Clockwork Movement Spring Torque Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical timepiece movements with differential gears suffer from energy loss and amplitude imbalance between balance wheels due to uneven energy distribution, leading to rate instability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating spring members between the differential gear and escapements to ensure immediate and balanced energy supply to each regulating member, eliminating energy losses and excesses by using a differential gear with transmission wheels and output wheels connected to spring members for torque application and rewinding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a differential gear is used to power two regulating members simultaneously, then both regulating members can be driven by a single energy source, but energy distribution becomes uneven causing loss of energy and amplitude imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single energy source into two separate energy sources, each dedicated to one regulating member. This segmentation eliminates the energy distribution problem in differential gears by giving each regulating member its own independent energy supply, thereby preventing energy loss while maintaining the ability to drive multiple regulating members simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces independent escapements as intermediary mechanisms between the energy sources and regulating members. Each escapement independently controls the energy transfer to its associated regulating member, ensuring balanced energy distribution and preventing the amplitude imbalance caused by direct differential gear connection
2Device complexity
If a differential gear is used to power two regulating members, then both can operate from one energy source, but the amplitude of balance wheels becomes unbalanced affecting timepiece rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single energy source into two independent energy sources, each exclusively powering one regulating member. This eliminates the competitive energy distribution in differential gears, ensuring each balance wheel receives consistent energy and maintains stable amplitude, thereby improving timepiece rate stability
Solution Approach 2:
Independent escapements are introduced as intermediary control mechanisms between energy sources and regulating members. Each escapement independently regulates energy transfer to its associated balance wheel, preventing amplitude imbalance and ensuring stable operation of both regulating members
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 solution allows each regulating member to receive necessary energy instantly without disturbing the other, stabilizing the amplitude of both balance wheels and improving timepiece rate accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring member provided between the differential gear and the first escapement and arranged to exert a torque on a first output of the differential gear
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clockwork movement including: - a mechanical energy source (1), - a first regulating part (2) and a first escapement (4), which are connected by a first gear-train (8) to said energy source (1), the first gear-train (8), the first escapement (4) and the first regulating part (2) defining a first assembly, - a second regulating part (10) and a second escapement (12), which are connected by a second gear-train (16) to said energy source (1), the second gear-train (16), the second escapement (12) and the second regulating part (10) defining a second assembly, - at least one differential gear (18) arranged to provide a kinematic connection between the first assembly and the energy source (1), and between the second assembly and the energy source (1). According to the invention, said movement furthermore comprises: - a first spring part (44) provided between the differential gear (18) and the first escapement (4) and arranged to apply a torque to a first output of the differential gear (18), - first means for winding said first spring part (44), - a second spring part (46) provided between the differential gear (18) and the second escapement (12) and arranged to apply a torque to a second output of the differential gear (18), and - second means for winding said second spring part (10).