Timepiece mechanism with adjustable inertia balance wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10054905-B2
Application number	US-201715613747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2017
Priority date	Jun 3, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

Watch comprising a movement, with a balance comprising a ring distinct from the balance rim, elastically fixed to a flange with respect to which this ring is movable in rotation to modify the position of inertia blocks elastically carried by the flange, each able to be indexed in different stable angular positions corresponding to a different inertia of the balance, the movement including an operating member movable between coupled and uncoupled positions which includes a stop means for immobilizing the rim in a coupled position, and a control means for rotating the ring to modify the position of the inertia blocks in the coupled position, the watch including a crown controlling the control means, a rotating coupling ring controlling the coupling/uncoupling of the operating member through contactless interaction with an external adjustment tool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A timepiece balance wheel with adjustable inertia, comprising a staff carrying, a rim via at least one arm, and an inner flange secured to said staff and carrying an outer ring via a plurality of first elastic guide connections, which are inertia balanced in a plane perpendicular to an axis of said staff said outer ring being separate from said rim, a balance comprising a plurality of inertia-blocks, wherein said outer ring is arranged to pivot with respect to said inner flange under the action of an external torque exerted against a resistant torque exerted by said first elastic guide connections, and wherein each said inertia block is carried at least by said inner flange via at least a second elastic connection and can be indexed in a stable angular position defined by respective cooperation between a first indexing toothing carried by said inner flange or by one said inertia block, and a second indexing toothing which is respectively carried by said inertia block or by said outer ring, and wherein any rotation of said outer ring with respect to said inner flange modifies the angular position of said inertia blocks.

2. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said first indexing toothing is carried by said inner flange and consists of an inner jumper spring, and wherein said second indexing toothing is carried by said inertia block and is a first toothed sector.

3. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said first indexing toothing is carried by said inertia block and comprises at least one tooth, and wherein said second indexing toothing is carried by said outer ring and comprises at least a second toothed sector whose centre is distinct from said axis of said staff.

4. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said first indexing toothing is carried by said inner flange, and includes a third toothed sector whose centre is distinct from said axis of said staff, and wherein said second indexing toothing is carried by said outer ring and consists of an external jumper spring.

5. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein each said inertia block is carried by said outer ring by at least a third elastic connection.

6. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said inner flange comprises a plurality of elastic strips concentrically clamping said staff with a friction torque greater than a maximum value of said external torque.

7. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said inner flange is irreversibly attached to said staff.

8. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said balance includes a lower plate directly or indirectly fixed to said staff and including peripheral stop means.

9. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said outer ring comprises a peripheral and continuous toothing centred on said axis of said staff, and wherein rotation of said toothing modifies the position of said inertia blocks between two stable indexing positions.

10. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said balance includes a one-piece upper plate which includes said inner flange, said first elastic guide connections, said outer ring, said inertia blocks, said second elastic connections, said first indexing toothings and said second indexing toothings.

11. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 10 , wherein each said inertia block is carried by said outer ring by at least a third elastic connection, and wherein said one-piece upper plate further includes said third elastic connections.

12. The timepiece balance wheel according to claim 10 , wherein said one-piece upper plate is a flexible planetary structure, whose planets are said inertia blocks permitting inertia adjustment, which are connected to said inner flange and/or to said outer ring by means of elastic strips.

13. A mechanical timepiece movement comprising at least one timepiece oscillator mechanism including said balance according to claim 1 , wherein mechanical movement includes an operating member arranged to control inertia adjustment of said balance by modifying a position of at least some of said inertia blocks comprised in said balance, said operating member being movable between a coupled position and at least one uncoupled position, wherein said operating member comprises a stop means arranged to directly or indirectly immobilise said rim in said coupled position, and at least one control means arranged, in said coupled position, to drive in rotation said outer ring to modify the position of said inertia blocks which cooperate with said outer ring.

14. The mechanical movement according to claim 13 , wherein rotation of said outer ring is accomplished by said control means which includes a drive wheel adjacent to said balance, carried by a bistable lever comprised in said stop means, said lever being coupled/uncoupled sideways by mechanical action of a rotary ring peripheral to said timepiece movement.

15. A watch comprising said movement according to claim 14 , and a control member consisting of a push piece or a crown arranged to control, via a sliding pinion, the movement of a motion-work, wherein said motion-work includes an input wheel arranged to drive at least said control means in said coupled position of said operating member, and further wherein said watch includes a coupling ring that can be moved in rotation to control coupling or uncoupling of said operating member.

16. A timepiece assembly comprising said watch according to claim 15 , and an adjustment tool arranged to allow the inertia adjustment of said balance, wherein said adjustment tool is arranged to control the rotation of said coupling ring, and wherein said coupling ring and said adjustment tool include complementary magnetic areas for driving in rotation said coupling ring under the action of said adjustment tool when said complementary magnetic areas are cooperating through a case of said watch.

17. The timepiece assembly according to claim 16 , wherein said adjustment tool is a magnetic key comprising magnetic studs and arranged to cooperate with said coupling ring, whose magnetic areas are ferromagnetic targets, a number and position of which are concealed from a user, to prevent an unsuccessful attempt at adjustment by the user.

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Paratte Lionel
• Corson Donald William
• Lechot Dominique

Classifications

• G04B17/063 Primary

  Balance construction (balances with frequency adjustment screw G04B18/006; balances with temperature compensation G04B17/222; balancing devices G04B17/28) · CPC title

• G04B18/006 Primary

  by adjusting the devices fixed on the balance (construction of the pendulum G04B17/063; balancing G04B17/28) · CPC title

• G04D7/084

  by setting adjustable elements, e.g. balance wheel screws · CPC title

• G04C3/04

  wherein movement is regulated by a balance · CPC title

• G04B17/20

  Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency · CPC title