• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
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    • 专利摘要:
    The invention relates to a timepiece component (1) comprising a dry self-lubricating surface layer (2) comprising boric acid, with a thickness of 10 nanometers to 10 micrometers. The component (1) can be included in an exhaust mechanism (10). According to the invention, a method of coating a watchmaking component (1) with a self-lubricating surface layer (2) comprises the following steps: placing at ambient temperature grains or acid powder boric acid H 3 BO 3 in a solvent selected from water, isopropanol, propanol, methanol, methyl-propanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, acetone, with a dosage of 0.01% to 1.0% by weight, mixing and stirring the solution, quenching said component (1) to be coated in said solution, removing said component from said solution and allowing the liquid phase to evaporate, with the surface constituting said surface layer (2) maintained at distance from all foreign bodies, until complete evaporation. The soaking and evaporation steps can be repeated until a desired layer thickness of 10 nanometers to 10 microns is obtained.
    公开号:CH711836A2
    申请号:CH01685/15
    申请日:2015-11-19
    公开日:2017-05-31
    发明作者:Charbon Christian；Dubois Philippe
    申请人:Nivarox-Far S A；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Description
    Field of the invention [0001] The invention relates to a timepiece component comprising at least one self-lubricating surface layer.
    The invention also relates to a watch exhaust mechanism comprising at least one such component.
    The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such escape mechanism.
    The invention further relates to a watch having at least one movement.
    The invention also relates to a method of coating a watch component with a self-lubricating surface layer.
    The invention relates to the field of components of watch mechanisms subjected to intense use, with a high frequency of pulses, and a large number of pulses and phases of friction during their service, as the components of mechanical mechanisms. 'exhaust.
    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0007] The maintenance-free operation of an escapement mechanism, particularly the Swiss lever escapement, which is the most common, remains a major objective of current watchmaking developments. Since maintenance is generally about refreshing the lubrication, the development of a non-lubricated exhaust goes through the search for solid materials with exceptional tribological properties. In addition, the current trend of operating higher frequency exhausts to increase accuracy is limited by oils that tend to be ejected when subjected to high accelerations. At present, the demand for dry lubrication is particularly pronounced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Boric acid H3B03 is of particular interest in friction because of its ability to lubricate dry. During friction, the planar crystalline meshes of boric acid tend to self-level into sheets parallel to the surface. This arrangement reduces friction similarly to more well known compounds such as MoS2 molybdenum sulphide and WS2 tungsten sulphide.
    The invention aims a non-lubricated operation of the watch exhaust, to reduce maintenance, and allow high oscillation frequencies.
    For this purpose, the invention relates to a timepiece component comprising at least one self-lubricating surface layer, according to claim 1.
    The invention further relates to a watch exhaust mechanism comprising at least one such component.
    The invention also relates to a watch movement comprising at least one such escape mechanism.
    The invention further relates to a watch having at least one movement.
    The invention also relates to a method of coating a timepiece component with a self-lubricating surface layer, according to claim 12.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents, schematically, and in perspective, the triclinic crystalline structure of boric acid H3B03, in layers substantially parallel to each other and to the surface of the material; fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a watch which comprises a movement including itself an escape mechanism with a component according to the invention.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] The invention proposes, at least for the most stressed components of watchmaking mechanisms, to produce them with a dry, self-lubricating surface layer, for which use is preferred. boric acid H3B03, which is of particular interest in friction, because of its ability to lubricate dry.
    Thus, the invention relates to a watch component 1 comprising at least one surface layer 2 self-lubricating. According to the invention, this surface layer 2 is a dry layer comprising boric acid H3B03 and has a thickness of between 10 nanometers and 10 micrometers.
    More particularly, this thickness is between 50 nanometers and 1 micrometer.
    More particularly, this superficial layer 2 consists entirely of boric acid.
    Advantageously, the component 1 comprises, under this surface layer 2, a material chosen to provide a very good adhesion of boric acid. In particular, the component 1 comprises, under the surface layer 2, a substrate which is either made of silicon oxide SiO 2 or aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 or which is covered with an intermediate layer 3 consisting of silicon oxide SiO 2 or Al 2 O 3 aluminum oxide, or DLC, or the like.
    On silicon, a very thin native oxide is formed spontaneously. This can be enough as an adhesion layer. It is however preferable to oxidize the silicon thermally so as to obtain a controlled oxide layer. It is the same with alumina Al203.
    The substrate of the component 1 may be produced in various ways, in particular and without limitation: a substrate made of silicon or silicon oxide or CVD diamond or derived from a micro-fabrication material, or by an additive method of the type "LIGA" or the like, either from a blank transformed with a micromachining method, of the "DRIE" or electro-erosion type, or the like, or resulting from the implementation of a "MEMS" type process . a ceramic substrate, a substrate made of steel or cuprous alloy, CuBe, nickel or nickel compound, NiP, or similar alloy commonly used in watchmaking; a substrate made of a noble metal alloy, gold alloy, platinum, or silver, - a plastic substrate.
    In particular, the invention applies very advantageously to a component 1 which is an exhaust mechanism component, taken from an escape wheel, an anchor, a rocker, a dart, an ellipse, a pallet , a limit stop, a plateau, a star, a rest, a relaxation, a fork, an ankle.
    The invention also relates to a watchmaking escapement mechanism comprising at least one such component 1.
    More particularly, this exhaust mechanism 10 comprises such a component 1 which is an escape wheel made of silicon oxide or a mixture of silicon and silicon oxide SiO 2. Typically, in an advantageous embodiment, the component 1 is made of silicon by DRE, and then thermally oxidized. The micro-manufacturing of silica or quartz components (crystalline or amorphous SiO 2) is not yet completely controlled at present. This escape wheel is coated with such a superficial layer 2 of boric acid, and is arranged to cooperate with other components 1 which are ruby paddles each coated with such a surface layer 2 of boric acid.
    The invention also relates to a watch movement 100 comprising at least one such escape mechanism 10.
    The invention also relates to a watch 1000 comprising at least one such movement 100.
    The invention also relates to a method of coating a watch component 1 with a surface layer 2 self-lubricating.
    To achieve this superficial layer 2, the process comprises the following steps: - put in solution at room temperature grains or boric acid powder H3B03 in a solvent selected from water, isopropanol, propanol , methanol, methyl-propanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, acetone, or the like, with a dosage of 0.01% to 1.0% by weight, typically close to 0.15% by weight. In the case of water, it is possible to facilitate the setting solution by raising the temperature of the water, - mix and stir the solution, for example and not limited to the use of ultrasound, yes facilitates the dissolution. - Soaking the component 1 to be coated in said solution, or spraying it onto the component 1 of the droplet solution, aerosol or targeted (that is to say only on the functional areas of the component through injectors, piezo or similar), - in the alternative of soaking, remove the component from the solution, - let the liquid phase evaporate, with the surface constituting the surface layer 2 kept at a distance from any foreign body, until complete evaporation .
    More particularly, it is repeated, until a desired layer thickness is obtained, between 10 nanometers and 10 micrometers, the steps of: - soaking or sprinkling the component 1, - in case of soaking, remove the component 1 from the solution, - let the liquid phase evaporate, with the surface constituting the surface layer 2 kept at a distance from any foreign body, until complete evaporation.
    The thickness of the boric acid layer H3B03 can also be controlled by the concentration of the solution.
    权利要求:
    Claims (16)
    [1]
    The thickness therefore also depends on the concentration of the solution. The repetition of the steps makes it possible to increase the thickness, because the dissolution of the boric acid already formed is relatively slow. Preferably, this method is applied to a watch exhaust mechanism component 1, emitting or undergoing more than one pulse per second, selected from an escape wheel, an anchor, a balance wheel, a dart, an ellipse, a palette, a limit stop, a plateau, a quill, a rest, a relaxation, a fork, an ankle. Thus, in this preferred application, the invention consists in coating at least one of the components of the exhaust, typically the wheel and / or the pallets, with boric acid applied in liquid solution, the liquid then evaporated to pure boric acid in the solid state at the surface (melting temperature of boric acid H3B03 = 171 ° C). Typically the thickness of the boric acid layer is between 50 nanometers and 1 micrometer. In the most modern exhaust mechanisms, the components to be coated with boric acid are typically silicon, silicon and silicon oxide, metals or ceramics. These may have a rough or porous surface, so as to promote adhesion. The typical concentration of the solution is calculated so as to coat the components of a thin layer, more particularly of the order of 100 nm, of solid boric acid. The solubility of the H3B03 at room temperature being, in the solvent liquids proposed above, higher than the recommended dosage, it is generally not necessary to heat the liquids. However, heating can facilitate dissolution in solution, especially in the case of water that is not flammable. To facilitate dissolution, the H3B03 powder is advantageously mixed with the solvent and stirred, and ultrasound can also be used. The component to be coated is soaked in the solution, or sprayed, then extracted and allowed to dry, so as to avoid contact with the functional parts, for example deposited on a blotting paper. A slight gas blast may be used to hasten the evaporation of the liquid. In its final state, the component 1 is covered with the desired surface layer 2. If the component 1 is made to have a mirror polished surface before coating, interference fringes are visible. The small thicknesses of deposited boric acid, typically from about 50 nm to 100 nm, do not bring about a marked color change. For verification purposes, the passage of a sharp object on the surface may leave a trace indicative of the presence of the layer. Naturally, an XRD or Raman analysis can make it possible to identify with certainty the presence of the H3B03 layer. It should be noted that, since the deposited surface layer 2 is not very visible, the entire component 1 can be coated, without causing mechanical or aesthetic discomfort. In short, the invention allows a non-lubricated operation of a watch exhaust, to reduce maintenance, and allow high oscillation frequencies. claims
    1. Timepiece component (1) comprising at least one self-lubricating surface layer (2), characterized in that said surface layer (2) is a dry layer comprising boric acid H3B03 and has a thickness between nanometers and 10 micrometers.
    [2]
    2. Component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said thickness is between 50 nanometers and 1 micrometer.
    [3]
    3. Component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said surface layer (2) consists entirely of boric acid.
    [4]
    4. Component (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said component (1) comprises, under said surface layer (2), a substrate consisting of silicon oxide SiO 2 or oxide of aluminum AI203, or which is covered with an intermediate layer (3) made of SiO 2 silicon oxide or Al 2 O 3 aluminum oxide.
    [5]
    5. Component (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said component (1) comprises, under said surface layer (2), a substrate of silicon or silicon oxide or diamond CVD or other material of microfabrication.
    [6]
    6. Component (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said component (1) comprises, under said surface layer (2), a ceramic substrate.
    [7]
    7. Component (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said component (1) comprises, under said surface layer (2), a substrate made of steel or a cuprous alloy or nickel or compound of nickel.
    [8]
    8. Component (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said component (1) comprises, under said surface layer (2), a plastic substrate.
    [9]
    9. Component (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said component (1) is an exhaust mechanism component among an escape wheel, an anchor, a rocker, a dart, a ellipse, a palette, a limit stop, a plateau, a star, a rest, a relaxation, a fork, an ankle.
    [10]
    10. Clock exhaust mechanism (10) comprising at least one component (1) according to claim 9.
    [11]
    11. Exhaust mechanism (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a said component (1) which is an escape wheel made of silicon oxide or a mixture of silicon and oxide of silicon SiO 2, coated with a said boric acid surface layer (2), which is arranged to cooperate with other said components (1) which are ruby pallets each coated with a said surface layer (2) of 'boric acid.
    [12]
    Clock movement (100) comprising at least one escape mechanism (10) according to claim 10 or 11.
    [13]
    13. Watch (1000) comprising at least one movement (100) according to claim 12.
    [14]
    14. A process for coating a timepiece component (1) with a self-lubricating surface layer (2), characterized in that, in order to produce said layer, it comprises the following steps: - putting into solution at room temperature grains or boric acid powder H3B03 in a solvent selected from water, isopropanol, propanol, methanol, methylpropanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, acetone, with a dosage of 0.01% to 1.0% by weight, - mixing and stirring the solution, - soaking said component (1) to be coated in said solution, or spraying it with said solution, - if soaking, remove said component from said solution - allowing the liquid phase to evaporate, with the surface constituting said surface layer (2) kept at a distance from any foreign body, until complete evaporation.
    [15]
    15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that said steps consisting in: - quenching said component (1) to be coated in said solution or spraying it with said solution, - in case of soaking, removing said component from said solution, - Evaporating the liquid phase, with the surface constituting said surface layer (2) kept at a distance from any foreign body, until complete evaporation, are repeated until a desired layer thickness of between 10 is obtained. nanometers and 10 micrometers.
    [16]
    16. Application of the method according to claim 14 or 15 to a watch exhaust mechanism component (1), emitting or undergoing more than one pulse per second, selected from an escapement wheel, an anchor, a pendulum , a dart, an ellipse, a palette, a limit stop, a plateau, a quill, a rest, a relaxation, a fork, an ankle.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    CH711836B1|2019-10-31|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    WO2021005564A1|2019-07-10|2021-01-14|Patek Philippe Sa Geneve|Watch assembly having at least two contacting elements|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    CH16852015A|CH711836B1|2015-11-19|2015-11-19|Clock component comprising a self-lubricating surface layer.|CH16852015A| CH711836B1|2015-11-19|2015-11-19|Clock component comprising a self-lubricating surface layer.|
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