Synchronization of timepiece resonators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9354609-B2
Application number	US-201514847090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2015
Priority date	Sep 9, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

Coupling mobile member for synchronising two resonators, each including an interface pin periodically following a plane, closed trajectory, including grooves for holding the pins equidistant from an axis on a structure subjected to a torque about the axis, on which the grooves are coplanar grooves, radial with respect to the axis, for reception of the pins in symmetrical pairs with respect to a main, straight groove passing through the axis, in a plane perpendicular to the axis, and in which slides a main slide-block, which cooperates with a plurality of bars, each hinged on one side to one of the pins, and hinged on the other side to the main slide-block.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling mobile member for synchronisation of a plurality of timepiece resonators having the same frequency and each including an interface pin arranged to transmit a torque to the respective resonator thereof, and each said interface pin periodically following a plane, closed trajectory, wherein said coupling mobile member includes, integral with a structure that pivots about a pivot axis and includes means for receiving a torque, means for holding said pins at an equal distance from said axis, wherein said holding means of said coupling mobile member include, integral with said structure, a plurality of grooves each substantially radial with respect to said axis, in a plane perpendicular to said axis, for reception of each said pin, said grooves being disposed symmetrically in pairs with respect to a main, straight groove passing through said axis, in a plane perpendicular to said axis, and inside said main groove, a main slide-block slides freely and cooperates with a plurality of bars each arranged to be hinged on one side to one of said pins, and hinged on the other side to said main slide-block.

2. The coupling mobile member according to claim 1 , wherein said bars are of identical length to each other for each pair of said grooves symmetrical to axis, to restrict said pins to symmetrical trajectories with respect to said main groove.

3. The coupling mobile member according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling mobile member is arranged for synchronisation of two said timepiece resonators and includes two grooves corresponding to said pins, of said two resonators and which are straight and aligned with each other and with said axis, to restrict said pins to symmetrical trajectories with respect to said axis.

4. The coupling mobile member according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling mobile member includes a first, substantially radial groove with respect to said axis and including two radial, inner and outer end-of-travel stops for limiting the radial travel of a said pin, said first groove being arranged in a first arm, which extends in a parallel plane to a coupling plane perpendicular to said axis, and in that said coupling mobile member includes a second, substantially radial groove with respect to said axis and including two inner and outer end-of-travel stops for limiting the radial travel of a said pin, said second groove being arranged in a second arm, which extends in a parallel plane to a coupling plane.

5. The coupling mobile member according to claim 4 , wherein said first groove and said second groove are straight and aligned with each other and with said axis, and in that said main groove is orthogonal to said first groove and to said second groove.

6. The coupling mobile member according to claim 4 , wherein, to prevent each said pin from going beyond said axis, said inner, radial, end-of-travel stops are remote from said axis, on the same side as that of said respective outer stops.

7. The coupling mobile member according to claims 4 , wherein said coupling mobile member includes a first slide-block that slides, with no play or with friction, in said first groove and which carries an outer housing of a ball bearing whose inner housing is arranged to receive a said pin and/or in that said coupling mobile member includes a second slide-block which slides, with no play or with friction, in said second groove and which carries an outer housing of a ball bearing whose inner housing is arranged to receive a said pin.

8. The coupling mobile member according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling mobile member includes, centred on said axis, an outer housing of a ball bearing that includes an inner housing integral with an arbor arranged to be mounted between bearings secured to a main plate.

9. The coupling mobile member according to claim 1 , wherein said coupling mobile member includes or constitutes an escape wheel subjected to a torque provided by a timepiece movement.

10. A balanced resonator including a plurality of timepiece resonators having the same frequency and each including an interface pin arranged to transmit a torque to the respective resonator thereof, and each said interface pin periodically following a plane, closed trajectory and including a coupling mobile member according to claim 1 , arranged to cooperate with said interface pins, wherein said coupling mobile member constitutes the only mechanical connection between the moving elements of said resonators.

11. The balanced resonator according to claim 10 , wherein said balanced resonator includes two said timepiece resonators.

12. The balanced resonator according to claim 11 , wherein said balanced resonator includes at least one timepiece resonator of the rotational curvilinear translation type, obtained by placing in series two oscillators having flexible pivots, each including one weight suspended relative to another by a plurality of flexible strips or ball joint bars at least one of which is returned by a spring.

13. The balanced resonator according to claim 12 , wherein said balanced resonator includes two said timepiece resonators, which are a first resonator and a second opposite resonator, each of the rotational curvilinear translation type, obtained by placing in series two oscillators having flexible pivots, each including one weight suspended relative to another by a plurality of flexible strips.

14. The balanced resonator according to claim 13 , wherein said first timepiece resonator and said second opposite resonator are identical and assembled symmetrically, one opposite the other.

15. The balanced resonator according to claim 10 , wherein said coupling mobile member includes a first said groove, substantially radial with respect to said axis, in which a first said pin of a first resonator moves with minimum play or with friction between two, inner and outer radial, end-of-travel stops, and includes a second said groove, substantially radial with respect to said axis, in which a second said opposite pin of a second said resonator moves with minimum play or with friction, between two inner and outer, radial, end-of-travel stops.

16. A movement including, mounted on a main plate by means of the fixed elements thereof, at least one balanced resonator according to claim 10 .

17. A watch including a movement according to claim 16 .

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd
• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Born Jean-Jacques
• Helfer Jean-Luc
• Favre Jerome

Classifications

• G04B17/04

  Oscillators acting by spring tension · CPC title

• G04B17/10

  Oscillators with torsion strips or springs acting in the same manner as torsion strips, e.g. weight oscillating in a horizontal plane {(electrically driven torsion pendulum G04C3/033)} · CPC title

• G04B18/04 Primary

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

• G04B15/02

  permanently in contact with the regulating mechanism · CPC title

• G04B17/045 Primary

  with oscillating blade springs (mechanical oscillations maintained by electro-magnetic means, e.g. tuning forks G04C3/10) · CPC title