Process for producing a thermo-compensated oscillator
AssigneeRolex SA
InventorOlivier Hunziker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for manufacturing a timepiece oscillator made up of a balance and of at least two spring portions that are arranged in parallel, which includes (a) choosing the frequency f of the oscillator, (b) choosing a balance and spring portions so that the inertia of the balance and the angular stiffnesses of the spring portions allow an oscillator of chosen frequency f to be formed and so that the variations in angular stiffness of the spring portions as a function of temperature are able to thermo-compensate the oscillator, and (c) assembling the chosen spring portions with the chosen balance.
Claims20
A process for manufacturing a timepiece oscillator comprising a balance and at least two spring portions that are arranged in parallel, wherein the process consists of the following performed in the order provided:
- a. choosing the frequency f of the oscillator;
- b. choosing the balance and the at least two spring portions, by selecting the most appropriate distinct spring portions among at least two batches or at least two sets of existing spring portions, so that the inertia of the balance and the angular stiffnesses of the spring portions allow an oscillator of chosen frequency f to be formed and so that the variations in angular stiffness of the spring portions as a function of temperature are able to thermo-compensate the oscillator;
- and
- c. assembling said chosen at least two spring portions to form a spring, which is in its turn assembled with the chosen balance, said spring comprising a parallel arrangement of two spirals, an attachment of each of the two spirals being on the one hand to the arbor of the balance, and, on the other hand, to the balance bridge,
- wherein the distinct spring portions are not integrally formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.