Member for adjusting a clock movement

Abstract

The present invention relates to a regulating member (1) of a watch movement intended to oscillate around an oscillation axis (A), said regulating member (1) comprising a balance (2) and a balance shaft (3) centered on the oscillation axis (A) and carrying said balance (2), said balance (2) carrying at its periphery at least one heavy mass (6). The balance shaft (3) is integral with at least one stop (8) and the regulating member (1) further comprises a pusher device (10) arranged to, during an oscillation of the balance (2) in each direction, cooperate with said at least one stop (8) to push it back in order to give said balance (2) an impulse which restarts its oscillation in the opposite direction. The invention also relates to an escapement mechanism as well as a timepiece comprising such a regulating member (1).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates more particularly to a regulating organ of a watch movement intended to oscillate around an oscillation axis, said regulating organ comprising a balance and a balance shaft centered on the oscillation axis and carrying said balance, said balance carrying at its periphery at least one heavy mass.

[0002] The invention also relates to an escapement mechanism of a watch movement comprising such a regulating organ.

[0003] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a regulating organ or such an escapement mechanism. State of the art

[0004] Such a regulating organ of a watch movement is traditionally a balance-spring assembly composed of a balance and a balance spring. The balance typically comprises a felloe and a central hub secured to the balance shaft, the felloe and the hub being connected by arms. Heavy masses, such as inertia blocks, can be attached to the balance rim in order to modify the moment of inertia of said balance. The balance spring is a spring attached by its inner end to the balance shaft and by its outer end to a balance bridge. The balance spring expands and contracts regularly, causing the balance to oscillate back and forth. Its elasticity ensures the regular oscillations of the balance.

[0005] The regulating organ is most often associated with an anchor escapement, in particular a Swiss anchor, which allows the oscillations of said regulating organ to be maintained by transmitting to it, by regular impulses, at a determined frequency, a fraction of energy from the energy source of said watch movement.

[0006] However, the energy received from the power source by the balance spring via the escapement is not used 100% due to the dissipation of energy due in particular to the Earth's gravity as well as to the friction and resistance of the coils during the expansion and contraction of the balance spring, causing the balance to oscillate in one direction then the other throughout the operation of the movement.

[0007] Various solutions have been developed to improve the efficiency of escapement mechanisms, for example by proposing different constructions of anchors or escape wheels, or by using new materials such as silicon, in order to reduce friction.

[0008] However, the parts developed are generally of complex construction.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is to propose a new regulating organ which makes it possible to significantly increase the efficiency of its escapement mechanism in order to improve its performance. Disclosure of the invention

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a regulating member of a watch movement intended to oscillate around an oscillation axis, said regulating member comprising a balance wheel and a balance shaft centered on the oscillation axis and carrying said balance wheel, said balance wheel carrying at its periphery at least one heavy mass.

[0011] According to the invention, the balance shaft is integral with at least one stop and the regulating member further comprises a pusher device arranged to, during an oscillation of the balance in each direction, cooperate with said at least one stop to push it back in order to give said balance an impulse which restarts its oscillation in the opposite direction.

[0012] According to the embodiments, said pusher device may comprise one or two pusher members comprising a first end secured to a frame of the movement via a fixing system and a second end capable of cooperating with said at least one stop.

[0013] Such a pusher device eliminates the need for a hairspring. Consequently, the energy loss associated with the expansion and contraction of a traditional hairspring is eliminated.

[0014] Advantageously, said regulating member comprises a guide rail secured to the frame and the system for fixing the pusher device comprises at least one fixing element secured to the first end of the pusher member(s) and arranged to slide in the guide rail so as to be able to modify the angular position of the pusher member(s) relative to the oscillation axis.

[0015] Thus, by modifying the angular position of the pusher organ(s), it is possible to modify the amplitude of the oscillations of the balance, and therefore its frequency.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one stop is a plate having two main faces, one of said faces cooperating with said or one of said pusher members when the balance oscillates in one direction, and the other of said faces cooperating with said or the other pusher member when the balance oscillates in the other direction.

[0017] Advantageously, the repelling member(s) may be a flexible blade arranged to repel said at least one stop by mechanical effect or a rigid blade arranged to repel said at least one stop by magnetic effect.

[0018] The invention also relates to an escapement mechanism comprising a regulating member as defined above.

[0019] Such an escapement mechanism is freed from the negative effects associated with the traditional balance spring so that its efficiency is significantly increased.

[0020] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one regulating organ or at least one escapement mechanism as defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of different embodiments of the invention, given as non-limiting examples, and made with reference to the appended drawings in which: there Figure 1 is a schematic view of a regulating member according to the invention in a first configuration; the Figures 2 and 3 are schematic views of the regulating organ of the Figure 1 in a clockwise, respectively counterclockwise oscillation; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the regulating organ according to the invention in a second configuration; Figures 5 and 6 are schematic views of the regulating organ of the Figure 4in a clockwise, respectively counterclockwise oscillation; Figure 7 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of an escapement mechanism comprising a regulating member according to the Figure 1 ; and the figure 8 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of an escapement mechanism comprising a regulating member according to the Figure 1 . Embodiments of the invention

[0022] The present invention relates to a regulating member of a watch movement intended to oscillate around an oscillation axis A, said regulating member comprising a balance and a balance shaft centered on the oscillation axis A and carrying said balance, said balance carrying at its periphery at least one heavy mass.

[0023] According to the invention, the balance shaft is integral with at least one stop and the regulating member further comprises a pusher device arranged to, during an oscillation of the balance in each direction, cooperate with said at least one stop to push it back in order to give said balance an impulse which restarts its oscillation in the opposite direction.

[0024] In this description, the term "oscillation" means an alternation, that is to say the movement of the pendulum between two consecutive extreme positions.

[0025] Said at least one stop may be directly secured to the balance shaft or may be provided on an extension of the balance shaft. It is positioned relative to the pusher device so that, during each oscillation of the balance and therefore a rotation of the balance shaft in one direction or the other, the pusher device can act on said at least one stop, for example by mechanical effect or by magnetic effect, by pushing it back, so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the balance shaft.

[0026] In reference to the figures 1 And 4 , such a regulating organ 1 is shown according to an embodiment of the invention. This regulating organ 1 comprises a balance 2 and a balance shaft 3 centered on the oscillation axis A of the regulating organ.

[0027] The balance shaft 3 can be pivotally mounted along the oscillation axis A between a balance bridge and the plate, for example, or in a rotating cage to form a tourbillon. Said cage can also be pivotally mounted on a single element, such as a plate, without an upper bridge, in order to form a flying tourbillon.

[0028] The balance 2 comprises at least two arms 4 directly attached to the balance shaft 3. In another embodiment shown in the figures 7 And 8, the arms 4 are integral with the balance shaft 3 by means of a hub 5 centered on the oscillation axis A and intended to be made integral with the balance shaft 3 (by driving for example). Each arm 4 extends in a plane perpendicular to the oscillation axis A and radially from the balance shaft 3. Each arm 4 carries at its free end a heavy mass 6 preferably consisting of a flyweight, which is advantageously circular in shape and has an aerodynamic profile.

[0029] In the examples described, the balance 2 comprises four arms 4 arranged in a cross. It is obvious that the number of arms or the shape of the balance can be adapted according to the desired properties of the escapement of the movement. For example, two, three or more arms arranged in a star shape can be used. The balance could also have a full circular shape or any other suitable shape. For example, the weights can be moved on the arms relative to the oscillation axis A.

[0030] The pusher device 10 used in accordance with the invention comprises one or two pusher members 12 each comprising a first end 12a secured to an element 13 of the movement frame via a fixing system 14 and a second end 12b capable of cooperating with said at least one stop 8. The second end 12b of the pusher member(s) 12 defines the extreme positions of the alternation of the balance.

[0031] In one embodiment, the fixing system 14 can be arranged so that the first end 12a of each pusher member 12 is fixed to the frame of the movement without being able to be moved at will once the movement is assembled.

[0032] In another preferred embodiment, the fixing system 14 is arranged so that the first end 12a of each pusher member 12 is fixed to the frame of the movement so as to be able to be moved in order to be able to position the pusher members 12 according to different angular positions around the oscillation axis A. For this purpose, the regulating member comprises a guide rail 16, preferably circular and coaxial with the oscillation axis A, secured to the frame. And the fixing system 14 of the pusher device 10 comprises at least one fixing element 14a secured to the first end 12a of the pusher member(s) 12 and arranged to slide in the guide rail 16 so as to be able to modify the angular position of the pusher member(s) 12 relative to the oscillation axis A during the construction of the movement or during its use.Preferably, a control mechanism (not shown) is provided for the fixing element(s) 14a arranged to be able to actuate said fixing element 14a from outside the movement, in order to be able to move said fixing element 14a angularly relative to the oscillation axis A on demand. Preferably, the control mechanism is accessible to a user from outside the watch case containing the movement in order to be able to be actuated in particular when using the watch.

[0033] Each pusher member 12 and the at least one stop 8 are positioned relative to each other so as to be able to cooperate with each other without otherwise hindering the oscillations of the arms 4 of the balance 2. For example, the at least one stop 8 and the pusher members 12 are arranged in planes different from that of the arms 4 of the balance 2. When several pusher members (one or two) and several stops (preferably one, two, or four) are provided, the pusher members and the stops are positioned relative to each other so that each pusher member cooperates with its associated stop without impairing the regular oscillations of the regulating member. Furthermore, a pusher member arranged to push a stop by mechanical effect can be combined with a pusher member arranged to push a stop by magnetic effect.For example, one pusher and two stops, two pusher and two stops, or two pusher and four stops can be provided.

[0034] Advantageously, the pusher member(s) 12 is / are in the form of a blade extending towards the balance shaft 3 and which has a sufficient length so that the second end 12b of said pusher member 12 can act on the at least one stop 8 during the rotation of the balance shaft 3. The first end 12a of the pusher member 12 is positioned on the frame so that the second end 12b of said pusher member 12 is positioned in the travel that the at least one stop 8 will have during the oscillations of the balance 2. When two pusher members 12 are used, they are preferably identical in order to act in the same way on the at least one stop 8.They are arranged so that the at least one stop 8 cooperates with one of the pusher members 12 during oscillations of the balance 2 in one direction of rotation and that said at least one stop 8 cooperates with the other pusher member 12 during oscillations of the balance 2 in the other direction of rotation.

[0035] Preferably, the at least one stop 8 is in the form of a plate or a tooth having two main faces (i.e. the longitudinal faces) preferably extending in planes parallel to the oscillation axis A, one of said main faces cooperating with said or one of said pusher members 12 when the balance 2 oscillates in one direction, and the other of said main faces cooperating with said or the other pusher member 12 when the balance 2 oscillates in the other direction.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the pusher member(s) 12 are respectively a flexible, supple and elastic blade, arranged to push back the at least one stop 8 by mechanical effect.

[0037] In the examples shown, a stop 8 is provided and the pusher device 10 comprises two pusher members 12, each being in the form of a flexible blade, the two main faces of each blade (i.e. the longitudinal faces) extending in the direction of the balance shaft 3 in planes parallel to the oscillation axis A, their longitudinal axis being perpendicular to said oscillation axis A and parallel to the plane of the balance 2. Thus, one of the main faces of the stop 8 will come into contact with one of the main faces of the end 12b of the blade forming the pusher member 12 during each oscillation of the balance 2.

[0038] In the example shown on the figures 1 to 3, the repelling device 10 comprises two repelling members 12, 12', here in the form of flexible blades of the same length, which are arranged side by side, their first ends 12a, 12a' being preferably fixed on the same fixing element 14a of the fixing system 14. It is obvious that two fixing elements 14a arranged side by side could be used.

[0039] In a variant not shown, the fixing element 14a could be fixed in a fixed manner directly onto the element 13 of the frame so that the position of the pusher members 12, 12' relative to the oscillation axis A is definitive once the fixing element 14a is fixed to the frame.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment shown in the figures 1 to 3, the fixing element 14a is slidably mounted in the rail 16 so that the two blade-shaped pusher members 12, 12' can be moved together around the oscillation axis A when mounting the movement in order to position the balance so that it oscillates correctly relative to the escapement mechanism. Once the fixing element 14a is positioned at the desired location, it is locked onto the rail 16.

[0041] The operation of the regulating organ 1 is as follows: when the balance wheel 2 oscillates clockwise, as shown in the Figure 2, the stop 8 carried by the balance shaft 3 pivots in the clockwise direction H with the balance shaft 3 rotating around the oscillation axis A until the front main face (in the direction of rotation) of said stop 8 comes into contact with the end 12b of the pusher member 12 in the form of a flexible blade. The pusher member 12 stops the rotation of the stop 8 and therefore of the balance 2 in the clockwise direction and by a rebound effect due to its flexibility, pushes said stop 8 in the counterclockwise direction, which has the effect of returning the balance shaft 3 in the counterclockwise direction. The thrust of the pusher member 12 on the stop 8 gives the balance 2 the necessary impulse to restart its oscillation in the counterclockwise direction. The balance 2 then rotates in the counterclockwise direction AH as shown in the Figure 3, until the other main face of the stop 8 comes into contact with the end 12b' of the pusher member 12' in the form of a flexible blade. The pusher member 12' stops the rotation of the stop 8 and therefore of the balance 2 in the counterclockwise direction and by a rebound effect due to its flexibility, pushes said stop 8 back in the clockwise direction, which has the effect of returning the balance shaft 3 in the clockwise direction. The thrust of the pusher member 12' on the stop 8 gives the balance 2 the necessary impulse to restart its oscillation in the clockwise direction, and so on.

[0042] This configuration in which the two pusher members 12, 12' are fixed side by side allows the balance 2 to have a maximum amplitude of 100%, the frequency then being minimal.

[0043] In the example shown on the figures 4 to 6, the two pusher members 12, 12' are positioned around the balance shaft 3 such that their first ends 12a, 12a' are fixed on two fixing elements 14a, 14b distinct from the fixing system 14 and form with the oscillation axis A an angle α of between 20° and 340°. The angle α is here equal to 180°.

[0044] The fixing elements 14a, 14b could be fixed in a fixed manner directly onto the element 13 of the frame so that the position of the pusher members 12, 12' relative to the oscillation axis A is definitive once the fixing elements 14a, 14b are fixed to the frame.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the fixing elements 14a, 14b are locked onto the rail 16 after they have been put in place, but they can be unlocked in order to slide in the rail 16 at the request of a user who controls the movement of the fixing elements 14a, 14b from outside the watch case. Thus, the two pusher members 12, 12' can be moved around the oscillation axis A during operation of the movement in order to adapt the amplitude and therefore the frequency of the balance 2 according to the needs of the movement.

[0046] When the pendulum 2 swings clockwise, as shown in the Figure 5, the stop 8 carried by the balance shaft 3 pivots in the clockwise direction H with the balance shaft 3 rotating around the oscillation axis A until the front main face (in the direction of rotation) of said stop 8 comes into contact with the end 12b of the pusher member 12. The latter stops the rotation of the stop 8 and therefore of the balance 2 in the clockwise direction and by a rebound effect due to its flexibility, pushes said stop 8 in the counterclockwise direction, which has the effect of returning the balance shaft 3 in the counterclockwise direction. The thrust of the pusher member 12 on the stop 8 gives the balance 2 the necessary impulse to restart its oscillation in the counterclockwise direction. The balance 2 then rotates in the counterclockwise direction AH as shown in the Figure 6, until the other main face of the stop 8 comes into contact with the end 12b' of the pusher member 12'. The latter stops the rotation of the stop 8 and therefore of the balance 2 in the counterclockwise direction and by a rebound effect due to its flexibility, pushes said stop 8 in the clockwise direction, which has the effect of returning the balance shaft 3 in the clockwise direction. The thrust of the pusher member 12' on the stop 8 gives the balance 2 the necessary impulse to restart its oscillation in the clockwise direction, and so on.

[0047] This configuration in which the two pusher members 12, 12' are arranged at 180° allows the balance 2 to have an amplitude reduced by half, so that the frequency is then doubled. It is obvious that the angle between the two pusher members 12, 12' can be other than 180°. It will be chosen according to the amplitude and therefore the frequency desired for the balance 2.

[0048] The pusher organs can advantageously be moved at the user's request when the movement's power reserve decreases and the energy consumed by the regulating organ must be reduced or according to the needs or preferences of operating characteristics defined in the manufacturer's specifications.

[0049] In an embodiment not shown, the or each repelling member is provided with a first magnetic element, and the at least one stop 8 is provided with a second magnetic element, said first and second magnetic elements having identical poles in order to repel each other.

[0050] Preferably, said or each repelling member may be a rigid blade of suitable length and arranged to repel the at least one stop 8 by magnetic effect. For this purpose, the or each repelling member carries at its second end said first magnetic element capable of cooperating with the second magnetic element carried by the at least one stop.

[0051] In an embodiment not shown, the repeller device 10 may comprise a single repeller member used at each .

[0052] In an embodiment not shown, the or each pusher member, for example in the form of a blade, can be positioned so that the or each pusher member extends in one or more planes parallel to the oscillation axis A and preferably passing through the axis A, their longitudinal axis being parallel to said oscillation axis A. In this case, the rail is not provided around the at least one stop but above or below so that the longitudinal axis of the blades is perpendicular to the plane of the balance. Thus, instead of being in a "horizontal" plane perpendicular to the oscillation axis A, the blades can be arranged in "vertical" planes parallel to the oscillation axis A.

[0053] In reference to the figures 7 And 8, the invention also relates to an escapement mechanism comprising an escape wheel 18, an escapement anchor 20 and a regulating member 1 as defined above, the escapement anchor 20 being arranged to cooperate with a pin 22 provided on a plate 24 carried by said regulating member 1.

[0054] With particular reference to the Figure 7 , the escapement mechanism is the highly efficient escapement mechanism described in patent EP 2 504 737. In this case, there is also provided on the plate 24 a finger 26 arranged to cooperate with the escape wheel 18, as described in patent EP 2 504 737.

[0055] With particular reference to the figure 8 , the escapement mechanism is the traditional Swiss anchor escapement mechanism.

[0056] It is obvious that any other suitable type of exhaust can be used.

[0057] As already indicated above, the escapement and the regulating organ can be mounted directly on the frame of the movement or in a rotating cage which can be mounted between two pivot points, or which can be flying, in order to constitute a tourbillon.

[0058] The regulating organ according to the invention makes it possible to no longer use a traditional balance spring, so that said regulating organ is free from any constraints usually encountered with a balance spring. Without a balance spring, there is no longer any resistance and therefore no more loss of energy linked to the development of the balance spring in expansion and contraction. In addition, the balance wheel with its weights acts as a flywheel.

[0059] Thus, the efficiency of the escapement mechanism is significantly increased.

Claims

1. Regulating organ (1) of a watch movement intended to oscillate around an oscillation axis (A), said regulating organ (1) comprising a balance (2) and a balance shaft (3) centered on the oscillation axis (A) and carrying said balance (2), said balance (2) carrying at its periphery at least one heavy mass (6), characterized in that the balance shaft (3) is secured to at least one stop (8) and in that the regulating member (1) further comprises a pusher device (10) arranged to, during an oscillation of the balance (2) in each direction, cooperate with said at least one stop (8) to push it back in order to give said balance (2) an impulse which restarts its oscillation in the opposite direction.

2. Regulating body (1) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe pusher device (10) comprises one or two pusher members (12, 12') comprising a first end (12a, 12a') secured to a frame of the movement via a fixing system (14) and a second end (12b, 12b') capable of cooperating with said at least one stop (8).

3. Regulating body (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a guide rail (16) secured to the frame and in that the fixing system (14) of the pusher device (10) comprises at least one fixing element (14a, 14b) integral with the first end (12a, 12a') of the pusher member(s) (12, 12') and arranged to slide in the guide rail (16) so as to be able to modify the angular position of the pusher member(s) (12, 12') relative to the oscillation axis (A).

4. Regulating organ (1) according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in thatthe pusher device (10) comprises two pusher members (12, 12') arranged side by side, their first ends (12a, 12a') being preferably fixed to the same fixing element (14a) of the fixing system (14).

5. Regulating organ (1) according to one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the pusher device (10) comprises two pusher members (12, 12') positioned around the balance shaft (3), their first ends (12a, 12a') being fixed on two fixing elements (14a, 14b) distinct from the fixing system (14) and forming with the oscillation axis (A) an angle of between 20° and 340°.

6. Regulating organ (1) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in thatsaid at least one stop (8) is a plate having two main faces, one of said faces cooperating with said or one of said pusher members (12, 12') when the balance (2) oscillates in one direction, and the other of said faces cooperating with said or the other pusher member (12, 12') when the balance (2) oscillates in the other direction.

7. Regulating body (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the repelling organ (12, 12') is a flexible blade.

8. Regulating body (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the repelling member is provided with a first magnetic element, and in that said at least one stop is provided with a second magnetic element, said first and second magnetic elements having identical poles.

9. Regulating organ (1) according to claim 8, characterized in thatthe repelling member is a rigid blade and carries at its second end the first magnetic element capable of cooperating with the second magnetic element carried by said at least one stop.

10. Regulating organ (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the balance (2) comprises at least two arms (4) secured to the balance shaft (3) or to a hub (5) centered on the oscillation axis (A) and intended to be made secured to the balance shaft (3), each arm (4) extending radially and carrying at its free end a weight constituting the heavy mass (6).

11. Escapement mechanism of a watch movement comprising an escape wheel (18), an escape anchor (20) and a regulating member (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, the escape anchor (20) being arranged to cooperate with a pin (22) provided on a plate (24) carried by said regulating member (1).

12. Timepiece comprising at least one regulating organ (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10 or at least one escapement mechanism according to claim 11.

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