CH716987A2 - Rigid horological component for an oscillator mechanism or for an escapement mechanism and a horological movement comprising such a component. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a rigid watch component for an oscillator mechanism or for an escapement mechanism of a watch movement, the component comprising at least one part made of a composite material (1), the composite material (1) comprising a die (2). ) and a multitude of nanotubes or nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanotubes or nanowires (3) being juxtaposed and arranged substantially parallel to an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the plane ( P) of the component, the matrix (2) comprises a rigid material (4) to fill the interstices and join the nanotubes or nanowires (3) to each other, the material (4) having rigid mechanical properties for s' oppose the elastic deformation of the component.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to rigid watch components for an oscillator mechanism or for an escapement mechanism of a timepiece movement.

[0002] The invention also relates to a timepiece movement comprising such a component.

Background of the invention

[0003] Watch movements generally include an escape mechanism and a mechanical oscillator mechanism. The escape mechanism comprises in particular an anchor and an escape wheel, while the oscillator mechanism comprises for example a spiral spring associated with an oscillating weight called a balance.

[0004] Technical progress in composite materials today makes it possible to manufacture certain components in innovative and high-performance materials, which make it possible to do without, at least in part, metallic materials. Today, we try to use, for example, nanotubes or nanowires to manufacture components. Such materials with nanotubes or nanowires provide advantages in terms of lightness and strength. Thus, document JP2008116205A describes a spiral spring comprising a matrix of graphite and amorphous carbon, reinforced by carbon nanotubes which are dispersed in the matrix and aligned in the longitudinal direction of the spiral.

[0005] However, certain components, such as a wheel or an escapement anchor, require great rigidity, in particular for the watch movement to be precise. However, the components described in this document do not make it possible to produce rigid elements, but only flexible components for making springs.

Summary of the invention

[0006] An object of the invention is therefore to provide a rigid watch component which avoids the aforementioned problems.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a rigid watch component for an oscillator mechanism or for an escapement mechanism of a watch movement, the component comprising at least one part made of a composite material.

The component is remarkable in that the composite material comprises a matrix and a multitude of nanotubes or nanowires distributed in the matrix, the nanotubes or nanowires being juxtaposed and arranged substantially parallel to a substantially perpendicular axis at the component level, the matrix comprising a rigid material for filling the interstices and joining the nanotubes or nanowires to each other, the material having rigid mechanical properties making it possible to oppose an elastic deformation of the component.

[0009] Thus, thanks to such a rigid component, it is possible to produce certain elements of a watch movement, which must avoid any bending, such as a wheel or an escapement anchor, while having the advantages of composite materials based on nanotubes or nanowires. The advantages provided by these composite materials are, in addition to lightness, the possibility of using materials resistant to oxidation and which can be self-lubricating. It is also possible to vary the infiltration rate of the rigid material to further lighten the component or to make it porous, in particular for self-lubrication.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the rigid material has a Young's modulus greater than 2GPa.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the nanotubes are made of carbon.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the nanotubes are multi-sheets.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the nanowires are made from an element to be chosen in particular from the following list: gold, silicon, silicon oxide, boron nitride, gallium nitride, silicon nitride, zinc oxide, gallium arsenide, tungsten sulfide, silver, copper, manganese arsenide, arsenide indium, carbon, diamond.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the nanotubes or nanowires have a diameter ranging from 2 to 50 nm, preferably in a range ranging from 3 to 15 nm, or even from 5 to 10 nm.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the nanotubes or nanowires have a length comprised in a range ranging from 100 to 500 microns, preferably in a range ranging from 100 to 300 microns, or even from 150 to 200 microns.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the rigid material is made from an element to be chosen from the following list: tungsten, organic materials such as parylene, hexagonal boron nitride, monocrystalline ruby of Al2O3 type , diamond, tungsten or molybdenum disulphides, graphite, lead, silicon carbide, nickel, indium phosphide, titanium oxide, silicon, silicon oxide, carbon.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the component is an escape mechanism anchor.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the component is an escape mechanism wheel.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment, the component is a cog of a watch movement.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment, the component is a balance of an oscillator mechanism.

The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising a rigid watch component according to the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading several embodiments given solely by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 schematically represents a through perspective view of a composite material according to the invention, FIG. 2 diagrammatically represents a view in section of the composite material during the manufacturing process of the first embodiment according to the invention, FIG. 3 schematically represents a top view of an escapement mechanism anchor, FIG. 4 schematically represents a top view of an escapement mechanism wheel according to the invention, and FIG. 5 schematically represents a perspective view of a balance of an oscillation mechanism.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the description, we present rigid components for a watch movement. The component is, for example, to be chosen from a list comprising an escapement mechanism anchor, an escape mechanism wheel, a clockwork movement cog, or an oscillator mechanism balance.

The rigid component comprises at least a part made of a composite material 1, shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the component is made entirely in this composite material 1. Thus, the components of the preceding list can be made in this composite material 1.

The composite material 1 comprises a matrix 2 and a multitude of nanotubes or nanowires 3 distributed in said matrix 2. The component has, for example, a generally flat shape extending along a plane P.

The nanotubes or nanowires 3 form a structure of the composite material 1, in which they are juxtaposed and arranged substantially parallel to each other. They are substantially perpendicular to the plane P of the component. Nanotube is understood to mean tubes the interior of which is generally hollow, while the nanowires are generally solid tubes.

The nanotubes or nanowires 3 are arranged substantially parallel to an axis A, perpendicular to the plane P of the component. They are regularly distributed so as to be homogeneously spaced from each other in the matrix 2. Advantageously, the composite material is produced so that nanotubes or nanowires 3 are present throughout the mass of the matrix 2. .

Nanotubes or nanowires 3 have, for example, a diameter D within a range from 2 to 50 nm. Preferably, the nanotubes or nanowires 3 have a diameter ranging from 3 to 15 nm, or even from 5 to 10 nm.

The nanotubes or nanowires 3 can have a length L within a range ranging from 100 to 500 microns. Preferably, the nanotubes or nanowires 3 may have a length within a range ranging from 100 to 300 microns, or even from 150 to 200 microns.

In a first embodiment, the composite material comprises carbon nanotubes 3. The carbon nanotubes 3 are generally multi-sheet, but can also optionally be single-sheet.

In a second embodiment, the composite material comprises nanowires 3 made at least in part from a material to be chosen from the following list: gold, silicon, boron nitride, gallium nitride, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, zinc oxide, gallium arsenide, tungsten sulfide, silver, copper, manganese arsenide , indium arsenide, carbon, diamond.

The matrix 2 comprises a material 4 to fill the interstices and join the nanotubes or nanowires 3 to each other. The material 4 can advantageously include the nanotubes or nanowires 3, by being injected into the interstices 5 between the nanotubes or nanowires 3. This material 4 makes it possible to provide cohesion between the nanotubes or nanowires 3 and to thus modifying the mechanical properties of all the nanotubes or nanowires 3, in particular to make the matrix rigid. In the first embodiment of the nanotubes, the material 4 can also be arranged inside 14 of the nanotubes 3.

According to the invention, the material 4 is rigid, the material 4 having rigid mechanical properties to oppose an elastic deformation of the component. Thus, thanks to this rigid material 4, it is possible to produce specific components of watch mechanics. The rigid material 4 has for example a Young's modulus greater than 2GPa. The component 4 can also be rigid thanks to its dimensions, for example by choosing a sufficient thickness to prevent its deformation.

For both embodiments, the rigid material 4 making up the matrix 2 is made from an element from the following list: tungsten, organic materials such as parylene, hexagonal boron nitride, monocrystalline ruby type Al2O3, diamond, tungsten or molybdenum disulphides, graphite, lead, silicon carbide, nickel, indium phosphide, titanium oxide, silicon, oxide of silicon, carbon. The rigid material 4 can advantageously also consist of carbon.

[0035] Thus, watch components can benefit from the advantages of composite materials based on nanotubes or nanowires, while retaining great rigidity which is essential for this type of component. FIG. 3 shows an escapement mechanism anchor 6 made with a composite material according to the invention. FIG. 4 shows an escape wheel 7 made from such a composite material. Finally, the balance 8 of FIG. 5 is also made from such a composite material.

To manufacture the components of the first embodiment with carbon nanotubes, a method is used, for example, comprising the following steps: a first step of preparing a substrate, for example a silicon substrate, preferably by photolithography, so that the growth of the forest of nanotubes occurs at a precise location corresponding to the shape of the desired component. Thus, we draw a shape of anchor, wheel, or balance by photolithography. a second step of growing nanotubes or nanowires on the substrate, not shown in the figures, preferably with a catalyst, for example iron, a third step of infiltration of the rigid material constituting the matrix in the distribution of nanotubes or nanowires, and a fourth step of detaching the component from the substrate.

An example of the first and second steps is found in the document “Mechanical and electrical properties of carbon-nanotube-templated metallic microstructures” (Richard Scott Hansen 06/2012).

During the second step, the nanotubes 16 or nanowires are grown parallel to an axis substantially perpendicular to the substrate.

In Figure 2, the substrate 9 is covered with a silica layer 10, and a catalyst layer 11, for example iron. The carbon nanotubes 12 are formed on the catalyst layer 11 by growth.

Upstream of the second step, additional nanotubes can be mixed in a solvent and dispersed on the catalyst layer, for example by ultrasound, to define an upper layer of nanotubes. This upper layer 13 of nanotubes is porous so that the carbon (or other material) constituting the nanotubes 12 can be deposited through it, so that the nanotubes 12 grow under the upper layer 13. Thus, we make sure of a regular and homogeneous growth of the nanotubes 12 so that they all have approximately the same length. The third step is also carried out through the upper layer 13 of nanotubes 12, thanks to its porosity. The detachment is preferably carried out by wet or vapor phase etching, for example by means of hydrogen fluoride HF.

Regarding the manufacture of the nanowires of the second embodiment, the conventional techniques related to the material chosen from the list are used. The deposition of thin layers is preferably used, for example by chemical deposition of CVD type (for Chemical Vapor Deposition in English) or by physical deposition of PVD type (for physical vapor deposition in English). As in the first embodiment, photolithography methods are used to choose the locations of a substrate, for example made of silicon, where the nanowires are grown. The rigid material is infiltrated between the nanowires. Finally, the component is unhooked from the substrate once it is finished.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the figures and variants could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. Rigid watch component (6, 7, 8) for an oscillator mechanism or for an escapement mechanism of a watch movement, the component comprising at least a part made of a composite material (1), characterized in that the composite material (1) comprises a matrix (2) and a multitude of nanotubes or nanowires (3) distributed in the matrix (2), the nanotubes or nanowires (3) being juxtaposed and arranged substantially parallel to an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the plane (P) of the component, the matrix (2) comprising a rigid material (4) to fill the interstices and join the nanotubes or nanowires (3) to each other, the material (4) having rigid mechanical properties to oppose elastic deformation of the component (6, 7, 8). 2. Component (6, 7, 8) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid material (4) has a Young's modulus greater than 2GPa. 3. Component (6, 7, 8) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the nanotubes (3) are made of carbon. 4. Component (6, 7, 8) according to claim 3, characterized in that the nanotubes (16) are multi-sheets. 5. Component (6, 7, 8) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the nanowires (3) are made from an element to be chosen from the following list: gold, silicon , boron nitride, gallium nitride, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, zinc oxide, gallium arsenide, tungsten sulfide, silver, copper, manganese arsenide, indium arsenide, carbon, diamond. 6. Component (6, 7, 8) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nanotubes or nanowires (3) have a diameter (D) within an interval ranging from 2 to 50 nm , preferably in a range from 3 to 15 nm, or even from 5 to 10 nm. 7. Component (6, 7, 8) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nanotubes or nanowires (3) have a length (L) within a range ranging from 100 to 500 microns , preferably in a range from 100 to 300 microns, or even from 150 to 200 microns. 8. Component (6, 7, 8) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rigid material (4) is made from an element to be chosen from the following list: tungsten, organic materials such as parylene, hexagonal boron nitride, monocrystalline ruby type AI203, diamond, tungsten or molybdenum disulphides, graphite, lead, silicon carbide, nickel, indium phosphide, titanium oxide, silicon, silicon oxide, carbon. 9. Component (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is an escape mechanism anchor. 10. Component (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is an escape mechanism wheel. 11. Component according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a cog of a clockwork movement. 12. Component (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a balance of an oscillator mechanism. 13. Watch movement, characterized in that it comprises a rigid watch component (6, 7, 8) according to any one of the preceding claims.