Annular Oscillating Mass with Elastic Damping for Shock Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Annular oscillating weights in automatic watches are prone to damage due to the considerable inertia of the oscillating mass, which can cause breakage of rollers or axial displacement, leading to potential damage to the toothed wheel and friction issues during shocks.
Innovation Solution
The annular oscillating weight features a direct or indirect connection between the annular transmission part and the heavy sector via elastically deformable connecting elements, such as flexible rods with forks, allowing for mechanical decoupling and damping of sudden accelerations to absorb shocks and prevent damage to the gear and winding device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the oscillating mass has considerable weight to ensure automatic winding function, then the winding capability is improved, but the fragility of rollers and risk of damage increases due to high inertia during shocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a damping member consisting of a lever biased by a spring that acts beforehand to cushion shocks. When a shock occurs, the spring absorbs the impact energy through compression, preventing the shock from being directly transmitted to the rollers and causing damage. This prior cushioning mechanism protects the fragile rollers while maintaining the heavy oscillating mass for effective winding.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping member with lever and spring acts as an intermediary between the heavy oscillating mass and the rollers. This intermediary mechanism decouples the direct connection, allowing the mass to maintain its weight for winding functionality while the intermediary absorbs and dissipates shock energies, preventing damage transmission to the rollers.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the oscillating mass is allowed to move freely to dampen shocks, then shock absorption is improved, but axial displacement may occur causing damage to the toothed wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member with spring provides beforehand cushioning that allows controlled movement during shocks while preventing excessive axial displacement. The spring compresses to absorb radial shocks but maintains sufficient stiffness to prevent the oscillating mass from displacing axially enough to damage the toothed wheel, thus cushioning shocks while protecting the gear mechanism.
3Productivity
If rigid connection is used between transmission part and heavy sector, then mechanical efficiency is improved, but shock transmission increases causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member with lever and spring serves as an intermediary connection between the transmission part and heavy sector. This intermediary maintains sufficient mechanical coupling for efficient power transmission during normal operation while providing shock isolation during impacts, thus balancing mechanical efficiency with shock protection.
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 deformable connecting elements effectively absorb radial, axial, and tangential shocks, protecting the rollers and winding mechanism by allowing the heavy sector to deviate from its normal trajectory, thereby preventing breakage and maintaining the integrity of the automatic winding mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the connection between the annular transmission part and the heavy sector is made by means of a plurality of elastically deformable connecting elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
The annular oscillating mass (3) comprises a drive ring (5) and a heavy sector (7). The drive ring (5) includes an annular transmission portion (11) with coaxial teeth (15) and a second annular portion (13) concentric with the annular transmission portion, the heavy sector being fixed to the second annular portion. The drive ring (5) further includes a plurality of elastically deformable connecting elements (9) that link the annular transmission portion (11) to the second annular portion (13).