Dewar device with a light-transmissive outer element

Abstract

To use a portable watch even in an extreme temperature environment.SOLUTION: In regard to a Dewar device 1 for mechanical and / or functional components 2 of a portable watch 3, the Dewar device includes a bracelet and a casing 4, an enclosure 5 is formed in the casing 4, a case 6 of the portable watch can be arranged inside the enclosure, at least one fastening device 7 fastens the case of the portable watch inside the enclosure of the casing while keeping the case away from a set of elements 10a, 10b, and 10c of the casing forming the enclosure, and the set of elements includes at least one transparent external element 10a made of a transparent ceramic material, in particular a transparent polycrystalline ceramic material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a portable timepiece (e.g., a wristwatch, a pocket watch). The Dewar device includes a light-transmissive outer element.

Background Art

[0002] A portable timepiece, such as an electronic portable timepiece, conventionally includes a bracelet and a portable timepiece case containing a plurality of electrical or electronic components. In the prior art, some of these components are unable to withstand extreme temperatures and are known to malfunction properly at such temperatures. Typically, a liquid crystal display (LCD) using a light-emitting diode or a crystal oscillator can withstand temperatures from a minimum of 0°C to a maximum of about 80°C (Celsius). However, in special environments such as missions in space or on the moon, the temperature often reaches from about -150°C to about +125°C.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to be able to use a portable timepiece, particularly an electronic portable timepiece, in an environment where such extreme temperatures are possible.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The present invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a portable timepiece. The Dewar device includes a bracelet and a casing. An enclosure (internal space) is formed within the casing, and within the enclosure ​ The case of the portable watch can be arranged, and at least one fixing device is configured to move the case away from the set of elements of the casing forming the enclosure while fixing the case of the portable watch within the enclosure of the casing, and the set of elements includes at least one light-transmissive outer element made of a light-transmissive ceramic material, particularly a light-transmissive polycrystalline ceramic material. Other embodiments have the following features. - The at least one light-transmissive outer element is made of a ceramic material substantially containing aluminum oxynitride. - The at least one light-transmissive outer element is made of a ceramic material substantially containing alumina-magnesia. - The at least one light-transmissive outer element is made of a ceramic material substantially containing yttrium oxide. - The at least one light-transmissive outer element is made of a ceramic material substantially containing yttrium aluminum garnet. - The at least one light-transmissive outer element is made by sintering a rough material body, and the overall shape is the same as the shape of the outer element. The rough material body is substantially formed of a powder or a powder mixture of a ceramic material containing aluminum oxynitride, alumina-magnesia, yttrium oxide, and / or yttrium aluminum garnet. - The Vickers hardness of the at least one light-transmissive outer element is in the range of 1223 to 1632 kgf·mm -2 and preferably 1530 kgf·mm. -2 - The at least one light-transmissive outer element has a light transmittance in the visible spectrum of about 85% for a thickness of 2 mm. - The outer element has a light absorption coefficient in the visible spectrum of 65% or less after sintering and polishing thereof. - The at least one light-transmissive outer element is a crystal having a surface that is substantially larger or strictly larger than the crystal (light-transmissive plate-like body) of the portable watch. - When the portable watch case is disposed within the enclosure, the crystal of the portable watch case is disposed so as to face the crystal of the casing. - The enclosure is under vacuum or near vacuum. - The at least one fixing device is disposed so as to contact the inner peripheral wall of the enclosure of the casing. thereof. - The Dewar device has an interference filter disposed over the entire outer surface of the casing. thereof.

[0005] Other features and advantages will become apparent by reading the following description while referring to the drawings . Note that this description is provided as a rough guide and not as a restrictive guide. thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a thermostatic timekeeping device 1 for mechanical and / or functional components 2 of a portable timepiece 3, such as a mechanical portable timepiece, an electronic portable timepiece, or a hybrid portable timepiece. This thermostatic timekeeping device 1 is also referred to as a "Dewar timekeeping device" or simply a "Dewar device" in the following description. Such a Dewar device 1 can contribute to providing good thermal insulation to the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the portable timepiece 3, and the case 6 of the portable timepiece 3 is disposed within the casing 4 of this Dewar device 1.

[0008] This Dewar device 1 has at least one light-transmissive outer element 10a, such as crystal / glass and the back part. As shown below, such a light-transmissive outer element 10a has good mechanical and thermal properties, is resistant to radiation, is resistant to damage caused by various acids, bases, and water, and is made of a material having good light transmittance. This outer element 10a can generate a transmittance Y of 68% or more, or even 85% or more, in light radiation including at least visible wavelengths, and is made of a light-transmissive material. The term "light-transmissive material" can be understood here to mean a material that, in combination with the thickness used, has the property of enabling at least partial transmission of the light radiation.

[0009] Such an outer element 10a is made of a light-transmissive and fire-resistant ceramic material, particularly a light-transmissive polycrystalline ceramic material. This material is aluminum oxynitride. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Mu, alumina - magnesia, yttrium oxide or yttrium aluminum garnet , or can be constituted by a combination of a plurality of these elements. In particular, this outer element is manufactured by sintering a rough material body, and the overall shape is the same as that of the outer element 1 0a. This rough material body is substantially formed by a powder or powder mixture of a ceramic material, and, if necessary, a binder, and this binder has the property of light transmissibility in the visible spectrum after sintering and polishing. This powder or powder mixture is substantially composed of a light - transmissive ceramic material substantially containing aluminum oxynitride, alumina - magnesia, yttrium oxide, and / or yttrium aluminum garnet of aluminum oxynitride. Of course, this powder or powder mixture contains, if necessary, a specific number of small amounts of additives to obtain a component having specific properties. These additives and their effects are well known to those skilled in the art. The outer element 10a thus made is, of course, completely light - transmissive in the visible spectrum after sintering, and contributes to protecting the case 6 of the portable timepiece 3 arranged in the enclosure 5 of the casing 4, and in particular, the mechanical and / or functional components 2 accommodated in this case 6.

[0010]

[0011] An outer element 10a such as this crystal 10a can be manufactured, for example, according to the manufacturing method described in French Patent Document FR25 56711. In this document, as a starting material, substantially aluminum oxynitride, alumina - magnesia, yttrium oxide ​​​​​​​Powder of a ceramic material containing ytterbium and / or yttrium aluminum garnet is used for the powder mixture.

[0012] For example, when the ceramic material substantially contains aluminum oxynitride, the composition of this outer element is Al23-1 / xO27+xN5-x. Here, x is within the range of 0.429 to 2 and exists.

[0013] Such an outer element has a Vickers hardness within the range of 1223 to 1632 kgf·mm -2 , preferably 15 30 kgf·mm -2 .

[0014] In addition, the transmittance of such an outer element to light in the visible spectrum is a function of the reflection and absorption of this light, and is about 85% in the case of a thickness of about 2 mm.

[0015] This outer element has a light absorption coefficient of 65% or less in the visible spectrum after sintering and polishing and exists.

[0016] In addition, this light-transmissive outer element has the following characteristics compared with the prior art light-transmissive outer element made of quartz glass, sapphire glass, or plastic glass. - It has extremely excellent resistance to potential so-called brittle fracture. That is, it does not undergo plastic deformation . - It has extremely excellent chemical resistance. - It has extremely excellent heat resistance and a high melting point. - It has extremely excellent radiation hardening property.

[0017] The Dewar device 1 described here is particularly formed by the combination of the casing 4 of the Dewar device 1 and the case 6 of the portable clock 3, whereby Achieve heat insulation suitable for these mechanical and / or functional components 2. In this configuration the case 6 of the portable watch 3 is arranged within the enclosure 5 of the casing 4 and at the same time is separated from or spaced a specific distance from the set 10a - 10c of elements of the casing 4 that forms the enclosure 5, that is, the crystal 10 a, outer elements such as the inner peripheral wall 12 of the middle part 10c of this casing 4 and the back part 10b This distance, interval, or separation is configured based on at least one fixing device 7 for fixing the case 6 of the portable watch 3 within the casing 4. That is, the fixing device 7 This inner peripheral wall 12 is also the inner peripheral wall of the enclosure 5.

[0018] This distance, interval, or separation is configured based on at least one fixing device 7 for fixing the case 6 of the portable watch 3 within the casing 4. That is, the fixing device 7 is configured to separate between the case 6 and the set 10a, 10b, 10c of elements of the casing 4 that forms the enclosure 5 of this casing 4. This fixing device 7 can contribute to reducing or eliminating heat conduction between the case 6 of the portable watch 3, particularly the entire outer surface of this case 6, and the inner peripheral wall 12a of the middle part 10c, and / or the back part 10b, and / or the crystal 10a. The entire outer surface includes the upper surface with the crystal 11 of the case 6 of this portable watch 3, the lower surface with the back part of the case 6, and the outer peripheral wall of the middle part of this case 6. It can be seen that the lower surface and the upper surface are on opposite sides. Note that the fixing device 7 is arranged to contact the inner peripheral wall 12 in the enclosure 5 of the casing 4. In this configuration, the fixing device 7 mechanically connects, particularly reversibly, the case 6 of the portable watch 3 to the inner peripheral wall 12 of the enclosure 5 of the casing 4. Also, it can be seen that the lower surface and the upper surface are on opposite sides. Note that the fixing device 7 is arranged to contact the inner peripheral wall 12 in the enclosure 5 of the casing 4. In this configuration, the fixing device 7 mechanically connects, particularly reversibly, the case 6 of the portable watch 3 to the inner peripheral wall 12 of the enclosure 5 of the casing 4. Also, the case 6 of the portable watch 3 to the inner peripheral wall 12 of the enclosure 5 of the casing 4. The Dewar device 1 can include two fixing devices 7 that are arranged on opposite sides of each other within the enclosure.

[0019] Such a case 6 is included in the portable timepiece 3 that can be an electronic portable timepiece such as a quartz portable timepiece or a mechanical portable timepiece.

[0020] The mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the portable timepiece 3 described above include a movement for a timepiece, a dial, hands, a ring, a gasket, and / or electronic and / or electrical components 2. Note that it is not limited to these, and these do not cover all of them. In particular, such electronic and / or electrical components 2 include, for example, a display device, a processor, a memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit, and an electronic oscillator.

[0021] Also, the main mechanical components are components of the movement and include the following. - A main spring that is a source of mechanical force - A balance that vibrates and divides time evenly - An escapement that converts the force of the spring into an impulse - A gear train that transmits mechanical force - A winding stem (in the case of manual winding) or a rotor (in the case of automatic winding)

[0022] Therefore, in this configuration, it can be seen that this Dewar device 1 has properties and characteristics similar to those of a well-known Dewar tube / flask in the prior art. As described above, the properties and characteristics of this Dewar device 1 are particularly good from extreme temperatures that may occur in the external environment where such a Dewar device 1 may be located. ​​​​​​​​​ Contributes to ensuring reliable heat insulation.

[0023] Therefore, in relation to this, the Dewar device 1 has a casing 4 with a middle part 10c to which a bracelet is attached. This bracelet enables the user of this Dewar device 1 to wear the Dewar device 1. This casing 4 further has, in this case, the above-described light-transmissive outer elements which are the crystal 10a and the back part 10b. In this Dewar device 1, the crystal 10a preferably has a surface that is substantially larger or strictly larger than the crystal 11 of the case 6 of the portable clock 3. .

[0024] As described above, the crystal 10a, the middle part 10c, and the back part 10b of this Dewar device 1 together form the enclosure 5 of this casing 4 that can receive the case 6 of the portable clock 3. These three elements 10a - 10c of the casing 4, namely, the middle part 10c, the crystal 10a, and the back part 10b, can be separate elements that are joined together to form this enclosure 5. Instead, the middle part 10c and the back part 10b of the casing 4 can form an integral cast together, and this integral cast forms an opening on the side opposite to the back part 10b, and this opening can be closed by the crystal 10a in a reversible and impermeable form. In an alternative embodiment, the middle part 10c and the crystal 10a of the casing 4 of the portable clock 3 form an integral cast together, and this integral cast forms an opening on the side opposite to the crystal 10a, and this opening can also be closed by the back part 10b in a reversible and impermeable form. ​ It can be made possible to be able to.

[0025] Also, the middle part 10c or the back part 10b can also be the light-transmissive outer element of the casing 4 of the Dewar device like the crystal 10a. In such a configuration , the peripheral wall 12 of the middle part 10c and the inner surface of the back part 10b can be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating such as a silver layer. However, the middle part 10c or the back part 10b can preferably be made of a metallic material, or a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resin reinforced with carbon or glass fibers, or a ceramic material.

[0026] In addition, the Dewar device 1 can have an interference filter, and this interference filter is arranged on the entire outer surface of the casing 4, that is, on the outer peripheral wall of the middle part 10c, and / or on the outer surfaces of the crystal 10a and the back part 10b of this casing 4. This interference filter can be a grid or lattice that forms a coating on the entire outer surface of the casing 4. This grid or lattice has a mesh with a dimensional configuration that allows only a specific predetermined wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum,

[0027] typically a wavelength in the visible range, to pass through. This grid can reflect at least one type of ultraviolet ray, and / or infrared ray or near-infrared ray (NIR) . Moreover, when the Dewar device 1 is intended to be used in an environment containing air , the enclosure 5 of the casing 4 containing the portable watch case 6 is under vacuum or almost vacuum. This grid can reflect at least one type of ultraviolet ray, and / or infrared ray or near-infrared ray (NIR) .

[0028] Also, when it is intended that the Dewar device 1 be used in an environment containing air , the enclosure 5 of the casing 4 containing the portable watch case 6 is under vacuum or almost It is under vacuum. That is, in this enclosure, between this case 6 and the inner peripheral wall 12, the back part 10b, and the crystal 10a of the middle part 10 c, the space formed is empty or almost empty. Note that when this Dewar device 1 is used in an environment without air or almost without air, its enclosure does not necessarily have to be under vacuum, and conversely, it can also be in a state under vacuum or close to vacuum. Therefore, the outer element, which is a crystal in this case, equipped with this Dewar device 1, reduces or prevents heat loss caused by long-term radiation from the components arranged in the portable watch case 6, thus contributing to making the heat insulation from the external environment very good for the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the portable watch 3. Therefore,

[0029] even when the temperature outside the Dewar device 1 reaches extreme values, typically on the order of -125 to +125 °C, the temperature inside the enclosure 5 remains substantially the same as the temperature inside the case 6 of the portable watch 3 when the case 6 of the portable watch 3 is arranged in the casing 4, which is typically on the order of 20 °C. Note that regardless of the temperature conditions occurring in the environment of the Dewar device 1, the temperature occurring inside the case 6 of the portable watch 3 must only be a temperature that does not interfere with the proper functioning of the portable watch. This temperature is maintained for a period 5 to 18 times longer than the period during which the portable watch case can maintain the operating temperature of its components 2 when the portable watch case is directly located in an environment where extreme temperatures occur (that is, when it is located outside the casing of the Dewar device). Therefore, Such a configuration serves to protect the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the portable clock 3 and is thought to contribute to ensuring that they function optimally under conditions of extreme external temperature.

Explanation of Signs

[0030] 1 Dewar device 2 Mechanical and / or functional components 3 Portable clock 4 Casing 5 Enclosure 6 Case 7 Fixing device 11 Crystal 10a Crystal 10b Back part 10c Middle part​

Claims

1. A Dewar device (1) for mechanical and / or functional components (2) of a portable watch (3), wherein the Dewar device (1) has a bracelet and a casing (4), an enclosure (5) is formed within the casing (4), the case (6) of the portable watch (3) can be disposed within the enclosure (5), two fixing devices (7) fix the case (6) of the portable watch (3) within the enclosure (5) of the casing (4) while separating the case (6) from a set (10a, 10b, 10c) of elements of the casing (4) forming the enclosure (5), and the fixing devices (7) are disposed on opposite sides of each other within the enclosure, the set of elements (10a, 10b, 10c) includes at least one light-transmissive outer element (10a) made of a light-transmissive ceramic material, the case (6) of the portable watch (3) is disposed within the enclosure (5), and a crystal (11) of the case (6) of the portable watch (3) is disposed to face the light-transmissive outer element (10a) of the casing (4), and the case (6) is separate from the casing (4), characterized Dewar device (1).

2. The at least one light-transmissive outer element (10a) is made of a ceramic material containing aluminum oxynitride. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The at least one light-transmissive outer element (10a) is made of a ceramic material containing alumina-magnesia. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by this.

4. The at least one light-transmissive outer element (10a) is made of a ceramic material containing yttrium oxide. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by this.

5. The at least one light-transmissive outer element (10a) is made of a ceramic material containing yttrium aluminum garnet. The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by this.

6. The at least one light-transmissive outer element (10a) is made by sintering a rough material body, The overall shape is similar to the shape of the outer element, The rough material body is formed of a powder or powder mixture of a ceramic material containing aluminum oxynitride, alumina - magnesia, yttrium oxide and / or yttrium aluminum garnet The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

7. The Vickers hardness of the at least one light-transmissive outer element (10a) is in the range of 1223 to 1632 kgf·mm -2 inclusive The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

8. The at least one light - transmissive outer element (10a) has a light transmittance in the visible spectrum of about 85% for a thickness of about 2 mm The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

9. The outer element has a light absorption coefficient in the visible spectrum of 65% or less after sintering and polishing The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

10. The at least one light - transmissive outer element (10a) is a crystal (10a) having a larger surface than the crystal (11) of the case (6) of the portable clock (3) The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

11. The enclosure (5) is under vacuum The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

12. The fixing device (7) is arranged to contact the inner peripheral wall (12) of the casing (4) within the enclosure The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

13. There is an interference filter arranged over the entire outer surface of the casing (4) The Dewar device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

Images