Mechanical connection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11262707-B2
Application number	US-201815983283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2018
Priority date	May 24, 2017
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A mechanical connection device, in particular a mechanical connection device for a timepiece or a mechanical transmission device for a timepiece, includes a first part having a first area with at least a first micro-cavity; and a second part having a second area with at least a second micro-cavity, the first and second areas being in contact with one another in a mechanical connection configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mechanical connection device, comprising:
a first part comprising a first area with first micro-cavities; and
a second part comprising a second area with second micro-cavities;
the first and second areas being in contact with one another in a mechanical connection configuration, wherein
the widths of the micro-cavities are less than 200 μm;
the micro-cavities cooperate as an obstacle at their flanks imparting a friction type or a catching type mechanical connection, and wherein when a force applied by the first part to the second part exceeds a threshold, the first part slides with respect to the second part without damage;
wherein the first part and the second part include interposed conformations separating adjacent ones of said first micro cavities of the first part and separating adjacent ones of said second micro cavities of the second part, and wherein said interposed conformations each have a top surface that is flat or planar.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first micro-cavities are micro-grooves and/or the second micro-cavities are micro-grooves.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first micro-cavities have a depth of less than 100 μm, and/or the second micro-cavities have a depth of less than 100 μm, and/or the first and second micro-cavities have the same depth or substantially the same depth, and/or the first and second micro-cavities have the same width or substantially the same width.

4. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each of said first micro-cavities have a depth of less than 100 μm and each of said second micro-cavities have a depth of less than 100 μm.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the micro-cavities have flanks forming an angle of between 90° and 160° from bottoms of the first micro-cavities, and/or the second micro-cavities have flanks forming an angle of between 90° and 160° from bottoms of the second micro-cavities.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first micro-cavities and the second micro-cavities are oriented perpendicularly, or substantially perpendicularly, to forces transmitted from the first part to the second part at a contact between the first and second parts, or the first micro-cavities and the second micro-cavities are oriented parallel, or substantially parallel, to the forces transmitted from the first part to the second part at the contact between the first and second parts.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first part is fitted so as to be mobile relative to a frame, and/or the second part is fitted so as to be mobile relative to the frame, or fitted fixed relative to the frame.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first area forms a portion of a first surface of the first part, and/or the second area forms a portion of a second surface of the second part.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the portion of the first surface is micro-structured on the interior or on the exterior, and/or the portion of the second surface is micro-structured on the interior or exterior.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a return element for resilient return of the first area into contact against the second area.

11. A method for production of a device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
treating a first part by means of a laser, in order to obtain first micro-cavities; and
treating a second part by means of a laser, in order to obtain second micro-cavities.

12. The production method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the method comprises a prior action of coating the first area with a friction-reduction layer, and/or of coating the second area with a friction-reduction layer.

13. The production method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the friction-reduction layer coated on the first area is based on carbon, and/or the friction-reduction layer coated on the second area is based on carbon.

14. The production method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the friction-reduction layer coated on the first area is based on graphene, and/or the friction-reduction layer coated on the second area is based on graphene.

15. A device obtained by implementation of the method as claimed in claim 11 .

16. The production method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the treating of the first part is texturizing or structuring the first part and the treating of the second part is texturizing or structuring the second part.

17. A timepiece mechanism, comprising a mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1 .

18. A timepiece movement comprising a mechanism as claimed in claim 17 .

19. A timepiece comprising a movement as claimed in claim 18 .

20. The timepiece mechanism as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a) a chronograph coupling, including a chronograph horizontal or vertical or radial coupling, b) a mechanism for correction at the setting stem, c) a mechanism for correction of the date, and d) a barrel.

21. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1 , which is a mechanical connection device for a timepiece or a mechanical transmission device for a timepiece.

22. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first and second micro cavities include laser-formed notches within said first part and said second part, respectively.

23. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said interposed conformations form a top surface.

24. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 22 , wherein said interposed conformations each have a top surface that is a regulated surface shape.

25. A mechanical connection device, comprising:
a first part comprising a first area with first micro-cavities; and
a second part comprising a second area with second micro-cavities;
the first and second areas being in contact with one another in a mechanical connection configuration, wherein
the widths of the micro-cavities are less than 200 μm;
the micro-cavities cooperate as an obstacle at their flanks imparting a friction type or a catching type mechanical connection, and wherein when a force applied by the first part to the second part exceeds a threshold, the first part slides with respect to the second part without damage;
wherein said first and second micro cavities include notches within said first part and said second part, respectively, wherein the first part and the second part include interposed conformations separating adjacent ones of said first micro cavities of the first part and separating adjacent ones of said second micro cavities of the second part, wherein said interposed conformations are each flat or planar and have a width that is greater than a depth of adjacent micro cavities.

26. A mechanical connection device, comprising:
a first part comprising a first area with first micro-cavities; and
a second part comprising a second area with second micro-cavities;
the first and second areas being in contact with one another in a mechanical connection configuration, wherein
the widths of the micro-cavities are less than 200 μm;
the micro-cavities cooperate as an obstacle at their flanks imparting a friction type or a catching type mechanical connection, and wherein when a force applied by the first part to the second part exceeds a threshold, the first part slides with respect

Assignees

• Rolex Sa

Inventors

• Oliveira Alexandre
• Rosenzweig Arnaud

Classifications

• G04F7/0823 Primary

  with couplings between the chronograph mechanism and the base movement · CPC title

• G04B1/185

  Friction clutch between spring and spring cylinder (friction transmission between spring cylinder and gearing G04B1/165; other arrangements for protection against rupture or overwinding G04B1/20) · CPC title

• G04D3/0087

  for components of the escapement mechanism, e.g. lever escapement, escape wheel · CPC title

• G04B15/14

  Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel {(assembly and manufacture of the spring G04B1/145; assembly and manufacture of components, e.g. pinions, spindles G04B13/02; lubrication of clockwork bearings G04B31/008; oils for clockwork bearings in general G04B31/08)} · CPC title

• G04B29/04 Primary

  Connecting or supporting parts · CPC title