US3673376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for attaching the inner end of a balance spring to its collet
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-08-19
•
Granted: 1972-06-27
•
Expires: 1989-08-19
Abstract
Abstract The balance spring and the collet are held in precise positions on a work table so that the upper edge of the inner end of the spring is flush with an upper face of the collet and at least sufficiently near to the latter to enable a laser beam aimed at this zone to weld together the collet and the spring.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Claude Kullmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:48
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04D; G04D3/00; G04D3/04; G04B; G04B17/00; G04B17/32; G04B17/34; G04B17/345; G04D1/00; G04D1/04; G04D1/042; G04D1/045; G04D1/047; G04D3/0002; G04D3/0035; G04D3/0069; G04D7/00; G04D7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for welding the inner end of a timepiece balance spring to a collet, comprising the steps of: positioning one edge portion of a substantially fully relaxed balance spring flush with a face of said collet and along a line of contact with said collet substantially parallel to the axis of said spring with substantially no distortion thereof; firmly holding said spring and collet in their respective positions; focusing a laser beam, directed at least approximately along said line of contact on the area of flush contact of said edge portion of said spring and said collet face that surrounds said line of contact; and welding said spring and collet together.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for welding the inner end of a timepiece balance spring to a collet, comprising the steps of: positioning one edge portion of a substantially fully relaxed balance spring flush with a face of said collet and along a line of contact with said collet substantially parallel to the axis of said spring with substantially no distortion thereof; firmly holding said spring and collet in their respective positions; focusing a laser beam, directed at least approximately along said line of contact on the area of flush contact of said edge portion of said spring and said collet face that surrounds said line of contact; and welding said spring and collet together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 1, including the step of adjusting the focus of the beam so that the incident beam defines an included angle of about 9* .
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for welding the inner end of a timepiece balance spring to a collet, comprising the steps of: placing one portion of a substantially fully relaxed balance spring flush with a face of said collet and along a line of contact with said collet substantially parallel to the axis of said spring; positioning a segment of said spring having a length at least equal to the height of said spring adjacent a peripheral zone of said collet; firmly holding said spring and said collet in their respective positions; focusing a laser beam, directed at least along a direction substantially parallel the axis of said collet, on said peripheral zone and adjacent spring segment; adjusting the intensity of said laser beam; and welding said spring to said collet to a depth not exceeding one-half of the height of the blade of said spring and along a length at least equal to the height of said spring blade.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for welding the inner end of a timepiece balance spring to a collet, comprising the steps of: placing one portion of a substantially fully relaxed balance spring flush with a face of said collet and along a line of contact with said collet substantially parallel to the axis of said spring; positioning a segment of said spring having a length at least equal to the height of said spring adjacent a peripheral zone of said collet; firmly holding said spring and said collet in their respective positions; focusing a laser beam, directed at least along a direction substantially parallel the axis of said collet, on said peripheral zone and adjacent spring segment; adjusting the intensity of said laser beam; and welding said spring to said collet to a depth not exceeding one-half of the height of the blade of said spring and along a length at least equal to the height of said spring blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 3, including the step of regulating the beam intensity so that the weld depth does not exceed one-third of the height of the spring blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined in claim 3, including the step of shaping the beam so that it covers a narrow elongated zone of the collet extending along the length of the spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in claim 3, including the step of moving the beam to form a succession of spaced spot welds along the segment of the spring.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for welding the inner end of a timepiece balance spring to a collet, whereby said end of the spring retains its original shape, including the steps of placing on a support a collet having a circular cylindrical side face coaxial with said collet and a balance spring having a spirally shaped inner end, rotating the balance spring around the axis of the collet to place the balance spring and the collet together in the position they will occupy after the spring is attached, maintaining the spring completely relaxed, bringing the inner end of the spring into contact, along a line parallel to the collet axis, with said cylindrical side face, placing an edge of the spring flush with a plane face of the collet which bounds said cylindrical side face, firmly holding the spring and the collet in their respective positions, focussing a laser beam directed along said line of contact at the spot of contact between said spring edge and the corresponding edge of said cylindrical side face, and welding the spring and collet together.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for welding the inner end of a timepiece balance spring to a collet, whereby said end of the spring retains its original shape, including the steps of placing on a support a collet having a circular cylindrical side face coaxial with said collet and a balance spring having a spirally shaped inner end, rotating the balance spring around the axis of the collet to place the balance spring and the collet together in the position they will occupy after the spring is attached, maintaining the spring completely relaxed, bringing the inner end of the spring into contact, along a line parallel to the collet axis, with said cylindrical side face, placing an edge of the spring flush with a plane face of the collet which bounds said cylindrical side face, firmly holding the spring and the collet in their respective positions, focussing a laser beam directed along said line of contact at the spot of contact between said spring edge and the corresponding edge of said cylindrical side face, and welding the spring and collet together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method as defined in claim 7, including the steps of shaping the laser beam with a diaphragm so that only a narrow zone of the beam strikes the collet along the edge formed between said cylindrical side face and said plane face, focussing the laser beam on said zone and on the adjacent spring edge and adjusting the beam intensity to weld said zone of the collet and the corresponding portion of the spring along a length at least equal to the height of the spring blade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 7, including the step of adjusting the focus of the beam so that the focused beam defines an included angle of about 9* .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 7, including the step of adjusting the beam intensity to weld the spring to the collet to a depth not exceeding one-half of the spring blade height.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3071365A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |