Abstract: A timepiece barrel for pivotal assembly between a plate and a bar and including at least one spring housed between a pivoting drum and a cover and hooked between the drum at an outer end thereof and an arbor at an inner end thereof, the arbor pivoting integrally with a ratchet about a pivot axis. The barrel includes a one-piece sub-assembly coaxial to the arbor and including, about a boss, at least the ratchet and/or the arbor, and the guide arbor in the plate is fitted into the boss which is integral with the ratchet, the boss forming the guide member in the bar, making it possible to assemble the bar and plate with subsequent attachment of the arbor.

Abstract: A timepiece barrel for pivotal assembly between a plate and a bar and including at least one spring housed between a pivoting drum and a cover and hooked between, at the outer end thereof, the drum and at the inner end thereof, an arbor which pivots integrally with a ratchet about a pivot axis. The barrel includes a one-piece sub-assembly coaxial to the arbor and including the arbor and a boss including a collar for limiting axial shake of the drum, the collar carrying pivotal drive mechanisms for driving pivoting of the ratchet which is axially free in a direction of the pivot axis.

Abstract: A method for assembling a mechanical modular unit includes storing in a controller a list of assembly parts of the unit. The method includes irreversibly transforming a sub-assembly of each functional module into a ready to use functional module, after adjustment and function checking of a particular timepiece function have been performed on a test bench. The method includes storing in a storage place components required for the assembly list. The method includes programming a manipulator controlled by the controller to look, in a pre-defined sequence peculiar to each assembly list, for each component or module to be assembled. The method includes programming a shape recognition part to operate the manipulator to pick up each functional module according to a locating part included therein, to arrange the module in an assembly position. The method includes each time, irreversibly assembling precisely arranged elements of the mechanical modular unit to each other.

Abstract: A method for assembling a mechanical modular unit includes storing in a controller a list of assembly parts of the unit. The method includes irreversibly transforming a sub-assembly of each functional module into a ready to use functional module, after adjustment and function checking of a particular timepiece function have been performed on a test bench. The method includes storing in a storage place components required for the assembly list. The method includes programming a manipulator controlled by the controller to look, in a pre-defined sequence peculiar to each assembly list, for each component or module to be assembled. The method includes programming a shape recognition part to operate the manipulator to pick up each functional module according to a locating part included therein, to arrange the module in an assembly position. The method includes each time, irreversibly assembling precisely arranged elements of the mechanical modular unit to each other.

Abstract: Protective device (1) for the protection of a structural component, notably a main plate (2), of a timepiece movement (3) on a receiving surface comprised in this structural component (2) for receiving in abutment a complementary bearing surface (51) of a wheel set (5). This protective device (1) includes at least one insert (6) including a slide surface (7) having a higher surface hardness than that of this structural component (2), this insert (6) being assembled on or in this structural component (2) so that this slide surface (7) thereof coincides with this receiving surface.

Abstract: A timepiece barrel assembly, including a barrel mainspring mounted between a barrel drum and a receiving surface of a barrel core coaxial to the drum. The spring is made of a multiphase, cobalt-nickel-chromium based alloy, having a Young's modulus of between 200 and 240 GPa and a shear modulus of between 80 and 100 GPa, and having a width to thickness ratio of between 9 and 21, and the maximum radius of the steel or stainless steel core relative to its pivot axis is less than nine times the maximum thickness of the spring, and the barrel assembly includes, on the spring or the drum, a mechanism limiting longitudinal clearance, towards the pivot axis, between the drum and the mainspring.

Abstract: A method for fabricating pallets for an escapement system concerns the field of escapement systems for timepieces. The method includes forming integrally, using a first material, a lever of pallets. A first end of the lever includes a dart. A second end of the lever includes two arms each for receiving a pallet stone. The method includes over-moulding a second material different from the first material on the first end of the lever in order to form a pallets fork. The method includes mounting the pallet stones and a staff to enable the pallets to be rotatably mounted.

Abstract: A timepiece movement, including a plate and a bridge carrying a barrel including a barrel mainspring between a drum and a receiving surface of a core and a cover fixed to the drum. The spring is made of a multiphase, cobalt-nickel-chromium based alloy, having a Young's modulus of between 200 and 240 GPa and a shear modulus of between 80 and 100 GPa, and having a width to thickness ratio of between 3 and 23, and the maximum radius of the steel or stainless steel core relative to the pivot axis is less than nine times the maximum thickness of the spring. The movement further includes a mechanism limiting shake including a shim-washer independent of the core and guided by a shoulder of the core.

Abstract: Protective device (1) for the protection of a structural component, notably a main plate (2), of a timepiece movement (3) on a receiving surface comprised in this structural component (2) for receiving in abutment a complementary bearing surface (51) of a wheel set (5). This protective device (1) includes at least one insert (6) including a slide surface (7) having a higher surface hardness than that of this structural component (2), this insert (6) being assembled on or in this structural component (2) so that this slide surface (7) thereof coincides with this receiving surface.

Abstract: Timepiece barrel for pivotal assembly between a bottom plate and a bridge and including at least one spring housed between a pivoting drum and a ratchet and hooked between this drum at the outer end thereof and an arbour at the inner end thereof, this arbour pivoting integrally with this ratchet about a pivot axis. This barrel includes a single-piece sub-assembly, coaxial with this arbour and grouping together around a hub, this arbour and this ratchet in immediate proximity to this bottom plate, and which is pivoted on an upper shoulder in a bore of this drum on an end pipe whose outer shoulder pivots in a bore of this bridge or of a jewel comprised in this bridge.

Abstract: Timepiece gear train device (1) of reduced height with a large power reserve, driving display means (4) including a cannon-pinion (5) and an hour wheel (6), which are driven about a main pivot axis (AP), secant to a barrel (3), by a motion work (7) and including a driving wheel (8), which pivots about a secondary pivot axis (AS) external to said barrel (3) and is friction coupled to said motion work (7) on a friction surface (9) coaxial to said secondary pivot axis (AS). Said driving wheel (8) includes a driving cannon pinion (83) pivoting about a wheel body (80) along said secondary pivot axis (AS) and coupled by a friction spring (84) to a shoulder (85) of said wheel body (80) forming said friction surface (9), said driving cannon-pinion (83) cooperating with a minute wheel (14) pivoting about a minute axis (AM).

Abstract: The oscillating weight is intended to be used in a self winding watch mechanism. It includes a basic part (1) made of composite material and heavy metal elements (9). The basic part includes an inner portion (5) and a peripheral portion (3), with the peripheral portion including housings in which the heavy metal elements are set.

Abstract: Timepiece wheel (1) overmoulded onto an arbour (2). The wheel is plastic injection overmoulded onto a washer (3) fitted onto said arbour (2). Said washer (3) is of lower density than that of said arbour (2). Said washer (3) includes at least one plane surface (4) forming a bearing and sealing surface (40) for cooperating in a sealed manner with an injection mould for the overmoulding operation. A particular version is an escape wheel whose teeth are formed during overmoulding onto said arbour (2) and said washer (3), and it includes an escape pinion (5) mounted in abutment on said washer (3) or integral with said washer (3).

Abstract: The sub-assembly includes, irreversibly fixed to a main plate and each irreversibly pre-adjusted by the irreversible securing of adjustment and/or assembly components, after the particular timepiece function thereof has been adjusted and function checked on the test bench, functional modules: a gear train module, a display module, and a time-setting module. Other mechanical sub-assemblies, each irreversibly fixed to the preceding lower order mechanical sub-assembly, include various modules; motor module frame-mounted self-winding device module escapement holder regulating module motion work train date module self-winding module. Mechanical movement including at least one mechanical sub-assembly of this type. Watch including a mechanical movement of this type. Method of assembling mechanical sub-assemblies of this type by the irreversible securing of mechanical sub-assemblies and irreversibly pre-adjusted modules.

Abstract: A timepiece barrel assembly, including a barrel mainspring mounted between a barrel drum and a receiving surface of a barrel core coaxial to the drum. The spring is made of a multiphase, cobalt-nickel-chromium based alloy, having a Young's modulus of between 200 and 240 GPa and a shear modulus of between 80 and 100 GPa, and having a width to thickness ratio of between 9 and 21, and the maximum radius of the steel or stainless steel core relative to its pivot axis is less than nine times the maximum thickness of the spring, and the barrel assembly includes, on the spring or the drum, a mechanism limiting longitudinal clearance, towards the pivot axis, between the drum and the mainspring.

Abstract: Timepiece barrel for pivotal assembly between a bottom plate and a bridge and including at least one spring housed between a pivoting drum and a ratchet and hooked between this drum at the outer end thereof and an arbour at the inner end thereof, this arbour pivoting integrally with this ratchet about a pivot axis. This barrel includes a single-piece sub-assembly, coaxial with this arbour and grouping together around a hub, this arbour and this ratchet in immediate proximity to this bottom plate, and which is pivoted on an upper shoulder in a bore of this drum on an end pipe whose outer shoulder pivots in a bore of this bridge or of a jewel comprised in this bridge.

Abstract: Timepiece sub-assembly including a spacer for guiding a pivoting wheel set on a bottom plate and including a shoulder for cooperating with a housing in the bottom plate and a stop surface for abutting against the bottom plate. It includes a drive means fixed to the wheel set, arranged to slide relative to the spacer with an axial shake, determined between a first stop position between a collar of the wheel set and a front face of the spacer, and a second stop position between a stop surface of the drive means and a rear face of the spacer. The wheel set includes, opposite the collar, a machined portion arranged to cooperate with a complementary machined portion of a display element to fixedly secure the display element to the wheel set.

Abstract: Control mechanism (1) for loading an energy accumulator (20) for a timepiece (100) or a timepiece movement (10) via an intermediate winding mechanism (25), said mechanism (1) comprising a winding button (2) arranged to drive, at least in translation, a winding stem (3) which can occupy at least an initial longitudinal position (T0) for said energy loading.

Abstract: Timepiece movement including a module fitted with a first wheel set meshing with a second wheel set, which pivots on a base on which the module is mounted. The movement includes a means of positioning the module formed by a cam, at least most of the periphery of which forms an Archimedes' spiral. The cam is arranged so as to allow the distance of centers between the first and second wheel sets to be adjusted, when the cam is rotated on itself about the center of the Archimedes' spiral. The cam is preferably calibrated. The invention also concerns a method of adjusting the distance of centers between the two wheel sets using said cam to optimise the gearing efficiency of the two wheel sets.