Elastic Holding Member for Watch Components with Plano-Convex Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastic holding members for watch components, such as ferrules, require complex and costly assembly operations due to low holding torques on balance shafts, making them inefficient and prone to material damage during assembly.
Innovation Solution
An elastic holding member with rigid and elastic arms that store significant elastic energy through substantial material volumes, providing a high holding torque while minimizing material stress, using a plano-convex contact configuration to prevent damage and facilitate assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional elastic holding members are used, then the assembly structure is simple, but the holding torque is low and limited requiring complex assembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is segmented into multiple rigid arms and elastic arms that can independently deform and apply clamping force. This segmentation allows each arm to contribute to the overall holding torque while distributing the elastic energy storage across multiple elements, achieving high holding torque without requiring overly complex assembly structures
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member incorporates elastic arms that can dynamically deform during assembly and operation. This dynamic capability allows the structure to absorb elastic energy and generate significant holding torque through elastic deformation, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and high holding torque requirement
2Device complexity
If traditional elastic holding members are used, then the device structure is simple, but assembly operations become complex and costly due to low holding torque
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is pre-configured with rigid arms and elastic arms that are designed to automatically deform and clamp the support element during insertion. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex post-assembly operations or additional fastening steps, significantly improving assembly operation efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms automatically deform and apply clamping force when the support element is inserted into the opening. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external assembly operations or tools, making the assembly process simple and efficient while achieving high holding torque
3Device complexity
If traditional elastic holding members are used, then the structure is simple, but material damage occurs during assembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member utilizes elastic deformation of the elastic arms as a parameter change mechanism. Instead of relying on rigid mechanical interference that could cause material damage, the elastic arms deform within their elastic limit to achieve clamping, significantly reducing the risk of material damage during assembly operations
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 simplifies assembly operations by providing a significant holding torque and ensuring the maintenance of the component's position, reducing the risk of material damage and improving the assembly process efficiency, with elastic energy storage ratios up to 6 to 8 times greater than existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic holding member is then able to withstand significant elastic tightening and therefore to store a significant quantity of elastic energy when it is stressed in order to restore a significant holding torque
Implementation Method 2
these arms contributing to ensuring elastic clamping of the support element in the opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an elastic retaining member (1) for attaching a timepiece component (2) to a support element (3), comprising an opening (5) into which said support element (3) can be inserted, said retaining member (1) comprising rigid arms (6) and elastic arms (7) defined between connecting zones (9) of the member (1), these arms helping to ensure elastic clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5), and each rigid arm (6) being provided with a single flat contact zone (8) of the retaining member (1), which can interact with a corresponding convex contact portion (10) of the support element (3).