Chronograph Hammer Height Adjustment via Pivot Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chronograph mechanisms require skilled labor and time-consuming adjustments to accurately position the seconds and minutes hammers relative to their respective hearts, often involving filing and creating chips, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A chronograph mechanism where the hammers are driven on a pivot axis freely pivoted between bridges or a bridge and the movement plate, allowing in-situ height adjustment by modifying the axial position of the hammer on its pivot axis or adjusting stones within their housings, eliminating the need for filing and reducing assembly time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If hammers are pivoted on a cylindrical or conical pin and adjusted by filing the hammer barrel, then the height of hammers can be adjusted, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming and requires highly skilled labor
Solution Approach 1:
The hammer assembly is segmented into multiple adjustable components: the hammer barrel, the pivot axis, and the bearing stones. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component to achieve precise hammer height positioning without time-consuming filing operations. The pivot axis itself is segmented into an upper part and lower part that can be independently positioned on bearing stones.
Solution Approach 2:
Bearing stones are introduced as intermediary elements between the pivot axis and the bridge/plate structure. These stones provide precise positioning and support for the pivot axis, enabling accurate hammer height adjustment. The stones can be independently adjusted and secured with cement, serving as a mediator that simplifies the overall adjustment process.
2Manufacturing precision
If hammers are adjusted by filing the hammer barrel, then height adjustment is possible, but the process creates chips and requires considerable skill
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment function is segmented across multiple components rather than requiring filing of the hammer barrel. The hammer barrel height is adjusted by modifying its position on the pivot axis, while the pivot axis position is adjusted by repositioning bearing stones. This eliminates the need for skilled filing operations and reduces complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing stones serve as adjustable, replaceable elements that can be easily repositioned or replaced if needed. This approach replaces the need for permanent modifications through filing with easily adjustable discrete components, making the assembly process more accessible to less skilled workers.
3Device complexity
If a single pivot mechanism is used for both seconds and minutes hammers, then structural simplicity is achieved, but independent height adjustment of each hammer becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The single pivot mechanism is segmented into an upper pivot part and a lower pivot part, each independently adjustable on separate bearing stones. This allows the seconds hammer and minutes hammer to be independently positioned vertically while sharing the same pivot axis structure. The segmentation maintains structural simplicity while enabling independent adjustment of each hammer's height.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism operates in the vertical dimension by allowing the bearing stones and pivot axis to be positioned at different heights. This vertical dimensionality change enables independent height adjustment of both hammers without requiring complex lateral adjustment mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving operational ease.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
The mechanism has a second hammer (23) driven onto a pivoting axle (15) pivoting between a lower bridge (20) and an upper bridge (19). Upper and lower ends (17, 18) of the axle are rotated freely in stones (21, 22). The stones are driven on the axle and into housings (21a, 22a) of the bridges such that a watchmaker adjusts height of the hammer with respect to a second heart-piece (12) only by modifying an axial position of the hammer on the axle and by forcing the stones in the housings during mounting of the mechanism. An independent claim is also included for a method for adjusting height of a hammer with respect to a heart-piece.