Timepiece balance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11531304-B2
Application number	US-202016829053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2020
Priority date	May 7, 2019
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A balance for a horological movement, including rigid parts constituted by a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, at least one felloe sector, at least one arm connecting the at least one felloe sector to said hub, and including a slot for receiving and gripping in position an inertia-block, the slot opening into a housing delimited on the one hand by a rigid part of the balance, and on the other hand an elastic arm including a first end integral with a rigid part of the balance, and a second free distal end. The elastic arm can have a body of a non-constant section, a part of the body having a greater thickness than the rest of the elastic arm so as to have a larger volume of material under stress and store a maximum of elastic energy.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A balance for a horological movement, comprising:
rigid parts constituted by a hub defining the pivot axis of said balance, at least one felloe segment, at least one arm connecting said at least one felloe segment to said hub, and including at least one slot for receiving and gripping in position an inertia-block, said at least one slot opening into a housing delimited by a rigid part of said balance and an elastic arm, the elastic arm including a first end integral with a rigid part of said balance and a second distal end which is free relative to said hub, to said arm, and to said felloe segment,
wherein said elastic arm has a body of a non-constant section, a part of the body having a greater thickness than the rest of the elastic arm so as to have a larger volume of material under stress and store a maximum of elastic energy, and
wherein said housing is substantially ovoid in shape with an entrance defined by the slot and a bottom, the bottom of the housing having dimensions greater than the entrance of the housing.

2. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic arm is shaped to remain below a plastic deformation threshold of 0.3% at the bottom of the housing during a substantially vertical elevation of the elastic arm relative to the rigid part of the balance to place a rod of the inertia-block.

3. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic arm provides a retaining force of at least 0.7N when the inertia-block is mounted.

4. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein said rigid part comprises a notch for positioning the inertia-block, the width of an opening of the slot being less than the diameter of a rod the inertia-block.

5. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic arm is integral with the hub.

6. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one elastic clamping organ is made in one piece with the balance.

7. The balance according to claim 1 , further comprising several elastic arms, the elastic arms being disposed in a central symmetry having for centre that of the balance.

8. A horological movement comprising at least one balance according to claim 1 .

9. A timepiece comprising at least one movement according to claim 8 , wherein said timepiece is a watch.

10. A method for mounting an inertia-block on a balance according to claim 1 , the mounting method comprising the following steps:
a) placing the balance on a support and maintaining it in place;
b) placing the inertia-block at the housing so that a foot of the inertia-block rests in the housing, the foot being positioned in alignment with the slot;
c) displacing the inertia-block in a rectilinear direction towards the slot to house the foot in the notch, the foot of the inertia-block spreading the elastic arm during its displacement.

11. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein said balance is made of copper or a copper alloy.

12. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein said second distal end is configured to deform in a plane of said felloe segment.

13. The balance according to claim 1 , wherein said inertia-block includes a head, a foot, and a rod that connects the head to the foot.

14. The balance according to claim 13 , wherein a diameter of the head and a diameter of the foot are larger than a diameter of the rod that connects the head to the foot.

15. The balance according to claim 13 , wherein said rod extends along an axis passing through a center of said inertia-block.

16. The balance according to claim 15 , wherein said axis passing through the center of said inertia-block is parallel to the pivot axis of said balance.

17. The balance according to claim 13 , wherein said head includes a flat section.

Assignees

• Nivarox Far Sa

Inventors

• Hernandez Ivan
• Cusin Pierre

Classifications

• G04B18/006 Primary

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

• G04B17/063 Primary

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

• G04B18/08

  Component parts or constructional details {(G04B17/32 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G04B17/00 Primary

  Mechanisms for stabilising frequency {(for setting frequency G04B18/00; magnetic G04C5/005; in striking mechanisms G04B21/06; stopping and regulating of the running G04B23/023; electrically driven mechanical regulation G04C3/165; electrical and thermo-electric regulating mechanisms G04C5/00)} · CPC title

• G04B18/04

  Adjusting the beat of the pendulum, balance, or the like, e.g. putting into beat · CPC title