Eddy Current Damping Regulator for Timepiece Tempo Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timepieces with striking mechanisms or music boxes face issues with tempo variation due to high instantaneous energy consumption, leading to runaway mechanisms and noise, as well as bulkiness and imprecision in speed regulation, which affect the rhythmic accuracy of musical sequences or ring tones.
Innovation Solution
A regulator mechanism that uses flyweights and elastic return means to absorb torque differences, incorporating eddy currents generated by a variable magnetic field to dissipate excess energy silently and maintain a constant speed, thereby preventing runaway and ensuring precise tempo regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a regulator mechanism with flyweights and magnetic fields is used to dissipate excess energy, then speed stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical friction-based regulators with a magnetic field-based eddy current damping system. The variable magnetic field interacts with conductive materials in the flyweights to create electromagnetic damping forces that stabilize speed without mechanical contact, thereby improving speed stability while managing the inherent complexity through non-mechanical means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a variable magnetic field whose strength and distribution change based on the rotational speed of the mobile. As speed increases, the magnetic field parameters change to increase eddy current damping, automatically providing stronger braking when needed. This dynamic parameter adjustment enables precise speed control without requiring complex mechanical linkages or multiple regulatory components.
2Speed
If friction-based regulators are used to control speed, then speed regulation is achieved, but noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely eliminates mechanical friction-based speed regulation by substituting it with electromagnetic eddy current damping. The variable magnetic field induces currents in conductive elements that create opposing magnetic forces for speed control, achieving silent operation without the noise inherent in friction-based mechanical regulators.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a generously sized energy source is used to prevent frequent winding, then energy availability is improved, but the dimensioning of the energy source increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of high instantaneous energy consumption during striking operations into a useful regulatory mechanism. The eddy current damping system dissipates excess energy that would otherwise cause runaway, transforming energy management from a problem requiring oversized storage into a controlled process that maintains compact dimensions while ensuring adequate energy availability.
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 achieves a constant speed with low speed variation (<3% of nominal speed) and high power dissipation (>6mW), ensuring precise and silent operation by effectively managing energy consumption and maintaining tempo accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the peripheral portion (30) is electrically conductive, and the regulation means consist of means for generating at least one variable magnetic field (8), comprising field lines oriented so as to interact with said peripheral portion (30) and generate eddy currents tending to brake the moving body (3) by opposing its pivoting
Implementation Method 2
the interaction between said peripheral portion (30) and said magnetic field generates eddy currents tending to brake the moving body (3) by opposing its pivoting
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
Figure 6
AI summary
The governor (1) has an elastic returning unit (7) for returning an inertia block of a wheel set (3) toward a pivot axis (D1). The block remains confined within volume of revolution about the axis when the wheel set pivots at speed lower/equal to reference speed. The block is engaged in a peripheral portion in another volume of revolution about the axis when the wheel set pivots at speed higher than the reference speed. The portion cooperates in the latter volume with a regulating unit for braking the wheel set and returning pivoting speed of the wheel set to the reference speed. The returning unit is formed of a spring (71) that is made of micro-machinable material, silicon, quartz, alloy derived from microelectro mechanical system (MEMS) technology, alloy obtained via deep reactive-ion etching (DRIE) or lithography, electroplating, and molding (LIGA) methods, or amorphous material. An independent claim is also included for a musical or striking mechanism for a timepiece or musical box.