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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A timepiece includes a mechanical oscillator, formed by a balance and a piezoelectric balance spring, and a regulating device for regulating the frequency of the mechanical oscillator which is arranged to be able to produce time-separated regulating pulses, each consisting of a momentary decrease in an electrical resistance applied by the regulating device between two electrodes of the balance spring relative to a nominal electrical resistance. Each regulating pulse produces a variation of rate which varies as a function of its moment of starting in a half-period of the mechanical oscillator, the characteristic function of this variation of rate relative to the moment of starting of at least one regulating pulse respectively in at least one half-period of the mechanical oscillator being negative in a first temporal zone of at least one half-period and positive in a second temporal zone of at least one half-period.

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 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.

Abstract: A balance wheel including a rim connected to a hub with at least one arm, wherein the balance wheel includes an adjustable auxiliary temperature compensation system mounted in the space defined by the rim to allow adjustable temperature compensation of the balance wheel.

Abstract: A laundry machine including a cabinet forming an exterior appearance of the laundry machine, a tub provided inside the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, a balancer housing coupled to a front portion or a back portion of the drum, and a balancing unit movably formed inside the balancer housing in order to reduce an eccentric rotation of the drum. The balancing unit further including a body forming an exterior of the balancing unit, and the body including a first mass body on one lateral side of the body, and a first wheel on another lateral side of the body and configured to roll within the balancer housing, and an elastic member provided between the first mass body and the first wheel, so as to push the first mass body and the first wheel to both lateral sides of the body.

Abstract: Balance with inertia adjustment for timepieces, including a hub defining the pivot axis of the balance, a rim, a web extending between a lower plane and an upper plane on either side of a median plane, the web including at least one arm connecting the rim to the hub, the arm including a housing configured to receive and hold in place at least one inertia block. According to the invention, the inertia block has a front face and a rear face and is integrated in the balance arm, so that the front face and rear face are substantially in the upper plane and the lower plane.

Abstract: Device for protecting a timepiece balance spring (1) against interfering magnetic fields comprising a balance (2) made of amorphous ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oscillator comprising a resonator of the inertia-elasticity type cooperating with a detent escapement comprising a detent cooperating with an escape wheel. The resonator is in one-piece and includes an inertia member and a first flexible structure providing the elasticity and forming a virtual pivot axis of the resonator and the detent is in one-piece and includes an unlocking spring and a second flexible structure forming a virtual pivot axis of the detent.

Abstract: A temperature compensation-type balance includes a balance staff, and a balance wheel having a plurality of bimetal portions disposed in parallel to each other in a circumferential direction around a rotation axis of the balance staff. Connection members connect respective ones of the plurality of bimetal portions and the balance staff. Each bimetal portion is a layered body in which a first member and a second member are radially overlapped, and one end portion in the circumferential direction is a fixed end connected to a respective connection member and the other end portion in the circumferential direction is a free end. The first member is formed of a ceramic material, and the second member is formed of a metal material having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the first member.

Abstract: An oscillating mechanism for a timepiece movement, including a first rigid element and a second rigid element, each one fixed on a different element of the movement and at least one of which is mobile relative to the other and pivots about an axis. The mechanism is monobloc and flexible with a variable geometry, and includes a first elastic restoring mechanism producing an elastic connection between the first rigid element and an intermediate rigid element, and a second elastic restoring mechanism producing an elastic connection between the intermediate element and the second rigid element, which all are coplanar according to one plane and configured to be deformed according to the plane.

Abstract: An adjusting screw (1), particularly a screw for adjusting the inertia of a balance (2) of a clockwork oscillator, the screw comprising a longitudinal axis (3), this screw also comprising a first set (A0) of at least one reference (A1, A2, A3) for indicating the longitudinal position of the screw with respect to a member, notably the balance, into which the screw is screwed.

Abstract: A balance set for a timepiece, with inertia adjustment for adjusting inertia and/or balancing and/or oscillation frequency of the balance, with a balance including an insert inserted into a recess of a felloe connected to a hub by a joining surface. The balance includes on the felloe thereof an elastic holding mechanism including two antagonistic elastic lips which, when stressed, allow insertion of the insert into the recess and which, when released, prevent removal of the insert from the recess. A sprung balance or a timepiece can incorporate such a balance.

Abstract: A method of improving pivoting of a wheel set for a scientific instrument, including an arbor pivoting or oscillating about an axis, in which: static balancing of the wheel set is performed to bring the center of gravity onto the axis; a desired value is determined for resulting unbalance moment of the wheel set about the axis, corresponding to a predetermined divergence between a first principal longitudinal axis of inertia of the wheel set, and the axis; at a predetermined speed about the axis, the resulting unbalance moment is measured with regard to the axis; and an adjustment of the resulting unbalance moment is made within a given determined tolerance with regard to the desired value, and performed by machining both sides of a median plane including the two secondary axes of inertia of the wheel set.

Abstract: A temperature compensation-type balance includes a balance staff, and a balance wheel that has a plurality of bimetal portions which are disposed in parallel to each other in a circumferential direction around a rotational axle O of the balance staff and connection members which connect the plurality of bimetal portions and the balance staff. The bimetal portion is a layered body in which a first member and a second member are radially overlapped, and one end portion in the circumferential direction is a fixed end connected to the connection member and the other end portion in the circumferential direction is a free end. The first member is formed of a ceramic material, and the second member is formed of a metal material having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the first member.

Abstract: Controller for a clockwork mechanism, having the following components: a balance wheel; a piezoelectric helical spring (20); an electronic circuit for coordinating the stiffness of the piezoelectric helical spring (20); characterized in that the electronic circuit has a plurality of capacitors which can be switched individually (222, 224, 226, 228).

Abstract: A mechanical oscillator isochronism corrector comprising a frame (12), a flexible blade (14) integral with the frame to act on a mechanical oscillator at a contact portion (14a) presented by the blade, and a first element for adjusting the pre-stress of the flexible blade including a pre-stress finger (22) acting on the flexible blade, the first adjustment element being integral with the frame.

Abstract: An oscillating body made of a copper alloy such as a copper-beryllium alloy or a tungsten-copper alloy for mechanical oscillating systems of wristwatches, having several mass weights arranged at regular angle distances around an oscillating body middle axis that respectively can rotate or swivel on the oscillating body on an axis parallel to the oscillating body axis and have a mass center of gravity that is radially offset to their axis.

Abstract: Oscillating body for mechanical oscillating systems of wristwatches, having several mass weights arranged at regular angle distances around an oscillating body middle axis that respectively can rotate or swivel on the oscillating body on an axis parallel to the oscillating body axis and have a mass center of gravity that is radially offset to their axis.

Abstract: A timepiece component, such as a balance, an oscillating mass or a wheel, having a structure made according to a micro-manufacturing technique, such as the DRIE technique. The component has at least one member formed in or at the periphery of the structure and made of a material different from that of the structure. This member is typically metal and is formed by electro-forming using a cavity of the structure as a mold.

Abstract: Anti-trip device (1) for a balance (2) pivoting about an axis (D1) whose position is fixed relative to a plate (3). It includes a banking pin (5) on said plate (3), a bistable assembly (8) including: a rotor (9) which is synchronous with said balance (2) and a lever (11) pivoting about another axis (D2) of said rotor (9) between two extreme positions of indexing means (12) memorizing the position of said balance (2), the trajectory of said lever (11) partially interfering with said banking pin (5) when said balance (2) is pivoting; means (15) for limiting amplitude in the event of a shock, which includes stop means (16) between said lever (11) and said banking pin (5), forming a pivot stop during a normal arc of the balance and which, when pressed, generates a change of position in said indexing means (12) and a stop for said balance (2) in the event of knocking.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite balance (45, 45?) formed in a layer of silicon-based material (21) and including a hub (39, 39?) connected to a felloe (37, 37?) by at least one arm (40, 41, 42, 43). According to the invention, the felloe (37, 37?) includes at least one additional part approximately in the shape of a notched ring (23, 23?) of higher the than the silicon-based material, which increases the inertia of the balance. The invention also relates to a method 1 of manufacturing this type of balance. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a balance spring (1) including a first hairspring (3), second hairspring (5), and an attachment member (4) securing the outer coil of the first hairspring (3) to one end of the second hairspring (5) so as to form a dual balance spring (1) in series. The curve of the first hairspring (3) and the curve of the second hairspring (5) each have a continuously variable pitch and are symmetrical relative to a straight line (A) parallel to the first and second planes and passing through the median plane of projection (P) of the attachment member (4) and each hairspring (3, 5) further includes at least two counterweights (8, 8?, 9, 9?) so as to compensate for the unbalance formed by the mass of the attachment member (4) and personalise the anisochronism slope of the balance spring (1).

Abstract: A balance wheel having a thermally adjustable moment of inertia is described. In one aspect, the balance wheel includes radially movable compensation portions formed of shape memory material exhibiting a two-way memory effect. The radius of gyration of the balance wheel is therefore adjustable with temperature to compensate for thermoelastic effects in a balance spring attached to the balance wheel. In another aspect, a thermally stable balance wheel includes dynamically adjusting appendages whose expansion or contraction with temperature relative to the balance wheel cause change in its moment of inertia. The invention can compensate for both ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ thermoelastic spring behavior.

Abstract: The invention relates to a balance spring (1, 1?) including a first hairspring (3, 3?) the curve of which extends in a first plane, a second hairspring (5, 5?) the curve of which extends in a second plane parallel to the first plane, an attachment member (4, 4?) securing one end of the curve of the first hairspring (3, 3?) to one end of the curve of the second hairspring (5, 5?) so as to form a dual balance spring (1, 1?) in series. According to the invention, the curve of the first hairspring (3, 3?) and the curve of the second hairspring (5, 5?) each include a continuously variable pitch and are symmetrical relative to a straight line (A) parallel to the first and second planes and passing through the median plane of projection of the attachment member (4, 4?) and in that each curve respects the relations. Px(0)=0 and Py(1)=2Py(0) in order to reduce displacements of the centre of mass thereof during contraction and expansion. The invention concerns the field of sprung balance resonators.

Abstract: A movement for a timepiece, that includes: a housing (10, 12); an energy source; a gear driven by the energy source (14); a frame (26) for a tourbillon (18) rotatingly mounted on the housing (10, 12) about a first axis (AA) and driven by the gear (14); a balance (32) mounted so as to oscillate in bearings on the frame (26); and an escapement (16, 34) including a fixed wheel (16) and a control member (34) interacting with the balance (32), the fixed wheel (16) sustaining the balance (32). In this movement, the bearings are arranged so that the balance (32) oscillates about a second axis (BB) inclined relative to the first axis (AA).

Abstract: The balance comprising a felloe (3), arms (4) connecting the felloe (3) to the balance staff and inertia blocks (11) is characterized in that the felloe (3) includes studs (7) in its inner surface, a threaded hole (9) into which said inertia blocks (11) are screwed from the inside, without passing beyond the external surface of the felloe (3), passing through said felloe (3) and said studs (7).

Abstract: The mechanism avoids the rate variations due to the effect of gravitation on a regulating organ of a timepiece whose regulating organ includes a sprung balance and an escape wheel mounted onto a platform. The platform includes an unbalance and is mounted so as to freely rotate about at least a first axis relative to a plate of the movement so that this platform will rotate about the first axis under the effect of terrestrial gravitation. This mechanism includes a wheelwork with a driving kinematical chain linking the escape wheel to a barrel system of the timepiece, and a corrective kinematical chain compensating the movements and speed of the platform relative to the plate, so that these movements of the platform will not perturb the chronometry of the timepiece, this wheelwork including one or several epicycloidal gear trains, each of which contains wheels with straight toothing exclusively.

Abstract: The invention concerns a base module comprising a barrel device, a display device, and a power reserve indicator, all the components of the module being placed vertically relative to the flanks of the case, and the adjusting member being arranged visibly and directly accessible on the flank of the case.

Abstract: The balance wheel, particularly for a timepiece movement, provided with an adjustment device of its inertia to adjust its frequency of oscillation, comprises a rim (1) of circular shape, free from projecting portions, connected by radial arms (2) to a hub (3). At the intersection of each arm (2) with the rim (1) the latter comprises a recess (4) opening on one of its surfaces, the bottom of this recess (4) comprising a passage (6) opening on the other surface of the rim (1). Balance weights (7) having a general U shape are introduced into these recesses (4) by resilient deformation, these balance weights (7) being held in the desired angular position within corresponding recesses (4) by friction due to the resilience of these balance weights (7) themselves.

Abstract: According to a rate adjusting method, the movement of a mechanical timepiece is first assembled. The assembled movement is then disposed in a vertical position, and the rate is measured with respect to a plurality of vertical positions. On the basis of the result of this rate measurement, the magnitude and direction of the positional difference vector are calculated. On the basis of the result of this calculaton, the amount of weight to be added to or subtracted from the annular balance of the movement is calculated and the positions on the annular balance where this amount of weight is to be added to or to be subtracted from is calculated. Based on the results of these calculations, the amount of weight is added to or subtracted from the annular balance at the calculated positions.

Abstract: A mechanical watch movement of the type wherein a balance-cock supports a balance arranged to pivot in bearings about a fixed axis, and a balance-spring is fixed at its inner end to the balance and at its outer end to a bent arm of a thin, blanked plate constituting a support member detachable from the remainder of the movement.