Watch Escapement Wheel Elastic Blade Torque Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing escape wheels in watchmaking suffer from variations in impulses supplied to the lever due to mechanical torque changes, affecting the isochronism of the watch movement, particularly when made from breakable materials like silicon or corundum.
Innovation Solution
An escape wheel design featuring a hub with elastic elements and rigid abutment elements, where the elastic elements store energy through deflection and limit energy storage by contacting adjacent abutment elements, maintaining constant impulses and preventing geometric modifications under varying torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible blades are used in the escape wheel, then shock absorption is improved, but impulse variation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The escape wheel is segmented into a rigid hub and flexible blades, where each blade acts as an independent energy storage element. This segmentation allows the flexible blades to absorb shocks while the rigid hub maintains stable impulse delivery to the anchor, preventing impulse variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the blade from purely flexible to a controlled elastic element with defined stiffness characteristics. By optimizing the blade's elastic properties and dimensions, the system transforms the flexible blade into a parameter-controlled component that stores energy predictably, reducing impulse variation while maintaining shock absorption.
2Reliability
If flexible blades store energy during rest phases, then shock absorption is improved, but impulse consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible blades perform preliminary energy storage during the rest phase before the impulse phase begins. By pre-storing energy in a controlled manner during the rest period, the system ensures that the impulse delivered to the anchor is consistent and predictable, rather than varying with torque changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformation of the flexible blades provides inherent feedback on the energy storage state. The blades' deflection during the rest phase automatically regulates the energy available for the impulse phase, creating a self-regulating system that maintains impulse consistency without external control.
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 ensures a consistent impulse to the anchor, reducing variations in the watch movement's amplitude and enhancing isochronism, while the elastic elements withstand torque without undesirable rotation, maintaining the geometric position of the teeth.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic elements extending from the hub... the elastic elements store energy through deflection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an escape wheel (1) for a watch movement comprising: - a hub (2) intended to be fixed for rotation with an axle, the axle being intended to be subjected to a mechanical torque; - a plurality of elastic elements (3) extending from the hub (2); - a plurality of thrust elements (5) extending from the hub (2) and each interposed between two adjacent elastic elements (3); wherein - each elastic element (3) is provided with an end portion (4). According to the invention: - said end portion (4) comprises at least a first (6) and a second (7) protrusion; - the first protrusion (6) forms a tooth of the escape wheel intended to interact with an anchor (9); and - the second protrusion (7) forms a first thrust protrusion, extending towards, and capable of cooperating with, a first adjacent thrust element (5).