On Balance Shaft Patents (Class 368/130)
  • Patent number: 11435699
    Abstract: A movement includes a tourbillion block, a tourbillion unit, and a zero reset mechanism. The tourbillion unit includes a carriage, a balance wheel, and an escape wheel. The balance wheel and the escape wheel are rotationally arranged on the carriage. The carriage is rotationally supported on the tourbillion block. The zero reset mechanism includes a first wheel in engagement with the escape wheel. The movement is switchable between a driving mode and a reset mode. When in the driving mode, the zero reset mechanism is rotationally locked to the tourbillion block. When in the reset mode, the zero reset mechanism is rotatable relative to the tourbillion block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Glashuetter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Tony Braun
  • Patent number: 10372082
    Abstract: A monolithic timepiece mechanism made in a single plate of material, including a frame, a first elastic suspension and an inertial regulating member which is connected to the frame by the first elastic suspension so as to be able to oscillate, a blocking mechanism having a blocking member connected to the frame by a second elastic suspension. The blocking member is controlled by the regulating member to be able to regularly and alternatively hold and release a energy distribution member and to regularly transmit energy from the energy distribution member to the regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: LVMH SWISS MANUFACTURES SA
    Inventors: Guy Semon, Wout Johannes Benjamin Ypma, Nima Tolou
  • Patent number: 9354608
    Abstract: A device for stopping a balance of a regulating organ mounted in a tourbillon of a timepiece. The device can be controlled by a setting device of the timepiece. The device includes at least two stop levers which are each secured pivotably to a respective lever pivot axis in such a manner that they can be brought from a rest position, in which the balance and the tourbillon are freely rotatable into a stop position, in which at least one of the stop levers acts via its free end on the balance such that the balance is stopped. The device additionally includes for each of these stop levers pre-loading structure, in such a manner that the force exerted onto the balance by each of the stop levers can act separately. The present invention also relates to a corresponding movement module equipped with such a device, respectively to a corresponding timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: RICHEMONT INTERNATIONAL SA
    Inventor: Edouard Donzé
  • Publication number: 20150103637
    Abstract: Escapement mechanism (3) for a watch movement including a pallet lever (7) with a fork (13) and a roller device (4) with an impulse-pin coupled to a balance (2). The fork includes an entry horn (19) and an exit horn (21), the impulse-pin including a first cam portion (12a, 12b) configured to engage the entry horn, and a second cam portion (14a, 14b) configured to engage the exit horn. The first cam portion includes a first cam surface (12a) configured to engage the entry horn on a first level (10a, 10b), and the second cam portion includes a second cam surface (14b) configured to engage the exit horn on a second level (10b, 13b), the first and second levels being staggered in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation (A) of the roller device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Sylvain Marechal, Stephane Beugin, Nakis Karapatis, Benoit Junod
  • Publication number: 20150063084
    Abstract: There are provided a constant force device, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece which can decrease a loss of power for controlling rotation of a stop wheel & pinion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Takuma KAWAUCHIYA, Takashi NIWA, Masahiro NAKAJIMA, Masayuki KODA
  • Publication number: 20150043313
    Abstract: A timepiece escapement mechanism, including a balance having no roller and an escape wheel, between which impulses are transmitted by a flexible, single-piece mechanism, connected by at least one flexible strip to a fixed structure or to the wheel. Oscillation is maintained by a balance spring ending in a balance spring stud which is mobile during operation, and which is guided by a flexible guide member with flexible strips, and whose center of rotation is coaxial to the balance, the balance spring stud receiving a pin which is mobile in a cam path of the wheel. During the oscillations, the balance spring stud is moved relative to its locking position under action of force exerted by the balance spring, and the pin maintains and regulates the oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Nivaroux-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stranczl, Thierry Hessler, Andres Cabezas Jurin, Davide Sarchi
  • Publication number: 20150036466
    Abstract: A balance staff including a main shoulder of a balance, a first radial lateral bearing surface for this balance, a roller sleeve shoulder, and a balance spring collet shoulder. The roller shoulder is adjacent to a first radial shoulder, the collet shoulder is adjacent to a second lateral surface, which defines, with the first radial shoulder, a collar including the balance shoulder which is adjacent to a first lateral bearing surface for the bearing of a balance, the first lateral bearing surface facing the same side as the first radial shoulder, the balance shoulder is separated from this collet shoulder by a seat forming the largest diameter of the collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGERE SUISSE
    Inventor: Olivier MERTENAT
  • Publication number: 20140376338
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventors: Laurent Kaelin, Baptist Wyssbrod, Arthur Queval
  • Publication number: 20140328150
    Abstract: A shock-absorber body (11) for an assembled balance (6) of a horological oscillator (8), comprising a guiding portion (11a) for the shock-absorber body (1) for its mounting on a bridge (2) and a fastening element (13) for an outer end of a spiral spring (5) of the oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: ROLEX SA
    Inventors: Benoit Boulenguiez, Jean-Louis Bertrand, Frederic Burger
  • Publication number: 20140313865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tourbillon of a movement having: a rotatably mounted rotating carriage (6) connected to a second pinion (46), a balance (12) mounted on the rotating carriage (6) relative to a balance shaft (28) and also having an escape wheel (16) mounted on the rotating carriage (6) and operatively connected to the balance (12) via a lever, characterized by: a brake element (30) arranged on the rotating carriage (6), which can be brought into engagement with the balance (12) and is movable axially to the balance shaft (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Glashuetter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Joern HEISE
  • Publication number: 20140307530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a timepiece including a resonator cooperating with an escapement system. According to the invention, the escapement system includes a moving escape wheel arranged coaxially to the balance and driven by the gear train of the timepiece, a first fixed wheel having a first toothing and a second fixed wheel having a second toothing, the first and second fixed wheels being arranged coaxially to the moving escape wheel and a device for securing the outer end of the balance spring including a part hinged relative to the moving escape wheel and arranged to ensure a radial movement of the outer end between the first and second toothings to maintain the resonator and to transmit the motion thereof to the timepiece gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Stephane BEUGIN, Davide SARCHI, Nakis KARAPATIS, Fabio SCIASCIA
  • Publication number: 20140286142
    Abstract: Timepiece mechanism cassette including at least one bearing surface for positioning the cassette in a movement, a plate and a bar, at least one of which is rigid, between or on which there are arranged functional components at least two of which are movable relative to each other. At least one functional component is pivotally movable and pivoted between the plate and the bar, and forms an inseparable single piece component with the plate and/or with the bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Nivarox-FAR S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Stranczl, Thierry Hessler, Jean-Luc Helfer
  • Patent number: 8529122
    Abstract: This Swiss lever escapement comprises an escape wheel having teeth, and a lever having on the one hand an entry pallet and an exit pallet that engage alternately with the teeth of the escape wheel, and on the other hand a fork that engages periodically with an impulse pin on a roller mounted on the staff of a regulator balance wheel. The relative width Lpl of each of said pallets, expressed as a percentage of the sum of the lengths of arc of one of said teeth and one of said pallets, measured at the circumference of the escape wheel is: Lpl = Ls Ls + d ? ? or ? ? Le Le + d ? 60 ? % where Ls and Le are the lengths of arc of the exit pallet and entry pallet, respectively, and d is the length of arc of one escape wheel tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Rolex S. A.
    Inventors: Raphael Cettour-Baron, Alexandre Chiuve
  • Publication number: 20130070571
    Abstract: A detent escapement 100 of the present invention includes an escape wheel and pinion 110, a balance 120 having an impulse pin 122 and an unlocking jewel 124, and a blade 130 having a locking jewel 132. A straight line which passes through a rotation center of the blade with a rotation center of the balance as a starting point in a state where the balance is positioned at the oscillation center is defined as a rotation reference line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Masayuki Koda, Hiroki Uchiyama, Takashi Niwa
  • Publication number: 20100278017
    Abstract: Tourbillon mechanism for a watch having a turning cage mounted in pivoting manner in a first and second cage bearing lodged in fixed elements of the watch; an escapement mobile integral with the cage; and a regulating element in the form of a spiral balance capable of oscillating around a balance staff according to pulses received from the escapement mobile. The balance staff is mounted in pivoting manner in the balance bearings lodged outside the cage. The outer extremity of the spiral hairspring is fastened to the cage through a hairspring stud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Florian BROSSARD, Hugo Lopez
  • Publication number: 20090168611
    Abstract: The driving and transmitting element (10, 50) is in the form of a ring (20) having an outer face (32) from which a stud (40) extends radially. Application to a roller table (60, 70) of a lever escapement (80) for a timepiece (90) including such a driving and transmitting element (10, 50) for rotating the anchor (84) and for transmitting an impulse from the anchor (84) to the roller table (60, 70).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Christophe Gigandet, Francisco Dias, Armin Behrend