Adjusting Horological Functions via Driven Pinion Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for adjusting horological functions in mechanical timepieces are complex, bulky, and limited in the number of functions they can adjust, often requiring many moving parts and being difficult to use.
Innovation Solution
A device with a mechanism comprising a drive pinion that can rotate in both directions, driving at least one driven pinion to actuate different horological functions, allowing for easy handling and robust construction by using a single driven pinion to independently control multiple functions through unidirectional actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing devices for adjusting horological functions are used, then the number of functions that can be adjusted is limited, but the device complexity and number of moving parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single driven pinion is designed to actuate multiple different horological functions by changing its position. The pinion can be positioned in different locations along its axis, with each position engaging a different function's actuating means. This allows one component to perform multiple functions that traditionally would require separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The driven pinion is made movable along its axis rather than being fixed in position. This dynamic positioning capability allows the pinion to selectively engage with different actuating means for different horological functions. The controllability of the pinion's position enables the system to adapt and adjust multiple functions using a minimal number of moving parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing adjusting devices are used, then more functions can be adjusted, but the device becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple function actuation mechanisms are merged into a single driven pinion structure. Instead of having separate components for each horological function, the invention combines them all into one pinion that can be positioned to engage different functions. This consolidation significantly reduces the overall volume and bulk of the adjusting device while maintaining the capability to adjust multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single driven pinion serves as a universal actuator for multiple horological functions, eliminating the need for multiple separate actuating components. This multi-functionality approach reduces the device volume by replacing what would traditionally be multiple discrete components with one versatile component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing adjusting devices are used, then more functions are supported, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The driven pinion's position is made dynamically controllable, allowing it to be easily moved to different positions to engage different functions. This dynamic positioning system, when controlled by the user through the adjusting mechanism, provides intuitive and easy operation for selecting and adjusting multiple horological functions without complex procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for adjusting horological functions of a timepiece, including a mechanism for selection and actuation, including: a drive driving a driving pinion in the clockwise and anti-clockwise directions, a driven pinion driven when the driving pinion turns clockwise and anti-clockwise, the driven pinion moving into a first position by the driving pinion turning clockwise, in which the driven pinion actuates an actuator of a first horological function, and moving into a second position by the driving pinion turning anti-clockwise, in which second position, the driven pinion actuates an actuator of a second horological function, the driven pinion not actuating the actuator of the first horological function when it is in its second position, and vice versa. The mechanism for selection and actuation includes at least two driven pinions, and the adjusting device includes a control mechanism selectively bringing the driving pinion into engagement with each of the driven pinions.