Strengthened timepiece component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12061445-B2
Application number	US-201916715011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2019
Priority date	Dec 18, 2018
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

Timepiece component based on a micromachinable material, including at least one micromachinable-material surface portion that is smoothed at least by hydrogen smoothing. The at least one micromachinable-material surface portion includes an oxide layer of thickness larger than 1 micron in order to increase its mechanical strength. In a particular embodiment the micromachinable material can be silicon and the oxide layer silicon oxide.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for manufacturing a timepiece component, comprising:
producing a part forming an unfinished timepiece component from a micromachinable material,
performing smoothing comprising at least hydrogen smoothing of at least one portion of the surface of the part, and
mechanically strengthening the part by forming, on the at least one portion of the surface of the part an oxide layer having a thickness larger than 1 micron,
wherein (i) the timepiece component has a mean strength higher than or equal to 4000 MPa, and/or (ii) the timepiece component has a minimum strength higher than or equal to 3000 MPa.

2. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the producing the part forming an unfinished timepiece component comprises micro-machining the part.

3. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing.

4. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

5. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing.

6. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

7. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

8. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the oxide layer has a thickness larger than or equal to 2 microns.

9. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the micromachinable material is silicon and the oxide layer is silicon oxide.

10. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the timepiece component is made of silicon and is a component of an escapement device.

11. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein (i) the timepiece component is rigid and does not release energy by elasticity and/or (ii) the timepiece component is selected from the group consisting of a toothed wheel, an escapement wheel, a hand, an impulse pin and a pallet.

12. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

13. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the producing the part forming an unfinished timepiece component comprises micro-machining the part by deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE).

14. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the producing the part forming an unfinished timepiece component comprises micro-machining the part by a laser cutting technique.

15. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing.

16. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

17. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing.

18. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

19. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

20. A process for manufacturing a timepiece component, comprising:
producing a part forming an unfinished timepiece component from a micromachinable material,
performing smoothing comprising at least hydrogen smoothing of at least one portion of the surface of the part, and
mechanically strengthening the part by forming, on the at least one portion of the surface of the part an oxide layer having a thickness larger than 1 micron,
wherein the producing the part forming an unfinished timepiece component comprises micro-machining the part by deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE), and
wherein (i) the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing, and/or (ii) the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

21. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing.

22. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the process comprises the processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using the isotropic fluid etchant.

23. A process for manufacturing a timepiece component, comprising:
producing a part forming an unfinished timepiece component from a micromachinable material,
performing smoothing comprising at least hydrogen smoothing of at least one portion of the surface of the part, and
mechanically strengthening the part by forming, on the at least one portion of the surface of the part an oxide layer having a thickness larger than 1 micron,
wherein the producing the part forming an unfinished timepiece component comprises micro-machining the part by a laser cutting technique, and
wherein (i) the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing, and/or (ii) the process comprises a processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using an isotropic fluid etchant.

24. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the smoothing of the at least one portion of the surface of the part comprises, prior to hydrogen smoothing, additional smoothing by oxidizing-deoxidizing.

25. The process for manufacturing a timepiece component as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the process comprises the processing action for mechanically strengthening the part using the isotropic fluid etchant.

Assignees

• Rolex Sa

Inventors

• Favez Denis
• Henin Stephano

Classifications

• G04B19/042

  Construction and manufacture of the hands; arrangements for increasing reading accuracy (hands with illumination G04B19/305; specially shaped hands, e.g. figures or pictures G04B45/0061; clockwork in the hands G04B45/043; invisible drive of the hands G04B45/046) · CPC title

• G04B15/14 Primary

  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

• G04B13/02

  Wheels; Pinions; Spindles; Pivots (bearings G04B31/00 {; chain wheels, spindles for chain wheels, also chains and driving weights G04B1/08}) · CPC title

• C23F1/02

  Local etching · CPC title

• C30B33/10

  in solutions or melts · CPC title