Balance spring stud-holder with simplied assembly
AssigneeETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
InventorsJulien CHRISTAN, Patrick Moller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for holding or supporting a timepiece balance spring, includes a balance spring stud and a stud-holder, the stud-holder includes a base having at least one circular portion, the base including, on the circular portion, a first lug and a second lug each extending radially. One of the two lugs includes an elastic arm extending from the lug, in a direction parallel to that of the base, towards the other lug, the elastic arm forming with the base a housing for housing the balance spring stud therein and the first and second lugs are able to cooperate with a tool to allow the balance spring stud to exert a stress on the elastic arm to deform the latter and permit the assembly or disassembly of the stud.
Claims14
A holding or support assembly for a timepiece balance spring, comprising a balance spring stud and a stud-holder arranged to be mounted on a balance-cock, wherein said stud-holder comprises a base having at least one circular portion, said base comprising, on said circular portion, a first lug and a second lug each extending radially;
- one of the two lugs comprising an elastic arm extending from said stud, in a direction parallel to that of the base, towards the other lug, said elastic arm forming with said base a housing for housing the balance spring stud and the elastic arm is adapted to be deformed via a tool to permit the assembly or disassembly of said stud in the housing.
A method for assembly of a balance spring stud on a stud-holder, said stud-holder comprising a base having at least one circular portion attached to a balance-cock, said base comprising, on said circular portion, a first lug and a second lug each extending radially;
- the first lug comprising an elastic arm extending from the end thereof, in a direction parallel to that of the base, towards the second lug, said elastic arm forming with said base a housing for housing the balance spring stud, said method comprising:
- taking a first tool capable of performing a pinching action with two arms, and a second tool;
- placing the balance spring stud at the entrance to the housing while holding it via the first tool;
- and
- operating said second tool to lever and deform the elastic arm, allowing the housing to become wider to house said balance spring stud therein.
A method for disassembly of a balance spring stud from a stud-holder, said stud-holder comprising a base having at least one circular portion attached to a balance-cock, said base comprising, on said circular portion, a first lug and a second lug each extending radially;
- the first lug comprising an elastic arm extending from the end thereof, in a direction parallel to that of the base, towards the second lug, said elastic arm forming with said base a housing for housing the balance spring stud, said method comprising:
- taking a tool capable of performing a pinching action with two arms;
- operating said tool so that one arm of the tool rests on the second lug and so that the other arm of the tool rests on the balance spring stud, said tool being operated such that said second lug and said balance spring stud prevent said arms moving closer together;
- and
- exerting a force on the arms of the tool intended to move them closer together so that the balance spring stud exerts a stress on the elastic arm, the force exerted by the arm of the tool is increased so that the stress exerted by the balance spring stud on the elastic arm causes a deformation thereof allowing said balance spring stud to leave the housing.
A method for disassembly of a balance spring stud from a stud-holder, said stud-holder comprising a base having at least one circular portion attached to a balance-cock, said base comprising, on said circular portion, a first lug and a second lug each extending radially;
- the first lug comprising an elastic arm extending from the end thereof, in a direction parallel to that of the base, towards the second lug, said elastic arm forming with said base a housing for housing the balance spring stud, said method comprising:
- taking a first tool capable of performing a pinching action with two arms, and a second tool;
- placing the balance spring stud at the entrance to the housing while holding it via the first tool;
- and
- operating said second tool to lever and deform the elastic arm, allowing the housing to become wider to remove said balance spring stud.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.