Flexible Rocker Control Mechanism for Blocked Calendar Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing calendar watch mechanisms risk component breakage when manually correcting indicators near midnight due to opposing forces during blocked star or disc rotation, and known solutions like a pivotable drive wheel finger lead to disengagement issues.
Innovation Solution
A control mechanism with a flexible second rocker arm that allows pivoting into a tilted position even when the star or disc is blocked, ensuring the same movement is achieved without component breakage by allowing the rocker to flex and maintain the same stroke length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid control mechanism is used to advance calendar indicators, then the mechanism provides precise indexing control, but the mechanism risks breaking when antagonistic forces are exerted during manual correction near midnight
Solution Approach 1:
The second arm is made elastically flexible rather than rigid, changing the mechanical parameter of stiffness to allow the arm to flex under antagonistic forces during manual correction, preventing breakage while maintaining control
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic flexibility of the second arm serves as a pre-designed cushioning mechanism that absorbs antagonistic forces before they can cause mechanical failure, protecting the star wheel and disc from breakage during manual adjustment
2Manufacturing precision
If the second arm is made rigid to ensure precise force transmission, then the indexing accuracy is improved, but the mechanism becomes vulnerable to breakage when the star or disc is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The second arm's elastic flexibility is carefully designed to maintain sufficient stiffness for accurate indexing while allowing enough compliance to prevent breakage when blocked, optimizing both precision and strength
3Ease of operation
If a pin-driven finger mechanism is used to allow free pivoting, then manual correction can be performed without breakage risk, but the finger becomes de-indexed from the teeth
Solution Approach 1:
The second arm acts as a flexible element that maintains continuous contact and indexing with the star wheel teeth while allowing controlled movement, replacing the pin-driven finger mechanism that caused de-indexing
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
Prevents component breakage by allowing the rocker to pivot and maintain the same operational stroke length, even with blocked star or disc rotation, ensuring smooth and safe manual adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a spring arranged to return the rocker in the rest position
Implementation Method 2
the second arm is elastically flexible enough to allow the rocker to come into the tilted position when the mechanism is actuated, even if the end of the second arm is retained because the rotation of the star or of the disc is otherwise blocked
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The control mechanism comprises a manually actuated member from outside the timepiece, a rocker (3) pivotally mounted between a rest position and a tilted position, and a spring (9) arranged to return the rocker to the rest position. The rocker (3) has a first arm (5) arranged to cooperate with the manually actuated member so as to bring the rocker (3) into the tilted position when the member is actuated, and a second arm (7) whose end is arranged to push one of the teeth of a star wheel (11) so as to drive it by actuating the control mechanism. The second arm (7) is sufficiently flexible to allow the rocker (3) to move into the tilted position when the mechanism is actuated, even if the end of the second arm (7) is held because the rotation of the star wheel (11) is otherwise blocked.