Escapement Governor Thickness Reduction via Single-Layer Roller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing escapement governors for mechanical watches face limitations in reducing the thickness of the pallet fork and roller, leading to increased moment of inertia and energy consumption, which affects the accuracy of time measurement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a pallet fork with a safety pin shorter than the entry and exit horns, extending from the rotation axis to the balance with hairspring, and a single-layer roller with an impulse pin, reducing the thickness and moment of inertia, and employing electroforming for precise manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a double roller is used with the safety pin in the same layer as the pallet fork, then the thickness of the pallet fork can be reduced, but the thickness of the escapement governor cannot be reduced due to the double roller structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety pin and impulse pin functions into a single roller structure. The safety pin and impulse pin are arranged in different layers on the same roller, eliminating the need for separate double roller structures while maintaining both safety and impulse transmission functions. This reduces the overall thickness of the escapement governor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar arrangement where safety pin and impulse pin are in the same layer to a three-dimensional arrangement where they are positioned at different heights on the roller. This vertical layering allows both pins to coexist on a single roller without increasing the horizontal footprint, thereby reducing the overall thickness.
2Device complexity
If the safety pin is formed to protrude perpendicularly from the pallet fork, then the structure is simple, but the thickness of the pallet fork cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the safety pin protrude perpendicularly from the pallet fork as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the arrangement by having the safety pin extend parallel to the pallet fork in the same plane. This inversion allows the safety pin to be integrated into the pallet fork structure without increasing thickness, while still performing the safety function.
3Loss of energy
If the thickness of the pallet fork and roller is reduced, then energy loss is minimized and time measurement accuracy is improved, but the moment of inertia is reduced which affects the oscillation stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dimensional parameters of the pallet fork and roller to achieve an optimal balance between thickness reduction and moment of inertia maintenance. By carefully controlling the thickness, radius, and mass distribution, the design minimizes energy loss while maintaining sufficient moment of inertia for stable oscillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs materials with optimized density and mechanical properties to achieve reduced thickness while maintaining structural integrity and appropriate moment of inertia. The use of composite or specially selected materials allows thickness reduction without proportionally reducing the moment of inertia, thereby maintaining oscillation stability.
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 configuration allows for a reduction in the thickness of the pallet fork and roller, minimizing energy loss and enhancing the oscillation angle of the balance with hairspring, thereby improving the time measurement accuracy of mechanical watches.
Implementation Method 1
employing electroforming for precise manufacturing
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an integrally molded type pallet fork (incomplete) with a safety pin and a roller table that are formed with high precision by a simple process, a thin escapement governor including the pallet fork (complete) and the roller table, and a method of manufacturing the pallet fork (complete) and the roller table. The pallet fork (complete) of the escapement governor includes a pair of entry horn and exit horn extending from the rotation axis of the pallet fork (complete) toward the rotation axis of a balance with hairspring and adapted to transmit the power of an escape wheel to an impulse pin; and a safety pin which is provided in a side surface of the pallet fork (complete) between the pair of entry horn and exit horn, which extends from the rotation axis of the pallet fork (complete) toward the rotation axis of the balance with hairspring, which is situated at a position nearer to the rotation axis of the pallet fork (complete) than the pair of entry horn and exit horn, which enters a passing hollow to thereby cause the pallet fork (complete) to make normal rotation or reverse rotation with respect to the rotation axis of the pallet fork (complete), and which abuts a portion of a roller other than the passing hollow to thereby prevent erroneous rotation of the pallet fork (complete); and the roller is formed in a single layer.