Annual Cycle Display Gear Train With Four Gearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanisms for displaying the periods of an annual cycle in timepieces are imprecise, complex, voluminous, and power-consuming, making them difficult to integrate into horological movements and requiring multiple gears and power sources.
Innovation Solution
A simplified mechanism with a gear train comprising a maximum of four gearings and a ratio of 1:365.234375 or its multiples, driven by the running train, which includes an indicator and an annual cycle train with reduced parts for precise and efficient display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a jumping-type mechanism is used to display annual cycle periods, then the display can be updated, but the precision is insufficient and power consumption peaks disrupt the running train
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a jumping mechanism that updates the indicator periodically at the end of each period (month or season) rather than continuously. This periodic action allows the display to be updated without requiring continuous power consumption peaks, thereby maintaining running train stability while providing accurate period indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the period display function from the running train by using a separate indicator mechanism that is updated periodically. This separation allows the running train to operate continuously without being disrupted by the power consumption peaks required for continuous dragging mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between display precision and running train stability.
2Measurement precision
If a dragging-type mechanism is used to display annual cycle periods, then the display precision is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex and voluminous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the annual cycle display into 12 distinct periods (months or seasons) represented by 12 separate indicators arranged around the dial. Each indicator corresponds to a specific period, and the mechanism uses a simplified gear train with limited gearings to rotate these indicators. This segmentation allows precise period display while reducing the overall mechanism complexity compared to continuous dragging approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of implementing a complete continuous dragging mechanism that tracks every moment of the annual cycle, the patent uses a partial action approach by updating the indicator only at the end of each period. This partial updating is sufficient for displaying period information without requiring the complex continuous dragging mechanism, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining adequate display precision.
3Measurement precision
If multiple gears are used in the annual cycle train, then the display precision approaches the theoretical tropical year value, but the mechanism becomes more voluminous and requires additional power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves precise annual cycle display by carefully selecting the gear ratios in the annual cycle train to approximate the theoretical tropical year value of 365.2422 days. By optimizing these parameter (gear ratios), the mechanism reaches sufficient precision without requiring an excessive number of gears, thus avoiding increased volume and power consumption while maintaining display accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for displaying the periods of an annual cycle (100) for a timepiece (200) capable of being driven by being dragged by a running train (10) of a horological movement (1), characterised in that the mechanism for displaying the periods of an annual cycle (100) includes: an indicator (110) indicating the periods of an annual cycle; an annual cycle train (120) capable of being driven by said running train (10) of the horological movement (1), and of rotating the indicator of the periods of an annual cycle (110); the mechanism for displaying the periods of an annual cycle (100) being characterised in that the annual cycle train (120) forms a gear train between the running train (10) and the indicator of the periods of an annual cycle (110) including at most four gearings.