Angular speed regulating device for a wheel set in a timepiece movement including a magnetic escapement mechanism
First Claim
1. A device for regulating a relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator, the regulating device comprising:
- the magnetic structure and the resonator which are magnetically coupled so as to define together an oscillator forming said regulating device;
the magnetic structure including at least one annular magnetic path centered on an axis of rotation of said magnetic structure or of the resonator, the magnetic structure and the resonator being arranged to undergo a rotation of one relative to each other about said axis of rotation when a drive torque is applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator;
the resonator including at least one magnetic coupling element to said annular magnetic path;
said annular magnetic path being at least partially formed of a first magnetic material of which at least one physical parameter is correlated to a magnetic potential energy of the oscillator but different therefrom, said first magnetic material being arranged along the annular magnetic path so that the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator varies angularly in a periodic manner along said annular magnetic path and that it defines an angular period of the annular magnetic path;
said magnetic coupling element having an active end portion, located on a side of said magnetic structure, which is magnetically coupled to said annular magnetic path so that an oscillation along a degree of freedom of a resonant mode of the resonator is maintained within a useful drive torque range applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator and so that a determined integer number of periods of said oscillation occurs during said relative rotation in each angular period of the annular magnetic path, a frequency of said oscillation thus determining said relative angular speed;
said resonator being arranged relative to said magnetic structure so that said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element is at least mostly superposed, in orthogonal projection to a general geometric surface defined by said annular magnetic path, to said annular magnetic path only during substantially a first vibration in each period of said oscillation, and so that a travel of the magnetic coupling element during this first vibration is substantially parallel to said general geometric surface, said annular magnetic path having a dimension along said degree of freedom which is greater than a dimension of said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element along said degree of freedom;
wherein, within said useful drive torque range, said annular magnetic path and said magnetic coupling element define in each angular period, as a function of a relative position thereof defined by their relative angular position and a position of the coupling element along its degree of freedom, an area of accumulation of the magnetic potential energy in the oscillator;
wherein said first magnetic material is arranged in each angular period so that, at least in one area of said first magnetic material magnetically coupled at least partially to said active end portion for relative positions of the magnetic coupling element with respect to the annular magnetic path corresponding to at least one portion of the magnetic potential energy accumulation area in said each angular period, said physical parameter gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly; and
wherein the gradual angular increase or decrease of said physical parameter, in each angular period of said annular magnetic path, extends over an angular distance, relative to said axis of rotation, which is more than or substantially equal to forty percent (40%) of this angular period.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns a device for regulating the relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator magnetically coupled to each other and forming an oscillator which defines a magnetic escapement. The magnetic structure includes at least one annular magnetic path at least partially formed of a magnetic material of which one physical parameter is correlated to the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator, the magnetic material being arranged along the annular path so that the physical parameter varies angularly in a periodic manner. The annular path includes, in each angular period, an area of accumulation of magnetic potential energy in the oscillator, radially adjacent to an impulse area. The magnetic material, in each accumulation area, is arranged so that the physical parameter of said magnetic material gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly.
9 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A device for regulating a relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator, the regulating device comprising:
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the magnetic structure and the resonator which are magnetically coupled so as to define together an oscillator forming said regulating device; the magnetic structure including at least one annular magnetic path centered on an axis of rotation of said magnetic structure or of the resonator, the magnetic structure and the resonator being arranged to undergo a rotation of one relative to each other about said axis of rotation when a drive torque is applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator; the resonator including at least one magnetic coupling element to said annular magnetic path; said annular magnetic path being at least partially formed of a first magnetic material of which at least one physical parameter is correlated to a magnetic potential energy of the oscillator but different therefrom, said first magnetic material being arranged along the annular magnetic path so that the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator varies angularly in a periodic manner along said annular magnetic path and that it defines an angular period of the annular magnetic path; said magnetic coupling element having an active end portion, located on a side of said magnetic structure, which is magnetically coupled to said annular magnetic path so that an oscillation along a degree of freedom of a resonant mode of the resonator is maintained within a useful drive torque range applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator and so that a determined integer number of periods of said oscillation occurs during said relative rotation in each angular period of the annular magnetic path, a frequency of said oscillation thus determining said relative angular speed; said resonator being arranged relative to said magnetic structure so that said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element is at least mostly superposed, in orthogonal projection to a general geometric surface defined by said annular magnetic path, to said annular magnetic path only during substantially a first vibration in each period of said oscillation, and so that a travel of the magnetic coupling element during this first vibration is substantially parallel to said general geometric surface, said annular magnetic path having a dimension along said degree of freedom which is greater than a dimension of said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element along said degree of freedom; wherein, within said useful drive torque range, said annular magnetic path and said magnetic coupling element define in each angular period, as a function of a relative position thereof defined by their relative angular position and a position of the coupling element along its degree of freedom, an area of accumulation of the magnetic potential energy in the oscillator; wherein said first magnetic material is arranged in each angular period so that, at least in one area of said first magnetic material magnetically coupled at least partially to said active end portion for relative positions of the magnetic coupling element with respect to the annular magnetic path corresponding to at least one portion of the magnetic potential energy accumulation area in said each angular period, said physical parameter gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly; and wherein the gradual angular increase or decrease of said physical parameter, in each angular period of said annular magnetic path, extends over an angular distance, relative to said axis of rotation, which is more than or substantially equal to forty percent (40%) of this angular period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A device for regulating a relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator, the regulating device comprising:
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the magnetic structure and the resonator which are magnetically coupled so as to define together an oscillator forming said regulating device; the magnetic structure including at least one annular magnetic path centered on an axis of rotation of said magnetic structure or of the resonator, the magnetic structure and the resonator being arranged to undergo a rotation of one relative to each other about said axis of rotation when a drive torque is applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator; the resonator including at least one magnetic coupling element to said annular magnetic path; said annular magnetic path being at least partially formed of a first magnetic material of which at least one physical parameter is correlated to a magnetic potential energy of the oscillator but different therefrom, said first magnetic material being arranged along the annular magnetic path so that the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator varies angularly in a periodic manner along said annular magnetic path and that it defines an angular period of the annular magnetic path; said magnetic coupling element having an active end portion, located on a side of said magnetic structure, which is magnetically coupled to said annular magnetic path so that an oscillation along a degree of freedom of a resonant mode of the resonator is maintained within a useful drive torque range applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator and so that a determined integer number of periods of said oscillation occurs during said relative rotation in each angular period of the annular magnetic path, a frequency of said oscillation thus determining said relative angular speed; said resonator being arranged relative to said magnetic structure so that said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element is at least mostly superposed, in orthogonal projection to a general geometric surface defined by said annular magnetic path, to said annular magnetic path only during substantially a first vibration in each period of said oscillation, and so that a travel of the magnetic coupling element during this first vibration is substantially parallel to said general geometric surface, said annular magnetic path having a dimension along said degree of freedom which is greater than a dimension of said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element along said degree of freedom; wherein, within said useful drive torque range, said annular magnetic path and said magnetic coupling element define in each angular period, as a function of a relative position thereof defined by their relative angular position and a position of the coupling element along its degree of freedom, an area of accumulation of the magnetic potential energy in the oscillator; wherein said first magnetic material is arranged in each angular period so that, at least in one area of said first magnetic material magnetically coupled at least partially to said active end portion for relative positions of the magnetic coupling element with respect to the annular magnetic path corresponding to at least one portion of the magnetic potential energy accumulation area in said each angular period, said physical parameter gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly; wherein said magnetic coupling element and said annular magnetic path are arranged so that the magnetic coupling element receives, during said relative rotation, impulses along its degree of freedom about a rest position of said magnetic coupling element; said impulses defining, as a function of the relative position of the magnetic coupling element with respect to the annular magnetic path and for said useful drive torque range delivered to the regulating device, impulse areas which are substantially localised in a central impulse area adjacent to magnetic potential energy accumulation areas; and wherein said magnetic structure is arranged so that, in a same unit, a mean angular gradient of said magnetic potential energy in said magnetic potential energy accumulation areas is less than a mean magnetic potential energy gradient in said impulse areas along said degree of freedom.
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27. A device for regulating a relative angular speed between a magnetic structure and a resonator, the regulating device comprising:
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the magnetic structure and the resonator which are magnetically coupled so as to define together an oscillator forming said regulating device; the magnetic structure including at least one annular magnetic path centered on an axis of rotation of said magnetic structure or of the resonator, the magnetic structure and the resonator being arranged to undergo a rotation of one relative to each other about said axis of rotation when a drive torque is applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator; the resonator including at least one magnetic coupling element to said annular magnetic path; said annular magnetic path being at least partially formed of a first magnetic material of which at least one physical parameter is correlated to a magnetic potential energy of the oscillator but different therefrom, said first magnetic material being arranged along the annular magnetic path so that the magnetic potential energy of the oscillator varies angularly in a periodic manner along said annular magnetic path and that it defines an angular period of the annular magnetic path; said magnetic coupling element having an active end portion, located on a side of said magnetic structure, which is magnetically coupled to said annular magnetic path so that an oscillation along a degree of freedom of a resonant mode of the resonator is maintained within a useful drive torque range applied to the magnetic structure or to the resonator and so that a determined integer number of periods of said oscillation occurs during said relative rotation in each angular period of the annular magnetic path, a frequency of said oscillation thus determining said relative angular speed; said resonator being arranged relative to said magnetic structure so that said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element is at least mostly superposed, in orthogonal projection to a general geometric surface defined by said annular magnetic path, to said annular magnetic path only during substantially a first vibration in each period of said oscillation, and so that a travel of the magnetic coupling element during this first vibration is substantially parallel to said general geometric surface, said annular magnetic path having a dimension along said degree of freedom which is greater than a dimension of said active end portion of said magnetic coupling element along said degree of freedom; wherein, within said useful drive torque range, said annular magnetic path and said magnetic coupling element define in each angular period, as a function of a relative position thereof defined by their relative angular position and a position of the coupling element along its degree of freedom, an area of accumulation of the magnetic potential energy in the oscillator; wherein said first magnetic material is arranged in each angular period so that, in at least one area of said first magnetic material magnetically coupled at least partially to said active end portion for relative positions of the magnetic coupling element with respect to the annular magnetic path corresponding to at least one portion of the magnetic potential energy accumulation area in said each angular period, said physical parameter gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly; and wherein an angular distance of said at least one area of said first magnetic material in which said physical parameter, in each angular period, gradually increases angularly or gradually decreases angularly is greater than an angular dimension, relative to said axis of rotation, of said active end portion. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification