Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding includes a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel; b) obtaining a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature; c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel; d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy; and e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold. The process also includes a step for over-molding flexible centering components in the hub.

Abstract: Timepiece regulator (300) comprising a detached lever (7) escapement mechanism (200), and a resonator (100) including an inertia element (2), which includes an impulse pin (6) cooperating with a fork (8) of the lever (7), and which is subjected to the action of elastic return means (3) fixed to the plate (1) and is arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set (4), this resonator (100) is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main direction (DP), with a flexure bearing returned by flexible strips (5) attached to the plate (1), defining a virtual pivot having a main axis (DP), the resonator (100) is attached to an elastic suspension strip (9) attached to the plate (1), allowing displacement in the main direction (DP), the plate (1) comprising shock absorber stops (11, 12), in the main direction (DP), cooperating with at least one stiff element of the inertial element (2).

Abstract: A device for guiding a pivoting mass about an axis. A first support is fixed and a second support forms or supports the pivoting mass. The device is includes a first and second flexible leaf oriented in the same direction when the device is at rest, and an intermediate leaf having a rigidity notably greater than the flexible leaves and connecting the first flexible leaf to the second, the device including a first fixed link formed by the first support and a first end of the first leaf, a second fixed link formed by a second end of the first leaf and by a first end of the intermediate leaf, a third fixed link formed by a second end of the intermediate leaf and by a first end of the second leaf and a fourth fixed link formed by at least one second end of the second leaf, wherein the first and/or the fourth link is arranged substantially between the second and the third link in the direction when the device is at rest.

Abstract: A timepiece regulator includes a detached lever escapement mechanism and a resonator with a quality factor Q including an inertia element. An impulse pin is integral with an inertia element and cooperates with a fork of the lever. The inertia element is subjected to the action of an elastic return directly or indirectly fixed to the plate and arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set included in the escapement mechanism. The resonator mechanism is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main axis, with a flexure bearing subjected to the return force of at least two flexible strips attached to the plate, defining together a virtual pivot with a main axis. The lever pivots about a secondary axis. The lever is made of silicon added to an arbor pivoted with respect to the plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a timepiece resonator having an inertia element suspended from a flexible strip deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of said strip, which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib extending along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections of the strip located outside the ribs, and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib of the strip, along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip between its embedments.

Abstract: A timepiece resonator including an inertia element suspended from a flexible strip deformable in a plane XY parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, and whose transverse extension along a transverse axis X, in projection onto the plane XY, is variable and of positive value on at least one side of the neutral axis (FN) of the strip, which includes, at a distance from its embedments, at least one rib extending substantially along an axis Z perpendicular to the plane XY, each having at least one generatrix which is farther from the neutral axis (FN) than the external surfaces of the sections of the strip located outside the ribs, and the longitudinal extension (LN) of each rib of the strip, along the longitudinal axis Y, is less than one fifth of the length L of the strip between its embedments.

Abstract: Timepiece regulator comprising a detached lever escapement mechanism, and a resonator with a quality factor Q including at least one inertia element including an integral impulse pin cooperating with a fork of the lever, this inertia element being subjected to the action of elastic return means directly or indirectly fixed to the plate and being arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set comprised in the escapement mechanism, this resonator mechanism is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main axis (DP), with a flexure bearing subjected to the return force of at least two flexible strips attached to the plate, defining together a virtual pivot with a main axis (DP), the lever pivoting about a secondary axis (DS), and the fork is enlarged in comparison to the fork of a conventional Swiss lever.

Abstract: Timepiece regulator (300) comprising a detached lever (7) escapement mechanism (200), and a resonator (100) with a quality factor Q including an inertia element (2) comprising an impulse pin (6) integral with an inertia element (2) and cooperating with a fork (8) of the lever (7), this inertia element (2) being subjected to the action of elastic return means (3) directly or indirectly fixed to the plate (1) and being arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set (4) comprised in the escapement mechanism (200), this resonator mechanism (100) is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main axis (DP), with a flexure bearing subjected to the return force of at least two flexible strips (5) attached to the plate (1), defining together a virtual pivot with a main axis (DP), the lever (7) pivoting about a secondary axis (DS), and the fork (8) is enlarged in comparison to the fork of a conventional Swiss lever.

Abstract: A timepiece regulator includes a detached lever escapement mechanism, and a resonator with a quality factor Q including an inertia element comprising an impulse pin integral with an inertia element and cooperating with a fork of the lever. This inertia element is subjected to the action of elastic return means directly or indirectly fixed to the plate and is arranged to cooperate indirectly with an escape wheel set comprised in the escapement mechanism. This resonator mechanism is a resonator with a virtual pivot rotating about a main axis (DP), with a flexure bearing subjected to the return force of at least two flexible strips attached to the plate, defining together a virtual pivot with a main axis (DP), the lever pivoting about a secondary axis (DS).

Abstract: A method for making a flexure bearing for an oscillator with an inertial element oscillating in a plane supported by flexible strips fixed to a stationary support returning it to a rest position includes: forming the bearing with basic strips in superposed levels, each having an aspect ratio of less than 10; breaking down the number of basic levels into a plurality of sub-units, each including one or two strips joining a basic support and a basic inertial element, which are made by etching substrates; assembling the sub-units by joining their basic inertial elements; and fixing the basic supports to the support, directly or via translational tables along one or two in-plane translational degrees of freedom, of lower translational stiffness than that of the sub-unit.

Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding includes a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel; b) obtaining a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature; c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel; d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy; and e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold. The process also includes a step for over-molding flexible centering components in the hub.

Abstract: A flexible guide for a rotating resonator mechanism, in particular of a horological movement, the guide including a fixed support, an element that is capable of moving relative to the fixed support, at least one main flexible blade allowing the movable element to move relative to the fixed support by bending the one or more main flexible blades via a rotary motion about a centre of rotation, the flexible guide being arranged substantially in one plane, and includes at least one translation table joined to one end of the main flexible blade, the main flexible blade and the translation table forming a pair connected to the fixed support, to the movable element, or to an intermediate movable part, such that the translation table is configured to move in translation at least in part under the effect of the bending of the main flexible blade.

Abstract: A process for producing a metal alloy balance wheel by molding, the process including the following steps: a) making a mold in the negative shape of the balance wheel, b) getting hold of a metal alloy that has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 25 ppm/° C. and is able to be in an at least partly amorphous state when it is heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature, c) putting the metal alloy into the mold, the metal alloy being heated to a temperature between its glass transition temperature and its crystallization temperature so as to be hot-molded and to form a balance wheel, d) cooling the metal alloy to obtain a balance wheel made of the metal alloy, e) releasing the balance wheel obtained in step d) from its mold.

Abstract: A horological resonator mechanism, including a structure and an anchoring unit from which is suspended at least one inertial element arranged to oscillate along a first degree of freedom in rotation RZ about a pivoting axis extending along a first direction Z, the inertial element being subjected to return forces exerted by a virtual pivot including a plurality of substantially longitudinal elastic strips, each fastened, at a first end to the anchoring unit, and at a second end to the inertial element. Each elastic strip is deformable essentially in a plane XY perpendicular to the first direction Z. The anchoring unit is suspended from the structure by a flexible suspension arranged to allow the mobility of the anchoring unit along a plurality of degrees of freedom including at least two in the plane XY, along a direction X and along a direction Y orthogonal to the direction X.

Abstract: A rotary wheel set system of a horological movement with a rotary wheel set a first and a second bearing for a first and a second pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the wheel set including a mass center in a position of its arbor, the first bearing including an endstone including a main body equipped with a conical cavity configured to receive the first pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the first pivot being capable of cooperating with the cavity of the endstone to rotate in the cavity, at least one contact zone between the first pivot and the cavity being generated, the normals of the contact zone forming a minimum contact angle relating to the plane perpendicular to the arbor of the pivot, the minimum contact angle being less than or equal to 30°, preferably less than or equal to arctan (½)

Abstract: A rotary wheel set system of a horological movement with a rotary wheel set, a first and a second bearing, for a first and a second pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the wheel set including a mass center in a position of its arbor, the first bearing including an endstone including a main body equipped with a pyramidal cavity configured to receive the first pivot of the arbor of the rotary wheel set, the cavity having at least three faces giving its pyramidal shape, the first pivot being capable of cooperating with the cavity of the endstone to rotate in the cavity, at least one contact zone between the first pivot and a face being generated, the normal at the contact zone or zones forming a contact angle (?h) relating to the plane perpendicular to the arbor of the pivot, wherein the contact angle (?h) is less than 45°.

Abstract: A timepiece resonator mechanism including a structure carrying, via a flexible suspension system, an anchor unit to which is suspended an inertia element oscillating with a first rotational degree of freedom RZ, under the action of return forces exerted by a flexure pivot including first elastic strips each fixed to the inertia element and to the anchor unit, the flexible suspension system being arranged to allow the anchor unit some mobility in every degree of freedom except the first rotational degree of freedom RZ wherein only the inertia element can move to avoid any disturbance to its oscillation, and the stiffness of the suspension system in the first rotational degree of freedom RZ is very considerably higher than the stiffness of the flexure pivot in this same rotational degree of freedom RZ.

Abstract: A mechanical horological bearing (1) intended to be arranged on a mechanical timepiece movement (10), the bearing (1) including, coaxial around a common rotation axis (D), at least one internal frame (4) and at least one external frame (5) forming a running track (20), as well as a plurality of wheels (12) sliding or rolling in the running track (20), during a relative movement between the internal frame (4) and the external frame (5) that guides them and wherein at least one of the internal frame (4) and external frame (5) is a dynamic frame, at least one structural part of the bearing (1) being produced from an elastic metal material with a high damping capacity, the damping factor of which is greater than 10%, preferably greater than 30%.

Abstract: A winding machine includes motorization means arranged to move a support, carrying at least one watch or one horological movement, along a path in a plane. The motorization means are arranged to move each support parallel to a starting position corresponding to the loading or unloading of a watch or of a movement on the support, the axes of a three-dimensional frame of reference specific to the support always remaining parallel to the oriented directions that the axes occupy in the starting position.

Abstract: A balance for timepieces includes a rim, a hub, and at least one arm connecting the hub to the rim. At least one portion of the balance is made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. The at least partially amorphous metal alloy is based on an element chosen from the group consisting of platinum, zirconium and titanium, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion comprised between 7 ppm/° C. and 12 ppm/° C. The balance can be manufactured by moulding. A resonator can include such a balance and a monocrystalline quartz balance spring.