Balance Wheel Type Patents (Class 368/169)
  • Patent number: 7059764
    Abstract: In order particularly to put a watch into beat and adjust the isochronism, in addition to the poising screws (2a, 2b) of the balance (1) and the fine adjusting screw (7) pressing on the index tail 20a to alter the orientation of the index (20), the device includes, on the one hand, two screws (19, 29) respectively fixed in the balance cock (10) and in the index (20) to maneuver clamps by means of L-shaped rocking elements (13, 23) to fix the end of the balance spring and define its useful length, and on the other hand, a screw (9) for immobilizing the index (20) in a determined position, these three screws (9, 19, 29) enabling a fine adjustment to be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Hintze, Mathias Schneider
  • Patent number: 6705601
    Abstract: This self-compensating spiral spring for a mechanical balance-spiral spring oscillator for a watch or clock movement or other precision instrument, made of an Nb—Hf paramagnetic alloy possessing a thermal coefficient of Young's modulus (TCE), such that it enables the following expression to be substantially equal to zero: 1 E ⁢ ⅆ E ⅆ T + 3 ⁢ α s - 2 ⁢ α b where: E: Young's modulus of the spiral spring of the oscillator; 1 E ⁢ ⅆ E ⅆ T = T ⁢   ⁢ C ⁢   ⁢ E
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Baur, François Paschoud, Patrick Sol
  • Patent number: 6612734
    Abstract: A mechanical timepiece movement has a mainspring serving as a power source, a wheel train rotated by a rotational force produced by the mainspring for driving a display, and an escapement and speed control apparatus for controlling rotation of the wheel train and having a balance with hairspring, an escape wheel and pinion and a pallet fork. A stud holder is rotatably mounted with respect to a central axis of the balance with hairspring and a hairspring holder is attached to the stud holder to undergo movement in a direction orthogonal to the central axis of the balance with hairspring. A hairspring has a central portion fixed to the balance with hairspring and an outer portion fixed to the hairspring holder. The hairspring is adjustable by pivoting the hairspring holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Mamoru Watanabe, Takeshi Tokoro
  • Patent number: 6554468
    Abstract: A mechanical time piece has a mainspring for generating a rotational force and a front train wheel for undergoing rotation in accordance with a rotational force generated by the mainspring. An escapement and speed control apparatus controls rotation of the front train wheel and has a timed annular balance for undergoing reciprocal rotational movement, an escape wheel and pinion for undergoing rotation in accordance with rotation of the front train wheel, and a pallet fork for controlling rotation of the escape wheel and pinion in accordance with rotational movement of the timed annular balance. A switch mechanism outputs an ON signal when a rotational angle of the timed annular balance becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold angle and outputs an OFF signal when the rotational angle of the timed annular balance does not exceed the threshold angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Saburo Manaka, Koichiro Jujo, Takeshi Tokoro
  • Patent number: 6520674
    Abstract: A mechanical timepiece has a mainspring for generating a rotational force and a front train wheel for undergoing rotation in accordance with a rotational force generated by the mainspring. An escapement/speed-control device for controlling rotation of the front train wheel has a balance with hairspring for undergoing reciprocal rotational movement, an escape wheel and pinion for undergoing rotation in accordance with rotation of the front train wheel, and a pallet fork for controlling rotation of the escape wheel and pinion in accordance with rotation of the balance with hairspring. A switch mechanism outputs an ON signal when a rotation angle of the balance with hairspring becomes a predetermined threshold angle or greater and outputs an OFF signal when the rotation angle of the balance with hairspring does not exceed the predetermined threshold angle. A position-detecting device detects a position of the mechanical timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tokoro
  • Patent number: 6354731
    Abstract: The invention concerns an oscillating winding weight for a timepiece including a heavy portion secured to a connecting element connecting said heavy portion to an arbour fixed to the movement, said weight being intended to be rotatably mounted on said arbour, characterised in that said connecting element is made of a transparent or translucent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Janvier S.A.
    Inventor: Vianney Halter
  • Patent number: 5881026
    Abstract: A self-compensating spring for a balance-spring for a balance-spring/balance assembly of a mechanical oscillator of a horological movement or of any other precision instrument, made of a paramagnetic Nb--Zr alloy containing between 5% and 25% by weight of Zr, obtained by cold rolling or cold drawing, and having a Young's modulus whose temperature coefficient (TCY) is adjustable by precipitation of Zr-rich phases in the Nb--Zr solid-solution. It contains at least 500 ppm by weight of an interstitial doping agent at least partly formed of oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Baur, Patrick Sol, Pierre-Alain Walder
  • Patent number: 5413345
    Abstract: A system utilizing an array of high speed video cameras with image processors coupled to data microprocessors, data memory devices, video monitors, control terminals, printout devices, and related hardware and software. The system functions to identify, track, display and record all or selected portions of the path of one or more golf balls from the time each ball is struck, or after it is in flight, until it reaches its final point of rest. The recorded tracking information may be displayed in selected forms such as video or audio replays of the actual golf shot or selected portions thereof, or by printed data in character or graphic form. The tracking information may be reviewed for detailed study of all or portions of the track of the golf shot as well as the final resting place of the ball with respect to the intended target of the shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventor: George S. Nauck