Mechanical horology movement

Abstract

To provide a horology movement equipped with a flexibly guided resonator.SOLUTION: The horology movement comprises a control arbor 3 movable in the axial direction by pulling the arbor 3, a resonator including a rotary balance 10 mounted on flexible blades, and a mechanism for stopping oscillation of the balance. The mechanism includes a lever 23 connected to the arbor such that the lever pivots about a pivot axis when the arbor is pulled, and an auxiliary lever 30 connected to the lever such that pivoting the lever causes the auxiliary lever to rotate about a rotational axis separate from the pivot axis. The auxiliary lever is arranged, when following its angular path from the rest position, to stop the balance regardless of the position of the balance when the arbor is initially pulled.In the active position, the auxiliary lever holds the balance in a stationary position enabling the resonator to restart automatically when the auxiliary lever returns from the active position to the rest position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a timepiece movement equipped with a mechanical resonator and in particular with a mechanism that makes it possible to stop the resonator when the movement is set to time and then restart it. In particular, the invention relates to a mechanical movement incorporating a mechanical oscillator consisting of a flexibly guided mechanical resonator and an escapement. The invention also relates to a timepiece, such as a watch, equipped with such a movement. [Background technology]

[0002] Many mechanical watches are equipped with a stop lever that is used to stop the watch resonator during time setting. A conventional stop lever generally consists of a lever that interacts with the balance and is connected directly or indirectly to the winding mechanism axle via an intermediate part (mandarin duck, lever, etc.). While this system works correctly in many movements, its application in cases where the balance is a significant distance from the axle and / or the movement is too cumbersome to be directly accessible is less obvious.

[0003] Furthermore, in mechanical watches, flexibly guided resonators make it possible to overcome the chronometric problems associated with the use of a pivoted balance spring. However, due to the greater stiffness of these resonators, they are difficult to start, as the torque in the escapement is not always sufficient to overcome the return force of the flexibly guided resonators when at rest. One drawback associated with this type of resonator is that, once it is released upon starting, it is often necessary to start the resonator by vigorously shaking the watch, unless the escapement provides any specific means for winding the resonator to at least the lowest angle at which it can be maintained. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a timepiece movement equipped with a flexibly guided resonator that does not have the drawbacks described above. In particular, the timepiece movement is designed to provide an immobilization mechanism that, on the one hand, makes it possible to stop the flexibly guided mechanical resonator (i.e. to immobilize the balance of the timepiece movement), and, on the other hand, makes it possible to wind the stopped resonator at least to a lower limit angle that allows the timepiece movement to be started without having to be subjected to acceleration, in particular by applying an accelerated motion to a timepiece incorporating the timepiece movement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To achieve this goal, the watch movement: a control axle that can be moved along its axis between a winding position, also called a "pushing" position, and a time setting position, also called an "unwinding" position; a flexibly guided mechanical resonator with a balance that can oscillate about an oscillation axis between two extreme angular positions that the balance can reach on either side of an equilibrium position of the mechanical resonator; - a mechanism for immobilising the mechanical resonator, arranged so as to interrupt the oscillations of the balance when the axle is pulled into the time-setting position, and so as to maintain the balance in a stationary position as long as the axle remains in the time-setting position; Equipped with.

[0006] The immobilization mechanism comprises a lever kinematically connected to the axle, so that it pivots about a pivot axis in a first direction when the axle is pulled from the winding position to the time setting position and in a second direction when the axle is pushed from the time setting position to the winding position, and an auxiliary lever connected to the lever such that pivoting the lever in the first direction or the second direction causes the auxiliary lever to rotate in a given direction or an opposite direction about a rotation axis separate from the pivot axis, so that rotation of the auxiliary lever is achieved reversibly between a rest position and an active position depending on the axial displacement of the axle between the pushed-in position and the pulled-out position, and the flexibly guided mechanical resonator is arranged so that it can be started from limit angular positions on both sides of the equilibrium position without the application of an external torque. According to the invention, the balance comprises a part forming a stop for the auxiliary lever, the configuration of the auxiliary lever and the design of its angular path between said rest position and said active position are such that, when following this angular path, the auxiliary lever enters an annular zone positioned around the oscillation axis at the level of the stop and defined radially by this stop, before moving through an extreme contact position with said stop, which corresponds to the extreme angular position of the balance on one side of the equilibrium position of this balance, and then, when the balance comes into contact with the auxiliary lever via the stop, it remains in this annular zone until it reaches its active position, on the other side of the equilibrium position, where the balance is in a rest position located beyond the limit angular position on this other side.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment, the control stem and the immobilisation mechanism are arranged so that when a user pushes the control stem axially with sufficient force to enable it to move from the pulled-out position to the pushed-in position, the part of the auxiliary lever located within said annular zone moves within this annular zone more quickly than the stop on the balance, so that the balance is not obstructed by the auxiliary lever when starting from a rest position.

[0008] According to a first particular embodiment, the balance comprises at least two annular segments forming the inertial mass, one side of which forms the stop on the balance. According to a second particular embodiment, the balance comprises an annular fellow or at least two annular segments forming a complete circle, the annular fellow or one of said annular segments comprising a portion rising axially or radially from said annular fellow or said annular segment to form the stop. According to a third embodiment, the balance comprises an annular fellow forming a complete circle, or an annular segment supported by arms, one of these arms comprising a protrusion rising axially to form the stop.

[0009] The invention makes it possible to stop the balance and immobilize it in a circular rest position, called the "rest position", thereby ensuring automatic starting / restarting of the flexibly guided mechanical resonator in this case. The invention also makes it possible to start the oscillation of the mechanical oscillator when it is initially stopped in its equilibrium / zero position by actuating only the control axle (winding mechanism axle). The invention provides an effective and reliable solution to the problem of mechanical oscillators failing to start, which is specific to timepiece movements equipped with flexibly guided resonators.

[0010] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a timepiece movement according to an embodiment of the present invention operating in time telling mode (with the winding mechanism axle in the retracted, wound position). [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a portion of a timepiece movement according to an embodiment of the present invention operating in time-telling mode (with the winding mechanism axle in the retracted, wound position), with some components removed to show components relevant to the present invention. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 shows a front view of the movement shown in FIG. 1 with the winding mechanism axle partially extended. [Figure 4] 3 shows a rear view of the movement shown in FIG. 2 with the winding mechanism axle partially extended. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the movement shown in FIG. 1 with the winding mechanism axle fully extended and the mechanical resonator in the stopped time-setting position. [Figure 6] 3 shows a rear view of the movement shown in FIG. 2 with the winding mechanism axle fully extended and the mechanical resonator in the stopped time-setting position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments shown in the drawings, which do not limit the scope of the invention. Figures 1 and 2 show partial front and rear views of a mechanical timepiece movement 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Those skilled in the art will be able to recognize certain components of the timepiece movement 1, in particular the platinum 2, the winding mechanism / control axle 3, and the flexibly guided mechanical resonator 4.

[0013] The mechanical resonator 4 comprises a balance supported by a set of flexible blades 11 arranged so that the balance 10 can oscillate about an oscillation axis 5. The structure of the balance 10 is typical of a flexibly guided resonator, with the balance encompassing two diametrically opposed arms 8, with two annular segments 9 forming inertial masses supporting the outer ends of the two arms 8, respectively. The oscillation of the balance 10 is maintained by an escapement mechanism comprising an escape wheel 12 and a pallet fork 13 rotatably arranged between two limit pins 14. The escape wheel 13 is typically connected to the movement's barrel (not shown) by a system of gears (not shown). The interaction between the resonator 4 and the pallet fork 13, and between the pallet fork 13 and the escape wheel 12, also typically releases the barrel's energy in a controlled manner, so that the movement 1 can indicate time via hands that rotate relative to the dial. The position of the balance 10 as shown in Figure 1 corresponds to the balance's equilibrium position, with oscillations occurring on one side and on the other side of the equilibrium position. In Figure 2 it can be seen that at this point the pallet fork 13 is centrally positioned between the two limit pins 14.

[0014] The controlled energy release, as described above, is interrupted when setting the watch by pulling on the winding mechanism axle 3 and then manually rotating the winding mechanism axle 3.

[0015] 3 and 4 show movement 1 when control axle 3 is partially retracted. This axle 3 is joined to a connecting element called a mandarin duck 20. Pulling on axle 3 leverages the mandarin duck 20 against the platinum 2 about pivot axis 21. A pin 22 attached to the mandarin duck 20 interacts with lever 23 such that pulling on axle 3 pivots the lever 23 against the platinum 2 about pivot axis 24. More generally, lever 23 is kinematically related to axle 3 such that pulling on the axle from its winding position (also called the "pushed position") towards its time-setting position (also called the "extended position") pivots the lever 23 about the pivot axis in a first direction, and pushing on the axle from the time-setting position towards the winding position in a second direction.

[0016] The lever 23 comprises two lamellae 23a and 23b which are generally opposite to the pivot axis 24. The first lamella 23a has an oblong opening 25 in which the pin 22 is arranged, while the opposite lamella 23b has a toothed portion 26 (also called a rack) at its end. An auxiliary lever 30 is rotatably arranged on the platinum 2, said auxiliary lever 30 being rotatable about an axis of rotation 31 which is separate from the pivot axis 24 of the lever 23. The auxiliary lever 30 is integrated with a pinion 32 which, together with the toothed portion 26 of the lever 23, forms a gear transmission. In other words, the auxiliary lever 30 is kinematically connected to the lever 23 in such a way that pivoting the lever 23 in said first direction or said second direction causes the auxiliary lever to rotate in a given direction and in the opposite direction about a rotation axis 31 separate from the pivot axis 24, so that said rotation of the auxiliary lever 30 is achieved reversibly between a rest position and an active position depending on the axial displacement of the arbor 3 between the winding position (pushed in position) and the time setting position (pulled out position).

[0017] 1 and 2, the auxiliary lever 30 retracts back onto the lever 23 when the axle 3 is in the pushed-in position, which corresponds to the normal operating mode of the movement, i.e., the self-contained time indicating mode with continuous oscillation of the balance 10. This retracted position of the auxiliary lever 30 is its rest position. Note that FIGS. 1 and 2 show the balance 10 in its equilibrium position, which by definition corresponds to an angle of zero / 0°.

[0018] When the axle 3 is pulled, the auxiliary lever 30 deploys in the direction of the balance 10. Figures 3 and 4 show the moment when the auxiliary lever 30 comes into contact with one of the annular segments 9 of the balance 10, or more generally with the part of the balance that forms a stop according to the angular orientation of this balance. In a first particular embodiment, the variant shown in the figures, the balance 10 comprises at least two annular segments that form an inertial mass, one side of which forms a stop 36 on the balance for the auxiliary lever. The position of the balance 10 when it comes into contact with the auxiliary lever depends on the position of the balance when the user starts to actuate the auxiliary lever by pulling the axle 3, and also on the speed of this actuation. On the one hand, the oscillations of the balance, in particular the maximum amplitude of these oscillations, and the configuration of the balance, and on the other hand, the configuration of the auxiliary lever 30 and the angular path of the latter, as well as the gearing between the lever 23 and the pinion 32, are designed in such a way that said contact between the stop 36 and the auxiliary lever 30 occurs during its deployment, irrespective of the angular position of the balance 10, when the auxiliary lever enters an annular zone defined radially by the stop 36 and positioned around the oscillation axis 5 at the level of the stop, i.e., an annular zone whose outer and inner radii are determined radially by the two ends of the stop. This annular zone is a circular contact zone between the auxiliary lever and the stop on the balance, i.e., a continuous 360° geometric zone, in which contact between the stop 36 and the auxiliary lever 30 can occur, defined by the stop 36 at the level of the stop 36 according to the oscillation axis. Conventionally, flexibly guided mechanical resonators in timepiece movements have a vibration amplitude much smaller than that of a normal balance spring, and the maximum vibration amplitude of a flexible blade mechanical resonator is generally less than 60°. In the variant shown in the figure, the maximum vibration amplitude is approximately 30°. In the context of the present invention, the maximum vibration amplitude of the mechanical resonator is advantageously less than 45°. When the balance 10 comes into contact with the auxiliary lever 30, the oscillation of the balance is interrupted, which means that the auxiliary lever 30 stops the oscillation of the balance 10.

[0019] 3 and 4 show the maximum θ value of the balance 10 on the negative angle side (clockwise from the zero position of the balance).M The limiting angular position -θ corresponding to the amplitude of M In this extreme angular position of the balance, it can be seen that the auxiliary lever 30 has passed beyond this stop and entered the annular zone defined radially by the stop 36, which corresponds to the maximum θ M 3 and 4, when the auxiliary lever contacts the balance in its extreme angular position on the negative angular side, it presses against stop 36. In this case, the auxiliary lever 30 is arranged in the timepiece movement so that it remains partially within the annular zone defined by stop 36 until it reaches its final position, previously referred to as the active position of the auxiliary lever. In this final / active position of the auxiliary lever (FIGS. 5 and 6), when the stop on the balance presses against it, the balance 10 reaches an angular rest position θ 1 on the positive angular side relative to the zero (0°) position of the balance. R As a result, the auxiliary lever 30 can move the balance in a positive angular direction (variant shown), continue to follow the angular path of the auxiliary lever 30 around its axis of rotation 31 towards its final / active position, and then maintain the balance in an angular rest position corresponding to the final / active position as long as the control axle is in the time setting position.

[0020] Starting from the situation shown in Figures 3 and 4, if we continue to pull on the axle 3, the auxiliary lever 30 will complete its angular path until it reaches its final / active position, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. As the auxiliary lever 30 continues to progress along said angular path, it will push the balance 10 in front of it, and at the final position of the auxiliary lever, also called the "active position", it will reach a lower limit angle θ, also called the "limit angular position". L The absolute value of the angle is larger than the rest position θ R Immobilize the balance and set the angle to the rest position θ RTherefore, when the balance 10 is released simultaneously with starting or restarting, i.e., after stopping at its rest position or in other cases at its 0° equilibrium position, it automatically starts the mechanical oscillator by the flexible blade at the limiting angular position θ without any restoring force other than the force of the flexible blade. L , it can be maintained by the escapement and then brought to a rest position by the auxiliary lever by activating the control axle. In other words, the configuration of the auxiliary lever 30 and the planning of its angular path are such that, when the auxiliary lever follows its angular path between its initial / rest position and its final / active position, it enters the annular zone defined radially by the stops of the balance before moving through an angular position in which it comes into contact with the stops, which correspond to the extreme positions of the balance on one side of its equilibrium position, and it then remains within the annular zone until the balance, on the other side of its equilibrium position, has passed beyond the limit angular position and reached the final / active position of the auxiliary lever, which is in its rest position. In this way, when the auxiliary lever follows its angular path, it moves within the annular zone at an angle greater than the maximum amplitude of the oscillating balance, and therefore greater than the sum of the angular values ​​of this maximum amplitude and the angular limit position, relative to the axis of oscillation.

[0021] In short, when the auxiliary lever follows said angular path (in the forward direction), the angular position is such that on one side of the zero position / equilibrium position of the auxiliary lever, the balance reaches the extreme angular position (in the variant shown, this is the extreme angular position -θ M ) and the angular rest position θ of this balance located on the other side of the zero position / balance position. R and beyond the limit angle position, i.e., in the variant shown, a lower limit angle θ relative to the zero position / equilibrium position. L, the auxiliary lever will be in contact with the stop 36 on the balance when this balance is in an angular position corresponding to the angular position of the auxiliary lever, regardless of whether this balance is in an angular rest position having an absolute value greater than that of the limit angular position / lower limit angle on the other side of the zero position / equilibrium position. In any case, whatever the angular position of the balance is along the angular path of the auxiliary lever, this auxiliary lever will finish immobilizing the balance 10 in the wound state in said angular rest position, i.e. in a state in which the balance can start or restart the oscillations maintained by the escapement as soon as the auxiliary lever is pulled out of its active position and out of said annular zone by pushing the axle 3 towards the wound position without any external intervention other than actuating the axle 3. The only specific means for automatically starting or restarting the balance, also called "self-starting", is the angular rest position θ of the auxiliary lever, at which the auxiliary lever starts with an initial speed of zero (balance stopped state). R The purpose of this invention is to withdraw the auxiliary lever from the annular zone (the annular contact zone between the auxiliary lever and the stop on the balance) faster than the speed of the stop 36 while the balance 10 is free to move. It should be noted that the terms "automatic" and "self-starting" should be understood as starting or restarting, collectively referred to as "starting", that takes place from the rest position of the balance as a result of the flexible blade exerting the only force on the balance, i.e., using only the torque that the flexible blade applies to the balance, after operating the winding mechanism / control axle from the time-set position of the auxiliary lever ("pulled position") to the winding position of the auxiliary lever ("pushed position"), as provided by the present invention.

[0022] To enable this self-starting function, the angular position of the balance at rest, defined relative to the equilibrium position of the balance's oscillation (the position shown in FIG. 1), must generally exceed half the balance's constraint angle. This constraint angle is a typical resonator parameter, and the concept of constraint angle is well known to those skilled in the art. In the particular resonator shown in the figure, the constraint angle is approximately 14° (7° on either side of the equilibrium position), and the lower limit angle corresponds in absolute value to half the constraint angle, i.e., approximately 7°. The balance's rest position is approximately 10° relative to the equilibrium position (zero position / 0°), which ensures the desired automatic starting.

[0023] As mentioned, the auxiliary lever 30 can stop the balance 10 at any point along its oscillation path. In most cases, after initial contact between the auxiliary lever 30 and the stop on the balance, the auxiliary lever will push the balance towards its fixed position. Preferably, the auxiliary lever 30 is designed with respect to shape, material, flexibility, etc., so that at this stage following initial contact, the auxiliary lever remains in contact with the balance; in other words, the impact between the auxiliary lever and the balance is such that the balance does not significantly bounce off the auxiliary lever, but rather accompanies the lever 30 towards its fixed position. Nevertheless, embodiments in which this impact causes the stop to bounce off the auxiliary lever, or even several times, after the initial impact are not excluded from the scope of the present invention, provided that the balance eventually comes to rest in its intended angular rest position after the initial impact, and that the balance is then held in this rest position by the auxiliary lever.

[0024] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, while the auxiliary lever 30 holds the balance 10 in its fixed position, the user can set the time on his watch by turning the control axle 3 in a manner known per se. When the axle 3 is then pressed in, the auxiliary lever 30 is pulled out of its active position and returns to its rest position, allowing the balance 10 to oscillate again. As already mentioned, to prevent the auxiliary lever 30 from interfering with self-starting, it must be pulled out quickly enough. The speed at which the auxiliary lever 30 retracts depends on the pivoting speed of the lever 23 and on the gearing between the toothed end 26 of the lever 23 and the pinion 32 integrated with the auxiliary lever. The system is preferably designed so that the rotational speed of the pinion 32, and therefore of the auxiliary lever 30, far exceeds the pivoting speed of the lever 23, and so that the auxiliary lever retracts / storages faster than the balance during the starting phase. This means that the auxiliary lever will always return / retract slowly enough, even if the user unintentionally pushes the axle 3 towards the winding position of the auxiliary lever. According to some embodiments, the rotational speed of the auxiliary lever 30 is at least twice, preferably at least three times, the lever's pivoting speed.

[0025] Since the rotational speed of the auxiliary lever 30 clearly exceeds the pivoting speed of the lever 23, the angular path of the auxiliary lever 30 is much larger than the corresponding angular path of the lever 23, which also enables the auxiliary lever to come into contact with the balance over a sufficiently long trajectory so that, from any angular position, the balance 10 can be stopped at a rest angular position greater than the lower limit position that allows self-starting, as explained above.

[0026] The present invention was designed for movements equipped with a flexibly guided resonator, as it offers particular advantages to a configuration with this type of resonator. This advantage is due in particular to the self-starting feature described above. Indeed, there is no need to further swing the watch to start or restart a mechanical oscillator with a flexible blade mechanical resonator. The present invention can also be used for balances with a full-circle annular fellow. In this case, stops, e.g., an arrangement of pins, are provided on the balance, the stops extending radially or axially from the fellow, or alternatively axially from one of the balance arms, and, as described above, can contact the auxiliary lever 30 when deployed. In a second specific embodiment, the balance has a full-circle annular fellow, which includes a protrusion that rises axially or radially from the annular fellow and forms the stop. In a third specific embodiment, the stop is formed by an annular segment, or alternatively, a protrusion that rises axially from one of the arms supporting the annular fellow.

[0027] One of the overall benefits of the present invention is that it makes the balance more accessible when the immobilization mechanism with its two-part system is too far from the axle or when the movement is too cumbersome to allow direct access. Furthermore, the present invention allows functional contact with the balance regardless of its initial angular position. In fact, it is important that the control axle can be activated at any time and that the interaction between the immobilization mechanism (more generally the stop and self-starting mechanism) and the balance is always operational. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1. Mechanical watch movements 2 Platinum 3 Winding mechanism / control shaft 4. Flexibly guided mechanical resonators 5 Vibration axis 8 Arm 9 Annular Segments 10. Balance 11 Flexible Blade 12 Escape wheel 13 Uncle 14 Restriction Pin 20 Mandarin Duck 21 Pivot axis 22-pin 23 Lever 23a, 23b thin plate 24 Pivot axis 25 oval opening 26 Toothed part, rack 30 Auxiliary lever 31 Rotation axis 32 Pinion 36 Stops θ L Balance limit angle position, lower limit angle θ M Balance extreme angle positions θ R Balance angle rest position

Claims

1. A clock movement (1), a control axle (3) that can be moved along its axis between a winding position, also called the "pushing" position, and a time setting position, also called the "pulling" position; a flexibly guided mechanical resonator (4) with a balance (10) that can oscillate about an oscillation axis (5) between two extreme angular positions that the balance (10) can reach on either side of the equilibrium position (0°) of the mechanical resonator; a mechanism for immobilizing said mechanical resonator, arranged so as to interrupt the oscillations of said balance when said axle (3) is pulled to said time-setting position, and to hold said balance in a stationary position as long as said axle remains in said time-setting position; Equipped with The immobilizing mechanism comprises a lever (23) kinematically connected to the mandrel (3) so as to pivot about a pivot axis (24) in a first direction when the mandrel is pulled from the winding position to the time setting position of the mandrel and in a second direction when the mandrel is pushed from the time setting position to the winding position, and an auxiliary lever (30) connected to the lever (23) so as to rotate the auxiliary lever in a given direction and in an opposite direction about a rotation axis (31) separate from the pivot axis (24) by pivoting the lever in the first direction or the second direction, respectively, so that the auxiliary lever In a timepiece movement (1) in which the rotation of the lever (30) is achieved reversibly between a rest position and an active position depending on the axial displacement of the axle (3) between the pushed-in position and the pulled-out position, and the flexibly guided mechanical resonator is arranged so that it can be started without the application of an external torque from limit angular positions on either side of the equilibrium position, the balance comprises a part forming a stop (36) for the auxiliary lever (30), and the configuration of the auxiliary lever and the design of its angular path between the rest position and the active position are such that, when the auxiliary lever follows this angular path, the balance reaches an extreme angular position (-θ Ｍ ), before moving through the extreme contact position with the stop (36) corresponding to the limit angle position (θ ), the balance enters an annular zone defined radially by the stop, positioned around the oscillation axis at the level of the stop, and then, when the balance comes into contact with the auxiliary lever through the stop, it moves to the other side of the equilibrium position, at the other side of the limit angle position (θ ). Ｌ ) beyond the rest position (θ Ｒ ) in which the balance is located, the auxiliary lever remains in this annular zone until it reaches its active position.

2. 2. A timepiece movement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary lever (30) is connected to the lever (23) in such a way that the rotational speed of the auxiliary lever is at least twice the pivotal speed of the lever.

3. 3. A timepiece movement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the auxiliary lever (30) is connected to the lever (23) by means of a gear transmission.

4. 3. A timepiece movement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control axle and the immobilising mechanism are arranged in such a way that, when a user presses the control axle axially with sufficient force to enable it to move from the pulled-out position to the pushed-in position, the part of the auxiliary lever situated within the annular zone moves within this annular zone more quickly than the stop on the balance, so that the balance is not obstructed by the auxiliary lever when starting from its rest position.

5. 3. A timepiece movement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the auxiliary lever (30) is connected to the lever (23) in such a way that the angular path traversed by the auxiliary lever (30) between the rest position of the auxiliary lever and the active position of the auxiliary lever is greater than the corresponding angular path traversed by the lever (23).

6. 6. A timepiece movement (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the angular path of the auxiliary lever is at least twice as large as the angular path of the lever.

7. 3. A timepiece movement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the balance (10) comprises at least two annular segments (9) forming an inertial mass, one side of which forms the stop on the balance.

8. 3. A timepiece movement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the balance comprises an annular fellow or at least two annular segments forming a complete circle, one of the annular fellows or annular segments comprising a portion elevated axially or radially from the annular fellow or annular segment and forming the stop.

9. 3. A clock movement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the balance comprises an annular fellow forming a complete circle, or an annular segment carried by arms, one of said arms being provided with an axially raised projection forming said stop.

10. A watch comprising the clock movement according to claim 1 or 2.

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