US 11,913,094 B2
Spiral spring for a horological movement
Christian Charbon, Chézard-St-Martin (CH); Lionel Michelet, Fleurier (CH); and Marco Verardo, Les Bois (CH)
Assigned to Nivarox-FAR S.A., Le Locle (CH)
Filed by Nivarox-FAR S.A., Le Locle (CH)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/654,875.
Claims priority of application No. 21162936 (EP), filed on Mar. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0298611 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C22C 27/02 (2006.01); G04B 17/06 (2006.01)
CPC C22C 27/025 (2013.01) [G04B 17/066 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
 
1. A spiral spring configured to equip a balance of a horological movement, wherein the spiral spring is made of an alloy consisting of:
Nb;
Ti; and
V and/or Ta;
optionally, Zr;
optionally, Hf;
optionally, W;
optionally, Mo; and
optionally O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, and/or Al,
wherein a Ti content is at least 15 wt. %,
wherein a total content of the Nb, V, and Ta is in a range of from 40 to 85 wt. %,
wherein a total content of the Ti, Zr, and Hf is in a range of from 15 to 55 wt. %,
wherein a W content is in a range of from 0 to 2.5 wt. %,
wherein a Mo content is in a range of from 0 to 2.5 wt. %,
wherein a content for each of O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, and Al in a range of from 0 to 1600 ppm,
wherein a sum of the O, H, C, Fe, N, Ni, Si, Cu, and Al, is less than or equal to 0.3 wt. %, and
wherein the spiral spring has a modulus of elasticity of at least 110 GPa.