Horological Balance-Spring Flexibility Adjustment via Elastic Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical watches face limitations in precision adjustment of balance-spring flexibility, leading to imprecise timekeeping, as conventional adjustment methods are not fine enough and can cause damage or detachment of components due to stress-induced material failure, especially with fragile materials like silicon.
Innovation Solution
A balance-spring with a flexible strip and a separate elastic element, where the elastic element connects to a fixed support to add additional flexibility, allowing for variable prestressing without altering the strip's end position, enabling precise adjustment using different materials and assembly methods like screwing or gluing, which avoids material damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastic element is glued to a balance-spring stud to apply prestress, then the flexibility adjustment is achieved, but the glue distorts over time causing setting defects or detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The balance-spring system is segmented into separate components: the balance-spring strip, the elastic element, and the prestressing means. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the elastic element can be made from stress-resistant material while the balance-spring strip maintains its flexibility characteristics, preventing glue distortion issues while preserving adjustment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element acts as an intermediary between the prestressing means and the balance-spring strip. It transmits the prestress force while isolating the balance-spring stud from direct stress concentration, preventing glue distortion and detachment while maintaining the ability to precisely adjust flexibility through the prestressing mechanism
2Strength
If driving or screwing assembly methods are used with silicon material, then mechanical strength is improved, but the elastic element breaks due to induced stress
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter of the elastic element is changed from fragile silicon to stress-resistant metal or metal alloy. This parameter change allows the assembly to withstand the stresses induced by driving or screwing methods without breaking, while still providing the necessary elasticity for flexibility adjustment. The prestressing means can now be securely assembled using mechanical methods that generate reliable prestress
3Ease of operation
If conventional index methods are used to adjust balance-spring flexibility, then the adjustment process is simple, but the precision is insufficient for fine timekeeping adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The flexibility adjustment system is made dynamic through the prestressing means that can vary the force or torque applied to the elastic element. This allows continuous adjustment of the balance-spring flexibility rather than fixed discrete positions, enabling fine timekeeping precision adjustment while maintaining operational simplicity through a single adjustable mechanism
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
This solution allows for precise and durable adjustment of the balance-spring's flexibility, preventing material damage and enhancing timekeeping precision, while using more resistant materials for the elastic element and less resistant materials like silicon for the strip, ensuring long-term assembly stability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element arranged in series with the strip, the elastic element connecting one end of said strip to a fixed support, so as to add an additional flexibility to the strip, the adjustment means including prestressing means to apply a variable force or torque to the elastic element
Data Source
AI summary
A balance-spring, in particular for a horological resonator mechanism, the balance-spring including a flexible strip coiled on itself into several coils, the strip having a predefined flexibility, the balance-spring including a device for adjusting its flexibility, the adjustment device including an elastic element in direct contact with the strip, the elastic element preferably having a flexibility less than that of the strip, the adjustment device including a prestressing device to apply a variable force or torque to the elastic element, so as to vary the flexibility of the elastic element, the elastic element and the strip being separate and assembled with each other. An horological resonator mechanism including such a balance-spring is also disclosed.