 140°.

[0087] Each escapement fork bearing 25, 26 includes an impact surface 42 forming an angle with the sidewalls 27, 28, preferably between 20° and 70°, or even between 30° and 60°.

[0088] The escapement fork bearings 25 and 26 are at least partially made of silicon-containing material, preferably entirely of silicon-containing material. In fact, this material makes it possible to form curved portions 29 and 33.

[0089] Preferably, the escape fork 21 is at least partially made of a silicon-containing material, and more preferably entirely made of a silicon-containing material. Therefore, the escape fork 21 is preferably integrally formed with the escape fork pads 25 and 26 and made of the same material.

[0090] Obviously, this utility model is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various modifications can be conceived without departing from the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An escapement fork (21) for a Swiss-anchored escapement mechanism (50), the escapement fork (21) comprising a fork head (22) designed to engage with an elliptical component (23) on a balance wheel (35), and an entry pallet arm (11) and an exit pallet arm (12) designed to engage with an escapement movement (30), both the entry pallet arm (11) and the exit pallet arm (12) comprising escapement fork pallets, characterized in that, The pallet fork on the pallet arm (11) and / or the pallet fork on the pallet arm (12) include sidewalls on opposite sides of the locking face, the sidewalls having arcuate portions that curve toward the inside of the pallet fork.

2. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The escapement fork on the advance arm (11) includes an outer wall having the arcuate portion.

3. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The escape fork on the escape arm (12) includes an inner wall having the arcuate portion.

4. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sidewalls of the escape fork are designed to avoid contact with the teeth of the escapement mechanism (30).

5. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The arc-shaped portion includes two cut surfaces, the angle between which the two cut surfaces are between 90° and 160°.

6. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The escapement fork includes an impact surface (42) that forms an angle with the sidewall, the angle being between 20° and 70°.

7. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The escapement fork is at least partially made of silicon-containing material.

8. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The escapement fork (21) is at least partially made of silicon-containing material.

9. The escape fork (21) for a Swiss-anchor escapement mechanism (50) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The escapement fork (21) includes a spindle (5), and the fork head (22), the pallet arm (11), and the pallet arm (12) are mounted on the spindle (5).

10. A Swiss anchor escapement (50) comprising an escapement element (30) including toothed portions, characterized in that, The Swiss-anchor escapement (50) includes an escapement fork (21) for the Swiss-anchor escapement (50) according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. The Swiss anchor escapement (50) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The tooth is provided with an impact beak-like part.

12. A watch movement comprising a main plate (2), a balance wheel (35), a balance bridge (4), and a flexible guide (32), wherein the balance wheel (35) is suspended by the flexible guide (32) so as to oscillate about a virtual axis between the main plate (2) and the balance bridge (4), characterized in that, The watch movement includes the Swiss anchor escapement (50) as described in claim 10 or 11.

13. The watch movement according to claim 12, characterized in that, The balance wheel (35), the escapement mechanism (30), and the escapement fork (21) are arranged to form a bent shape, wherein the bending angle is less than 90°.

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