Mechanical component, mechanism module, movement, and timepiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11327441-B2
Application number	US-201815889833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2018
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A mechanical component, a mechanism module, a movement, and a timepiece superior in lubricating oil retaining performance are to be provided. A mechanical component includes: a first component having a first surface region; a second component having a second surface region on which the first surface region can slide; and an oil retaining film formed on at least one of the first surface region and the second surface region and more lipophilic than the region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical component comprising:
a first component having a first surface region;
a second component having a second surface region on which the first surface region can slide; and
an oil retaining film on at least one of the first surface region and the second surface region and more lipophilic than the at least one surface region; and
wherein the oil retaining film contains a chemical compound expressed by the following formula (1):

(M 1 is one of Si, Ti, and Zr, R is a hydrocarbon radical, Y 1 and Y 2 are hydrocarbon radicals, hydroxyl groups, or functional groups generating hydroxyl groups through hydrolysis or the like, and Z 1 is a polar group;
wherein the polar group is not an amino group; and
wherein the hydrocarbon radicals are each, independently, an alkyl group or an aryl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

2. The mechanical component according to claim 1 , further comprising an oil repellent film on at least one of the first component and the second component that is less lipophilic than the at least one surface region adjacent to the oil retaining film.

3. The mechanical component according to claim 2 , wherein the oil repellent film contains a chemical compound expressed by the following formula (2):

(M 2 is one of Si, Ti, and Zr, Rf is a fluorine containing radical, Y 3 and Y 4 are hydrocarbon radicals, hydroxyl groups, or functional groups generating hydroxyl groups through hydrolysis or the like, and Z 2 is a polar group).

4. The mechanical component according to claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises a shaft rotatable around an axis, and the second component comprises a bearing rotatably supporting the shaft body.

5. The mechanical component according to claim 1 , further comprising a retaining portion in at least one of the first surface region and the second surface region, the retaining portion capable of retaining a lubricating oil.

6. The mechanical component according to claim 5 , wherein the retaining portion comprises a recess in the at least one surface region.

7. A mechanism module equipped with the mechanical component of claim 1 .

8. A movement equipped with the mechanical component of claim 1 .

9. A timepiece equipped with the movement of claim 8 .

Assignees

• Seiko Instr Inc

Inventors

• Nakamura Takahiko
• Ebihara Natsuki

Classifications

• F16C17/026

  with helical grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. herringbone grooves · CPC title

• G04B31/04

  with jewel hole and cap jewel {(jewel bearings with jewel hole and cap jewel G04B31/0082; tools for inserting jewel bearings G04D3/042)} · CPC title

• F16C33/103

  retained in or near the bearing · CPC title

• C10M105/76

  containing silicon · CPC title

• F16C33/664

  Retaining the liquid in or near the bearing · CPC title