Timepiece oscillator insensitive to angular acceleration caused by wear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11402804-B2
Application number	US-201916242028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2019
Priority date	Feb 12, 2018
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

A timepiece movement, including a mechanism including an inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of the movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with an energy distribution wheel set that pivots relative to the structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with the first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by an energy source, wherein the energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set that pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to the structure, each inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to the energy distribution wheel set, and the total inertia of the inertia wheel sets is between 60% and 140% of the inertia of the energy distribution wheel set.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A timepiece movement comprising a mechanism including at least one inertial element arranged to oscillate or pivot about a first axis of pivoting relative to a structure of said movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with at least one energy distribution wheel set forming a single escape wheel of an escapement mechanism of the movement, the energy distribution wheel set pivoting relative to said structure about a second axis of pivoting parallel to or coincident with said first axis of pivoting and subjected to a torque exerted by at least one energy source, either directly, or via a direct train, wherein said at least one energy distribution wheel set meshes directly or indirectly with at least one inertia wheel set distinct from said inertial element, distinct from the escapement mechanism, distinct from each said energy source and distinct from said train, when said at least one energy distribution wheel set is subjected to a torque exerted by at least one energy source via a train, and said at least one inertia wheel set pivots about a third axis of pivoting relative to said structure, which third axis of pivoting is parallel to or coincident with said second axis of pivoting, and each said inertia wheel set is arranged to pivot in the opposite direction to said energy distribution wheel set, and wherein the total inertia of said inertia wheel sets is comprised between 60% and 140% of the inertia of said energy distribution wheel set.

2. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one energy distribution wheel set meshes directly with at least one said inertia wheel set.

3. The movement according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one energy distribution wheel set meshes directly with each said inertia wheel set.

4. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one energy distribution wheel set meshes indirectly with at least one said inertia wheel set via at least one transmission wheel set distinct from said inertial element, distinct from each said energy source, and distinct from said train when said at least one energy distribution wheel set is subjected to a torque exerted by at least one energy source via a train.

5. The movement according to claim 4 , wherein said at least one energy distribution wheel set meshes indirectly with each said inertia wheel set, via at least one transmission wheel set distinct from said inertial element, distinct from each said energy source, and distinct from said train when said at least one energy distribution wheel set is subjected to a torque exerted by at least one energy source via a train.

6. The movement according to claim 4 , wherein at least one said transmission wheel set includes a flexible, backlash take-up toothing.

7. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one energy distribution wheel set is connected to said at least one inertia wheel set by a train, and wherein at least one said inertia wheel set is a wheel outside said train, meshing directly or indirectly with a wheel of said train and rotating in the opposite direction to said energy distribution wheel set.

8. The movement according to claim 7 , wherein at least one said wheel outside said train meshes directly with a wheel of said train.

9. The movement according to claim 7 , wherein at least one said wheel external to said train meshes indirectly with a wheel of said train, via at least one transmission wheel distinct from said inertial element, distinct from each said energy source, and distinct from said train.

10. The movement according to claim 7 , wherein each said inertia wheel set is a wheel outside said train, meshing directly or indirectly with a wheel of said train and rotating in the opposite direction to said energy distribution wheel set.

11. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said inertia wheel set, or each said inertia wheel set, is an idler wheel.

12. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein there is only one said inertia wheel set.

13. The movement according to claim 12 , wherein, when there is only one said inertia wheel set, the ratio Ri/Ref, between the inertia Ri of said inertia wheel set and the inertia Rref of said energy distribution wheel set, is equal to the ratio Vref/Vi between the nominal rotational speed Vref of said energy distribution wheel set and the nominal rotational speed Vi of said inertia wheel set.

14. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein the total inertia of said inertia wheel sets is comprised between 90% and 110% of the inertia of said energy distribution wheel set.

15. The movement according to claim 14 , wherein the total inertia of said inertia wheel sets is equal to that of said energy distribution wheel set.

16. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein at least said at least one energy distribution wheel set or at least one said inertia wheel set comprises a flexible, backlash take-up toothing.

17. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said third axis of pivoting of one said inertia wheel set, which does not mesh directly with said at least one energy distribution wheel set, is coincident with said second axis of pivoting.

18. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said third axis of pivoting is coincident with said first axis of pivoting.

19. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanism and said at least one energy distribution wheel set are arranged to ensure the continuous pivoting, without stopping, of said energy distribution wheel set.

20. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said inertia wheel set pivots on an intermediate plate which is mobile relative to said structure and comprises means for adjusting the position of said third axis of pivoting relative to said structure.

21. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said inertia wheel set is arranged to transmit energy directly or indirectly to at least one said inertial element.

22. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein each said inertia wheel set is isolated from any said inertial element by said energy distribution wheel set.

23. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanism comprises only one said inertia wheel set.

24. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanism is a resonator mechanism including at least one inertial element arranged to oscillate about said first axis of pivoting relative to said structure of said movement, and arranged to cooperate directly or indirectly with said at least one energy distribution wheel set.

25. The movement according to claim 24 , wherein said resonator mechanism does not have a stopper.

26. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanism is a striking work regulating mechanism including regulating means using eddy currents and/or return springs and/or mechanical friction and/or aerodynamic friction.

27. The movement according to claim 1 , wherein said mechanism is an electromechanical mechanism, which includes either an electric generator powered by a mechanical barrel transmitting a drive torque to energy distribution wheel set which includes a rotor with magnetic sectors whose fields are arranged to cooperate with at least one coiled stator, or includes a continuous rotation electric motor comprising electric powering means or at least one battery powering a coiled stator arranged to cooperat

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Favre Jerome
• Matthey Olivier
• Di Domenico Gianni
• Hinaux Baptiste
• Lechot Dominique
• Born Jean-Jacques

Classifications

• G04C3/08

  wherein movement is regulated by a mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork {, e.g. electrostatically} · 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

• G04C3/04

  wherein movement is regulated by a balance · CPC title

• G04B17/20 Primary

  Compensation of mechanisms for stabilising frequency · CPC title

• G04C5/005 Primary

  Magnetic or electromagnetic means · CPC title