Clock Device Positioning Member Bézier Elastic Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional watchmaking devices using leaf springs for jumpers and ratchets experience peak energy consumption during wheel rotation, leading to potential mechanical sticking issues due to uneven resistance distribution.
Innovation Solution
A watchmaking device featuring a positioning member with elastic blades designed to exert a substantially constant elastic restoring moment, utilizing Bézier curves for optimal geometric shape, reducing peak energy consumption and enhancing rotational stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional leaf springs are used for jumpers and ratchets, then the wheel can be held in position, but peak energy consumption occurs during rotation due to uneven resistance distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the elastic blades by optimizing their geometric shape using Bézier curves. This modifies the elastic properties to provide more uniform resistance throughout the rotation cycle, reducing peak energy consumption while maintaining positioning reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces movable counterweights that can be adjusted to balance the positioning member during rotation. This dynamic balancing compensates for uneven resistance distribution, smoothing out energy consumption peaks while ensuring the wheel remains properly positioned.
2Reliability
If higher moment of force is applied to hold the wheel in position, then positioning reliability improves, but the mechanism may get stuck if resistance exceeds wheel capability
Solution Approach 1:
The optimized Bézier curve geometry of the elastic blades adjusts the force-displacement characteristics, providing sufficient holding moment while avoiding excessive resistance peaks that could prevent wheel rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable counterweights allow dynamic balancing of the positioning member, ensuring that the holding force is distributed evenly throughout the rotation cycle, preventing both insufficient retention and excessive resistance.
3Use of energy by moving object
If elastic blades with optimized Bézier curve shape are used, then energy consumption peak is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While Bézier curves provide optimal performance, the patent also describes simplified elastic blade geometries that can be manufactured using traditional methods, offering a trade-off between performance optimization and manufacturing ease.
4Reliability
If positioning member mass is increased to improve stability, then wheel positioning reliability improves, but sensitivity to linear shocks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable counterweights enable dynamic balancing of the positioning member, allowing optimization of the mass distribution to improve stability while minimizing the adverse effects of linear shocks through proper centrifugal force compensation.
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 device maintains efficient wheel positioning with reduced energy consumption and improved resistance distribution, minimizing the risk of mechanical sticking and enhancing sensitivity to linear shocks.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic blades (34) are designed to exert, in said positioning member (30), a substantially constant elastic restoring moment over a predetermined range of positions of said engagement element (35)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a clock device (1; 3) comprising a toothed component (11; 31) and a positioning member (10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60; 80; 90; 110; 120; 130; 140), said positioning member (10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60; 80; 90; 110; 120; 130; 140) comprising an engagement member (15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 85; 95; 115; 125; 135; 145), a support (12; 22; 32; 42; 52; 62; 82; 92; 112; 122; 132; 142) and a preset elastic member (14; 24; 44, 54; 64; 84; 94; 114; 124; 134; 144) connecting the engagement member (15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 85; 95; 115; 125; 135; 145) to the support (12; 22; 32; 42; 52; 62; 82; 92; 112; 122; 132; 142), the toothed component (11; 31) being able to move into different consecutive rest positions, the engagement member (15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 85; 95; 115; 125; 135; 145) being arranged so that, in each of the rest positions, it is engaged between two consecutive teeth of the toothing (111; 311) of the toothed component (11; 31) and held between said two teeth by the elastic member (14; 24; 34; 44; 54; 64; 84; 94; 114; 124; 134; 144) for holding said toothed component (11; 31) in the rest position in question, and so that, when a toothed component (11; 31) is moved by one step from a rest position to the next rest position, the engagement member (15; 25; 35; 45; 55; 65; 85 95; 115; 125; 135; 145) is lifted by one of said two teeth against the action of the elastic member (14; 24; 34; 44; 54; 64; 84; 94; 114; 124; 134; 144) and is then positioned between said tooth and another consecutive tooth so that it holds the toothed component (11; 31) in said next rest position, the positioning member (10; 20; 30; 40 50, 60; 80; 90; 110; 120; 130; 140) being arranged so that, when said toothed component (11; 31) is moved by one step, the engagement member (15; 25; 45; 55; 65; 85; 95; 115; 125; 135; 145) moves in a predetermined range of positions relative to the support (12; 22; 32; 42; 52; 62; 82; 92; 112; 122, 39 132, 142), the stiffness of the elastic member (14; 24; 34; 44; 54; 64; 84; 94; 114; 124; 134; 144) being nil or negative in at least one part of the predetermined range.