EP4053644B1 - Natural escapement for timepiece movement and timepiece movement comprising such an escapement - Google Patents

Natural escapement for timepiece movement and timepiece movement comprising such an escapement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4053644B1
EP4053644B1 EP21205004.1A EP21205004A EP4053644B1 EP 4053644 B1 EP4053644 B1 EP 4053644B1 EP 21205004 A EP21205004 A EP 21205004A EP 4053644 B1 EP4053644 B1 EP 4053644B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
escapement
wheel
balance
anchor
natural
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EP21205004.1A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP4053644A1 (en
Inventor
Alain Zaugg
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Montres Breguet SA
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Montres Breguet SA
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B15/00—Escapements
    • G04B15/14—Component parts or constructional details, e.g. construction of the lever or the escape wheel
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B15/00—Escapements
    • G04B15/06—Free escapements
    • G04B15/08—Lever escapements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B15/00—Escapements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B17/00—Mechanisms for stabilising frequency
    • G04B17/04—Oscillators acting by spring tension
    • G04B17/06—Oscillators with hairsprings, e.g. balance
    • G04B17/063—Balance construction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a natural escapement for a watch movement, also known by its name tangential impulse escapement.
  • the present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such an escapement.
  • Breguet's natural escapement has the particular advantage of being a free escapement to the extent that the balance wheel is only disturbed by the operation of the escapement over a small fraction of its oscillation. Breguet's natural escapement also has the advantage of giving each alternation a direct and tangential impulse to the balance wheel. In other words, energy is transferred directly from the escape wheel to the balance wheel, without passing through an anchor. Furthermore, the transmission of energy occurs only tangentially, so that the friction generated by the operation of this exhaust is limited.
  • the balance of a natural escapement does not have a wasted stroke; it receives a similar impulse at each alternation, in a symmetrical and more uniform manner, so that the losses of mechanical energy per lost stroke are eliminated. All these qualities make the natural exhaust potentially one of the most efficient exhausts.
  • the documents CH 714 200 A1 And CH 709 328 A2 each disclose a natural escapement for a clock movement carrying out a succession of operating cycles each composed of a first and a second alternation of a balance.
  • the present invention aims to remedy the problems mentioned above as well as others by providing a natural escapement for a watch movement which is in particular less bulky and whose anchor is more easily accessible for measurement and adjustment.
  • the present invention relates to a natural escapement for a watch movement carrying out a succession of operating cycles each composed of a first and a second alternation of a balance wheel which comprises a balance wheel as well as a plate balance wheel adjusted on an axis of the balance wheel, this natural escapement comprising a first escape wheel arranged to be driven by a second wheel, this first escape wheel in turn driving a second escape wheel arranged in the same plane as the first escape wheel, an anchor capable of pivoting around an anchor rod, this anchor comprising means for temporarily blocking the first escape wheel during the first alternation, and means for temporarily block the second escape wheel during the second alternation, the anchor rod being located outside an angle less than 180° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the first escape wheel for one, and by the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the second escape wheel for the other.
  • the invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a natural escapement of the type described above.
  • the present invention provides a natural escapement in which the anchor which alternately blocks and releases the first escape wheel and the second escape wheel has its anchor rod located outside an angle less than 180 ° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the first escape wheel for one, and by the axis of the balance wheel and by an axis of pivoting of the second escape wheel for the other.
  • first and second escape wheels are each in one piece and each have a single level of teeth.
  • these first and second escape wheels are not active at two distinct stepped levels. They are therefore less bulky and easier to machine.
  • the necessary indexing of the teeth used to transmit the driving impulses to the balance plate when using two superimposed escape wheels is avoided. Indeed, in the case of the invention, the indexing of the single toothing of the first and second escapement wheels which ensures both the meshing of these two drive wheels with each other and the transmission of the driving impulses to the balance plate arises from the very shape of this toothing.
  • the present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea which consists of arranging the anchor of a natural escapement also known by its name tangential impulse escapement, so that its anchor rod is located outside an angle less than 180 ° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the first escape wheel for one, and by the axis of the balance wheel and by an axis of pivoting of the second escape wheel for the other.
  • Such an arrangement much less bulky than when the anchor of the natural escapement is placed between the escapement wheels, also offers the watchmaker easier access to the first and second stop pallets of the anchor and therefore greater convenience in measuring and adjusting the depth of penetration of these pallets into the teeth of the first and second escape wheels.
  • first and second escape wheels being only active at a single level, they are thinner and therefore less bulky and easier to machine.
  • indexing of their impulse teeth results from the very shape of their teeth and not from a tedious assembly of two superimposed escape wheels.
  • the natural escapement according to the invention is arranged to be driven by a second wheel 2 which meshes with a pinion 4 fixedly mounted on an axis 6 of a first escape wheel 8.
  • This first escape wheel 8 in turn meshes via teeth 10 with a second escape wheel 12 which pivots around an axis 14.
  • the natural escapement 1 also comprises a balance wheel 16 which comprises a balance wheel 18 on an axis 20 to which a balance plate 22 is fitted.
  • This balance plate 22 carries a balance pin 24 as well as a first and a second pulse pallet 26 and 28 whose respective roles will be described below.
  • the natural escapement 1 finally comprises an anchor 30 pivoted around an anchor rod 32 and which carries a first stop pallet 34 and a second stop pallet 36.
  • These first and second stop pallets stop 34 and 36 can be made in one piece with the anchor 30 or be attached to this anchor 30 in the form of two pieces separated. Thanks to these first and second stop pallets 34 and 36 which respectively penetrate into the teeth 10 of the first escape wheel 8 and into a tooth 38 of the second escape wheel 12, the anchor 30 is able to alternately block and release these first and second escape wheels 8 and 12.
  • the anchor 30 also includes a fork 40 formed by a first and a second horn 42a and 42b and which carries a stinger 44. This stinger 44 cooperates with the balance plate 22 and has the function of preventing accidental movements of the fork 40 outside of periods during which the balance plate 22 is in its rest position.
  • the pivot point of the anchor 30, materialized by the anchor rod 32 is outside the angle ⁇ less than 180° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis 20 of the balance wheel 18 and by the axis 6 of the first escape wheel 8 for one, and by the axis 20 of the balance wheel 18 and by the axis 14 of the second escape wheel 12 for the other.
  • the natural escapement 1 according to the invention is therefore less bulky than the natural escapements of the prior art in which the anchor is usually placed between and above the first and second escapement wheels.
  • the natural escapement 1 according to the invention is therefore simpler to house in the clock movement whose operation it regulates.
  • the arrangement of the anchor 30 outside the angle ⁇ less than 180° makes the watchmaker's interventions less difficult, in particular with regard to measuring and adjusting the depth of penetration of the first and second stop pallets 34 and 36 in the teeth 10 and 38 of the first and second escapement wheels 8 and 12, and measurements and adjustments of the heights of the first and second wheels 8 and 12 relative to the first and second pallets impulse 26 and 28 of the balance plate 22.
  • the natural escapement 1 is completed by a first and a second stop 46a and 46b which limit the movement of the anchor 30 in pivoting.
  • the second wheel 2 which supplies the natural escapement 1 with the energy necessary for its operation rotates in the direction of the clockwise d 'a watch.
  • the second wheel 2 therefore tends to rotate the pinion 4 and the first escape wheel 8 on the axis 6 of which the pinion 4 is fixed in the counterclockwise direction, and the second escape wheel 12 in the direction hourly.
  • An operating cycle of the natural escapement 1 comprises two alternations during which the balance plate 22 will go successively from a first extreme position to a second extreme position passing through a middle rest position, then from its second extreme position to its first extreme position by passing through its middle rest position a second time.
  • the first escape wheel 8 rests on the first stop pallet 34 and the natural escapement 1 is blocked by pressing the anchor 30 against the second stop 46b.
  • the pulling angle formed by pressing the tip of the tooth of the first escape wheel 8 on the first stop pallet 34 opposes resistance to the release of the anchor 30 by tending to rotate this anchor 30 counterclockwise against the second stop 46b.
  • the clockwise pivoting of the anchor 30 has the effect of releasing the first escape wheel 8 from its taken with the first stop pallet 34, which allows the second wheel 2 to drive, via the first escape wheel 8, the second escape wheel 12 in a clockwise direction (see Figure 2C ).
  • the pivoting of the second escape wheel 12 is interrupted again when, under the effect of the pivoting of the anchor 30, this second escape wheel 12 finds itself resting on the second stop pallet 36, this position being preserved thanks to the support of the anchor 30 against the first stop 46a (see Figure 2F ).
  • the pulling angle formed by pressing the tip of the tooth of the second escape wheel 12 on the second stop pallet 36 opposes resistance to the release of the anchor 30 by tending to rotate this anchor 30 clockwise against the first stop 46a.
  • This function of pulling the anchor 30 onto the first stop 46a by the second escapement wheel 12 during the free part of the alternation of the balance plate 22 is similar to that of Swiss anchor escapements.
  • the second escape wheel 12 also gives a driving impulse to the balance plate 22 via the one of its teeth 48 called the impulse tooth which drives the second impulse pallet 28 (see Figure 2C ).
  • This driving impulse is called direct and tangential impulse because it is given directly by the second escape wheel 12 to the balance plate 22 and the path of the impulse tooth 48 catches up with that of the second impulse vane 28 of the plate of balance 22 in a tangential manner, which allows almost punctual and frictionless contact.
  • the balance plate 22 thus moves to its second extreme position in which it is completely moved away from its rest position, which marks the end of the first alternation of operation of the natural escapement 1 (see figure 2E ).
  • the balance plate 22 recalled by the spiral spring of the balance (not visible in the drawing), begins to rotate clockwise until it comes to abut with its balance pin 24 against the second horn 42b of the fork 40 and causes the pivoting of the anchor 30 in the counterclockwise direction (see Figure 2F ).
  • the anticlockwise pivoting of the anchor 30 has the effect of releasing the second escape wheel 12 from its grip with the second stop pallet 36, which allows the second mobile 2 to drive, via the first escape wheel 8, the second escape wheel 12 clockwise (see figure 2G ).
  • the pivoting of the second escape wheel 12 is interrupted again when, under the effect of the pivoting of the anchor 30, the first escape wheel 8 finds itself resting on the first stop pallet 34, this position being preserved thanks to the support of the anchor 30 against the second stop 46b (see Figure 2H ). Indeed, the pulling angle formed by pressing the tip of the tooth of the first escape wheel 8 on the first stop pallet 34 opposes resistance to the release of the anchor 30 by tending to rotate this anchor 30 counterclockwise against the second stop 46b.
  • the first escape wheel 8 also gives a so-called direct and tangential driving impulse to the balance plate. 22 via one of its teeth 50 called the impulse tooth which drives the first impulse pallet 26 (see figure 2G ).
  • the impulse is so named because it is given directly by the first escape wheel 8 to the balance plate 22 and the path of the impulse tooth 50 catches up with that of the first impulse vane 26 of the balance plate 22 tangentially, which allows almost punctual and frictionless contact.
  • the balance plate 22 thus returns to its first extreme position, this which marks the end of an operating cycle of natural exhaust 1 (see Figure 2I ).
  • first and second stops 46a and 46b can also be ensured by a specific shape of the first and second stop pallets 34 and 36 and of the impulse teeth 48 and 50.
  • the pin balance wheel 24 is located outside an acute angle ⁇ delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis 20 of the balance wheel 18 and by the first impulse vane 26, respectively by the second impulse vane 28.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Micromachines (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)

Description

Domaine technique de l'inventionTechnical field of the invention

La présente invention concerne un échappement naturel pour mouvement d'horlogerie encore connu sous sa dénomination échappement à impulsion tangentielle. La présente invention concerne également un mouvement d'horlogerie comprenant un tel échappement.The present invention relates to a natural escapement for a watch movement, also known by its name tangential impulse escapement. The present invention also relates to a watch movement comprising such an escapement.

Arrière-plan technologiqueTechnology background

Le principe de l'échappement naturel a été imaginé par Abraham Louis Breguet au début du XIXe siècle. L'échappement naturel de Breguet a notamment pour avantage d'être un échappement libre dans la mesure où le balancier n'est perturbé par le fonctionnement de l'échappement que sur une faible fraction de son oscillation. L'échappement naturel de Breguet a aussi pour avantage de donner à chaque alternance une impulsion directe et tangentielle au balancier. Autrement dit, l'énergie est transférée directement de la roue d'échappement au balancier, sans passer par une ancre. Par ailleurs, la transmission de l'énergie se fait uniquement de manière tangentielle, de sorte que les frottements engendrés par le fonctionnement de cet échappement sont limités. Contrairement au balancier d'un échappement à détente, le balancier d'un échappement naturel ne présente pas de coup perdu ; il reçoit une impulsion semblable à chaque alternance, de manière symétrique et plus uniforme, de sorte que les pertes d'énergie mécanique par coup perdu sont supprimées. Toutes ces qualités font ainsi de l'échappement naturel un échappement potentiellement parmi les plus performants.The principle of the natural escapement was imagined by Abraham Louis Breguet at the beginning of the 19th century. Breguet's natural escapement has the particular advantage of being a free escapement to the extent that the balance wheel is only disturbed by the operation of the escapement over a small fraction of its oscillation. Breguet's natural escapement also has the advantage of giving each alternation a direct and tangential impulse to the balance wheel. In other words, energy is transferred directly from the escape wheel to the balance wheel, without passing through an anchor. Furthermore, the transmission of energy occurs only tangentially, so that the friction generated by the operation of this exhaust is limited. Unlike the balance of a detent escapement, the balance of a natural escapement does not have a wasted stroke; it receives a similar impulse at each alternation, in a symmetrical and more uniform manner, so that the losses of mechanical energy per lost stroke are eliminated. All these qualities make the natural exhaust potentially one of the most efficient exhausts.

Breguet découvrit néanmoins par la suite que l'échappement naturel qu'il avait imaginé présentait certains inconvénients au premier rang desquels on peut citer le fait que la dernière roue d'échappement n'est pas sous la tension du rouage lorsque la première roue donne l'impulsion ou lorsque cette dernière est au repos. Les différents jeux d'engrenage et la qualité de fabrication des différents composants entrant dans la composition d'un échappement naturel de Breguet peuvent ainsi provoquer un mauvais positionnement de la dernière roue d'échappement et, partant, un mauvais fonctionnement de l'échappement s'accompagnant de bruits parasites. En outre, comme la roue d'échappement est libre, sa position est instable, de sorte que la sécurité de fonctionnement d'un tel échappement naturel est médiocre.Breguet nevertheless subsequently discovered that the natural escapement that he had imagined presented certain disadvantages, chief among which we can cite the fact that the last escape wheel is not under the tension of the cog when the first wheel gives the impulse or when the latter is at rest. The different sets of gears and the manufacturing quality of the different components included in the composition of a Breguet natural escapement can thus cause incorrect positioning of the last escape wheel and, therefore, poor functioning of the escapement. 'accompanied by extraneous noise. In addition, because the escape wheel is free, its position is unstable, so the operational safety of such a natural escapement is poor.

Bien entendu, de nombreux perfectionnements ont été apportés à l'échappement naturel de Breguet originel pour tenter de surmonter les inconvénients mentionnés ci-dessus. Néanmoins, malgré les efforts des constructeurs horlogers successifs, des difficultés subsistent. Certains horlogers ont ainsi proposé de superposer les deux roues d'échappement, solution qui, bien entendu, augmente l'épaisseur du mouvement et rend difficile l'intégration d'un tel mouvement dans une boîte de montre. D'autres constructeurs horlogers ont quant à eux proposé de positionner l'ancre entre les deux roues d'échappement, dans le plan de ces dernières. Là aussi, une telle solution est encombrante, cette fois-ci dans le plan du mouvement. De plus, que les roues d'échappement soient superposées ou bien que l'ancre soit disposée entre les deux roues d'échappement, on s'est rendu compte à l'usage que les horlogers éprouvaient des difficultés pour accéder aux divers composants de l'échappement, en particulier lorsqu'il s'agissait d'ajuster la profondeur de pénétration des dents de la première et de la seconde roue d'échappement avec les palettes de sortie et d'entrée de l'ancre.Of course, many improvements were made to the original Breguet natural escapement in an attempt to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above. However, despite the efforts of successive watch manufacturers, difficulties remain. Some watchmakers have therefore proposed superimposing the two escapement wheels, a solution which, of course, increases the thickness of the movement and makes it difficult to integrate such a movement into a watch case. Other watch manufacturers have proposed positioning the anchor between the two escape wheels, in the plane of the latter. Here too, such a solution is cumbersome, this time in terms of movement. Furthermore, whether the escape wheels are superimposed or whether the pallet is placed between the two escape wheels, we realized in use that watchmakers experienced difficulties in accessing the various components of the escape wheel. The escapement, in particular when it came to adjusting the depth of penetration of the teeth of the first and second escape wheel with the exit and entry pallets of the anchor.

Les documents CH 714 200 A1 et CH 709 328 A2 divulguent chacun un échappement naturel pour mouvement d'horlogerie effectuant une succession de cycles de fonctionnement composés chacun d'une première et d'une seconde alternance d'un balancier.The documents CH 714 200 A1 And CH 709 328 A2 each disclose a natural escapement for a clock movement carrying out a succession of operating cycles each composed of a first and a second alternation of a balance.

Résumé de l'inventionSummary of the invention

La présente invention a pour but de remédier aux problèmes mentionnés ci-dessus ainsi qu'à d'autres encore en procurant un échappement naturel pour un mouvement d'horlogerie qui soit notamment moins encombrant et dont l'ancre est plus facilement accessible pour la mesure et le réglage.The present invention aims to remedy the problems mentioned above as well as others by providing a natural escapement for a watch movement which is in particular less bulky and whose anchor is more easily accessible for measurement and adjustment.

A cet effet, la présente invention concerne un échappement naturel pour mouvement d'horlogerie effectuant une succession de cycles de fonctionnement composés chacun d'une première et d'une seconde alternance d'un balancier qui comprend une roue de balancier ainsi qu'un plateau de balancier ajusté sur un axe de la roue de balancier, cet échappement naturel comprenant une première roue d'échappement agencée pour être entraînée par un mobile de seconde, cette première roue d'échappement entraînant à son tour une seconde roue d'échappement agencée dans un même plan que la première roue d'échappement, une ancre apte à pivoter autour d'une tige d'ancre, cette ancre comprenant des moyens pour bloquer temporairement la première roue d'échappement au cours de la première alternance, et des moyens pour bloquer temporairement la seconde roue d'échappement au cours de la seconde alternance, la tige d'ancre étant située hors d'un angle inférieur à 180° et délimité par deux droites qui passent par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par un axe de pivotement de la première roue d'échappement pour l'une, et par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par un axe de pivotement de la seconde roue d'échappement pour l'autre.For this purpose, the present invention relates to a natural escapement for a watch movement carrying out a succession of operating cycles each composed of a first and a second alternation of a balance wheel which comprises a balance wheel as well as a plate balance wheel adjusted on an axis of the balance wheel, this natural escapement comprising a first escape wheel arranged to be driven by a second wheel, this first escape wheel in turn driving a second escape wheel arranged in the same plane as the first escape wheel, an anchor capable of pivoting around an anchor rod, this anchor comprising means for temporarily blocking the first escape wheel during the first alternation, and means for temporarily block the second escape wheel during the second alternation, the anchor rod being located outside an angle less than 180° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the first escape wheel for one, and by the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the second escape wheel for the other.

Selon des formes spéciales d'exécution de l'invention :

  • l'ancre comprend une première palette d'arrêt pour bloquer temporairement la première roue d'échappement au cours de la première alternance, et une seconde palette d'arrêt pour bloquer temporairement la seconde roue d'échappement au cours de la seconde alternance ;
  • le plateau de balancier porte une cheville de balancier par laquelle ce plateau de balancier provoque le pivotement de l'ancre à chacune des première et seconde alternances, le plateau de balancier portant également une seconde palette d'impulsion par laquelle ce plateau de balancier reçoit une impulsion motrice directe et tangentielle de la seconde roue d'échappement lors de la première alternance, et une première palette d'impulsion par laquelle ce plateau de balancier reçoit une impulsion motrice directe et tangentielle de la première roue d'échappement lors de la seconde alternance, la cheville de balancier étant située hors d'un angle aigu délimité par deux droites qui passent par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par la première palette d'impulsion pour l'une, et par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par la seconde palette d'impulsion pour l'autre ;
  • la première roue d'échappement comprend une denture qui s'étend dans un plan unique et par laquelle cette première roue d'échappement engrène avec la seconde roue d'échappement et fournit l'impulsion motrice directe et tangentielle au plateau de balancier lors de la seconde alternance ;
  • la seconde roue d'échappement comprend une denture qui s'étend dans un plan unique et par laquelle cette seconde roue d'échappement engrène avec la première roue d'échappement et fournit l'impulsion motrice directe et tangentielle au plateau de balancier lors de la première alternance ;
  • l'ancre comprend une fourchette formée d'une première et d'une seconde corne, le plateau de balancier venant buter par sa cheville de balancier contre la première corne de la fourchette et provoquant le pivotement de cette ancre dans un premier sens lors de la première alternance, et contre la seconde corne lors de la seconde alternance, provoquant le pivotement de l'ancre dans un second sens opposé au premier ;
  • la fourchette porte un dard qui coopère avec le plateau de balancier pour empêcher les déplacements accidentels de la fourchette ;
  • les première et seconde roues d'échappement sont chacune monoblocs et comprennent un seul niveau de denture chacune.
According to special forms of execution of the invention:
  • the anchor comprises a first stop pallet for temporarily blocking the first escape wheel during the first alternation, and a second stop pallet for temporarily blocking the second escape wheel during the second alternation;
  • the balance plate carries a balance pin by which this balance plate causes the anchor to pivot at each of the first and second alternations, the balance plate also carrying a second impulse pallet by which this balance plate receives a direct and tangential driving impulse from the second escape wheel during the first alternation, and a first impulse pallet by which this balance plate receives a direct and tangential driving impulse from the first escape wheel during the second alternation , the balance pin being located outside an acute angle delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis of the balance wheel and by the first impulse pallet for one, and by the axis of the balance wheel balance wheel and by the second impulse palette for the other;
  • the first escape wheel comprises teeth which extend in a single plane and by which this first escape wheel meshes with the second escape wheel and provides the direct and tangential driving impulse to the balance plate during the second alternation;
  • the second escape wheel comprises teeth which extend in a single plane and by which this second escape wheel meshes with the first escape wheel and provides the direct and tangential driving impulse to the balance plate during the first alternation;
  • the anchor comprises a fork formed of a first and a second horn, the balance plate abutting with its balance pin against the first horn of the fork and causing the pivoting of this anchor in a first direction during the first alternation, and against the second horn during the second alternation, causing the anchor to pivot in a second direction opposite to the first;
  • the fork carries a dart which cooperates with the balance plate to prevent accidental movements of the fork;
  • the first and second escape wheels are each in one piece and each comprise a single level of teeth.

L'invention concerne également un mouvement d'horlogerie comprenant un échappement naturel du type décrit ci-dessus.The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a natural escapement of the type described above.

Grâce à ces caractéristiques, la présente invention procure un échappement naturel dans lequel l'ancre qui bloque et libère alternativement la première roue d'échappement et la seconde roue d'échappement a sa tige d'ancre située hors d'un angle inférieur à 180° et délimité par deux droites qui passent par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par un axe de pivotement de la première roue d'échappement pour l'une, et par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par un axe de pivotement de la seconde roue d'échappement pour l'autre. Cette solution, bien moins encombrante et donc plus facile à loger dans un mouvement d'horlogerie que lorsque l'ancre est disposée entre les deux roues d'échappement, offre également un accès plus facile aux horlogers et permet à ces derniers de mesurer et de régler de manière plus commode la profondeur de pénétration des dents des première et seconde roues d'échappement avec les première et seconde palettes d'arrêt de l'ancre, ainsi que les hauteurs des roues d'échappement en regard des palettes d'impulsion du balancier. Par ailleurs, les première et seconde roues d'échappement sont chacune monoblocs et comprennent un seul niveau de denture chacune. Autrement dit, ces première et seconde roues d'échappement ne sont pas actives selon deux niveaux étagés distincts. Elles sont donc moins encombrantes et plus aisées à usiner. De plus, la nécessaire indexation des dents servant à transmettre les impulsions motrices au plateau de balancier lorsque l'on utilise deux roues d'échappement superposées est évité. En effet, dans le cas de l'invention, l'indexation de la denture unique des première et seconde roues d'échappement qui assure à la fois l'engrènement de ces deux roues d'entraînement entre elles et la transmission des impulsions motrices au plateau de balancier découle de la forme même de cette denture.Thanks to these characteristics, the present invention provides a natural escapement in which the anchor which alternately blocks and releases the first escape wheel and the second escape wheel has its anchor rod located outside an angle less than 180 ° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the first escape wheel for one, and by the axis of the balance wheel and by an axis of pivoting of the second escape wheel for the other. This solution, much less bulky and therefore easier to accommodate in a watch movement than when the anchor is placed between the two escapement wheels, also offers easier access to watchmakers and allows them to measure and more conveniently adjust the depth of penetration of the teeth of the first and second escape wheels with the first and second stop pallets of the anchor, as well as the heights of the escape wheels in relation to the impulse pallets of the anchor pendulum. Furthermore, the first and second escape wheels are each in one piece and each have a single level of teeth. In other words, these first and second escape wheels are not active at two distinct stepped levels. They are therefore less bulky and easier to machine. In addition, the necessary indexing of the teeth used to transmit the driving impulses to the balance plate when using two superimposed escape wheels is avoided. Indeed, in the case of the invention, the indexing of the single toothing of the first and second escapement wheels which ensures both the meshing of these two drive wheels with each other and the transmission of the driving impulses to the balance plate arises from the very shape of this toothing.

Brève description des figuresBrief description of the figures

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront plus clairement de la description détaillée qui suit d'un mode de réalisation d'un échappement naturel selon l'invention, cet exemple étant donné à titre purement illustratif et non limitatif seulement en liaison avec le dessin annexé sur lequel :

  • la figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble de l'échappement naturel selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 2A est une vue de l'échappement naturel dans sa première position extrême au début d'un cycle ;
  • la figure 2B est une vue de l'échappement naturel dans sa position de repos lors de la première alternance au moment où le plateau de balancier est sur le point de faire pivoter l'ancre ;
  • la figure 2C est une vue de l'échappement naturel au moment où la première roue d'échappement est libérée de sa prise avec la première palette d'arrêt, ce qui permet au mobile de seconde d'entraîner, via la première roue d'échappement, la seconde roue d'échappement, cette seconde roue d'échappement donnant en outre, par sa dent d'impulsion, une impulsion motrice dite directe et tangentielle à la seconde palette d'impulsion du plateau de balancier ;
  • la figure 2D est une vue de l'échappement naturel au moment où le pivotement de la seconde roue d'échappement est à nouveau interrompu lorsque, sous l'effet du pivotement de l'ancre, cette seconde roue d'échappement se retrouve en appui sur la seconde palette d'arrêt ;
  • la figure 2E est une vue de l'échappement naturel au moment où le plateau de balancier se trouve dans sa seconde position extrême dans laquelle il est complètement écarté de sa position de repos, ce qui marque la fin de la première alternance de fonctionnement de l'échappement naturel ;
  • la figure 2F est une vue de l'échappement naturel au moment où, lors de la seconde alternance, le plateau de balancier est revenu dans sa position de repos et est sur le point de faire à nouveau pivoter l'ancre ;
  • la figure 2G est une vue de l'échappement naturel au moment où la seconde roue d'échappement est libérée de sa prise avec la seconde palette d'arrêt, ce qui permet au mobile de seconde d'entraîner, via la première roue d'échappement, cette seconde roue d'échappement, la première roue d'échappement donnant une impulsion motrice dite directe et tangentielle au plateau de balancier via la première palette d'impulsion ;
  • la figure 2H est une vue de l'échappement naturel au moment où le pivotement de la première roue d'échappement est à nouveau interrompu lorsque, sous l'effet du pivotement de l'ancre, cette première roue d'échappement se retrouve en appui sur la première palette d'arrêt ;
  • la figure 2I est une vue de l'échappement naturel de retour dans sa première position extrême, ce qui marque la fin du cycle de fonctionnement de l'échappement naturel selon l'invention.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows of an embodiment of a natural exhaust according to the invention, this example being given for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes only in connection with the attached drawing in which:
  • there figure 1 is an overview of the natural exhaust according to the invention;
  • there Figure 2A is a view of the natural exhaust in its first extreme position at the start of a cycle;
  • there Figure 2B is a view of the natural escapement in its rest position during the first alternation at the moment when the balance plate is about to rotate the pallet;
  • there Figure 2C is a view of the natural escapement at the moment when the first escape wheel is released from its grip with the first stop pallet, which allows the second wheel to drive, via the first escape wheel, the second escape wheel, this second escape wheel also giving, through its impulse tooth, a so-called direct and tangential driving impulse to the second impulse vane of the balance plate;
  • there 2D figure is a view of the natural escapement at the moment when the pivoting of the second escapement wheel is again interrupted when, under the effect of the pivoting of the anchor, this second escapement wheel finds itself resting on the second stop pallet;
  • there figure 2E is a view of the natural escapement at the moment when the balance plate is in its second extreme position in which it is completely removed from its position rest, which marks the end of the first alternation of operation of the natural exhaust;
  • there Figure 2F is a view of the natural escapement at the moment when, during the second alternation, the balance plate has returned to its rest position and is about to rotate the pallet again;
  • there figure 2G is a view of the natural escapement at the moment when the second escape wheel is released from its grip with the second stop pallet, which allows the second wheel to drive, via the first escape wheel, this second escape wheel, the first escape wheel giving a so-called direct and tangential driving impulse to the balance plate via the first impulse pallet;
  • there Figure 2H is a view of the natural escapement at the moment when the pivoting of the first escape wheel is interrupted again when, under the effect of the pivoting of the anchor, this first escape wheel finds itself resting on the first stop pallet;
  • there Figure 2I is a view of the natural exhaust returning to its first extreme position, which marks the end of the operating cycle of the natural exhaust according to the invention.

Description détaillée de l'inventionDetailed description of the invention

La présente invention procède de l'idée générale inventive qui consiste à disposer l'ancre d'un échappement naturel également connu sous sa dénomination échappement à impulsion tangentielle, de façon que sa tige d'ancre soit située hors d'un angle inférieur à 180° et délimité par deux droites qui passent par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par un axe de pivotement de la première roue d'échappement pour l'une, et par l'axe de la roue de balancier et par un axe de pivotement de la seconde roue d'échappement pour l'autre. Un tel agencement, bien moins encombrant que lorsque l'ancre de l'échappement naturel est disposée entre les roues d'échappement, offre également à l'horloger un accès plus facile aux première et seconde palettes d'arrêt de l'ancre et donc plus de commodité pour mesurer et régler la profondeur de pénétration de ces palettes dans les dents des première et seconde roues d'échappement. Cet agencement permet également de mieux voir les roues d'échappement au moment où elles communiquent l'impulsion motrice aux palettes d'impulsion du plateau de balancier et donc de régler plus facilement la hauteur de ces roues d'échappement. De même, les première et seconde roues d'échappement n'étant actives que selon un seul niveau, elles sont moins épaisses et donc moins encombrantes et plus faciles à usiner. En outre, l'indexation de leurs dents d'impulsion découle de la forme même de leurs dentures et pas d'un assemblage fastidieux de deux roues d'échappement superposées.The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea which consists of arranging the anchor of a natural escapement also known by its name tangential impulse escapement, so that its anchor rod is located outside an angle less than 180 ° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis of the balance wheel and by a pivot axis of the first escape wheel for one, and by the axis of the balance wheel and by an axis of pivoting of the second escape wheel for the other. Such an arrangement, much less bulky than when the anchor of the natural escapement is placed between the escapement wheels, also offers the watchmaker easier access to the first and second stop pallets of the anchor and therefore greater convenience in measuring and adjusting the depth of penetration of these pallets into the teeth of the first and second escape wheels. This arrangement also makes it possible to better see the escape wheels at the moment when they communicate the driving impulse to the impulse pallets of the balance plate and therefore to more easily adjust the height of these escape wheels. Likewise, the first and second escape wheels being only active at a single level, they are thinner and therefore less bulky and easier to machine. In addition, the indexing of their impulse teeth results from the very shape of their teeth and not from a tedious assembly of two superimposed escape wheels.

Désigné dans son ensemble par la référence numérique générale 1, l'échappement naturel selon l'invention est agencé pour être entraîné par un mobile de seconde 2 qui engrène avec un pignon 4 monté fixe sur un axe 6 d'une première roue d'échappement 8. Cette première roue d'échappement 8 engrène à son tour via une denture 10 avec une seconde roue d'échappement 12 qui pivote autour d'un axe 14.Designated as a whole by the general numerical reference 1, the natural escapement according to the invention is arranged to be driven by a second wheel 2 which meshes with a pinion 4 fixedly mounted on an axis 6 of a first escape wheel 8. This first escape wheel 8 in turn meshes via teeth 10 with a second escape wheel 12 which pivots around an axis 14.

L'échappement naturel 1 comprend également un balancier 16 qui comprend une roue de balancier 18 sur un axe 20 de laquelle est ajusté un plateau de balancier 22. Ce plateau de balancier 22 porte une cheville de balancier 24 de même qu'une première et une seconde palette d'impulsion 26 et 28 dont les rôles respectifs seront décrits ci-après.The natural escapement 1 also comprises a balance wheel 16 which comprises a balance wheel 18 on an axis 20 to which a balance plate 22 is fitted. This balance plate 22 carries a balance pin 24 as well as a first and a second pulse pallet 26 and 28 whose respective roles will be described below.

L'échappement naturel 1 selon l'invention comprend enfin une ancre 30 pivotée autour d'une tige d'ancre 32 et qui porte une première palette d'arrêt 34 et une seconde palette d'arrêt 36. Ces première et seconde palettes d'arrêt 34 et 36 peuvent être faites d'une pièce avec l'ancre 30 ou bien être rapportées sur cette ancre 30 sous la forme de deux pièces séparées. Grâce à ces première et seconde palettes d'arrêt 34 et 36 qui pénètrent respectivement dans la denture 10 de la première roue d'échappement 8 et dans une denture 38 de la seconde roue d'échappement 12, l'ancre 30 est à même de bloquer et de libérer alternativement ces première et seconde roues d'échappement 8 et 12. L'ancre 30 comprend également une fourchette 40 formée d'une première et d'une seconde corne 42a et 42b et qui porte un dard 44. Ce dard 44 coopère avec le plateau de balancier 22 et a pour fonction d'empêcher les déplacements accidentels de la fourchette 40 en dehors des périodes durant lesquelles le plateau de balancier 22 est dans sa position de repos.The natural escapement 1 according to the invention finally comprises an anchor 30 pivoted around an anchor rod 32 and which carries a first stop pallet 34 and a second stop pallet 36. These first and second stop pallets stop 34 and 36 can be made in one piece with the anchor 30 or be attached to this anchor 30 in the form of two pieces separated. Thanks to these first and second stop pallets 34 and 36 which respectively penetrate into the teeth 10 of the first escape wheel 8 and into a tooth 38 of the second escape wheel 12, the anchor 30 is able to alternately block and release these first and second escape wheels 8 and 12. The anchor 30 also includes a fork 40 formed by a first and a second horn 42a and 42b and which carries a stinger 44. This stinger 44 cooperates with the balance plate 22 and has the function of preventing accidental movements of the fork 40 outside of periods during which the balance plate 22 is in its rest position.

Selon l'invention, le point de pivotement de l'ancre 30, matérialisé par la tige d'ancre 32, se trouve hors de l'angle α inférieur à 180° et délimité par deux droites qui passent par l'axe 20 de la roue de balancier 18 et par l'axe 6 de la première roue d'échappement 8 pour l'une, et par l'axe 20 de la roue de balancier 18 et par l'axe 14 de la seconde roue d'échappement 12 pour l'autre. L'échappement naturel 1 selon l'invention est donc moins encombrant que les échappements naturels de l'art antérieur dans lesquels l'ancre est habituellement placée entre et au-dessus des première et seconde roues d'échappement. L'échappement naturel 1 selon l'invention est donc plus simple à loger dans le mouvement d'horlogerie dont il régule le fonctionnement. De même, l'agencement de l'ancre 30 hors de l'angle α inférieur à 180° rend les interventions de l'horloger moins difficiles, en particulier pour ce qui est de la mesure et du réglage de la profondeur de pénétration des première et seconde palettes d'arrêt 34 et 36 dans les dentures 10 et 38 des première et seconde roue d'échappement 8 et 12, et des mesures et des réglages des hauteurs des première et seconde roues 8 et 12 par rapport aux première et seconde palettes d'impulsion 26 et 28 du plateau de balancier 22. L'échappement naturel 1 est complété par une première et une seconde butée 46a et 46b qui limitent le débattement de l'ancre 30 en pivotement.According to the invention, the pivot point of the anchor 30, materialized by the anchor rod 32, is outside the angle α less than 180° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis 20 of the balance wheel 18 and by the axis 6 of the first escape wheel 8 for one, and by the axis 20 of the balance wheel 18 and by the axis 14 of the second escape wheel 12 for the other. The natural escapement 1 according to the invention is therefore less bulky than the natural escapements of the prior art in which the anchor is usually placed between and above the first and second escapement wheels. The natural escapement 1 according to the invention is therefore simpler to house in the clock movement whose operation it regulates. Likewise, the arrangement of the anchor 30 outside the angle α less than 180° makes the watchmaker's interventions less difficult, in particular with regard to measuring and adjusting the depth of penetration of the first and second stop pallets 34 and 36 in the teeth 10 and 38 of the first and second escapement wheels 8 and 12, and measurements and adjustments of the heights of the first and second wheels 8 and 12 relative to the first and second pallets impulse 26 and 28 of the balance plate 22. The natural escapement 1 is completed by a first and a second stop 46a and 46b which limit the movement of the anchor 30 in pivoting.

Dans le mode d'exécution de l'échappement naturel 1 selon l'invention illustré au dessin, on suppose que le mobile de seconde 2 qui fournit à l'échappement naturel 1 l'énergie nécessaire à son fonctionnement tourne dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre. Le mobile de seconde 2 tend par conséquent à faire tourner le pignon 4 et la première roue d'échappement 8 sur l'axe 6 de laquelle est fixé le pignon 4 dans le sens antihoraire, et la seconde roue d'échappement 12 dans le sens horaire.In the mode of execution of the natural escapement 1 according to the invention illustrated in the drawing, it is assumed that the second wheel 2 which supplies the natural escapement 1 with the energy necessary for its operation rotates in the direction of the clockwise d 'a watch. The second wheel 2 therefore tends to rotate the pinion 4 and the first escape wheel 8 on the axis 6 of which the pinion 4 is fixed in the counterclockwise direction, and the second escape wheel 12 in the direction hourly.

Un cycle de fonctionnement de l'échappement naturel 1 selon l'invention comprend deux alternances au cours desquelles le plateau de balancier 22 va aller successivement d'une première position extrême à une seconde position extrême en passant par une position de repos médiane, puis de sa seconde position extrême à sa première position extrême en repassant une seconde fois par sa position de repos médiane. Ainsi, au début d'un cycle (voir figure 2A), la première roue d'échappement 8 est en appui sur la première palette d'arrêt 34 et l'échappement naturel 1 est bloqué par appui de l'ancre 30 contre la seconde butée 46b. En effet, l'angle de tirage formé par appui de la pointe de la dent de la première roue d'échappement 8 sur la première palette d'arrêt 34 oppose une résistance au dégagement de l'ancre 30 en tendant à faire pivoter cette ancre 30 en sens antihoraire à l'encontre de la seconde butée 46b. Cette fonction de tirage de l'ancre 30 sur la seconde butée 46b par la première roue d'échappement 8 pendant la partie libre de l'alternance du plateau de balancier 22 est semblable à celle des échappements à ancre suisse. Le plateau de balancier 22 quitte alors cette première position extrême en tournant dans le sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre. A un moment donné de son déplacement durant la première alternance (voir figure 2B), le plateau de balancier 22 arrive dans sa position de repos médiane. Juste avant d'arriver dans cette position, le plateau de balancier 22 vient buter par sa cheville de balancier 24 contre la première corne 42a de la fourchette 40 et provoque le pivotement de l'ancre 30 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre. Le pivotement dans le sens horaire de l'ancre 30 a pour effet de libérer la première roue d'échappement 8 de sa prise avec la première palette d'arrêt 34, ce qui permet au mobile de seconde 2 d'entraîner, via la première roue d'échappement 8, la seconde roue d'échappement 12 dans le sens horaire (voir figure 2C). Le pivotement de la seconde roue d'échappement 12 est à nouveau interrompu lorsque, sous l'effet du pivotement de l'ancre 30, cette seconde roue d'échappement 12 se retrouve en appui sur la seconde palette d'arrêt 36, cette position étant conservée grâce à l'appui de l'ancre 30 contre la première butée 46a (voir figure 2F). En effet, l'angle de tirage formé par appui de la pointe de la dent de la seconde roue d'échappement 12 sur la seconde palette d'arrêt 36 oppose une résistance au dégagement de l'ancre 30 en tendant à faire pivoter cette ancre 30 en sens horaire à l'encontre de la première butée 46a. Cette fonction de tirage de l'ancre 30 sur la première butée 46a par la seconde roue d'échappement 12 pendant la partie libre de l'alternance du plateau de balancier 22 est semblable à celle des échappements à ancre suisse.An operating cycle of the natural escapement 1 according to the invention comprises two alternations during which the balance plate 22 will go successively from a first extreme position to a second extreme position passing through a middle rest position, then from its second extreme position to its first extreme position by passing through its middle rest position a second time. Thus, at the start of a cycle (see Figure 2A ), the first escape wheel 8 rests on the first stop pallet 34 and the natural escapement 1 is blocked by pressing the anchor 30 against the second stop 46b. Indeed, the pulling angle formed by pressing the tip of the tooth of the first escape wheel 8 on the first stop pallet 34 opposes resistance to the release of the anchor 30 by tending to rotate this anchor 30 counterclockwise against the second stop 46b. This function of pulling the anchor 30 on the second stop 46b by the first escapement wheel 8 during the free part of the alternation of the balance plate 22 is similar to that of Swiss anchor escapements. The balance plate 22 then leaves this first extreme position by rotating counterclockwise. At a given moment of its movement during the first alternation (see Figure 2B ), the balance plate 22 arrives in its central rest position. Just before arriving in this position, the balance plate 22 abuts through its balance pin 24 against the first horn 42a of the fork 40 and causes the pivoting of the anchor 30 in the direction of clockwise. The clockwise pivoting of the anchor 30 has the effect of releasing the first escape wheel 8 from its taken with the first stop pallet 34, which allows the second wheel 2 to drive, via the first escape wheel 8, the second escape wheel 12 in a clockwise direction (see Figure 2C ). The pivoting of the second escape wheel 12 is interrupted again when, under the effect of the pivoting of the anchor 30, this second escape wheel 12 finds itself resting on the second stop pallet 36, this position being preserved thanks to the support of the anchor 30 against the first stop 46a (see Figure 2F ). Indeed, the pulling angle formed by pressing the tip of the tooth of the second escape wheel 12 on the second stop pallet 36 opposes resistance to the release of the anchor 30 by tending to rotate this anchor 30 clockwise against the first stop 46a. This function of pulling the anchor 30 onto the first stop 46a by the second escapement wheel 12 during the free part of the alternation of the balance plate 22 is similar to that of Swiss anchor escapements.

On notera qu'en même temps que la première roue d'échappement 8 entraîne la seconde roue d'échappement 12 en pivotement dans le sens horaire, la seconde roue d'échappement 12 donne également une impulsion motrice au plateau de balancier 22 via l'une de ses dents 48 dite dent d'impulsion qui entraîne la seconde palette d'impulsion 28 (voir figure 2C). Cette impulsion motrice est appelée impulsion directe et tangentielle car elle est donnée directement par la seconde roue d'échappement 12 au plateau de balancier 22 et que le chemin de la dent d'impulsion 48 rattrape celui de la seconde palette d'impulsion 28 du plateau de balancier 22 de manière tangentielle, ce qui permet un contact quasi ponctuel et sans frottement. Le plateau de balancier 22 se déplace ainsi jusqu'à sa seconde position extrême dans laquelle il est complètement écarté de sa position de repos, ce qui marque la fin de la première alternance de fonctionnement de l'échappement naturel 1 (voir figure 2E).It will be noted that at the same time as the first escape wheel 8 drives the second escape wheel 12 in pivoting in the clockwise direction, the second escape wheel 12 also gives a driving impulse to the balance plate 22 via the one of its teeth 48 called the impulse tooth which drives the second impulse pallet 28 (see Figure 2C ). This driving impulse is called direct and tangential impulse because it is given directly by the second escape wheel 12 to the balance plate 22 and the path of the impulse tooth 48 catches up with that of the second impulse vane 28 of the plate of balance 22 in a tangential manner, which allows almost punctual and frictionless contact. The balance plate 22 thus moves to its second extreme position in which it is completely moved away from its rest position, which marks the end of the first alternation of operation of the natural escapement 1 (see figure 2E ).

Au début de la seconde alternance de fonctionnement de l'échappement naturel 1, le plateau de balancier 22, rappelé par le ressort spiral du balancier (non visible au dessin), se met à tourner dans le sens horaire jusqu'à ce qu'il vienne buter par sa cheville de balancier 24 contre la seconde corne 42b de la fourchette 40 et provoque le pivotement de l'ancre 30 dans le sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre (voir figure 2F). Le pivotement dans le sens antihoraire de l'ancre 30 a pour effet de libérer la seconde roue d'échappement 12 de sa prise avec la seconde palette d'arrêt 36, ce qui permet au mobile de seconde 2 d'entraîner, via la première roue d'échappement 8, la seconde roue d'échappement 12 dans le sens horaire (voir figure 2G). Le pivotement de la seconde roue d'échappement 12 est à nouveau interrompu lorsque, sous l'effet du pivotement de l'ancre 30, la première roue d'échappement 8 se retrouve en appui sur la première palette d'arrêt 34, cette position étant conservée grâce à l'appui de l'ancre 30 contre la seconde butée 46b (voir figure 2H). En effet, l'angle de tirage formé par appui de la pointe de la dent de la première roue d'échappement 8 sur la première palette d'arrêt 34 oppose une résistance au dégagement de l'ancre 30 en tendant à faire pivoter cette ancre 30 en sens antihoraire à l'encontre de la seconde butée 46b.At the start of the second alternation of operation of the natural escapement 1, the balance plate 22, recalled by the spiral spring of the balance (not visible in the drawing), begins to rotate clockwise until it comes to abut with its balance pin 24 against the second horn 42b of the fork 40 and causes the pivoting of the anchor 30 in the counterclockwise direction (see Figure 2F ). The anticlockwise pivoting of the anchor 30 has the effect of releasing the second escape wheel 12 from its grip with the second stop pallet 36, which allows the second mobile 2 to drive, via the first escape wheel 8, the second escape wheel 12 clockwise (see figure 2G ). The pivoting of the second escape wheel 12 is interrupted again when, under the effect of the pivoting of the anchor 30, the first escape wheel 8 finds itself resting on the first stop pallet 34, this position being preserved thanks to the support of the anchor 30 against the second stop 46b (see Figure 2H ). Indeed, the pulling angle formed by pressing the tip of the tooth of the first escape wheel 8 on the first stop pallet 34 opposes resistance to the release of the anchor 30 by tending to rotate this anchor 30 counterclockwise against the second stop 46b.

On notera qu'en même temps que la première roue d'échappement 8 entraîne la seconde roue d'échappement 12 en pivotement dans le sens horaire, la première roue d'échappement 8 donne également une impulsion motrice dite directe et tangentielle au plateau de balancier 22 via l'une de ses dents 50 dite dent d'impulsion qui entraîne la première palette d'impulsion 26 (voir figure 2G). L'impulsion est ainsi nommée car elle est donnée directement par la première roue d'échappement 8 au plateau de balancier 22 et que le chemin de la dent d'impulsion 50 rattrape celui de la première palette d'impulsion 26 du plateau de balancier 22 de manière tangentielle, ce qui permet un contact quasi ponctuel et sans frottement. Le plateau de balancier 22 revient ainsi jusqu'à sa première position extrême, ce qui marque la fin d'un cycle de fonctionnement de l'échappement naturel 1 (voir figure 2I).It will be noted that at the same time as the first escape wheel 8 drives the second escape wheel 12 to pivot clockwise, the first escape wheel 8 also gives a so-called direct and tangential driving impulse to the balance plate. 22 via one of its teeth 50 called the impulse tooth which drives the first impulse pallet 26 (see figure 2G ). The impulse is so named because it is given directly by the first escape wheel 8 to the balance plate 22 and the path of the impulse tooth 50 catches up with that of the first impulse vane 26 of the balance plate 22 tangentially, which allows almost punctual and frictionless contact. The balance plate 22 thus returns to its first extreme position, this which marks the end of an operating cycle of natural exhaust 1 (see Figure 2I ).

Il va de soi que la présente invention n'est pas limitée au mode de réalisation qui vient d'être décrit et que diverses modifications et variantes simples peuvent être envisagées par l'homme du métier sans sortir du cadre de l'invention tel que défini par les revendications annexées à la présente demande de brevet. On notera en particulier que la fonction des première et seconde butées 46a et 46b peut également être assurée par une forme spécifique des première et seconde palettes d'arrêt 34 et 36 et des dents d'impulsion 48 et 50. On notera également que la cheville de balancier 24 est située hors d'un angle aigu β délimité par deux droites qui passent par l'axe 20 de la roue de balancier 18 et par la première palette d'impulsion 26, respectivement par la seconde palette d'impulsion 28.It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and that various simple modifications and variants can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined. by the claims annexed to this patent application. It will be noted in particular that the function of the first and second stops 46a and 46b can also be ensured by a specific shape of the first and second stop pallets 34 and 36 and of the impulse teeth 48 and 50. It will also be noted that the pin balance wheel 24 is located outside an acute angle β delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis 20 of the balance wheel 18 and by the first impulse vane 26, respectively by the second impulse vane 28.

NomenclatureNomenclature

  • 1. Echappement naturel1. Natural exhaust
  • 2. Mobile de seconde2. Second mobile
  • 4. Pignon4. Gable
  • 6. Axe6. Axis
  • 8. Première roue d'échappement8. First escape wheel
  • 10. Denture10. Teeth
  • 12. Seconde roue d'échappement12. Second escape wheel
  • 14. Axe14. Axis
  • 16. Balancier16. Pendulum
  • 18. Roue de balancier18. Balance wheel
  • 20. Axe20. Axis
  • 22. Plateau de balancier22. Balance plate
  • 24. Cheville de balancier24. Balance peg
  • 26. Première palette d'impulsion26. First impulse palette
  • 28. Seconde palette d'impulsion28. Second impulse paddle
  • 30. Ancre30. Anchor
  • 32. Tige d'ancre32. Anchor rod
  • 34. Première palette d'arrêt34. First stop paddle
  • 36. Seconde palette d'arrêt36. Second stop pallet
  • 38. Denture38. Teeth
  • 40. Fourchette40. Fork
  • 42a, 42b. Cornes42a, 42b. Horns
  • 44. Dard44. Dart
  • 46a. Première butée46a. First stop
  • 46b. Seconde butée46b. Second stop
  • 48. Dent d'impulsion48. Impulse tooth
  • 50. Dent d'impulsion50. Impulse tooth

Claims (9)

  1. A natural escapement (1) for a horological movement performing a succession of operating cycles each composed of a first and a second alternation of a balance (16) which comprises a balance wheel (18) as well as a balance plate (22) adjusted on an axis (20) of the balance wheel (18), this natural escapement (1) comprising a first escapement wheel (8) arranged to be driven by a second mobile (2), this first escapement wheel (8) in turn driving a second escapement wheel (12) arranged in the same plane as the first escapement wheel (8), an anchor (30) capable of pivoting around an anchor rod (32), this anchor (30) comprising means for temporarily locking the first escapement wheel (8) during the first alternation, and means for temporarily locking the second escapement wheel (12) during the second alternation, characterised in that the anchor rod (32) is located outside an angle (α) less than 180° and delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis (20) of the balance wheel (18) and through a pivot axis (6) of the first escapement wheel (8) for one, and through the axis (20) of the balance wheel (18) and through a pivot axis (14) of the second escapement wheel (12) for the other.
  2. The natural escapement (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the anchor (30) comprises a first stop pallet (34) for temporarily locking the first escapement wheel (8) during the first alternation, and a second stop pallet (36) for temporarily locking the second escapement wheel (12) during the second alternation.
  3. The natural escapement (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the balance plate (22) carries a balance pin (24) by which this balance plate (22) causes the anchor (30) to pivot at each of the first and second alternations, the balance plate (22) also carrying a second impulse pallet (28) through which this balance plate (22) receives a direct and tangential driving impulse from the second escapement wheel (12) during the first alternation, and a first impulse pallet (26) through which this balance plate (22) receives a direct and tangential driving impulse from the first escapement wheel (8) during the second alternation, the balance pin (24) being located outside an acute angle (β) delimited by two straight lines which pass through the axis (20) of the balance wheel (18) and through the first impulse pallet (26) for one, and through the axis (20) of the balance wheel (18) and through the second impulse pallet (28) for the other.
  4. The natural escapement (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the first escapement wheel (8) comprises a toothing (10) which extends in a single plane and through which this first escapement wheel (8) meshes with the second escapement wheel (12) and provides the direct and tangential driving impulse to the balance plate (22) during the second alternation.
  5. The natural escapement (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the second escapement wheel (12) comprises a toothing (38) which extends in a single plane and through which this second escapement wheel (12) meshes with the first escapement wheel (8) and provides the direct and tangential driving impulse to the balance plate (22) during the first alternation.
  6. The natural escapement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the anchor (30) comprises a fork (40) formed of a first and a second horn (42a, 42b), the balance plate (22) abutting by its balance pin (24) against the first horn (42a) of the fork (40) and causing the pivoting of this anchor (30) in a first direction during the first alternation, and against the second horn (42b) during the second alternation, causing the anchor (30) to pivot in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
  7. The natural escapement (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the fork (40) carries a dart (44) which cooperates with the balance plate (22) to prevent accidental movements of the fork (40).
  8. The natural escapement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the first and second escapement wheels (8, 12) are each made in one piece and each comprise a single level of toothing.
  9. A horological movement comprising a natural escapement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8.
EP21205004.1A 2021-03-02 2021-10-27 Natural escapement for timepiece movement and timepiece movement comprising such an escapement Active EP4053644B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21160261 2021-03-02
EP21171889.5A EP4053641A1 (en) 2021-03-02 2021-05-03 Natural escapement for timepiece movement and timepiece movement comprising such an escapement

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4053644A1 EP4053644A1 (en) 2022-09-07
EP4053644B1 true EP4053644B1 (en) 2023-09-27

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21171889.5A Withdrawn EP4053641A1 (en) 2021-03-02 2021-05-03 Natural escapement for timepiece movement and timepiece movement comprising such an escapement
EP21205004.1A Active EP4053644B1 (en) 2021-03-02 2021-10-27 Natural escapement for timepiece movement and timepiece movement comprising such an escapement

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21171889.5A Withdrawn EP4053641A1 (en) 2021-03-02 2021-05-03 Natural escapement for timepiece movement and timepiece movement comprising such an escapement

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20220283543A1 (en)
EP (2) EP4053641A1 (en)
JP (1) JP7313495B2 (en)
CN (1) CN114995084B (en)

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2458503A1 (en) * 1974-12-11 1976-06-16 Graesslin Feinwerktech Stop watch or timer restraint mechanism - uses two congruent wheels with meshing peripheral teeth of two wheels
EP1221637B1 (en) * 2001-01-09 2008-03-12 Ulysse Nardin S.A. Escapement for timekeeper
ATE467156T1 (en) * 2005-03-23 2010-05-15 Bnb Concept Sa CLOCKWORK
ATE449985T1 (en) * 2007-04-18 2009-12-15 Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse ESCAPEMENT COMPRISING TWO ESCAPE WHEELS
CH701921B1 (en) * 2009-10-09 2014-07-31 Télôs Watch SA Escapement anchor and a timepiece including such an escape.
EP2487546B1 (en) 2011-02-11 2021-06-30 Montres Journe S.A. High-performance bi-axial escapement, or HPBE
JP6206877B2 (en) * 2014-03-06 2017-10-04 セイコーインスツル株式会社 Escapement, watch movement and watch
JP6618306B2 (en) * 2015-09-16 2019-12-11 セイコーインスツル株式会社 Ankle, governor escapement, tourbillon, movement and watch
CH712631B1 (en) * 2016-06-27 2020-02-28 Mft Et Fabrique De Montres Et Chronometres Ulysse Nardin Le Locle S A Exhaust for watch movement.
CH714200B1 (en) * 2017-09-29 2021-02-15 Louis Vuitton Malletier Sa An escapement device for a mechanical watch movement comprising an escapement with two escapement moving parts.
JP6558761B1 (en) * 2018-06-19 2019-08-14 セイコーインスツル株式会社 Escapement machine, watch movement and watch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN114995084B (en) 2023-11-17
JP2022134099A (en) 2022-09-14
EP4053641A1 (en) 2022-09-07
JP7313495B2 (en) 2023-07-24
US20220283543A1 (en) 2022-09-08
CN114995084A (en) 2022-09-02
EP4053644A1 (en) 2022-09-07

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