Clockwork Module Helical Spring Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clockwork movement designs face challenges with the use of elastic return means, such as springs, which can be delicate to assemble, occupy significant space, and risk damaging components during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A clockwork module with a helical spring pre-stressed between stops in a housing, allowing for a compact design that simplifies assembly and reduces the risk of damage, featuring a mobile part with an arbor and guide surfaces for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional elastic return means (leaf springs or wire springs) are used, then the mobile part can be positioned and actuated, but the assembly operation becomes delicate and risky due to pre-stressing, and significant space is occupied in the movement frame
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-stressed during the manufacturing of the mobile part itself, before assembly into the movement. This preliminary action eliminates the need for delicate pre-stressing operations during watchmaker assembly, making the assembly process simpler and more reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is integrated as an integral part of the mobile part structure rather than being a separate component. This merging eliminates the need for separate spring assembly operations and reduces the number of parts that need to be handled during assembly.
2Reliability
If traditional elastic return means are used, then the mobile part can be positioned, but significant space is occupied in the plane of the movement frame
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is arranged in the axial direction of the mobile part rather than in the plane of the movement frame. This dimensional change allows the spring to occupy minimal space in the frame plane while still providing the necessary positioning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is nested within the mobile part structure itself, with the spring axis aligned with the mobile part axis. This nesting allows the spring to be contained within the volume of the mobile part, minimizing the space it occupies in the movement frame.
3Ease of operation
If pre-stressed springs are used during assembly, then the mobile part can be positioned, but there is a risk of marking or damaging the clockwork mobile part
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-stressed during manufacturing before the mobile part is assembled into the movement. This preliminary pre-stressing action ensures that no additional pre-stressing force is applied during assembly, eliminating the risk of marking or damaging the mobile part.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile part is designed to be self-contained with its own pre-stressed spring, eliminating the need for external pre-stressing operations during assembly. The part serves itself by having the spring already in its operational state during manufacturing.
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 solution enables a reliable, space-efficient clockwork module with simplified assembly operations, reducing the risk of component damage and improving the overall reliability of clockwork mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, notably a helical spring... the spring being arranged, notably having been pre-stressed, in the housing between the first and second stops
Data Source
AI summary
A clockwork module (100) including (i) a mobile part (11) including a first functional part and a second functional part (11a, 11b) and an arbor (15), (ii) a spring (13), (iii) a casing (14) including a housing (140), (iv) a first guide surface (14a, 140a) in the housing (140), (v) a first stop (140b) in the housing, (vi) a second stop (16b) arranged on the mobile part (11), the arbor (15) being guided by the first guide surface, the spring being arranged in the housing between the first and second stops.