Fastening part of a hairspring

An assembly (300) includes (i) a hairspring (2) made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, notably an alloy including the elements Nb and Zr with between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr and an interstitial doping agent including oxygen, and (ii) at least one fastening part (1; 1′), notably two parts (1; 1′), in particular a stud (1) or a collet (1′), for an end (2a; 2b) of the hairspring (2), the at least one part (1; 1′) having a first portion (10; 10′) that is designed to come into contact with the hairspring (2) and that is made of titanium or titanium alloy or of tantalum or tantalum alloy, notably grade 2 titanium or grade 5 titanium.

This application claims priority of European patent application No. EP16172445.5 filed Jun. 1, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

The invention relates to a fastening part for an end of a hairspring, notably a stud or a collet. The invention also relates to an assembly including a hairspring and such a stud and/or such a collet. The invention also relates to an oscillator or a clockwork movement or a timepiece including such an assembly. Finally, the invention concerns a manufacturing method for such an assembly.

Clockwork mechanical oscillator mechanisms incorporating a hairspring usually have a collet for fastening the inner end of the hairspring and/or a stud for fastening the outer end of the hairspring. Where a hairspring is made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the elements Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr or Hf, the fastening part of the hairspring, i.e. the collet or the stud, may be attached to the hairspring by welding, in particular by laser welding. In general, this fastening part is made of steel, in particular stainless steel. Such an assembly solution is satisfactory for welding a hairspring made of a Nb—Zr—O paramagnetic alloy, such as the one protected by patent EP0886195B1.

Application CH706846 relates more specifically to a split collet made of a titanium-based material. The low density of the titanium is used to provide a collet with low mass density such as to improve the isochronism of the oscillator incorporating said collet. Document CH706846 nonetheless discloses a collet with an entirely conventional structure with first and second flat sides. The collet has a lateral aperture designed to receive the blade of the inner end of a hairspring. This latter may be fastened in a conventional manner, either by pinning or by welding, in particular by laser welding. However, no geometric adaptation of the receiving surface is proposed to enable or optimize welding of the hairspring into the groove of the collet. Furthermore, no details are provided regarding the nature of the material used to make the hairspring designed to be attached to said collet.

It is known to fasten a hairspring to a collet or to a stud by laser welding. Patent application CH561921 for example discloses a laser welding method for a collet including a pre-fastening stage of the hairspring to position the hairspring accurately in relation to the collet.

Application FR2017027 specifically concerns the laser welding of the inner end of a hairspring against a semi-circular collet portion centered on the axis of rotation of the hairspring. No details are provided as to the nature of the materials used to make the device. The blade portion of the inner end of the hairspring in this case lies continuously against the collet portion. A single spot weld is provided along the contact line between the spiral spring and the collet. To obviate the risk of the weld tearing, it is recommended that the intensity of the laser be adjusted to ensure that the spot weld does not penetrate more than half of the height of the blade and that the spot weld is at least as long as the height of said blade. Nonetheless, such a design does not prevent the appearance of fragile intermetallic compounds that contribute to weakening the weld. Furthermore, such a design also risks overheating the blade of the spiral spring and therefore potentially changing the mechanical properties of same, as well as having undesirable esthetic effects.

Patent CH468662 discloses a specific collet geometry that has the peculiarity of including an annular slot intended to support and guide the blade of the inner end of the hairspring. Such a design does not enable thermal conduction between two weld zones to be interrupted if the leaf spring is welded to the collet, in particular by laser welding.

Patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,688 discloses an elastic stud that has a flat surface onto which a blade portion of the outer end of a hairspring is welded. The description specifies that the stud can be welded at multiple points, notably at more than two points. No mention is made of the materials used to make the device, although the description does specify that such a solution improves the hold of the spiral spring against the stud. Nonetheless, such a design does not prevent the appearance of fragile intermetallic compounds that could contribute to the weakening of either of the spot welds, and that could weaken the fitting of the hairspring, thereby altering the chronometry, and in particular the isochronism curve, of the oscillator incorporating such a device. Furthermore, the geometry of such a stud does not enable the thermal conduction between two spot welds to be interrupted.

The use of hairsprings including at least one of the elements Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr or Hf is also known in the prior art. Patent EP0886195B1 for example discloses a spiral spring made of a paramagnetic alloy Nb—Zr having between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr, as well as an interstitial doping agent made at least partially of oxygen.

Patent EP1258786B1 also discloses a spiral spring made of paramagnetic alloy Nb—Hf containing between 2% and 30% by mass of Hf.

Application WO2015189278 discloses a balance spring containing a hairspring manufactured using a titanium alloy containing notably a titanium base comprising 10 at. % to 40 at. % of one of the elements Nb, Ta, or V; 0 at. % to 6 at. % Zr; and 0 at. % to 5 at. % Hf. The document specifies that such a hairspring may be provided with a collet and a stud so as to be assembled inside an oscillator, without any further details.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a fastening part for an end of a hairspring that addresses the drawbacks mentioned above and improves the fastening parts known in the prior art. In particular, the invention proposes a fastening part that improves the fastening of a hairspring, notably that improves the adherence strength of a hairspring.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a fastening part is defined by the following proposals:a. Fastening part, in particular a stud or collet, for an end of a hairspring made of paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, the fastening part having a first portion that is designed to come into contact with the hairspring and that is made of titanium or titanium alloy or of tantalum or tantalum alloy, notably grade 2 titanium or grade 5 titanium.b. Fastening part according to proposal (a), wherein the first portion has two bearing surfaces separated by a slot, each bearing surface being designed to come into contact with the hairspring and the slot extending notably in the direction of the height of the hairspring, preferably over a height greater than the height of the hairspring.c. Fastening part according to proposal (b), wherein each surface has, at at least one of the ends of same in the direction of the height of the hairspring, a positioning shape extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface.d. Fastening part according to proposal (b), wherein each surface has, at two of the ends of same in the direction of the height of the hairspring, respectively a first positioning shape and a second positioning shape, the shapes extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to said surface.e. Fastening part according to one of proposals (a) to (d), wherein the fastening part includes a second portion designed to come into contact with a stud support or with a balance arbor.f. Fastening part according to one of proposals (a) to (e), wherein the surfaces are arranged substantially perpendicular to a plane of the hairspring and together form an angle, notably an angle of between 150° and 179° considered from an axis of the hairspring.g. Fastening part according to one of proposals (a) to (e), wherein the surfaces are arranged substantially perpendicular to a plane of the spiral spring and/or are curved to form portions of a single cylinder of revolution or are made tangential to a single cylinder of revolution.h. Fastening part according to proposal (g), wherein the fastening part is a collet and wherein the cylinder of revolution is centered on an axis of the collet.i. Fastening part according to one of proposals (a) to (h), wherein the fastening part is a collet and wherein the collet includes at least one stop, and notably two, three, four or five stops, distributed angularly, notably distributed angularly and regularly, about an outer periphery of the collet.

According to the first aspect of the invention, a manufacturing method is defined by the following proposals:j. Manufacturing method for an assembly including a stud according to one of proposals (a) to (g) and a hairspring made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, the method comprising the following steps:Provision of the stud,Provision of the hairspring,Fastening of the stud to the hairspring.k. Manufacturing method for an assembly including a collet according to one of proposals (a) to (i) and a hairspring made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, the method comprising the following steps:Provision of the collet,Provision of the hairspring,Fastening of the collet to the hairspring.l. Manufacturing method for an assembly including a stud according to one of proposals (a) to (g), a collet according to one of proposals (a) to (i) and a hairspring made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, the method comprising the following steps:Provision of the stud,Provision of the hairspring,Provision of the collet,Fastening of the stud to the hairspring and fastening of the collet to the hairspring.m. Manufacturing method according to one of proposals (k) to (I), wherein the fastening step is performed by laser welding.

According to the first aspect of the invention, an assembly is defined by the following proposals:n. Assembly comprising:a hairspring, notably a hairspring made of a paramagnetic alloy, in particular a hairspring made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf, notably an alloy including the elements Nb and Zr with between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr and an interstitial doping agent including oxygen, anda stud according to one of proposals (a) to (g), and/ora collet according to one of proposals (a) to (i).

According to the first aspect of the invention, a clockwork oscillator or a clockwork movement or a timepiece is defined by the following proposal:o. Clockwork oscillator or clockwork movement or timepiece including:an assembly according to proposal (n), and/oran assembly obtained by carrying out the method according to one of proposals (j) to (m), and/ora stud according to one of proposals (a) to (g), and/ora collet according to one of proposals (a) to (i).

According to a second aspect of the invention, a fastening stud is defined by the following proposals:aa. Fastening stud for an end of a hairspring, the stud having a first portion designed to come into contact with the hairspring, the first portion being formed such as to have a first surface and at least one second bearing surface with the hairspring.bb. Stud according to proposal (aa), wherein the first and second surfaces are uninterrupted, and in particular uninterrupted with no edges between the first and second surfaces.cc. Stud according to proposal (aa), wherein the first and second surfaces are discontinuous.dd. Stud according to proposal (cc), wherein the first and second bearing surfaces are separated by a slot, the slot extending notably in the direction of the height of the hairspring, preferably over a height greater than the height of the hairspring.ee. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (dd), wherein each surface has, at one of the ends of same in the direction of the height of the hairspring, a positioning shape extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface.ff. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (dd), wherein each surface has, at two of the ends of same in the direction of the height of the hairspring, respectively a first positioning shape and a second positioning shape, the shapes extending perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to said surface.gg. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (ff), wherein the stud has a second portion designed to come into contact with a stud support.hh. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (gg), wherein the first and second surfaces are flat or cylindrical, in particular cylinders of revolution.ii. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (hh), wherein the first and second surfaces are arranged substantially perpendicular to a plane of the hairspring and/or together form an angle, notably an angle of between 150° and 179° considered from an axis of the hairspring.jj. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (ii), wherein the first and second surfaces are arranged substantially perpendicular to a plane of the spiral spring and/or are curved to form portions of a single cylinder of revolution or are made tangential to a single cylinder of revolution.kk. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (jj), wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces forms a non-zero angle with a plane that is parallel and orthoradial to the axis of the hairspring.ll. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (kk), wherein the first surface and the at least one second surface together form an angle, notably an angle of between 150° and 179° considered from an axis of the hairspring.mm. Stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (II), wherein the first surface and the at least one second surface are designed to receive two zones of a single spiral spring face, the two zones being separated from one another in the direction in which the spiral spring extends.

According to the second aspect of the invention, a method is defined by the following proposals:nn. Manufacturing method for an assembly including a stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (mm) and a hairspring, the method comprising the following steps:Provision of the stud,Provision of the hairspring,Fastening of the stud to the hairspring at the level of the first and second surfaces.oo. Manufacturing method according to proposal (nn), wherein the fastening step is performed by laser welding.

According to the second aspect of the invention, an assembly is defined by the following proposal:pp. Assembly comprising:a hairspring, anda stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (mm).

According to the second aspect of the invention, a clockwork oscillator or a clockwork movement or a timepiece is defined by the following proposal:qq. Clockwork oscillator or clockwork movement or timepiece including:an assembly according to proposal (pp), and/oran assembly obtained by carrying out the method according to one of proposals (nn) and (oo), and/ora stud according to one of proposals (aa) to (mm).

According to a third aspect of the invention, a fastening part of an end of a hairspring, notably a stud or a collet, has a first portion designed to come into contact with the hairspring. The first portion has two bearing surfaces separated by a slot, each bearing surface being designed to come into contact with the hairspring. The slot extends notably in the direction of the height of the hairspring, preferably over a height greater than the height of the hairspring.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, an assembly according to the invention is defined by claim1.

Different embodiments of the assembly are defined by dependent claims2to9.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the methods according to the invention are defined by claims10to13.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, an oscillator according to the invention or a clockwork movement according to the invention or a timepiece according to the invention is defined by claim14.

Except where technically or logically impossible, all of the features and/or specific details of the first, second, third and fourth aspects of the invention can be combined.

One embodiment of a timepiece600is described below with reference toFIG. 12. The timepiece is for example a watch, in particular a wristwatch. The timepiece includes a clockwork movement500, in particular a mechanical movement, which in turn includes an oscillator400, such as a balance spring oscillator having a balance pivoted on an axis A1and a hairspring arranged mainly in a plane P1perpendicular to the axis A1. The axis A1is also the axis of the hairspring.

The oscillator400has a spiral spring assembly300including a hairspring2, a first part1′ for fastening the inner end2bof the hairspring to a balance arbor, i.e. a collet1′, and a second part1for fastening the outer end2aof the hairspring to a frame of the movement, notably a balance bridge4, possibly via a stud support3, as shown inFIG. 3. The second fastening part is a stud.

Advantageously, the hairspring is made of a paramagnetic alloy including at least one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf. In particular, the hairspring includes at least 2%, or at least 5%, by mass of one of the following elements: Nb, V, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hf. Preferably, the hairspring is made of an alloy including the elements Nb and Zr with between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr and an interstitial doping agent including oxygen. Preferably, the hairspring is made of an alloy including 85% by mass of Nb, 14.95% by mass of Zr and 0.05% by mass of oxygen. The alloy may also include other impurities, for example within the following limits: Hf<7000 ppm, Ta<1000 ppm, W<300 ppm, Mo<100 ppm, others <60 ppm.

Preferably, the stud1includes a portion10designed to come into contact with the hairspring2. Advantageously, the stud is made of:titanium, ortitanium alloy, notably grade 2 titanium or grade 5 titanium, ortantalum, ortantalum alloy.

Equally and preferably, the collet1′ includes a portion10′ designed to come into contact with the hairspring2. Advantageously, the collet is made of:titanium, ortitanium alloy, notably grade 2 titanium or grade 5 titanium, ortantalum, ortantalum alloy.

“Titanium” preferably means any material with a mass percent of titanium greater than 99%, or greater than 99.5%.

“Titanium alloy” preferably means any other material whose main or dominant element by mass is titanium, such as grade 5 titanium (Ti6Al4V).

“Tantalum” preferably means any material with a mass percent of tantalum greater than 99%, or greater than 99.5%.

“Tantalum alloy” preferably means any other material whose main or dominant element by mass is tantalum, such as tantalum TaW containing between 2.5% and 10% of W by mass or tantalum TaNb containing approximately 40% of Nb by mass.

Making the collet and/or the stud from titanium or titanium alloy is particularly suited to welding a hairspring made of a niobium-based alloy that has between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr, in particular an alloy including the elements Nb and Zr with between 5% and 25% by mass of Zr and an interstitial doping agent including oxygen. Indeed, Nb and Zr are entirely soluble in Ti.

Making the collet and/or the stud from tantalum or tantalum alloy is particularly suited to welding a hairspring made of a titanium base that has between 17% and 62% by mass of one of the elements Nb or Ta, for example at least 17% by mass of Nb and for example a maximum of 62% by mass of Ta. Making the collet and/or stud from tantalum or tantalum alloy is advantageous for welding an Nb—Hf hairspring comprising between 2% and 30% by mass of Hf.

One embodiment of a stud according to the invention is described below in detail and with reference toFIGS. 1 to 6.

The stud is for example made from a single piece, as in the embodiment illustrated. The stud notably has an overall square shape formed by two branches of substantially the same size. The two branches may be connected to one another by a radius fillet.

The stud1includes a first portion10designed to be welded to the hairspring2, in particular by laser welding, at the outer end2aof the hairspring, as shown inFIG. 2. The stud also has a second portion100designed to be fastened, notably inserted, conventionally into a groove of the stud support3, which is mounted on the balance bridge4, as shown inFIG. 3. The first and second portions may be made of different materials and assembled on top of one another.

The first portion10has a first bearing surface10band a second bearing surface10cthat are separated by a slot10a. Each bearing surface is designed to come into contact with the hairspring. In the embodiment shown, the slot extends in the direction of the height h of the hairspring, preferably over a height H10greater than the height of the hairspring. The slot10aenables the first and second bearing surfaces10b,10cto be separated or distinguished from one another. The slot10ais advantageously oriented substantially in the direction of the height H10of the portion10of the stud1. Such an arrangement enables heat conduction to be completely interrupted when welding the blade of the spiral spring to each of the first and second bearing surfaces10b,10cand to prevent the occurrence of interference between two zones of the hairspring affected thermally during welding. This arrangement enables the necessary energy to be applied to the weld, optimizing preservation of the mechanical properties of the alloy of the hairspring.

The slot can be formed through part of the thickness of the stud, i.e. without passing through the stud. Alternatively, the slot can pass through the entire thickness of the stud.

As an alternative to the foregoing, the slot may be oriented perpendicular to the height h of the hairspring. The slot may also be oriented in another direction.

The first surface and the second surface are designed to receive two zones of a single spiral spring face. Preferably, the two zones are separated from one another in the direction of the spiral spring, i.e. in the direction in which the spiral spring mainly extends at the zones. There is therefore a space between the zones (space measured in the direction in which the spiral spring mainly extends at the zones). It is therefore not possible to move from one point of a zone to a point of the other zone without travelling a distance in the direction in which the spiral spring mainly extends at the zones.

The first bearing surface10bhas a first relief103bor104bat one of the ends101bor102bof same. This first relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring, notably an axial positioning stop for the hairspring. Indeed, the blade of the hairspring, in bearing contact with the first surface, can be moved to come into contact against the first relief such as to accurately position the hairspring in relation to the stud in the direction of the height H10of the stud. The first relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first surface10b, such as to form a stop. Advantageously, the first bearing surface10bhas a second relief103bor104bat the other of the ends101bor102bof same. This second relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring. The second relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first surface10b, such as to form a stop.

Similarly, the second bearing surface10cmay have a third relief103cor104cat one of the ends101cor102cof same. This third relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring. Indeed, the blade of the hairspring, in contact against the second surface, can be moved to come into contact against the third relief such as to accurately position the hairspring in relation to the stud in the direction of the height H10of the stud. The third relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second surface10c, such as to form a stop. Advantageously, the second bearing surface10chas a fourth relief103cor104cat the other of the ends101cor102cof same. This fourth relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring. The fourth relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second surface10c, such as to form a stop.

The positioning reliefs described above enable the blade of the hairspring to be positioned accurately in relation to the stud, thereby enabling the hairspring to be accurately fitted after the hairspring has been welded onto the stud. Welding may comprise two spot welds s1, s2made respectively at each of the bearing surfaces10b,10cor on the edge of each of the bearing surfaces10b,10c. Preferably, the third and fourth spot welds s3, s4are made respectively at each of the bearing surfaces10b,10cor on the edge of each of the bearing surfaces10b,10c, in addition to the spot welds s1, s2, as shown inFIG. 2. To ensure this precise positioning, where one or two of the bearing surfaces each have two positioning reliefs, said reliefs are spaced apart by a distance greater than the height h of the spring blade. Advantageously, this height play is less than 0.04 mm, or less than 0.03 mm. The positioning reliefs described above form a second slot10doriented substantially perpendicular to the first slot10ain order to support and/or guide the blade of the hairspring, as shown inFIG. 1.

Advantageously, the first and second bearing surfaces10band10care designed to perfectly fit the curve of the end blade of the hairspring. To do so, the first and second surfaces10b,10care inclined in relation to the surface defined by the bottom of the slot10aor to the face of the stud that is visible in the view inFIG. 1. Preferably, the first and second surfaces10b,10care inclined at two different angles, which may for example be between 5° and 15°. Consequently and as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the first and second surfaces10b,10cmay together form an angle α (i.e. a non-zero angle), notably an angle α of between 150° and 179° considered from the axis A1of the balance or of the hairspring. In other words, the axis A1is within the obtuse dihedral formed by two half-planes passing through the first and second surfaces respectively. The first and second surfaces may also be arranged perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane P1of the spiral spring. The first and second surfaces may be flat faces. The faces may be tangential to a single surface, notably a single cylinder of revolution or a cylindrical surface of revolution or a more complex surface formed by a portion of the end curve of the hairspring. At least one of the first and second surfaces10b,10ccan form a non-zero angle with a plane that is parallel and orthoradial to the axis A1.

Alternatively, the first and second surfaces may be curved surfaces designed to best fit the blade of the hairspring seated therein. For example, the first and second surfaces may each be a portion of a single cylinder of revolution or a cylindrical surface of revolution or a more complex surface formed by a portion of the end curve of the hairspring.

In the embodiment of the stud shown, the first and second surfaces are discontinuous. However, alternatively, the first and second surfaces may be uninterrupted, i.e. forming a single surface. This single surface may be a “continuous tangent”, i.e. have no edges.

Ideally, these first and second surfaces are identical to the surface, which is not necessarily cylindrical, of the outer end2aof the hairspring.

Such a stud design advantageously provides at least two contact points between the stud and the end blade of the hairspring. The assembly precision, notably the welding precision, of a hairspring on such a stud is thus optimized, and is no longer only guaranteed by the assembly means. In the techniques known in the prior art, the assembly means are formed such as to minimize, before fastening of the blade of the hairspring to the stud, the movements of the blade of the hairspring about the theoretical contact point of same defined exclusively by the curve of the spring and a single and unique receiving plane of the stud. This degree of freedom enabling the blade to oscillate through an angular range of approximately 4°, or 8° about the theoretical contact point of same enables torque to exist in the blade at the outer fitting of the hairspring, once the blade has been fastened to the stud. This phenomenon may cause the non-concentric arrangement of the hairspring, thereby resulting in chronometry problems, in particular in the isochronism curve and “flat-hanging difference”.

FIG. 14is a graph showing the mean rate M in seconds per day of a timepiece, averaged for the different position of the timepiece, as a function of the amplitude A in degrees of the balance spring in free isochronism. The dashed lines, showing the isochronism curves for a balance spring assembly representative of the prior art, in which the end of the end curve of the hairspring has been moved through an angle of ±4° about the theoretical contact point of same with the stud, define an envelope in which the mean rate of the timepiece varies as a function of the nominal position of the blade of the hairspring in relation to the stud.

The unbroken line N shows a function with an optimized isochronism curve representing operation of a balance spring assembly provided with a stud according to the invention, with a hairspring in which the end of the end curve is accurately positioned by the first and second bearing surfaces of the stud. Notably, such an arrangement in practice reduces the isochronism curve and “flat-hanging difference” in the timepiece containing the balance spring.

One embodiment of a collet according to the invention is described below in detail and with reference toFIGS. 7 to 11.

The collet includes a first portion10′ designed to be welded to a hairspring2, in particular by laser welding, at the inner end2bof the hairspring, as shown inFIG. 8. The collet also has a second portion100′, in the form of a central opening100′, that is for example designed to be pressed against the balance arbor5, as shown inFIGS. 8 to 11. The first and second portions may be made from a single part. Alternatively, the first and second portions may be made of different materials and assembled on top of one another.

As with the stud1, the portion10′ has a first slot10a′ defining two bearing surfaces10b′,10c′ of a blade portion of the inner end of the hairspring2. Thus, the first portion10′ has a first bearing surface10b′ and a second bearing surface10c′ that are separated by a slot10a′. Each bearing surface is designed to come into contact with the hairspring. In the embodiment shown, the slot extends in the direction of the height h of the hairspring, preferably over a height H10′ greater than the height of the hairspring. The slot10a′ enables the first and second bearing surfaces10b′,10c′ to be separated or distinguished from one another. The slot10a′ is advantageously oriented substantially in the direction of the height H10′ of the portion10of the stud1. Such an arrangement enables heat conduction to be completely interrupted when welding the blade of the spiral spring to each of the first and second bearing surfaces10b′,10c′ and to prevent the occurrence of interference between two zones of the hairspring affected thermally during welding. This arrangement enables the necessary energy to be applied to the weld, optimizing preservation of the mechanical properties of the alloy of the hairspring. The slot can also be used as a visual marker for accurately positioning the spot welds around the periphery of the collet.

As an alternative to the foregoing, the slot may be oriented perpendicular to the height h of the hairspring. Alternatively, the slot may be oriented in another direction.

In an embodiment not shown, the first bearing surface may have a first relief at one of the ends of same. This first relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring. Indeed, the blade of the hairspring, in contact against the first surface, can be moved to come into contact against the first relief such as to accurately position the hairspring in relation to the collet in the direction of the height of the collet. The first relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first surface10b′, such as to form a stop. Advantageously, the first bearing surface10b′ may have a second relief at the other of the ends of same. This second relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring. The second relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first surface10b′, such as to form a stop.

Similarly, the second bearing surface10c′ may have a third relief at one of the ends of same. This third relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring. Indeed, the blade of the hairspring, in contact against the second surface, can be moved to come into contact against the third relief such as to accurately position the hairspring in relation to the collet in the direction of the height of the collet. The third relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second surface10c′, such as to form a stop. Advantageously, the second bearing surface10c′ may have a fourth relief at the other of the ends of same. This fourth relief provides a positioning stop for the hairspring. The fourth relief extends for example perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the second surface10c′, such as to form a stop.

The positioning reliefs described above enable the blade of the hairspring to be positioned accurately in relation to the stud, thereby enabling the hairspring to be accurately fitted after the hairspring has been welded onto the collet. Welding may comprise two spot welds s1′, s2′ made respectively at each of the bearing surfaces10b′,10c′ or on the edge of each of the bearing surfaces10b′,10c′. Preferably, the third and fourth spot welds s3′, s4′ are made respectively at each of the bearing surfaces10b′,10c′ or on the edge of each of the bearing surfaces10b′,10c′, in addition to the spot welds s1′, s2′, as shown inFIG. 9. To ensure this precise positioning, where one or two of the bearing surfaces each have two positioning reliefs, said reliefs are spaced apart by a distance greater than the height h of the spring blade. Advantageously, this height play is less than 0.04 mm, or less than 0.03 mm. The positioning reliefs described above can then form a second slot oriented substantially perpendicular to the first slot in order to support and/or guide the blade of the hairspring.

Advantageously, the first and second bearing surfaces10b′ and10c′ are designed to perfectly fit the curve of the blade of the hairspring. To do so, the first and second surfaces10b′,10c′ may together form an angle α′, notably an angle α′ of between 150° and 179° considered from the axis A1of the balance or of the hairspring. In other words, the axis A1is within the obtuse dihedral formed by two half-planes passing through the first and second surfaces respectively. The first and second surfaces may also be arranged perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane P1of the spiral spring. The first and second surfaces may be flat faces. The flat faces may be tangential to a single surface, notably a single cylinder of revolution. The precise positioning of the hairspring in relation to the collet also helps to achieve chronometric improvements of the same type as those obtained by the precise positioning of the hairspring in relation to the stud.

Advantageously, the surfaces10b′,10c′ are portions of a single cylinder of revolution in which the directrix is the circle A of center CA, which may or may not be centered on the axis A1of the balance. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 10, the center CA is not on the axis A1, such as to minimize or eliminate the movement of the surfaces10b′,10c′ onto which the hairspring is welded when pressing the collet1′ onto the arbor5.

The collet1′ may include arms1A′,1B′,1C′,1D′, which may be deformable or otherwise and have variable sections or otherwise, such as to optimize the force required to press the collet onto the balance arbor and/or the holding torque of the collet on the balance arbor. Preferably, the contact between the collet and the arbor is cylinder-cylinder. The central opening100′ may be a circular borehole100′ designed to fit the cylindrical periphery of the balance arbor5, such as to minimize the stress inside the collet when pressing the collet onto the balance arbor. Preferably, the collet has at least one peripheral portion or stop1E′,1F′,1G′ against which the inner turn of the hairspring can bear in the event of impact, before the elastic limit of the material used to make the hairspring is exceeded. These stops are distributed angularly, regularly or otherwise, around the outer periphery of the collet, as shown inFIG. 11. Preferably, these stops are semicircle portions tangential respectively to the circles E, F, G with centers CE, CF, CG. In the embodiment shown, the circles E, F, G have different diameters to best fit the shape of the inner turn of the hairspring. The centers CE, CF, CG are in this case the same and coincide with the axis Al or the center CB of the balance arbor5, and are different from the center CA. The stops1E′,1F′,1G′ are located at respective distances RE, RF, RG from the axis A1that increase in the direction of the spiral spring moving outwards from the point where the hairspring is joined to the collet.

An embodiment of the manufacturing method for an assembly300including:a hairspring, anda stud1, and/ora collet1′,

is described below.

The method includes the following steps:Provision of the hairspring as described above,Provision of the stud as described above and/or of the collet as described above,Fastening of the stud to the hairspring and/or fastening of the collet to the hairspring.

Advantageously, the fastening step or steps include the following sub-steps:Positioning of the stud in relation to the hairspring and/or positioning of the collet in relation to the hairspring,Welding, notably laser welding, of the stud to the hairspring and/or welding, notably laser welding, of the collet to the hairspring,

Advantageously, the welding sub-step includes making at least one spot weld, in particular two spot welds, on each of the first and second surfaces of the stud designed to receive the hairspring and/or making at least one spot weld, in particular two spot welds, on each of the first and second surfaces of the collet designed to receive the hairspring.

FIG. 13is a comparative graph highlighting the gains of an assembly carried out in accordance with the manufacturing method described above. The graph shows different situations on the X-axis and the intensity of the pull forces on the Y-axis. Considering a reference force FA required to pull an Nb—Zr hairspring comprising approximately 15% by mass of Zr from a stud made of steel, the studies carried out by the applicant demonstrate that the force FB required to pull a given Nb—Zr hairspring from a given stud made of grade 5 titanium is around 3 times the reference force FA, with the forces FA and FB applied directly to the blade of the spiral spring near to the stud and arranged in the plane of the spiral spring and oriented substantially towards the center of the spiral spring.

Considering a reference force FC required to pull an Nb—Zr hairspring comprising approximately 15% by mass of Zr from a collet made of steel, the studies carried out by the applicant demonstrate that the force FD required to pull a given Nb—Zr hairspring from a given collet made of grade 5 titanium is around 1.1 times the reference force FC, with the forces FC and FD applied directly to the end portion of the blade of the spiral spring at the collet and arranged in the plane of the spiral spring in a direction substantially tangential to the semicircle portion of the collet receiving the hairspring.

The invention makes it possible to optimize the strength of the weld of a hairspring made of a paramagnetic alloy, notably in the event of impact, by choosing fastening parts in which the portion designed to come in contact with the hairspring is made of titanium or titanium alloy or tantalum or tantalum alloy. Such a pairing of materials helps to achieve a quality weld due to the total solubility of the solid phases, thereby preventing the appearance of fragile intermetallic compounds, as well as a low solidification range that limits the risk of solidification cracks.