FLEXIBLE CONTROL ORGAN

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device comprising a watch component, a support, and at least one flexible guide member as well as a timepiece comprising such a device.

[0002] The flexible guide members are designed to pivot without a physical axis of rotation, therefore without friction, around a virtual axis of rotation, thanks to an arrangement of elastic parts.

[0003] Circular neck type flexible guide members are generally used in flexible guide systems, when the stiffness of the system must be low. These are typically beams of rectangular section and variable thickness whose profile describes two concave semicircles. Such components have the advantage of having low stiffness and limiting elastic restoring moments, however, they have the disadvantage of not absorbing parasitic displacements.

[0004] THEfigures 12a et 12b represent, respectively in perspective and top view, a flexible guide member 101 of the circular neck type according to the prior art.

[0005] The flexible guide member 101 extends longitudinally along an axis x. It has the overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped of length L extending in the direction of the axis x, width l extending in the direction of an axis y and thickness e extending in the direction of an axis z

[0006] The flexible guide member 101 comprises two hollows 105a, 105b made respectively in opposite flat surfaces F1, F2 of the flexible guide member 101, said hollows 105a, 105b facing each other so as to define between them a thinned zone or neck 104 at the level of which the width of the flexible guide member 101 is thinned over its entire thickness. This neck 104 has a certain elasticity resulting from its width I col , relatively thin.

[0007] The flexible guide member 101 comprises a first 102 and a second 103 rigid parts connected by said elastically deformable neck 104 so that said first 102 and second 103 rigid parts are able to pivot relative to each other around a virtual axis of rotation. R, perpendicular to the axis x, parallel to surfaces F1 and F2 and crossing neck 104.

[0008] The recesses 105a, 105b typically take the form of semi-cylinders of revolution with axes parallel to the z axis. In top view, as shown in figure 12b , the profile of each of said hollows 105a, 105b is an arc of a circle of radius r.

[0009] Pass 104, particularly its width I col , is sized according to the constraints it can support.

[0010] The radius r is typically at least five times the minimum width I col , so as to avoid any concentration of stresses in the middle of the neck 104.

[0011] The flexible guide member 101 has a plane P 0 of vertical longitudinal symmetry including the virtual axis of rotation R and parallel to the surfaces F1 and F2.

[0012] Any relative movement of the first part 102 with respect to the second part 103 other than a rotational movement around the virtual axis of rotation Ris considered a parasitic motion, parasitic motions typically including torsional, stretching or transverse bending motions as well as shear stresses.

[0013] The manufacture of such a flexible guide member 101 of the circular neck type is traditionally carried out by carrying out two separate machining operations, one to form each of the hollows 105a, 105b, for example from a block of material or substrate in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0014] Such a manufacturing process is intuitive for the person skilled in the art who thus places the virtual axis of rotation R in the center of the flexible guide member 101, in particular in the direction of its width.

[0015] During such a manufacturing process, machining defects can cause rotation of the virtual rotation axis R in any direction, which results in the creation of a parasitic displacement.

[0016] A machining defect of 2° in the neck (typical value of the machining defect) causes a parasitic displacement of approximately 3% at the level of the guide member. Such a parasitic displacement may not have any influence when considered alone. However, when two or more guide members must work together, typically when installed in series, if the axes of rotation are not parallel to each other, the parasitic displacements can be in opposition and lead to blockages or large increases in stiffness.

[0017] Document CH 713 288 A1 presents a monolithic component intended for a mechanical timepiece and comprising flexible necks.

[0018] An aim of the present invention is to propose a device comprising a watch component, a support and a flexible guide member capable of guiding said watch component relative to said support, making it possible to overcome, at least in part, the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0019] The invention proposes to this end a watchmaking device comprising a watchmaking component, a support and at least one flexible guide member extending longitudinally along an axis x and comprising a first and a second rigid part connected by an elastically deformable neck, said first and second rigid parts being capable of pivoting relative to each other around a virtual axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis x by elastic deformation of said neck, said at least one flexible guide member being capable of guiding the movements of said component relative to the support, said device being characterized in that said neck is defined by a single hollow.

[0020] Preferably, in each section plane of the flexible guide member perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation, the neck is defined by a concave curve corresponding to a longitudinal section of said hollow and by a straight line segment located opposite this curve. Preferably, the profile of said hollow is the same in all the section planes of said flexible guide member perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation R.

[0021] Advantageously, said hollow crosses the entire thickness of the flexible guide member.

[0022] Preferably, the flexible guide member according to the invention can be made of silicon (optionally oxidized), metal, plastic, ceramic, sapphire (aluminum oxide), beryllium or polymer.

[0023] The component of the device according to the invention is a watch component, for example chosen from an escapement anchor, a lever, a pawl, a jumper, an oscillator and a watch hammer or only a part of such a watch component. The term "watch hammer" typically means a hammer such as a chronograph or striking hammer.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least two flexible guide members according to the invention arranged in series. These two members can be oriented in the same direction or be oriented head to tail.

[0025] Advantageously, the device according to the invention is monolithic.

[0026] Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises at least two assemblies each comprising two flexible guide members according to the invention arranged in series, said assemblies being arranged in parallel. Such a device typically allows the guiding of said component relative to the support essentially in translation.

[0027] Finally, the invention also provides a timepiece such as a wristwatch, a pocket watch, a clock or a small clock comprising such a device.

[0028] In the context of the present invention, the expression flexible guide members "arranged in series" designates an arrangement in which the flexible guide members are mounted one after the other so that the second rigid part of one corresponds to the first rigid part of the other.

[0029] Several assemblies each comprising two flexible guide members according to the invention arranged in series are said to be “arranged in parallel” when on the one hand the first rigid parts of their first flexible guide members are integral with each other and on the other hand the second rigid parts of their second flexible guide members are integral with each other.

[0030] The inventors have found that the stiffness and the guiding function of the flexible guiding member of the device according to the invention are at least equivalent to those of a flexible guiding member of the circular neck type according to the prior art ( figures 12a et 12b ).

[0031] In addition, the neck of the flexible guide member according to the invention is defined by only a single hollow. Thus, the machining of a single hollow is sufficient to manufacture such a flexible guide member, which halves the risk of machining defects compared to a flexible guide member according to the prior art with two necks. This is of great interest, in particular in cases where several guide members must work together, typically when at least two flexible guide members work together, for example, when they are arranged in series.

[0032] The configuration of the flexible guide member according to the invention involves the decentering of the virtual axis of rotation relative to the flexible guide member. However, the inventors have found that centering the virtual axis of rotation on the flexible guide member is not necessary even in cases where several guide members must work together. In this case, what is important is that the different virtual axes of rotation are parallel to each other.

[0033] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given with reference to the appended drawings in which: THE figures 1a et 1b represent, respectively in perspective and in top view, a flexible guide member of a device according to a particular embodiment of the invention. The figure 2 represents a block of material that can be used as a substrate for the production of the flexible guide member of the figures 1a et 1b . There figure 3 represents, in top view, a device comprising a first part constituting the body of an escapement anchor, a second part constituting a support for said escapement anchor and a flexible guide member as illustrated in figures 1a et 1b , said guide member allowing the rotational guidance of said anchor relative to said support. figure 4 represents, in top view, a device - comprising a mobile frame of an escapement anchor intended to carry out alternative movements in translation, two assemblies, each of these assemblies comprising two flexible guide members such as that illustrated in figures 1a et 1b and a support for said escapement anchor, said assemblies allowing the translational guidance of the movable frame relative to said support. figures 5a et 5b represent respectively in top view and in perspective a set such as those of the figure 4 . THE figures 6a à 6e , 7 , 9 et 10 represent, in perspective, variants of the flexible guide member shown in figures 1a et 1b . THE figures 8a, 8b et 8c represent respectively, in perspective, in top view and in side view another variant of the flexible guide member as illustrated in figures 1a et 1b . THE figures 11a et 11b represent respectively in top view and in perspective a variant of the set represented in figures 5a et 5b . THE figures 12a et 12b respectively represent in perspective and in top view a flexible guide member of the circular neck type according to the prior art.

[0034] In reference to the figure 1a , a flexible guide member 1 according to a particular embodiment of the invention has the overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped of length Lextending in the direction of an axis x, width l extending in the direction of an axis y and thickness e extending in the direction of an axis z.

[0035] The flexible guide member 1 comprises a first 2 and a second 3 rigid parts connected by a neck 4, corresponding to a thinned zone of the flexible guide member 1, elastically deformable, said first 2 and second 3 rigid parts being able to pivot relative to each other around a virtual axis of rotation 100 by elastic deformation of said neck 4, said axis 100 being perpendicular to the axis x.

[0036] As illustrated in the figure 1a , the flexible guide member 1 comprises six surfaces: F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6, the surface F6 defining the top of the flexible guide member 1.

[0037] The surface F1 is flat and parallel to the axis x.It comprises a first surface F 1-2 of the first rigid part 2 and a first surface F 1-3 of the second rigid part 3.

[0038] Surface F2 is located opposite surface F1. It typically extends in a plane parallel to that defined by surface F1. As illustrated in figure 1a , the surface F2 comprises a second surface F 2-2 of the first rigid part 2 and a second surface F 2-3 of the second rigid part 3. Advantageously, the faces F 2-2 and F 2-3 are flat and parallel to the flat surface F1.

[0039] The surface F2 also comprises a hollow 5. This hollow 5 and a portion 6 of the surface F1 located opposite said hollow 5 define between them the neck 4 at the level of which the width “ l » of the flexible guide member 1 is thinned, down to a minimum value « I col ", over its entire thickness e, as illustrated in figures 1a et 1b .

[0040] This collar 4 has a certain elasticity resulting from the fineness of its minimum width I col . The width I col is calculated so that the maximum stress exerted by the relative movements of the first 2 and second 3 parts relative to each other on said neck 4 is less than the elastic limit of the material constituting this neck 4.

[0041] Preferably, the profile of said hollow 5 is the same in all the section planes of the flexible guide member 1 perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation 100.

[0042] The hollow 5 of the flexible guide member 1 has the shape of a semi-cylinder of revolution with an axis parallel to the virtual axis of rotation 100, of radius r and height e corresponding to the thickness e previously defined. In top view ( figure 1b ), the neck 4 is therefore defined, on the one hand by a concave semicircle of radius r and on the other hand by a straight line segment corresponding to the portion 6 of the flat surface F1. The flexible guide member 1 is in particular such that in each of its section planes perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation 100, the neck 4 is defined by this concave semicircle of radius r corresponding to a longitudinal section of said hollow 5 and by a straight line segment located opposite this curve.

[0043] The hollow 5 and the neck 4 of the flexible guide member 1 typically comprise a plane (P) of symmetry (transverse), this plane being defined as the plane including the virtual axis of rotation 100 and being perpendicular to the first surface F1. However, unlike the flexible guide member 101 illustrated in figures 12a et 12b , the guide member 1 according to the invention does not comprise a vertical longitudinal symmetry plane such as the plane P 0 illustrated in figures 12a et 12b , which would include the virtual rotation axis 100 and which would be parallel to the surface F1.

[0044] The surfaces F3 and F4 of the flexible guide member 1 are typically planar, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the surfaces F1 and F2 as well as to the x axis and the surfaces F5 and F6 are typically planar, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the surfaces F1, F2, F3 and F4.

[0045] To produce the flexible guide member 1 as shown in figures 1a et 1b , a first step a) consists of providing oneself with a block of material 10 or substrate 10 whose shape is typically that represented in the figure 2 .

[0046] This particular substrate 10 has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped of length L, width l and thickness e corresponding to the length L, width l and thickness e of the flexible guide member 1 to be produced.

[0047] By definition, this block of material 10 comprises six rectangular flat surfaces: the surfaces F1 and F2, each being delimited by two edges of length L and by two edges of length e ; surfaces F3 and F4, each being delimited by two edges of length I and by two edges of length e ; and surfaces F5 and F6, each being delimited by two edges of length L and by two edges of length I ; these surfaces F5, F6 respectively defining the bottom and the top of said substrate.

[0048] In a subsequent step b) of this manufacturing method, a hollow 5 in the form of a semi-cylinder of revolution with an axis parallel to the axis 100 extending over the entire width I of the substrate 10, is typically machined from the surface F2 of the substrate 10 to obtain the flexible guide member 1.

[0049] Such machining can typically be achieved by chip removal, but other techniques such as chemical etching or deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) are also possible.

[0050] A flexible guide member according to the invention can also be obtained without a machining step, for example by galvanic growth, injection, molding, or forging.

[0051] The device 20 illustrated in the figure 3 comprises a part of an escapement anchor, namely a body 22 of an escapement anchor, a flexible guide member 1 and a support 21 of said escapement anchor.

[0052] In the device 20, the first rigid part 2 of the flexible guide member 1 is integral with the support 21 itself fixed to a frame 200 such as a plate, a bridge or a tourbillon cage for example using a screw 23; and the second rigid part 3 is integral with said body 22. The flexible guide member 1 makes it possible to guide the body 22 in rotation relative to the support 21 around the axis 100.

[0053] The rotational guidance of the body 22 of the escapement anchor relative to the support 21 is typically carried out over rotation angles of between 5° and 40°.

[0054] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the support 21, the flexible guide member 1 and the body 22 of the escapement anchor could form a monolithic assembly.

[0055] Device 30 illustrated in the figure 4 comprises a movable frame of an escapement anchor, four flexible guide members 41, 42, 51, 52 such as the flexible guide member 1, and a support 36 of said escapement anchor.

[0056] The movable frame 31 cooperates on the one hand with an escape wheel 32 of a watch mechanism and on the other hand with the plate pin 33 of a balance plate 34. The movable frame 31 is designed to perform reciprocating movements in translation in the two directions indicated by the arrow 35.

[0057] The translational guidance of the mobile frame 31 is ensured by a translational guidance device comprising first 40 and second 50 identical assemblies, arranged in parallel and connecting the mobile frame 31 to a support 36 fixed on a frame 300 such as a plate, a bridge or a tourbillon cage, for example using screws 37.

[0058] THE figures 5a et 5b represent, for the understanding of the invention, said second assembly 50 isolated from the device 30.

[0059] As illustrated in figures 5a et 5b , set 50 includes: a first flexible guide member 51 comprising a first rigid part 54 and a second rigid part 53 connected by a neck 55 and capable of pivoting relative to each other around a virtual axis of rotation 501; and a second flexible guide member 52 comprising as first rigid part said rigid part 53 and a second rigid part 56 connected by a neck 57 and capable of pivoting relative to each other around a virtual axis of rotation 502.

[0060] Within the second assembly 50, the first 51 and second 52 flexible guide members are mounted one after the other so that the second rigid part 53 of said first flexible guide member 51 corresponds to the first rigid part 53 of said second flexible guide member 52, it is said that they are mounted "in series".

[0061] By analogy, the second rigid part 43 of said first flexible guide member 41 of the first assembly 40 is also the first rigid part of the second flexible guide member 42 of the first assembly 40.

[0062] In the device 30 illustrated in the figure 4 , the first 40 and second 50 assemblies are arranged in parallel. Indeed, the movable frame 31 is secured both to the first rigid part 44 of the first flexible guide member 41 of the first assembly 40 and to the first rigid part 54 of the first flexible guide member 51 of the second assembly 50; and the support 36 is for its part secured both to the second rigid part 46 of the second flexible guide member 42 of the first assembly 40 and to the second rigid part 56 of the second flexible guide member 52 of the second assembly 50.

[0063] The flexible guide members 41, 42, 51, 52 thus arranged form a translational guide device. This translational guide device is similar to a “four-necked table” type device as defined in the work “Design of flexible guides” Simon Henein, 2003, Meta .Note that, in general, the “circular necks” of the circular neck type guide members described in this work could be replaced by guide members according to the invention.

[0064] By analogy, it is also possible to envisage the production of translation guides of the table type with six or eight necks using several flexible guide members 1. Generally speaking, on this principle, translation guide devices comprising at least two assemblies arranged in parallel, each of said assemblies typically comprising two or even more than two flexible guide members arranged in series, can be produced.

[0065] The four axes of rotation 401, 402, 501, 502 of the necks of the flexible guide members 41, 42, 51, 52 are substantially parallel. This has the advantage of limiting blockages and / or large increases in stiffness.

[0066] Advantageously, the support 36, the translational guide device comprising the four flexible guide members 41, 42, 51, 52 and the movable frame 31 of the escapement anchor could form a monolithic assembly.

[0067] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments presented above and illustrated in the figures, the invention being defined by the appended set of claims.

[0068] Hollow 5 could, for example, take other forms than those previously described, as illustrated in figures 6a à 6e And 7 .

[0069] In the figures 6a à 6e , by analogy to the figure 1a , the first and second rigid parts, the first and second surfaces, the virtual axis of rotation, the neck, the hollow and the plane (P) of the variants of flexible guide members according to the invention illustrated are designated by the same references as in the figure 1a .

[0070] The hollow 5 could for example correspond only in part, typically only at its bottom, to the surface of a part of a cylinder of revolution, as illustrated in figure 6a . In top view, neck 4 would then typically be defined by two straight line segments parallel to each other, perpendicular to the plane defined by the flat surface F1 and connected by two fillets connecting to an arc of a circle.

[0071] In other variants, the hollow 5 could be such that, in top view, the neck 4 would be defined by a portion of an ellipse, as illustrated in figure 6b .

[0072] The hollow 5 could also not include any rounding, and take a triangular or more generally polygonal shape, as illustrated in figures 6c et 6d .

[0073] As indicated previously, the hollow and the neck of the flexible guide member according to the invention typically comprise a plane of symmetry (P) defined as the plane including the virtual axis of rotation 100 and being perpendicular to the first surface F1. This is the case in particular in the embodiments shown in figures 1a And 6a à 6d . In other variants, they may also not include such a plane of symmetry, as in the example shown in figure 6e . This will not impact the orientation of the virtual rotation axis 100 relative to the first surface F1. The virtual rotation axis 100 will be located in the thinnest part of the neck corresponding to the area with the lowest bending resistance.

[0074] In other variants it is also possible, as illustrated in the figure 7 , to have a variation in the shape of the hollow 5 along the axis, and therefore a profile of the hollow 5 varying according to the section planes of said flexible guide member perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation R.

[0075] In still other variants, the flexible guide member could have an overall shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped. It could for example have a generally cylindrical shape, typically in the form of a right cylinder with a convex base, for example with a circular, oval base or in the form of a deltoid involute, as illustrated respectively in figures 8a à 8c , 9 et 10 . Such flexible guide members are typically made simply by machining a hollow on one side of a substrate in the shape of a right cylinder with a convex base.

[0076] The landmarks used in the variants illustrated in figures 7 à 10 are the same as those used in the figures 1a et 1b .

[0077] Whatever the variant implemented, the part of the hollow 5 defining the thinnest part of the neck 4 has dimensions of length, width ( I col ) and thickness adjusted to avoid creating an overly elastic neck and / or the presence of multiple virtual rotation axes.

[0078] With regard to the previously described method of manufacturing a flexible guide member according to the invention, it is clear that a person skilled in the art will be able to adapt the shape of the starting substrate as well as the shape of the hollow to be machined during step b) according to the desired shape.

[0079] When the flexible guide members according to the invention are arranged in series, they can, as illustrated in figures 4 , 5a et 5b be oriented in the same direction. Alternatively, they can also be oriented head to tail, as shown in figures 11a et 11bAlternatively, the body 22 of the escapement anchor of the device 20 could be replaced by all or part of the following components: a lever, a pawl, a jumper, an oscillator or a clockwork hammer.

[0080] Alternatively, the moving frame 31 of the device 30 could be replaced by all or part of the following components: an escapement anchor, a lever, a pawl, a jumper or an oscillator.

[0081] A flexible guide member according to the invention can typically be used as a replacement for a rotational guide member in any watch component, guided in rotation, typically over an angular range of less than 45°, preferably less than 25°, preferably less than 10°, more preferably less than 2°.

[0082] Translational guide devices using several flexible guide members according to the invention can typically be used as a replacement for a translational guide device in any watch component, comprising a translational guide device.

[0083] For the production of such translational guidance devices, at least two assemblies each comprising a first and a second flexible guide members according to the invention are arranged in series, the first rigid parts of the first flexible members of each of said at least two assemblies being secured to each other and the second rigid parts of the second flexible members of each of said at least two assemblies being secured to each other.

Claims

1. Timepiece device comprising a timepiece component (22; 31), a support (21; 36) and at least one flexible guide member (1) extending longitudinally on an axis x and comprising a first (2) and a second (3) rigid part connected by an elastically deformable neck (4), said first (2) and second (3) rigid parts being suitable to pivot with respect to each other about a virtual axis of rotation (100) perpendicular to the axis x by elastic deformation of said neck (4), said at least one flexible guide member (1) being suitable to guide the movements of said component (22; 31) with respect to said support (21; 36), said device being characterised in that said neck (4) is defined by a single recess (5).

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that, in each sectional plane of said member (1) perpendicular to the virtual axis of rotation (100), the neck (4) is defined by a concave curve corresponding to a longitudinal section of said recess (5) and by a straight segment located opposite this curve.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises a first planar surface (F1) parallel to the axis x and to the virtual axis of rotation (100) and a second surface (F2) opposite said first surface (F1), in that the first surface (F1) comprises a first surface (F1-2) of the first rigid part (2), a first surface (F1-3) of the second rigid part (3) and a surface delimiting the neck (4) and in that the second surface (F2) comprises a second surface (F2-2) of the first rigid part (2), a second surface (F2-3) of the second rigid part (3) as well as the surface of said recess (5).

4. Device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said second surface (F2-2) of the first rigid part (2) and second surface (F2-3) of the second rigid part (3) are planar.

5. Device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the recess (5) is, at least partially, in the shape of the lateral surface of a semi-cylinder of revolution with an axis parallel to the virtual axis of rotation (100).

6. Device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it is monolithic.

7. Device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said at least one flexible guide member (1) guides said component (22) with respect to the support (21) essentially in rotation.

8. Device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises at least two flexible guide members (41, 42; 51, 52) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7 arranged in series.

9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said at least two flexible guide members (41, 42; 51, 52) are orientated head to tail.

10. Device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterised in that it comprises at least two assemblies (40, 50) each comprising two flexible guide members (41, 42, 51, 52) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 arranged in series, said assemblies (40, 50) being arranged in parallel.

11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that said at least two assemblies (40, 50) guide the component (31) with respect to the support (36) essentially in translation.

12. Device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that said component comprises all or some of the following components: an escapement anchor, a lever arm, a click, a jumper, an oscillator, a timepiece hammer.

13. Timepiece such as a wristwatch, a pocket watch, a clock or a miniature clock comprising a device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.