Escapement Spring Preload Torque Isochronism

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing escapement systems in timepieces face challenges in maintaining constant impulse energy and efficiency due to force fluctuations caused by drive spring quality, gear wheel quality, and lubricant issues, which affect isochronism and noise levels.

Innovation Solution

The escapement system incorporates impulse teeth connected to a drive axle via spring elements with a preload torque in their starting position, allowing for two energy levels and an integrated energy store that can directly or indirectly transmit impulses to a balance, minimizing inertia and increasing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drive train is kept short to minimize interference sources, then the number of force fluctuation sources is reduced, but the impulse energy becomes insufficient due to minimized inertia of impulse generating elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveisochronism qualityVSAvoidimpulse energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element is preloaded in the starting position to store elastic energy before the impulse transmission begins. This preliminary energy storage ensures that sufficient impulse energy is available even when the drive train is minimized, resolving the contradiction between short drive train length and adequate impulse energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The impulse tooth is designed with dynamic characteristics through the spring element that allows it to adapt its energy delivery. The spring element's elastic properties enable the system to maintain consistent impulse energy transmission despite variations in drive train configuration, ensuring reliable isochronism while providing sufficient impulse energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the impulse tooth has no preload torque in the starting position, then the device is simpler, but the impulse energy is insufficient and efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveescapement structureVSAvoidimpulse energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element is preloaded in the starting position to store elastic energy before the impulse transmission begins. This preliminary energy storage ensures that sufficient impulse energy is available even when the drive train is minimized, resolving the contradiction between short drive train length and adequate impulse energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The preload torque parameter is optimized to a specific range (5-20% of the maximum torque) to achieve the best balance between device complexity and impulse energy. This parameter optimization allows the spring element to provide sufficient impulse energy while maintaining a relatively simple escapement structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If the spring element is preloaded in the starting position, then the impulse energy is increased and efficiency improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpulse energyVSAvoidescapement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The preload torque parameter is optimized to a specific range (5-20% of the maximum torque) to achieve the best balance between device complexity and impulse energy. This parameter optimization allows the spring element to provide sufficient impulse energy while maintaining a relatively simple escapement structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element serves multiple functions: it stores elastic energy, provides impulse transmission, and compensates for force fluctuations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving improved impulse energy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design achieves a high efficiency escapement system with constant impulse energy, utilizing more than 50% of available energy without a preload, and enhances the efficiency of the escapement system by minimizing the inertia of impulse generating elements.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one impulse tooth is connected to the drive axle via at least one spring element and has a starting position in which it is fixed such that the spring element has a preload torque

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12032334B2Escapement system and measuring device comprising said escapement system

Publication Date: 2024.07.09 CREADITIVE AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to an escapement system that can be used, for example, in a measuring device such as in a timepiece. The escapement system comprises a drive axle and at least one escape wheel that has at least one impulse tooth. The at least one impulse tooth is connected to the drive axle via at least one spring element and has a starting position in which it is fixed such that the spring element has a preload torque.