The present invention relates to a balance (1) including a hub (2) connected to a fellos (3) by at least one arm (4), characterised in that the felloe is made of a material whose relative magnetic permeability is less than 1.01, whose density is greater than 6.5, and which is electrically insulating.
A tool for separating a plate of balance springs after winding in, including substantially parallel lower and upper rolling surfaces which are movable relative to one another, vertically or longitudinally, in order to deform the plate by ovalisation, and to subject it to a rolling movement between the rolling surfaces, and further relates to a method for separating balance springs from a plate using this tool in order to mechanically crush it in the elastic range and initiate sequences of compressing and rolling the plate.
A balance spring intended to be fitted to a timepiece balance having fixed inertia, the balance spring being formed of a core having lateral faces connecting an upper face to a lower face, the balance spring including on one of the lateral faces in one portion of the outer coil, a coating formed of one or more layers, the coating including two layers with a first electrically conductive layer coated with a second outer layer made of a ceramic, or a combined layer, made of an electrically conductive ceramic. Also a method of manufacturing this balance spring.
A method for treating at least one balance spring intended to equip a horological movement, said balance spring being made from an Nb—Ti alloy, the method comprising a step of steaming, called climatic steaming, in a temperature range comprised between 30 and 100°° C. in an atmosphere having a relative humidity comprised between 60 and 99%.
G04D 3/00 - Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials
G04B 17/06 - Oscillators with hairsprings, e.g. balance
5.
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MICROMECHANICAL FASTENING ELEMENT, SHAPING TOOL FOR PRODUCING AN IMPRESSION OF THE MICROMECHANICAL FASTENING ELEMENT, AND MICROMECHANICAL FASTENING ELEMENT
A method for manufacturing a fastening element including a step of producing a blank of the fastening element including a head and a shank connected to each other, followed by a step of forming an impression in the head, the forming step including an operation of machining the impression, carried out with a cutting member and an operation of matting a target surface of the impression carried out with a matting member.
A solar cell for an electronic device including a substrate made of a transparent material to be exposed to incident light, a first electrode made of transparent electrically conductive material, formed on one face of the substrate and including an inner face opposite an outer face oriented towards the substrate, the inner face including a first portion having a roughness greater than the roughness of a second portion, an absorbent layer extending by an outer face over the first portion of the inner face of the first electrode, a second electrode made of an electrically conductive material and extending over an inner face of the absorbent layer opposite the outer face of the latter, the absorbent layer and the second electrode being perforated to delimit blind cavities, the bottom of each being formed by the second portion of the inner face of the first electrode.
The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a balance wheel that includes a hub connected to a felloe by at least one arm, at least the felloe being made of a first material which has a relative magnetic permeability of less than 1.01 and is electrically insulating, and a staff arranged to receive the balance wheel, the staff being made of a second material which has a relative magnetic permeability of less than 1.01 and a density of more than 6.5 and is electrically conductive.
A disengageable winding device (1) for a barrel (2) provided with a spring, comprising a ratchet (3) mounted on a winding arbor such that it is rigidly connected thereto, the winding arbor being an arbor for winding the barrel (2), the rotation of which winds up the barrel (2), and a winding gear train (40) meshing with the ratchet (3), the rotation of the winding gear train (40) driving the rotation of the ratchet (3) and that of the winding arbor.
A winding device, in particular for a barrel provided with a spring, including a ratchet fixedly mounted on a rotary winding shaft, the rotary winding shaft being, for example, a winding shaft of the barrel, the rotation of which winds the barrel, and a winding gear train meshing with the ratchet, the rotation of the winding gear train causing the ratchet to rotate and the rotary winding shaft to rotate by applying a torque to the ratchet, the winding gear train being movable between a coupled position wherein it drives the ratchet and a disconnected position wherein it does not drive the ratchet, the winding gear train being mounted on a spring exerting a return force on the winding gear train to keep it in the coupled position. A horological movement can include such a winding device.
A winding device (1), in particular of a barrel (2) provided with a spring, including a ratchet (3) mounted integrally on a rotary winding shaft, the rotary winding shaft being, for example, a winding shaft of the barrel (2), the rotation of which winds the barrel (2), and a winding gear train (4) meshing with the ratchet (3), the rotation of the winding gear train (4) causing the rotation of the ratchet (3) and that of the rotary winding shaft by application of a torque to the ratchet (3), wherein the ratchet is deformable in order to be able to disconnect the ratchet (3) from the winding gear train (4). Also, a horological movement comprising such a winding device (1).
An elastic holding member including a body provided with rigid portions and deformable portions each provided with a through hole, the member being intended for attaching a horological component to a support element and including an opening the contour of which includes three contact zones intended to come into abutment on the support element, the contact zones each being included on an internal face of a reception region of each deformable portion.
An attachment monolithic part for fastening a timepiece component on a support element, including an opening into which the support element could be inserted, the attachment part including elastic arms contributing to ensuring an elastic clamping of the support element in the opening, each arm consisting of a contact portion provided with a through hole and with a connecting portion, the contact portion including a receiving region provided with a bearing area intended to come into contact with the support element and the connecting portion ensuring an elastic connection with another one of the arms of the part.
An elastic fastening element for holding a timepiece component on a support element, including an opening the contour of which includes at least four contact areas for receiving and clamping the support element in the opening, the contact areas each being included on an inner face of a deformable portion provided with a through-hole of the fastening element.
A winding device (1), in particular for a barrel (2) provided with a spring, including a ratchet (3) mounted on a rotary winding shaft (5), the rotary winding shaft (5) being, for example, a winding shaft of the barrel (2), the rotation of which coils the barrel (2), and a winding gear train (4) meshing with the ratchet (3), the rotation of the winding gear train (4) causing the rotation of the ratchet (3) and that of the rotary winding shaft (5) by applying a torque to the ratchet (3), the winding device (1) being provided with means (10) for disconnecting the ratchet (3) and the rotary winding shaft (5), wherein the disconnection means (10) are arranged on the ratchet (3) and on the rotary winding shaft (5), and are configured to disconnect the ratchet (3) and the rotary winding shaft (5) when the torque applied to the ratchet (3) substantially exceeds a threshold value, in particular when the barrel (2) is fully coiled.
A wheel for an escapement system including a hub intended to be mounted with a staff for rotation therewith, the staff being intended to be subjected to a mechanical torque, a felloe, at least two arms extending from the hub to the felloe, and a toothing formed by a plurality of teeth. The wheel for the escapement system includes at least one recess on at least one of the faces thereof, the recess extending from the felloe to the hub.
A gold alloy including, by weight, between 73% and 77% gold, between 20% and 24.5% silver, palladium and/or platinum with a total percentage for these two elements between 0.5% and 5%. With the addition of palladium and/or platinum, this alloy has an enhanced tarnishing resistance while having a green tint.
A barrel (1) for self-winding timepiece including a drum (11) provided with an inner lateral wall (12) and a mainspring (2) forming a winding including an outer coil (21) the end (22) of which is friction coupled with the inner lateral wall and free to slip against the inner lateral wall in the event of overtension of the mainspring (2). The end of the outer coil includes an external face (23) having two friction surfaces (24, 25) disposed in the top and bottom portion of the outer coil and arranged to be in contact with the inner lateral wall in such a way that the portion between the friction surfaces, referred to as central portion (26), is not in contact with the inner lateral wall, the central portion forming a reservoir (27) for a lubricant between the two friction surfaces.
The present invention relates to a balance (1) comprising a hub (2) connected to a felloe (3) by at least one arm (4), characterised in that the felloe is made from a material that has a relative magnetic permeability of less than 1.01 and a density greater than 6.5 and is electrically insulating.
A balance for a horological movement includes rigid portions consisting of a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, a felloe, four arms connecting the felloe to the hub, and including four slots for receiving and gripping in position an inertia-block, each slot being delimited by an arm and by an elastic arm including a first end integral with the arm, and a second distal end free in relation to the hub, to the arm, and to the felloe sector. The balance includes two pairs of inertia-blocks, each pair of inertia-blocks having different masses to ensure different adjusting powers, a first pair of inertia-blocks for a basic adjustment, and second pair of inertia-blocks for a precise adjustment.
A platinum alloy consisting, by weight, of the following elements: 95.00 to 96.00% of Pt, 1.00 to 4.95% of Ru, 0.05 to 2.00% of Ge, 0 to 2.00% of Au, any impurities with a total content 0.50%.
at least one deformation step of said alloy alternating with at least one step of heat treatment, the number of steps of heat treatment and of deformation being limited so that the niobium-based alloy obtained retains a structure in which the titanium of the niobium-based alloy is essentially in the form of a solid solution with niobium in β phase, the content of titanium in α phase being less than or equal to 10 vol % and it has an elastic limit greater than or equal to 600 MPa and an elastic modulus less than or equal to 100 GPa, a step of winding to form the spiral spring being carried out before the last heat treatment step.
A balance spring intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the balance spring is made of an alloy consisting of Nb, Ti, H and possible traces of other elements selected from O, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu and Al, with the following weight percentages: a Ti content comprised between 1 and 80 wt %, a H content comprised between 0.17 and 2 wt %, a total content of all other elements of less than or equal to 0.3 wt %, the remainder to 100 wt % consisting of Nb. A manufacturing method for the balance spring is also disclosed and includes a step of thermochemically treating a blank made of a Nb and Ti alloy in an atmosphere including hydrogen so as to enrich the Nb and Ti alloy with hydrogen in interstitial form.
A method for manufacturing an escapement wheel (10) including steps of creating an escapement wheel ébauche having a hub (11) connected to a felloe (12) by radial arms (13), and teeth (14) regularly distributed around the periphery of the felloe (12), and simultaneously machining a reduction of cross-section of the free end of each tooth (14), by a cutting tool (20) aligned coaxially with the escapement wheel ébauche.
A method for manufacturing a spiral spring may include: (a) providing a blank with an Nb—Ti core; (b) beta-quenching the blank; (c) deforming the blank in several sequences; (d) winding to form the spiral spring; (e) final heat treatment on the spiral spring. The blank in (a) may include a layer of X including Cu, Sn, Fe, Pt, Pd, Rh, Al, Au, Ni, Ag, Co and Cr or an alloy of one of these elements around the Nb—Ti core. The method may include heat treating to partially transform the layer of X into a layer of X, Ti intermetals around the Nb—Ti core, and may be carried out between (b) and (c) or between two sequences of (c). The method may include removing the part of the layer of X, which may be carried out between (b) and (c), between two sequences of (c) or between (c) and (d).
A spiral spring intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the spiral spring is made of an alloy consisting of Nb, Ti and at least one element selected from Zr and Hf, optionally at least one element selected from W and Mo, possible traces of other elements selected from O, H, Ta, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, with the following weight percentages: a content of Nb comprised between 40 and 84%, a total content of Ti, Zr and Hf comprised between 16 and 55%, a content for W and Mo respectively comprised between 0 and 2.5%, a content for each of said elements selected from O, H, Ta, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al comprised between 0 and 1600 ppm with the sum of said traces less than or equal to 0.3% by weight. The method for manufacturing the spiral spring is also disclosed.
A spiral spring is configured to equip a balance of a horological movement. The spiral spring is made of an alloy consisting of: Nb, Ti and at least one element selected from V and Ta, optionally at least one element selected from Zr and Hf, optionally at least one element selected from W and Mo, possible traces of other elements selected from O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, with the following weight percentages: a total content of Nb, V and Ta comprised between 40 and 85%, a total content of Ti, Zr and Hf comprised between 15 and 55%, a content for W and Mo respectively comprised between 0 and 2.5%, a content for each of the elements selected from O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al between 0 and 1600 ppm with the sum of the traces less than or equal to 0.3% by weight.
A method produces an assembly of an elastic holding member-timepiece component assembly with a support element. The elastic holding member is made of an electrically insulating material and the support element is made of an electrically conductive material. The method includes mounting the assembly with the support element aiming to define at least one zone for receiving at least one element for blocking a movement of the holding member relative to the support element, and producing by galvanic metal growth the at least one blocking element on at least one of the reception zones.
A black-colored article which is not a photovoltaic device. The device includes a substantially transparent substrate; a substantially transparent textured layer provided upon a first surface of the substrate, the textured layer having a textured surface oriented away from the substrate; and an absorption layer including a silicon-germanium alloy, the absorption layer being situated upon the textured surface of the textured layer.
C03C 17/36 - Surface treatment of glass, e.g. of devitrified glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by coating with at least two coatings having different compositions at least one coating being a metal
A holding member for fixing a timepiece component on support elements of different cross section includes an opening into which each support element can be inserted, the holding member having structural elements together forming a body configured to ensure mounting of each support element in the opening. Each of the structural elements includes a first structural sub-element and a second structural sub-element, the first structural sub-element including a volume of material greater than a volume of material constituting the second structural sub-element. The holding member includes a connecting portion ensuring the mounting of each of the support elements in the holding member, the portion being defined on an inner face of the first structural sub-element.
An elastic retaining member for attaching a timepiece component to a support element, includes an opening into which the support element is likely to be inserted, the retaining member includes rigid arms and elastic arms defined between connecting zones helping to ensure elastic clamping of the support element in the opening the rigid arms being provided with the only contact zones of the retaining member with the support element and in that, the rigid or elastic arms each extend longitudinally between connecting zones, the rigid arms and the elastic arms being arranged in the retaining member successively and alternately and each rigid arm has a volume of material greater than the volume of material constituting each elastic arm.
A timepiece assembly including a first component and a second component assembled under stress, wherein at least one part of the surface of the assembly is coated with a protective layer intended to cover defects such as cracks or incipient cracks after assembly. It also relates to the method for manufacturing this assembly.
An elastic retaining member is for attaching a horological component to a support element. The retaining includes an opening into which the support element is capable of being inserted. The retaining member also includes rigid arms and elastic arms defined between the connection zones of the retaining member. The arms contribute to procuring elastic gripping of the support element in the opening, each rigid arm being provided with a single convex contact zone of the retaining member capable of engaging with a corresponding convex contact portion of the support element.
An elastic securing organ for fastening a horological component on a support element including an outer peripheral wall capable of being connected to said horological component and an inner peripheral wall defining a triangular-shaped opening wherein the support element is capable of being inserted, the elastic securing organ includes elastic arms each forming one side of the triangular opening and helping ensure the gripping of the support element in the opening, each arm including: at least one cut-out defined completely or partially along the body of said arm, an elastic contact zone with the support element, and elastic peripheral zones which extend between this contact zone and the ends of this elastic arm, the contact zone having a greater quantity of material than the quantity of material forming each of the peripheral zones thereof.
A photovoltaic device includes an electrically-conductive front contact layer; an electrically-conductive back contact layer, the back contact layer being intended to be situated further from a source of incident light than the front contact layer; and a semiconductor-based PIN junction having a substantially amorphous intrinsic silicon layer sandwiched between a P-type doped semiconductor layer and an N-type doped semiconductor layer. The layer of the PIN junction situated closest to the back contact layer is a silicon-germanium alloy layer including at least 2 mol % of germanium.
H01L 31/0376 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including amorphous semiconductors
G04C 10/02 - Arrangements of electric power supplies in time-pieces the power supply being a radioactive source
H01L 31/0368 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including polycrystalline semiconductors
H01L 31/075 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the potential barriers being only of the PIN type, e.g. amorphous silicon PIN solar cells
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
H01L 31/20 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof such devices or parts thereof comprising amorphous semiconductor material
37.
Elastic retaining member for fixing a timepiece component on a support element
The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for fixing a timepiece component (2) on a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connection areas (9) contributing to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5) each rigid arm (6) being provided with two flat contact areas (8) of the retaining member (1) able to cooperate with corresponding convex contact portions (10) of the support element (3).
A setting machine (1000) for making a setting and/or adjustment on an assembly (1) attached to a receptacle (10), including a positioning module (100) to move this receptacle (10) on command from control means (3000) to convey it into a setting and/or adjustment position below an acquisition module (200), which includes measuring and/or testing means for determining the spatial position of the receptacle (10), and including a setting and/or adjustment module (400) for making a setting and/or an adjustment with motorised axes for moving, opening and closing, in a clamp plane perpendicular to a clamp rotation direction (DF, DG), a clamp (600) arranged to drive or deform a mobile component or a component included in such an assembly (1) borne by a receptacle (10), and method for using such a setting machine for setting and/or adjusting at least one horological component.
A horological setting and/or adjustment mechanism, including a setting and/or adjustment module (400) for a horological setting machine (1000), for making a setting and/or adjustment on a horological assembly (1), including an elastic clamp (600) with clamp arms (601) arranged to drive or deform a mobile component or a component of this assembly (1), the clamp (600) including a bearing portion (602) subjected to the action of an actuator, spindle (407), eccentric or push-piece, any deformation of this bearing portion (602) modifying the relative mutual position of the arms (601), and this setting and/or adjustment module (400) includes setting and/or adjustment means which include a plurality of motorised axes which are arranged to move, open and close, in a plane perpendicular to a clamp rotation direction (DF), a said clamp (600).
G04B 43/00 - Protecting clockworks by shields or other means against external influences, e.g. magnetic fields
C22F 1/08 - Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working of copper or alloys based thereon
G04B 37/22 - Materials or processes of manufacturing pocket watch or wrist watch cases
G04D 3/00 - Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials
B32B 15/01 - Layered products essentially comprising metal all layers being exclusively metallic
C22C 9/06 - Alloys based on copper with nickel or cobalt as the next major constituent
A receptacle (10) for receiving a horological assembly (1) and handling same on a setting machine (1000), this receptacle (10) is a support which includes, for receiving such an assembly (1), a substantially planar bearing surface (190), and which includes, below the bearing surface (190), a spring mechanism (180) for receiving such an assembly (1), and, above said bearing surface (190), locking wedges (102) of such an assembly (1), and, between the bearing surface and the locking wedges (102), angular orientation means (103) for the angular orientation in abutment pressure of an edge of such an assembly (1) on this support.
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing metal timepiece components, characterised in that it comprises the steps of forming a multi-level photoresist mould, by means of a UV-LIGA type method, and of galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal starting from at least two conductive layers so as to form a block that substantially reaches the top surface of the photoresist.
G03F 7/00 - Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printed surfacesMaterials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresistsApparatus specially adapted therefor
G04B 15/14 - Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel
44.
Method for manufacturing a one-piece silicon device with flexible blades, in particular for timepieces
A one-piece silicon device with flexible blades (2, 3), in particular for timepieces, for example a pivot with crossed blades, and to a method for manufacturing the device (1). The method includes: forming (21) a one-piece silicon device (1) blank from a wafer of the SOI type, the device (1) including two flexible blades (2, 3), each formed in a different layer of the SOI wafer, the blades (2, 3) being arranged in two different substantially parallel planes, the blades (2, 3) being separated by a clearance (7); growing a first silicon oxide layer on the surface of at least one of the blades (2, 3) bordering the clearance, the first silicon oxide layer being formed from a first sub-layer of silicon of the one or more blades (2, 3); and removing the first silicon oxide layer to increase the clearance (7) between the two blades (2, 3).
An elastic retaining member for fixing a timepiece component on a support element includes an opening into which the support element can be inserted, and rigid arms and elastic arms defined between connection areas of the member. The rigid arms and the elastic arms are configured to ensure elastic clamping of the support element in the opening, each of the rigid arms being provided with a single flat contact area and configured to cooperate with a corresponding convex contact portion of the support element.
A balance-spring intended to equip a balance of an horological movement, comprising a core made of Nb—Ti made from an alloy consisting of: niobium: balance to 100% by weight, titanium: between 5 and 95% by weight, traces of elements chosen from the group consisting of O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, each of said elements being present in a quantity between 0 and 1600 ppm by weight, the total quantity formed by all of said elements being between 0% and 0.3% by weight, wherein the core made of Nb—Ti is coated with a layer of niobium, said layer of niobium having a thickness between 20 nm and 10 μm.
A method for fabricating a metallic timepiece component, wherein the method includes the steps of forming, via a UV-LIGA type process combined with hot stamping, a multi-level photosensitive resin mould and electroplating a layer of at least one metal from at least two conductive layers to form a block that substantially reaches the upper surface of the photosensitive resin.
The invention relates to a balance for a timepiece movement, comprising rigid portions constituted by a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, at least one felloe sector, at least one arm connecting the at least one felloe sector to the hub, and comprising at least one slot for receiving and clamping an inertia-block in position, the at least one slot being delimited by the at least one arm, and an elastic arm comprising a first end secured to the arm, and a second distal end that is free relative to the hub, the arm and the felloe sector.
A method for manufacturing metallic horological components includes the steps of forming a LIGA-UV type method a multi-level photosensitive resin mould and of galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal using at least two conductive layers to form a block substantially reaching the top surface of the photosensitive resin.
B29C 70/34 - Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or coreShaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core and shaping or impregnating by compression
G04B 15/14 - Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel
G03F 7/00 - Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printed surfacesMaterials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresistsApparatus specially adapted therefor
A method for manufacturing metal horological components, includes the steps of forming a multilevel mould made of a photosensitive resin, with a UV-LIGA method, and galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal starting from a conductive layer in order to form a block that substantially reaches the upper surface of the photosensitive resin.
G03F 7/00 - Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printed surfacesMaterials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresistsApparatus specially adapted therefor
A balance for a horological movement, including rigid parts including a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, a felloe sector, at least one arm connecting the felloe sector to the hub, and including a slot for receiving and gripping an inertia-block in position, the slot opening into a housing delimited on the one hand by a rigid part of the balance, and on the other hand an elastic arm including a first end integral with a rigid part of the balance, and a second free distal end. The elastic arm has a hook-shaped body, the free distal end of the hook being parallel to a part of the balance having a rigidity greater than or equal to that of the elastic arm.
A rigid horological component (6, 7, 8) for an oscillator mechanism or for an escapement mechanism of a horological movement, the component extending along a principal plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanotubes or nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanotubes or nanowires (3) being juxtaposed and disposed substantially parallel with an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the plane (P) of the component, the matrix (2) includes a rigid material (4) to fill the interstices and join the nanotubes or nanowires (3) to one another, the material (4) having rigid mechanical properties to block the elastic deformation of the component, the rigid material (4) comprised in the component having a Young's modulus greater than 2 GPa.
A flexible horological component for an oscillator mechanism of a horological movement, the component extending along a principal plane (P) and including at least a part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) including a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanotubes or nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanotubes or nanowires (3) being juxtaposed and disposed substantially parallel with an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the plane (P) of the component, the matrix including a flexible filling material (4) to fill the interstices between the nanotubes or nanowires (3), the filling material (4) comprising at least in part a thermal compensation material wherein the thermoelastic coefficient (TEC) is of the opposite sign to that of the other materials of the composite material (1).
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a spiral spring comprising: a) a step of providing a blank with a core made of Nb-Ti; b) a step of beta-quenching said blank; c) a step of deforming said blank in several sequences; d) a step of winding in order to form the spiral spring; e) a step of final heat treatment on the spiral spring, and being characterised in that: - the blank of step a) comprises a layer of X, with a material X selected from among Cu, Sn, Fe, Pt, Pd, Rh, Al, Au, Ni, Ag, Co and Cr or an alloy of one of these elements around the core made of Nb-Ti; - it comprises a heat treatment step for partially transforming said layer of X into a layer of X, Ti inter-metals around the core made of Nb-Ti, said step being performed between step b) and step c) or between two sequences of the deformation step c); - a step of removing said part of the layer of X, said step being performed between step b) and step c), between two sequences of the deforming step c) or between step c) and step d).
A timepiece component for a timepiece movement and notably a pivot arbor of a regulating member of a mechanical timepiece movement, made of an alloy containing by weight: between 25% and 55% of palladium, between 25% and 55% of silver, between 10% and 30% of copper, between 0.5% and 5% of zinc, gold and platinum with a total percentage of these two elements comprised between 15% and 25%, between 0% and 1% of one or more elements chosen from among boron and nickel, between 0% and 3% of one or more elements chosen from among rhenium and ruthenium, no more than 0.1% of one or more elements chosen from among iridium, osmium and rhodium, and no more than 0.2% of other impurities, the respective quantities of the components being such that, added together, they do not exceed 100%.
A balance spring (1) intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the balance spring (1) is made of a niobium and titanium alloy containing: niobium: the remainder to 100 wt %; titanium with a weight percentage that is greater than or equal to 1 wt % and less than 40 wt %; traces of other elements chosen from among O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu and Al, each of said elements being in the range 0 to 1,600 ppm of the total weight, and the sum of said trace elements being less than or equal to 0.3 wt %.
A process for fabricating a hairspring having a final stiffness includes the steps of fabricating a hairspring to thickened dimensions, and determining the initial stiffness of the hairspring formed in order to remove the volume of material to obtain the hairspring having the dimensions required for said final stiffness.
The invention relates to a method for producing an assembly (130) of an elastic holding member-clock component assembly (120) with a support element (3), said elastic holding member being made of an electrically insulating material and said support element (3) being made of an electrically conductive material, the method comprising the following steps: - mounting (20) said assembly (120) with the support element (3) in order to define at least one reception zone (7a, 7b) for receiving at least one blocking element (11a, 11b) for blocking a movement of said holding member (1) relative to the support element (3), and - galvanic metal growth of said at least one blocking element (11a, 11b) on at least one of said reception zones (7a, 7b).
An elastic holding organ for fastening a timepiece component on a support element, including a rigid portion provided with an inner face including at least three deformable arms provided with free ends defining an opening into which the support element can be inserted, the arms being configured to perform a coupling with the support element by an elastic clamping in compression of this support element in the opening.
A component intended to be in friction contact with another component, the component being coated with an electrically conductive layer in one piece, at least partially covering every surface of the component, the friction occurring on at least one of these surfaces, called the functional surface, the functional surface being surrounded by a plurality of side surfaces, the component having on its functional surface a texture formed of a succession of troughs coated with the electrically conductive layer, the troughs each extending between two side surfaces such that the electrically conductive layer remains in one piece over the component despite the wear caused by friction on the functional surface. The invention also relates to the method for manufacturing the component by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sides machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.
A balance for a horological movement, including rigid parts constituted by a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, at least one felloe sector, at least one arm connecting the at least one felloe sector to said hub, and including a slot for receiving and gripping in position an inertia-block, the slot opening into a housing delimited on the one hand by a rigid part of the balance, and on the other hand an elastic arm including a first end integral with a rigid part of the balance, and a second free distal end. The elastic arm can have a body of a non-constant section, a part of the body having a greater thickness than the rest of the elastic arm so as to have a larger volume of material under stress and store a maximum of elastic energy.
A method for manufacturing a balance spring intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, including a step of producing a blank made of a Nb—Zr alloy including between 10 and 30 wt % Zr, a step of annealing and cooling the blank, at least one step of deforming the annealed blank in order to form a wire, wherein, before the deformation step, a step of depositing, on the blank, a layer of a ductile material chosen from copper, nickel, cupronickel, cupro-manganese, gold, silver, nickel-phosphorus Ni—P and nickel-boron Ni—B, in order to facilitate the wire shaping operation, the thickness of the ductile material layer deposited being chosen such that the ratio of the area of ductile material to the area of the alloy for a given wire cross-section is less than 1, preferably less than 0.5, and more preferably lies in the range 0.01 to 0.4.
A method for manufacturing a balance spring intended to equip a balance of a horological movement, including a step of producing a blank made of a niobium and hafnium alloy including between 5 and 60 wt %, preferably between 5 and 30 wt %, and more preferably between 8 and 12 wt % hafnium, a step of annealing and cooling the blank, at least one step of deforming the annealed blank in order to form a wire. The method includes, before the deformation step, a step of depositing, on the blank, a layer of a ductile material chosen from the group consisting of copper, nickel, cupronickel, cupro-manganese, gold, silver, nickel-phosphorus Ni—P and nickel-boron Ni—B, in order to facilitate the wire shaping operation. A balance spring can be produced by the manufacturing method.
The invention relates to a retaining member (1) for attaching a timepiece component (2) to support elements (3a, 3b) having different cross-sections, comprising an opening (5) into which each support element (3a, 3b) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) comprising structural elements (6) which jointly form the body of this retaining member (1) and contribute to ensuring that each support element (3a, 3b) fits in the opening (5), each of these structural elements (6) comprising a first structural sub-element (7a) and a second sub-element (7b), the first structural sub-element (7a) comprising a volume of material greater than the volume of material constituting the second structural sub-element (7b), the retaining member (1) comprising a connection portion (19) which ensures that each of the support elements (3a, 3b) fits in the retaining member (1), the portion (19) being defined on an internal face of the first structural sub-element (7A).
The invention concerns a timepiece component containing a high-entropy alloy, the high-entropy alloy containing between 4 and 13 main alloying elements forming a single solid solution, the high-entropy alloy having a concentration of each main alloying element comprised between 1 and 55 at. %.
A spiral timepiece spring with a two-phase structure, made of a niobium and titanium alloy, and method for manufacturing this spring, including: producing a binary alloy containing niobium and titanium, with: niobium: the remainder to 100%; titanium: strictly greater than 60% and less than or equal to 85% by mass of the total, traces of components from among O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al; applying deformations alternated with heat treatments until a two-phase microstructure is obtained comprising a solid solution of niobium with β-phase titanium and a solid solution of niobium with α-phase titanium, the α-phase titanium content being greater than 10% by volume, wire drawing to obtain wire able to be calendered; calendering or insertion into a ring to form a mainspring, in a double clef shape before it is wound for the first time, or winding to form a balance spring.
The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) for attaching a timepiece component (2) to a support element (3), comprising an external peripheral wall (4a) capable of being connected to the timepiece component (2) and an internal peripheral wall (4b) defining a triangular opening (5) into which the support element (3) can be inserted, the elastic retaining member (1a, 1b, 1c) comprising elastic arms (6a, 6b, 6c) each forming one side of the triangular opening (5) and helping to secure the support element (3) in the opening (5), each arm (6a, 6b, 6c) comprising: - at least one perforation (7a, 7b, 7c) defined in whole or in part along the body of the arm (6a, 6b, 6c), - an area of elastic contact (8a) with the support element (3), and - elastic peripheral areas (8b) which extend between said contact area (8a) and ends of the elastic arm (6a, 6b, 6c), the contact area (8a) having an amount of material greater than the amount of material constituting each of the peripheral areas thereof (8b).
b), the balance spring (1) including on one of the lateral faces (10) in one portion of the outer coil (5), a coating formed of one or more layers, the coating including two layers with a first electrically conductive layer (12) coated with a second outer layer (13) made of a ceramic, or a combined layer (13), made of an electrically conductive ceramic. Also a method of manufacturing this balance spring.
A substrate for forming timepiece components includes a first part based on photostructurable glass and at least a second part based on at least one second material. One surface of the first part is made integral with a surface of the second part so as to form a one-piece timepiece component.
A method for measuring the torque of a balance spring, made, in particular, of micromachinable material. A gripper places the collet on an insertion guide on the vertex of a mock obelisk-shaped arbor for a first centring of the collet, this balance spring is allowed to slide under its own weight along the guide surmounting a frustoconical shank that completes the self-centring of the collet on the tool axis, and for holding this balance spring without stress on the shank, the mock arbor including a drive device cooperating with the inner contour of the collet for the relative driving in rotation thereof without slipping, a holding tool holds the outer coil of the balance spring, to measure the torque of the balance spring by rotating the main tool and/or the holding tool about the axis, without stressing the balance spring.
The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for attaching a timepiece component (2) to a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connecting zones (9), helping to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5), and the rigid arms (6) being provided with the only contact zones (8) of the retaining member (1) with the support element (3).
The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for attaching a timepiece component (2) to a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, said retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connecting zones of said member, these arms helping to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5), and each rigid arm (6) being provided with a single convex contact zone (8) of the retaining member (1), which can interact with a corresponding convex contact portion (10) of the support element (3).
The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for attaching a timepiece component (2) to a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connecting zones (9), helping to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5), and each rigid arm (6) being provided with two flat contact zones (8) of the retaining member (1), which can interact with corresponding convex contact portions (10) of the support element (3).
The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for attaching a timepiece component (2) to a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, said retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connecting zones (9) of the member (1), these arms helping to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5), and each rigid arm (6) being provided with a single flat contact zone (8) of the retaining member (1), which can interact with a corresponding convex contact portion (10) of the support element (3).
The invention relates to a method for producing metal clock-making components, characterised in that it comprises the steps of forming a multilevel mould made of a photosensitive resin, by means of a UV-LiGA method, and galvanically depositing a layer of at least one metal starting from at least two conductive layers so as to form a block that substantially reaches the upper surface of said photosensitive resin.
G03F 7/00 - Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printed surfacesMaterials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresistsApparatus specially adapted therefor
A method for producing a thermocompensated and coloured coil spring including the steps of forming a first layer of silicon oxide on at least one face of the core and on at least one other face of the core, the first layer having a thickness equal to a fraction of the thickness required for achieving thermal compensation, removing the first layer from at least one face of the core, forming a second layer of silicon oxide on at least one face of the core and on at least one other face of the core, the second layer having a thickness equal to the remaining fraction of the thickness required for achieving thermal compensation which is lower than or equal to 1 μm for giving at least one face of the core a colour as a result of the interference effect.
A system including two components intended to be in friction contact with each other in a given direction, wherein the friction occurs in a functional area, wherein the system is at least one of the two components including, on a surface in the functional area, a texture formed of a series of troughs of rounded shape separated by peaks or a series of bumps of rounded shape separated by troughs, the troughs extending parallel in the given direction and allowing for the evacuation of debris produced by friction and serving as a reservoir for a lubricant. A method for manufacturing at least one component or a mold by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sidewalls machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.
C comprised between 1.5 and 10 times, and preferably between 2 and 8 times, the radius R. The mainspring having this specific geometry reduces the risk of premature breakage during use, typically for an application with a k factor lower than 10.
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hairspring with a final stiffness,comprising the steps of manufacturing a hairspring with an excess thickness, determining the initial stiffness of the hairspring produced, in order to remove the volume of material to obtain the hairspring with the dimensions required for said final stiffness.
A method for fabricating an applique for horology including a visible upper surface, and a lower surface from which protrudes at least one securing foot: a rough piece is made as a straight workpiece; this rough piece is deformed to form a blank so as to form an upper curve; this blank including this feet is machined; this blank is mounted on a tool having a support surface complementary to the lower surface of this blank, a recess for housing each foot, gripping means and/or an adhesive for securing each blank; the upper curve of this blank is machined with at least one final diamond-polishing operation to form this upper surface.
An applique for horology includes a visible upper surface and a lower surface for resting on a dial or a structure of a timepiece. The applique also includes at least one foot projecting from the lower surface for attachment to the dial or the structure. To manufacture the applique, in a first operation, a profile or bar is provided in which blanks of the feet and of the lower surface are machined prior to cutting the profile or bar in a second operation. Then, the upper surface is re-machined with at least one final diamond-polishing operation. During the first operation, at least two machining operations are performed in a cross so as to form a blank of each foot with a polygonal contour having facets.
G04D 3/00 - Watchmakers' or watch-repairers' machines or tools for working materials
B24B 5/50 - Machines or devices designed for grinding surfaces of revolution on work, including those which also grind adjacent plane surfacesAccessories therefor characterised by a special design with respect to properties of the material of non-metallic articles to be ground, e.g. strings
G04B 19/10 - Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dialAttachment of graduations to the dial
G04B 19/12 - Selection of materials for dials or graduations
G04D 3/02 - Lathes, with one or more supportsBurnishing machines, with one or more supports
A balance spring for a balance with a blank containing: niobium: the remainder to 100 wt %, titanium: between 40 and 60 wt %, traces of elements selected from the group formed of O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, between 0 and 1600 ppm by weight individually, and less than 0.3 wt % combined, a step of β-quenching the blank with a given diameter, such that the titanium of the alloy is essentially in solid solution form with β-phase niobium, the α-phase titanium content being less than or equal to 5% by volume, at least one deformation step of the alloy alternated with at least one heat treatment step such that the niobium and titanium alloy obtained has an elastic limit higher than or equal to 600 MPa and a modulus of elasticity lower than or equal to 100 GPa, a winding step to form the balance spring being performed prior to the final heat treatment step, prior to the deformation step, a step of depositing, on the alloy blank, a surface layer of a ductile material such as copper, the surface layer of ductile material being retained on the balance spring, the thermoelastic coefficient of the niobium and titanium alloy being adapted accordingly.
G04B 43/00 - Protecting clockworks by shields or other means against external influences, e.g. magnetic fields
C22C 27/02 - Alloys based on vanadium, niobium or tantalum
C22F 1/18 - High-melting or refractory metals or alloys based thereon
G04B 17/22 - Compensation of mechanisms for stabilizing frequency for the effect of variations of temperature
C23C 14/16 - Metallic material, boron or silicon on metallic substrates or on substrates of boron or silicon
C23C 16/06 - Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the deposition of metallic material
86.
Spiral spring for clock or watch movement and method of manufacture thereof
at least one deformation step of said alloy alternating with at least one step of heat treatment, the number of steps of heat treatment and of deformation being limited so that the niobium-based alloy obtained retains a structure in which the titanium of the niobium-based alloy is essentially in the form of a solid solution with niobium in β phase, the content of titanium in α phase being less than or equal to 10 vol % and it has an elastic limit greater than or equal to 600 MPa and an elastic modulus less than or equal to 100 GPa, a step of winding to form the spiral spring being carried out before the last heat treatment step.
A mainspring includes a spiral metal strip and a hooking area formed in an inner face of an inner end of the strip, the hooking area including at least one shaped portion and at least one cavity in the inner face of the inner end.
The invention relates to pallets for an escapement of a clock movement including a pallet-stone support, pallet-stones mounted on the pallet-stone support, a fork including first and second horns, a safety pin and a rod connecting the pallet-stone support to the fork and to the safety pin, the pallet-stone support, the rod, the safety pin and the fork forming a monolithic body of the pallets, the pallet-stone support, the rod and the safety pin being formed by a main layer of constant thickness, the first and second horns of the fork having a greater height than the constant thickness and being formed by the main layer, and also by an additional layer, the main layer and the additional layer forming the monolithic body of the pallets.
A process for manufacturing a mould including: a) providing a first substrate made of photosensitive glass of thickness of at least equal to the height of the mould, b) illuminating the first substrate with UV rays through a mask the windows of which correspond to the depression of the mould in order to create illuminated zones, c) carrying out a heat treatment on the first substrate obtained in step b) in order to crystallize the illuminated zones, d) providing a second substrate having at least one conductive layer on its surface, e) joining the first substrate obtained in step c) with the second substrate so that the conductive layer is located between the first substrate and the second substrate, f) removing the illuminated and crystallized zones of the first substrate so as to uncover the conductive layer, forming a cavity with sidewalls and a bottom occupied by the conductive layer of the mould.
A method for fabrication of a micromechanical part made of a one-piece synthetic carbon allotrope based material, the method including: forming a substrate with a negative cavity of the micromechanical part to be fabricated; coating the negative cavity of the substrate with a layer of the synthetic carbon allotrope based material in a smaller thickness than the depth of the negative cavity; and removing the substrate to release the one-piece micromechanical part formed in the negative cavity.
A shock absorber bearing for an arbor of a timepiece wheel set, particularly for a balance staff. The bearing includes a bearing assembly including a housing, a bearing support arranged inside the housing and including an external centring wall, a pivot bearing mounted on the bearing support for receiving a pivot of a wheel set arbor and an elastic support arrangement for the wheel set arbor pivot. The shock absorber bearing further includes a device for recentring play. This device for recentring play includes, on the one hand, a first part including a centring element having an internal centring wall in which is arranged the external centring wall of the bearing support, and on the other hand, a second part resting on the bearing assembly and arranged to have a return effect on the first part.
A spiral timepiece spring with a two-phase structure, made of a niobium and titanium alloy, and method for manufacturing this spring, including producing a binary alloy containing niobium and titanium, with niobium: the remainder to 100%; titanium between 45.0% and 48.0% by mass of the total, traces of components among O, H, C, Fe, Ta, N, Ni, Si, Cu, Al, of between 0 and 1600 ppm by mass of the total individually, and less than 0.3% by mass combined; applying deformations alternated with heat treatments until a two-phase microstructure is obtained including a solid solution of niobium with β-phase titanium and a solid solution of niobium with α-phase titanium, the α-phase titanium content being greater than 10% by volume, with an elastic limit higher than 1000 MPa, and a modulus of elasticity higher than 60 GPa and less than 80 GPa; wire drawing to obtain wire able to be calendered; calendering or winding.
C22C 27/02 - Alloys based on vanadium, niobium or tantalum
F16F 1/02 - Springs made of steel or other material having low internal frictionWound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
F16F 1/10 - Spiral springs with turns lying substantially in plane surfaces
G04B 17/22 - Compensation of mechanisms for stabilizing frequency for the effect of variations of temperature
A pivot arbor for a timepiece movement including at least one pivot made of a non-magnetic metal material at at least one of its ends in order to limit its sensitivity to magnetic fields. The non-magnetic metal material is a non-magnetic light metal or a non-magnetic alloy of the light metal, and at least the external surface of the pivot is coated with an anodic oxide layer of the material, obtained by anodic growth.
A packaging for timepiece appliques with a foot and body, including at least one tray provided for the reception, holding, storage and transport of appliques of the same height, including bores for receiving the feet at a constant pitch, adjacent to housings for housing the applique bodies resting on an upper tray surface as opposed to a lower tray surface, each tray including position indexing device, and at least one vertically extending mounting spacer, arranged to cooperate in abutment with a lower surface of another such tray, or a lower spacer surface of a spacer of the packaging, each mounting spacer extending, from the upper tray surface, over a height greater than that of the applique bodies.
B65D 85/40 - Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for delicate optical, measuring, calculating or control apparatus for watches or clocksContainers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for delicate optical, measuring, calculating or control apparatus for components thereof
G04D 1/06 - Supporting devices for clockworks or parts of time-pieces
B65D 81/05 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
B65D 21/02 - Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
B65D 1/36 - Trays or like shallow containers with moulded compartments or partitions
B65D 71/70 - Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking
G04D 1/00 - Gripping, holding, or supporting devices
A timepiece component includes a first silicon-based or ceramic-based part, and a second metal-based part. One surface of the first part is directly welded using laser-type electromagnetic radiation onto a surface of the second part in order to secure the parts without addition of material. A method for fabrication of a timepiece component for a timepiece includes forming a first silicon-based or ceramic-based part and a second metal-based part, mounting a surface of the first part on a surface of the second part, and welding, using laser-type electromagnetic radiation, the surface of the first part mounted directly on the surface of the second part, in order to secure the parts to each other without addition of material.
A collet elastically mounted on a staff whose geometry produces fewer internal stresses in particular on the contact points and the vertices of its polygonal shape.
The invention relates to a timepiece component comprising a high-entropy alloy, said high-entropy alloy comprising between 4 and 13 main elements forming a single solid solution, and the concentration of each of the main elements of the high-entropy alloy being between 1 and 55 atomic percent.
The invention relates to a pivot arbor comprising a metal pivot (3) at each of its ends. The metal is a non-magnetic aluminium alloy in order to limit its sensitivity to magnetic fields, and at least the outer surface (5) of one of the two pivots (3) is deep-hardened to a predetermined depth with respect to the rest of the arbor to harden the pivot or pivots (3).
The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
A pivot arbor for a timepiece movement includes a pivot made of a first non-magnetic metal material at at least one end in order to limit the sensitivity to magnetic fields. An outer surface of the pivot is coated with a first layer of a second material such as Ni, NiB, and/or NiP. The first layer of the second material is partially coated with a second layer of a third material selected from gold, silver, copper, platinum, rhodium, palladium and their alloys.
