Shock-absorbing support

Abstract

The invention relates to a support for a watch movement, in particular a bridge or a mainplate. This support comprises a base and an interface for receiving a watch component. Remarkably, the support also includes a damper disposed between the base and the interface and arranged to absorb vibrations between the watch component and the base of the support. The invention also relates to a movement comprising such a support and a timepiece comprising such a movement.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. More particularly, it concerns a plate or bridge-type support for a watch movement. The invention also relates to a movement comprising such a support, as well as to a timepiece equipped with such a movement. Technological background

[0002] Numerous solutions have been implemented to address the need to limit the propagation of vibrations in a watch movement. Most aim to mitigate the effects of shocks to the watch, such as those caused by a fall. Other devices are designed to make the movement quieter by limiting the propagation of vibrational waves.

[0003] In this latter category, application EP3418595 describes a ball bearing for a watch component intended to support an oscillating weight in a self-winding movement. It appears that the rotation of the balls on the raceways of a conventional bearing generates vibrations that propagate throughout the entire movement via the bearing's mounting and the oscillating weight's bridge. These vibrations are easily transmitted between hard materials in contact, for example, between the movement and the watch case, and can therefore be felt by the wearer. To reduce the noise and vibrations caused by the oscillating weight's rotation, it is proposed to add a damping ring between the bearing's inner race and its mounting ring, so that no vibration from the bearing can propagate to the rest of the movement without first being filtered by the material composing the damping ring.

[0004] However, the use of such a bearing can present certain drawbacks. Adding a damping ring to the bearing, made of a less rigid damping material than a hard material, does not provide the same rigidity performance as a traditional bearing of equivalent dimensions made of a metallic or ceramic material. Yet, it is important to ensure that the oscillating mass remains properly aligned in the plane to prevent it from contacting the crystal, case, mainplate, or bridges. Consequently, the dimensions, and particularly the thickness, of these bearings must be increased to achieve the same rigidity as a bearing without a damper.

[0005] Furthermore, most watches feature a case back that allows observation of the underside of the movement, particularly the oscillating weight and its bearing. The at least partial visibility of the shock absorber, made of a non-precious material, typically an elastomer, can detract from the perceived quality of the movement and discourage the use of these bearings in high-end timepieces.

[0006] Therefore, there is an interest in developing alternative solutions to overcome the limitations of prior art. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by means of a support such as a bridge or a plate of a watch movement, said support comprising a base and an interface intended to receive a watch component. Originally, the support also includes a damper arranged between the base and the interface.

[0008] This configuration allows for the absorption of vibrations between the watch component and the base of the support, and consequently between the watch component and the rest of the movement.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber (4) is housed at least partially in the thickness of the support (1).

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said shock absorber is made of an elastomeric material, in particular an EPDM rubber, a thermoplastic, a shape memory material, an epoxy resin or a polyurethane resin.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber is obtained by overmolding onto the base.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber is obtained by overmolding on the interface.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber is clipped onto the base and the interface.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the base has an external groove and the interface has an internal groove.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support is a bridge whose interface is intended to receive an oscillating mass and its bearing.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support is a bridge whose interface is intended to receive a plate.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support is a plate whose interface is intended to receive a bridge.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber has a hardness between 40 and 95 Shore A.

[0019] The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a support as described above.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support for the watch movement is an oscillating mass bridge whose base is fixed on a plate and whose interface is integral with a fixing means (5, 6) arranged to hold the inner ring of a bearing carrying an oscillating mass in contact with the shock absorber of the support.

[0021] The invention finally relates to a timepiece comprising a clockwork movement as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0022] The aims, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments given by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: There figure 1represents a perspective cross-section of a oscillating mass bridge according to the prior art, the figure 2 represents a similar cross-section of an oscillating mass bridge according to the invention, the figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bridge of the figure 2 without the shock absorber, the figure 4 represents the same cut as the figure 3 with the shock absorber, the figure 5 represents a partial cross-section of a movement comprising a bridge according to the invention, the figure 6 represents a partial cross-section of the mounting of a bridge on a plate, a shock absorber according to the invention being located on the bridge, the figure 7 represents a partial cross-section of the fixing of a bridge on a plate, a shock absorber according to the invention being located on the plate. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] THE figures 2 to 5 represent a first embodiment of the invention without the invention being limited to this particular embodiment.

[0024] The invention relates to a support, which is the generic name given in this application to designate a bridge or plate of a watch movement. A conventional support 1' according to the prior art is illustrated in the figure 1 in the form of a oscillating mass bridge. This bridge is made entirely of a hard material, metallic or ceramic. The conventional support 1' has an opening into which a threaded insert 5 is driven, designed to receive a bearing carrying an oscillating mass. The inner ring of the bearing is pressed against the conventional support 1' by a nut cooperating with the threaded insert 5. In this configuration, the contact of the inner ring of the bearing pressing directly against the oscillating mass bridge facilitates the transmission of vibrations from the bearing to the rest of the movement.

[0025] THE figures 2 to 5represent a first embodiment of a support 1 according to the invention in the form of an oscillating mass bridge, similar to that of the figure 1 . however, it differs from the conventional support 1' of the prior art in that it is composed of several elements, namely a base 2, an interface 3 and a damper 4 located between the base 2 and the interface 3.

[0026] Interface 3 is designed to receive a watch component, meaning that the interface can house said component or receive a fastening means for connecting the support 1 to the watch component. In the example of the first embodiment, the watch component is an oscillating weight with its bearing, and interface 3 receives a means for fastening the bearing. The fastening means shown is a threaded insert 5 designed to cooperate with a nut 6. Other fastening means would be suitable, such as a screw base and a screw or a screw and a nut.

[0027] The term "watch component" is to be interpreted broadly and encompasses all watch elements that can be mounted on or attached to the support. This includes, for example, components that can adorn a mainplate or bridge, such as jewels, but also other mainplate or bridge-type supports as presented in other embodiments.

[0028] The damper 4 is arranged between the base 2 and the interface 3 and has the role of absorbing the vibrations between the watch component and the base 2 of the support 1. The direction of propagation of the vibrations is of little importance, the damper support according to the invention has the function of both isolating a component that is a source of vibrations, such as an oscillating mass, and protecting a component from vibrations or shocks coming from outside the watch.

[0029] To best absorb vibrations, the shock absorber 4 is made of an absorbing material, for example in an elastomer polymer such as EPDM rubber, a thermoplastic, an epoxy resin or a polyurethane resin or even in a shape memory alloy AMF.

[0030] Preferably, the material from which the shock absorber is made has a hardness between 40 and 95 Shore A.

[0031] The shock absorber 3 can be obtained by injection molding or casting. Preferably, the shock absorber 3 can be overmolded onto the base 2 and the interface 3. To do this, the base 2 and the interface 3 are placed in a mold in the position shown in the diagram. figure 3 The absorbent material is then injected into the cavity formed by the base 2, the interface 3 and the mold.

[0032] To ensure good cohesion between the damper and the base 2 and the interface 3, the surfaces of the base 2 and the interface 3, in contact with the damper 4, preferably have pronounced reliefs such as ribs, grooves, or cavities. In the example shown, the base 2 has an external groove 2.1 and the interface 3 has an internal groove 3.1.

[0033] As an alternative to overmolding, the shock absorber 4 can be clipped onto the base 2 and the interface 3, i.e., forced in place taking advantage of the elasticity of the material constituting the shock absorber 4.

[0034] It is of course possible to combine the overmolding and clip-on assembly processes. For example, shock absorber 4 can be overmolded onto base 2 before being clipped onto interface 3. Conversely, shock absorber 4 can be overmolded onto interface 3 before being clipped onto base 2.

[0035] Once the various elements of support 1 are assembled, a single unit is obtained that is as easy to handle as a conventional support 1'.

[0036] There figure 5 Figure 1 represents a partial cross-sectional view of a watch movement comprising a support 1 according to the invention. The support in question is an oscillating weight bridge whose base 2 is fixed rigidly to a plate 9. The interface 3 is integral with a threaded insert 5 cooperating with a nut 6. The inner ring 7.1 of a bearing 7 carrying an oscillating weight 8 is held in contact with the damper 4 of the support 1 by the nut 6. Preferably, a washer 10 is mounted between the nut 6 and the inner ring 7.1 of the bearing 7. This construction makes it possible to isolate the bearing from the base 2 and thus to dampen the vibrations originating from the oscillating weight and the bearing in the rest of the movement.

[0037] A person skilled in the art will be able to modify this construction example without going outside the scope of the invention.

[0038] In an advantageous variant, interface 3 is directly the means of attachment for the watch component. In the case of a bearing, interface 3 can be a threaded rod or a tapped screw foot. In the case of a jewel, the interface can be the setting designed to receive the jewel. This construction reduces the number of components and simplifies the assembly of the movement.

[0039] It is of course possible to provide several shock absorbers on a single support 1. These different shock absorbers can be obtained in the same overmolding operation which reduces manufacturing costs compared to a solution where each component would have a specific added shock absorber.

[0040] In the case of a swinging mass bridge, the proposed solution allows for greater design freedom by being compatible with traditional bearings. Integrating the damper within the bridge's thickness filters vibrations from the swinging mass bearing without requiring thicker, specialized bearings and without the damper being visible to the user.

[0041] There figure 6presents another embodiment of the invention in which the support 1 takes the form of a bridge 11 composed of a base 2, an interface 3, and a damper 4. The interface 3 is arranged to receive a screw 12 cooperating with a nut 6 to fix the bridge 11 to the plate 9. Tightening the nut 6 on the screw 12 allows the interface 3 to be pressed against the plate 9 by means of the washer 10. Preferably, the damper 4 is slightly compressed when the nut is tightened. The interface 3 allows for a predetermined compression of the damper 4, preventing the damper from being crushed during tightening. This construction also allows for precise positioning of the bridge relative to the plate in the vertical direction. Since the base 2 of the bridge is only in contact with the damper 4, the transmission of vibrations between the base 2 of the bridge 11 and the plate 9 is significantly attenuated.Preferably, bridge 11 has a shock absorber on each fixing element with plate 9.

[0042] There figure 7 represents a fixing of a bridge 11 and a plate 9 similar to the previous one. It differs, however, in that the support 1 is this time a plate 9 composed of a base 2, an interface 3 and a damper 4 and in that the watch component is a bridge 11. All vibrations propagating between the bridge 11 and the base 2 of the plate 9 pass through the damper 4 and are therefore dampened.

[0043] Another advantage of the invention stems from the positioning of the shock absorber, which is at least partially housed within the thickness of the support. Compared to a solution where the shock absorber is simply superimposed and sandwiched between the support and the watch component, this particular arrangement allows for significant shock absorber deformation and therefore high absorption capacities, especially in the vertical direction, without increasing the overall thickness. Nomenclature

[0044] 1. Support 1'. Conventional support 2. Base 2.1 Outer groove 3. Interface 3.1 Inner groove 4. Damper 5. Threaded insert 6. Nut 7. Bearing 7.1 Inner ring 8. Oscillating mass 9. Plate 10. Washer 11. Bridge 12. Screw

Claims

1. Support (1) for a watch movement, in particular a bridge or a plate, said support (1) comprising a base (2) and an interface (3) intended to receive a watch component, characterized in that the support (1) includes a damper (4) disposed between the base (2) and the interface (3) and arranged to absorb vibrations between the watch component and the base (2) of the support (1).

2. Support according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shock absorber (4) is housed at least partially in the thickness of the support (1).

3. Support according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shock absorber (4) is made of an absorbent material, in particular an elastomer, an EPDM rubber, a thermoplastic, an epoxy resin, a polyurethane resin, a shape memory alloy.

4. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shock absorber (4) is obtained by overmolding onto the base (2).

5. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damper (4) is obtained by overmolding on the interface (3).

6. Support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The shock absorber (4) is clipped onto the base (2) and the interface (3).

7. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (2) has an external groove (2.1) and in that the interface (3) has an internal groove (3.1).

8. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (1) is a bridge whose interface (3) is intended to receive an oscillating mass and its bearing.

9. Support according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support (1) is a bridge (11) whose interface (3) is intended to receive a plate (9) or in that the support (1) is a plate (9) whose interface (3) is intended to receive a bridge (11).

10. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shock absorber has a hardness between 45 and 90 Shore A.

11. Watch movement comprising a support (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Clockwork movement according to the preceding claim characterized in that the support (1) is an oscillating mass bridge whose base (2) is fixed on a plate (9) and whose interface (3) is integral with a fixing means (5, 6) arranged to hold an inner ring (7.1) of a bearing (7) carrying an oscillating mass (8) in support on the damper (4) of the support (1).

13. Timepiece comprising a clock movement according to one of claims 11 or 12.

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