Concentric Self-Winding Watch Movement Without Reduction Gears
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-winding watches are thicker than they could be due to the presence of an oscillating weight, and previous solutions to house the weight peripherally increase the movement's height or require an offset stem, which further thickens the watch.
Innovation Solution
The oscillating weight and mainspring barrel are arranged concentrically, with the barrel at the center, allowing the oscillating weight to drive the barrel in a single direction, using a unidirectional coupling or a unidirectional ball bearing to ensure efficient winding without increasing the movement's thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional self-winding mechanism with a reduction gear is used, then the oscillating weight can wind the mainspring, but the gear train occupies significant space and increases the movement's thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the reduction gear train from the self-winding mechanism. By using a direct-drive configuration where the oscillating weight directly winds the mainspring barrel without intermediate gears, the design removes the space-consuming gear train while maintaining the winding function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a reduction gear to convert the oscillating weight's rotation into barrel rotation, the invention inverts the approach by having the oscillating weight directly drive the barrel through a unidirectional coupling mechanism, eliminating the need for gear reduction.
2Shape
If the oscillating weight is arranged peripherally in an annular space, then the movement's height is maintained, but the winding and setting stem must be offset axially which increases the movement's height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict between peripheral weight arrangement and stem accessibility by changing the dimensional arrangement of the stem. Instead of axial offset, the stem is positioned radially outward from the oscillating weight's path, allowing both the peripheral weight configuration and accessible stem to coexist without increasing movement height.
3Length of stationary object
If the oscillating weight directly drives the mainspring barrel without a reduction gear, then the movement can be thinner, but the oscillating weight must rotate in both directions while the barrel only winds in one direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a unidirectional coupling mechanism as an intermediary between the oscillating weight and the mainspring barrel. This mediator allows the oscillating weight to rotate bidirectionally while only transmitting torque to the barrel in the winding direction, effectively filtering out the reverse rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the reduction gear function and replaces it with a direct-drive unidirectional coupling, simplifying the mechanism by removing unnecessary intermediate components while maintaining the essential one-way winding capability.
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 arrangement enables quicker energy storage in the mainspring barrel and maintains a slim profile by confining the oscillating weight within the movement's height, eliminating the need for an offset stem and reducing overall thickness.
Implementation Method 1
the oscillating weight and the mainspring barrel are arranged so as to be fixed to each other when the oscillating weight rotates in said single direction
Implementation Method 2
an oscillating weight (7) arranged to rotate, in reference to said plate, around said mainspring barrel (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The watch movement with automatic windup comprises an oscillating weight (7) and a barrel (3) which are arranged concentrically. The oscillating weight is arranged so as to wind up the barrel, which is positioned at the centre of the movement. The barrel drum (13) is mounted on the frame of the movement so as to be rotatable in a single direction of rotation, the single direction causing the barrel (3) to be wound up. The oscillating weight and the barrel drum are also arranged so as to be rigidly connected to one another when the oscillating weight (7) rotates in the single direction of rotation.