Stud holders, regulating members, and watch movements

Abstract

To provide a stud-holder for a regulating member of a horological movement.SOLUTION: A regulating member 10 includes an inertial mass, e.g., a balance 23, a balance spring 25 including a strip 2 wound about itself in several turns, and a balance cock 22. A stud-holder 1 includes a main body 31 intended to be mounted on the balance cock, and a stud 34 mounted on the main body in a first direction, and is characterized in that the stud-holder includes an arm 5 extending from the stud, the arm being directed in a second direction under the main body, the second direction forming a non-zero angle with the first direction, so as to pass at least in part beneath the balance spring held by the stud when the stud-holder is mounted on the regulating member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly to the field of mechanical watchmaking in which the regulation of the driving energy is carried out by regulating members.

[0002] Specifically, the present invention relates to a stud holder for a watch regulating member including a stud provided with a clogging prevention arm, a regulating member including such a stud holder, and a watch movement including such a regulating member.

Background Art

[0003] In most mechanical watches, the energy required to rotate the hands (for example, the minute hand and the hour hand) is stored in a barrel and then carried by a spring balance system including a balance, which is a flywheel combined with a spring in the form of a spiral strip called a hairspring.

[0004] The rotation of the balance is maintained by an escapement mechanism including a pallet lever driven by a low-amplitude vibration provided with two pallets engaging the teeth of the escape wheel, and the vibration is counted. When the escape wheel engages in this way, the escape wheel rotates stepwise, and the frequency of its rotation is determined by the frequency of the vibration of the pallet lever. The pallet lever itself is set to the frequency of the vibration of the spring balance.

[0005] The inner end of the hairspring is attached to a staff that rotates integrally with the balance, and the outer end of the hairspring is attached to a stud mounted on a stud holder that is rigidly connected to a stationary cock. The stud usually includes a notch bounded by two walls. The outer end of the hairspring is held in the notch, for example, by an adhesive.

[0006] However, in the event of an impact, one or more outer coils of the hairspring may pass under the stud and become clogged behind the stud.

[0007] This is because, when the balance oscillates, the hairspring transitions from a compressed state to an extended state, or vice versa, in the plane of operation of the hairspring. As a result, when an impact occurs, the hairspring deforms laterally with respect to the plane of operation, and may have one or more outer coils passing under the stud. Consequently, the oscillation of the balance is hindered by this blockage, causing the velocity of the regulating member to become irregular or even completely stopped.

[0008] To avoid this phenomenon, there are stud holders in which the ends of the studs are substantially conical. After one or more coils pass around the stud and become jammed, the coils slide along the cone, pass under the stud, and return. The disturbance in the speed of the adjustment member continues until the hairspring returns to its normal position.

[0009] Other stud holders include studs with a long wall on the hairspring side to prevent the coil from passing underneath. However, because this wall must be located very close to the balance, there is a risk that the balance will hit this wall during an impact, leading to other disturbances.

[0010] Nevertheless, these stud holders are unsatisfactory because they fail to completely eliminate this problem or even create new problems. [Overview of the project]

[0011] The object of the present invention is to overcome some or all of the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a stud holder that prevents one or more outer coils of the hairspring from becoming jammed around the stud, particularly in the event of an impact.

[0012] To this end, the present invention relates to a stud holder for a regulating member of a watch movement. The regulating member includes an inertial mass, such as a balance, a hairspring including a strip wound several times around itself, and a balance cock, and the stud holder includes a body intended to be mounted on the balance cock and a stud mounted on the body in a first direction.

[0013] The present invention is characterized by including an arm extending from a stud, the arm directed in a second direction below the body, the second direction forming a non-zero angle with the first direction such that it passes at least partially below the hairspring held by the stud when the stud holder is mounted on the regulating member.

[0014] Thanks to this invention, the coil cannot pass under the stud and get stuck behind it.

[0015] This is because the arms hold these outer coils even if they deform in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the hairspring.

[0016] Therefore, even if one or more coils get caught behind the stud, or if the balance hits the stud, the chronometer performance of the movement will not be adversely affected by the distortion of the speed of the regulating components.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the stud includes a notch intended to receive the outer end of the strip.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the notch includes an inner wall and an outer wall, and the arm extends from the inner wall.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the arm is oriented radially toward the axis of the regulating member.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the body includes a radial member to which the stud is mounted.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the arm is elongated in the longitudinal direction.

[0023] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the arm has a substantially flat tab shape.

[0024] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the arm is intended to extend towards the center of the hairspring and at least beyond the second last coil of the hairspring, preferably when the hairspring is in the retracted configuration, when the hairspring is in the extended configuration.

[0025] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall is longer than the outer wall.

[0026] The present invention further relates to a timekeeping regulating member including an inertial mass, such as a balance, a hairspring including a strip wound around itself several times, and such a stud holder.

[0027] The present invention further relates to a timepiece movement including such a regulating member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] The objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent after reading several embodiments. These embodiments are given for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, assuming reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] [Figure 1] A perspective top view of a regulating member including a stud holder according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. [Figure 2] A top view of the regulating member shown in FIG. 1 without a balance cock is schematically shown. [Figure 3] A perspective bottom view of the regulating member shown in FIG. 1 is schematically shown. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows a schematic bottom view of the regulating member without the balance cock. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the hairspring pinned to the stud of the regulating member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] Figures 1 to 3 schematically show a part of one embodiment of a regulating member 10 including a stud holder 1 according to the present invention.

[0031] Such a regulating member 10 is intended to be placed in a clock movement to regulate the speed of the movement. Neither the escapement mechanism nor the clock movement is depicted in the figure.

[0032] The regulating member 10 includes an inertial mass, in this case an annular balance 23, a hairspring 25 as an elastic return element of the inertial mass configured to oscillate the inertial mass, a balance staff 4, and a balance cock 22. The components are stacked from bottom to top in the order of balance 23, hairspring 25, and balance cock 22.

[0033] A balance staff 4 passes through the center of the balance and hairspring 25. The balance staff 4 is held in place by two shock-resistant bearings 28 located at both ends of the balance staff 4. A first bearing (not shown) is located below the balance cock 22, where a second bearing 28 is also located. The balance cock 22 has a through hole in which the second bearing 28 is held.

[0034] A plate 13, intended to work in cooperation with the pallet lever of the escapement mechanism, is positioned at the base of the balance 4.

[0035] The hairspring 25 is preferably substantially in a single plane. The hairspring 25 includes a flexible strip 2 wound several times around itself, the strip 2 having a predetermined rigidity. The inner end of the strip 2 is integral with, or assembled to, a rigid support, typically called a collet, although not shown in the figure. The rigid support is, for example, substantially triangular in shape and screwed around the balance staff 4.

[0036] The regulating member 10 includes a stud holder 1 on which studs 34 suspended from the end of the radial member 33 are mounted. The stud holder 1 is mechanically connected to the outer end 3 of the strip 2. The stud holder 1 surrounds the second bearing 28. For this purpose, the stud holder 1 includes a central ring 38 positioned around the second bearing 28. The central ring 38 rests on the balance cock 22. The radial member 33 extends radially relative to the central ring 38.

[0037] Furthermore, the stud 34 is rigidly attached to the outer end 3 of the strip 2. In other words, the stud 34 is integral to the outer end 3 of the strip 2. The stud 34 and the balance spring 25 are assembled, for example, by joining, brazing, welding, deformation of metallic glass, or mechanical fastening.

[0038] The stud 34 is movable relative to the balance cock 22. For this purpose, the stud holder 1 can rotate around the second bearing 28. The stud holder 1 can be displaced over an angular range of, for example, 10° or up to 20°. In this way, the speed of the regulating member 10 can be adjusted.

[0039] The stud 34 is mounted on the body 31 in a first direction, preferably substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body 31 and / or the operating plane of the hairspring.

[0040] According to the present invention, the stud holder 1 includes an arm 5 extending from the stud 34 below the operating plane of the hairspring.

[0041] Arm 5 is oriented in a second direction beneath the body 31. The second direction forms a non-zero angle with the first direction such that it passes at least partially beneath the hairspring 25 held by the stud 34. Arm 5 is radially oriented toward the axis of the regulating member and / or the axis of the hairspring 25. Arm 5 is positioned at the free end of the stud 34.

[0042] The second direction is preferably substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

[0043] In Figure 5, the stud 34 includes a notch 8 intended to receive the outer end 3 of the strip 2. The notch 8 has an inner wall 6 and an outer wall 7. Preferably, the inner wall 6 is longer than the outer wall 7. The arm 5 extends from the inner wall 6 toward the axis of the regulating member and / or the axis of the hairspring 25. The arm 5 has a substantially flat tab shape. The arm 5 is elongated in the longitudinal direction.

[0044] When the stud holder 1 is mounted on the regulating member 10, the arm 5 extends from the outside of the hairspring 25 toward the axis of the hairspring 25, beyond at least the second-to-last coil 9 of the hairspring, when the hairspring 25 is in an extended configuration, preferably in a retracted configuration or a retracted stationary configuration.

[0045] Preferably, arm 5 extends beyond at least some of the last coils. This provides further protection against the risk of the last coil becoming jammed around stud 34.

[0046] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the regulating member described with reference to the figures, and alternative examples can be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A stud holder (1) for a regulating member (10) of a watch movement, wherein the regulating member (10) includes an inertial mass including a balance (23), a hairspring (25) including a strip (2) wound several times around itself, and a balance cock (22), and the stud holder (1) includes a body (31) intended to be mounted on the balance cock (22), and a stud (34) mounted in a first direction on a radial member (33) of the body (31), characterized in that an arm (5) extending from the stud (34) is directed in a second direction below the radial member (33), the second direction forming a non-zero angle with the first direction such that it passes at least partially under the strip (2) of the hairspring (25) held by the stud (34) when the stud holder (1) is mounted on the regulating member (10).

2. The stud holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The stud holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stud (34) includes a notch (8) intended to receive the outer end (3) of the strip (2).

4. The stud holder (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the notch (8) includes an inner wall (6) and an outer wall (7), and the arm (5) extends from the inner wall (6).

5. The stud holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (5) is oriented radially toward the axis of the regulating member (10).

6. The stud holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (5) is elongated in the longitudinal direction.

7. The stud holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (5) has the shape of a flat tab.

8. The stud holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (5) is intended to extend toward the center of the hairspring (25) and beyond at least the second-to-last coil (9) of the hairspring (25) when the hairspring (25) is in the extended position.

9. The stud holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (5) is intended to extend toward the center of the hairspring (25) and beyond at least the second-to-last coil (9) of the hairspring (25) when the hairspring (25) is in the retracted position.

10. The stud holder (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the inner wall (6) is longer than the outer wall (7).

11. A regulating member (10) for a watch movement, wherein the regulating member (10) includes an inertial mass, for example, a balance (23), and a hairspring (25) including a strip (2) wound several times around itself, and is characterized by including a stud holder (1) as described in claim 1.

12. A watch movement characterized by including the regulating member (10) described in claim 11.

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