External component element for timepiece or jewel, and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide an external component element for a timepiece or a jewel made of a material with excellent mechanical resistance and aesthetics.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an external component element or component for a timepiece or a jewel made of a fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite material, where the external component element or component comprises, on at least one of faces (2) thereof, at least one cavity (4) where an insert (6) made of metallic glass is housed. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such an external component element.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an element of an outer part for a timepiece or for an article of jewellery. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an element of an outer part such as [Background technology]

[0002] External parts for timepieces or jewellery such as backs, middles, bezels and bracelet links Numerous methods have already been proposed for manufacturing the components of a component. Among these, composite materials obtained by dispersing fibers in a polymer matrix are used to There are methods for manufacturing the elements of the outer parts. An example of such a composite material is a carbon fiber-poly Some are dispersed in a matrix, and others are carbon fiber reinforced polymers (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers). It is also known as carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP).

[0003] An element of an outer part for a timepiece or jewellery made from a composite material, which, in use, There are two major problems with this type of display: its poor mechanical resistance to external attacks and its low brightness. It has been confirmed that the carbon fiber is often affected by major issues. The polymer matrix is ​​known to be relatively soft and easily damaged. Therefore, the technique of creating decorations and reliefs using such composite materials is expected to have a long lifespan. It has been found that it is not possible to achieve this. The exterior part elements obtained using this composite material have a matte appearance and therefore a high-quality appearance. For the external parts of a watch (e.g., wristwatch, pocket watch), such external part elements are used. It is hard to imagine that there is.

[0004] Alternative methods have already been proposed to remedy these problems. The main components of the outer parts, such as the control mechanism and the push parts of the type, are subjected to a lot of external attack. Metals and ceramic materials are used to make the matrix. Recently, ceramic reinforcement and metal-reinforced composite materials have been used. Using composite materials commonly called cermets, which are composed of an attribute matrix, It has also been proposed to make elements of external parts for timepieces or jewellery.

[0005] Composites containing metal matrix and fibers, ceramic reinforced composites Thanks to their use, progress has been made in terms of the mechanical resistance of the elements of the outer parts, The resulting exterior part element is suitable for watches and jewellery in terms of the mechanical resistance of its decoration or relief. In fact, the external components of these The technique usually used to create decorations and reliefs on elements is Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). This method combines electroforming and annealing, and only very thin layers can be obtained. Although the thin layer is metallic and has a glossy appearance, it is very thin and Thin layers do not have high mechanical resistance to friction and wear.

[0006] For example, European Patent Application EP2315673A1 describes a method for decorating the bezel of a watch. Another technology has been proposed. Briefly, this technology uses ceramics, etc. A recess is formed in the surface of the bezel, and this recess receives the time index, etc. An annular flange made of amorphous metal is then deposited onto the face of the bezel. The amorphous metal flange is then heated to a temperature above its glass transition temperature Tg. Then, pressure is applied so that the amorphous metal fills the recesses. Cool and remove excess material.

[0007] Thanks to this technology, a solid decoration is formed that is resistant to mechanical stress and wear, making it ideal for timepieces. However, this technique does not provide an amorphous metal flange. The excess amorphous gold on the surface of the outer component element is then removed by heating, applying pressure, and cooling. This requires removal of the gene, which is time consuming and expensive to perform. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention is directed to the field of wristwatches or jewellery, in particular with regard to mechanical resistance and aesthetics. For timepieces or jewellery made from materials that fully meet the required requirements. The above and other problems are ameliorated by providing an exterior component. The invention further provides a method for manufacturing such an outer component element. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In view of this situation, the present invention provides a fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite material. Regarding the elements or components of the outer part for the timepiece or jewellery made, The element or component of the part shall be coated on at least one of its surfaces with metallic glass. There is at least one cavity formed to accommodate the insert.

[0010] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the polymer used to form the matrix The mer material may be thermoplastic or thermoset.

[0011] In another particular embodiment of the invention, the polymeric material is polyetheretherketone. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PEEK), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Polyamide-imide (P AI).

[0012] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the fibers reinforce the polymer matrix. is selected from the group consisting of glass fiber, carbon fiber, and aramid fiber.

[0013] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metallic material used to make the insert is The glass is of the bulk metallic glass type (BMG).

[0014] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metallic glass used in the insert contains zirconium or platinum.

[0015] In a further particular embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned adhesive used to make the insert is Metallic glasses contain, apart from unavoidable impurities, zirconium, copper, titanium, nickel, and aluminum. It is derived from an alloy of minium, niobium, and titanium.

[0016] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metal used to make the insert is The attribute glass contains zirconium, copper, titanium, nickel, aluminum and niobium by weight. %, 60≦Zr≦75, 10≦Cu≦20, 0≦Ti≦6, 7≦Ni≦15, 0≦Al ≦8, including 0≦Nb≦6.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the metallic gallium used to make the insert is The lath is made of alloy V with the composition Zr70Cu13Ni9.9Al3.65Nb3.4, by weight. it106a, or composition Zr65.7Cu15.6Ni11.7Al3.7Ti3.3 The alloy is Vit105.

[0018] In a further particular embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned adhesive used to make the insert is Metallic glasses are derived from alloys of platinum, copper, nickel and phosphorus, excluding unavoidable impurities. do.

[0019] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metal used to make the insert is The attribute glass contains platinum, copper, nickel and phosphorus in weight percent, 80≦Pt≦90, 5≦Cu Includes amounts of Ni≦10, 1≦Ni≦3, and 4≦P≦7.

[0020] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metal used to make the insert is The attribute glass has the composition, by weight, of Pt85Cu7Ni2.3P5.7.

[0021] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metal used to make the insert is The attribute glass has a glass transition temperature of 350° C. or less.

[0022] In another particular embodiment of the invention, the outer part for a timepiece or jewellery has a backing The components may be the central part, middle part, bezel, bracelet link, or clasp.

[0023] The present invention further relates to a method for making an element or component of an exterior part for a timepiece or jewelry. Regarding the method of manufacturing - making the elements of the outer part using a fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite material; At least one of the faces of the element or component of the outer part is machined to form at least 1 forming a cavity; heating the metallic glass to its melting point; A step of injecting and filling the at least one void with metallic glass to form an insert. Top and and a step of performing finishing operations as required.

[0024] In a particular embodiment of the invention, said recess is formed by milling.

[0025] In another particular embodiment of the invention, the finishing operation comprises removing excess material, polishing, and / or involving trimming of said insert.

[0026] Thanks to these features, the invention can be used to display time indexes, numbers, logos and other technical A timepiece or a clock, covered on the outside with one or more inserts, such as a marking or decorative indicia. It can provide the outer component of a piece of jewelry. It is made by injecting metallic glass. Such inserts are in the form of solid blocks and are therefore resistant to friction and wear. Such inserts are also suitable for the separation of watches and jewellery. The appearance of the product meets the aesthetic requirements in the field. The thickness of the insert allows for a wide range of finishing operations, Thus, it is possible to give a metallic luster. Made in a single process, glass injection, which significantly reduces time and costs This allows for excellent manufacturing precision. For practical purposes, and for the purposes of this specification, a "metallic glass" is defined as a glass that is at least partially amorphous. It is said that it can be solidified in a fast state, i.e., in a state where it does not have a regular atomic arrangement. Metallic glasses are a category of metal alloys that have the following characteristics: , simple cubic structures, body-centered or face-centered structures, hexagonal structures, and variations of these structures. This is distinct from traditional metals, which crystallize according to textured structures. Metallic glasses generally consist of a combination of elements that are not dimensionally compatible with one another to form a given The solidification rate dependence from the cooling rate is slow enough to obtain a disordered solid crystal structure. By this, the property of solidifying in an amorphous state is obtained. The behavior of this group of materials can be studied by injection molding and thermal This group of materials allows for similar applications to polymeric materials, such as cold processing. In particular, it has high corrosion resistance, high hardness, and elasticity to reduce internal mechanical losses. This has the advantage of being flexible.

[0027] The embodiment of the outer part for a timepiece or jewellery according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments. This example is given purely for illustrative purposes and is not limiting. . [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a top view of the bezel for the portable watch according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The invention has mechanical and aesthetic characteristics that meet the requirements in the field of wristwatches. Such inventive concepts involve providing elements of exterior parts for timepieces or jewellery. To this end, the present invention is based on the idea of ​​using fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. Then, the outer part element is formed by applying a pressure to the outer part element. A cavity is formed to accommodate a decorative or functional insert made of metallic glass. The present invention teaches that the fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite material is used to insert the fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite material into the cavity. Thanks to this, the outer part elements according to the invention are perfectly suitable for timekeeping applications. It has the resistance to mechanical wear and aesthetic characteristics that are characteristic of metallic glass injection. The inserts to be used must be solid and have a sufficient thickness to withstand external mechanical attacks. Also, such inserts are thicker and therefore more durable for finishing operations. This allows for maximum brightness and brilliance. The inserts are made in a single injection step, which saves significant time and improves manufacturing Precision can be achieved.

[0030] The bezel as a whole is assigned the reference number 1, and the bezel 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of an element of an outer part for a timepiece according to the present invention. Also, the back, middle, and brake Other exterior components such as threat links and clasps are also contemplated.

[0031] According to the invention, the bezel 1 is made using a fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite material. In an illustrative example, the polymeric material used to form the matrix is ​​a thermoplastic The polymeric material is preferably, but not limited to, a thermosetting or thermosetting material. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoro Ethylene (polytetrafluoroethylene: PTFE) and polyamide-imide (polyamide-imide The matrix is ​​preferably selected from the group consisting of glass fibers. , carbon fibers and aramid fibers. For such a bezel 1, a plate of composite material having the required thickness is individually can give a sign.

[0032] For example, the SPIDE TP type developed by the French technical center CETIM for the mechanical engineering industry The filament winding method of the present invention is used to make the elements of the outer part, such as the bezel 1 of the present invention. In simple terms, the filament winding method creates a cylindrical shape. The fibers, which are pre-impregnated with a polymeric material, are placed on a mold, such as a tube, having a cross section that forms a At the same time, the polymer is pre-impregnated into the These fibers are then arranged in a mold according to a predetermined number of layers and according to an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the mold. At the same time, these fibers are heated enough to melt the impregnated polymer. The metal is heated to a temperature high enough to cut the contours and pressed against a mold. The final product is selected according to the subsequent use of the part obtained by the above process. The pieces are then machined in the traditional way on lathes and mills to achieve their final dimensions.

[0033] In the present invention, a cylindrical tube having an inner diameter of about 30 mm and an outer diameter of about 45 mm is typically used. The bezel 1 is obtained by cutting the outline of the cylindrical ring. The shell is usually about 5 to 25 m in diameter and is made of polyetheretherketone with a melting point of 341°C. It is obtained by winding carbon fibers impregnated with polyether ether ketone (PEEK). In order to obtain the desired tubular profile for obtaining the bezel 1 according to the invention, it is preferable to use a tubular The carbon fibre is wound perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the profile at an angle of 90°. Obtained by doing so.

[0034] In particular, the material having a tubular profile used to make the bezel 1 is typically ±1 0%, 35% by weight PEEK polymer and 65% by weight carbon fiber (25-45% PEEK polymer and 55-75% carbon fiber). The outer part elements obtained from the shell contain a lot of carbon fiber, which allows the thermal The conductivity is greatly improved, quickly dissipating the heat that is introduced during the injection of the metallic glass. As a result, the temperature at which the metallic glass is injected is Although the temperature is higher than the melting point of the crystal, the bezel 1 does not break down or distort. The reduced thickness of the injected insert, combined with the good thermal conductivity of the mold and the composite material, This allows the polymer's exposure time above its melting point to be significantly reduced. It is also noteworthy that metals can be used in combination with other materials to prevent degradation of the polymer. It is not necessary to perform this during brief contact with metallic glass. Visible parts of the composite that may be damaged during surface finishing operations after removal from the mold are then removed.

[0035] The bezel 1 has one or more markers on its upper surface 2, typically formed by milling. Voids 4 are formed. According to the invention, these voids 4 are made of a metallic glass type material. These inserts are filled with a material to form the inserts 6. As shown in FIG. Insert 6 represents numbers and indices shaped like triangles and circles. Preferably, these voids 4 are formed so that the insert 6 has excellent mechanical strength. In order to ensure that the undercut angle α is 5 to 10°, an undercut angle α is formed.

[0036] The metallic glass used to make the insert 6 is a bulk metallic glass. Preferably, the metallic glass is of the Zirconia zirconia (BMG) type. For example, except for unavoidable impurities, zirconium, copper, titanium, nickel An alloy containing titanium, aluminum, and niobium can be used. The metallic glasses used to make the glasses contain these materials in the range of 60≦Zr≦70% by weight. 5, 10≦Cu≦20, 0≦Ti≦6, 7≦Ni≦15, 0≦Al≦8, 0≦Nb≦6 Quantity included.

[0037] Examples of zirconium-containing metallic glasses suitable for the needs of the present invention include, by weight, Zr Alloy Vit106a with the composition 70Cu13Ni9.9Al3.65Nb3.4, weight percent Vit105 with a composition of Zr65.7Cu15.6Ni11.7Al3.7Ti3.3 Examples include:

[0038] In addition, the metallic glass used to make the insert 6 is based on platinum. For example, platinum, copper, nickel, aluminum, lithium, etc. can be used without unavoidable impurities. According to one embodiment, alloys containing tin can be used to make the insert. The metallic glass to be used contains these materials in weight percent: Includes amounts of 80≦Pt≦90, 5≦Cu≦10, 1≦Ni≦3, 4≦P≦7.

[0039] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metallic glass used to make the insert is The composition, in weight percent, is given by Pt85Cu7Ni2.3P5.7.

[0040] In another particular embodiment of the present invention, the metallic glass used to make the insert is The glass transition temperature is 350° C. or less.

[0041] According to the invention, to form the insert 6, metallic glass is injected into the void. For this purpose, an ingot of metallic glass is prepared and placed in the melting chamber. After the metallic glass ingot is melted, the metallic glass is heated to a temperature above its melting point. The glass is poured into a mold in which the bezel 1 is placed. The mold is such that the metallic glass is The bezel 1 is arranged to fill the void 4 in the mold 1. The injection of the metallic glass into the cavity is effected by a piston or by gas pressure. This can be achieved by mechanical pressure. The recess 4 is preferably formed between the bezel 1 and the insert. The metallic glass has a slight excess thickness to provide an optimal link between the It is filled as follows.

[0042] After the metallic glass has cooled, the bezel 1 is removed from the mold and is then polished, ground, and and / or may undergo finishing operations such as mechanical or chemical polishing. If any burrs are present, remove them by trimming.

[0043] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but is defined by the appended claims. Various modifications and simple modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein. Variations are conceivable. In particular, within the scope of the present invention, the metallic glass can be melted by melting it. It was found that it was necessary to temporarily heat the material to a temperature that would allow it to be injected using an injection device. do. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Bezel 2 Top surface 4 Hollow part 6 Insert

Claims

1. Exterior parts for timepieces or jewellery made with fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites An element or component of a side part, The element or component of this outer part has at least one surface (2) made of metal. At least one cavity (4) for receiving an insert (6) made of a thermally insulating glass. be 1. An element or component of an exterior part, characterized in that

2. The polymeric material used to form the matrix may be thermoplastic or thermosetting. is An external part element or component according to claim 1 .

3. The polymer material is polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyamideimide (PAI). An external part element or component according to claim 2.

4. The fibers that reinforce the polymer matrix include glass fibers, carbon fibers, and arami. Fibers An external part element or component according to claim 2.

5. The fibers that reinforce the polymer matrix include glass fibers, carbon fibers, and arami. Fibers An external part element or component according to claim 3.

6. The composite material is made of 35% PEEK polymer and 65% carbon fiber within a range of ±10%. include An element of an outer part according to claim 5 .

7. The metallic glass used to make the insert is a bulk metallic glass (BMG). ) type An external part element or component according to claim 1 .

8. The metallic glass used in the insert contains zirconium or platinum. An external part element or component according to claim 7.

9. The metallic glass used to make the insert is, except for unavoidable impurities, , derived from alloys of zirconium, copper, nickel, aluminum, niobium, and / or titanium do An external part element or component according to claim 8.

10. The metallic glass used to make the insert is made of zirconium, copper, titanium, Zr, nickel, aluminum and niobium in the range of 60≦Zr≦75, 10≦Cu≦ 20, 0≦Ti≦6, 7≦Ni≦15, 0≦Al≦8, 0≦Nb≦6 An external part element or component according to claim 9.

11. The metallic glass used to make the insert has the composition, in weight percent, Zr7 An alloy of Zr65.7Cu15 .6Ni11.7Al3.7Ti3.3 alloy An external part element or component according to claim 10.

12. The metallic glass used to make the insert is made of platinum, copper, nickel and Phosphorus in an amount of 80≦Pt≦90, 5≦Cu≦10, 1≦Ni≦3, 4≦P≦7 by weight percent include An external part element or component according to claim 8.

13. The metallic glass used to make the insert is, by weight, Pt85Cu The composition is 7Ni2.3P5.

7. An external part element or component according to claim 12.

14. The metallic glass used to make the insert has a glass transition temperature of 350 ℃ or less An external part element or component according to claim 7.

15. The outer parts for a timepiece or jewelry include a back, a middle, a bezel (1), a bracelet, A fast link or clasp. An external part element or component according to claim 1 .

16. A method for manufacturing an element or component of an outer part for a timepiece or jewelry, 、 Fabricating elements or components of external parts using fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials The steps to make At least one of the faces (2) of the element or component of the outer part is machined to form at least forming each of the recesses (4); heating the metallic glass to its melting point; The at least one cavity (4) is filled with metallic glass to form an insert (6). forming a and performing finishing operations as necessary. A method comprising:

17. The recess is formed by milling.

17. The method of claim 16.

18. The finishing operations may include removing excess material, polishing, and / or trimming the insert (6). With Ming 20. The method of claim 17 .

19. The recess (4) has an undercut angle (α) which is between 5 and 10°.

20. The method of claim 17 .

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