IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,002,460
Granted Patent B2
US 8,002,460 · App. 12/511,420 · Granted Aug 23, 2011

Hairspring for a balance wheel/hairspring resonator

Assignee: Rolex S.A.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,002,460
App. No.
12/511,420
Granted
Aug 23, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Hairspring for a balance wheel/hairspring resonator, comprising n blades, where n≧2, which are fastened via at least one of their respective homologous ends and wound in spirals with an angular offset capable of neutralizing the lateral forces liable to be exerted on its central arbor when one of the ends of each blade is moved angularly around said central arbor relative to its other end.

Claims (19)

1. A balance wheel/hairspring resonator, which comprises a balance wheel having a central arbor and a hairspring having n blades, where n≧2, wound around the central arbor, each blade having an inner end and an outer end, wherein the outer end is located farther from the central arbor than the inner end,

wherein the inner ends of the blades are fastened to the central arbor in a homologous manner with an angular offset of the internal ends about the central arbor,

wherein the blades are coplanar, and

wherein the blades are wound in spirals with an angular offset, so as to neutralize the lateral forces likely to be exerted on the central arbor when one of the ends of each blade is moved angularly about said central arbor relative to its other end.

2. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the blades are fastened to each other via their at least two respective inner ends.

3. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a pitch of each of the blades varies along a length of the blade.

4. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of each of the blades varies along a length of the blade.

5. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , which is formed from single-crystal silicon.

6. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the single-crystal silicon is covered with a layer of amorphous silicon oxide.

7. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , which is formed from quartz.

8. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outer ends of the blades are fastened to a common ring in an homologous manner with an angular offset of the external ends about the central arbor.

9. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the outer ends of the blades are angularly offset with respect to one another by an angle of 2π/n.

10. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner ends of the blades are angularly offset with respect to one another by an angle of 2π/n.

11. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the n blades are internal blades, and the hairspring further comprises m external blades, where m≧2, the external blades being located farther from the central arbor than the internal blades.

12. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the outer ends of the external blades are fastened to a common ring in an homologous manner with an angular offset of the external ends about the central arbor.

13. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the outer ends of the internal blades and the inner ends of the external blades are fastened to an intermediate ring.

14. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the internal blades and the external blades are wound in a same direction.

15. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the internal blades and the external blades are wound in opposite directions.

16. The balance wheel/hairspring resonator as claimed in claim 11 , wherein there are two internal blades and two external blades.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS TO 3-5-7 RUE FRANCOIS DUSSAUD CH-1211 GENEVE 26 - SWITZERLAND PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 023225 FRAME 0089. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 21, 2009
From: DAOUT, JEROME; BOSSART, RICHARD
To: ROLEX S.A.
Reel/Frame 023257/0474 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2009
From: DAOUT, JEROME; BOSSART, RICHARD
To: ROLEX S.A.
Reel/Frame 023225/0089 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 08405188 · Jul 29, 2008 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100027382A1 · Feb 4, 2010