Amorphous Alloy Quick-Adjustment Spring for Watch Movements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quick adjustment springs in watch movements, such as those used in GMT watches, have a limited lifespan and are prone to breakage due to their design constraints, particularly the ratio of arm thickness to width, which affects their elastic properties and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A rapid adjustment spring made from an amorphous metal alloy with a specific ratio of elastic limit to Young's modulus, allowing for a more compact geometry and reduced risk of rupture, featuring a flexible part with a closed shape and fingers that exert force through bending, optimizing the form factor and stress distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the arm cross-section is increased to reduce breakage risk, then the strength is improved, but the elastic properties are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by using amorphous metallic alloy instead of conventional crystalline alloys. This material substitution enables the spring to achieve both high strength and good elastic properties simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between breakage resistance and elastic performance. The amorphous structure provides superior strength-to-elasticity ratio compared to traditional materials.
2Volume of moving object
If the spring geometry is made more compact, then the volume is reduced, but the stress distribution becomes less homogeneous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs amorphous metallic alloy with unique composite-like atomic structure that lacks long-range crystalline order. This material composition allows the spring to maintain homogeneous stress distribution even in compact geometries, as the amorphous structure naturally distributes stresses more uniformly compared to conventional crystalline materials with grain boundaries and dislocations.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the ratio of elastic limit to Young's modulus is increased, then the fatigue resistance is improved, but the manufacturing constraints are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves the desired elastic limit to Young's modulus ratio through material composition optimization of the amorphous alloy. By adjusting the alloying elements and processing parameters during manufacturing, the material properties can be tuned to achieve the target ratio without compromising manufacturability. The amorphous forming process actually provides greater manufacturing flexibility for achieving specific property ratios compared to conventional alloys.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The amorphous metal alloy spring achieves a longer lifespan and reduced risk of breakage by distributing stress homogeneously and allowing for a more compact design, improving fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance compared to conventional alloys.
Implementation Method 1
the spring comprises a finger and a flexible part situated on either side of said finger... the finger cooperating with the moving part so as to be able to be moved according to a maximum displacement by a movement of the moving part and to exert a force against the moving part by means of the bending of the flexible part
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device comprising a quick-adjustment spring (1) cooperating with a moving part (4) of a watch movement, the spring (1) comprising a finger (3) and a flexible part (2) situated on either side of said finger (3) so as to achieve a closed geometry, the finger (3) cooperating with the moving part (4) so as to be displaced according to a maximum displacement by a movement of the moving part (4) and to exert a force against the moving part (4) by means of the bending of the flexible part (2); at least the flexible part (2) of the spring being made of an amorphous metallic alloy.