Elastic holding member for a timepiece component on a support element

Abstract

The invention relates to an elastic retaining device (1) for fixing a watch component (2) on a support element (3), comprising a rigid portion (7) having an inner face (6) comprising at least three deformable arms (4) having free ends (9) defining an opening (12) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, the arms (4) being configured to achieve a coupling with the support element (3) by an elastic compression clamping of this support element (3) in the opening (12).

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to an elastic retaining device for a watch component on a support element.

[0002] The invention also relates to an assembly of an elastic retaining organ - a watchmaking component and an assembly comprising such an assembly and this support element.

[0003] The invention also relates to a clockwork movement comprising this assembly and to a clockwork part comprising such a movement. Technological background

[0004] In the state of the art, we know of elastic retaining elements such as document EP3462249A1, or such as watchmaking ferrules, for example document EP1705533A1, generally made of so-called brittle materials such as silicon which participate in assemblies of hairsprings on balance shafts of regulating elements such as resonators of watch movements and this by a coupling of the type of elastic clamping made from a coupling system comprising deformable arms such as elastic blades which are classically stressed in bending.

[0005] However, one of the major drawbacks of these retaining devices is related to the fact that the coupling system they implement only allows for a weak elastic clamping force within the given dimensions because the breaking stress limit of the material constituting these retaining devices is often reached quickly.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to offer an alternative to existing support devices. Summary of the invention

[0007] In this purpose, the invention relates to an elastic retaining device for fixing a watch component on a support element, comprising a rigid portion including an inner face comprising at least three deformable arms having free ends defining an opening into which said support element can be inserted, the arms being configured to achieve a coupling with the support element by an elastic compression clamping of this support element in the opening.

[0008] Thus, such characteristics contribute to obtaining a retaining element capable of achieving a high elastic compression coupling without exceeding the breaking strength limit of the material constituting this retaining element.

[0009] In other embodiments: Each deformable arm extends radially from the inner face towards a central axis of said organ; the deformable arms are essentially made up of a main part comprising a quantity of material which decreases regularly in a direction going from this inner face towards the central axis; each arm has an essentially trapezoidal shape; the inner face defines a volume in said organ partially occupied by the deformable arms; the free end of each deformable arm includes a contact face having a shape configured to cooperate with a mounting area of ​​the support element; the organ comprises six deformable arms; the organ is made of a brittle material in particular a micro-machinable material.

[0010] The invention also relates to an assembly of an elastic retaining element - a watchmaking component for a watch movement of a watch part comprising such a retaining element.

[0011] The invention also relates to an assembly for a watch movement of a watch part comprising an elastic retaining organ - watch component and a support element, said assembly being coupled by an elastic compression clamp with the support element.

[0012] The invention also relates to a clockwork movement comprising at least one such assembly.

[0013] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a timepiece movement. Brief description of the figures

[0014] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which: there figure 1represents a cross-sectional view of a first variant of the retaining element in a resting configuration, according to one embodiment of the invention; the figure 2 represents a cross-sectional view of the first variant of the retaining device in a constrained configuration, mounted on a support element, according to the embodiment of the invention; the figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view of a second variant of the retaining element in a resting configuration, according to the embodiment of the invention; the figure 4 represents a cross-sectional view of a third variant of the retaining element in a resting configuration, according to the embodiment of the invention, and the figure 5 is a schematic view of a watch part comprising the assembly including the elastic retaining organ - watch component coupled to the support element, according to the embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0015] THE figures 1 to 5 They present different variations of the elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c for attaching a watch component 2 to a support element 3. For example, the elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c may be a ring, a ferrule, or any part suitable for attaching the watch component 2, such as a balance spring or a wheel, to a support element 3, such as a shaft. This elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c is made of a so-called "brittle" material, preferably a micromachinable material. Such a material may include silicon, quartz, corundum, silicon and silicon dioxide, DLC, metallic glass, ceramic, another at least partially amorphous material, or similar materials.

[0016] In this embodiment, this retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c can be included in an assembly 120 elastic retaining element - watch component. Such an assembly 120 is intended to be arranged in a watch movement 110 of a watch part 100 visible on the figure 3 , and also intended to be mounted on a support element 3. Such an assembly 120 can be a single piece and be made of a "fragile" material similar to that of the retaining member 1. It should be noted that in a variant of this assembly 120, only the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c can be made of such a so-called "fragile" material, the watchmaking component 2 then being made of another material.

[0017] This assembly 120 can be part of an assembly 130 for the watch movement 110. Such an assembly 130 was designed here for watchmaking applications. However, this assembly 130 can also be used in other fields such as aeronautics, jewelry, or even the automotive industry.

[0018] Such a retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c is preferably a single piece comprising a top face and a bottom face, preferably flat, both of which lie in first and second planes P1 and P2, respectively. This member 1a, 1b, 1c also has a thickness extending from the top face to the bottom face. Such a retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c also includes a rigid portion 7 having an inner face 6. This rigid portion 7 corresponds to the part of the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c that comprises the largest volume of material. The retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c may also include an outer face or external peripheral wall, particularly when it is a ferrule intended to be connected to the watch component 2 via at least one attachment point arranged in this outer face.In one variant such an outer face, and therefore the retaining organ 1, may be made of material with the clockwork component 2 when the latter is a wheel visible on the . figures 1 and 2 .

[0019] In this retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c, the inner face 6 helps to define a volume 5 in which at least three deformable arms 4 with free ends 9 are arranged. In the present embodiment, this element 1a, 1b, 1c comprises six arms 4 shown in the figures 1 and 2 It will be noted that this volume 5 is only partially occupied by these deformable arms 4. Such arms 4 are contained within the inner face 6 and extend radially from this face 6 towards a central axis A of said retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c. In the first variant illustrated on the figures 1 and 2These deformable arms 4 are essentially made up of a solid / non-perforated main part 8, comprising a quantity of material that decreases regularly along a direction extending from this inner face 6 towards the central axis A. In the second and third variants visible on the figures 3 and 4 The deformable arms 4 are essentially made up of a main perforated section 8, with a larger opening 14 in the third variant than that 13 in the second variant. In these second and third variants, the quantity of material also decreases regularly along a direction extending from this inner face 6 towards the central axis A. Therefore, it follows that the quantity of material in the main section 8 of each arm 4 of the third variant is less than in that of each arm 4 of the second, and even less than in that of each arm 4 of the first variant.

[0020] It should be noted that each of these arms 4 preferably has an essentially trapezoidal shape.

[0021] These deformable arms 4 each comprise two ends, a first end connected to the inner face 6 of the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c and a second end which is the free end 9 visible on the figure 1This free end 9 includes a contact face 10 having a shape configured / adapted to cooperate with a mounting area of ​​the support element 3 intended to cooperate with this contact face 10. By way of example in these variants, when this mounting area is defined on a cylindrical part of the support element 3, then the contact face 10 has a compatible shape capable of conforming to this cylindrical shape, for example, being a curved contact face 10. The free ends 9 of these arms 4 together define an opening 12 into which said support element 3 can be inserted. This opening 12 defines a volume in the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c which is smaller than that of the mounting area included in an end of the support element 3 which is intended to be arranged therein.

[0022] In this context, the mounting area of ​​the support element 3 includes, in whole or in part, contact portions 13 of this support element 3 with the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, which are defined on a peripheral wall of this support element 3 and which are designed in particular to cooperate with the arms 4 of this retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c. It should be noted that this support element 3 comprises at least as many portions 10 as the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c comprises arms 4.

[0023] In this retaining member 1, each arm 4 is capable of being deformed in compression, that is, radially relative to the central axis A of the retaining member, which coincides with the axis of the opening 5. In other words, each of these arms 4, when subjected to a stress induced by the support element 3, as will be seen later, is capable of being deformed from a rest configuration to a stress configuration. In this context, in transitioning from this rest configuration to the stress configuration, all or part of this arm 4 is then compressed radially relative to the central axis A, towards the inner face 6 of the retaining member 1. Such arms 4 exert a force against the support element, thus ensuring an elastic clamping coupling of the support element 3 in the opening 12, being configured to be compressed / deformed radially relative to the central axis A of said opening 5.

[0024] It should be noted that the arrangement of the deformable arms 4 in the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c allows, during an insertion with clamping, a deformation of each arm 4 to accommodate the deformation of the retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c with the geometry of the mounting area of ​​the support element 3.

[0025] Thus, when mounting this retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c on the support element 3, one end of this support element 3, including the mounting area, is inserted into the opening 12 defined in the retaining member 1. In this context, this mounting area, which includes the contact portions 13 of this support element 3, is preferably arranged coaxially with the opening 12 around the central axis A, which is common to this mounting area and to this opening 12 of the retaining member 1. Such an arrangement around this common axis A contributes to indexing this mounting area relative to the opening 12 during this insertion.More specifically, during this insertion, the contact faces 10 undergo a radial deformation, therefore the arms 4 then undergo an elastic deformation under the effect of the application on the contact faces 10 of the arms 4 by the contact portions 13 of the mounting area of ​​the support element 3, of a compressive force F illustrated on the . figure 2Such a compressive force F induces an elastic deformation in compression of each arm 4 in a radial direction with respect to the central axis A, towards the first end of the arm 4 connected to the inner face 6 of the retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c. This deformation contributes, in particular, to the retention element 1a, 1b, 1c storing a significant amount of elastic energy, which helps to give it a substantial holding torque, allowing, in particular, optimal holding through elastic compression. Furthermore, it should be noted that such an elastic element 1a, 1b, 1c allows for a substantial increase in the clamping force compared to elastic elements of the prior art; indeed, this clamping force is approximately twice that of prior art elements for the same configuration.

Claims

1. A resilient retaining organ (1) for fastening a horological component (2) to a supporting element (3), having a rigid portion (7) comprising an inner face (6) comprising at least three distortable arms (4) provided with free ends (9) defining an opening (12) into which said supporting element (3) can be inserted, the arms (4) being configured to couple with the supporting element (3) under elastic compression of said supporting element (3) in the opening (12), and in that the distortable arms (4) consist essentially of a main part (8) comprising an amount of material that decreases uniformly in a direction extending from said inner face (6) to a central axis (A) of the organ (1), each distortable arm (4) radially extending from the inner face (6) to the central axis (A) of said organ (1), and being capable of being radially distorted under compression relative to the central axis (A) of the retaining organ (10), each of these arms consisting of two ends, a first end connected to the inner face (6) and a second end which is the free end of that arm.

2. The organ (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that each arm (4) has an essentially trapezoidal shape.

3. The organ (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner face (6) defines a volume (5) within said organ (1) that is partially occupied by the distortable arms (4).

4. The organ (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free end (9) of each distortable arm (4) comprises a contact surface (10) having a shape configured to engage with a mounting zone of the supporting element (3).

5. The organ (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises six distortable arms (4).

6. The organ (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is made of a brittle material, in particular a micro-machinable material.

7. A resilient retaining organ - horological component assembly (120) for a horological movement (110) of a timepiece (100) comprising a retaining organ (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

8. An assembly (130) for a horological movement (110) of a timepiece (100) comprising a resilient retaining organ - horological component assembly (120) according to the preceding claim and a supporting element (3), said assembly (120) being coupled to the supporting element (3) by elastic compression.

9. A horological movement (110) comprising at least one assembly (130) according to the preceding claim.

10. A timepiece (100) comprising a horological movement (110) according to the preceding claim.

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