Optimised timepiece barrel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016357148-A1
Application number	US-201415106515-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for producing a timepiece barrel including a drum with a first spring bearing surface of a chamber including a spring, including a bore for guiding a core and bordered by an inner abutment surface and by an outer abutment surface, the spring bearing surface on the side of the chamber including a DLC coating and the bore is thus masked to avoid any DLC coating, and, either at least the inner abutment surface or the outer abutment surface is devoid of any DLC coating, or all of the surfaces of the drum include a DLC coating, with the exception of the first bore, which is devoid of any DLC coating, after a DLC treatment is effected over the entire drum with the exception of the masked areas.

First claim

1 - 45 . (canceled)

46 . A timepiece barrel comprising:
at least one drum for receiving at least one spirally wound spring inside a chamber partially delimited by a first spring bearing surface, and the drum including at least a first bore guiding pivoting of a core or of an arbor, the first bore is bordered on a first side by a first inner abutment surface adjacent to the first spring bearing surface, and on a second side by a first outer abutment surface, wherein at least the first spring bearing surface on the side of the chamber includes a DLC coating to resist wear during friction with the spring, and wherein the first bore is devoid of any DLC coating, and wherein, either at least the first inner abutment surface or the first outer abutment surface is devoid of any DLC coating, or all of surfaces of the drum include a DLC coating, with the exception of the first bore which is devoid of any DLC coating.

47 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein the first inner abutment surface and the first outer abutment surface are devoid of any DLC coating.

48 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein all of the surfaces of the drum include a DLC coating, with the exception of the first bore and of the first inner abutment surface which are devoid of any DLC coating.

49 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein all of the surfaces of the drum include a DLC coating, with the exception of the first bore and of the first outer abutment surface which are devoid of any DLC coating.

50 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein all of the surfaces of the drum include a DLC coating, with the exception of the first bore and of the first inner abutment surface and of the first outer abutment surface which are devoid of any DLC coating.

51 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein the first bore includes an anodizing treatment when the drum is made of aluminium alloy.

52 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein the first bore includes a coating of one or more of: Au, Ni, NiP, doped Ni, Cr, CrN, Sn, Ta, when the drum is made of a material other than aluminium alloy.

53 . The barrel according to claim 51 , wherein the first inner abutment surface includes an anodizing treatment when the drum is made of aluminium alloy.

54 . The barrel according to claim 52 , wherein the first inner abutment surface includes a coating of one or more of: Au, Ni, NiP, doped Ni, Cr, CrN, Sn, Ta, when the drum is made of a material other than aluminium alloy.

55 . The barrel according to claim 51 , wherein the first outer abutment surface includes an anodizing treatment when the drum is made of aluminium alloy.

56 . The barrel according to claim 52 , wherein the first outer abutment surface includes a coating of one or more of: Au, Ni, NiP, doped Ni, Cr, CrN, Sn, Ta, when the drum is made of a material other than aluminium alloy.

57 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein the first bore includes a coating which is different from the coating of the first inner abutment surface and/or of the first outer abutment surface.

58 . The barrel according to claim 46 , wherein, to close the chamber, on the side opposite to a first inner side wall, the barrel includes a cover or a ratchet-wheel including a second spring bearing surface and including a second bore for guiding the pivoting of a core or of an arbor or of a sleeve, wherein the cover or the ratchet-wheel closing the chamber includes a second inner abutment surface adjacent to the second spring bearing surface and to the second bore, and a second outer abutment surface adjacent to the second bore and opposite to the chamber, and
wherein at least the surface of the second spring bearing surface on the side of the chamber includes a DLC coating to resist wear during friction with the at least one spring, wherein the second bore is devoid of any DLC coating, and wherein, either at least the second inner abutment surface or the second outer abutment surface is devoid of any DLC coating, or all of surfaces of the cover or of the ratchet-wheel include a DLC coating, with the exception of the second bore which is devoid of any DLC coating.

59 . The barrel according to claim 58 , wherein the second inner abutment surface and the second outer abutment surface are devoid of any DLC coating.

60 . The barrel according to claim 58 , wherein all of the surfaces of the cover or of the ratchet-wheel include a DLC coating, with the exception of the second bore and of the second outer abutment surface which are devoid of any DLC coating.

61 . The barrel according to claim 58 , wherein all of the surfaces of the cover or of the ratchet-wheel closing the chamber include a DLC coating, with the exception of the second bore and of the second outer abutment surface which are devoid of any DLC coating.

62 . The barrel according to claim 58 , wherein all of the surfaces of the cover or of the ratchet-wheel closing the chamber include a DLC coating, with the exception of the second bore, of the second inner abutment surface and of the second outer abutment surface which are devoid of any DLC coating.

63 . The barrel according to claim 58 , wherein the second bore includes an anodizing treatment when the cover or the ratchet-wheel is made of aluminium alloy.

64 . The barrel according to claim 58 , wherein the second bore includes a coating of one or more of: Au, Ni, NiP, doped Ni, Cr, CrN, Sn, Ta, when the cover or the ratchet-wheel is made of a material other than an aluminium alloy.

65 . The barrel according to claim 63 , wherein the second bore and the second inner abutment surface include an anodizing treatment when the cover or the ratchet-wheel is made of aluminium alloy.

66 . The barrel according to claim 64 , wherein the second bore and the second inner abutment surface include a coating of one or more of: Au, Ni, NiP, doped Ni, Cr, CrN, Sn, Ta, when the cover or the ratchet-wheel is made of a material other than an aluminium alloy.

67 . The barrel according to claim 63 , wherein the second bore and the second outer abutment surface include an anodizing treatment when the cover or the ratchet-wheel is made of aluminium alloy.

68 . The barrel according to claim 64 , wherein the second bore and the second outer abutment surface include a coating of one or more of: Au, Ni, NiP, doped Ni, Cr, CrN, Sn, Ta, when the cover or the ratchet-wheel is made of a material other than an aluminium alloy.

69 . The barrel according to claim 58 , wherein the second bore includes a coating which is different from the coating of the second inner abutment surface and/or of the second outer abutment surface.

70 . A timepiece movement including at least one barrel according to claim 46 .

71 . A timepiece including at least one movement according to claim 70 .

72 . A method for producing a timepiece barrel for protection of the barrel against wear due to friction against a spring, the method comprising:
making a drum comprising a first spring bearing surface on a side of a chamber for receiving a spring, the drum including at least a first bore bordered on a first side by a first inner abutment surface adjacent to a first inner side wall, and on a second side by a first outer abutment surface; masking at least the first bore to avoid action of a DLC treatment; effecting a DLC treatment on the entire drum with the exception of the first

Assignees

• Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse

Inventors

• KAESER Sebastien
• Nicoud Serge
• Röthlisberger Marc

Classifications

• G04B1/16 Primary

  Barrels; Arbors; Barrel axles (arrangements facilitating the removal of the mainspring G04B33/14) · CPC title

• G04D99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• C23C16/26

  Deposition of carbon only · CPC title

• C23C14/0605

  Carbon · CPC title