Flexible One-Piece Escape Wheel for Constant Torque Watch Movements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical timepiece movements face challenges in maintaining consistent chronometric performance due to variations in torque delivered to the escape wheel during the unwinding of barrels, which existing constant force escapement mechanisms are complex and expensive to achieve.
Innovation Solution
A compact and economical constant force escapement mechanism using a flexible one-piece escape wheel with a pinion and felloe connected by flexible arms, which stores and restores energy independently of the energy storage device's state, ensuring consistent torque transmission to the oscillator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing constant force escapement mechanisms are used, then consistent torque delivery to the escape wheel is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the escape wheel and input wheel into a single flexible one-piece component with integrated pinion and felloe. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate constant force mechanisms while maintaining consistent torque delivery, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the escape wheel from rigid to flexible, allowing it to deform and store energy during unwinding. This parameter change enables the wheel to automatically compensate for torque variations without additional complex mechanisms, achieving consistent chronometric performance while simplifying the overall device
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional rigid escape wheels are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but torque delivery varies during barrel unwinding
Solution Approach 1:
The escape wheel is designed with flexible arms that can deform elastically, changing from a rigid structure to a compliant one. This allows the wheel to store and release energy, maintaining constant torque delivery while remaining manufacturable through conventional processes for flexible components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic flexibility to the escape wheel, allowing it to adapt its stiffness characteristics during operation. The flexible arms provide dynamic torque compensation that automatically adjusts during the unwinding cycle, achieving reliable torque consistency without complicating manufacturing
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for constant force mechanism, then functionality is achieved, but component count and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements (escape wheel, input wheel, pinion, felloe) into a single integrated flexible component. This merger maintains all necessary constant force functions while reducing the quantity of parts, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and component count
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible one-piece component performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the escape wheel, input wheel, energy storage element, and torque regulation mechanism. This multi-functionality achieves constant force delivery with minimal components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and quantity of substance
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 mechanism maintains constant force to the oscillator, independent of the energy storage device's state, reducing component count and ensuring consistent oscillations, making it suitable for watch movements while being cost-effective and compact.
Implementation Method 1
said felloe and said pinion are connected to each other by flexible arms arranged to store energy from said gear train and to restore it according to the position of said detent lever
Data Source
AI summary
A constant force escapement mechanism between an oscillator and a gear train driven by a barrel, includes a stop member cooperating with the oscillator and with toothing of a flexible, one-piece escape wheel including a pinion that meshes with an input wheel of the gear train and is connected to the toothing by flexible arms configured to store energy from the gear train and to restore energy according to a position of a detent lever, which includes a first arm cooperating with the toothing, and a second arm cooperating with the input wheel to stop or release the input wheel. The lever tilts, at each passage of a tooth of the toothing, about a pivot bearing, and the escapement mechanism is configured to be incorporated in a movement or in a watch.