Timepiece Calendar With Independent Date And Month Indexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing timepiece calendar systems face challenges with complex kinematic chains, energy inefficiency, and potential phase discrepancies in date and month indications due to dragging mechanisms, which hinder compactness and reliability.

Innovation Solution

A timepiece calendar system with an energy accumulation and restoration device, featuring a cam and date/month mobiles, uses distinct indexing elements to enable instantaneous jumps, minimizing torque differences and simplifying the kinematic chain for improved compactness and energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dragging mechanism is used to drive date and month indications, then the indications can be updated periodically, but the indications remain the same over several minutes or hours and can be out of phase, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase synchronizationVSAvoidinstantaneous update

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the calendar drive into independent date mobile and month mobile units, each with separate indexing elements (jumpers) that operate autonomously. This segmentation allows each mobile to update independently and simultaneously, eliminating phase discrepancies while maintaining periodic operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The indexing elements (jumpers) are pre-positioned to engage with the mobile teeth at specific moments. The jumpers are designed to automatically index the mobiles at the appropriate time, ensuring synchronous and reliable updates without requiring complex coordination mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a complex kinematic chain with multiple cams and levers is used for instantaneous jumps, then instantaneous updates are achieved, but the device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstantaneous jumpVSAvoidkinematic chain

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of instantaneous jumping from complex cam-lever systems and implements it using simple indexing elements (jumpers) that directly engage with mobile teeth. This extraction eliminates unnecessary intermediate components while maintaining the instantaneous update capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex mechanisms to drive the mobiles continuously, the patent inverts the approach by using simple indexing elements that only act at specific moments to advance the mobiles. The mobiles are held in position by gravity and only moved when needed, simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a long kinematic chain is used to connect date mobile to month programming cam, then the calendar function is achieved, but the device becomes less compact and more energy-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalendar functionVSAvoidkinematic chain length

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the calendar function into independent date mobile and month mobile units, each with its own simple indexing mechanism. This segmentation eliminates the need for a long connected kinematic chain, reducing device complexity while maintaining full calendar functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each mobile (date and month) is self-driven by its own indexing element engaging with its teeth. The mobiles do not require complex external actuation mechanisms, making the system more compact and energy-efficient while maintaining adaptability for different calendar configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 system achieves reliable, instantaneous jumps in date and month indications, reducing energy consumption and minimizing phase discrepancies, while maintaining a compact and efficient design.

Implementation Method 1

an energy accumulation and restoration device comprising an energy accumulator (4) and a cam (33)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy accumulation and restoration: Mechanical Accumulator

Implementation Method 2

a cam (33)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentUS20250321540A1Timepiece calendar system

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 ROLEX SA

AI summary

The instantaneous jump timepiece calendar system (100) includes an energy accumulation and restoration device including an energy accumulator (4) and a cam (33), a date mobile (1), a month mobile (2), a first element (7) for indexing the date mobile (1), a second element (8) for indexing the month mobile (2), a mobile (3) for driving the date mobile by restoring energy from the energy accumulator (4), and an element (6b) for driving the month mobile by restoring energy from the energy accumulator (4), the element (6b) for driving the month mobile being arranged and/or configured to limit the movement of the month mobile after the driving of the month mobile.