One-Piece Silicon Regulating Member for Timepiece Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of regulating members for timepieces is complex due to the different natures of balance wheels and hairsprings, which makes temperature sensitivity and assembly in resonance challenging.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece regulating member is created using silicon-based materials, comprising a balance wheel and a hairspring with a ferrule, where a third silicon-based layer forms a spacing between the ferrule and balance wheel, and the balance wheel includes a rim with an adaptation device to modify inertia and a Grossmann-type curve for improved concentricity, and the hairspring is made more resistant with silicon dioxide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate manufacturing of balance wheel and hairspring is used, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the assembly complexity and temperature sensitivity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the balance wheel and hairspring into a single integrated component made of silicon-based material. This consolidation eliminates the assembly step between separate components and ensures that the regulating member has uniform thermal properties throughout, making it insensitive to temperature changes while simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulating member is constructed from homogeneous silicon-based material throughout, ensuring uniform thermal expansion characteristics. This homogeneity eliminates the temperature sensitivity issues that arise when assembling different materials with different thermal properties, while also simplifying the manufacturing process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different materials are used for balance wheel and hairspring, then functional optimization is achieved, but assembly in resonance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the balance wheel and hairspring into a single silicon-based component, the patent eliminates the resonance assembly requirement. The integrated structure ensures that both functional requirements are met simultaneously without the need for precise resonance matching between separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from different materials to a single silicon-based material, which has specific elastic and thermal properties that optimize both the balance wheel and hairspring functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for resonance assembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional assembly methods are used, then component flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing precision and temperature stability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of balance wheel and hairspring into a single component eliminates assembly operations, thereby achieving maximum manufacturing precision without the complexity of resonance assembly processes. The single-piece construction ensures precise geometric relationships are maintained throughout the component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution minimizes temperature sensitivity and assembly difficulties, providing a robust and precise regulating member that maintains accuracy and reduces manufacturing complexities.
Implementation Method 1
securing by silicon fusion bonding, on the etched upper layer of the substrate, an additional layer of silicon-based material
Implementation Method 2
The inner turn of the balance-spring comprises a Grossmann-type curve in order to improve the concentricity of the development of said balance-spring
Implementation Method 3
the adaptation device comprises recesses made on the rim of the balance in order to be able to adjust the inertia of said balance; the recesses comprise a material of greater density than that of the rim of the balance in order to increase the inertia of said balance
Implementation Method 4
the hairspring comprises at least one part based on silicon dioxide in order to make it more mechanically resistant and to adjust its thermo-elastic coefficient
Implementation Method 5
said material of greater density is distributed at the level of the serge in the form of a crenellated ring comprising a succession of studs spaced apart at regular intervals to compensate for the thermal expansion of said material
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
The invention relates to a integral adjusting member (41, 41', 41") that comprises a pendulum (43, 43', 43") being in engagement with a hairspring (51, 51', 51") made in a layer of a silicon-based material (21) and including a spiral-spring (53, 53', 53") coaxially mounted on a collet. According to the invention, the collet (55, 55', 55") includes a portion (19) defining an extension protruding from said spiral-spring, made in a second layer of the silicon-based material (5) and attached to the pendulum (43, 43', 43"). The invention also relates to a timepiece including such an adjustment member, and to a related manufacture method. The invention pertains to the field of clock movement.