Mechanical clock movement with magnetic escapement

• US 9,804,570 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogã¨Re Suisse (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogã¨Re Suisse (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Winkler, Pascal, Helfer, Jean-Luc, Conus, Thierry, Di Domenico, Gianni, Born, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W
• Application Number:
  US15/107,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20160370766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 15/14 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 Class Codes: G04B 17/045 with oscillating blade springs mechanical oscillations maintained by electro-magnetic means, e.g. tuning forks G04C3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 17/063 Balance construction balances with frequency adjustment screw G04B18/006; balances with temperature compensation G04B17/222; balancing devices G04B17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 17/24 for the effect of variations of atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 17/26 for the effect of variations of the impulses
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 17/32 Component parts or constructional details, e.g. collet, stud , virole or piton
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/02 Evacuated cases; Cases filled with gas or liquids; Cases containing substances for absorbing or binding moisture or dust
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/088 Means affording hermetic sealing inside the case, e.g. protective case for the clockwork against dust, the escapement being in a hermetically sealed case case for watch pieces G04B37/0091; synchronous motor lubrication G04C15/009
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/08 wherein movement is regulated by a mechanical oscillator other than a pendulum or balance, e.g. by a tuning fork , e.g. electrostatically
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 5/005 Magnetic or electromagnetic means

Abstract

A mechanical clock movement includes a resonator, an escapement linked to the resonator, and a display of at least one item of time information. The display is driven by a mechanical drive device via a counter wheel train, the work rate of which is set by the escapement. At least the resonator is housed in a chamber, in which a reduced pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure prevails. The escapement is a magnetic escapement including an escape wheel coupled directly or indirectly to the resonator via a non-contact magnetic coupling system, wherein the magnetic coupling system is formed so that a non-magnetic wall of the chamber runs through the magnetic escapement so that a first part of the escapement is located inside the chamber whereas a second part of the escapement is located outside the chamber.

Claims

1. A mechanical clock movement comprising:

a resonator;

an escapement linked to the resonator; and

a display of at least one item of time information, wherein the display is driven by a mechanical drive device via a counter wheel train, work rate of which is set by the escapement;

wherein at least the resonator is housed in a chamber, in which a reduced pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure prevails;

wherein the escapement is a magnetic escapement comprising an escape wheel coupled directly or indirectly to the resonator via a magnetic coupling system, wherein the magnetic coupling system includes at least one first magnetic element and a second magnetic element that exhibit a magnetic interaction at least periodically between them; and

wherein the chamber comprises a wall, which runs between the first and second magnetic elements so that the first magnetic element is inside the chamber, whereas the second magnetic element and the escape wheel are outside the chamber, and the wall is arranged to permit the magnetic interaction through the wall.

2. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the chamber is non-magnetic at least in an area where the magnetic system is located.

3. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical drive device, the counter wheel train, and the display are located outside the chamber.

4. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 3, wherein the resonator is coupled directly to the escape wheel, the escape wheel bearing the second magnetic element while the resonator bears the first magnetic element.

5. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 4, wherein the resonator is a tuning fork-type resonator.

6. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 4, wherein the resonator comprises a balance with a shaft, which is formed at least partially from a magnetic material and pivots substantially without mechanical friction between two magnetic bearings.

7. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 4, wherein the resonator is formed by a balance wheel and flexible blades, which connect the wheel to the chamber, wherein the flexible blades are arranged to allow the balance to perform an oscillation with a determined frequency.

8. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 3, wherein the resonator and the escape wheel are coupled by an intermediate member that is not integral to the resonator or the escape wheel and oscillates synchronously with the resonator, wherein the intermediate member includes a first part coupled directly to the resonator and a second part separate from the first part coupled directly to the escape wheel.

9. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate member defines a retaining catch.

10. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic coupling system is provided between the second part of the intermediate member and the escape wheel, and wherein the intermediate member is located inside the chamber.

11. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic coupling system is provided between the first part of the intermediate member and the resonator, and wherein the intermediate member is located outside the chamber.

12. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic coupling system is arranged to allow the retaining catch to oscillate synchronously with the resonator between two stable stop positions of the retaining catch, in which it is held alternately during a portion of each alternation of the oscillation of the resonator.

13. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 8, not comprising any wheel pivoting in bearings with a mechanical friction in the chamber.

14. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 13, wherein the resonator comprises a balance with a shaft, which is formed at least partially from a magnetic material and pivots substantially without mechanical friction between two magnetic bearings.

15. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 13, wherein the resonator includes a balance wheel and flexible blades, which connect the wheel to the chamber, wherein the flexible blades are arranged to allow the balance to perform an oscillation with a determined frequency.

16. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate member includes a shaft, which is formed at least partially from a magnetic material and pivots substantially without mechanical friction between two magnetic bearings.

17. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 13, wherein the intermediate member is connected to the chamber by flexible blades, wherein the flexible blades are arranged to allow the synchronous oscillation of the intermediate member with the resonator.

18. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 1, wherein the resonator is formed by a spring balance, and further comprising a device for regulating the oscillation frequency of the spring balance comprising an index with two pins and a magnet, wherein the magnet is located close to a wall of the chamber to enable it to be magnetically coupled to a magnetized tool located outside the chamber and angular position of the index can be varied by the tool from outside the chamber.

19. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 18, wherein the index includes a central zone attached between a stud holder and a balance cock, wherein the balance cock is located above the stud holder and the index in relation to the spring balance and secured to a base of the chamber.

20. The mechanical clock movement according to claim 1, further comprising a gas trap arranged in the chamber.