Clockwork Mobile Stopper Housing for Spring Deformation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Semi-instantaneous jump clock mechanisms face challenges in controlling the deformation of springs, leading to potential damage and reduced lifespan, especially during adjustments like date changes.
Innovation Solution
A clockwork mobile with a stopper and elastic return mechanism, where the stopper's stop finger is movable between armed and disarmed positions, utilizing a housing with a large contact zone to limit spring deformation and support the elastic return means, ensuring controlled energy storage and precise angular reinforcement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the spring is kept armed for a long period to enable semi-instantaneous jump, then the jump function is achieved, but the spring deformation becomes difficult to control and plastic deformation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by arming the spring in advance and maintaining it in a pre-loaded state for an extended period. The spring is kept armed during normal operation and only released when the jump function is required, allowing the mechanism to accumulate energy beforehand and execute the jump instantaneously when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of spring deformation control by introducing a housing with a large contact zone that distributes the spring's radial force over a wider area. This parameter change prevents excessive localized deformation and plastic deformation of the spring while maintaining the required arming duration.
2Power
If the spring deformation is increased to provide sufficient force for the jump, then the jump power is improved, but the spring may break during adjustments like date changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of force distribution by introducing a housing with a large contact zone. This housing distributes the radial force of the spring over a wider area, reducing the stress concentration on any single point of the spring. Consequently, the spring can maintain high jump power while experiencing reduced localized stress that would otherwise lead to breakage during adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a housing structure that is already in place to cushion and distribute the spring's force before any potential damage can occur. This protective housing prevents excessive localized deformation and breakage during adjustment operations by distributing the load across a larger contact area.
3Device complexity
If a single contact point is used for the stop finger, then the mechanism is simple, but the spring deformation is concentrated and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-point contact (zero-dimensional) to a distributed contact zone (two-dimensional). The housing provides a large contact zone that distributes the spring's radial force across multiple points and a wider area, transforming the force interaction from concentrated to distributed. This dimensional change enables better control of spring deformation without significantly increasing mechanism complexity.
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 design enhances the control of spring deformation, reduces the risk of breakage, and maintains the elastic properties of the spring, providing better force management and extended lifespan by distributing the stop's contact over a larger area compared to existing mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic return means 3, conventionally in the form of a spring whose inner end 4 is integral with the hub 2 and/or the driving wheel 1
Implementation Method 2
an elastic return means 3, conventionally in the form of a spring whose inner end 4 is integral with the hub 2 and/or the driving wheel 1
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Clockwork mobile (10) for semi-instantaneous jump mechanism (100), comprising a drive wheel (1) having, around an axis (D), a hub (2) for guiding a stop (7) movable relative to the drive wheel (1) and having a disengageable stop finger (8) movable between an armed position where its radial extension is maximum relative to the axis (D), and an unarmed position where its radial extension is minimum relative to the axis (D), this stop finger (8) being moved away from the axis (D) by an elastic return means (3), and the stop (7) having a housing (71) whose walls are arranged to cooperate, during the winding of the elastic return means (3) in support with a contact surface (51) comprising this elastic return means (3) to limit the value of the winding and to limit the deformation of the elastic return means (3) to its elastic domain only.