Chronograph Movement Reset Hammer Decoupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chronograph movements require additional effort to start time measurement after stopping and require sequential manipulation of control members, leading to differences in user experience based on reset status, and mechanical connections hinder simultaneous activation.
Innovation Solution
A chronograph movement design where the reset hammer remains raised until the reset button is released, allowing seamless activation of time measurement without additional force, and decoupling the hammer from the column wheel ensures consistent user feedback regardless of reset status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reset hammer is mechanically connected to the column wheel to maintain counter position, then the counter remains in initial position during time measurement, but the control lever cannot be actuated when the reset button is depressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the reset hammer from the column wheel mechanical connection. The reset hammer is now independently actuated by the reset button without being mechanically linked to the column wheel, allowing the control lever to be freely actuated regardless of reset button position. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by making the two control functions independent of each other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the mechanical connection between the reset hammer and column wheel. By removing this linkage, the reset hammer can remain in its raised position (maintaining counter stability) while the column wheel remains freely actuable by the control lever, eliminating the operational conflict.
2Ease of manufacture
If the reset hammer is held in depressed position to reset counters, then additional force is required to start time measurement, but this creates inconsistent user experience depending on reset status
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of holding the reset hammer in the depressed position to maintain counter position (as in conventional designs), the patent inverts the approach by keeping the hammer in the raised position. This inversion eliminates the need to overcome hammer spring force during normal operation, providing consistent user experience regardless of whether counters are reset or not.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a decoupled system where the reset hammer position is no longer tied to the column wheel position. This allows the hammer to maintain a consistent raised position that does not affect the ease of actuating the control lever, providing uniform user feedback in all operational states.
3Device complexity
If the reset hammer is mechanically linked to the column wheel, then sequential manipulation of control members is required, but this reduces operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the reset hammer mechanism from the column wheel mechanism, the patent allows both control members to be manipulated simultaneously or in any sequence without mechanical interference. This eliminates the requirement for sequential manipulation and improves operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a system where the reset button and control lever operate independently with universal functionality. Each control member can be actuated at any time without affecting the other, providing multi-functional operational flexibility that enhances productivity.
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
Enhances precision and consistency in triggering time measurements by eliminating the need for additional force and providing a uniform user experience whether counters are reset or not, improving user interaction and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arranged to bear against a part of the hammer in order to hold it firmly against the heart when the measurement of a time interval is not in progress
Implementation Method 2
a rotating cam intended to be rotated by the movable resetting element when this last mentioned element is moved into the second active position, the rotating cam being configured to cooperate with at least one of the chronograph counters in order to reset the latter to zero
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a chronograph clockwork movement for time measuring comprising, in particular, a control lever (17) actuatable by a first control member (S) for alternatively activating or deactivating a time measurement. The inventive chronograph clockwork movement also comprises clutch means (28, 29, 65, 68) for driving or not a second timer (51) in response to an action produced on the control lever and selective locking means (28, 29, 65, 68) for locking the second timer in response to an action produced on said control lever. A lever (2) and a hammer (4) for resetting the second timer to zero are also provided. The clockwork movement is arranged in such a way that a user does not feel any difference, while measuring a time, whether the second timer is pre-set or not. In addition, said clockwork movement is provided with a structure enabling to activate time measuring by delaying the effective departure of the second timer until an external resetting device (R) controlling the lever (2) is released in the rest position thereof.