Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flat balance spring for a horological balance. SOLUTION: This flat balance spring for a horological balance includes a wound strip shaped to ensure an approximately concentric development of the balance spring and almost zero force on the pivots and on the fixing point, during a rotation of less than 360° of its inner end relative to its outer end in both directions from its rest position. The stiffness of the strip decreases gradually and through more than 360° from each of its two ends, the lowest stiffness being situated in the median part of the strip. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an escapement for timepieces for improving defects of a conventional escapement, such as energy loss and turbulence of period. SOLUTION: The detent escapement comprises: a balance wheel fastened to an impulse element 7a; an escape wheel 1; a detent swing-arm 2 having a stop element 2a and a disengagement element 2b; and a disengagement finger 11d that is constrained to rotate with the balance wheel and comes into engagement with the disengagement element 2b of the detent swing-arm 2 once per oscillation period of the balance wheel. The disengagement finger 11d is fastened to an inertial member 11, and moves freely between two end positions in one of which the trajectory of the disengagement finger 11d passes through the disengagement element 2b of the swing-arm 2 and in the other of which this trajectory does not pass through the disengagement element 2b by the movement of the inertial member 11 caused by variations in the speed of the balance wheel. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a micromechanical part having few failures, capable of supplying a high clamping force with a small assembly (driving) force. SOLUTION: This micromechanical part to be fastened to a spindle has at least one opening 10, 20, 30 whose edges comprise an alternating arrangement of rigid areas 11 and elastic areas 12, 22, 32. The diameter of a first circle C1 passing ends 13 of the rigid areas 11 closest to the center C of the opening 10, 20, 30 is greater than the diameter of a second circle C2 passing ends 15, 25, 27 of the elastic areas 12, 22, 32 closest to the center of the opening. In the micromechanical part, each rigid area 11 is formed by a convex portion projecting into the opening 10, 20, 30. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the wear of the friction surfaces of the joints of straps for a watch with metal links. SOLUTION: This strap with articulated links, in particular for a watch, comprises at least three adjacent rows of links offset from one adjacent row to another, in which at least one of friction surfaces (3, 13, 23-163) of each joint is made of a material of which the hardness is equal to or larger than 800 HV. The bearing surfaces (3, 13, 23-163) is in contact with at least one of joint elements (5, 15, 25-165) having at least one friction surface made of a second material selected from the following materials: ceramic, ceramic-metal composite, amorphous carbon, stainless steel without nickel, cobalt alloy, gold or gold alloy, platinum or platinum alloy, platinoid or platinoid alloy, titanium or titanium alloy, capable of reducing the frictional wear with the friction surfaces (3, 13, 23-163). COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a self-compensating spiral for a mechanical spiral balance-wheel oscillator in watchwork or another precision instrument, made of a paramagnetic alloy containing at least one of the elements Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr, Hf, as well as the process of treating this spiral. SOLUTION: This self-compensating spiral for a mechanical spiral balance-wheel oscillator in watchwork or another precision instrument, made of a paramagnetic alloy, contains at least one of the elements Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr, Hf and is covered with a substantially uniform oxide layer having a thickness greater than or equal to 20 nm, formed by subjecting the spiral to an anodizing treatment. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a part for watches, jewels or jewelry which is made of a ceramic having a desirable color in all range, particularly in a range of red color. SOLUTION: In the part, the pigment is constituted of a nanoparticle using a metal or an alkali metal of group IB in periodic table, or an alloy of the metal or an alloy of the alkali metal of group IB in periodic table which is coated with a silica layer as a base. wherein the silica is crystalline silica, particularly cristobalite or tridymite silica. The ceramic is preferably zirconia or alumina. The silica in the nanoparticle is crystallized by heating at 900-1,400°C in the air or under an inert gas. The part is manufactured by sintering the mixture of the nanoparticle/ceramic at 900-1,250°C in the air or under the inert gas. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT