Adjustable Positioning Lever for Clock Gear Meshing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for positioning toothed wheels in watch movements do not allow for fine adjustment, leading to potential meshing defects when starting or restarting after a momentary stop, as they fail to guarantee initial or correct repositioning of teeth.
Innovation Solution
A positioning mechanism featuring a pivot arm with a positioning element having a flat lateral edge that cooperates with a flat on the gear wheel axis, equipped with an eccentric for adjustment and a clamping screw for locking, enabling precise alignment and repositioning of the toothed wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple positioning lever with flat edge is used to position the toothed wheel, then the structure is simple, but fine adjustment capability is lost leading to meshing defects
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning lever is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamically adjustable one. The lever can be positioned at different angular locations along the pivoting arm through the adjustable positioning element, allowing the positioning characteristics to be optimized for different gear configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular position parameter of the positioning element relative to the pivoting arm is made variable. By changing this parameter through adjustment mechanisms (screw thread or cam), the positioning precision can be optimized without fundamentally changing the structural design, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the positioning lever is fixed in position, then the structure is stable, but adaptability to different gear configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning lever system incorporates adjustable elements that allow reconfiguration for different gear arrangements. The positioning element can be relocated along the pivoting arm to accommodate various gear positions and configurations, providing adaptability while maintaining structural stability through controlled adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning mechanism is designed to serve multiple gear configurations through the adjustable positioning element. A single pivoting arm structure can accommodate different toothed wheels at various positions, making the mechanism universal and adaptable to different watch movement designs without requiring complete redesign.
3Ease of manufacture
If no adjustment mechanism is provided, then the device is simple to manufacture, but positioning accuracy after momentary stop is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning element's angular parameter relative to the pivoting arm is made adjustable through simple mechanical means (screw thread or cam). This allows precise positioning to be achieved and manufactured without complex machinery, as the adjustment can be performed manually or with simple tooling during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-contained within the positioning lever assembly. The screw thread or cam mechanism allows the position to be adjusted and locked without requiring external specialized equipment, making the system easy to manufacture and assemble while achieving high positioning accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanism for positioning a toothed wheel (1) mounted on a rotatably movable shaft (2) in a timepiece movement, said positioning mechanism comprising a positioning lever (3) having a flat lateral edge (4) arranged to engage with at least one flat (6) provided on the shaft (2) of the toothed wheel (1). The positioning lever (3) comprises a pivot arm (8) arranged to be mounted pivoting about a pivot shaft (10) provided in the timepiece movement, a positioning element (14) having the flat lateral edge (4) and mounted articulated on the pivot arm (8), and means for adjusting and locking the position of the positioning element (14) on the pivot arm (8) relative to the shaft (2) of the toothed wheel (1).