Adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9989922-B2
Application number	US-201715422671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2017
Priority date	Mar 7, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A balance wheel including a rim connected to a hub with at least one arm, wherein the balance wheel includes an adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system mounted in the space defined by the rim to allow adjustable temperature compensation of the balance wheel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A balance wheel comprising a rim connected to a hub with at least one arm, the balance wheel comprising an adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system mounted in the space defined by the rim, the adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system being configured to adjust the temperature compensation of the balance wheel, the temperature compensation system comprising:
a bimetallic strip device comprising at least one first strip and at least one second strip, said at least one first and at least one second strips each having different expansion coefficients and are arranged such that they are attached on top of one another to ensure that the curvature of the bimetallic strip device varies as a function of temperature, the bimetallic strip device extending between a first end and a second end;
a fixing device forming an integral part of the first end of the bimetallic strip device, the fixing device comprising adjustable orientation means configured to change the orientation of the compensation system with respect to said at least one arm of the balance wheel,
a block forming an integral part of the second end of the bimetallic strip device.

2. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system is mounted on said at least one arm of the balance wheel.

3. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system is mounted on the hub of the balance wheel.

4. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system is mounted on the rim of the balance wheel.

5. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing device comprises adjustable positioning means between the hub and the rim so as to adjust the influence of the adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system, the adjustable positioning means being arranged to modify the radial distance between the hub and the first end of the bimetallic strip device.

6. The balance wheel according to claim 5 , wherein the adjustable positioning means comprise a radial recess so as to select a position between the hub and the rim.

7. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one first strip is based on silicon.

8. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one second strip is based on metal.

9. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the bimetallic strip device forms a curved band under ambient temperature and pressure conditions.

10. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the block forms an integral part of one of the ends of said at least one first and at least one second strips to increase the influence of the adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system.

11. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system also comprises a counterweight to compensate for the weight of the bimetallic strip device.

12. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the balance wheel comprises a plurality of adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation systems.

13. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the block extends in a curve secant to the bimetallic strip device.

14. The balance wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the block comprises two projecting parts either side of the bimetallic strip device.

15. A resonator comprising a compensating balance spring, wherein the compensating balance spring is connected to a balance wheel according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Montres Breguet Sa

Inventors

• Zaugg Alain
• Sarchi Davide

Classifications

• G04B17/222 Primary

  with balances (construction of balances G04B17/063) · CPC title

• G04B17/227

  composition and manufacture of the material used (composition and manufacture of hairsprings G04B17/066; of springs G04B1/145; anti-magnetic alloys G04B43/007; ferrous alloys C22C; non-ferrous alloys C22C, B22F) · CPC title

• G04B17/063

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