EP4177676A1 - Non-magnetic timepiece axis - Google Patents
Non-magnetic timepiece axis Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4177676A1 EP4177676A1 EP21206294.7A EP21206294A EP4177676A1 EP 4177676 A1 EP4177676 A1 EP 4177676A1 EP 21206294 A EP21206294 A EP 21206294A EP 4177676 A1 EP4177676 A1 EP 4177676A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- axis
- less
- preferably substantially
- molybdenum
- manganese
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- 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
- G04B43/00—Protecting clockworks by shields or other means against external influences, e.g. magnetic fields
- G04B43/007—Antimagnetic alloys
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- C22C38/001—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing N
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- C22C38/02—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing silicon
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
- C22C38/22—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with molybdenum or tungsten
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
- C22C38/26—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with niobium or tantalum
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
- C22C38/38—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C38/00—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys
- C22C38/18—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium
- C22C38/40—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel
- C22C38/58—Ferrous alloys, e.g. steel alloys containing chromium with nickel with more than 1.5% by weight of manganese
-
- 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
- G04B13/00—Gearwork
- G04B13/02—Wheels; Pinions; Spindles; Pivots
-
- 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 the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a non-magnetic horological axis intended to equip a wheel, a pinion, a balance, an anchor, a mobile or the like of a horological movement.
- the materials chosen must have adequate hardness to resist friction and wear when the movement is running, particularly in the case of a balance wheel. This implies a high hardness, but the material must also be machinable in order to be able to shape the axis without difficulty, which implies a lower hardness and often insufficient at the level of the wear of the axis.
- a classic solution to overcome this drawback is to manufacture the axle in a material which is relatively easy to machine, whether it is a steel, a copper alloy or another alloy, and then to carry out a heat treatment in order to harden it to the minus its surface.
- Another known solution consists in the deposition of a hard outer layer, such as diamond-like carbon ("DLC", according to the English “diamond-like carbon”), sapphire or the like, or else a surface modification by ion implantation or similar.
- a hard outer layer such as diamond-like carbon ("DLC”, according to the English “diamond-like carbon"), sapphire or the like, or else a surface modification by ion implantation or similar.
- the invention relates to a timepiece spindle made of a material incorporating one of the definitions mentioned in the claims.
- Each of the alloys defined therein is non-magnetic and is sufficiently hard for its role as a watch axis, while being sufficiently easily machinable. Therefore, no subsequent hardening treatment step is required, and the pin can be fabricated simply by machining from a bar of the alloy, thus minimizing the number of steps required. The manufacture of the pin is thus made very economical, while guaranteeing good tribological properties and resistance to wear of the pin.
- the invention also relates to methods of manufacture and corresponding uses.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a horological spindle 1 according to the invention, the shape of which shown is provided by way of non-limiting example.
- the axle 1 illustrated comprises a cylindrical shaft 1a, each end of which comprises a pivot 1b with a diameter smaller than that of the shaft 1a.
- other forms known from the prior art are also possible, having for example one or more shoulder(s), flange(s), a section having a reduced or similar diameter, or else being simply formed of a cylindrical shaft of constant section.
- This axis 1 can be intended to equip any rotating or pivoting watchmaking member, in particular a wheel of any type, a pinion, a pendulum, a mobile, an anchor, a rake, a cam or any other appropriate member.
- Shaft 1 is preferably one-piece, and is made of a material with one of the following definitions, any percentage being by weight:
- the alloys defined above are substantially non-magnetic, are of the austenitic type, and have a hardness of between 500 and 650HV
- an alloy bar as defined above, to machine it in order to shape the axle 1, and then possibly to perform a polishing and/or a rolling operation, if necessary.
- axle 1 No hardening treatment of the axle, in particular of its surface, is thus necessary, and said axle 1 can be machined to substantially resume directly its final dimensions (with the exception of the trivial microlayer removed during the possible polishing and/or rolling).
- the manufacturing process is thus advantageously free of surface hardening steps, whether by heat treatment, ion implantation, deposition of a hard coating or the like.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Heat Treatment Of Articles (AREA)
Abstract
Axe horloger (1) composé d'un matériau consistant essentiellement de, par poids :- Carbone inférieur ou égal à 0.15% ;- Manganèse compris entre 12 et 16% ;- Chrome compris entre 16 et 20% ;- Azote compris entre 0.75 et 1% ;- Molybdène compris entre 2.5 et 4.2% ;- Niobium inférieur ou égal à 0.25% ;- Balance en fer,ou :- Carbone compris entre 0.10% et 0.30% ;- Silicium compris entre 0.30% et 0.50% ;- Manganèse compris entre 10% et 14%, de préférence entre 11% et 13% ;- Chrome compris entre 15% et 19%, de préférence entre 16% et 18% ;- Azote compris entre 0.4% et 0.6% ;- Molybdène compris entre 2% et 4% ;- Nickel inférieur à 0.2% ;- Balance en fer.Watch spindle (1) composed of a material consisting essentially of, by weight:- Carbon less than or equal to 0.15%;- Manganese between 12 and 16%;- Chromium between 16 and 20%;- Nitrogen between 0.75 and 1%;- Molybdenum between 2.5 and 4.2%;- Niobium less than or equal to 0.25%;- Iron balance, or:- Carbon between 0.10% and 0.30%;- Silicon between 0.30% and 0.50%;- Manganese between 10% and 14%, preferably between 11% and 13%;- Chromium between 15% and 19%, preferably between 16% and 18%;- Nitrogen between 0.4% and 0.6%;- Molybdenum between 2% and 4%;- Nickel less than 0.2%;- Iron balance.
Description
La présente invention se rapporte au domaine de l'horlogerie. Elle concerne, plus particulièrement, un axe horloger amagnétique destiné à équiper une roue, un pignon, un balancier, une ancre, un mobile ou similaire d'un mouvement d'horlogerie.The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a non-magnetic horological axis intended to equip a wheel, a pinion, a balance, an anchor, a mobile or the like of a horological movement.
Divers alliages ont été proposés pour la fabrication d'axes horlogers dans le passé. Au vu de l'influence des champs magnétiques sur les éléments d'un mouvement d'horlogerie, des matériaux, qui sont peu ou pas sensibles aux champs magnétiques, sont préférés afin que ces derniers n'influencent pas de manière néfaste la marche du mouvement, lorsque la pièce y est exposée.Various alloys have been proposed for the manufacture of watch axes in the past. In view of the influence of magnetic fields on the elements of a timepiece movement, materials which are little or not at all sensitive to magnetic fields are preferred so that the latter do not adversely influence the running of the movement. , when the part is exposed to it.
Les matériaux choisis doivent présenter une dureté adéquate pour résister aux frottements et à l'usure lorsque le mouvement est en marche, notamment dans le cas d'un axe de balancier. Cela implique une dureté élevée, mais le matériau doit également être usinable afin de pouvoir mettre l'axe en forme sans difficulté, ce qui implique une dureté moins élevée et souvent insuffisante au niveau de l'usure de l'axe. Une solution classique pour surmonter cet inconvénient est de fabriquer l'axe dans un matériau qui est relativement facile à usiner, que ce soit un acier, un alliage du cuivre ou un autre alliage, et puis d'effectuer un traitement thermique afin de durcir au moins sa surface. Une autre solution connue consiste au dépôt d'une couche extérieure dure, telle que du carbone adamantin (« DLC », selon l'anglais « diamond-like carbon »), du saphir ou similaire, ou bien une modification de surface par implantation ionique ou similaire. Par ces moyens, la dureté de la surface de l'axe peut être améliorée sans nécessiter d'usiner un matériau dur.The materials chosen must have adequate hardness to resist friction and wear when the movement is running, particularly in the case of a balance wheel. This implies a high hardness, but the material must also be machinable in order to be able to shape the axis without difficulty, which implies a lower hardness and often insufficient at the level of the wear of the axis. A classic solution to overcome this drawback is to manufacture the axle in a material which is relatively easy to machine, whether it is a steel, a copper alloy or another alloy, and then to carry out a heat treatment in order to harden it to the minus its surface. Another known solution consists in the deposition of a hard outer layer, such as diamond-like carbon ("DLC", according to the English "diamond-like carbon"), sapphire or the like, or else a surface modification by ion implantation or similar. By these means, the hardness of the shaft surface can be improved without requiring machining hard material.
Ces étapes de procédure supplémentaires sont compliquées à mettre en œuvre, et sont par conséquent couteuses.These additional procedural steps are complicated to implement, and are therefore expensive.
Le but de l'invention est par conséquent de proposer un axe horloger dans lequel les défauts susmentionnés sont au moins partiellement surmontés.The object of the invention is therefore to propose a horological axle in which the aforementioned defects are at least partially overcome.
De façon plus précise, l'invention concerne un axe horloger composé d'un matériau reprenant l'une des définitions mentionnées dans les revendications.More specifically, the invention relates to a timepiece spindle made of a material incorporating one of the definitions mentioned in the claims.
Chacun des alliages y définis est amagnétique et est suffisamment dur pour son rôle en tant qu'axe horloger, tout en étant suffisamment facilement usinable. Par conséquent, aucune étape de traitement de durcissement ultérieure n'est nécessaire, et l'axe peut être fabriqué simplement par usinage depuis un barreau de l'alliage, le nombre d'étapes nécessaires étant ainsi au minimum. La fabrication de l'axe est ainsi rendue très économique, tout en garantissant des bonnes propriétés tribologiques et de résistance à l'usure de l'axe.Each of the alloys defined therein is non-magnetic and is sufficiently hard for its role as a watch axis, while being sufficiently easily machinable. Therefore, no subsequent hardening treatment step is required, and the pin can be fabricated simply by machining from a bar of the alloy, thus minimizing the number of steps required. The manufacture of the pin is thus made very economical, while guaranteeing good tribological properties and resistance to wear of the pin.
L'invention concerne également des procédés de fabrication ainsi que des utilisations correspondantes.The invention also relates to methods of manufacture and corresponding uses.
D'autres détails de l'invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description qui suit, faite en référence au dessin annexé dans lequel :
-
Fig. 1 est une illustration schématique d'un axe horloger selon l'invention.
-
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a horological spindle according to the invention.
La
Cet axe 1 peut être destiné à équiper n'importe quel organe horloger rotatif ou pivotant, notamment une roue de n'importe quel type, un pignon, un balancier, un mobile une ancre, un râteau, une came ou tout autre organe approprié.This
L'axe 1 est de préférence monobloc, et est fait dans un matériau reprenant l'une des définitions suivantes, tout pourcentage étant par poids :
Définition 1 :
- Carbone inférieur ou égal à 0.15% ;
- Manganèse compris entre 12 et 16% ;
- Chrome compris entre 16 et 20% ;
- Azote compris entre 0.75 et 1% ;
- Molybdène compris entre 2.5 et 4.2% ;
- Niobium inférieur ou égal à 0.25% ;
- Balance en fer.
- Carbon less than or equal to 0.15%;
- Manganese between 12 and 16%;
- Chromium between 16 and 20%;
- Nitrogen between 0.75 and 1%;
- Molybdenum between 2.5 and 4.2%;
- Niobium less than or equal to 0.25%;
- Iron scale.
Définition 2 :
- carbone compris entre 0.10% et 0.30%, de préférence substantiellement 0.20% ;
- Silicium compris entre 0.30% et 0.50%, de préférence substantiellement 0.40% ;
- Manganèse compris entre 10% et 14%, de préférence entre 11% et 13%, encore de préférence substantiellement 12% ;
- Chrome compris entre 15% et 19%, de préférence entre 16% et 18%, encore de préférence substantiellement 17% ;
- Azote compris entre 0.4% et 0.6%, de préférence substantiellement 0.5% ;
- Molybdène compris entre 2% et 4%, de préférence substantiellement 3% ;
- Nickel inférieur à 0.2% ;
- Balance en fer.
- carbon comprised between 0.10% and 0.30%, preferably substantially 0.20%;
- Silicon comprised between 0.30% and 0.50%, preferably substantially 0.40%;
- Manganese comprised between 10% and 14%, preferably between 11% and 13%, more preferably substantially 12%;
- Chromium comprised between 15% and 19%, preferably between 16% and 18%, more preferably substantially 17%;
- Nitrogen comprised between 0.4% and 0.6%, preferably substantially 0.5%;
- Molybdenum comprised between 2% and 4%, preferably substantially 3%;
- Nickel less than 0.2%;
- Iron scale.
Dans chaque cas, la présence d'impuretés n'exerçant substantiellement aucune influence sur les propriétés mécaniques du matériau sont également admises.In each case, the presence of impurities exerting substantially no influence on the mechanical properties of the material are also allowed.
Les alliages définis ci-dessus sont substantiellement amagnétiques, sont de type austénitique, et présentent une dureté comprise entre 500 et 650HVThe alloys defined above are substantially non-magnetic, are of the austenitic type, and have a hardness of between 500 and 650HV
Les propriétés ainsi obtenues permettent un usinage facile de l'axe 1 depuis un barreau de l'alliage concerné, la dureté de l'alliage en tant que tel étant suffisante pour une bonne résistance à l'usure ainsi que pour des bonnes propriétés tribologiques de l'axe 1. Une telle combinaison de propriétés est rarement rencontrée ; il est surprenant et inattendu que les alliages définis ci-dessus remplissent pleinement ces conditions.The properties thus obtained allow easy machining of
Pour la fabrication d'un axe 1 selon l'invention, il suffit donc de se munir d'une barre en alliage tel que défini ci-dessus, de l'usiner afin de mettre en forme l'axe 1, et puis éventuellement d'effectuer un polissage et/ou une opération de roulage, le cas échéant.For the manufacture of an
Aucun traitement de durcissement de l'axe, notamment de sa surface, n'est ainsi nécessaire, et ledit axe 1 peut être usiné pour reprendre directement substantiellement ses dimensions finales (à l'exception de la microcouche triviale enlevée lors de l'éventuel polissage et/ou roulage). Le procédé de fabrication est ainsi avantageusement exempt d'étapes de durcissement de la surface, que ce soit par traitement thermique, implantation ionique, dépôt d'un revêtement dur ou similaire.No hardening treatment of the axle, in particular of its surface, is thus necessary, and said
Bien que l'invention ait été précédemment décrite en lien avec des modes de réalisations spécifiques, d'autres variantes supplémentaires sont également envisageables sans sortir de la portée de l'invention comme définie par les revendications.Although the invention has been previously described in connection with specific embodiments, other additional variants are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP21206294.7A EP4177676A1 (en) | 2021-11-03 | 2021-11-03 | Non-magnetic timepiece axis |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP21206294.7A EP4177676A1 (en) | 2021-11-03 | 2021-11-03 | Non-magnetic timepiece axis |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4177676A1 true EP4177676A1 (en) | 2023-05-10 |
Family
ID=78516671
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP21206294.7A Withdrawn EP4177676A1 (en) | 2021-11-03 | 2021-11-03 | Non-magnetic timepiece axis |
Country Status (1)
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EP (1) | EP4177676A1 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2617839A1 (en) * | 2012-01-18 | 2013-07-24 | MeKo Laserstrahl-Materialbearbeitungen e.K. | Nickel-free iron alloy for stents |
EP3008525A2 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2016-04-20 | Nivarox-FAR S.A. | Part for timepiece movement |
CH715726A1 (en) * | 2019-01-11 | 2020-07-15 | Richemont Int Sa | Process for obtaining a functional component for a watch movement. |
-
2021
- 2021-11-03 EP EP21206294.7A patent/EP4177676A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2617839A1 (en) * | 2012-01-18 | 2013-07-24 | MeKo Laserstrahl-Materialbearbeitungen e.K. | Nickel-free iron alloy for stents |
EP3008525A2 (en) | 2013-06-12 | 2016-04-20 | Nivarox-FAR S.A. | Part for timepiece movement |
CH715726A1 (en) * | 2019-01-11 | 2020-07-15 | Richemont Int Sa | Process for obtaining a functional component for a watch movement. |
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