Oscillator with a detent escapement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465362-B2
Application number	US-201615019495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2016
Priority date	Feb 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to an oscillator comprising a resonator of the inertia-elasticity type cooperating with a detent escapement comprising a detent cooperating with an escape wheel. The resonator is in one-piece and includes an inertia member and a first flexible structure providing the elasticity and forming a virtual pivot axis of the resonator and the detent is in one-piece and includes an unlocking spring and a second flexible structure forming a virtual pivot axis of the detent.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oscillator comprising a resonator of the inertia-elasticity type cooperating with a detent escapement comprising a detent cooperating with an escape wheel, wherein the resonator is in one-piece and comprises an inertia member and a first flexible structure providing the elasticity and forming a virtual pivot axis of the resonator, wherein the detent is in one-piece and comprises a body forming a locking-stone cooperating with the escape wheel, a second flexible structure forming a virtual pivot axis of the detent and an unlocking spring cooperating with a stop member formed at one end of the body of the detent and wherein the inertia member forms an impulse-pallet cooperating with the escape wheel and a discharging-pallet cooperating with the unlocking spring.

2. The oscillator according to claim 1 , wherein the resonator is formed in first and second integral levels, the first level comprising the inertia member provided with the impulse-pallet and the second level comprising the first flexible structure and the discharging-pallet.

3. The oscillator according to claim 1 , wherein the inertia member is formed by a ring, the peripheral surface of the ring comprising the impulse-pallet.

4. The oscillator according to claim 3 , wherein the first flexible structure includes at least one anchoring means integral, via flexible means, with two arcs connected by a crosspiece, the flexible means being arranged to form the virtual pivot axis of the resonator at the centre of the crosspiece.

5. The oscillator according to claim 4 , wherein the first flexible structure further comprises at least one stop member arranged to enter into contact with the at least one anchoring means in order to limit the amplitude of the resonator.

6. The oscillator according to claim 4 , wherein the flexible means of the first flexible structure comprise at least one base respectively connecting each of the two arcs and the at least one anchoring means, via at least one flexible strip.

7. The oscillator according to claim 6 , wherein the first flexible structure further comprises at least one stop member arranged to enter into contact with the at least one anchoring means in order to limit the amplitude of the resonator.

8. The oscillator according to claim 1 , wherein the inertia member is formed by two sectors connected by a bar, the peripheral surface of one of the sectors comprising the impulse-pallet.

9. The oscillator according to claim 8 , wherein the first flexible structure includes at least one anchoring means integral, via flexible means, with two arcs connected by a crosspiece, the flexible means being arranged to form the virtual pivot axis of the resonator at the centre of the crosspiece.

10. The oscillator according to claim 9 , wherein the first flexible structure further comprises at least one stop member arranged to enter into contact with the at least one anchoring means in order to limit the amplitude of the resonator.

11. The oscillator according to claim 9 , wherein the flexible means of the first flexible structure comprise at least one base respectively connecting each of the two arcs and the at least one anchoring means, via at least one flexible strip.

12. The oscillator according to claim 11 , wherein the first flexible structure further comprises at least one stop member arranged to enter into contact with the at least one anchoring means in order to limit the amplitude of the resonator.

13. The oscillator according to claim 1 , wherein the one-piece detent is formed in first and second integral planes, the first plane comprising the body having a lateral surface that includes the locking-stone and the second plane including the second flexible structure, the unlocking spring and the stop member.

14. The oscillator according to claim 13 , wherein the second flexible structure comprises at least two securing means integral, via flexible means, with a base element, the flexible means being arranged to form the virtual pivot axis of the detent at the centre of the base element.

15. The oscillator according to claim 14 , wherein the flexible means of the second flexible structure include at least one flexible strip.

16. The oscillator according to claim 14 , wherein the unlocking spring is integral with the base element and cooperates with the stop member to leave the body of the detent unrestricted in a first direction of rotation of the resonator and to make the detent move integrally in a second direction of rotation of the resonator through contact with the discharging-pallet of the resonator.

17. The oscillator according to claim 1 , wherein the one-piece resonator and the one-piece detent are formed as two single plates joined to form a one-piece oscillator assembly in which the resonator and the detent are ideally referenced in relation to each other.

18. The oscillator according to claim 17 , wherein one of the two plates comprises a bearing for receiving the escape wheel so that the latter is ideally referenced in relation to the one-piece oscillator assembly.

19. The oscillator according to claim 17 , wherein one of the two plates comprises at least two securing means arranged to attach the oscillator on a main plate.

20. The oscillator according to claim 1 , wherein the oscillator also includes anti-unlocking means arranged to limit the motions of the detent.

21. The oscillator according to claim 1 , wherein the oscillator also includes prestress means arranged to place the second flexible structure under stress.

Assignees

• Nivarox Far Sa

Inventors

• Cusin Pierre

Classifications

• G04B15/06

  Free escapements · CPC title

• G04B17/045

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

• G04B15/00

  Escapements ({in striking mechanisms G04B21/06;} electric or magnetic means for converting oscillatory to rotary motion in electromechanical time-pieces {G04C5/005}) · CPC title

• G04B17/04

  Oscillators acting by spring tension · CPC title