Clock Movement Impulse Arm Energy Transfer Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical watchmaking movements suffer from low efficiency due to energy losses caused by friction between components, particularly during the transmission of energy from the striker to the oscillator, resulting in chaotic energy transfer and reduced yield.
Innovation Solution
The striker transfers its kinetic energy to the oscillator in a single shock, ensuring zero speed after the impulse, eliminating accompanying friction and energy losses by optimizing the design parameters, such as the geometry of the striker and oscillator, and the moments of inertia, to achieve a very small pulse angle, typically less than 1.5°.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the striker remains in contact with the oscillator during impulse transmission, then the energy transfer can be maintained continuously, but friction losses increase and energy yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The striker rapidly transfers its impulse to the oscillator and immediately separates, skipping the prolonged contact phase that causes friction losses. The impulse transmission occurs in a brief, intense moment rather than through continuous contact, thereby minimizing energy dissipation while maintaining effective energy transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy transmission occurs through periodic, discrete impulses rather than continuous contact. The striker delivers energy in distinct pulses separated by brief intervals, which reduces cumulative friction losses while maintaining the oscillator's energy supply through regular, rhythmic impulses.
2Loss of energy
If the pulse angle between striker and oscillator is large (12°-20°), then the impulse transmission duration is extended, but chaotic energy transfer and friction losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pulse angle parameter is optimized to a very small value (less than 1.5°) rather than the conventional 12°-20°. This parameter change transforms the impulse transmission from a prolonged, chaotic process into a brief, precise event, minimizing friction losses while maintaining effective energy transfer through optimized geometric relationships.
3Productivity
If the striker transfers all kinetic energy in a single shock, then energy yield improves, but the striker speed must reach zero after impulse which requires precise parameter optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The striker's mass, moment of inertia, and angular velocity are pre-calculated and optimized before operation to ensure complete energy transfer in a single impulse. This preliminary design phase establishes precise parameter relationships that automatically achieve maximum energy yield without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms.
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 approach significantly improves the energy yield and chronometry of the movement by ensuring all kinetic energy is transferred efficiently, reducing residual energy and friction, leading to enhanced performance and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the striker transmits all his kinetic energy to the oscillator into a single shock and his speed becomes zero after the shock
Implementation Method 2
the striker transmits all his kinetic energy to the oscillator into a single shock
Implementation Method 3
an oscillating body (4) mounted on a suspension axis
Implementation Method 4
a bistable blade (10) which periodically communicates mechanical energy pulses to the oscillating body (4)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention proposes a clock movement comprising a rotary oscillator (4), a rotary impulse arm (12) for imparting pulses of mechanical energy to the oscillator (4), an energy source (1) and a transmission device (1 – 3) connecting the energy source (1) to the impulse arm (12), the transmission device (1 – 3) comprising a constant-force device (10) for periodically storing a quantity of energy to be supplied to the impulse arm (12). The said amount of energy, the geometry of the impulse arm (12) and the moments of inertia of the impulse arm (12) and of the oscillator (4) are chosen so that each time the impulse arm (12) imparts an impulse to the oscillator (4), the following relationship (I) is more or less satisfied, where I1 is the moment of inertia of the impulse arm (12), I2 is the moment of inertia of the oscillator (4), ω1i is the angular velocity of the impulse arm (12) just prior to the impulse it imparts to the oscillator (4), ω2i is the angular velocity of the oscillator (4) just prior to the said impulse, d1 is the lever arm of the impulse arm (12) and d2 is the lever arm of the oscillator (4). The invention also proposes a clock movement of the same type with an impulse arm that moves linearly and methods for achieving these movements.