Inertial elements of a watch movement
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024515294
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-09-09
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing watch movements struggle to operate without stopping in strong magnetic fields, exceeding 4800A/m (60G), and existing solutions like magnetic shields impose design and aesthetic constraints.
Incorporating an inertial element with a balance wheel made of high electrical resistivity materials, such as lead-free brass, and using paramagnetic or diamagnetic materials for other components to reduce eddy current-induced energy loss, allowing the watch to function in magnetic fields up to 35,000G without stopping.
The solution significantly enhances the watch's resistance to magnetic fields, enabling operation without stopping even in extreme conditions, reducing energy dissipation, and eliminating the need for bulky magnetic shields.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The invention relates to an inertial element of a clock movement, in particular a balance wheel. The invention also relates to an oscillator comprising said inertial element. The invention further relates to a regulating system comprising said oscillator or said inertial element. The invention further relates to a clock movement comprising said oscillator or said inertial element or said regulating system. The invention finally relates to a clock comprising said clock movement or said oscillator or said inertial element or said regulating system. [Background technology]
[0002] Non-Patent Document 1 mentions that the NIHS standard (NIHS-90-10) specifies that for magnetically resistant miniature watches in common use, the miniature watch must not stop in a magnetic field of 4800 A / m (60 G) and its residual effect must not exceed 30 seconds per day (for mounting diameters of more than 20 mm). For special miniature watches, it is recommended to solve the magnetic problem by enclosing the movement with a magnetic shield made of mu-metal, permalloy, or soft iron. However, such a solution presents numerous size, design, and aesthetic constraints.
[0003] US Pat. No. 5,399,433 discloses a watch movement and mentions stopping at magnetic field values exceeding 3000G or 4000G through a combination of an "antimagnetic" hairspring and an "antimagnetic" metal arbour in the regulating member.
[0004] Patent document 2 proposes a specific structure of a balance shaft (a magnetically non-uniform one-piece cast balance shaft that exhibits non-uniform, inherent magnetic properties in its volume) that enables a small watch having an antimagnetic hairspring, anchor body, and escape wheel to withstand a magnetic field of approximately 1 T (10,000 G) without stopping and without compromising mechanical performance (timekeeping ability and deterioration of the moving parts over time).
[0005] Patent Document 3 relates to a case hardened by heat treatment in a controlled environment. In paragraph
[0010] , it states that "the object of the present invention is to propose a pivot pin that can achieve both limiting the susceptibility to magnetic fields and obtaining an improved durability compatible with the requirements of wear resistance and shock resistance in the watch industry." However, there is no mention in the document of stopping the movement in any magnetic field.
[0006] Patent document 4 relates to a watch made of ceramic material, which offers the advantage of being antimagnetic and not affecting the operation of the watch when exposed to magnetic fields, in particular fields exceeding 32 kA / m (400 G). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0007] [Patent Document 1] Swiss Patent Application Publication No. 716862 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 2979139 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 2757423 [Patent Document 4] European Patent Application Publication No. 3258325 [Non-patent literature]
[0008] [Non-Patent Document 1] “Theorie d'horlogerie” (Clock Theory), C.-A. Reymondin et al., la Federation des Ecoles Techniques Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an inertial element that improves the timepiece devices known from the prior art and allows to remedy the above-mentioned problems. In particular, the present invention proposes an inertial element that allows the timepiece movement to function without stopping even under strong magnetic fields, in particular those with a strength of 8000 G, or 15000 G, or 20000 G, or 30000 G, while guaranteeing a residual effect of less than 1 second per day after exposure to the magnetic field. [Means for solving the problem]
[0010] According to the invention, the inertial element is defined in claim 1.
[0011] Embodiments of the inertial element are defined in claims 2 to 10.
[0012] According to the invention, an oscillator is defined in claim 11.
[0013] According to the invention, the speed governing system is defined in claim 12 or 13.
[0014] According to the invention the use is defined in claim 14.
[0015] According to the invention, the clock movement is defined in claim 15 or 16.
[0016] According to the invention, the watch is defined in claim 17 or 18.
[0017] The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, embodiments of a timepiece and in particular of a speed regulating system. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a watch. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the timekeeping system of the timepiece of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] An embodiment of a watch 300 will be described in detail below with reference to figures 1 and 2. The watch 300 is for example a miniature watch, in particular a wristwatch. The watch 300 comprises a watch movement 200, intended to be mounted in a watch casing or case to protect it from the external environment. The watch movement 200 may be a mechanical movement, in particular an automatic movement, or it may be a hybrid movement.
[0020] The timepiece movement 200 includes a speed regulating system 100 .
[0021] The speed regulating system 100 includes an oscillator 2 and an escapement system 3 .
[0022] The oscillator 2 includes an inertial element 1 .
[0023] In the case of a traditional oscillator (as shown in Figures 1 and 2), the oscillator also includes a hairspring 21 and the inertial element 1 is a balance wheel 1 which is pivoted on the frame of the clock movement.
[0024] The inertial element comprises an outer edge 11 made of or including a first material. The first material comprises: - be paramagnetic or diamagnetic, and - have an electrical resistivity of greater than 15 μΩ×cm, preferably greater than 20 μΩ×cm.
[0025] Advantageously, the first material is a metallic material and has an electrical resistivity of less than 100 μΩ×cm, or less than 200 μΩ×cm, or less than 1000 μΩ×cm.
[0026] More preferably, the first material has a resistivity of 100 μΩ×cm and 10 3 Between μΩ×cm or 10 3 μΩ×cm and 10 13 Between μΩ×cm or 10 13 It has an electrical resistivity greater than μΩ×cm.
[0027] Except for the outer edge 11, the inertial element 1 is - Hub 12, and / or - Arm 13 Includes. One or more of these elements preferably comprises or is preferably made of the first material. Advantageously, the rim, the hub and the arms are integral or manufactured as one piece and are therefore made of the same first material.
[0028] The hub 12 preferably comprises a hole for receiving an inertia element arbour 23 which enables the inertia element 1 to pivot on the frame of the clock movement.
[0029] The arms 13 allow for a mechanical coupling of the hub 12 to the outer edge 11. They preferably have an elongated shape. In particular, they extend radially or substantially radially with respect to the arbor 23. The arms can be replaced by any other element, for example a support, allowing for a mechanical coupling or fastening of the hub 12 to the outer edge 11. Such a support may be solid, i.e. impenetrable in an axial direction parallel to the axial direction of the arbor 23, i.e. without any openings passing through it. Alternatively, such a support may be open, i.e. include openings passing through it. In a particular implementation of the inertial element, the support may in particular present a disk shape.
[0030] In a particular implementation of the inertial element, the support may serve as the hub and thus coincide with the hub. Alternatively or additionally, the rim may serve as the support or coincide with the support and thus form a solid or open disc. Thus, the support, the hub and / or the rim may be made of or comprise the first material. In particular, the hub, the support and the rim may be integral. As a further alternative, the inertial element may be - Hub, - support part, - Outer edge The rotor may include a disk having an integral structure.
[0031] Advantageously, the first material comprises: - CuAl7Si2, or - CuNi15Sn8, or - Lead-free brass (especially CuZn21Si3P), or - NiP, or - Titanium or titanium alloys, or - Co40Cr20Ni16Mo7 (Phynox), or - Ceramics such as ZrO2 or Al2O3, or - Silicone, or - Ruby, or - Glass, It is.
[0032] The outer edge 11 preferably has a continuous shape (i.e. it is capable of a complete rotation around the axis 23 while remaining in the material forming the outer edge), in particular a continuous annular shape, as shown in figures 1 and 2. Advantageously, the outer edge of the continuous shape, in particular the continuous annular shape, is made of a single material, preferably a single conductor, such as a metal alloy with high electrical resistivity (for example with an electrical resistivity of more than 20 μΩ×cm). Alternatively, the inertial element 1, in particular the outer edge 11, may comprise several parts made of different materials, in particular made of a semiconducting material or an electrical insulator. Each of these materials, or some of these materials, or one of these materials may constitute a first material. The part may be a solid part that is adapted or placed on a structure that is intended to support it.
[0033] Alternatively, the outer edge 11 may have an interrupted or non-continuous shape, in particular an interrupted annular shape or a non-continuous annular shape.
[0034] Advantageously, the inertia element is a monolithic casting, however, alternatively, the inertia element may be formed by assembly of several elements.
[0035] The hair spring 21 is preferably made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material having an electrical resistivity of more than 20 μΩ×cm. Alternatively or additionally, the hair spring 21 has a collet 22 and / or a splice 25 made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material having an electrical resistivity of more than 20 μΩ×cm, in particular made of titanium or a titanium alloy.
[0036] The oscillator 2 also includes an inertial element 23. The inertial element 23 is preferably made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, in particular a ceramic such as zirconia, or of paramagnetic steel or surface-hardened paramagnetic steel, or of coated paramagnetic steel.
[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the inertia element axle 23 advantageously does not have a bearing flange for the inertia element 1. Such a flange is usually provided on the inertia element axle to form a stop for the inertia element relative to the axle during assembly of the inertia element to the axle, in particular during hammering.
[0038] The oscillator 2 further comprises a plate 24 made of or comprising the first material, in particular a double plate 24. The plate 24 is advantageously attached to the stem 23 of the inertial element, in particular by hammering.
[0039] As an alternative to the traditional oscillator described above with reference to FIG. 1, the oscillator may include an inertial element mounted on an elastically deformable structure that enables the inertial element to pivot relative to a frame via elastic deformation of the elastically deformable structure.
[0040] Apart from the above-mentioned inertial element 1 and / or oscillator 2, the regulating system 100 comprises an escapement system 3, which includes one or more escapement parts 31, 32, in particular an escape wheel 31 and an anchor 32.
[0041] The escape wheel 31 preferably comprises a plate 312 and a arbor 311. The arbor 311 is housed, in particular struck, in the plate 312 and allows the escape wheel 31 to turn on the frame of the watch movement. The arbor 311 is advantageously made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, in particular a ceramic, for example zirconia, or of paramagnetic steel or case-hardened paramagnetic steel or coated paramagnetic steel or Phynox. The plate 312 is advantageously made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, in particular a ceramic, for example CuAl7Si2 or CuNi15Sn8 or lead-free brass CuZn21Si3P or NiP or titanium or a titanium alloy or Co40Cr20Ni16Mo7 (Phynox) or ZrO2 or Al2O3, or of silicon or ruby or glass.
[0042] The pallet 32 preferably comprises a plate 322 and arbour 321. The arbour 321 is housed, in particular hammered, in the plate 322 and allows the pallet 32 to be pivoted on the frame of the watch movement. The arbour 321 is advantageously made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, in particular a ceramic, for example zirconia, or of paramagnetic steel or case-hardened paramagnetic steel or coated paramagnetic steel or Phynox. The plate 322 is advantageously made of a paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, in particular a ceramic, for example CuAl7Si2 or CuNi15Sn8 or lead-free brass CuZn21Si3P or NiP or titanium or a titanium alloy or Co40Cr20Ni16Mo7 (Phynox) or ZrO2 or Al2O3, or of silicon or ruby or glass.
[0043] The above mentioned solutions were compared in two configurations. The first configuration aims to obtain less residual effects after exposure to strong magnetic fields (over 2T or 20000G). It consists of the movement (paramagnetic hairspring, balance wheel made of CuBe, i.e. copper-beryllium alloy, in particular copper-beryllium alloy with 2% beryllium), the three arbors of the regulating system (balance arbors, anchor arbors, escapement pinion) made of paramagnetic or diamagnetic materials, in this case zirconia, Phynox and Phynox respectively. It was noted that in such a first configuration, a stoppage under the magnetic field typically occurs in a magnetic field with a strength of 20000G, which is exceptional and significantly higher than the magnetic field strengths described in the prior art documents (in particular in patents EP 0 699 113 and EP 0 699 114 and in the above mentioned standards). The use of a lead-free brass balance wheel, for example CuZn21Si3P (so-called "Ecobrass" according to one of the above solutions, as an alternative to the CuBe balance wheel according to the first configuration) in the second configuration also makes it possible to increase the limit of the magnetic field strength that causes the movement to stop by more than 60% (to higher than 35000 G), as will be explained in detail below. Tests by the Applicant tend to demonstrate that the unexpected effect can be explained by a reduction in the energy dissipation via eddy currents induced by the movement of the balance wheel in the magnetic field, the lead-free brass "Ecobrass" exhibiting an electrical resistivity at least two times higher than that of CuBe. The use of materials with higher electrical resistivity, such as NiP, silicon, ceramics (such as zirconia) or glass, is expected to make it possible to reach higher stopping thresholds. However, the stopping threshold in a magnetic field does not progress linearly with the electrical resistivity. The properties depend, among other things, on the construction (and especially on the materials used for the other components, and / or on the possible presence of components that allow the generation of eddy currents in the balance wheel, etc.), and on the shape of the balance wheel (continuous or non-continuous outer edge). Surprisingly and unexpectedly, the increase in the stopping threshold under magnetic fields is very significant when the resistivity of the metallic material is increased. Increasing the resistivity by several orders of magnitude (especially through the use of semiconductors or insulators) can further increase the stopping threshold under magnetic field conditions, although not proportionally.
[0044] In particular, to analyze the effect of using a balance wheel made of lead-free brass, stopping performance measurements were carried out under a magnetic field using movements with various component modifications of the escapement and oscillator (balance wheel).
[0045] It is noted that in particular in the first configuration, the resistance of the first movement configuration to stall under a magnetic field, provided with an "antimagnetic" stem, exceeds 15,000 G, and measurements using a superconducting magnet to determine the effective strength at which stall occurs under a magnetic field, allow for a magnetic field strength of approximately 10 T (100,000 G) to be reached.
[0046] <Tested Configuration> The tests were carried out on two movement configurations, both with three parts (movement with dial and hands) (Table 1). The two movement configurations include a paramagnetic hairspring made of NbZr alloy, a pallet and escape wheel plate made of paramagnetic NiP, and a balance plate made of lead-free brass "Ecobrass". The movements also include an automatic winder, a spacer, and a dial (with a brass base) and hands.
[0047] [Table 1] Table 1: Tested configurations (materials that make up the various parts)
[0048] Starting from the first configuration, an assessment was undertaken of the potential impact of replacing the CuBe balance wheel with one made from lead-free brass "Ecobrass".
[0049] <Protocol> Measurements were performed with an Oxford Instruments superconducting magnet to apply magnetic fields up to 12 T (120,000 G) with a field homogeneity of <±2%. The temperature of the working area was 20±2°C.
[0050] Superconducting magnets, which make it possible to reach magnetic field strengths of over 15,000 G, have the drawback that they do not allow visualization of the sample.
[0051] Therefore, arrest under a magnetic field was detected by state capture at various magnetic field strength levels. - Before exposure to the magnetic field, the piece was wound to the optimal winding state (0.5 turns) to obtain the initial state capture h0 (start of movement at 00h00, parallel to the reference chronograph H0). This initial state is considered as E0=h0-H0=0. - after exposure to a given magnetic field strength, in particular after at least 20 minutes of functioning under the magnetic field, a second state capture of the piece h1 and the reference chronograph H1 (placed outside the magnetic field) is obtained, the state E1=h1-H1.
[0052] The considered stop detection criterion is based on the state E1. Taking into account an uncertainty of ±1 min for each state capture in relation to handling and reading, and assuming that the strong rate drift under the magnetic field has a negligible effect on these state captures (considering a rate under the magnetic field of ±5000 s per day, the drift over 30 min of measurement is about 100 s), it is considered that there is no stop under the magnetic field if E1>-2 min. It is noted that in practice, the sign of a stop under the magnetic field is clear and leaves no room for doubt. In particular, the measured state differences are grouped into two populations: a population centered on 0 (values between 0 and -2 minutes, with mean and standard deviation of -0.2±0.5 minutes over 20 measurements), corresponding to no stop; - A population centered at -20 min (values between -19 and -31 min, mean and standard deviation -20.5 ± 6.0 min over 11 measurements), corresponding to cessation under the magnetic field.
[0053] This means that the method requires successive exposures to different field strengths between different plateaus: an initial field of 2T (20,000G) is applied, then the strength is gradually increased by 0.25T or 0.5T (2500G or 5000G) and stabilized for at least 3 minutes at the maximum field. Measurements are made simultaneously across multiple movements.
[0054] <Result> CuBe balance wheel, first configuration: A summary of the measurements of the first configuration clearly shows that the breakdown in the magnetic field occurs between 2.25 T and 2.50 T (between 22500 G and 25000 G).
[0055] Balance wheel made of lead-free brass "Ecobrass", second configuration: The only stoppage in this configuration was noted after exposure to 4T. The good behavior between 3.5T and 4T (35,000G to 40,000G) clearly indicates that the lead-free brass "Ecobrass" balance wheel, and in particular the lead-free brass "Ecobrass" balance wheel / plate combination, offers a significant improvement over the first configuration.
[0056] Therefore, when there are three antimagnetic arbors (balance arbors, anchor arbors and escapement pinion) in the test configuration, a balance wheel made from lead-free brass "Ecobrass" provides an additional improvement in the limiting magnetic field strength of approximately 60%.
[0057] If only the balance wheel is made of zirconia and the other two balance wheels are made of standard material (lead-free steel Finemac), replacing the CuBe balance wheel with one made of lead-free brass "Ecobrass" makes it possible to double the strength of the magnetic field that stops the movement from a field strength value lower than that measured for the first configuration in table 1 above, thus resulting in an improvement of about a factor of two in terms of stopping under the magnetic field in this case.
[0058] Regarding the residual daily rate (variation of the daily rate following application of a magnetic field), a residual rate of about 1 second per day was measured after exposure to 100,000 G (which is within the measurement error). Even in this case, the operation is good.
[0059] The results show that it is very advantageous to combine the use of favorable shapes and paramagnetic or diamagnetic materials for the hairspring and arbors, especially for the arbors of the regulator (balance wheel, anchor and escape wheel), and the use of specific materials for the balance wheel and its plates. The effect of changing the balance wheel material is unexpected and surprising. A clue is given by the fact that lead-free brass has a higher resistivity than CuBe, which is usually used for the balance wheel and plates.
[0060] This is because any conductive part rotating in a magnetic field, such as a balance wheel and hairspring oscillator, is a recipient of induced electrical currents, called eddy currents.
[0061] The power dissipated in the form of eddy currents in a unit of volume is given by the following formula:
[0062]
number
[0063] where f is the frequency of the sinusoidal magnetic field variation, and B max is the amplitude of the sinusoidal magnetic field, and ρ e is the electrical resistivity of the material and e is its thickness (measured perpendicular to B). max should be regarded as the amplitude of the variable part of the magnetic field which produces the electric field. The total power is P=p×V, where V is the volume exposed to the eddy currents.
[0064] Estimations show that for an external magnetic field of 1 T applied to a clock with a balance wheel with a continuous outer edge made of CuBe (first configuration), the losses through eddy currents in the regulating system operating at 4 Hz are greater than half the power available at the escape wheel. For complex oscillator geometries, only finite element analysis can provide exact values. However, this does not change the measures required to maximally limit the losses due to eddy currents. The above formulas suggest the use of paramagnetic or diamagnetic materials with the highest possible electrical resistivity, for example ceramics, glass (Zerodur) or undoped silicon, for the outer edge and, if possible, for the plates as well as the arms of the balance wheel. However, the results obtained surprisingly show that the use of electrically conductive but more resistive materials already makes it possible to obtain substantial improvements, especially for the continuous outer edge as shown in figures 1 and 2.
[0065] <Material Selection> As mentioned above, the dissipative effects associated with the generation of eddy currents are inversely proportional to the electrical resistivity of the components and contribute to adversely affecting the performance of the speed control system in a magnetic field, so it would appear possible to eliminate or at least limit these losses by using materials with high electrical resistivity.
[0066] Lead-free brasses, for example the alloy CuZn21Si3P (also known as "Ecobrass"), have the advantage over copper-beryllium (CuBe) in that they have a resistivity that is approximately two to three times higher (Table 2) while retaining a comparable mass per unit volume (and therefore a comparable balance wheel inertia for the same dimensions of the part).
[0067] It is therefore possible to expect that the energy losses to which the speed control system is subjected under a magnetic field will be reduced by a factor of 2 to 3 by using the lead-free brass "Ecobrass" with respect to CuBe. The results show that this effect is demonstrated with respect to the strength of the suspension under a moving magnetic field.
[0068] [Table 2] Table 2: Comparison of mass per unit volume and electrical resistivity of various materials
[0069] Table 2 also shows the advantage of considering other conductive or semiconducting materials or insulators, at least for manufacturing the outer edge or inertial elements of the balance wheel. In general, conductive materials have a thermal conductivity of 1 to 10 3 Semiconductor materials have electrical resistivity between 10 3 From 10 13 The electrical resistivity of an insulator is 10 13 It is estimated to have an electrical resistivity of more than μΩ×cm (conversion rate 1Ω×m=10 8 μΩ×cm).
[0070] Among the materials used to manufacture the watch components of the movement, electroplated NiP, Si and zirconia ZrO2 appear to be particularly advantageous in order to obtain better performance than that of components made of lead-free brass. However, in such cases, the use of low resistivity metallic materials should be avoided, for example the use of gold segments deposited on semiconductors or insulators to increase the inertia. In fact, such use is very detrimental to the performance of the inertial elements obtained under magnetic field conditions.
[0071] It may also be advantageous to use an outer edge with an interrupted or non-continuous shape to limit dissipation via eddy currents, or to use an outer edge that includes multiple parts made of or containing different materials, in particular a semiconducting material or an insulator interposed between parts made of conductive materials.
[0072] For example, it may be advantageous to use an annular outer edge formed by orthogonal radial portions or segments made of or containing different materials. Alternatively, it may be advantageous for the outer edge to be formed by a succession of layers or portions of different materials (superimposed in an axial direction parallel to the axial direction of the balance wheel 23), for example an outer edge formed by a continuous growth of layers of materials having different electrical resistivities, for example alternating layers of insulators and conductors. Alternatively, it may be advantageous for the outer edge to be formed by a succession of layers or portions of different materials superimposed in a radial direction relative to the balance wheel 23. As a further alternative, it may be advantageous for the outer edge to be formed by a composite material of different materials, in particular materials having different electrical resistivities, for example a composite material of an insulating ceramic matrix infiltrated with a metallic conductor, forming a continuous network.
[0073] The above mentioned studies and tests have made it possible in particular to highlight the influence of the balance wheel material, according to its electrical properties, on the resistance to stopping under magnetic fields for configurations with a balance wheel made of zirconia. The use of high resistivity materials appears to be the key to obtaining very high values of stopping under magnetic fields, i.e. to obtaining better performance in terms of resistance to magnetic fields.
[0074] Changing the material of the balance wheel with a continuous periphery to lead-free brass "Ecobrass", which exhibits a resistivity two or three times (22 μΩ·cm) higher than that of CuBe (6-8 μΩ·cm), allows very significant improvements of 60% and 100%, respectively, in the two variants tested. The values of stoppage under the magnetic field obtained with the modified version of the power mechanism (including three true, continuous periphery balance wheels of antimagnetic - paramagnetic or diamagnetic - materials, and plates made of lead-free brass "Ecobrass") are greater than 35,000 G, which is truly remarkable. In addition, the use of a one-piece, one-piece, one-material, one-metal balance wheel with a continuous annular periphery, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, allows the usual manufacturing, balancing and assembly methods to be utilized, without having to deal with the complex machining and balancing associated with balance wheels with discontinuous or cut peripheries or bimetallic peripheries. The choice of a metallic material with high electrical resistivity, in particular a resistivity higher than 20 μΩ×cm, in particular lead-free brass, for example CuZn21Si3P lead-free brass, for the balance wheel consisting of a type of metal with a continuous outer edge, surprisingly makes it possible to very significantly improve the behavior of the clock movement in magnetic fields by reducing eddy currents.
[0075] Changing the outer rim material to a less conductive (more resistive) material such as NiP, silicon, ceramic, or glass is anticipated to result in a clock that is less sensitive to very high magnetic field strengths in terms of stopping under magnetic fields.
[0076] As a result of the above mentioned solution, according to the invention, the oscillator 2 preferably comprises components arranged and / or configured such that the oscillator and / or the movement and / or the clock has a magnetic field strength value at which stopping occurs of 20,000 G or more, or 35,000 G or more.
[0077] Similarly, according to the present invention, the regulating system 100 preferably includes components arranged and / or configured such that the regulating system and / or the movement and / or the watch has a magnetic field strength value at which stopping occurs of 20,000 G or more, or 35,000 G or more.
[0078] Similarly, in accordance with the present invention, movement 200 preferably includes components arranged and / or configured such that the movement has a magnetic field strength value at which stalling occurs of 20,000 G or greater, or 35,000 G or greater.
[0079] Similarly, according to the invention, the watch 300 preferably includes components arranged and / or configured such that the watch has a magnetic field strength value at which stopping occurs of more than 20,000 G, or more than 35,000 G. Advantageously, the watch does not include a magnetic shield (in particular made of mu-metal, permalloy or soft iron) that encases the movement.
[0080] The magnetic field strength value at which said stoppage occurs is defined according to the stoppage detection criteria associated with the above mentioned protocol, which in any case applies (with any necessary modifications) to the oscillator alone, or to the regulating system alone, or to the clock movement alone, or to the clock.
[0081] Thus, the inertial element, oscillator, or governing system described above, - Resistance to magnetic fields, and / or - stop magnetic field strength value, Can be used in watch movements or within watches to improve performance.
[0082] Whatever the embodiment or variant, the outer edge may have the same or substantially the same cross-sectional shape (in a plane passing through the balance pivot axis) regardless of the location of the outer edge under consideration. For example, the outer edge may have a cross-sectional shape at the height of the means for adjusting the imbalance and / or inertia. - a screw hole extending radially (with respect to the axis of the balance wheel) past the outer edge and intended to receive an adjusting screw; and / or - a stud fixed to its outer edge, extending radially (with respect to the axis of the balance wheel) and intended to receive an adjusting nut; It may only have a change in its cross section, such as: Alternatively, the periphery may have the same or substantially the same cross-sectional shape regardless of the location of the periphery, without any means for adjusting for imbalance and / or inertia.
[0083] Whatever the embodiment or variant, the outer edge is - a first cylinder of smaller radius R, which contains all the rings; - a second cylinder (coaxial with the first cylinder) having a radius greater than 0.9×R; may be included between
[0084] In particular, the outer annular portion, except for the change in cross section at the height of the means for adjusting the imbalance and / or inertia, such as steps or studs, - a first cylinder of smaller radius R, which contains all the rings; - a second cylinder (coaxial with the first cylinder) having a radius greater than 0.9×R; may be included between
[0085] Whatever the embodiment or variant, the outer edge may constitute at least 85% of the moment of inertia about the pivot axis of the balance wheel.
[0086] In particular, excluding any changes in cross section at the height of the means for adjusting imbalance and / or inertia, such as steps or studs, and excluding any means for adjusting imbalance and / or inertia, the outer peripheral annular portion may constitute at least 85% of the moment of inertia about the pivot axis of the balance wheel.
[0087] Whatever the embodiment or variant, the balance wheel preferably has - The outer edge, - Hubs and - an arm for mechanically connecting the outer periphery to the hub; - optionally means for adjusting imbalance and / or inertia of the balance wheel, The configuration includes only
Claims
1. An inertial element (1) for a timepiece movement (200), said inertial element comprising: be paramagnetic or diamagnetic, and having an electrical resistivity greater than 15 μΩ×cm; an outer edge (11) comprising a first material; Inertial element (1).
2. The first material is a metal material and has an electrical resistivity of less than 1000 μΩ×cm. An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
3. The first material is 100 μΩ×cm to 10 3 a conductor having an electrical resistivity between μΩ×cm, or 10 3 μΩ×cm to 10 13 a semiconductor material having an electrical resistivity between μΩ×cm, or 10 13 an insulator having an electrical resistivity greater than μΩ×cm; An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
4. the inertial element (1) comprises an arm (13) or support connected to the outer edge, the arm or the support comprising the first material; An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
5. the inertial element (1) comprises a hub (12) connected to an arm (13) or support, the hub comprising the first material; An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
6. the inertial element (1) comprises a hub (12) connected to the arm or the support, the hub comprising the first material; An inertial element (1) according to claim 4.
7. The first material is CuAl7Si2, or CuNi15Sn8, or - Lead-free brass, or NiP, or - titanium or titanium alloys, or Co40Cr20Ni16Mo7, or - ceramic, or - Silicon, or - Ruby, or - Glass, That is, An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
8. The outer edge (11) has a continuous shape. An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
9. the inertial element (1) comprises several parts made of different materials, An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
10. the inertia element is a monoblock casting; An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
11. An inertial element (1) according to claim 1, and Other elements, An oscillator (2) comprising: The other elements are: a paramagnetic or diamagnetic hairspring (21) made of a material having an electrical resistivity greater than 20 μΩ×cm, and / or a hairspring (21) having a paramagnetic or diamagnetic collet (22) and / or a splice (25) made of a material having an electrical resistivity greater than 20 μΩ×cm, and / or an inertial element (23) made of paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, or made of paramagnetic steel, hardened paramagnetic steel, or coated paramagnetic steel; and / or an inertia element stem (23) without a bearing flange for said inertia element (1), and / or a plate (24) comprising the first material; Including, Oscillator (2).
12. An inertial element (1) according to claim 1, Escapement system (3), A speed governing system (100) comprising: The escapement system (3) comprises: True (311, 321) made of paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, or made of paramagnetic steel, hardened paramagnetic steel, or coated paramagnetic steel; and / or Plates (312, 322) made of paramagnetic or diamagnetic material at least one escapement part (31, 32) comprising Speed control system (100).
13. an inertial element (1) and / or an oscillator (2); Escapement system (3), A speed governing system (100) comprising: The escapement system (3) comprises: True (311, 321) made of paramagnetic or diamagnetic material, or made of paramagnetic steel, hardened paramagnetic steel, or coated paramagnetic steel; and / or Plates (312, 322) made of paramagnetic or diamagnetic material at least one escapement part (31, 32) comprising A speed control system (100).
14. A timepiece movement (200) including the regulating system (100) according to claim 13, The inertial element (1) is improving the resistance of the watch movement to magnetic fields; and / or Improve the stopping of the magnetic field strength value of the clock movement; Clock movement (200).
15. An inertial element (1) according to claim 1, A clock movement (200) including:
16. an inertial element (1), and / or an oscillator (2), and / or a speed control system (100); A clock movement (200) comprising: the timepiece movement and / or the inertial element are arranged or configured such that the movement has a magnetic field strength value at which stopping occurs of 35,000 G or more; Clock movement (200).
17. 16. A timepiece movement (200) according to claim 15, Clock (300).
18. A clock movement (200) according to claim 16, Clock (300).
19. A balance wheel (1), An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.
20. The first material has an electrical resistivity greater than 20 μΩ×cm. An inertial element (1) according to claim 1.