Composite balance and method of manufacturing the same
AssigneeNivarox-FAR S.A.
InventorsPierre-André Bühler, Marco Verardo, Thierry Conus, Jean-Philippe Thiebaud, Jean-Bernard Peters, Pierre Cusin
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Abstract
The invention relates to a composite balance (45, 45′) formed in a layer of silicon-based material (21) and including a hub (39, 39′) connected to a felloe (37, 37′) by at least one arm (40, 41, 42, 43). According to the invention, the felloe (37, 37′) includes at least one additional part approximately in the shape of a notched ring (23, 23′) of higher the than the silicon-based material, which increases the inertia of the balance. The invention also relates to a method 1 of manufacturing this type of balance. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
Claims21
A composite balance formed in a layer of silicon-based material and including a hub connected to a felloe by at least one arm, wherein the felloe includes one additional part approximately in the shape of a notched ring of higher density than said silicon-based material to increase the inertia of said balance.
A method of manufacturing a composite balance including the following steps:
- a) providing a substrate of silicon-based material,
- wherein it further includes the following steps:
- b) selectively depositing at least one metal layer on the substrate to define the pattern of at least one metal part of said balance,
- c) selectively etching at least one cavity in the substrate to define the pattern of the balance, including said at least one metal layer,
- d) releasing the regulating member from the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.